The Economic Times News

For the third year in a row, India earned the dubious distinction of topping the global list of doping violations in sports, as per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report. The rankings were based on tests conducted in 2024, but the technicality did little to wash away the embarrassment. India, which won just 6 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, accounted for a record 260 adverse analytical findings from 7113 samples a positivity rate of 3.6 per cent, the highest among all countries tha

2026 brings a double bonanza for Indian athletes: the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. While India has crossed the 100-medal mark in both events101 at the 2010 Delhi CWG and 107 at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023)the challenge is to do it in the same year. With India set to host the 2030 CWG, Asian Games sometime in the future and eventually the Olympics, athletes need to stand up.

Between themselves, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shared the last eight slams. It is a duopoly at the top of the rankings tree, with these two generational talents competing in their own bubble, while the rest play catch-up. Alcaraz won an epic five-setter at Roland Garros; Sinner got his own back at Wimbledon, only for Alcaraz to land another counterpunch in New York. Thrilling as this rivalry is, the cage is ripe to be rattled. Remember; back when it was all about Federer versus Nadal,

From Harmanpreet and Co. lifting the World Cup trophy to Gambhirs wards losing another Test series at home. From Sin-Caraz dominating the mens circuit to Sabalenka just about staying ahead of the chasing pack. From India topping the doping charts to the endless wait for ISLs resumption. 2025 was a fascinating year, full of highs and lows, and one that leaves sport with a big wishlist for 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will captain the India U19 squad for a three-match ODI series against South Africa, commencing January 3 in Benoni. Aaron George will serve as vice-captain. Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra have been ruled out due to wrist injuries but are expected to join for the U19 World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's Junior Cricket Committee has revealed the India squads. These teams are selected for the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup and an upcoming three-match One-Day series against South Africa. Ayush Mhatre will captain the U19 World Cup squad. Vihaan Malhotra is named vice-captain.

India last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 in England under the leadership of MS Dhoni. They reached the final again in 2017 but lost to arch-rivals Pakistan at The Oval in London.

The Aussie veteran made this upward movement in charts during his side's fourth Ashes Test at Melbourne against England. While he could score just nine in the first innings, falling to Josh Tongue, he made 24* in 39 balls, with a four, standing as a lone warrior as the Aussie batting crumbled to heaps, presenting an easy target to England.

Josh Tongue's remarkable comeback fuels England's Ashes victory. He overcame career-threatening injuries to deliver a match-winning five-wicket haul. This performance secured England's first test win in Australia in fifteen years. Tongue's dedication highlights his dream of playing for England. The series concludes with the fifth test in Sydney.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is looking to sell two new teams for the Pakistan Super League. Each team will cost 1.3 billion Pakistani rupees annually. The auction is set for January 8. Former owners of Multan Sultans have submitted bids. The PCB is guaranteeing franchises a minimum of 850 million Pakistani rupees from central revenue for five editions.

The bowler-friendly Melbourne pitch, where 20 wickets fell on Day 1, has drawn criticism from Kevin Pietersen and Dinesh Karthik. They highlighted the selective scrutiny of Indian pitches when spinners dominate, contrasting it with the current Ashes series where pacers have thrived. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg acknowledged that short Tests are detrimental to business.

India eyes a dominant fourth victory against Sri Lanka in the ongoing Women's T20I series. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team has showcased strong bowling and batting performances. While Indian bowlers have restricted Sri Lankan batters, the batting lineup has also delivered. Star batter Smriti Mandhana seeks a significant contribution. India may also test new players in the upcoming match.

A fighting England won their first Test on Australian soil in 15 years Saturday, restoring their battered pride with a gutsy four-wicket victory to clinch a chaotic fourth Ashes clash that was all over inside two days. It was the most wickets to tumble on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on day one of the series opener in Perth.

