'While his cricketing achievements are obvious, people should remember Ajinkya Rahane, the person. Because he has inspired youngsters in the dressing room by his powerful humane gestures.'
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented a comprehensive report card on the Sports and Labour & Employment ministries to NDA MPs, detailing India's ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics, targets for medal tallies, and significant growth in job creation and social security coverage over the past decade.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dominant 6-0 victory over CISF Protectors in the 135th Durand Cup, with Sahal Abdul Samad scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the aggressive batting approach fostered by the T20 era has come at the expense of patience, leading to a decline in marathon innings in Test cricket by younger players.
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.
Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in Galle, becoming the second Indian, and first Test centurion, to achieve this feat on Independence Day, joining Virat Kohli in an elite list.
India concluded its 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign with a strong performance, securing fourth place with 39 medals despite a reduced sporting programme.
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has uncovered a Rs 1.5 crore WhatsApp fraud, leading to the arrest of two key SIM and OTP suppliers in West Bengal. The investigation revealed a sophisticated international cybercrime network spanning China, Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong, operating a "boss scam" and utilizing a "Cybercrime as a Service" model. Police recovered a significant portion of the defrauded amount and secured thousands of devices.
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar believes India's women pugilists are a stronger bet for an Olympic medal than their male counterparts and should be prioritised in the overall planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following their record-shattering Commonwealth Games performance.
Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam finished 20th in the men's 1000m time trial, while Harshveer Singh Sekhon and Dinesh Kumar were eliminated from the men's 40km points race in the heats at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav admitted that his 'overconfidence' and attempt to outdo both Sri Lankan gold winner Rumesh Pathirage and compatriot Neeraj Chopra during the Commonwealth Games final led to his seventh-place finish, stating he should have curbed his ambition.
Australia's nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh in Darwin has been described as one of the country's biggest test humiliations, prompting uncomfortable questions about the top-ranked team's future and sparking calls for regeneration.
Ravindra Jadeja is a captain's delight and has delivered with the bat when needed most, destroyed batting line-ups, taken breathtaking catches and pulled off brilliant run-outs. His feats are an inspiration.
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has opened up about the challenging 10 months he faced battling multiple injuries, including an adductor muscle issue. Despite the setbacks, the two-time Olympic medallist made a strong comeback at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing a silver medal. He expressed gratitude to his support staff for their crucial role in his recovery and return to competition.
England batter Ollie Pope, recalled to the Test squad for the Pakistan series after a challenging Ashes tour, describes the call-up as feeling like a 'debut' and is determined to prove himself, particularly with an eye on the next home Ashes series.
Punjab Kings' Nehal Wadhera said head coach Ricky Ponting personally approached him and offered reassurance at a time when his confidence was affected by his lack of runs during IPL 2026.
Devdutt Padikkal's childhood coach, Mohammad Naseeruddin, revealed the rigorous training regimen the cricketer underwent, including practising with Kookaburra balls on turning pitches, to prepare for the Sri Lankan spin attack ahead of the Test series.
Gulveer Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian to win a 5000m medal at the Commonwealth Games, securing a bronze.
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has become the ninth Australian bowler to take 300 Test wickets, achieving the milestone during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin with his 14th career five-wicket haul.
India achieved its most productive day at the Commonwealth Games, securing a record-breaking seven gold medals in boxing, along with significant successes in judo and para track and field, propelling the nation to fourth place in the medal table.
Judoka Asmita Dey from Tripura has won a gold medal in the women's 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, marking a historic first for an Indian woman judoka. Chief Minister Manik Saha and Sports Minister Tinku Roy congratulated Dey, highlighting her achievement as an inspiration for the nation.
SC Delhi staged a remarkable second-half comeback, scoring five goals to defeat debutants FC Raengdai of Manipur 5-1 in the Durand Cup quarter-finals. After conceding an early goal, Joseph Sunny's brace, along with goals from Rodriguinho, Juan Sebastian Pena, and Augustine Lalrochana, secured their place in the semifinals.
Arun Vasu, president of the Surfing Federation of India, has been elected as the new head of the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF) after a supervised voting process. He succeeds Atsushi Sakai of Japan and aims to build on the legacy while promoting surfing and SUP across Asia.
Rishabh Pant's dismissal for 39 against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle has once again brought his shot selection under intense scrutiny, with fans and former cricketers criticising his inability to convert starts into bigger scores.
Top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a big toe injury. The injury, sustained during the India A tour last month, requires further healing time, leading to his withdrawal from the squad.
Young Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to participate in the Tour de France Femmes. The 19-year-old led a pack of international cyclists during a ceremonial start at Stage 2 of the prestigious race, an opportunity provided by the UCI World Cycling Talent programme. Jakhar, who aims for medals in future Asian Games, expressed her gratitude for the chance to ride in her dream event.
India's chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand believes the sport's upcoming shift to a 15x3 scoring system will lead to some players being 'wiped off' due to the increased premium on speed, power, and mental strength.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and reigning men's doubles champion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will headline the Indian badminton squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Sri Lanka have gone more than a decade since their last Test match win against India, having last beaten them in the Galle Test in 2015.
Indian shuttler Unnati Hooda defeated compatriot Devika Sihag in straight games to secure her spot in the Taipei Open semifinals. Hooda, the third seed, won a tightly contested first game before dominating the second to close out the match.
India's para shot putter Soman Rana won the gold gold medal in the men's F57 event para shot put event at the Commonwealth Games.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recounted an elaborate April Fool's Day prank in 2005 where he and Yuvraj Singh convinced then-captain Sourav Ganguly that he had publicly criticised his teammates, leading Ganguly to panic and offer to resign.
US President Donald Trump has publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that replacing him would be a 'terrible mistake' and that the sport would 'never be as successful or profitable' without him, despite Infantino facing significant backlash and a battle to retain his position ahead of next year's presidential elections.
Indian distance runner Parul Chaudhary finished 13th in the women's 5000m final at the Commonwealth Games, clocking 15:08.56. This result continues India's wait for a medal in this event at the Games. Chaudhary, a national record holder and Asian Games champion, had also missed a medal in her preferred 3000m steeplechase event.
Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes that while bilateral ODI series may become fewer in the future, the 50-over format is unlikely to disappear entirely, with passionate fans continuing to support their teams.
Indian javelin thrower Yashvir Singh credited Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's last-second advice for his bronze medal-winning throw of 85.41m at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, a personal best that propelled him from seventh to third place.
Indian-origin chess prodigies Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, and Shreyas Royal, 17, have made history by winning the 2026 British Chess Championships. Bodhana became Britain's youngest-ever Women's chess champion, while Royal scooped the overall British title, establishing their status as emerging world-class talents.
India spin legend Harbhajan Singh has lauded 15-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling his audacious strokeplay unparalleled.
Judoka Ishroop Narang gave her all in the bronze medal play-off but lost to Canadian Coralie Godbout by yuko as India's judo campaign ended at the Commonwealth Games without any medal.
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.
