Nikhat Zareen Suffers Shock Exit, Misses 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games Berth
Nikhat Zareen’s road to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games came to a dramatic halt after the two-time world champion suffered a stunning defeat during the national boxing selection trials in Patiala. In one of the biggest upsets in recent Indian boxing history, Nikhat lost 4-1 by split decision to Sakshi Chaudhary in the women’s 51kg semifinals, ending her hopes of representing India at two of the year’s biggest multi-sport events. The defeat has sent shockwaves across the Indian sporting fraternity, considering Nikhat’s stature as one of the country’s most decorated and recognised boxers in recent years. Known for her aggressive style and composure on the international stage, Nikhat entered the trials as one of the favourites but struggled to match Sakshi’s tactical sharpness and movement inside the ring. For Sakshi Chaudhary, however, the result marked the success of a bold and calculated decision. The boxer had moved down from the 54kg category to compete in the highly competitive 51kg division specifically to challenge for a place in India’s squad for the upcoming international events. Her strategy paid off brilliantly as she outclassed the reigning world champion with disciplined boxing and smart counter-attacks. Sakshi will now face another major challenge in the final against reigning 48kg world champion Meenakshi Hooda, who too has moved up a weight category in search of a place in the national squad. The intense competition in the division underlines the growing depth in Indian women’s boxing, where even established champions are no longer guaranteed a place in the team. Nikhat’s defeat also raises questions regarding her recent form and consistency. Although she remains one of India’s biggest boxing stars, signs of vulnerability had emerged earlier following her bronze medal finish at the Asian Championships, where she lost to Chinese Olympic champion Wu Yu. The latest setback on home soil further indicates that the boxer may be going through a difficult transition phase ahead of a crucial Olympic cycle. The trials also witnessed several other major surprises as prominent names like Nitu Ghanghas and Hitesh Gulia failed to secure qualification in their respective categories, highlighting the fierce level of competition currently present in Indian boxing. This year’s trials carried additional significance because of the Boxing Federation of India’s revised selection process. Following intervention from the Sports Authority of India, the federation was forced to abandon its controversial “assessment-based” selection policy, which relied heavily on sports science metrics, attendance, and fitness data instead of direct competition. After criticism and complaints from athletes, the federation returned to the traditional trial-based system where performances inside the ring alone determined selection. The immediate impact of that decision has been evident in Patiala, where several experienced names have made way for younger challengers eager to establish themselves on the national stage. As Indian boxing begins preparing for Glasgow 2026 and the Asian Games in Aichi, the message from the trials has become impossible to ignore, reputation and past achievements alone are no guarantee of a place in the national team anymore.
Axar, Rishabh and Ajinkya Face Uncertain IPL Futures After Disastrous Campaigns; Report
Three IPL franchises could be heading towards major leadership changes after disappointing campaigns this season, with captains Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, and Ajinkya Rahane all facing uncertainty over their futures. While Lucknow Super Giants are already out of the playoff race, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders too have struggled to stay relevant in the business end of the tournament, raising serious questions over the direction and decision-making within the teams. Among the three, Rishabh Pant perhaps finds himself under the most pressure. Bought for a massive amount and entrusted with leading Lucknow Super Giants, Pant has failed to inspire either as a batter or captain. His tally of 251 runs at a strike-rate of 138 has fallen below expectations in an era where aggressive scoring defines T20 cricket. More concerning has been the visible burden of captaincy on his game, with the explosive freedom that once defined his batting appearing completely absent this season. Within IPL circles, there is growing belief that leadership may not suit Pant’s natural game. “In franchise cricket, results are everything. Failing to qualify for two consecutive seasons is unlikely to go down well,” a source tracking developments in the IPL ecosystem said. Questions have also been raised over some baffling team selections, including the decision to promote Arshin Kulkarni as an opener despite his limited T20 credentials and persisting with players who lacked the power-hitting ability modern T20 cricket demands. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, are also expected to reassess their leadership structure after Axar Patel endured a forgettable season both as captain and all-rounder. Despite batting largely in the top order, Axar managed only 100 runs in nine innings at a strike-rate of 112.50. With the ball too, his impact remained limited, taking 10 wickets in 12 matches while often under-utilising himself in crucial phases of the game. The situation becomes more significant considering that next season will see JSW take over cricket operations from co-owners GMR. According to sources, the leadership transition within management could directly impact Axar’s captaincy future. “With Axar completely failing to prove his leadership worth and mostly being dependent on Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao for decision making, it will be a miracle if he retains captaincy next year,” a source said. The source further added that the coaching staff too is unlikely to survive the overhaul following a season filled with questionable tactical calls and inconsistent team combinations. Kolkata Knight Riders’ struggles, on the other hand, have highlighted the limitations of Ajinkya Rahane in the fast-evolving T20 format. Rahane’s appointment itself was viewed by many as a stop-gap solution in the absence of stronger leadership options. However, the veteran batter could not provide the attacking tempo required at the top of the order. Rahane scored 237 runs at a strike-rate of 133, while youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi managed 340 runs at just over 139. Together, the duo often slowed KKR’s starts, leaving the middle order with excessive pressure. The criticism surrounding Rahane has only intensified because of KKR management’s persistence with a combination that clearly lacked explosiveness. “Rahane and Raghuvanshi ideally should not have played together in the same XI and the management’s stubbornness proved costly,” the source observed. At 37, Rahane now faces questions not only over his captaincy but also over whether he still fits into the demands of modern T20 cricket. While Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant are still likely to remain valuable assets as players despite their struggles as leaders, Rahane’s future appears significantly more uncertain. Unless Kolkata Knight Riders make another surprising decision to continue with him, the veteran batter may find limited interest from franchises going forward. As the IPL season nears its conclusion, the pressure is mounting not just on players but on entire management structures. For Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders, the coming months could bring sweeping changes as franchises look to reset after campaigns that failed to live up to expectations.