Two-time finalists India are placed fifth and face a challenging path to secure a top-two finish.
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has announced that the team will forgo traditional practice matches before their upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy Test series in India, opting instead for a short preparatory camp in sub-continental conditions. This strategic decision aims to better acclimatise players for the challenging Indian pitches.
Former world No. 1 shuttler Saina Nehwal has stated that India's true measure as a 'sporting nation' will be its position in the global medals tally, not just hosting major tournaments. She highlighted the significant progress made by women in sports but emphasised the need for better financial backing, sponsorships, and comprehensive support systems including psychologists and proper coaching from an early age to nurture more champions.
The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) is set to review a controversial rule allowing DPL franchises to pick three local league players outside the auction, following widespread disrepute caused by the inclusion of cricketer Dev Chaudhary in the New Delhi Tigers squad.
SAI has defended the exclusion of five Indian tennis players from the Asian Games squad, saying they failed to meet the prescribed continental ranking criteria.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal was defeated in straight sets by top seed Arthur Gea in the opening round of the US Open qualifying tournament, extending his streak of not reaching a Grand Slam main draw to seven events. Nagal will now focus on the upcoming Davis Cup clash.
North Zone coaches Ajay Sharma and Sarandeep Singh are under scrutiny for controversially dropping Sanat Sangwan, the Ranji Trophy's third-highest run-scorer, for the Duleep Trophy quarter-final against West Zone, opting instead for Yash Dhull, who had a significantly poorer Ranji season.
Rohit Sharma has commenced his rigorous training at the Mumbai Cricket Association facility, gearing up for the ODI series against the West Indies in September.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member Indian contingent, comprising 265 male and 227 female athletes, for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the largest group with 73 participants, including star athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Jyothi Yarraji. Other prominent sports like shooting, weightlifting, badminton, boxing, and wrestling also feature strong teams, with some adjustments made due to doping violations.
Robotic surgery is poised to transform healthcare in Delhi, expanding access to specialised expertise through the Indian-developed SSI Mantra system. Delhi is emerging as a hub for advanced surgical care, with successful implementations at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, including pioneering telesurgery. This technology aims to make robotic surgery more accessible and sustainable, fostering an ecosystem for training and innovation.
India's teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blasted an impressive 81 runs on Sunday to steer his side to a 3-0 whitewash of hosts Zimbabwe in their Twenty20 series at the Harare Sports Club.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has signed an MoU with the Drone Federation of India (DFI) to enhance its counter-drone capabilities. This partnership aims to strengthen security at vital installations like airports, nuclear facilities, and oil refineries by fostering engagement with Indian drone startups and technology companies for capacity building, research, and operational readiness against aerial threats.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
Scottish striker Lee Harry Erwin has signed a one-year contract with Indian football club Mohun Bagan, bringing his experience from European and Asian clubs to bolster the team's attacking options.
Both the Indian U-18 men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete in the semifinals of the Asia Cup. The men's team will face arch-rivals Pakistan, focusing on improving penalty corner execution, while the dominant women's team will take on China, aiming to continue their unbeaten run.
Batting great Cheteshwar Pujara believes veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja's recent shift to a more aggressive, wicket-taking mindset in red-ball cricket will make him a vital player for India during the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
Teen batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just eight runs on his Duleep Trophy debut for East Zone before Sudip Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed hit hundreds to power them to 355 for 6 against North East.
'We're going to play in a lot of different conditions over the next 12 months. It's going to require different efforts. It may not look like the traditional thing all the time.'
The India and England players wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence ahead of the start of the third and final at Lord's on Sunday to pay tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers, who died on Friday, July 17, 2026.
The Supreme Court was informed that sanction is awaited to prosecute Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his remarks against Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi. The SIT probe is complete, and a chargesheet will be filed once sanction is obtained. Shah had previously apologised for his controversial comments.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to appoint the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A selection committee is expected to submit three shortlisted names on Wednesday, following an extensive search process that reviewed approximately 5,500 applications. This move comes after the Trust acknowledged that donation theft had harmed its image, aiming to ensure superior management and restore devotee faith.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has announced he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games, after sustaining a ligament tear in his ankle during training. This injury is a significant setback for India's athletics campaign.
The controversy within Hockey India over the change in the Indian teams' jersey colour has intensified, with President Dilip Tirkey demanding documents from Director General Commander RK Srivastava. The issue, coupled with unaddressed harassment complaints, has led to the Secretary General seeking an emergency Executive Board meeting, highlighting significant internal strife ahead of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup.
Devdutt Padikkal's maiden Test century put India firmly in control on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, with the visitors reaching 288/2 at stumps.
India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the ICC to integrate lower-ranked teams into every bilateral series, arguing that this is crucial for the sport's global expansion, beyond just expanding World Cup formats.
Rajesh Ramesh, a key figure in India's 4x400m relay teams, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, aiming to contribute to the team's success and make the nation proud.
'China wants to control and divert rivers.'
Kashi Rudras' ambidextrous spinner Vijay Yadav has set an ambitious target of making it to the IPL within the next one to two years, driven by his dedication to all three departments of the game and profound inspiration from Virat Kohli's aggression and commitment.
Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.
Naib Subedar Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, a 27-year-old from a farming village in Karnataka, is set to represent India at the Asian Games in shooting, a sport he discovered only after joining the Indian Army in 2018 with no prior sporting ambition.
The Indian women's hockey team advanced to the second round of the FIH World Cup after a goalless draw against England in their final Pool D match. Despite a challenging performance and facing numerous penalty corners, India's goalkeepers played a crucial role in preserving the draw and securing qualification.
Following is the schedule of Indian athletes on the ninth day of Commonwealth Games on Friday.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met the Indian Junior Women's Handball Team to extend his best wishes for the upcoming Junior Women's Handball World Championship in China. He emphasised the importance of sports and expressed confidence in the team's ability to bring glory to the nation.
England captain Joe Root expresses confidence in overcoming his recent batting slump, citing his extensive experience and over 14,000 Test runs as proof of his ability to navigate difficult periods. He also addressed the team's responsible celebration following their series win.
The Indian men's hockey team's forward line, including Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, and Shilanand Lakra, is meticulously preparing for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup. They are focusing on chemistry, consistency, and the evolving role of modern forwards, which now includes being the first line of defence. Senior players like Mandeep are mentoring younger talents, emphasising teamwork, mental fortitude, and converting chances.
Shubman Gill remains hopeful of India reaching the WTC final, but the team must win at least six of their remaining seven Tests.
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has received clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had been recovering from an impact injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England, which forced him to miss the third ODI. His return is crucial for India's World Test Championship aspirations.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the contracts of assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip have ended and will not be extended. The decision comes amidst dissatisfaction with their performance and unfulfilled roles. A new fielding coach is expected to be announced soon, with Subhadeep Ghosh tipped as the frontrunner.
Villages along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border are on high alert following devastating flash floods in Nepal, with authorities monitoring the Gandak River for potential downstream surges and the NDRF deploying 20 teams for preparedness.
India's men's pairs team, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar, secured a hard-fought victory against the Cook Islands in their opening lawn bowls match at the Commonwealth Games, winning a tie-break after being locked 1-1.
