A mouth-watering India-South Africa warm-up at the D Y Patil stadium did exactly that, igniting anticipation and hopes among fans.
A thrilling seventh game had both players scrambling in long rallies as the momentum shifted back and forth until Gauff fired a backhand winner and screamed in triumph.
India's campaign was on the verge of derailment after losing back-to-back games to South Africa, Australia and England. Against England, India were cruising at 234 for 3 before failing to surpass a target of 289.
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was part of two one-day international World Cup triumphs and six successful T20 World Cup campaigns.
The eight players who featured in India's World Cup triumph in 2024 will aim to repeat their magic from two years ago.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the opening match against USA?
Elena Rybakina held her nerve to outlast world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a thrilling Australian Open 2026 women's singles final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.
Sabalenka primed for Rybakina rematch with eyes on third Australian Open crown
India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav said a short break after the South Africa series last year and a conscious change in his batting approach helped him rediscover his touch.
Harmanpreet Singh, Smriti Mandhana, Divya Deshmukh among five Indian stars nominated for BBC awards
Former New Zealand player Ian Smith put down the Shubman Gill-led India's recent red ball struggles at home to their diminishing ability against spin.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he expects Daryl Mitchell to carry his dominant ODI form into the shortest format when the Black Caps take on reigning world champions India in a five-match T20I series starting in Nagpur on Wednesday.
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips said the chance to script another chapter of history in India was "pretty cool" but stressed that his side would rely on process and adaptability rather than emotion as they eye a rare white-ball series success against a formidable host.
Cricket has never been the same since India's thrilling, last-over win over Pakistan in the final at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007.
The Tricolour will be hoisted for the first time on Republic Day in 41 villages freed from Maoist influence in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, marking a success in the fight against 'Red Terror' and heralding peace and development.
'It is a passing phase'. 'He will bounce back'. 'He is a run machine; poor form is just temporary'. The vote of confidence in Gill was inspiring and reassuring, notes Sandeep Goyal.
World number eight Mirra Andreeva warmed up for the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 victory over fellow teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday to claim her fourth WTA Tour title.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz arrives in Melbourne with only one mission in mind -- claim a first Australian Open title to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc is once again giving husband goals to all the men out there.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka set social media abuzz with playful romance rumours after a cheeky remark about her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, during her Brisbane International victory speech on Sunday.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma guided India to a historic 52-run victory over South Africa which saw the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 hosts lift the trophy for the first time.
The first 25 years in this century has seen some amazing films and blockbusters in Hollywood. Girish Wankhede lists the top-grossing Hollywood movies from 2001 to 2025, focusing on the key qualities that resonated with Indian audiences and contributed to its appeal.
Former captain Rohit Sharma highlighted Arshdeep Singh's effectiveness with the new ball and in the death overs.
Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title, looks likely to need to beat either Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz or both at the business end of the Australian Open.
Heavy snowfall in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region disrupted traffic and air services, leading to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway and cancellation of flights. Rescue and road clearing operations are underway.
India's World Cup winning captains -- Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepika T C and Rohit Sharma -- were honoured by the Reliance Foundation in Mumbai on Monday.
Ellyse Perry played a crucial role in RCB's maiden WPL title triumph last year, scoring 347 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 125.72, while picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 6.81.
Jannik Sinner battled cramp in extreme heat in a gutsy win over American Eliot Spizzirri to enter the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday
A look at some of the major controversies in past World Cups.
It could be fear of failure among country's elite batters that led to India's global title drought between 2011 and 2024, T20 World Cup winning former skipper Rohit Sharma said on Friday.
Jemimah Rodrigues rose through the ranks in Mumbai to become one of the key batters for India, but the journey wasn't easy.
Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana and Renuka Singh Thakur, who were part of India's ODI World Cup triumph last month, attended the morning prayers.
Albacete's journeyman striker Jefte Betancor, who scored a stunning double on Wednesday to help his second-tier side knock Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey, once considered swapping football for a career as an electrician.
Riding on momentum gained from Mumbai win, Punjab to take on Saurashtra in VHT semis
Lando Norris stretched his Formula One championship lead to nine points after winning Saturday's Sao Paulo sprint while McLaren teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri crashed in a big blow to the Australian's bid to get back on top.
Rana said she had made a "note" on September 27 where she had drawn the World Cup and inscribed that India wold win the trophy this time around.
'Beating India here is never easy, in any format. To do it with this group makes it very special for New Zealand cricket.'
Top trio eye Grand Slam glory with Sabalenka targeting third Australian Open crown
Real parted ways with Alonso a little more than seven months after appointing him, following a poor run of results in all competitions.
Kohli's 124 in vain as New Zealand beat India by 41 runs in 3rd ODI to clinch series 2-1
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