Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Carlos Alcaraz after he won his maiden Australian Open title by defeating Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set final in Melbourne on Sunday.

Tendulkar praised Alcaraz’s patience throughout the Grand Slam tournament.

“What stood out at the Australian Open was Carlos Alcaraz’s patience. In long rallies, he stayed calm, kept his opponent under pressure, and picked his moments well. The way he covered the court was quick and precise, and it was a joy to watch. Congratulations @carlosalcaraz! A brave effort from @DjokerNole as well,” Tendulkar wrote on X.

Also read -What will happen after Pakistan forfeit match against India in T20 World Cup 2026?

What stood out at the Australian Open was Carlos Alcaraz’s patience. In the longer rallies, he stayed composed, kept his opponent under pressure, and chose his moments smartly. And the way he covered the court, so quick and precise, was a joy to watch! Congratulations… pic.twitter.com/c2MBeBNjC6

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 1, 2026

Alcaraz Creates History at Australian Open

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz created history on Sunday by becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam after winning his maiden Australian Open title, according to the ATP.

The 22-year-old Spaniard achieved the milestone by defeating his longtime rival and Serbian great Novak Djokovic in the final in Melbourne. With this win, Alcaraz secured his seventh Grand Slam title.

Dominant Win Over Djokovic

Alcaraz beat the 10-time Australian Open champion in a thrilling four-set final, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted three hours and two minutes, with Alcaraz showing calm, control, and strong movement on the court.

This was also Alcaraz’s first-ever final in Melbourne since making his Australian Open debut.

Joins Elite Company

According to the ATP, Alcaraz is now the sixth man in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam. Only four players have achieved this feat in the 21st century. Djokovic was the latest before Alcaraz, completing it in 2016, followed by Rafael Nadal in 2010 and Roger Federer in 2009.

Men’s Open Era Career Grand Slam Winners

Players to complete the Career Grand Slam in the Men’s Open Era are:

• Carlos Alcaraz (22 years, 272 days)

• Rod Laver (24 years, 32 days)

• Rafael Nadal (24 years, 102 days)

• Roger Federer (27 years, 303 days)

• Novak Djokovic (29 years, 15 days)

• Andre Agassi (29 years, 68 days)

The ATP noted that Rod Laver first completed the Career Grand Slam as an amateur in 1962 and again in the Open Era in 1969.

With this achievement, Alcaraz has firmly placed himself among the greatest players in tennis history.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died today in a tragic plane crash in Baramati. Four other people also lost their lives. The accident happened around 8:45 AM while the aircraft was landing.

Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. He was 66 years old and a senior leader of the NCP. He was flying from Mumbai to Baramati in a Lear Jet 45 aircraft with registration number VT-SSK.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep grief over the loss of his ally and announced three days of state mourning. Many people across the country reacted with sadness. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane also shared their condolences on Ajit Pawar’s sudden death.

Cricketers mourn Ajit Pawar’s death

Sachin Tendulkar said that Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader after the death of Ajit Pawar. He shared his condolences with Pawar’s family and friends. Sachin wrote on X that he was very sad to hear about the untimely death of Ajit Pawar and said that Pawar worked for the people across the state.

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin also reacted with shock. He said he was deeply shaken by the news of the plane crash. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the family and prayed for strength and peace.

Former India cricketer and politician Yusuf Pathan also expressed his sadness. He said Ajit Pawar was a committed leader who served Maharashtra with honesty and dedication. He added that Pawar’s work for public service would always be remembered. Yusuf Pathan also asked for a proper investigation into the plane crash.

अजित पवार यांच्या निधनाची बातमी ऐकून खूप दुःख झाले. महाराष्ट्रासाठी काम करणारा एक चांगला नेता आज आपण अचानक गमावला आहे. पवार कुटुंबियांच्या दुःखात मी सहभागी आहे. ईश्वर त्यांच्या आत्म्यास शांती देवो.
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. ॐ शांती. 🙏🏽

Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 28, 2026

Saddened by the tragic passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dada. My thoughts are with his family. 🙏

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) January 28, 2026

Deeply shaken by the news of Mr. Ajit Pawar’s plane crash. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his family find the strength and courage to endure this profound loss.

— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) January 28, 2026

Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Ajit Pawar in the tragic plane crash. He was a dedicated leader who served the state with utmost commitment and integrity. His contributions to public service and the development of the…

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 28, 2026

About Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar was a senior leader from Maharashtra and represented the Baramati Assembly constituency. He led the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). He was known as a strong administrator with deep influence in state politics.

