Spinner Harsh Dubey delivered a sensational spell of nine for 53, headlining a dramatic opening day in the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy clash between Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha in Nagpur. Madhya Pradesh were bowled out for 209, with Atharva Mahajan scoring 85. In response, Vidarbha struggled, ending the day at 56 for four, trailing by 153 runs, as Kumar Kartikeya picked up three wickets for Madhya Pradesh.
India and Pakistan's Under-19 cricket teams are set to face off in a crucial Asia Cup Group A encounter on Sunday. Both teams enter the match with convincing wins, aiming to secure a top spot in their group and advance to the semi-finals. The game will feature promising young talents, including Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid from India, and strong performers like Usman Khan from Pakistan.
India has announced a 95-member athletics contingent for the inaugural BIMSTEC U23 Athletics Meet in Bhubaneswar from November 25 to 27. The team will be led by promising sprinter Neil Samraj, a double gold medallist and national record holder. Sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan is a key name in the women's section. Over 400 athletes from seven nations are expected to participate.
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has become the third player from his country to claim 150 T20 International wickets. He achieved this feat during the fourth T20I against India, where he also surpassed Ish Sodhi for the most T20I wickets against India. Santner's performance contributed to New Zealand's 87-run victory in Auckland.
This year's Ekta Diwas parade in Kevadia, Gujarat, will feature around 2,000 artists from 126 Naxal-affected districts and celebrate the significant achievement of ending armed Naxalism in the country. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the annual event on October 31, which also commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary. The celebrations will include cultural performances, innovative tableaux, and will honour security forces while promoting tourism to the Statue of Unity.
IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel stated that India is at a defining moment with a unique opportunity to shape exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, emphasizing that "when India builds, it builds for billions," leading to scalable impact. Speaking at the IBM Think 2026 event, Patel highlighted that the AI revolution is still in its early stages, requiring enterprises to redesign their operations around agents, real-time data, automation, hybrid architecture, and trust. He also introduced the concept of "digital swaraj" or sovereignty in the Indian context, stressing the importance of control over operating environments, data, technology, and AI execution. IBM also announced an MoU with MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate India's deep tech innovation and startup ecosystem, providing startups access to IBM's technology expertise and platforms like watsonx and Sovereign Core.
Eight individuals have been booked in Mumbai for their alleged involvement in an organised theft network that stole iron rods from trailers transporting construction materials. Police have recovered stolen goods valued at Rs 1.6 crore, and further investigation is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the racket and identify more culprits.
Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag, sons of former India cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, have been selected for India's U19 squad for the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman, following their impressive performances in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy.
Indian-American physician Amish Shah has made history by becoming the first from the community to represent Arizona in the US Congress. Shah, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's First Congressional District, flipping a Republican-held seat. A three-term member of the Arizona House of Representatives, Shah campaigned on issues like lowering costs, expanding healthcare, and solving the water crisis, and his victory is part of a broader trend of Indian-American candidates succeeding in US elections.
The BCCI has opened applications for the Head of Sports Science and Medicine position at its Centre of Excellence, a role that has remained vacant since March 2025 despite previous attempts to fill it. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for sports science and medicine services, focusing on player welfare, injury prevention, and rehabilitation for elite Indian cricketers.
Police in Jharkhand have booked a missionary school principal for allegedly raping a tribal woman, forcing an abortion, and threatening her. The accused is currently absconding. In a separate incident, a man and his father were booked in Chatra for the alleged rape of a Scheduled Caste woman and casteist slurs, linked to a loan dispute.
With the T20 series already secured, India is set to experiment with its squad in the fourth match against New Zealand in Auckland, potentially offering game time to spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, who have been on the sidelines.
Indian para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna has responded to allegations of deflating player morale at the Asian Para Games. He claims his controversial social media post, which predicted medal counts, was due to his account being hacked. Khanna further alleges that the accusations are a "misleading public narrative" designed to discredit him for raising "documented irregularities" in player selection, including the omission of deserving players and the inclusion of a banned athlete.
A survey by Indian American Impact reveals that 25% of South Asian Americans who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election plan to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Key issues driving voters include cost of living, healthcare, jobs, and education, with discrimination also a significant concern. The survey highlights the potential influence of this demographic in closely contested states like Michigan and Texas.
Social media influencer Javed Khan cancelled his Garba performances in Jaipur on October 17 and 18 after allegedly receiving threats from Hindu outfits. The organisations reportedly warned event organisers of protests if a Muslim artist performed. Khan returned advance payments and plans to file a police complaint regarding the incident.
Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Bhavina Patel, along with Baby Sahana Ravi, Shubham Wadhwa, and Jehan Madan, secured impressive victories in their opening matches at the Asian Para Games table tennis competition on Friday, showcasing India's strong start in the event.
India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule addressed the limited opportunities for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, stating they understand the team's preferred combination. Despite a heavy defeat in the fourth T20I, Bahutule highlighted the spinners' readiness and the team's attacking approach, while also discussing challenges at Eden Park and the potential for changes in the next game.
