Having registered a ninth-place finish in the 2023 edition held at Bhubaneswar, India will be aiming to bring the gold home, riding on the back of the momentum of two back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title win, two Asian Champions Trophy wins and an Asia Cup gold.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas and secretary Devajit Saikia have lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's. Key performances from Kranti Gaud and Yastika Bhatia contributed to this significant achievement, which is seen as a testament to the team's belief and sustained investment in women's cricket.
Teen Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Match and Series after India's 3-0 T20 series sweep against Zimbabwe. Sooryavanshi scored 151 runs, including a rapid 50 and an 81, crediting his natural T20 game and team support for his success. Captain Shreyas Iyer praised the young team's fearless energy, while Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza highlighted the valuable experience gained by his side.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion, becoming the youngest batter to score a T20I half-century with a stunning 18-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in the first T20I in Harare on Thursday.
India's Minerva Academy FC has been crowned the World Youth Cup 2026 Champions, defeating Brazil's RS Sports 2-1 in the Under-12 final in Gothenburg, Sweden, marking their third youth world title and becoming the first Indian academy to achieve this feat.
Following India's commanding 270-run victory over England in the one-off Women's Test at Lord's, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her strong desire for more Test cricket opportunities for women, stating, "Hopefully, we will get 10 more Test matches and we can keep performing."
World Cup champions Spain climbed back to the top of the FIFA men's rankings released on Monday, while runners-up Argentina slipped to second following their defeat in the final.
The decision to bring in and then drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during India's T20I series against England has raised eyebrows, and former captain Kris Srikkanth has shared his disappointment over the way the youngster was handled.
'That's not just a football victory -- that's the heartbeat of an entire nation'
India's women's cricket team is set to make history by playing their first-ever Test match at Lord's against England. This follows an early exit from the T20 World Cup, allowing more preparation time. Head coach Amol Mujumdar expressed the team's excitement for this landmark occasion, highlighting the dream of playing a Test at the iconic venue. Both teams feature potential debutants, with England's Tammy Beaumont retiring after this historic match.
Indian javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, and Yash Vir Singh have successfully qualified for the men's javelin final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, overcoming challenging windy conditions.
Indian weightlifter Lovepreet Singh secured a silver medal in the men's +110kg category at the Commonwealth Games, setting a new snatch record. He finished just one kilogram behind New Zealand's David Andrew Liti, who made a remarkable comeback in the clean and jerk to clinch gold. This medal contributed to India's successful weightlifting campaign, which concluded with eight medals.
Former Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has cautioned the Spanish national team against underestimating Argentina in the upcoming World Cup final, labelling them a "real nuisance" and highlighting their experience and tactical prowess.
India's men's lawn bowls pair, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar, secured their third consecutive victory at the Commonwealth Games by defeating Botswana in a tense tie-break. The duo showcased strong coordination and resilience, maintaining their perfect record and significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Former Pakistan captain and PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to remove Shan Masood as Test captain.
Indian table tennis players, including top seed Manush Shah and Harmeet Desai, showcased strong performances at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, with a majority of home players advancing to the pre-quarterfinals in both men's and women's singles, despite a few setbacks.
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes Lionel Messi needs to win the 2026 World Cup to truly equal Diego Maradona's legendary status, despite Messi's 2022 triumph. Bhutia rates Maradona higher due to his single-handed 1986 World Cup victory, while also tipping Spain as slight favourites over Argentina in the upcoming final.
Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold, breaking records in the women's 48kg weightlifting. Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi also added silver medals, contributing to India's growing tally at the Games.
England's Jos Buttler has surpassed Virat Kohli to become the third-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals, achieving this milestone during a match against India with a spectacular 131-run innings. He now stands behind Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma in the all-time list.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Indian spinner and fourth overall bowler to take 100 T20I wickets during the second T20I against England. Despite his record-breaking performance and a competitive total set by India, England secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
India had a successful day at the Commonwealth Games, with Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu securing a record-breaking third consecutive gold in weightlifting. Rishikanta Singh also earned a historic silver despite battling an injury. The day also saw Indian swimmers qualify for the finals, while the lawn bowls team faced a defeat.
