Looking back, the Indians had rubbed their hands in delight at the variety of marquee events at home the sporting calendar of 2017 offered, and they now look forward, with optimism and anticipation, to a challenging 2018.
'I didn't think before the start of the Olympics that I would make it to the final and win a medal.' 'I just thought of going there and giving my best, taking one match at a time.'
Mohammed Amir needed a closure. The Oval gave him a perfect platform and boy he grabbed it as if there wasn't a tomorrow.
His confidence boosted after a two-wicket haul against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup, India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar says he is now working on a slower delivery to further polish his skills.
'God gave me a second chance to live and I had to make the most of it.'
Monsoon revival over weekend likely, but second-half rainfall may be muted. If the rains become scarce after mid-August, the standing kharif crops might be impacted
The prayer, Sarvejana Sukhinobhavantu, or let the whole universe of living beings be well, helps. So do profound and relevant Ancient Wise Words and aphorisms: Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, or the whole world is one big family, interconnected, interdependent. And a sense of humour, jokes, pranks, writing, conversations. And, last but definitely not least, the rippling waves of inner realisation on the background mind-track -- about the insignificance of ego, the importance of humility, the wasted opportunities in life, the wrong moves, the strokes of luck, the past 'sins', the what-ifs.
'I feel one game doesn't overshadow two years of hard work from another player. You need to understand what Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) has done for the team over the past two years'
Marin Cilic completed a sensational set of semi-final shockers by upsetting 17-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the US Open. Croatian 14th seed Cilic's opponent in Monday's final will be 10th seed Kei Nishikori of Japan, who sent world number one Novak Djokovic out of Flushing Meadows with a stunning 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory.
The result also means second-placed Real Sociedad can reclaim top spot if they beat Eibar on Sunday.
Images from Day 10 of the 2020 French Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris.
'He didn't want to be a stagnant cricketer, he always wanted to work hard.'
Novak Djokovic is fallible after all, as American powerhouse Sam Querrey proved in stunning fashion to stop the Serb's seemingly unstoppable charge towards a calendar year grand slam at a rain-hit Wimbledon on Saturday. The 28th seed boomed down 31 aces and repelled an attempted Djokovic comeback to win a third-round match that began the previous evening 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5).
Indian Premier League's costliest player Yuvraj Singh feels that Royal Challengers Bangalore is a team where he can express himself in the company of star cricketers like Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle.
Pandya is undergoing rehabilitation after suffering a lower-back injury during the Asia Cup in Dubai.
Maverick batsman Chris Gayle opted out of the ODI and T20 series against India citing personal reasons as the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) named three fresh faces for the assignment.
World No 15 India will now compete in the Zone Group action later this year.
'It's been a love-hate relationship'
The only problem for India in the Asia Cup so far has been lack of batting time for the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik.
How India's players fared in Australia.
20 years ago this week, India and Australia played one of the greatest Test matches in cricket history. Sreehari Nair relives the sound and the fury of that unforgettable game at the Eden Gardens.
Shikhar Dhawan feels India is "fortunate" that they have three options for the opening slot in him, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, which will help in gaining the much-needed consistency required at the top of the order, with the 50-overs World Cup just a few months away.
The JV, Voltbek Home Appliances, aims to take on LG, Samsung as well as home-grown players such as Godrej among others head on with a slew of products that hopes to combine the best of both worlds -- European technology and design, with Indian pricing and delivery.
After retiring from international cricket, former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson will be making a sort of a comeback on the big stage when he represents Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. Johnson's only competitive game of cricket since retiring from the international arena last November was a club game in Perth five weeks ago. But the left-armer hasn't lost any of the speed or skill that made him one of the fiercest fast bowlers in the world according to Kings XI captain David Miller. "The fire is definitely there and the pace is up there as well," Miller said. "I don't see why he's not going to do well.
'It wasn't really a nice time to be dealing with everything'
Anthony Joshua delivered one of the great nights in British boxing annals by stopping Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round to be crowned IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight champion in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
'The moment you are representing your country, you are supposed to do whatever you are assigned. When I was carrying drinks during the Champions Trophy, I had no ego issues. That's how I am as a person' 'The biggest lesson of life for me is to keep things simple'
Images from Day 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
Star batsman Rohit Sharma's finger fracture is not only a blow to the Indian team but a big setback for Mumbai Indians as well, who will be playing their Champions League T20 qualifiers starting September 13, in Raipur.
'Some shots that he is playing on this pitch are very difficult for any other batsman to execute.'
'He is defying all the logic and that is something that I totally love.' 'I hate following the norm, and he is someone that is breaking all those barriers on a daily basis so I have a huge respect for him.'
Having endured the frustration of a long lay-off due to injury, Chris Woakes felt "incredible" after realising his "boyhood dream" of scoring a Test hundred at the 'Home Of Cricket'.
Images from Day 1 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
'It is precisely because of the apprehensions about Lalu's revival that the upper castes have started re-thinking their electoral preferences. Out of confusion, they are simply deciding to vote for winnable candidates from their respective castes of any of the three parties -- the BJP, JD-U or RJD. This is what has considerably neutralised the NaMo wave in Bihar and resulted in Nitin Gadkari's remark that "Caste is in the DNA of Biharis". This is why Giriraj Singh, the BJP candidate from Nawada, made provocative statements,' says Mohammad Sajjad.
Maxwell closer to return, trains with Victoria
Let's not expect miracles in 2018 from a man nearly 10 years removed from his most recent major championship victory, and four-plus years from any victory.
A summary of Friday's play at Wimbledon.
Sukanya Verma celebrates its grandeur and grandiloquence in 25 glorious frames on its diamond anniversary.
Gunning for yet another Grand Slam title, India's old war horse Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek have been seeded fifth at the Australian Open and they will open their campaign against Czech pair of Lukas Dlouhy and Lukas Rosol.