Deepti Sharma achieved a historic feat in the third T20I against Sri Lanka. She became the third-highest wicket-taker in women's international cricket. Sharma also reached a unique milestone, becoming the first cricketer in men's or women's T20 Internationals to score 1000 runs and take 150 wickets. India secured an eight-wicket victory in the match.

Indian boxing faced a tumultuous 2025 marked by internal BFI disputes and court battles. Despite administrative chaos, boxers like Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda emerged as world champions, salvaging the year. The men's team, however, endured a medal-less World Championships, though promising young talents showed potential.

Alistair Cook expressed concerns over England's Ashes preparation, citing their 2-2 home series draw against India as a result against a ot a great Indian side. He believes the team's recent results have masked deeper issues and that leadership has taken their eye off the ball for bigger series, leading to their current 0-3 Ashes deficit.

Indian weightlifting saw Mirabai Chanu win a World Championships silver medal. This was the sport's main achievement this year. Doping issues continued to be a problem for India. However, junior lifters showed good performances. They set new records. This offers hope for the future of Indian weightlifting.

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant's fifties propelled Delhi to 254, but Gujarat faltered in their chase, collapsing to 247. Despite a strong start, Gujarat's batters succumbed to pressure, handing Delhi a narrow seven-run victory in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

At the end of the day, Australia was 4/0, with Scott Boland (4*) and Travis Head (0*) unbeaten. England was skittled out for 110 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 152 runs, with Neser (4/45) and Boland (3/30) being at their most unplayable. England trails by 46 runs.

Mumbai opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi was hospitalized after sustaining a shoulder and neck injury, along with a concussion, during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match. The incident occurred while attempting a difficult catch, leading to a nasty fall where his head hit the ground. He was taken to SDMH Hospital for observation and scans.

Mumbai City FC's majority owner, City Football Group, has sold its stake back to the club's founders. This move comes amid uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League's future. City Football Group, which owns Manchester City, had a 65 percent share since 2019. Mumbai City FC has achieved significant success during this period.

Hardik Singh will lead the HIL Governing Council team in the Hockey India League. The tournament begins January 3 in Chennai. The team features experienced players and promising youngsters. The league will have eight franchises competing in a single round-robin format. Playoffs and the final will be held in Bhubaneswar. The league aims to provide continuity for players.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore. Experts suggest Iyer might not feature in the initial playing XI. RCB focused on retaining their core team and acquiring backups. The franchise is happy with the acquisition. The team aims to build on past success. Player acquisitions were strategic.

Young Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. The 14-year-old batter has achieved numerous records in age-group cricket and the IPL. His performances have drawn comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar. Suryavanshi's career has seen him break multiple batting records at a young age.

Australia secured a 42-run first-innings lead over England on a dramatic day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Twenty wickets fell before a world-record crowd. Australia collapsed for 152, but England was bowled out for 110. Australia finished the day at 4-0 in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 46 runs.

Mumbai opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Uttarakhand pacer Devendra Bora in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Bora, playing his third List A match, removed Sharma in the opening over after Mumbai opted to bowl. Sharma's attempt at a pick-up pull shot resulted in a catch at deep square leg.

Fresh off an Ashes victory, Pat Cummins, the Australian cricket captain, is taking some well-deserved time off to prepare for the T20 World Cup approaching next month. Unfortunately, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon will be absent for several months as he heals from hamstring surgery.

England's bowlers dominated Australia on day one of the fourth Ashes Test. Josh Tongue took five wickets as Australia was bowled out for 152. England's pace attack showed accuracy and venom. Australia's batting collapsed early. Michael Neser top-scored with 35. England aims to end their winless streak in Australia.

Yashasvi Jaiswal faces constant team changes despite consistent form. Selectors prioritize experience and specific team needs over his all-format potential. This situation impacts his confidence. Former selectors express concern, highlighting his match-winning ability. Jaiswal's exclusion from recent white-ball assignments raises questions about his future opportunities.