He started his political journey in 1982 through a sugar cooperative. In 1991, he became an MLA from Baramati and continued to represent the area for many years. He held several important cabinet posts and served many times as Deputy Chief Minister.

In 2019, he briefly joined hands with the BJP, but the alliance ended within days. Later, he joined the MVA government and, in 2023, aligned with the Shinde-BJP group. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and his sons, Parth and Jay.

The vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, has revisited his conversation with Sachin Tendulkar, as it revealed that the former Indian captain and the batter of the side believed a young Virat Kohli possessed the ability to one day challenge and surpass the towering batting records with the bat. 

Shukla witnessed both Virat Kohli and Tendulkar during his time as the BCCI administrator. He recalled trying to persuade the batting records of the legends from one to another, so he could continue for another year and complete 25 years in international cricket.

See Also: Watch: Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup 2026 as PCB chairman reacts after Bangladesh exit from tournament 

“What he has done as a cricketer is very difficult. There are no comparisons. And if he wanted, he could have played for another year or two. I told him to at least complete 25 years and play for another year. He said, ‘No. Raju bhai, I feel that I should leave now.’ He was very honest. ‘The day I feel that I cannot give 100 per cent to the game, I will give it up. I will walk away.’ That is what he did.” Shukla expressed.

Sachin Tendulkar predicts Virat Kohli to break his ODI records

Tendulkar finished his career with 18426 runs in 452 innings of the 50-over format at an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.23, thanks to 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 200 runs against South Africa in Gwalior.

“He called me up and said that he was going to announce his retirement. I told him not to do it and to wait for a year. He said, ‘No, I think I will quit,’ and he gave it up.” Shukla explained in the same interaction.

Meanwhile, Kohli, who is likely to feature in his fifth ODI World Cup in 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, has already crossed Tendulkar’s record of most ODI centuries, as he has notched up 14797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93/82, shouldering on 54 centuries and 77 fifties at the best score of 183 runs against Pakistan.

After the Tennis ace, Saina Nehwal, officially retired from competitive badminton, the Indian cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar, gave a touching tribute to her. Nehwal, during a recent podcast, broke the news that she would not be coming back to the court after playing in the Singapore Open 2023 tournament.

Just a little while after the post made by Tendulkar on X, Saina reacted with a simple but very touching message "Thank you so much," showing her usual humility even at the end of her career full of achievements.

Tendulkar in his post referred to the path of Nehwal as a channel of patience, bravery, and steadfastness. He also mentioned that she had made Indian badminton global. He pointed out that her faith and getting ready for the event were the things that changed the sport in the country and also put the students of one generation after the other who aspired to dominate globally. Further, Tendulkar commented that even though the medals signal achievements on paper, Saina's faith across the length and breadth of India is her greatest legacy.

ALSO SEE: Former Pakistan all-rounder joins Pakistan Super League (PSL) ahead of 2026 season

An injury made it a quiet goodbye but respect from a sports legend was the cherry on the cake

Saina, who has had to deal with a long-standing knee problem, revealed that she had no option but to withdraw when the pain and swelling did not stop. She said the elite badminton physical demands had become irreconcilable with her knee's condition as it was not permitting more than an hour or two of power training. Thus, she deemed it time to leave the top naturally.

Thank you so much 🙏😊😇 https://t.co/MZfPVyTEOg

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) January 22, 2026

It is worth mentioning that Nehwal did not make a big public announcement when she first withdrew from the sport. She said that she thought people had already taken her retirement for granted, particularly after her long absence from competition and not qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

The interaction between Tendulkar and Nehwal reunited two sports giants from different fields, highlighting the mutual respect among India’s top athletes. If Saina’s playing career is over, the loyalty in the form of respect she still receives is an indication of her long-lasting impact on Indian sports which even the next generations will notice.

Veteran Team India batter Virat Kohli was seen playing aggressive shots during a practice session at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 14. In a video on X (formerly Twitter), the 37-year-old played a few clean lofted drives that looked like they could go for boundaries in a match.

The Delhi-born cricketer continued his run-scoring form from the series opener at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. With India chasing a total of 301, Kohli scored 93 runs and helped build a 118-run partnership with Shubman Gill.

Although he missed his century by seven runs and India faced a slight scare towards the end, the team won with three wickets to spare. The former India captain was named Player of the Match for his 91-ball innings, which included eight fours and a six.

