India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
The driver of a speeding BMW involved in a fatal crash on Mumbai's Coastal Road, which killed three students, had a documented history of reckless driving and drunk and disorderly conduct. Police have registered an FIR against the deceased driver, Shanay Gajar, as investigations reveal prior cases of overspeeding and obstructing officers while inebriated.
Suryakumar Yadav turned 36 as wife Devisha, BCCI, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings celebrated India's T20 star, highlighting his World Cup triumphs, captaincy and international achievements.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the world football body's decision-making framework.
Volkswagen, a long-standing but minor player in India's fiercely competitive automotive sector, is now exploring a strategic partnership with the JSW group, aiming to revitalise its market presence, enhance profitability, and potentially establish India as a key export hub for electric vehicles.
Climate scientist Tapio Schneider advocates for expanding early warning systems beyond rainfall events to include other disaster triggers like flash floods, citing the recent Nepal floods. He highlights the inevitability of 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming and discusses the role of advanced climate modelling and AI in improving predictions and research, particularly for regions like India.
Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh, India's speed climbing representatives, are set to make their Asian Games debut. The athletes, who discovered the sport through different paths, discuss their journeys, the challenges of pursuing a niche sport, and their excitement for the upcoming competition, where India aims for its first climbing medal. They also highlight the need for better support and exposure for the sport in India.
The Tamil Nadu government has constituted an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sensational POCSO case against granite baron R Veeramani (84), who is accused of sexual abuse of minor girls. The case has led to the easing out of two top IPS officers and allegations of delayed action and political interference.
Indian steeplechase champion Avinash Sable faced a career-threatening knee injury and subsequent psychological struggles, leading to 14 months on the sidelines. Despite a tough upbringing, the physical and mental toll of inactivity and a second injury pushed him to the brink of retirement. With renewed determination and support, Sable has overcome his fears and is now back in competitive shape, aiming to defend his Asian Games title.
The Chintan Shivir is expected to discuss the progress of government schemes, policy implementation, time management, inter-ministerial coordination, and public service delivery, among others.
India's badminton contingent is set to begin its Asian Games campaign, with the men's team aiming to improve on their previous silver medal and the women's team seeking a second medal. Key players like Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag, PV Sindhu, and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand are expected to lead the charge against strong opponents like Japan, China, and Korea in both team and individual events.
The 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, running from September 19 to October 4, will feature approximately 17,000 athletes from 45 countries competing in 469 medal events across 43 sports. Japan hosts for the third time, introducing new sports like mixed martial arts and virtual taekwondo, while also serving as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Wimbledon achieved record attendance and social media engagement, along with strong broadcasting figures, despite competing with the soccer World Cup. The tournament saw over half a million fans, significant retail sales, and a notable audience share for the women's singles final in the Czech Republic.
Shubman Gill celebrated his 27th birthday with his family, reflecting on a remarkable rise from Fazilka to becoming one of India's leading batters.
Ishan Kishan made another strong red-ball statement with 80 after his 270, as East Zone moved within touching distance of the Duleep Trophy title.
India's Quimcy Dsouza lost her Teqball women's singles semifinal match to Indonesia's Sumaya in a gruelling three-game contest at the Asian Games. Despite the defeat, Dsouza remains in contention for a bronze medal and is scheduled to compete in the playoff.
Former India captain Anjum Chopra praises Smriti Mandhana's evolved power game and dominance against spinners, calling it a blueprint for younger players in women's T20 cricket.
Shubman Gill, India's Test and ODI captain, celebrated his 27th birthday, marking a remarkable journey from a young prodigy to a dependable leader and cornerstone of the Indian batting line-up, with impressive records across all formats.
Delhi Police arrested Sanju Mishra alias Tuntun Mishra from Ranchi, Jharkhand, in connection with a financial cheating case. Mishra, who runs a power tools business, is accused of fraud involving his business partner, Anup Garg. An FIR was registered in Delhi, and his bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court. Police are investigating his bank accounts and the fraud's modus operandi.
