Yearender 2021: Messi ends Argentina’s trophy drought, Neeraj Chopra’s golden throw at Tokyo Olympics, Rishabh Pant breaches Gabba fortress
2021 has been a year unlike any for sport and sports lovers and will go down as a memorable one in the shadow the virus. In sport, there are many moments that stay in our minds beyond the runs, goals and trophies. These moments remain etched in our memories forever.
2021 has been a year unlike any for sport and sports lovers and will go down as a memorable one in the shadow the virus. In sport, there are many moments that stay in our minds beyond the runs, goals and trophies. These moments remain etched in our memories forever. Many teams scripted history while they were on peak, whereas sportspersons across the world achieved unimaginable highs. In 2021, many people lost their lives, lost hopes due to the coronavirus pandemic across the world, but it was the sport that gave motivation and opportunity to the people to celebrate life. Nothing and absolutely nothing deterred the will and motivation in the sport even when the world, as we knew it, perished under Covid-19’s onslaught. From football, cricket, tennis, and the deferred Olympics, we saw many glorious moments. Let’s have a quick recap of 2021.
Messi ends Argentina’s trophy drought
Lionel Messi ended the trophy drought for his national team after Argentina beat Brazil to lift their first international title after 1993. This was also Messi’s first international trophy with his national team. Before that, Messi had led Argentina to FIFA World Cup final in 2014 and the Copa America final in 2015 & 2016. The year also saw the Blaugrana legend swap shirts and turn out for Paris Saint Germain.
Transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos
2021 was also a very strange year for sports, as no one would have predicted that the captains of Spanish rival clubs Real Madrid FC and FC Barcelona will be playing for the same team. Yes, it happened in 2021, Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos both left their iconic clubs in dramatic exits and landed at the same club, Paris Saint Germain. While Portuguese legend and former Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus after three seasons in Italy and ended up at his former club Manchester United, after a brief heartattack for the United faithful when reports said he was headed to the other Manchester team.
Italy win Euro 2020
After failing to make it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Italy announced their comeback in international football in a grand fashion by winning the European championship. Manager Roberto Mancini engineered the Azzurri to their second Euro title after beating England, again tantalisingly close, in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley. The Italians steamrolled through the tournament which was marked by Christian Eriksen’s collapse for Denmark.
Messi winning his 7th Balon d’Or over Robert Lewandowski
This year the Balon d’Or was awarded to former Barca and Argentina legend Lionel Messi. It was his 7th (most) in his collection. However, the sporting world was divided over this year’s Balon d’Or winner and many described this as a ‘scandal’. German media and some English media including The Guardian declared Lewandowski as the stand out player of the year.
Newcastle United’s Saudi-backed takeover
The Premier League already has some of the richest owners in club football. But no one imagined that Newcastle United will be bought by the richest owners of all. Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund owned by Mohamed Bin Salman took over the Magpies. After the official announcement, Newcastle fans celebrated outside the club and in the city.
Pant’s Gabba breach
Until this year January, no team had beaten Australia in a Test match at Brisbane’s Gabba stadium in the last 33 years. The Gabba was an impenetrable fortress with its bouncy pitch and home-crowd advantage for the Aussies. But stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s team finally breached the Gabba fortress. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant shone bright in the match with his unbeaten 89. India went on to win the series for the first time in Australia.
Australia win T20 World Cup 2021
Before the tournament, no pundit had predicted that Australia would even be in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. England and Pakistan were the favourites to win the tournament, but proving everyone wrong, Aaron Finch-led Australia went on to win their first-ever T20 World Cup defeating rivals New Zealand in the final.
New Zealand crush Kohli’s dream
2013 was the year when India won an ICC trophy last time. Since then, the Men in Blue have lost in knockouts in various ICC tournaments, including the 2014 final defeat to Sri Lanka, the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy against arch-rivals Pakistan, and recently the 2021 World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The Kane Williamson-led Kiwis thrashed the Men in Blue by 8 tickets in the World Test Championship final at the Lords. All these defeats came during Virat Kohli’s captaincy. During his 7 years as captain, India had not won a single ICC tournament.