Watch the video here:

Virat Kohli’s aggressive batting intent during a practice session.🔥 pic.twitter.com/NMjjDQa3h1

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 13, 2026

Also read -

Virat Kohli Nears Breaking ODI Records Against New Zealand

In the process, Virat Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 28,016 runs. Now, only Sachin Tendulkar sits above him.

The 37-year-old has been in excellent form in 50-over cricket. Kohli is also close to breaking Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI runs by an Indian against New Zealand. He has scored 1,750 runs in 34 matches, which puts him level with Tendulkar. While Tendulkar averaged 46.05 against the Kiwis, Kohli has an average of 56.45.

If Kohli crosses Tendulkar’s tally, only Ricky Ponting will have more runs in 50-over internationals against New Zealand overall. Team India will aim to seal the series in Rajkot, where they have won all four ODIs so far. Their most recent match at the venue was in September 2023.

The Indian cricket shares a very close bond with Bollywood. Often when stars from these two fields collab, it captures the headlines. The same happened as the cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar played hand cricket with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.

The hand cricket video capturing these superstars proved to be instant viral content on social media platforms. Because of the ongoing Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), cricket got closer to the silver screen personalities. ISPL is India's first-ever tennis-ball T10 cricket league. The tournament has been inaugurated with the aim to provide a professional platform for India's unsung "street cricketers" who possess immense talent but lack opportunities.

The league comprises eight teams, owned by prominent figures in Indian cinema. Chennai Singham, Majhi Mumbai, Ahmedabad Lions, Falcon Risers Hyderabad, Bengaluru Strikers, Delhi Superheroes, Srinagar Veer, and Kolkata Tigers are the 8 teams of the tournament. 

Read More: BPL 2026: Three teams secure playoff spots as one place remains open after the end of the Sylhet phase

Watch the hand cricket match between Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bacchan

T 5624 - Cricket has many formats, one soul.
A fun hand-cricket moment at the ISPL Season 3 opening ceremony.
The excitement felt familiar.
Some joys never fade.
Cricket’s spirit, on full display.🏏#ISPLT10 #Street2Stadium #NewT10Era #Season3#ZindagiBadalLo #ISPL… pic.twitter.com/bGkrUdiCnE

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 13, 2026

During an event of the tennis ball cricket league, Tendulkar and Bachchan were engaged in a hand cricket match. Both of them enjoyed the moment very much; the broad smiles on their faces expressed their joy at playing the game in such a unique style. It was Bacchan who was leading the hand cricket contest during the initial stage of the match.

But soon, the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar, made a swift comeback, and the match ended in a tie. After the tie, the biwllywood actor jokingly proposed to split the trophy in half between them. Amitabh Bachchan shared this fun video on his Instagram handle, captioning it, "Playing finger cricket with the God of Cricket."

Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli made history on Sunday (January 11) by becoming the third batter in the world to score 28,000 runs in international cricket. The 37-year-old right-handed batter from Delhi needed 25 runs in the first India vs New Zealand ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara to reach the milestone.

Kohli achieved the feat during the 13th over of India’s innings while chasing a target of 301 runs. He hit Adithya Ashok for a four on the fifth ball of the over to take his total to 28,001 international runs.

Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches and his T20I career with 4,188 runs in 125 matches. In ODIs, he has scored 14,583* runs so far in 309 matches.

Also read -Watch: Glenn Phillips' outrageous fielding shocks Rohit Sharma during IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Virat Kohli Climbs the All-Time International Runs List

Only two batters, Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, were ahead of Virat Kohli in the list of highest run-scorers in international cricket. During the first India vs New Zealand ODI, Kohli needed 42 runs to go past Sangakkara’s total of 28,016 runs and become the second-highest run-getter in international cricket.

Sangakkara played 594 international matches during his career from 2000 to 2015 and scored 28,016 runs. Sachin Tendulkar still holds the world record for the most runs in international cricket. He played 664 matches for India between 1989 and 2013, scoring 34,357 runs. Tendulkar made 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, and scored 10 runs in his only T20I match.

Most runs in international cricket

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Kohli Breaks Sangakkara’s Record in Vadodara

Virat Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket on Sunday (January 11). The 37-year-old right-handed batter from Delhi crossed Sangakkara’s mark during the 19th over of India’s innings while chasing 301 runs at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.

Kohli also closed in on another record against New Zealand. If he scores 94 runs in the match, he will go past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 1,750 runs in India–New Zealand ODIs. Tendulkar scored 1,750 runs in 41 ODIs against New Zealand, while Kohli had 1,683 runs before this match.

Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches and his T20I career with 4,188 runs in 125 matches. In ODIs, he has scored 14,599* runs so far in 309 matches.

