In the first Test match between India and South Africa, India's batting faltered on the rain-hit day 1. KL Rahul showcased resilience with an unbeaten 70, steering India to 208/8 in 59 overs. However, Kagiso Rabada's fifer (5/44) left India struggling, dismissing key players. Virat Kohli managed 38, Rohit Sharma 5, and Shreyas Iyer contributed 31. Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur also fell victim to Rabada's incisive spells. Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill faced challenges, scoring 2 and 8, respectively. India faces an uphill task to reach a competitive total, highlighting the batting lineup's vulnerability against South Africa's formidable bowling attack.

Afghanistan cricketers Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen-ul-Haq face uncertainty in IPL 2024 as the Afghanistan Cricket Board rejects No Objection Certificates over a central contract disagreement. The players sought release from annual contracts, emphasizing private leagues. ACB deems it a breach of national duty, prompting disciplinary action. The trio, including a Kolkata Knight Riders recruit, faces potential exclusion. Notable global players, Trent Boult and Faf du Plessis, abandoning central contracts, echo broader tensions. ACB forms a committee to investigate, signaling the far-reaching impact of prioritizing personal interests over national commitments.

India's cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, sets sights on a historic South African triumph, a milestone eluding past teams. Ahead of the first Test, Sharma discusses KL Rahul's potential new role, stating, "I am not sure how long KL Rahul would want to keep wickets, but he is keen as of now." Acknowledging Mohammed Shami's absence, Sharma expresses, "Shami will be a big miss for what he has done for us over the years. Someone will fill up the hole but it won't be easy." Sharma emphasizes, "Want to achieve what nobody has achieved in this part of the world." The series begins on December 26 in Centurion, with Sharma emphasizing enjoyment of the game.

Former wrestler Sakshi Mallik hints at a possible change in her retirement decision following the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the Union Sports Ministry. Expressing uncertainty about the suspension details, Mallik emphasizes the wrestlers' fight for justice, particularly for women wrestlers. While praising the ministry's decision, she hints at reconsidering her retirement based on developments in the upcoming federation, "I will tell you about the decision according to the federation that would be formed" She said. The ministry criticizes WFI's actions as a "blatant disregard" for legal norms. Sanjay Singh's appointment as WFI chief, closely associated with the former president, sparks protests, leading to star wrestlers questioning the election results.

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.