Virat Kohli has rejoined the squad in South Africa ahead of the first Test against the Proteas, starting on December 26. Kohli's absence from intra-squad practice matches was pre-planned, with the BCCI revealing that he had personal commitment that led to his trip to London instead of returning to India. Kohli had undergone multiple training sessions before departing and is expected to resume practice in Centurion. South Africa's head coach, Shukri Conrad, expresses confidence in his pacers Rabada and Ngidi, who, despite lacking match time, are considered fresh and available for selection in the upcoming 'Boxing Day' Test.

Sunil Gavaskar has made significant changes to India's batting order for the upcoming first Test against South Africa. Opting for a fresh approach, Gavaskar selected Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, placing Shubman Gill at No. 3 and Virat Kohli at No. 4. KL Rahul takes on the wicket-keeping role, supported by Shreyas Iyer in the middle order. Gavaskar emphasized the flexibility of Rahul and Shreyas in deciding their positions based on the match situation. In the bowling department, the XI includes spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, along with pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mukesh Kumar.

In a pivotal move, the Sports Ministry has suspended the newly elected management of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Geeta Phogat, an Olympic wrestler, expressed hope, saying, "Even though it is late, there is a ray of hope that wrestlers will get justice." However, prominent boxer Vijender Singh emphasized the necessity of timelier action: "They made the woman quit wrestling, the man return the Padma Shri, and now they have suspended the wrestling federation. Action should have been taken earlier." As some athletes contemplate returning awards in protest, the sports community underlines the urgency of governance reforms to protect athletes' interests. The suspension follows WFI's rushed announcement of national championships, violating their constitution.

BJP MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh distanced himself, stating, "I've taken sanyas from wrestling." After the sports ministry suspended WFI due to irregularities, Singh emphasized his focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha election, saying, "Now whatever has to be done will be done by the newly elected body." Regarding controversy around Sanjay Singh's election, Singh clarified, "Sanjay Singh is my close, not my relative." The suspension followed the announcement of U-15 and U-20 nationals. The move triggered wrestler Sakshi Malik's retirement and Bajrang Punia's Padma Shri return in protest against Singh's election.

The Indian women's cricket team scripted history on Sunday by registering their first ever test match victory over Australia. Chasing a modest target of 75 runs, India cruised to the target with Smriti Mandhana remaining unbeaten on 38. India had set up the win by bundling out Australia for 261 in their second innings after posting an imposing 406 in their first innings. Spinner Sneh Rana was the star with the ball, taking 4 wickets in Australia's second innings. Earlier, Tahlia McGrath hit a valiant 73 to keep Australia in the hunt. However, the final day belonged to India as Mandhana struck the winning runs to seal a historic 8 wicket victory. This was India's first ever test match win over the mighty Australians.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) led by newly-elected president Sanjay Singh faces suspension from the Sports Ministry due to alleged breaches of the constitution. The ministry cited 'hasty' announcements of national competitions without following proper procedures. Sanjay Singh's sweeping victory over Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran raised concerns, with the ministry claiming the body's influence by former office bearers linked to harassment allegations. The suspension underscores the need for adherence to the WFI constitution, highlighting potential irregularities in the federation's formation. The ministry asserts that the decisions made lacked proper consideration and accused the newly-formed body of being under the control of individuals facing harassment allegations.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur calls for Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia to take on coaching roles following their recent expressions of discontent. Malik emotionally announced her retirement, while Punia returned his Padma Shri in protest against Wrestling Federation of India's election. Thakur refrains from commenting on the controversy involving Sakshi Malik and Brij Bhusan but encourages past champions to guide budding athletes. Inaugurating new facilities at SAI, he highlights the nation's success in recent Asian Games, urging former champions to share knowledge and sustain the momentum in future competitions.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya could miss the upcoming IPL 2024 season due to an ankle injury, NDTV sources confirmed on Saturday. Hardik was traded from Gujarat Titans to MI ahead of the auction after being initially retained by GT. He was set to lead Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 replacing long-standing captain Rohit Sharma. Pandya had played seven seasons of IPL for Mumbai before being released before the 2022 season. After joining Gujarat Titans, Pandya led the side to back-to-back IPL finals, including earning them the trophy in their debut season. But the latest injury doubt puts his IPL participation in jeopardy. Hardik has been out since hurting his ankle in a World Cup match against Bangladesh. He will also miss the upcoming T20Is against Afghanistan. 

Cricket legend MS Dhoni gracefully turned down a Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fan's request for him to join their team. Expressing a desire for Dhoni to bring home a trophy for RCB, the fan's appeal was met with Dhoni's tactful response, emphasizing loyalty to CSK. The former Indian skipper acknowledged the sentiment of fans and questioned the impact on their feelings if he were to step aside for another team. As the IPL season approaches, Dhoni remains committed to leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for one more season before contemplating retirement, following their recent triumph.

Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has publicly announced his decision to return the Padma Shri award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Punia shared a detailed letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, expressing concern over the denial of justice to female wrestlers. "I am returning my Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister. This is a letter to say that," Bajrang Punia wrote on X. The letter highlights the unresolved issues, particularly allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Singh, prompting Punia's symbolic act of returning the prestigious award as a form of protest.