Achieving a double hundred (200 runs or more) has been an outstanding achievement for batsmen in one-day international (ODI) and domestic cricket, both form of cricket is played over 50 Overs. To achieve that score in one day of cricket require great concentration, skill, endurance, and tactical acumen on the part of the batsman. There are only a select few batsmen that have reached the double hundred mark for ODIs and Domestic Cricket throughout the history of cricket, only to have their names immortalised in the annals of cricket as member of an elite group.

The most recent addition to this group is Aman Rao Perala, who played for Andhra Pradesh in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy against Bengal and not only achieved his own personal milestone but also was one of the standout performances of this season's List A cricket. History has shown that many of the double-hundred innings played by batsmen have changed the direction of the match and been the highlights of that tournament.

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Rohit Sharma is the highest profile player to have a number of List A double hundreds to his name, including his highest score in the ODI, where he set the record at 264, which is still one of the highest scores in the history of 50 overs cricket. Other very notable players such as Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill have also managed to make the double hundred club, indicating that the double hundred is still a milestone that modern-day players aspire to play for.

List of all List A Double Hundreds

Wedding celebrations are said to take place in Tendulkar’s household, as the reports have confirmed that Sachin’s son Arjun and Sania Chandok have locked in their wedding dates as the couple is expected to tie the knot in March, which will bring an end to months of speculation around their plans. Arjun is currently featuring for Goa in the ongoing 2025/26 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The development has come after a period of largely private celebrations, with the family choosing to keep things behind closed doors. Arjun Tendulkar, who is the son of the legendary former Indian captain and batter, Sachin Tendulkar, has been in the spotlight recently for his professional reasons as well having been traded from the Mumbai Indians to the Lucknow Super Giants for the IPL 2026.

See Also: Watch: Not Shubman Gill!! Mark Waugh picks next best Test batter in future

Meanwhile, Saaniya Chandok hails from a well-known business family in Mumbai, as she is the granddaughter of Ravi Ghai, who is the leading industrialist and the head of the Gravis Group. Personally, she is an actively involved campaigner in entrepreneurship, as per records from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandok's wedding finalized 

Saaniya serves as a designated partner and director at Mr. Paws Spa and Stores LLP, a Mumbai-based venture, which focuses on pet care services and retail. The Gai family’s business Int has also been extended to hospitality, including the management of premium hotel properties such as the Intercontinental.

In the case of Arjun Tendulkar's cricket career, she shifted his base for domestic cricket from Mumbai to Goa to get more opportunities in both white-ball and red-ball cricket. Arjun made his T20 debut for Mumbai during the 2020/21 season against Haryana, having previously featured in the age-group cricket and the under-19 setup.

The left-arm pacer has currently picked up 40 wickets in 22 first-class innings and an average of nearly 38, besides scoring 620 runs at an average of just over 21. It has not been a great Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 26-year-old, who hasn’t opened this account in the last five encounters of the event.

Joe Root is moving closer to lasting greatness as he narrowed the gap with Sachin Tendulkar on the list of players with the most Test runs. He achieved this with a brilliant 160-run knock on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney. It was Root’s 41st century in Test cricket, which helped him equal Ricky Ponting on the list of most Test hundreds. Only Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar are now ahead of him.

Root is also just 1,984 runs behind the Indian legend on the all-time Test runs list. Having turned 35 last week, it appears he is on track to challenge Tendulkar’s record based on his current form. For now, let us take a look at the statistical comparison between the two after 41 Test centuries.

In terms of statistics, Sachin Tendulkar was well ahead of Root when he scored his 41st Test century in 2008 against England in Chennai. Tendulkar reached the milestone in his 155th Test and 254th innings, while Root achieved it in his 163rd Test and 297th innings. However, at this stage of their careers, Root has scored 1,524 more runs than Tendulkar had at the same point. Tendulkar averaged an impressive 54.68 after the Chennai Test where he scored his 41st Test hundred, while Root’s average currently stands at 51.23.

Also Read -Steve Smith vs Virat Kohli: Comparing their stats after 123 Test matches

How many runs does Joe Root need to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record?

1,984 runs are still a big target for any player, including Joe Root. Root is currently 35 years old and may need a little more than two years to score close to 2,000 runs, even if he continues in his current form. If he loses form during this period, the former England captain may need more time to reach the milestone.

Root has already hinted at touring Australia again for the next Ashes series, four years from now. He could break Tendulkar’s record if his career lasts until 2029. However, his form and fitness will play a key role in achieving this goal.