News for 'opening matches'

ICC Revamps Cricket World Cups: Super 7 for ODI WC, Super 10 for T20 WC

ICC Revamps Cricket World Cups: Super 7 for ODI WC, Super 10 for T20 WC

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

The International Cricket Council has announced significant format changes for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup, aiming to increase competitiveness and consequence in both tournaments. The 2027 ODI World Cup will feature a Super Series and Super 7 stage, while the 2028 T20 World Cup will introduce a Super 10 stage after the group phase.

Rohit's Century In Vain As England Down India To Win ODI Series 2-1

Rohit's Century In Vain As England Down India To Win ODI Series 2-1

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Rohit Sharma got back among the runs with a blistering century but England managed to overpower India by 27 runs in the third and final ODI at Lord's on Sunday, to claim the three-match ODI series 2-1.

PV Sindhu Advances At Singapore Open; Satwik-Chirag Win

PV Sindhu Advances At Singapore Open; Satwik-Chirag Win

Rediff.com27 May 2026

PV Sindhu secured a straight-game victory at the Singapore Open, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also advanced. Other Indian shuttlers faced setbacks in the tournament.

2nd Youth Test: Kushagra Ojha's unbeaten ton puts India in strong position vs Sri Lanka

2nd Youth Test: Kushagra Ojha's unbeaten ton puts India in strong position vs Sri Lanka

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Kushagra Ojha scored an unbeaten century, guiding India U-19 to a strong position of 253 for three against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the second Youth Test. After a shaky start where India lost two early wickets for no runs, Ojha, along with Yashbardhan Chauhan (78) and Manal Chauhan (55*), built crucial partnerships to stabilise the innings.

5 Things You Must Know About Wimbledon Champion Sinner

5 Things You Must Know About Wimbledon Champion Sinner

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon men's singles title, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 to lift his fifth Grand Slam trophy and first major title of the 2026 season, becoming only the 10th player in history to retain the Wimbledon men's singles crown.

Suryakumar Yadav Can Still Make India Comeback, Say BCCI Sources

Suryakumar Yadav Can Still Make India Comeback, Say BCCI Sources

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

Suryakumar Yadav, despite being stripped of T20I captaincy and dropped from the squad, can still make a comeback to the Indian side if he consistently performs in domestic cricket, according to a BCCI source.

Teen Sensation Kouame Stuns Cilic To Make French Open History

Teen Sensation Kouame Stuns Cilic To Make French Open History

Rediff.com26 May 2026

French teenager Moise Kouame stunned former US Open champion Marin Cilic at Roland Garros to become the youngest man in 17 years to win a Grand Slam main-draw match.

Big Match Flop? Gill-Sudharsan Fail in IPL 2026 Final

Big Match Flop? Gill-Sudharsan Fail in IPL 2026 Final

Rediff.com1 Jun 2026

Gujarat Titans' star openers, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, failed to deliver against Royal Challengers Bengaluru's disciplined bowling attack.

French Open: Osaka survives 3-set thriller to set up Sabalenka clash

French Open: Osaka survives 3-set thriller to set up Sabalenka clash

Rediff.com30 May 2026

Naomi Osaka battled through a tough three-set match against 18-year-old Iva Jovic to reach the French Open fourth round, setting up a high-profile clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Yamal, Williams set to be fit in time for Spain's World Cup opener

Yamal, Williams set to be fit in time for Spain's World Cup opener

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is optimistic of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz to be fit to play in their World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15.

Seeds shocked at French Open: Medvedev stunned by wildcard Walton

Seeds shocked at French Open: Medvedev stunned by wildcard Walton

Rediff.com26 May 2026

Daniil Medvedev's struggles at Roland Garros continued as Australian wildcard Adam Walton stunned the former world number one in a thrilling five-set first-round upset at the French Open.

Bowling Struggles, Fitness Woes: Why India Flopped In England ODIs

Bowling Struggles, Fitness Woes: Why India Flopped In England ODIs

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

A look at what went wrong for India in the England ODI series.

