The Economic Times

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were surprisingly dumped into the Champions League knockout playoffs. Real Madrid fell after a dramatic last-gasp goal by Benfica's goalkeeper, while PSG's draw sent them down the standings. Both teams will now face a tougher path to the final.

Aryna Sabalenka reached her fourth straight Australian Open final. She will play Elena Rybakina in a rematch of last year's championship match. Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina in her semi-final. Rybakina overcame Jessica Pegula in a tough contest. Both players aim for major titles at Melbourne Park.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad will depart for Colombo on February 2. This move effectively ends speculation about boycotting the tournament or the match against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board has made travel arrangements, indicating full participation. The team's schedule is set in Sri Lanka, including potential final matches.

A Bangladeshi shooting delegation will travel to India for the Asian Air Gun Championship. Shooter Robiul Islam and coach Sharmin Aktar are part of the team. The interim government has granted permission for their travel. This follows a previous denial of permission for the cricket team to tour India. Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup.

Novak Djokovic moves closer to a record Australian Open title. He advanced after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured while leading. Iga Swiatek's Grand Slam bid ended with a loss to Elena Rybakina. Jessica Pegula also reached the semi-finals. Djokovic expressed sympathy for Musetti's unfortunate situation.

Glenn Phillips smashed his 100th T20 International six for New Zealand, becoming only the third player from the country to achieve this impressive milestone. This feat occurred during the fourth T20I against India in Visakhapatnam, where he contributed 24 runs off just 16 deliveries.

New Zealand secured a commanding 50-run victory over India in the fourth T20I. After posting a formidable 215/7, driven by explosive openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway, New Zealand's bowlers, led by Mitchell Santner, restricted India to 165 all out. Despite valiant efforts from Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh, India fell short.

Rohit Sharma identifies Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh as key players for India's T20 World Cup campaign. He emphasizes their roles in batting and bowling. The team faces a selection challenge with spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Sharma also offers advice to Kuldeep regarding appeals. India aims for victory in the upcoming tournament.

The vibrant city of Lahore is set to become the battleground for an important T20 series between Pakistan and Australia, crucial for both teams as they refine their strategies ahead of the World Cup. Pakistan's inclusion in the tournament hangs in the balance, with a decision on their status expected to arrive imminently.

Ind vs NZ 3rd T20 Live Telecast: India faces New Zealand in the fourth T20 International on Wednesday, January 27, 2026. The series is already won, but India seeks to build rhythm for the T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson has an opportunity to find form. The match will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and Star Sports network. This game serves as a crucial preparation for both teams.

Ind vs NZ 4th T20 Playing 11: India heads to Visakhapatnam for the 4th T20I looking to extend their 3-0 lead against New Zealand. With Abhishek Sharma in red-hot form and Suryakumar Yadav back among the runs, India enters as favorites on a batting-friendly Vizag track, while the Kiwis struggle to find a winning combination before the World Cup.

Indian cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav has risen to seventh in the ICC T20I rankings. This follows his impressive batting in the series against New Zealand. Other Indian players like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma also feature prominently. Afghanistan and South African players also made gains in the rankings. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi are among the bowlers who have progressed.

Top tennis players Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are speaking out about constant camera surveillance at the Australian Open. They feel there is little privacy for athletes, even in non-public areas. Swiatek compared players to zoo animals, while Gauff highlighted the lack of private spaces. Both believe conversations are needed regarding player privacy versus fan engagement.

India aims to defend its Twenty20 World Cup title on home soil next month. The tournament features 20 teams across India and Sri Lanka. Matches will be held at eight stadiums. The schedule, venues, and prize money details are provided. Past winners are also listed. The competition begins on February 7 and concludes on March 8.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will aim to bounce back with their batting against UP Warriorz. A win will secure RCB's spot in the WPL final. UP Warriorz face an uphill battle to stay in playoff contention. They have been impacted by an injury to their top batter. The match is crucial for both teams' playoff hopes.

The International Cricket Council is revising media accreditation for Bangladesh journalists. This follows their national team's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India due to security concerns. Some journalists reported rejections. ICC sources indicate a process rework due to changing requests and schedules.

Para high-jumper Praveen Kumar, aged 23, has been awarded the Padma Shri. This marks a significant achievement for the Jewar-based athlete. He previously won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics and gold at the Paris Paralympics. Praveen also received the Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. He continues to train and aims for new records.

The 1947-48 contest against India was Bradman's final home Test series before retiring in 1948 with a career batting average of 99.94, earning him the reputation as crickets greatest batter. The series marked Indias first Test tour of Australia as an independent nation.

Pegulas 6-3, 6-4 win at Rod Laver Arena ended Keys first Grand Slam title defence in a tough section of the draw. Anisimova, runner-up at the last two majors in Wimbledon and the US Open, advanced 7-6 (4), 6-4 over Wang Xinyu as the temperature started rising at Melbourne Park, and organizers triggered the heat stress policy which allowed for extra cooling breaks.

DC W vs GG W: Delhi Capitals carry winning momentum into their clash with Gujarat Giants. Following a significant victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals will rely on their strong bowling attack. Gujarat Giants possess a potent batting lineup that has shown flashes of brilliance. Both teams are vying for playoff spots as the tournament enters its crucial phase.

New Zealand batter Mark Chapman praises Abhishek Sharma's calculated six-hitting. Chapman views the ongoing series against India as crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup. New Zealand aims to learn from India's dynamic batting and improve their own performance. The team seeks to fine-tune their game in the remaining matches before their World Cup opener.

Indian tennis player N Sriram Balaji and his partner Neil Oberleitner were eliminated from the Australian Open men's doubles. They lost in the second round. Another Indian, Yuki Bhambri, had his second-round match suspended. This was due to the tournament's extreme heat policy. His match will resume later.

Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav for their exceptional batting against New Zealand. India secured a series win with a dominant chase. Kishan displayed his domestic form while Yadav returned to scoring runs. Ashwin noted India's improved T20 strategy, emphasizing aggressive play and powerplay exploitation. This strong batting lineup now instills fear in opposing teams.

West Indies aim to salvage pride in the final T20I against Afghanistan in Dubai after losing the series. Afghanistan secured victory with a strong batting performance and Mujeeb Ur Rahman's impressive four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick. The match is scheduled for Thursday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Rinku Singh made a significant impact in the death overs with a match-tilting 44 not out off 20 balls, showcasing his exceptional finishing abilities. His prowess against fast bowlers and staggering strike rate in the final two overs highlight his value as a finisher, crucial for India's upcoming World Cup campaign.

Sunil Gavaskar believes India's ODI series loss to New Zealand stemmed from poor starts, urging batters to learn from Virat Kohli's situational approach. Kohli's lone century wasn't enough as the team struggled to build partnerships. Gavaskar highlighted Kohli's adaptability and never-give-up attitude as crucial lessons for younger players aiming for consistency.