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!
Cricket icon Virat Kohli addressed the buzz around his decision to wipe all advertisements from his Instagram account, calling it a necessary “reset”, during a candid chat with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The move, which left fans puzzled earlier this month, reflects the star’s desire to step back from heavy social media engagement while keeping the door open for future changes.
In a lighthearted RCB video posted Tuesday, Kohli was quizzed about his soaring endorsement value after the Champions Trophy win. With a grin, he quipped, “Yes, it’s gone up!” When probed about his stripped-down Instagram profile, he explained, “I’m in a unique space with social media right now. I’m not feeling like diving in too much at the moment, but who knows what’s next? It just needed a fresh start.”
The interviewer, Nags, playfully asked if Kohli would share their ad-free clip on his account, only to be met with a swift, “Nope!” sparking laughter.
On April 9, Kohli stunned his 70 million followers by clearing his Instagram ‘posts’ section of all promotional content, paid partnerships, and ads, relegating them to the reels tab. His timeline now showcases personal moments—family snapshots, gym workouts, and glimpses of his IPL 2025 journey with RCB—offering a more intimate look at the 36-year-old’s life.
Speculation swirled that Kohli might be redirecting focus to personal ventures, but he clarified that the overhaul was about reclaiming his digital space. “It’s about finding balance,” he hinted, dispelling rumours of a strategic shift.
On the field, Kohli is in top form, dazzling in IPL 2025 with 248 runs across six innings, including three fifties, at a strike rate of 143.35. His latest gem—an unbeaten 65 off 33 balls against Rajasthan Royals—marked his 100th T20 fifty, making him the first Asian batter to hit this milestone. Tied with David Warner for the most IPL fifties (66), Kohli trails only Warner’s 108 in overall T20s.
Uber announces free shuttle rides for IPL matches in Delhi NCR
With these guidelines in mind, fans can enjoy an exciting matchday experience while benefiting from Uber’s free shuttle service to the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
In an exciting new initiative, Uber India has announced that fans can enjoy free shuttle rides to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on match days for the Delhi Capitals. With a lineup of home games on the horizon, this service aims to enhance the fan experience and provide convenient transportation to the stadium.
The Delhi Capitals will face off against the Rajasthan Royals on April 16, followed by matches against RCB on April 27 and KKR on April 29. Fans attending these exhilarating contests can take advantage of this complimentary shuttle service, provided they present a valid match ticket. This initiative reflects Uber’s commitment to supporting sports fans and ensuring they have an enjoyable and hassle-free experience.
How to Book Your Free Shuttle Ride on Uber
The Uber Shuttle buses will operate from key locations across Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon. To streamline access to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, five dedicated routes have been established, helping fans avoid crowded metro stations and make their journey smoother. Here’s how to book your shuttle ride for free:
Open the Uber app.
Set Arun Jaitley Stadium as your pick-up or drop-off location.
Tap the Shuttle icon.
Choose your preferred time and confirm your shuttle.
Reserve your seat in advance to ensure your spot.
Don’t forget to bring your valid match ticket to board the shuttle.
Important Rules for Attending a Match at Arun Jaitley Stadium
Fans are reminded that entry gates will open approximately three hours before the match is set to begin, providing ample time to settle in for the game. It’s important to adhere to the following regulations:
Once a fan enters the stadium, re-entry is prohibited.
Refunds will only be issued if the match is canceled or abandoned without any balls being bowled.
Certain items are strictly forbidden inside the stadium, including bottles, lighters, tins or cans, musical instruments, flammable or toxic substances, metal containers, firecrackers, weapons, and motorcycle helmets.
With these guidelines in mind, fans can enjoy an exciting matchday experience while benefiting from Uber’s free shuttle service to the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
On April 15, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that the Indian cricket team will embark on a tour to Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series in August 2025. This tour will include three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will serve as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled for 2026.
The series is set to begin on Sunday, August 17, and will conclude on August 31, 2025. The ODIs will take place first, with matches scheduled for August 17, 20, and 23, followed by T20Is on August 26, 29, and 31. All matches will be held in Mirpur and Chattogram, venues known for their passionate cricket fans.
This will be India’s first visit to Bangladesh since their series in 2022, where they played three ODIs and two Test matches. During that tour, India faced stiff competition, and the experience will be vital as they prepare for the upcoming series in 2025.
The timing of this tour is significant, as it is strategically placed between India’s Test series in England and their home season. The team is slated to play a five-match Test series against England during the months of June, July, and early August, which will conclude on August 4. As recent trends have shown, there is increasing specialization between formats, leading to the likelihood that only a handful of players may transition from the Test squad to the T20I lineup.
India’s home season will kick off in October, featuring tours from the West Indies and South Africa over the winter months. The season will start with a two-match Test series against the West Indies commencing on October 2, followed by a comprehensive series against South Africa that will include two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is in the months of November and December.
Additionally, India will engage in three ODIs and five T20Is in Australia amidst their home series. Cricket Australia recently announced the schedule, with the ODIs commencing on October 19 and the T20Is starting on October 29, adding to an action-packed calendar for Indian cricket.
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