French Open: Sabalenka admits 'deep, dark hole' after shock defeat to Shnaider

French Open: Sabalenka admits 'deep, dark hole' after shock defeat to Shnaider

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Aryna Sabalenka said she fell into a "deep, dark hole" during her three-sets loss to Russian Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, after the world number one let her opportunities slip in the second set.

Could a 64-team World Cup put Asian football at FIFA's mercy?

Could a 64-team World Cup put Asian football at FIFA's mercy?

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has acknowledged the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, a move that could significantly alter the sport's economics and logistics, despite opposition from major confederations like UEFA and AFC.

Patten and Heliovaara make Wimbledon history again

Patten and Heliovaara make Wimbledon history again

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

World number one pair Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara successfully defended their Wimbledon men's doubles title, defeating Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo in two tie-break sets. This marks their second Wimbledon victory and third major title together, highlighting their dominance in men's doubles.

FIFA World Cup: Five-star Sweden rout Tunisia in opener

FIFA World Cup: Five-star Sweden rout Tunisia in opener

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Sweden trio Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were all on target as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey on Sunday.

FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo Taunted With 'Messi' Chants

FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo Taunted With 'Messi' Chants

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Ronaldo had a quiet game, failing to score, and was met with "Messi" chants from fans after the match, raising questions about the team's early performance.

Sabalenka, Osaka, Gauff race into French Open second round

Sabalenka, Osaka, Gauff race into French Open second round

Rediff.com27 May 2026

World number one Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets in the opening round match.

Kolkata ThunderBlades, Goa Challengers Dominate Ultimate Table Tennis

Kolkata ThunderBlades, Goa Challengers Dominate Ultimate Table Tennis

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades secured a dominant 10-5 victory over UP Prometheans, while Dempo Goa Challengers maintained their unbeaten record in the Ultimate Table Tennis league.

French Open: Zverev edges closer to elusive major title with dominant win over Mensik

French Open: Zverev edges closer to elusive major title with dominant win over Mensik

Rediff.com5 Jun 2026

Alexander Zverev moved to within touching distance of a long-coveted maiden Grand Slam title, as the German fought past 26th seed Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 36, 6-3 on Friday to reach the French Open final again.

India name strong squad for Hockey World Cup; Harmanpreet Singh to lead

India name strong squad for Hockey World Cup; Harmanpreet Singh to lead

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.

How Sabalenka Beat Osaka To Reach French Open Quarter-Finals

How Sabalenka Beat Osaka To Reach French Open Quarter-Finals

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

Aryna Sabalenka overcame Naomi Osaka in a thrilling match to reach the French Open quarter-finals, while other players including Diana Shnaider and Anna Kalinskaya also advanced.

'My Job Is With The Bat': Rohit Shuts Down Retirement Talk

'My Job Is With The Bat': Rohit Shuts Down Retirement Talk

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Rohit Sharma answered the retirement rumours in the best possible way - by smashing a record-breaking century at Lord's.

Shubman Gill Closes In On No 1 Ranking In ODIs

Shubman Gill Closes In On No 1 Ranking In ODIs

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

England's Harry Brook and India's Shreyas Iyer have made significant advancements in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings, with Brook entering the top 10 and Iyer rocketing 62 spots.

'I am back': Record-breaker Ronaldo silences critics in style!

'I am back': Record-breaker Ronaldo silences critics in style!

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, becoming the first player to score in six World Cups.

Gill fitness, Rohit form: India's big ODI worries

Gill fitness, Rohit form: India's big ODI worries

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

India is set to face England in the second ODI, aiming for a series victory, but concerns over Shubman Gill's fitness after he walked off injured in the first match, and Rohit Sharma's inconsistent batting form, are prominent. The team will also consider potential changes to the playing eleven.

How Axar ended his batting slump with one change

How Axar ended his batting slump with one change

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Indian all-rounder Axar Patel attributed his match-winning half-century against England in the opening ODI to a renewed focus on timing the ball, a strategic shift from his previous T20 approach of hitting too hard.

