India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
Ibrahim Mbaye, the 18-year-old Senegal forward, has completed a permanent transfer from Paris St Germain to Premier League club Aston Villa.
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, dismisses criticism over recent poor results, stating his sole focus is on winning trophies for the country.
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has received clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had been recovering from an impact injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England, which forced him to miss the third ODI. His return is crucial for India's World Test Championship aspirations.
India's skeet shooters are set to compete against a strong international field at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco. The event features Olympic and world champions, marking a competitive start to the season as athletes begin their journey towards Olympic qualification.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has opened applications for its Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster, a crucial step under the newly adopted National Sports Governance Act. This initiative aims to induct retired players into the federation's General Body, ensuring greater representation and direct involvement in governance. The process outlines specific eligibility criteria across various tiers of sporting achievement and allows direct applications, bypassing state association endorsements.
KL Rahul's patient half-century in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka highlights his evolving role as a consistent and strategic anchor for the Indian team. Despite a slower strike rate, his ability to stonewall spinners and build partnerships has been crucial, earning praise from coaches and teammates. This performance underscores his growing importance, especially after the departure of senior batters, as he aims to make a significant impact in the current Test series.
Asian Games double gold medallist Parul Chaudhary and Olympian race-walker Priyanka Goswami are intensely preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Chaudhary will compete in three events, including the new 1500m, while Goswami transitions to the marathon race walk, both expressing confidence in their adaptive training and aiming for medals.
The World Championships will be held in Budapest from October 20-28.
Bhowneesh Mendiratta leads the Indian shooting contingent at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, aiming for a strong start to the season after missing the Paris Olympics. The team faces a tough challenge with experienced and debutant shooters competing.
Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar have been awarded the rights to host the Asian Relays in 2027 and the Asian Indoor Championships in 2028, respectively, marking a significant achievement for Indian athletics.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is in a difficult situation regarding India's participation in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup and a proposed friendly against Brazil, as both events clash on October 3. FIFA regulations prohibit fielding an understrength team in a sanctioned competition, forcing the AIFF to seek clarification from FIFA on its plan for separate squads.
Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 World Cup hero and former Real Madrid manager, has been appointed to lead the France national team, with the primary goal of converting recent near-misses into major trophies, starting with the 2028 European Championship.
Former U17 World Champion Neha clinched a gold medal in the women's 59kg category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos & Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. This victory marked India's second gold, following Aman Sehrawat's earlier triumph. India also secured a silver medal through Mansi and a bronze through Savita in the 62kg women's wrestling division, bringing the total medal count to eight.
Former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal will miss the World Championships for the first time in her international career due to multiple injuries that have derailed her season.
India is poised to secure its first overseas Test series victory in three years as they face Sri Lanka in the second and final match, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver substantial knocks.
Bhowneesh Mendiratta leads a 12-member Indian squad at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, marking the start of the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
India's first Olympian fencer Bhavani Devi bowed out of the World Championships after losing in the second round of senior women's individual sabre event in Cairo on Wednesday.
Lalit secured a silver medal in the 55kg Greco Roman category. Sunil Kumar added a bronze, while Nitesh advanced to the final of the 97kg competition at the Asian Wrestling Championships, marking a successful day for India.
'India should hold several high-level chess tournaments that would attract the world's top players so that the country will have a say in the game.'
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's standing in red-ball cricket faces a crucial test as the team embarks on a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Top Indian track and field athletes, including World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav and Asian Games medallist Tajinderpal Singh Toor, will compete in the Delhi leg of the Indian Open Series at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
India is set to host the Asia Cup archery tournament in Delhi in 2027, marking the return of major international archery events to the country after 22 years. Ahmedabad will host the Asian Para Archery Championships in September, and Kolkata will host the South Asian Archery Championships in 2026.
Neeraj Chopra will compete in the Asian Games in Japan in September-October in his bid to defend the title.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will miss the World Championship and the Commonwealth Senior Championship slated to take place simultaneously between December 7 to 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The World Championship is one of the ten qualifying events for the 2020 Japan Olympics.
Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam announced that the state has appointed 33 sportspersons to coaching positions within the last month. These new coaches are expected to play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing grassroots talent to prepare athletes for future international competitions, including the 2036 Olympics. The state also highlighted its sports policy, which includes job reservations for outstanding sportspersons.
Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar have been awarded the rights to host the Asian Relays in 2027 and the Asian Indoor Championships in 2028, respectively, marking a significant moment for Indian athletics.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is implementing the new BWF 3x15 scoring format across all domestic tournaments from this month. This change aims to familiarise Indian shuttlers with the revised system before its international adoption next year, impacting all age groups and national championships.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to allow Vinesh Phogat to compete in the Asian Games selection trials only in the 50kg category, leading to a potential flashpoint. This decision follows a period of uncertainty regarding her preferred weight division and has sparked controversy within the wrestling community.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Deepak also secured a bronze in the 61kg category, with two more Indian wrestlers vying for podium finishes.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Deepak also secured a bronze in the 61kg category, with two more Indian wrestlers vying for podium finishes.
Indian batter Rohit Sharma lauded former fielding coach T Dilip for his significant contributions, including two T20 World Cup wins and the Champions Trophy, calling him a 'legend' and a 'workhorse' who 'created magic within the group.' Dilip, who served from 2021 until recently, expressed gratitude for his tenure, especially cherishing the popular fielding medal ceremony.
Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his immediate retirement from all formats of international cricket, stating that the time is right for him to 'move on' after a career spanning over a decade.
Italy's technical director Paolo Maldini revealed that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) first approached Carlo Ancelotti for the national team coaching job before engaging with Pep Guardiola, as they seek to rebuild the Azzurri after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is focusing on increasing her difficulty level for the Asian Championships after winning a silver medal at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent. She is balancing execution and difficulty in preparation for the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
Former India football coach Stephen Constantine has expressed deep disappointment over the national team's current decline, criticising the All India Football Federation for its decisions, including the appointment of Khalid Jamil as coach despite his lack of international experience. Constantine, who led India to a historic FIFA ranking of 96, believes he should still be managing the team and calls for wider structural reforms in Indian football.
Assured of the only major medal missing from her decorated cabinet without even stepping into the ring, Lovlina Borgohain will now chase Commonwealth Games gold even as a new generation of Indian boxers look to announce themselves on the big stage starting in Glasgow on Friday.
India's Sujeet and Abhimanyou secured gold medals in their respective freestyle categories at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, while Sandeep Mann won silver and Ankush took bronze.