Chennai Super Kings adds one more title
India’s finest captain MS Dhoni once again led his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings to the title. Earlier in the 2020 season of the cash-rich cricket tournament, CSK finished second last on the points table, but in 2021, the MS Dhoni-led franchise became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. CSK handed a 27-run defeat to Eoin Morgan’s Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 final to clinch the title for the 4th time.
Ajaz Patel’s rare feat
India defeated New Zealand in the Mumbai Test match and won the series, but it was New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel who stole the limelight. The 33-year-old Patel took all 10 wickets in a Test match innings and equalled the record of Anil Kumble and Jim Laker.
BCCI’s Kohli nama
2021 didn’t end on a positive note for Virat Kohli. After India’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup, he voluntarily stepped down from T20I captaincy. But Virat was sacked by the BCCI from the ODI captaincy. Reports suggest the BCCI had given him a 48-hour ultimatum to resign from ODI captaincy. But the 33-year-old claimed he was informed 90 minutes prior to India’s team selection for the South Africa tour. BCCI appointed Rohit Sharma as the new captain to lead the Indian side in white-ball cricket. BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly has since then ducked the fast-rising Kohli bouncer with great elan.
Neeraj Chopra’s golden throw at Tokyo Olympics 2020
In a nation beset with vegetarian-loving people, winning a javelin throw gold at the Olympics is special. The 24-year-old Haryana boy scripted history at the Tokyo Olympics and won the first-ever gold medal in the track and field category for India. Chopra delivered on the biggest stage by throwing his javelin farthest (87.58 m). He became the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics after shooter Abhinav Bindra in the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai and the CPC
Former World no. 1 doubles Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai accused Zhang Gaoli, China’s former vice-premier, of sexual assault. The news spread like wildfire in the whole world, but she reportedly went missing. Concerned over her whereabouts took the sports fraternity by storm. However, a few weeks later a Chinese website claimed that the allegation was false and Peng Shuai is ok. The Communist Party of China seems to have blanked out all traces of the story now.
Medvedev shatters Djokovic’s dream of Grand Slam
In tennis, 2021 belonged to 20-times Grand Slam title winner, Serbian Novak Djokovic. The 34-year-old went on to win three of the 4 Grand Slam titles of the year, the Wimbledon, Australia Open, French Open. However, his dream to win all 4 titles to complete his Grand Slam was shattered by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who clinched his first-ever Grand Slam at the US Open.
Emma Raducanu fairytale at US Open
No one knew who Emma Raducanu was until she created history for England at US Open 2021. She became the first and only player to win the Grand Slam title as a qualifier. The 18-year-old also became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title in 44 years.
Max Verstappen’s last-lap victory to win Formula 1 title
In one of the most dramatic finishes in Formula One history, Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Pix with his insane final lap over former champion Lewis Hamilton. Not all were convinced but Verstappen did win the chequered flag!
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed that Pomona, a vibrant Southern California city, will host the cricket tournaments during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This marks a historic moment as cricket returns to the Olympic stage after a 128-year hiatus, last appearing in 1900 at the Paris Games.
The cricket events, featuring six teams each in men’s and women’s competitions, will take place at the Pomona Fairgrounds, commonly known as Fairplex. Located 48 kilometres east of Los Angeles, the main Olympic hub, Fairplex is a sprawling venue renowned for hosting conventions, trade shows, educational initiatives, and motorsport events. However, it currently lacks a dedicated cricket pitch, prompting curiosity about how the facility will be adapted for the global sport.
ICC chairman Jay Shah hailed the venue selection as a pivotal step in cricket’s Olympic journey. “The announcement is a milestone in our preparations,” Shah said. “Cricket, already a global phenomenon, will leverage the dynamic T20 format at LA28 to engage new fans and transcend traditional boundaries.” The T20 format, known for its fast-paced, three-hour matches, is celebrated for driving cricket’s growth, making it ideal for the Olympic spotlight.
Cricket’s inclusion in the LA28 program was confirmed at the International Olympic Committee’s 141st Session in Mumbai in October 2023. It joins five other new sports—baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash—adding diversity to the Olympic lineup. The decision reflects cricket’s rising global appeal, particularly in regions like South Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean.
