Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan discusses India's ODI series against Afghanistan as a crucial opportunity to assess squad depth for the upcoming ICC World Cup, highlighting key players and their roles, especially for South African conditions.
While Mbappe and Messi currently lead the charts, Haaland, Kane, Dembele, and Vinicius Junior are all within striking distance, setting up an intense battle for the tournament's top scorer award in the matches ahead.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career defined by match-winning brilliance, iconic Ashes moments, World Cup glory, and a transformative impact on English cricket across all formats.
Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in a World Cup Group C match, with John McGinn scoring the winning goal. This victory marks Scotland's first win in the tournament since 1990, placing them at the top of their group. Haiti, despite their pace, lacked the finishing touch.
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.
New Zealand reached lunch on day four of the second Test against England with a commanding 445-run lead. Jofra Archer took two wickets, including Henry Nicholls, but Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 66 helped New Zealand consolidate their strong position.
Nitish Reddy is set to be a key player to watch in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, as India looks to groom him as a potential successor or back-up for Hardik Pandya. His recent IPL performance showcased significant improvement in both batting and medium-pace bowling, making him a vital prospect for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Five-times champions Brazil came back strongly from a one goal deficit to beat Japan 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash at the Houston Stadium on Monday.
'I never imagined my character would become so big. After Damini, I didn't get a chance to play a lawyer. I was very happy when Ikka was offered to me.'
India's head coach Amol Muzumdar has acknowledged the need for a complete strategic overhaul in the T20 format following the women's team's disappointing group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup.
90 per cent of institutions recorded no improvement in international student metrics, despite government initiatives such as the Study in India programme, UGC regulations on internationalisation, and efforts to attract foreign students.
The Indian men's hockey team delivered a commanding performance, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League's London leg. After conceding an early goal, India rallied with seven unanswered goals from multiple players, showcasing strong offensive and defensive play, with Hardik Singh named Player of the Match.
The India A squad is set to tour Sri Lanka for a two-match red-ball series, offering a crucial platform for emerging cricketers like Aquib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal to impress selectors and stake their claim for a spot in the senior national team. Dhruv Jurel will captain the side.
India's preparations for the Ireland T20Is were briefly disrupted by practice facility issues in Belfast, but teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the spotlight with an impressive first net session that sparked excitement among local Indian fans.
Brazil's World Cup Round of 32 meeting with Japan on Monday comes with the chance for revenge for Carlo Ancelotti's squad and a test of how far he has taken his team since a Tokyo collapse early in his tenure.
Con City has a fun premise and a handful of clever scams, but its biggest con is convincing you it's smarter than it really is.
Chasing 463 for victory, England's Joe Root and Harry Brook hit half tons, even as Kyle Jamieson had the hosts reeling with three-wickets, on day four of the second Test at the Oval in London on Saturday.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has warned against underestimating Morocco despite topping Group F, calling the Round of 32 clash the Dutch side's "real test" while admitting there is still room for defensive improvement.
American Olympic medallist and former World champion Jenny Simpson collapsed during a community track event in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is now receiving medical care in hospital.
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.
Josh Little, Mark Adair, Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy and Jordan Neill have been ruled out of the two-match T20 series against India with injuries.
India A took firm control on the opening day of their unofficial Test series against Sri Lanka A, posting 333 for four. Sai Sudharsan scored a fluent century, while skipper Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed contributed unbeaten half-centuries, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers in Galle.
Kolkata Knight Riders are exploring options to replace injured pacer Harshit Rana, with Simarjeet Singh, KM Asif, and Sandeep Warrier under consideration. The team is also awaiting clearance for Matheesha Pathirana and integrating new players into their revamped setup.
History may remember Takaichi Sanae not as the leader who simply accelerated Japanese rearmament, but as one who governed during Japan's transition from an industrial-age security model to a post-industrial strategic member of the global order, points out Varun Arya.
Croatia secured their first points in the World Cup Group L by defeating Panama 1-0, thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Ante Budimir. The victory eliminated Panama from the tournament. The match also saw captain Luka Modric achieve his 200th cap for Croatia.
Deepti Sharma produced a career-best 5/10 as India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in their Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur also starred in India's dominant victory.
India's Prachi Lohan and Sachin achieved top-25 finishes at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi. Japan's Kyosuke Matsuyama won gold in men's foil, while Kazakhstan's Irina Bakaldina secured gold in women's epee, marking a historic first for her country.
Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is expected to miss upcoming Test series against West Indies and England due to workload management, a decision he is reportedly unhappy about. This move aims to focus him on white-ball cricket and provide opportunities for other pacers.
Harmanpreet Kaur's rapid 56 helped India post 170 for four against Australia in a must-win Women's T20 World Cup match. Despite a strong start from openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, the middle order struggled for acceleration, leaving Harmanpreet to boost the total in the final overs.
Sunil Gavaskar praised India's team-first approach and clinical chase against Afghanistan in the opening ODI, highlighting KL Rahul's selfless batting and the contributions of Nitish Kumar Reddy and debutant Gurnoor Brar. Former England spinner Graeme Swann warned of a tougher challenge in the second ODI in Lucknow due to Afghanistan's strong spin attack.
Former India coach WV Raman believes the current women's team is the strongest in the country's history and has all the ingredients to win a maiden T20 World Cup, provided the pace attack delivers in key moments.
The Bombay High Court has approved the removal of mangroves for the Vadhvan Port Project in Palghar, Maharashtra, citing its public importance and economic significance. This clearance paves the way for accelerated execution of the Rs 76,220 crore project, which aims to position India among the top 10 container port nations globally.
Erling Haaland scored two goals, leading Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal in a World Cup match. This win puts Norway level on points with France at the top of Group I, setting up a decisive final group game.
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.
New Zealand took complete command of the second Test against England as Henry Nicholls struck a masterful century in a big partnership with Rachin Ravindra to stretch their lead to 352 on day three at the Oval on Friday.
India begin their 2027 ODI World Cup preparations against Afghanistan with Rohit Sharma's fitness and Nitish Kumar Reddy's all-round abilities under scrutiny, while Shubman Gill continues to shape his leadership credentials.
India's banking system liquidity has fallen into a deficit for the first time in nearly three months, prompting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to inject 1.41 trillion through a seven-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction to ease the temporary tightness.
New Zealand battled back to end an absorbing first day of the second Test on 291 for seven after England's new-look pace attack held sway early on at The Oval on Wednesday.
Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar was more excited than under pressure on his India debut against Afghanistan and his first wicket settled the semblance of nerves, helping him walk away with a memorable outing in the rain-shortened first One-day International in Dharamsala.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur needs to stop thinking about the wickets falling around her and focus on playing her natural attacking game, believes former pacer Shikha Pandey, who says the batter can transform into a completely different player once she gets settled at the crease.
