Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has expressed confidence in Rohit Sharma's ability to open for India in the upcoming 50-over World Cup, despite ongoing scrutiny. Gavaskar believes the England ODI series will be a crucial platform for Sharma to demonstrate his consistent performance. He also touched upon the continuous pressure on senior players like Rohit and Virat Kohli, emphasising the need for consistent delivery and physical fitness as they age. Additionally, Gavaskar commented on Ben Stokes' surprising retirement timing.
The umbrella of 'inexperience' or 'reset' is merely an excuse. Team India's think-tank will have to admit that this is experimentation without a roadmap, points out K R Nayar.
Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin is set to return to Kolkata next month for an anti-fundamentalism literary event, nearly two decades after she was forced to leave the city amid violent protests over her writings. The BJP government in West Bengal is projecting this as a reversal of past capitulation to religious fundamentalism.
Legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has lauded young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, comparing his talent to that of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Dev emphasised that Sooryavanshi's ability, not his age, should be the primary factor in his selection for the national team, while also cautioning against excessive hype around the 15-year-old.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, a two-time Olympian, discusses how regular competition on the LPGA Tour has elevated her game, with improving driving distance being her top priority. She is focused on achieving success at the upcoming Asian Games and other major tournaments, expressing confidence in the potential of India's women's golf team.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed confidence in teenager Lamine Yamal, stating that the forward's most significant World Cup performance is yet to come, potentially in the semi-final against France or the final.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that the team management will continue to back openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, despite the impressive performance of teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Morkel stressed the importance of showing faith in established players who have performed well previously, while also acknowledging the excitement around new talents like Sooryavanshi and pacer Prince Yadav.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced a comprehensive bill imposing extensive sanctions on Russia, with India identified as one of five countries that could incur tariffs for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
The AIIMS Delhi medical board has submitted a critical forensic report to the CBI, confirming that the alleged ligature material in the Twisha Sharma death case matched injury patterns, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation.
India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak discusses the Indian cricket team's ongoing transition, highlighting the debut of young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the challenges of playing without Hardik Pandya. He emphasises the team's focus on developing new talent and improving in all departments for future World Cups.
US President Donald Trump has abruptly withdrawn from a peace deal with Iran, citing fresh intelligence of Iranian assaults on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The decision, made just a fortnight after celebrating the deal, has led to a significant military escalation in the region, with the US launching extensive counter-operations against Iranian military infrastructure.
Becomes youngest England player to score a goal and assist in a World Cup match
The 2026 World Cup has been marred by widespread controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with coaches, players, and fans criticising its application, consistency, and impact on match outcomes, leading to a significant increase in interventions and red cards.
United States President Donald Trump claimed Iran 'badly' wants to strike a deal with Washington, DC, but expressed uncertainty over Tehran's willingness to honour any agreement, following US strikes aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bharti Airtel is strategically shifting its focus towards data centres, cloud services, and financial services as key drivers for its next phase of growth, leveraging significant past investments in digital infrastructure, as outlined by Chairman Sunil Mittal in the company's Annual Report for 2025-26.
Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious World Cup career concluded with tears after Portugal's 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16, marking the end of his sixth attempt to win the coveted trophy.
The H-1B visa once symbolised the American Dream for Indians, but today's students are increasingly asking whether they need America at all. In 1995, the question was: How do I get to America? In 2026, it may be: Do I need to?
Gwadar is viewed as a critical pearl in China's maritime strategy as it would give a permanent logistical footprint near an important choke point - the Strait of Hormuz and the oil rich Persian Gulf, explains Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
Argentina's national football team anticipates a challenging last-16 World Cup match against Egypt, following a hard-fought victory over Cape Verde. Players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina emphasised the increasing competitiveness of international football, highlighting that no easy games remain in the tournament, as they prepare for a stern test from the highly motivated Egyptian side.
The move follows reports from several state drug-regulatory authorities indicating misuse and hoarding oral formulations with high ethyl-alcohol concentration, which people use as a substitute for liquor.
'Earlier, people used to hand money directly to priests after a ritual, and priests would keep it in their own pockets. We completely stopped that practice.'
'ISRO is planning to build a Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2030. So, our goal is to create a vehicle that can supply modules to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and bring the products back.'
Donald Trump announced he is replacing the 20% reimbursement fee for securing the Strait of Hormuz with massive trade and investment deals from Gulf States into the United States, while maintaining a full blockade on Iranian ship traffic.
'What struck me at the time was simply the scale of it -- that something of this magnitude could be unfolding inside the Ram temple itself.' 'It was bewildering. And what troubled me further was the manner in which people were shielding it.'
Cristiano Ronaldo met Canadian music superstar Drake after Portugal's dramatic 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia, with the Portugal captain celebrating his first-ever World Cup knockout goal before a quarter-final clash against Spain.
The Enforcement Directorate has frozen bank deposits of the Trinamool Congress worth Rs 440 crore under the anti-money laundering law. This action follows searches in a funds misappropriation case, with allegations of significant transfers to a private aviation company and the purchase of luxury aircraft.
Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead a strong Indian contingent at the International Series golf tournament, joined by other prominent Indian golfers.
Didier Deschamps, who led France to their second world title in 2018 and established them as international football's most consistent major-tournament force, will be remembered for his unprecedented legacy despite recent semi-final defeats.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has affirmed India's commitment to ensuring issues like a free, open, and rule-based maritime order, seafarer safety, and countering terror financing receive due attention at the UN Security Council during its 2028-29 term.
Sam Curran says he would welcome the opportunity to replace retired Ben Stokes in England's Test side as the all-rounder eyes a return to red-ball cricket after nearly four years away.
Former India Women's cricketer Reema Malhotra has hailed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's historic Test victory over England at Lord's, drawing parallels between their win and Sourav Ganguly's iconic balcony celebration in 2002, stating, 'July 13 has become a memorable date in Indian cricket history.'
India would confront a more entrenched China, a less dependable United States, and a regional order increasingly shaped by great-power bargaining over which it exercises limited influence, notes Amberish K Diwanji.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed disappointment after the team's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 defeat to Norway, but stated the team would use the exit as motivation for future improvements. He highlighted the need for new midfield talent as key players like Neymar are expected to retire from international football.
SBI Funds Management, India's largest asset management company, has set its IPO price band between 545 and Rs 574 per share, valuing the company at 1.2 trillion. The management explained the 'moderate' valuation aims to instil investor confidence amidst market uncertainty, while also highlighting plans for AI integration, expansion into GIFT City, and new alternative investment funds.
'Samantha has been a consistent draw at the box office long before Maa Inti Bangaaram.'
