The Times of India
Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday, exactly 13 years after making his debut against West Indies in 2013. The 36-year-old fast bowler signed off with 229 wickets from 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls. Shami last played a Test in June 2023 against Australia, sharing an emotional farewell message on Instagram.
The Olympic Games once awarded gold medals for poetry, music, architecture, painting and sculpture alongside traditional sporting events. Introduced at Pierre de Coubertins insistence in 1912, the artistic competitions even saw the Olympic founder secretly win a literature gold medal under two assumed names. However, amateurism rules and declining interest eventually brought the unusual tradition to an end after the 1948 London Olympics.
Kylian Mbappe's comments referencing Mao Zedong have stirred considerable controversy in China, jeopardising his sponsorship ties. This prompted Real Madrid and LaLiga to extend apologies to the Chinese community. Consequently, Chinese businesses have severed connections with Mbappe and put a hold on LaLiga broadcasts. Talks continue between Chinese officials and Spanish football organisations to foster clarity.
Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh won the Open title at the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship in Al Ain, UAE, scoring 10.5 points from 13 rounds. The 20-year-old finished a point clear of his closest rivals, adding blitz gold to the rapid silver he won earlier. Indias Aamuktha Guntaka finished fifth in the Girls section, while Savitha Shri placed seventh.
At just 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named the captain of the senior cricket team for Bihar. The Bihar Cricket Association revealed the squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, featuring 17 players, with Suraj Kashyap as vice-captain. The team's journey kicks off on November 14, following Sooryavanshi's standout performances in both the Indian Premier League and international T20 cricket.
R Praggnanandhaa expects an exciting World Chess Championship battle between D Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov, highlighting their recent form and long-standing familiarity. He also said defending the world title brings pressure he cannot fully understand without experiencing it. Meanwhile, Gukesh visited Neem Karoli Babas ashram ahead of the November 24 title clash in Geneva
The Delhi High Court ruled that the film Doosra violated Sourav Ganguly's personality rights, compelling producers to provide a bank guarantee. Despite this, the court allowed the film to continue its theatrical release, underscoring the importance of Ganguly's rights in the narrative. Producers are mandated to add disclaimers clarifying Ganguly's lack of consent for using his persona.
Aaryavir Sehwag and Lakshya Raichandani remained unbeaten as India chased down the target of 129 in just 19.1 overs, with 30.5 overs to spare. Sehwag scored 70 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes, while Raichandani made 53 off 63 balls, including seven boundaries.
The incident took place in the 78th over of West Indies' first innings when Shadman chased a ball played towards fine leg by Amir Jangoo. The opener slipped while trying to stop the ball and immediately went down in pain near the boundary.
Sarfaraz's effort in the field opened the door for Mumbai, who picked up their fourth outright win of the season to finish the first round with 27 points.
India's fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh discusses Virat Kohli's stunning catch, Rohit Sharma's run-out, fielding preparations for New Zealand conditions and Mohammed Siraj's availability ahead of the 2nd ODI.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved a significant milestone by being appointed as the East Zone vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy, a testament to his talent. However, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has voiced reservations about Sooryavanshi taking on such a crucial leadership role at a young age. With only eight red-ball matches under his belt, Tendulkar advised him to gather more experience before stepping into the spotlight.
New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner discusses Virat Kohli, the importance of the bowling attack, the upcoming IPL auction and more ahead of the India vs New Zealand series.
India cancelled training as rain disrupted New Zealand's preparations in Wellington ahead of the second ODI, with Mohammed Siraj's possible inclusion adding to the selection intrigue. Heavy rain is forecast for match day, raising concerns over another washout. India lead the five-match series 1-0
Dharam Singh Mann, Gold Winner At 1964 Oly, Relives A Fierce Final With Pakistan
Before Ronaldo, a senior Portugal side had never won anything, had only made the World Cup semifinals twice, in 1966 and 2006 (his first World Cup). With him leading them, they won three trophies in nine years.
Kris Srikkanth has raised concerns regarding Chennai Super Kings' recent trades involving Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards. He contends that Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged as the true winners of the four-player exchange ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Srikkanth examined Livingstone's potential role in CSK's squad and expressed skepticism over acquiring Edwards, noting that existing overseas talents may hinder Livingstone's chances, ultimately favoring Sunrisers Hyderabad in the deal.
Venkatesh Iyer experienced significant online backlash from Kolkata Knight Riders supporters after Shubman Gill's release. Fans would often criticize him on social media whenever Gill performed well. He revealed his thoughts about his situation ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, mentioning his previous approach to Shah Rukh Khan. After being released, Iyer moved on and joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he noticed the strong fan connection.
Devon Conway will miss the ODI series against India due to a concussion injury, making way for Nick Kelly to step in. Kelly is set to join the team in Wellington by Friday. In a positive update, Matt Henry has been declared free of concussion after a training incident. New Zealand faced defeat in the first ODI, despite a strong performance from Virat Kohli.
Saishiva Sankaran and Viswas Vijayaraj underline the challenges young Indian racers face in pursuing a career in motorsport, with limited testing, financial constraints and the demands of balancing education and racing. As they target Formula 1, both stress the need for greater support for Indian drivers to compete on the international stage. Their return to the Buddh International Circuit also brings back memories of India's previous F1 era.
In a remarkable achievement at the Youth Olympic Games, Tanvi Patri has secured a historic silver medal in badminton, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a medal at the event. Competing fiercely, she reached the finals, facing off against China's Zhang Yi Xin. Although she narrowly missed out on victory, her unwavering spirit and determination shone through, amplifying India's growing reputation in the badminton arena.
Jaypal Malviya announced his talent by winning a silver medal at the ISSF World Championships. His performance earned India its first shooting quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Malviya had qualified for the final in third place and showed resilience during tense moments. He previously made a mark by winning gold in national trials and has since equipped himself for future competitions.
India's hockey team clinched an impressive victory, capturing the men's Asian Champions Trophy against Japan. Despite falling behind initially, the players rallied to turn the tide, with Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad each scoring vital goals. Japan's early lead was met with India's unwavering spirit, culminating in the team's sixth title in the tournament's history.
Prithvi Shaw scored an unbeaten 53 runs to guide Maharashtra to a 10-wicket win over Bengal. After shifting from Mumbai, he enjoys leading Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy match. Shaw emphasised the importance of focusing on immediate tasks rather than thinking ahead about his return to the national team. He expressed confidence in achieving big runs with more consistent performances in forthcoming innings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the remarkable success of India's para-athletes at the 2026 Asian Para Games, where they earned a historic total of 114 medals, including 30 golds. He urged this triumph to be a stepping stone toward even greater achievements in the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, underscoring the strides made in India's para-sports since 2010.
Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya is keen to have Virat Kohli in the dressing room if the senior India batter wants to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Dahiya also expressed his desire to have veteran pacer Ishant Sharma as a red-ball mentor. The Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Services ended in a draw, with Delhi walking away with three points after taking the first-innings lead.
India secured a silver medal in the team event at the ISSF World Championships held in Doha. However, Manu Bhaker and Suruchi Inder Singh failed to earn individual medals or Olympic quotas. Manu finished fifth while Suruchi placed sixth in the women's 10m air pistol final. Their individual performances disappointed the Indian team as they aimed for Olympic qualification.
Cristiano Ronaldo has officially retired from international football after an extraordinary 23-year career with Portugal. Leaving behind 234 appearances, a record 146 goals, six World Cup campaigns and three major international trophies, the 41-year-old ends his national-team journey as one of footballs greatest icons. His departure marks the end of an era, with records that may stand for generations.

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