Sports Highlights

The following are the top/expected stories at 2115 hours: EXPECTED STORIES: *Report of Indian Super League match between East Bengal and NorthEast United in Margao.

*Report of I-League match between Mohammedan Sporting and Chennai City FC in Kalyani.

STORIES ON THE WIRE: SPO-CRI-IND-PREVIEW Motera Nights: India venture into unknown, England seek answers for 'pink ball turner' Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) A virgin Motera strip has become the big talking point as India captain Virat Kohli prepares the right pink ball questionnaire to trouble a spoilt-for-choice England in the day-night third Test starting here on Wednesday.

SPO-CRI-IND-2NDLD KOHLI Spinners will come into play for sure but pacers can't be ignored either in pink-ball Test: Kohli Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) A rank turner is being anticipated at Motera but India captain Virat Kohli expects pacers to have as big a role as spinners in the day-night third Test against England, a side riddled with ''many weaknesses'' according to him.

SPO-CRI-KOHLI-ISHANT Ishant could've prioritised white-ball cricket to prolong career but chose to focus on Tests: Kohli Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday lauded Ishant Sharma's commitment towards Test cricket, saying the veteran pacer could have easily prioritised white-ball cricket to prolong his career but chose to focus on the longest format instead.

SPO-CRI-IND-ROOT Have not got real clarity on balance of attack yet: Root Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) England skipper Joe Root on Tuesday said he is yet to have ''real clarity'' on what should be his bowling combination for the day-night third Test against India starting Wednesday and will wait some more before finalising it.

SPO-CRI-IND-ROOT-ASHWIN Ashwin a world-class bowler, fine performer at home: Root Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) Ravichandran Ashwin has proved to be England's nemesis in the first two Tests and, well aware of his abilities now, visiting skipper Joe Root on Tuesday described the India off-spinner as a ''world-class performer'' in all conditions.

SPO-CRI-BEDI-SURGERY Spin legend Bishan Bedi undergoes bypass surgery New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi has undergone a bypass surgery at a city hospital a few days back after he complained of heart problems and he is recovering well.

SPO-SHOOT-IND Indian shooters look to shine in first ISSF World Cup after COVID-19 hiatus Cairo, Feb 23 (PTI) A 13-member Indian squad will seek medals in the Shotgun World Cup starting here on Wednesday as the the International Shooting Sport Federation's marquee events return after a break of almost a year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

SPO-CRI-IND-LEACH It will be a different challenge with pink ball and I will be ready: Jack Leach Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (PTI) England's lead spinner Jack Leach says he is ready for a new role as the day/night pink ball Test against India looks set to bring the seamers back into the forefront after the tweakers' domination in the first two matches.

SPO-CRI-DOULL-IPL New Zealand players have been overlooked for second rate Australians in IPL: Doull New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull says players from his country have always been ''overlooked for second rate Australians'' in the IPL, expressing his views after Devon Conway created a flutter with his splendid hitting days after going unsold at the glamorous league's auction.

SPO-TT-NATIONALS G Sathiyan ends long wait for national title with win over veteran Sharath Kamal Panchkula, Feb 23 (PTI) G Sathiyan ended his long wait for a national title with a convincing 4-2 win over nine-time champion Sharath Kamal in the 82nd National Table Tennis Championships here on Tuesday.

SPO-CRI-HAZARE-COVID Vijay Hazare: Bihar player tests positive for COVID-19, others to undergo tests Mumbai, Feb 23 (PTI) The Vijay Hazare Trophy has seen its first case of COVID-19 with a Bihar player returning positive for the virus, following which all the other cricketers are being tested.

SPO-CRI-BCB-SHAKIB-IPL BCB to add new clauses in players' central contracts after Shakib's IPL request Dhaka, Feb 23 (PTI) Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's request seeking a longer stint in the IPL has left the Bangladesh Cricket Board ''disappointed'' and it has decided to add new clauses in the players' central contracts to avoid a similar situation in future.

SPO-CRI-IPL-SMITH Excited Smith hopes to lead Delhi Capitals to IPL title New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Delighted to join last edition's runners up Delhi Capitals, star Australian batsman Steve Smith is hopeful of guiding the side to its maiden title triumph in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

SPO-CRI-HAZARE-GROUP E Chandigarh upset Bengal, climb to top of table Kolkata, Feb 23 (PTI) Chandigarh continued their giant-killing run in their Elite debut, stunning hosts Bengal by five wickets in a Vijay Hazare Group E clash at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

SPO-BOX-IND-STRANDJA Asian silver-winner Deepak enters quarters of Strandja Memorial on mixed opening day for India New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Asian silver-medallist Deepak Kumar (52kg) advanced to the quarterfinals with a facile win as Indian boxers got off to a mixed start at the 72nd Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

SPO-CRI-HAZARE-GROUP D Iyer's ton helps Mumbai beat Maharashtra by six wickets Jaipur, Feb 23 (PTI) Mumbai rode on skipper Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 103 to beat Maharashtra by six wickets in their Elite Group D game of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here on Tuesday.

SPO-CRI-TENDULKAR Sport does not recognise anything other than on-field performance: Tendulkar Mumbai, Feb 23 (PTI) Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar firmly believes that sport only recognises performance on the field and not the background of an athlete.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)