The World around U

  Richard "Richie" Benaud, born on October 6, 1930, in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, was one of the greatest all-rounders and cricket captains in Australian cricket history. After a brilliant playing career, he transitioned into a highly successful career as a cricket commentator, becoming the voice of the game for millions of fans around the world. Benaud's contribution to cricket as both a player and commentator is unmatched, and his legacy remains influential even after his passing in 2015. Style of Play Richie Benaud was a leg-spin bowler and an aggressive lower-order batsman. Known for his tactical acumen and cool demeanor, Benaud was not just a skilled cricketer but also an astute strategist on the field. Bowling: Benaud was a master of leg-spin, able to extract turn and bounce even on unhelpful pitches. His control over flight, pace, and subtle variations made him a difficult bowler to face. He used his googly and flipper effectively to outfox batsmen...

Helen Wills Moody, born on October 6, 1905, in Centerville, California, was one of the most dominant tennis players of the early 20th century. Known for her fierce determination and cool demeanor on court, she redefined women’s tennis with her powerful game and became one of the most decorated champions in the sport's history. She won an incredible 19 Grand Slam singles titles, establishing herself as one of the greatest female athletes of her time. Style of Play Wills Moody’s game was characterized by her aggressive baseline play and her powerful groundstrokes, which were rare for women’s tennis at the time. She possessed exceptional control over her shots, focusing on accuracy and depth rather than spin or finesse. Her physical fitness was another key aspect of her dominance, allowing her to outlast opponents in long matches. Her calm and composed on-court demeanor earned her the nickname "Little Miss Poker Face". Baseline Dominance: Wills Moody preferred to stay at the...

  Imran Khan, born on October 5, 1952, in Lahore, Pakistan, is a former Pakistani cricketer, cricket captain, and one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. Beyond cricket, Imran also had a highly successful career in politics, culminating in his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. Imran Khan's name is synonymous with cricketing excellence, leadership, and an enduring legacy both on and off the field. Style of Play Imran Khan was a fast bowler and middle-order batsman, known for his ability to swing the ball, generate pace, and lead the team by example. He was a genuine all-rounder, capable of turning matches both with the ball and the bat. Bowling: Imran was known for his lethal pace and swing, especially the ability to reverse swing the ball, which made him dangerous in both home and away conditions. His bowling style combined aggression, accuracy, and intelligence. Batting: As a batsman, Imran had a solid technique, and although h...

  There are moments when courage is not a choice but a responsibility, when a few seconds can separate life from death and when the actions of one individual can determine the fate of hundreds. Captain Smit Machchhar found himself in precisely such an extraordinary situation on September 30, 2026, when Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, plunged into a terrifying mid-air crisis. Seriously injured after being attacked inside the cockpit, Machchhar nevertheless summoned remarkable courage and presence of mind to help prevent what could have been a catastrophic aviation disaster. The Indian captain was at the controls of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 when he was attacked by his co-pilot, identified in reports as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. The aircraft was carrying 174 people, including children. In the ensuing struggle, the aircraft began a terrifying descent, losing more than 17,000 feet in a short period. For the passengers inside the aircraft, it was a nightmare...

  The 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, came to a close on October 4 after more than two weeks of competition. With 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 45 participating National Olympic Committees, the Games produced an exceptionally high sporting standard. The final medal table was dominated by China, Japan and South Korea, while India delivered one of its strongest-ever Asian Games campaigns, finishing fourth with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.  Top six nations at Asian Games 2026 Medal table ranked by gold medals. China — once again the dominant force China finished overwhelmingly on top with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze medals for 341 overall, underlining its extraordinary depth across virtually every major sport. Its dominance was particularly evident in swimming, diving, gymnastics, shooting, table tennis, badminton, weightlifting and many of the combat disciplines. China also demonstrated the strength of its next generation, ensuring that its A...

  South Africa produced a highly impressive 2–1 series victory over Australia in the three-match ODI series played at Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom from September 24 to 30. The series was particularly significant as both teams are looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. South Africa not only won the series but also demonstrated that their batting depth, spin bowling and ability to perform under pressure are developing strongly.  First ODI – South Africa win by 67 runs South Africa began the series in commanding fashion at Kingsmead, Durban. After being asked to bat, they posted 297/8, with young opener Matthew Breetzke making an outstanding 112 off 106 balls. Marco Jansen also contributed a powerful 75. Australia started their chase aggressively, particularly through captain Mitchell Marsh, who smashed 60 from only 36 balls, but the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse and were dismissed for 230 in 41.2 ove...

  India won the three-match ODI series against West Indies 2-1, making a strong start to their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. India dominated the first two matches at Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, but West Indies produced a remarkable response in the finale at New Chandigarh. The series was notable for extraordinary batting performances, with Shubman Gill emerging as the biggest star and Shai Hope providing a spectacular final-day answer.  First ODI – India win by 8 wickets The opening match at Thiruvananthapuram established India's superiority. West Indies made 295/7, with Justin Greaves scoring 101 and John Campbell contributing 62, but Kuldeep Yadav changed the complexion of the innings with an outstanding 4/40. India then chased the target in only 41.4 overs. Shubman Gill scored 110 from 108 balls, while Virat Kohli produced a magnificent unbeaten 139 from just 88 balls. Kohli's innings also took him past 15,000 ODI runs.  Second ODI – Gill's historic dou...

  The UEFA Nations League 2026/27 produced another action-packed round of matches on October 2 and 3, with Matchday 3 reaching its conclusion. The two days featured major victories for England, Spain, Belgium, Poland and Northern Ireland, while France were held by Italy in Paris. England's extraordinary 7-0 demolition of Croatia was the standout result, while Spain maintained their perfect record at the top of Group A3.  October 2 – Belgium dominate Türkiye: Belgium strengthened their position in League A Group 1 with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Türkiye. Kevin De Bruyne was the star of the night, scoring twice, including a spectacular long-range effort, before Romelu Lukaku added the third. Belgium's victory moved them onto six points from three matches, while Türkiye remained without a point after three defeats.  France held by Italy: France's perfect start under Zinedine Zidane came to an end as Italy earned a 1-1 draw in Paris. Michael Olise put France ahead with an e...

   The final competition day of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games produced a spectacular finish, with several of the continent's biggest sporting powers securing important gold medals. China retained its overwhelming supremacy at the top of the medal table, while Japan completed a record-breaking home campaign. South Korea enjoyed major victories in men's football and golf, Iran added another taekwondo gold, and India produced a magnificent late surge to finish fourth overall after winning five gold medals on the final day. China: China finished the Games as the undisputed leading sporting power in Asia, collecting 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall. One of its notable Day 15 successes came in men's golf, where China won the team competition, ahead of South Korea and Japan. China also had a representative in the women's individual golf podium, with Yin Ruoning finishing behind India's historic champion Pranavi Urs. The Chinese delegation's enormous medal haul...

  Raymond Russell Lindwall, born on October 3, 1921, in Mascot, New South Wales, Australia, is considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Renowned for his deadly pace, smooth action, and sharp swing, Lindwall was a key figure in Australia's post-World War II cricketing success. Alongside his bowling partner Keith Miller, Lindwall formed one of the most feared new-ball pairs in cricket. Style of Play Ray Lindwall was a right-arm fast bowler with a natural athleticism and a smooth, classical bowling action. He was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and to generate genuine pace, often clocking speeds that troubled even the best batsmen of his era. Lindwall’s bowling was not just about raw speed; his control and tactical acumen made him equally dangerous on pitches that did not assist fast bowlers. Lindwall could move the ball both in the air and off the seam, making him highly effective in a variety of conditions. He also possessed ...