Ravichandran Ashwin

♦ Star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket on 18 December 2024. He informed about his decision after India drew the 3rd Gabba Test against Australia in Brisbane. 

♦ Ashwin made his Test debut against the West Indies in Delhi on November 6, 2011. He has played in a total of 106 matches and dismissed 537 batters. Only Anil Kumble (619) has dismissed more batters than him in the five-day format of the game for India.

♦ Ashwin has played 41 World Test Championship (WTC) matches for India and has 195 wickets to his name which is the most by any player.

♦ Ashwin has played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for India, taking 765 wickets across all formats.

♦ Most Wickets For India In International Cricket are - Anil Kumble: 953, Ravichandran Ashwin: 765, Harbhajan Singh: 707, Kapil Dev: 687, Zaheer Khan: 597, Ravindra Jadeja: 593, Javagal Srinath: 551, Mohammed Shami: 448, Ishant Sharma: 434, Jasprit Bumrah: 432.

India won the Womens Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2024

♦ India won the Women’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2024 championship in Muscat, Oman on 15 December 2024. The Indian team defeated China 3-2 in a penalty shootout to successfully defend its title. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the title clash went to a shootout. 
♦ Hockey India has announced a reward of Rs.2 lakh for each player and Rs.1 lakh to each support staff for their efforts and spectacular win. 
♦ India’s Deepika Sehrawat, with 12 goals ranked the top scorer of the tournament. 
♦ India won their maiden Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup title last year (2023) by defeating the Republic of Korea.

International Football Federation (FIFA)

♦ International Football Federation (FIFA) has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Men’s Football World Cup.

♦ While Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 tournament. The host nations for both World Cups were confirmed at FIFA’s Extraordinary Congress meeting  on 11 December 2024.

♦ The meeting, conducted via video link, was attended by representatives from all 211 FIFA member nations. 

♦ To mark the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, three matches in the 2030 tournament will also be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

♦ This will be the first time Saudi Arabia hosts the World Cup, and the second time the tournament will be held in the Middle East.

Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey

♦ Indian hockey team won the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey in Muscat, Oman on 4 December 2024.

♦ India defeated Pakistan 5-3 in the final. India has now won this tournament for a record five times, including their previous triumphs in 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004. 

♦ Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs.2 lakhs to each player and Rs.1 lakh to each support staff member for their impeccable title defense and dominating performances in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup.

♦ Araijeet Singh Hundal (4’, 18’, 47’, 54’) was in top form for India while Dilraj Singh (19’) scored the other goal.

♦ This was the 11th edition of the under-21 hockey tournament.