The T20 format has proven its versatility in multi-sport events, featuring in the Asian Games (2010, 2014, 2023) for both men’s and women’s teams and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games for women’s cricket. These appearances have showcased cricket’s ability to captivate diverse audiences.
Pomona’s selection underscores its growing prominence as a cultural and sporting hub. With the Olympics as a platform, cricket aims to expand its footprint in the United States, where the sport is gaining traction through initiatives like Major League Cricket. The LA28 cricket events promise to blend athletic excellence with cultural celebration, setting the stage for a memorable Olympic chapter.
IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel fined 25% of match fee
While the specific details of his offence were not disclosed, it is believed that the penalty stemmed from his dispute with a match official when he was denied the opportunity to send a player onto the field to deliver a message.
Delhi Capitals’ bowling coach, Munaf Patel, has been fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the intense match against Rajasthan Royals. This match, held on April 16, 2025, saw Delhi Capitals secure a dramatic victory in a Super Over after both teams finished with 188 runs.
According to an IPL announcement, Patel acknowledged his Level 1 offence under Article 2.20 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which addresses actions that go against the spirit of the game. The statement confirmed that Patel’s fine and demerit points were a result of this violation during the game played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
While the specific details of his offence were not disclosed, it is believed that the penalty stemmed from his dispute with a match official when he was denied the opportunity to send a player onto the field to deliver a message.
Munaf Patel, who played a vital role in India’s triumph in the 2011 ODI World Cup under captain M.S. Dhoni, joined the Delhi Capitals coaching staff in November 2024, succeeding James Hopes.
Article 2.20 of the IPL Code of Conduct encompasses various behaviours that contradict the spirit of the sport but are not explicitly addressed in other sections. It may include, depending on the severity and context, various infractions such as using illegal equipment or failing to adhere to certain match conditions.
The IPL Code also notes that the context of the offence, including intent and circumstances, is taken into account in determining the severity of the conduct, ranging from minor infractions categorised as Level 1 offences to serious breaches classified as Level 4 offences.
BCCI plans major support staff overhaul after Border Gavaskar Trophy loss
Following India’s Test series loss in Australia, BCCI is set to sack three support staff members including assistant coach Abhishek Nayar amid reports of dressing room unrest and leaked internal discussions.
Following India’s 3-1 Test series defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to make significant changes to the national team’s support staff. According to sources, the board is set to sack three key members from Gautam Gambhir’s coaching setup amid concerns over dressing room leaks and internal unrest.
Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar likely to be removed
Abhishek Nayar, who joined as assistant coach just eight months ago, is reportedly on the way out. Despite being a respected name in the domestic circuit and within the team management, Nayar is expected to be relieved of his duties. The move comes amidst a wave of reports suggesting internal tensions and leaks from the Indian dressing room following the recent series defeat.
While there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI, insiders have revealed that the board had issued a directive indicating that support staff members who have been with the team for over three years may be released. In line with this, fielding coach T Dilip and strength and conditioning trainer Soham Desai are also likely to be removed.
No replacements for Nayar and Dilip; Kotak and Doeschate to step up
Reports indicate that the board will not appoint direct replacements for Nayar and Dilip. Instead, Sitanshu Kotak, a stalwart of the domestic game who is already part of the team’s coaching structure, is expected to assume broader responsibilities. Former Netherlands cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate will take over fielding duties.
Meanwhile, South African fitness expert Adrian Le Roux is likely to take over Desai’s role post-IPL. Le Roux, currently associated with Punjab Kings, has a long history in cricket fitness roles, including previous stints with Kolkata Knight Riders (2008–2019) and the Indian team (2002–2003).
Gautam Gambhir addresses unrest, calls for unity and performance
In the midst of the controversy, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has attempted to downplay the unrest within the team. Speaking to the media, Gambhir emphasized the importance of keeping dressing room discussions private and reaffirmed his commitment to honest and performance-driven team culture.
“Debates between coach and player should remain in the dressing room,” said Gambhir, denying the authenticity of the leaked reports. “There were honest words, and honesty is important. Indian cricket will be in safe hands as long as honest people stay in the dressing room,” he added.
He reiterated the value of a “team first” mindset, underlining that while individual flair is appreciated, the team’s needs must take precedence.
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