National record holder Tejas Shirse made history by becoming the first Indian to qualify for the men's 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel attributed his match-winning half-century against England in the opening ODI to a renewed focus on timing the ball, a strategic shift from his previous T20 approach of hitting too hard.
Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson return to New Zealand's Test squad for tours of Ireland and England, with Jamieson back after a long injury layoff.
Indian weightlifter Nirupama Devi faced a disappointing exit from the Commonwealth Games women's 63kg event after failing all three clean and jerk attempts, resulting in a Did Not Finish. Despite a strong snatch performance, her inability to complete the clean and jerk round ended her medal hopes.
Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth term as FIFA president faces challenges from traditional football powers, but his strategy relies heavily on the support of smaller, emerging nations that benefit significantly from FIFA's development grants.
Pakistan's Test team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has acknowledged ongoing fitness issues within the squad, despite a recent training camp. A new conditioning camp is planned to address these concerns before the team's crucial tours to the Caribbean and England. New Test captain Babar Azam is focused on improving fitness and discipline for better performance in red-ball cricket.
India's Bindyarani Devi secured a bronze medal in the women's 58kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, despite facing challenges with two unsuccessful clean and jerk attempts. Nigeria's Rafiatu Folashade Lawal won gold with record-breaking lifts, while Canada's Ann-Sophie Taschereau took silver. Devi's gritty performance marked India's fifth weightlifting medal at the Games.
Argentina's football players displayed a political banner claiming "The Falklands are Argentine" after their World Cup semi-final win against England, potentially violating FIFA's code of conduct.
England batter Jacob Bethell scored an unbeaten 76 against India in the second T20I, leading his team to a four-wicket victory while chasing 191.
Pakistani mystery spinner Usman Tariq has expressed frustration over batters repeatedly questioning the legality of his bowling action. He highlighted incidents involving Tim David, Tom Banton, and Cameron Green, asserting that umpires should be the sole arbiters of his action, which has previously been cleared by the ICC.
Seasoned Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash failed to qualify for the men's 200m freestyle finals at the Commonwealth Games, finishing 20th overall. Compatriot Aneesh Gowda also missed out. While Aryan Nehra finished seventh in the 1500m freestyle, para swimmers Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni and Suyash Narayan Jadhav advanced to the S7 50m freestyle finals, offering a glimmer of hope for India.
National record holder Lovepreet Singh secured a silver medal in the men's +110kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, setting a new Games record in the snatch category. He finished just one kilogram behind New Zealand's David Andrew Liti, who claimed gold.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has been ruled out for an extended period due to a back injury sustained during the World Cup. The club confirmed that surgery is not required, but he will undergo a managed rehabilitation programme to return to full fitness.
Senior India batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, concluding a career that began in 2013 and included 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is.
France striker Kylian Mbappe has become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's 21 goals, after netting twice in France's third-place play-off match against England.
Following a poor performance against England, all-rounder Washington Sundar's place in India's T20 team is being heavily debated by fans and critics. His inability to consistently deliver with both bat and ball has led to questions regarding his continued selection.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre said he was leaving with pride despite the pain of elimination after losing to England in the FIFA World Cup.
Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has signed an eight-game deal with Yorkshire for the ongoing English county season, participating in both the Metro Bank One Day Cup and the Rothesay County Championship. Concurrently, uncapped Indian all-rounder Ashutosh Sharma made an impressive debut for Hampshire, taking three wickets in a one-day match against Yorkshire.
The Indian women's hockey squad for the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands has been announced, featuring the same 20 players selected for the Asian Games. Led by Salima Tete and coached by Sjoerd Marijne, the team is described as well-balanced, combining experienced players with promising young talent, fresh off an unbeaten victory at the FIH Nations Cup.
