Veteran Australian pace bowler Scott Boland delivered a stellar performance in his first Test since January, taking 4-31 against South Africa in Gqeberha, leaving the hosts struggling at 97 for 5 and giving Australia a strong advantage in the series.
Australian batsman Steve Smith admitted to feeling anxious after being hit on the head during the first Test against South Africa, fearing another concussion, despite passing all protocols.
Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Indian batting unit for their lack of responsibility in chasing targets, specifically after their loss to West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Despite Sanju Samson's fifty, India failed to chase 247. Gavaskar also commented on individual performances and defended the inexperienced bowlers, while Cheteshwar Pujara praised West Indies skipper Shai Hope's balanced batting approach.
Two-time finalists India are placed fifth and face a challenging path to secure a top-two finish.
Simon Harmer believes franchise T20 cricket has softened the fierce Australia-South Africa rivalry by turning international opponents into teammates, though he expects intense competition in the Test series.
Shaque: Trust No One has a promising mystery and enough juicy red herrings to keep you guessing, but its convenient writing and dated clichs eventually derail the show.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer's inconsistent T20I batting form will be under the spotlight as Team India commences its five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth defeated world No. 9 Victor Lai of Canada in straight games to advance to the men's singles quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament. Srikanth secured a 21-18, 21-19 victory and will next face Lee Cheuk Yiu. Other Indian participants, Tanvi Sharma in women's singles and Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto in mixed doubles, were eliminated.
Ravichandran Ashwin discusses Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall to the T20I squad, attributing it to his consistent IPL performance without chasing rewards. He also touches upon Mohammed Shami's potential comeback, his relationships with Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, and predicts India and South Africa as strong contenders for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Former West Indies skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul believes the team's strong performance against India in white-ball cricket will significantly boost their confidence. He hopes this momentum translates into success in Test cricket, acknowledging their recent struggles but seeing a spark. Chanderpaul praised Shai Hope's leadership and batting, and discussed the balance between T20 freelancing and the enduring challenge of Test cricket.
Australia and South Africa are set to begin a three-match Test series in Durban, with both teams looking for a boost after recent setbacks. The pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favour spinners, a departure from South Africa's usual seamer-friendly conditions, potentially influencing team selections.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs in-form West Indies skipper Shai Hope for an IPL contract, identifying defending champions RCB as a potential fit despite concerns over overseas combinations and batting position.
Following astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's historic visit to the International Space Station, a significant surge in interest for space science careers is observed among Indian students. Srimathy Kesan of Space Kidz India highlights this shift from traditional fields like engineering and medicine, while Nobel laureate Didier Queloz emphasises the crucial role of curious young scientists in shaping the future.
Cricket legend Kapil Dev has cautioned against creating 'excessive hype' around 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, drawing parallels with Vinod Kambli's career, and urged the media to give the young talent time to develop.
Indian para archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag secured a silver medal in the compound women's doubles final at the Asian Para Games on Wednesday.
Josh Hazlewood claimed 6-49 as Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs at Kingsmead, dismissing the hosts for 206 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Kris Srikkanth backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become a world cricket superstar, citing his fearless batting, Duleep Trophy heroics, IPL dominance and potential across all three formats.
Dwayne Bravo says ODI cricket could soon see 500-run totals as batters dominate, while Chris Gayle welcomes the fearless approach of the new generation.
Gambhir strongly advocates three-Test series, arguing they give teams that lose the opening match a genuine opportunity to recover, compete harder and still win the series.
Hollywood actor Paul Bettany, known for voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. and playing Vision in the MCU, expresses trepidation about the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. He discusses potential dystopian futures and the need for democratised AI, while promoting his new series "VisionQuest" which started streaming on JioHotstar on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka have gone more than a decade since their last Test match win against India, having last beaten them in the Galle Test in 2015.
Sanju Samson defended India's bowlers after their 24-run defeat to the West Indies in the fourth T20, which levelled the series 2-2. He attributed the loss to Tilak Varma's dismissal as a turning point and praised Shai Hope's match-winning century. Samson also discussed the challenging conditions in Hyderabad and the need for emerging pacers to gain experience.
India captain Shubman Gill and opener Shafali Verma have been named ICC Men's and Women's Player of the Month, respectively, for October. Gill received the award for the fifth time following his stellar performance in the ODI series against the West Indies, while Verma was recognised for her impressive show in the Asia Cup and Asian Games, marking her second win.
Title holders Rajputana Royals secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Chero Archers in the Archery Premier League on Tuesday, revitalising their campaign after a slow start. World No. 1 Ella Gibson was a standout performer for the Royals, contributing to their clean sweep and moving them into semifinals contention. The win showcased a strong team performance, including key shots from Sangeeta and Mete Gazoz.
Temba Bavuma blamed South Africa's lack of fight and mental lapses for their 214-run defeat to Australia, rejecting rustiness as an excuse ahead of the second Test.
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.
Leading Australian women cricketers and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) are urging Cricket Australia (CA) to schedule more matches during the peak summer months, arguing the current calendar is hindering the team's growth and missing opportunities to build on the sport's development.
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.
Paul Bettany and James Spader bring plenty of personality to VisionQuest, but the Marvel's latest series struggles to find the emotional soul its story needs.
India's Udhayveer Sidhu secured a gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo.
Indian women's cricket team top-order batter Punam Raut announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Thursday. The 37-year-old played four Tests, 73 ODIs, and 35 T20Is for India, highlighting her career with a record-breaking ODI partnership and participation in the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir criticised the batting-friendly Guwahati pitch after India chased West Indies' 405, saying bowlers need more help in ODIs.
India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series against West Indies, largely due to Shubman Gill's record-breaking fastest double century and Rohit Sharma's significant milestones, including his 35th hundred and reaching 12,000 ODI runs. The match also saw the West Indies post their highest-ever ODI total and became the third highest aggregating match in ODI history.
The Sports Ministry has removed para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from India's Para Asian Games contingent following allegations of kickbacks and protests from athletes. The contingent of 166 athletes and 109 support staff is set to compete in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, starting October 18, with several prominent Paralympians included despite selection controversies.
India's batting strength, highlighted by centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, is set to face the West Indies in the second ODI to seal the series. However, the team's pace-bowling combination remains a significant concern, particularly after the unsuccessful experiment with Nitish Kumar Reddy. The match is crucial for the West Indies, who are looking to keep the series alive and build confidence for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment over Rohit Sharma missing a century against West Indies, wishing for Rohit to achieve more ODI hundreds than his age by the time he retires. Gavaskar also highlighted a significant shift in Rohit's batting approach since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he now prioritizes preserving his wicket and converting starts into big scores, benefiting the team's scoring rate and shielding him from criticism.
Experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to take over Pakistan's T20 captaincy from Salman Ali Agha, who faces removal from the shortest format squad. Major changes are anticipated in the Pakistan T20 team ahead of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, with young players being prioritised and key bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf potentially rested.
Top Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav has undergone elbow surgery, forcing him to miss the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, despite being in a qualifying spot. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and hopes to return next season.
The Korean national hockey team has arrived in Pakistan for a historic four-match series, marking their first visit in 20 years. This series is crucial for Pakistan's preparation for the upcoming World Cup, especially after their poor performance in the recent FIH Pro League.
Pune has been confirmed as the host city for the 2032 UCI Road World Championships, a decision that the Cycling Federation of India believes will significantly enhance the country's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and change global perceptions of India as a sporting host.