Shafali Verma capitalised on three dropped chances to smash 64 off 40 balls, while India's spinners dismantled Bangladesh's chase to secure a comfortable 40-run Asia Cup semifinal win.
The Supreme Court has requested a report from the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice regarding the conduct of the presiding officer in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. This follows allegations by an eyewitness's advocate, Prashant Bhushan, that the officer improperly transferred cases, acquitted accused, and issued a non-bailable warrant against his ill client. The apex court also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to appoint an experienced public prosecutor for the trial.
India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the T20 series against Afghanistan due to a fresh injury, casting significant doubt on his participation in the upcoming Asian Games. This comes shortly after his recovery from a previous hamstring injury, raising concerns about player injury management.
The Indian women's cricket team secured their eighth Women's Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, a triumph that has garnered widespread congratulations from top Indian leaders.
Opener Shafali Verma's explosive 64-run innings powered the Indian women's cricket team into the final of the Women's T20 Asia Cup in Dubai. Her crucial knock on a spin-friendly pitch helped India set a competitive target of 149, which Bangladesh failed to chase, losing by 40 runs. Both captains acknowledged the dominance of spin bowling in the match.
Suraj Meena, a non-Ladakhi marathoner from Rajasthan, achieved a remarkable second-place finish in the 122km Silk Route Ultra Ladakh Marathon, clocking 12 hours and 35 minutes. This performance set a new record for non-Ladakhis in the event, significantly beating the previous best. Meena highlighted the extreme difficulty of high-altitude running for those not acclimatised and shared his unique training approach, which included cycling 2,400km from Jaipur to Ladakh.
South African opener Jordan Hermann smashed an unbeaten 150 runs off just 126 balls on his One Day International (ODI) debut against Namibia, equalling the world record for the highest score by a batter on ODI debut.
Brighton and Hove Albion delivered a stunning 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, ending the Premier League champions' perfect start to the season with goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Chema Andres.
Ishan Kishan continued his impressive form in crucial matches by scoring his maiden first-class double century, a blistering 250 off 301 balls, for East Zone against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final before retiring hurt due to cramps.
Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta has strongly criticised the 2023 law for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners, arguing that the executive's dominant role in the selection committee creates a 'shadow of doubt' over the Election Commission's independence, even if appointments are meritorious.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced strong support for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup, emphasising that performance, not age, should be the primary criterion for selection.
A bar owner in Pune's Shirur tehsil, Harish Dadabhau Gangawane, was shot dead following an escalation of a six-month-old dispute over a bill payment. Three individuals, Rohit Ravindra Sonawane, Aniket Vilas Gavhane, and Aditya Pawar, have been booked in connection with the murder. The incident occurred after a heated argument and a subsequent attack on Gangawane.
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Ray to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023, terming the crime "rarest of rare". The convict also received life imprisonment for rape and other sentences for related offences.
India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.
Indian tennis prodigy Manas Dhamne, 18, discusses his journey as a professional, highlighting the need to regain his instinct for closing out tight matches and achieving consistent performance. Despite recent challenges, Dhamne believes his game is strong and focuses on mental consistency and continuous improvement rather than major technical changes or specific ranking targets.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has threatened "continuous, effective and painful" attacks on US bases and interests across the region if Washington resumes military action against Tehran, amid escalating tensions and a US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
India opener Smriti Mandhana has significantly strengthened her position in the ICC T20I rankings, moving closer to the top four after a remarkable 124 against Hong Kong, China.
Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, while AC Milan dominated Lecce with a 3-0 win in recent Serie A matches. Napoli, however, were held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina.
Despite her US Open title bid ending in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff believes the changes she has made to her game are starting to yield positive results, expressing excitement for future development.
New head coach Zaheer Khan's biggest challenge at CSK will be to decide on the future of talisman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who incidentally recommended him for the top post.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has voiced concerns that the government's new 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 could reverse the progress of digital payment adoption among small retailers. This fee, effective October 15, places the burden on merchants operating on thin margins, potentially pushing them back to cash transactions and undermining the government's formalisation agenda, especially ahead of the festive season.