Rohit Sharma showcased his batting prowess with a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 155 runs, guiding Mumbai to victory. A fan's vada pav offer to Sharma went viral. The match saw over 20,000 spectators, highlighting Sharma's immense popularity. Fans skipped work and college to witness his performance. The crowd remained engaged throughout his innings.

India looks to secure the T20 series against Sri Lanka today. They have dominated the first two matches with strong batting and bowling performances. Sri Lanka faces confidence issues after consecutive defeats. The Indian team aims to maintain their winning momentum. The match starts at 7 pm in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy commenced with a flurry of centuries, including remarkable knocks from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Young Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest List-A centurion at 14, while numerous other batters etched their names in the record books with explosive performances across various matches.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a dominant return to domestic cricket with centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli's 131 guided Delhi to a chase, while Sharma's unbeaten 155* led Mumbai to victory. Both players showcased their enduring form, reinforcing their importance for India's ODI future.

Rohit Sharma marked his return to domestic List A cricket with a 62-ball century for Mumbai against Sikkim in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, striking eight fours and eight sixes. Almost simultaneously, Virat Kohli reached 53*, showcasing Indias white-ball stars in sublime form ahead of upcoming ODI assignments.

Ishan Kishan smashed a blistering 33-ball century against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, registering the second-fastest List A hundred by an Indian. The Jharkhand captain finished with 125 off 39 balls, continuing his red-hot domestic form and strengthening his case for a sustained return to Indias limited-overs squads.

Ravi Bishnoi, whose base price was Rs 2 crore, was acquired by the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) for a whopping Rs 7.4 crore at the IPL 2026 auction earlier this month.

Riding on Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 190, Bihar shattered world cricket records with a colossal 574/6 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi and captain Sakibul Gani led the charge with blistering centuries, including Suryavanshi's fastest 150 in List A history. This monumental score easily surpassed Tamil Nadu's previous record, showcasing Bihar's dominant batting display.

England cricket chief Rob Key will investigate reports of excessive drinking by players during an Ashes beach break. The team visited Noosa after losing early matches. Unverified footage of player Ben Duckett has also emerged. Key stated that excessive alcohol consumption is not expected. He previously addressed player drinking before a New Zealand match.

Three-time finalists Delhi Capitals on Tuesday announced ICC Women's ODI World Cup-winner Jemimah Rodrigues as captain for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026.

Players from both sides were seen engaged in verbal altercations during the game and the two teams also did not exchange the customary handshakes before and after the match.

Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has reached the number 1 position in T20I bowlers for the first time. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has also reclaimed the top spot for ODI batters. Annabel Sutherland previously held the number 1 T20I bowler position. Deepti's recent performance propelled her to the top.

England cricket chief Rob Key will probe claims of heavy drinking by players during a break in Noosa. The team lost the Ashes series to Australia. Key stated he would investigate if players over-indulged in alcohol. He mentioned that from initial reports, the players behaved well.

Belgium's Arthur Van Doren hails India as strong World Cup contenders, citing their consistent Olympic success and balanced team. He believes India's resurgence is a result of years of planning and exposure. Van Doren also highlighted the technical prowess of young Indian players, noting their dedication to improving their skills and game.

Following Pakistan's U19 Asia Cup final victory over India, fans urged PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to appoint Sarfaraz Ahmed as mentor for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sarfaraz, who mentored the U19 team to a dominant win, has a history of leading Pakistan to finals victories, including the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2004 U19 World Cup.

New Zealand achieved a massive 323-run win against West Indies in the third Test. The Black Caps dominated all five days. Jacob Duffy took five wickets, and Ajaz Patel claimed three. Brandon King scored 67 for West Indies. New Zealand's strong batting, including centuries from Tom Latham and Devon Conway, set up the victory.

India Women secured a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the first T20I. Jemimah Rodrigues starred with an unbeaten 69, leading the chase. Smriti Mandhana also reached a significant milestone, becoming the second woman to score 4000 T20I runs. India's disciplined bowling restricted Sri Lanka to 121/6. This win gives India a 1-0 lead in the series.