Sports Highlights

The following are the top/expected stories at 2105 hours: EXPECTED STORIES: *Report of National Open Athletics Championships in Warangal, Telangana.

STORIES ON THE WIRE: SPO-CRI-SEHWAG-INTERVIEW Dhoni as mentor will benefit bowling unit as well as help introvert players blossom: Sehwag By Kushan Sarkar New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Mahendra Singh Dhoni was always a bowlers' captain in white ball cricket and his presence as team mentor for the T20 World Cup will immensely benefit Jasprit Bumrah and Co, feels former India opener Virender Sehwag.

SPO-CRI-IPL-PREVIEW IPL returns as precursor to T20 World Cup Dubai, Sep 18 (PTI) Players will be getting valuable experience in the UAE conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup while the Indian cricket board will be hoping its money-spinner stays away from the looming COVID-19 shadow when the IPL resumes with the blockbuster Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians clash here on Sunday.

SPO-CRI-SHASTRI-TENURE Achieved all I wanted, never overstay your welcome: Shastri gears up for end of India tenure London, Sep 18 (PTI) His tenure set to end after next month's T20 World Cup, India head coach Ravi Shastri conceded that there would be a bit of ''sadness'' but he has no doubts that he is going out at the right time, having ''over-achieved'' during his stint.

SPO-CRI-VIRUS-SHASTRI No regrets on book launch, no-one got COVID from that party: Shastri London, Sep 18 (PTI) India head coach Ravi Shastri says he has no regrets about organising the book launch, which was widely perceived to be the reason for a COVID-19 outbreak that forced the cancellation of the fifth Test against England in Manchester. SPO-CRI-NZ-DEPARTURE-PAK Extended New Zealand squad flies out of Pakistan on chartered plane Islamabad, Sep 18 (PTI) An extended 33-member New Zealand cricket squad left for Dubai on a chartered flight from Islamabad on Saturday evening, a day after abandoning its entire tour of the country over security fears.

SPO-CRI-PCB-RAJA Channelise your anger, become a world class team: PCB Chairman Raja to his players Karachi, Sep 18 (PTI) PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja on Saturday exhorted his players to use their anger in becoming a top cricket outfit that international teams would not be able to avoid touring in future. SPO-CRI-IPL-RCB-KOHLI Hasaranga and Chameera have provided new dimension to the team, says Kohli Dubai, Sep 18 (PTI) Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday said his side will not take the good showing in the first leg of the IPL for granted, adding that latest additions, including Sri Lanka's Wanidu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, have added a new dimension to the team.

SPO-CRI-BCCI-IND-COACH BCCI may approach Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman for head coach's post By Kushan Sarkar New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Life may come to a full circle for Anil Kumble as the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI might ask him to apply for the post of head coach of the Indian team along with VVS Laxman once Ravi Shastri finishes his term after the T20 World Cup.

SPO-SHOOT-NRAI-LD ELECTIONS Raninder Singh re-elected NRAI president for fourth time (Eds: Adds quotes and other details) Mohali, Sep 18 (PTI) Seasoned administrator Raninder Singh was on Saturday re-elected as the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for an unprecedented fourth term after he beat BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav 56-3 in the elections here.

SPO-TENNIS-DAVIS-LD IND Davis Cup: Bopanna and Ramkumar crack in must-win doubles match, India lose 1-3 to Finland (Eds: Adds more results and quotes) Espoo (Finland), Sep 18 (PTI) Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan blew their chances in the must-win doubles match as India lost the World Group I tie 1-3 to hosts Finland in the Davis Cup, here on Saturday.

SPO-GOLF-IND-WOM-LAVAUX Gaurika T-6 and Ridhima is T-9 in Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland Puidox (Switzerland), Sep 18 (PTI) India's Gaurika Bishnoi logged her best international result in a long time with a tied-6th finish at the Lavaux Ladies Open on the LET Access Series.

SPO-GOLF-IND-DUTCH Shubhankar lands two eagles enroute to 66, lies tied-9th in Dutch Open Cromvort (The Netherlands), Sep 18 (PTI) Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma landed two eagles for a card of 6-under 66 to lie tied-9th after the second round of the Dutch Open tournament here. SPO-GOLF-ADITI Aditi plays steady second round to make cut in Oregon Portland (US), Sep 18 (PTI) Indian golfer Aditi Ashok quickly made up for her disappointing start on the opening day with a steady even par 72 in the second round to make the cut at the 2021 Cambia Portland Classic here.

SPO-GOLF-IND-TVESA Tvesa lies T-11th in France Bordeaux (France), Sep 18 (PTI) Tvesa Malik carded a modest 1-under 70 in the second round of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf Club de Medoc here.

SPO-CRI-IND-AUS-WOM-WARMUP Indian women lose by 36 runs against Australia in warm-up Brisbane, Sep 18 (PTI) The Indian women's team made a disappointing start to its tour of Australia as it suffered a 36-run loss in a 50-over warm-up match here on Saturday. SPO-FOOT-DURAND Delhi FC play out 2-2 draw with Bengaluru FC Kolkata, Sep 18 (PTI) Delhi FC and Bengaluru FC played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in a high-octane Group C match of the 130th Durand Cup at the Mohun Bagan ground here on Saturday.

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