Singapore Open: Satwik-Chirag in semis; Sindhu, Sen exit

Singapore Open: Satwik-Chirag in semis; Sindhu, Sen exit

Rediff.com29 May 2026

PV Sindhu's campaign at the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to world No. 1 An Se Young. Despite showing glimpses of her attacking prowess, Sindhu couldn't maintain consistency against An's superior control and movement.

French Open: Mensik halts Fonseca, Andreeva storms into last four

French Open: Mensik halts Fonseca, Andreeva storms into last four

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Jakub Mensik became the youngest Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after beating Joao Fonseca at the French Open, while Mirra Andreeva stormed into the last four and Alexander Zverev kept his title hopes alive.

Sinner breezes into French Open second round; Birrell stuns Pegula

Sinner breezes into French Open second round; Birrell stuns Pegula

Rediff.com27 May 2026

World number one Jannik Sinner started his campaign for a maiden French Open title in merciless fashion, beating Frenchman Clement Tabur 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

IPL 2026 Qualifier 2: Sai Sudharsan suffers freak dismissal in successive matches

IPL 2026 Qualifier 2: Sai Sudharsan suffers freak dismissal in successive matches

Rediff.com30 May 2026

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan experienced another unusual hit-wicket dismissal during the IPL Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, cutting short his impressive innings.

French Open: Balaji-Demoliner duo knocked out in quarterfinals

French Open: Balaji-Demoliner duo knocked out in quarterfinals

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Indian tennis player N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner saw their impressive French Open men's doubles campaign end in the quarterfinals after a straight-sets defeat to the second-seeded pair of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

Raichandani's double century highlights drawn India vs Sri Lanka Youth Test

Raichandani's double century highlights drawn India vs Sri Lanka Youth Test

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

India's first Youth Test against Sri Lanka U-19 concluded in a draw, marked by opener Lakshay Raichandani's impressive double century (207) and Manav Krishna's patient hundred (100). Despite India securing a significant first-innings lead, Sri Lanka U-19 batted out the final day to ensure a stalemate.

Satwik-Chirag Advance To Semis At Singapore Open

Satwik-Chirag Advance To Semis At Singapore Open

Rediff.com29 May 2026

PV Sindhu exited the Singapore Open after losing to An Se Young, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the semifinals.

French Open: Cobolli through to final after Arnaldi withdraws due to illness

French Open: Cobolli through to final after Arnaldi withdraws due to illness

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Flavio Cobolli reached the French Open final after his semifinal opponent, fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, withdrew from the match on Friday due to a virus.

French GM Firouzja Triumphs On Day 1 Of Chennai Grand Masters

French GM Firouzja Triumphs On Day 1 Of Chennai Grand Masters

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja secured the only decisive victory on the opening day of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, defeating Indian GM M Pranesh in a lengthy 79-move game. Other prominent matches saw world champion D Gukesh draw with Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi draw with Dmitry Andreikin, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov draw with Hans Niemann, as eight grandmasters compete for a significant prize purse and FIDE Circuit points.

Yuki Bhambri Advances In French Open Mixed Doubles

Yuki Bhambri Advances In French Open Mixed Doubles

Rediff.com28 May 2026

Yuki Bhambri, partnering with Alexandra Panova, progressed to the mixed doubles pre-quarterfinals at the French Open, while Anirudh Chandrasekar and Takeru Yuzuki were defeated in the men's doubles.

'Right mix of experience and youth': India's Squad For Hockey World Cup

'Right mix of experience and youth': India's Squad For Hockey World Cup

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.

Injury forces Pratika Rawal out of landmark Lord's Test

Injury forces Pratika Rawal out of landmark Lord's Test

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

India's opening batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the upcoming historic Lord's Test against England due to a knee injury sustained during an India A game. Priya Punia has been named as her replacement for the match, which marks the first women's Test ever held at Lord's.

India complete Zimbabwe clean sweep; Vaibhav shines

India complete Zimbabwe clean sweep; Vaibhav shines

Rediff.com2 days ago

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkably adaptive 81 and an equally solid effort from bowlers led by pacer Mayank Yadav ensured India's smooth 35-run win over Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I