Priyansh Arya's 199 and captain Ayush Badoni's unbeaten 115 propelled Delhi to a commanding 381 for 4 against Gujarat on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. The duo forged a crucial 234-run partnership. Elsewhere in Group C, Bengal faced a tough challenge against Services, while other matches also saw early action.
Ayush Badoni struck his second successive century, sharing an unbeaten 124-run stand with Sumit Mathur to lift Delhi from 181/5 to 309/5 against Jharkhand on Day One.
A 39-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by two individuals in Thane district, Maharashtra. Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for the other, while investigating the motive behind the killing.
India's ODI skipper Shubman Gill has highlighted the significant impact of Hardik Pandya's prolonged injury absence on the team's balance, particularly in the lower middle-order, stating that his return is crucial for a more balanced side.
A local court in Bahraich has acquitted Ankita Jaiswal and Dilip Kumar Patel in a 2021 poisoning case that led to the death of a two-year-old and illness of four others. The court found circumstantial evidence insufficient. Ankita had been jailed since August 2021 and received free legal aid.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Gujarat visit, pledged to serve India until his last breath. He criticised the Opposition for allegedly spreading panic regarding fertiliser and cooking gas availability amidst the West Asia conflict, accusing them of rejoicing in national crises. Modi also highlighted government efforts to shield farmers from rising global prices and inaugurated 'Bharat Parv 2026' at Ekta Nagar.
Congress workers and police clashed outside the Jaipur Police Commissionerate during a protest demanding the registration of a zero FIR regarding the alleged assault on NSUI leader Ritu Barala by Delhi Police. Jaipur Police refused, citing an ongoing investigation in Delhi, while Congress leaders insisted on the legal provision for a zero FIR and accused the BJP government of denying justice. BJP leaders, in turn, called the protest a "political drama."
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has announced a revised route for this year's edition, scheduled for Sunday. The change is due to ongoing protests near Rail Bhawan, Sansad Marg, and Patel Chowk, which were part of the traditional course. Organisers have communicated the new route to participants, while elite race timings and other run categories remain largely unaffected.
Ahmedabad Customs officials arrested a passenger arriving from Vietnam and an individual waiting to receive him at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Sunday for allegedly carrying and coordinating a consignment of marijuana. Seven vacuum-sealed packets containing approximately 2.117 kg of suspected marijuana were recovered from the passenger's baggage.
Sanju Samson continued his superb form with the bat, smashing a blistering 67 off 33 balls to power India to their highest chase in T20 cricket, overcoming a mid-innings stumble for a four-wicket win in the series-opener against New Zealand.
Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel asserted that the Congress would not have secured any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without their alliance. He claimed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav persuaded Rahul Gandhi to contest Raebareli and highlighted the SP's significant contribution to the INDIA bloc's success in Uttar Pradesh.
'In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is a minor player. The Samajwadi Party is the number two party.' 'Every time there are some good tidings for the Congress, it oversells itself. They need to be prudent about the number of seats they claim and be able to convert them to victory.'
Daryl Mitchell's blistering 52-ball-89 anchored New Zealand's innings, helping them post a formidable 198 for 3 against India in the third T20 International in Wellington. Despite a strong start from India's bowlers, Mitchell and Finn Allen built a crucial partnership, with Bevon Jacobs providing a late surge.
Third seed Nitin Kumar Sinha caused a major upset by defeating defending champion and top seed Manish Sureshkumar in a three-set thriller to reach the men's singles final of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship. Sinha will face Maan Kesharwani in the final. In women's singles, top seed Vaidehee Chaudhari and second seed Shruti Ahlawat will contest the final.
On the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C matches, Delhi trailed Bengal by 88 runs, with Bengal having posted 429. Kerala faced a significant deficit against Jharkhand, while Gujarat took a first-innings lead against Odisha, who now hold a slender four-run lead in their second innings. Maharashtra led Services by 172 runs despite a shaky start to their second innings.
Tilak Varma starred with a match-winning fifty to power India to a thrilling victory in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
Indian-origin cricketer Neel Patel, from New South Wales, has been named in Australia's 16-player Under-19 men's squad for a multi-format tour of India, featuring three 50-over matches and two four-day matches in Rajkot and Ahmedabad from 13 September to 9 October 2026.
Americans are voting in crucial midterm elections, widely seen as a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency. The elections will determine control of the House and Senate, with Democrats hoping to gain power. Key races include governorships and numerous Indian-American candidates. Trump's last-minute policy announcements and campaigning efforts are highlighted, as analysts predict a potential shift in power that could limit his agenda.
Six Delhi Metro stations, including key hubs like Rajiv Chowk, will be closed till 4 pm on Monday due to a protest announced by the Congress party against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over "vote chori" allegations. Interchange facilities will remain operational.
The Congress candidate's victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency marks a significant upset for the BJP in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
India has announced its squads for the upcoming two-Test and five-ODI series against New Zealand. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Test leg. Shubman Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer leading the final two ODIs.
India face a bowling test in the second T20I against New Zealand after conceding 226 in the opener, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expected to feature.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, marking their 200th victory in men's T20 Internationals. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy's unbeaten 69-run partnership secured the win, giving India a 2-0 series lead.