England midfielder Jordan Henderson has publicly defended teammate Jude Bellingham, highlighting his crucial role and 'X-factor' for the team despite media scrutiny. Henderson also discussed his own controversial selection for his fourth World Cup and the challenge of facing Luka Modric.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes the exploding popularity of T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, poses a significant threat to the future of bilateral international cricket, stating that '70 per cent (people are watching club cricket instead of international cricket)'.
Pakistan has announced its 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Abu Bakr Mahmood leading the team. The tournament will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30, marking Pakistan's return after an eight-year absence.
Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 115 against Sri Lanka, inspired by his 'Mamba Mentality' motto, showcased his disciplined approach to Test cricket, contrasting with Rishabh Pant's aggressive style while building a crucial 112-run partnership.
Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh has taken responsibility for the team's 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands at the FIH World Cup. He attributed the loss to a "one per cent lapse" in an otherwise strong performance, highlighting how small errors proved costly in a high-stakes match. Defender Amit Rohidas also acknowledged unforced errors in the final quarter.
England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, a heavyweight Group L opener that could set the tone for both teams' tournament ambitions.
Mohammed Siraj has been rested from India's T20I squads for the upcoming tours against Ireland and England as a precautionary measure for workload management. Prasidh Krishna has been named as his replacement. The BCCI stated this decision ensures Siraj's recovery ahead of a long international season, following his recent participation in IPL 2026 and a Test match.
India's Women's Hockey team, buoyed by a draw against China, is set to face South Africa in their second World Cup match. A win is crucial for their qualification hopes for the second round. Coach Sjoerd Marijne acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in ball possession, despite strong performances from key players like Deepika and Navneet Kaur.
Ayush Shetty's impressive run at the World Championships ended in the pre-quarterfinals against Alwi Farhan, concluding India's men's singles challenge. Meanwhile, the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the quarterfinals with a dominant win, continuing their strong comeback after Treesa's injury.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
Liverpool secured a dramatic 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting a stoppage-time penalty. The match also served as a tribute to the late Kevin Keegan, a shared hero for both clubs, with fans and former players honouring his legacy. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock for Newcastle were cancelled out by Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai's late equaliser for Liverpool.
Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Yuvraj Sandhu had a challenging opening round at the Nexo Championship in Scotland, with Sharma tied 38th and Sandhu tied 62nd amidst strong winds. Sweden's Marcus Kinhult leads the tournament.
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.
India spin legend Harbhajan Singh has lauded 15-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling his audacious strokeplay unparalleled.
South Africa has appointed spinner Bjorn Fortuin as captain for their upcoming Twenty20 tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe, and a three-game One-Day International series, aiming to provide international experience to younger players ahead of a busy schedule.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
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.
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, renowned for his success with Chennai Super Kings, has been appointed England's new Test head coach, with Joe Root returning as captain after a comprehensive recruitment process by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is campaigning for re-election by positioning himself as the advocate for less wealthy football nations, while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out running against him but anticipates an opposition candidate.
Chelsea is undergoing a significant close-season transformation under new manager Xabi Alonso, with major signings like Morgan Rogers.
Former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin has been acquitted of all charges by the Patiala House Court in a 22-year-old criminal case involving allegations of forgery and passport act violations, bringing him significant relief after years of stress.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has encouraged all-rounder Cameron Green to adopt an aggressive approach against Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series.
Freya Kemp's outstanding all-round performance propelled England to a 26-run victory over India in the second Women's T20 International, levelling the three-match series.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams have both advanced to the finals of the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships after defeating England in their respective semifinals. The men's team secured a dominant 3-0 victory, while the women's team overcame a tougher challenge with a 3-1 win. Both teams are set to face Malaysia in the championship matches.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has seen its revenue grow by over 9 per cent to 7,064 crore, driven by the strong performance of SonyLIV, Sony SAB, and Sony Entertainment Television (SET), said Gaurav Banerjee, head of SPNI.
Jose Mourinho, in his first Real Madrid press conference, emphasised non-negotiable commitment, unavoidable competition, and zero tolerance for selection frustrations, setting a clear tone for the upcoming LaLiga season.
M S Dhoni's appearance in Chennai has ignited fervent discussions among fans regarding the future of Chennai Super Kings.
The England football team's training equipment, including players' boots and manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical gear, was reportedly stolen in Kansas City ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia. The Football Association and local police are investigating, with two arrests already made.
Virat Kohli, who debuted 18 years ago, has amassed over 28,000 international runs and 85 centuries, establishing himself as one of cricket's all-time greats with numerous unmatched records across all formats.
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.
England have suffered a theft of training equipment ahead of their arrival in Kansas City, local police said, after a vehicle transporting the gear to their World Cup base was broken into.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has expressed strong confidence in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ability to contribute significantly to India's 2027 ODI World Cup campaign, stating they will 'add great value to the team and help India win the World Cup'.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has expressed his hope that Marcus Rashford will remain at the club, calling the forward a 'huge threat' and a significant asset who can improve the team.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has moved the start times of the upcoming five T20 Internationals against India an hour earlier to 10:00 pm IST, aiming to maximise television viewership in the subcontinent. This decision, made after consulting broadcasters, highlights English cricket's financial reliance on high-value series featuring India. The tour also includes a sold-out ODI series, with uncertainty surrounding Virat Kohli's participation due to injury.
The challenge for manager Thomas Tuchel has a tough task in a tricky group with Croatia, Ghana and Panama, while ensuring reliance on Harry Kane does not become over-dependence by encouraging tactical flexibility.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes former England captain Ben Stokes could be persuaded to reverse his Test retirement and feature in the Ashes 2027 series, said Australia coach Andrew McDonald.
Former Asian Games gold medallist Ronjan Sodhi believes India's ambitious target of 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics is a 'distant prospect', citing significant delays in talent identification, scouting, and critical infrastructure improvements.
The Indian women's junior squash team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the World Squash Junior Team Championships in Ontario, defeating England 2-0 in the play-off match.
India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand staged a remarkable comeback victory in the women's doubles quarter-finals at the BWF World Championships 2026, defeating China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian to secure a semi-final spot and guarantee India a medal.
Inter Milan and Napoli secured victories in their Serie A openers, while Racing Lens and Olympique Lyonnais also began their Ligue 1 campaigns with wins, setting an early pace in their respective leagues.
