England coach Brendon McCullum revealed he tried to convince Ben Stokes not to retire, calling the Test captain a "leader of men" whose leadership and presence will be impossible to replace as England prepare for a new era.
Jai Moondra, a left-arm medium pacer from Rajasthan, made a dream international debut for Ireland, taking a wicket with his first ball against India. His journey is remarkable, having left a secure corporate job at Intel after pursuing an MTech in Dublin to chase his cricketing dream, culminating in a historic victory for Ireland.
Reigning world champions India, Britain, South Africa and hosts United States are set to feature in the men's Twenty20 competition when cricket returns to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles following a qualification pathway approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, have defied expectations by drawing with football giants Spain and Uruguay.
World number one Jannik Sinner survived an early scare in his Wimbledon title defence but the Italian shook off the rust and fought past Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 on Monday to reach the second round.
Inspired by Lamine Yamal, Spain strolled to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Group H on Sunday, where Mikel Oyarzabal restored his reputation with two goals and Luis de la Fuente's side found their groove after an underwhelming World Cup opener.
Belgium, who missed a slew of scoring chances against Iran on Sunday, have taken only two points from their opening two matches despite entering the tournament as favourites to progress from the group.
Fans at the World Cup are vocally protesting FIFA's newly introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks, booing the stoppages during matches in Dallas, Toronto, and Boston. Critics argue these breaks disrupt game flow and serve commercial interests, with one match seeing a team concede a goal shortly after a break.
Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time winner sent Canada into the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, with coach Jesse Marsch paying an emotional tribute to the midfielder's late parents after the dramatic 1-0 win over South Africa.
Researchers have found that brainwave synchrony between individuals can be used to guide and improve social interactions, potentially "engineering" social connectedness. Studies involving thousands of participants, including collaborations with musicians and artists, demonstrated that being "on the same wavelength" is linked to healthy social relationships and can be boosted through interventions. This phenomenon, termed 'social synchrony', aligns brain, body, and language rhythms, playing a crucial role in social cohesion and learning.
Indian badminton players Devika Sihag, Rounak Chouhan, and Kidambi Srikanth have advanced to the semifinals of the US Open badminton tournament in Fullerton, USA. Sihag caused an upset by defeating third seed Riko Gunji, while Chouhan continued his strong performance. Srikanth's win sets up the possibility of an all-Indian final.
Spain arrive into their Group H clash against Saudi Arabia needing a sharper attacking display after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their opening match in Atlanta.
Former India captain Diana Edulji believes the Indian women's cricket team faces a significant challenge to qualify for the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals after their recent loss to South Africa. She highlighted the team's need to win their remaining matches against Bangladesh and Australia and discussed the team's T20 playing style.
World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.
Ramneek Kataria may have won hearts as the spirited Bareilly Ki Bachchan, but her personal style proves she is just as comfortable playing the girl next door as she is embracing full-blown glamour.
Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, with fans eagerly awaiting the seven-time champion's comeback as she faces Australian teenager Maya Joint in a blockbuster first-round clash.
India's campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup ended after a six-wicket loss to Australia at Lord's. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur admitted the team did not play to its standards and called for a "rethink" on their performance against top teams. Australian captain Sophie Molineux praised Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner for their match-winning partnership.
Balogun scored and celebrated in style before a VAR review turned his night around for the worse, as he was sent off for a foul. Even with 10 men, the United States stayed disciplined and beat Bosnia 2-0. Malik Tillman sealed the win with a free-kick goal. The result sends the U.S. into the last 16 against Belgium. Balogun is suspended for that match.
Lionel Messi has become the most prolific scorer in World Cup history, netting two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. This achievement, which saw him surpass Brazilian great Marta's record of 17 goals, also secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage with a game to spare. Despite missing a penalty, Messi expressed satisfaction with the team's performance and the crucial win.
Merlin, the pet duck in a mini Mexico shirt who has become a viral sensation and an unofficial mascot of the World Cup, met Mexico's president on Monday.
Bollywood actor John Abraham has acquired co-ownership in the Rotterdam Dockers, a franchise participating in the inaugural European T20 Premier League. The league, featuring six city-based teams, aims to boost cricket's growth in Europe and includes other cricketing legends in its ownership and leadership groups.
Seattle's LGBTQ community members say they hope that this Friday's World Cup "Pride Match" between Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is criminalised, can be an opportunity to change minds.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has stressed the importance of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav reinventing his game to stay competitive amidst burgeoning talent. Despite decent overall numbers, Kuldeep's recent lean patch in the IPL and a solitary Test match has led to him losing his spot in the T20I squad for upcoming tours, prompting the coach's call for evolution.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, leading France to a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden in the World Cup Round of 32. This win maintains France's perfect record and sets up a last-16 clash with Paraguay, with Mbappe continuing his impressive World Cup scoring streak.
The 'Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines' for female cricketers, outline a six 'R's framework: Ready, Review, Restore, Recondition, Return and Refine.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves in the 0-0 draw with Ecuador -- the most in a 90-minute match in the World Cup history.
Talismanic Mohamed Salah scores twice to help Egypt rally to 3-1 win over New Zealand on Sunday.
Lionel Messi is poised to further cement his legendary status as Argentina faces Austria in a crucial FIFA World Cup Group J match. Following a record-breaking hat-trick against Algeria, Messi is on the verge of equalling or surpassing several all-time World Cup records, including consecutive goals, total goals, and match victories. The football world watches as he leads Argentina against a formidable Austrian side.
Sony Pictures Networks India has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19-October 4.
As India awaits Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's senior debut, experts urge cricket to remember the 15-year-old is still a child, highlighting the challenges of balancing extraordinary talent, growing fame and emotional well-being.
Batting-order flexibility has become a key factor in modern white-ball cricket, and former India all-rounder Vijay Shankar believes players who can seamlessly adapt to different roles are increasingly valuable in a format driven by situational demands.
Ecuador's World Cup nightmare turned into a dream, as La Tri's once seemingly doomed campaign was resurrected against Germany in a remarkable conclusion to Group E on Thursday.
Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal as Tunisia coach after a single game at the World Cup places him on an ignominious list that includes one of the most successful coaches in tournament history.
Lionel Messi's record-breaking night draws ultimate praise from former record-holder Miroslav Klose.
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran has offered advice to World Champion D Gukesh ahead of his title defence against Javokhir Sindarov. Sasikiran highlights Gukesh's tendency for time trouble due to complex play and suggests improving technique, speed, and defensive accuracy. He also advises Gukesh to identify and exploit opponent weaknesses, while acknowledging Sindarov's strong preparation and reliance on memory and speed.
France's formidable attack has propelled them through the World Cup group stage, but coach Didier Deschamps is focused on resolving issues on the team's left side before their Round of 32 match against Sweden.
England are on the verge of defeat in Ben Stokes' final international match, needing 270 runs with only six wickets remaining against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Despite Stokes' aggressive opening knock, England lost four quick wickets in their chase of 373, leaving New Zealand in a dominant position on day four. Daryl Mitchell's resilient century was a highlight for New Zealand.
Four-time champions Germany suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup group stage match, marking a historic upset. This loss highlighted Germany's persistent defensive issues, as they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine World Cup games. Despite an early lead, Germany succumbed to Ecuador's determined comeback, which secured Ecuador's progression to the round of 32.
'Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality'
The expanded World Cup is being dominated by superstar performances from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, who are leading the scoring charts. Young talent like Lamine Yamal is also making a significant impact, while Harry Kane continues to impress. The tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling display of individual brilliance, with a potential repeat of the last final between Messi and Mbappe.
