Mairaj Ahmad Khan, a 50-year-old Indian skeet shooter, is set to compete in his fourth Asian Games, showcasing remarkable longevity. The article traces his unique journey from a promising cricketer, who even played with Virender Sehwag, to becoming a decorated shooter with Olympic appearances and World Cup medals. Despite past disappointments, Khan approaches the upcoming games with renewed spirit, embodying wisdom gained over decades in sport.
Arjuna Awardee and Indian kabaddi team member Ritu Negi was controversially dropped from Himachal Pradesh's cash award list for Asian Games gold medallists, reportedly due to her marriage in Haryana.
Japan's national cricket team, led by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, will play a historic one-off T20 International against India on September 22 in Sano.
Despite limited opportunities in the playing XI, India skipper Shreyas Iyer has expressed strong confidence in young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating that the 15-year-old's time to dominate Indian cricket will come.
India T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer has highlighted the importance of regular game time and confidence for Jasprit Bumrah, who is returning from injury ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, the Asian Games, and the ODI World Cup.
Indian women's cricket team vice-captain Shafali Verma stated the team's goal to play fearless and smart cricket in preparation for the Women's Champions Trophy early next year. The team will face Zimbabwe in a T20 series, part of their preparations, followed by ODIs.
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were not picked in Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, while Ruturaj Gaikwad made a return to the one-day team.
Smriti Mandhana takes over the captaincy of the Indian women's cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur's resignation. The article discusses the timing of this elevation for Mandhana, who is considered the country's best batter, and the history of leadership transitions within the team, highlighting potential challenges and the team's aspirations for major tournament victories.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that cricket will be included in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has lauded his successor Ajit Agarkar for a highly successful three-year tenure, which saw India win three ICC trophies and achieve significant white-ball cricket dominance.
Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden T20 International hundred after a crucial two-hour troubleshooting session with former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar. Nayar revealed they worked on Iyer's grip, initial movements, and tactical nuances to help him generate more force and clear boundaries, addressing issues Iyer felt during the Asian Games. Iyer's 43-ball 102 not out led India to an eight-wicket win against West Indies on Tuesday.
India, having already secured the T20 series against Afghanistan, is likely to experiment with its playing XI in the third and final match in New Delhi. This provides an opportunity for players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and others on the bench to get game time before the Asian Games, while Afghanistan aims for an improved performance to boost morale.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson believes the coming tour of New Zealand will present significant challenges and exciting opportunities for 15-year-old Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, despite his impressive recent performances.
India and Japan will play their first-ever men's T20 International cricket match on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, marking the 75th anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations.
Vithya Ramraj won three medals at the Asian Games and broke P T Usha's 42-year-old record. Her twin Nithya, an international athlete herself, ruled out of the Games by an injury, looks back at their journey from a rented home to a podium finish.
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha has been appointed as the new chairman of the Indian men's cricket team's selection committee, with Ramesh Powar joining as a new selector.
Following the Indian men's hockey team's historic Asian Games gold and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Head Coach Craig Fulton revealed plans to 'build a new team afresh' after the Hockey India League, emphasising the need for meticulous planning for the upcoming Games.
National selectors are set to convene in New Delhi to finalise India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against West Indies, with Rishabh Pant's potential white-ball return and Hardik Pandya's fitness being the primary discussion points.
Organisers keen on cricket in 2026 Asian Games despite venue headache
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has advised the Indian team management to preserve pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for Test cricket and use him sparingly in other formats to keep him fresh for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced significant changes to its T20 leadership, dropping Salman Ali Agha as captain and appointing Sahibzada Farhan. The board also named squads for upcoming T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining ODI captaincy.
India's new captain Smriti Mandhana is set to lead the women's team in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, marking a new era. She aims to elevate the team's professionalism, power-hitting, and fielding, while fostering a strong team culture. Mandhana also highlighted the importance of Harmanpreet Kaur's experience and praised deputy Shafali Verma's growth, as the team prepares for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy 2027.
Shreyas Iyer celebrated India's thrilling T20I victory over New Zealand with an emotional hug for his parents after Sanju Samson and Namn Dhir powered a successful 226-run chase.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for Yashasvi Jaiswal to receive ample opportunities in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Pathan believes this exposure is crucial for Jaiswal to establish himself as a backup opener for the next year's ODI World Cup. He also highlighted the importance of testing India's bench strength, especially with several key players participating in the Asian Games, and backed Naman Dhir's inclusion for his all-round capabilities.
Indian cricketers Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sree Charani, and Shafali Verma have been shortlisted for the ICC Men's and Women's Player of the Month awards for September, recognising their exceptional performances in recent international matches.
Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO, and PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl express strong confidence in India's potential to become a global golf powerhouse within the next decade. Kant specifically predicts a woman golfer will achieve a breakthrough moment for the country. They highlight India's demographic advantage, rising youth participation, and the need for university-level talent development and private investment in infrastructure to achieve this goal.
The BCCI has clarified that the Indian women's cricket team's decision not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council's Pakistani chief Mohsin Naqvi was a "conscious, institutional" call, made due to prevailing circumstances and national sentiments.
Harmanpreet Kaur says a winning culture is taking shape in the Indian women's cricket team as they prepare for the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
Smriti Mandhana, the newly-appointed India women's cricket team captain, praised Harmanpreet Kaur's "fantastic" decade-long leadership after Kaur stepped down from the role. Mandhana expressed her desire to continue their journey together, while Harmanpreet will remain a part of the team for the upcoming Zimbabwe series.
The Indian women's cricket team fully supports the BCCI's decision not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council's Pakistani chief Mohsin Naqvi, with head coach Amol Muzumdar stating that winning the tournament is 'good enough' for the players.
India's T20 captain Shreyas Iyer stated that young batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cannot immediately join the playing XI due to the consistent performance of current openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who were instrumental in India's T20I World Cup win.
India dropped teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite his impressive Asian Games run, preferring Sanju Samson as Gautam Gambhir backed experience and resisted pressure to alter the winning combination.
Ishan Kishan smashed an unbeaten 80 against Sri Lanka to overtake Virat Kohli's T20I record for fifty-plus scores in a calendar year and move within 80 runs of Suryakumar Yadav's India record.
Former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls against Zimbabwe in the final T20, marking an emotional return to form after a lean patch.
New Zealand paceman Jacob Duffy has acknowledged India's 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an 'incredible talent' but expects home conditions to challenge the power-hitter in the upcoming Twenty20 series.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed enthusiasm for India's historic bilateral T20 match against Japan, marking cricket's expansion into new territories and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Iyer highlighted the unique cultural experience and the importance of such fixtures for global cricket growth, despite initial weather challenges.
Newly-appointed India captain Smriti Mandhana outlined her team's strategy to utilise the upcoming six T20Is, including a series against Zimbabwe, as crucial preparation for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy early next year. She emphasised setting high standards and improving in the shortest format.
The Russian T10 League has been launched, marking a significant step towards reviving and developing cricket in Russia with the long-term goal of establishing the country as a credible cricketing nation. The inaugural season will feature four franchises competing in seven matches at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on September 19 and 20, 2026.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand starting later this month.
Veteran Indian cricketers KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Devdutt Padikkal have been asked to play in the Duleep Trophy final for South Zone against East Zone. The participation of other T20I players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Ishan Kishan depends on Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir's approval. Additionally, chief selector Ajit Agarkar will attend the final, and the BCCI is arranging visas for net bowlers for the Asian Games.
