The Times of India
Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
Pakistan batter Mohammad Rizwan has moved the Lahore High Court against summons issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Rizwan, questioned after Pakistans Test series loss in England, has challenged the investigation and the agencys jurisdiction. The case comes amid a separate PCB inquiry into player conduct and major squad changes following Pakistans poor England tour.
France opened their Chess Olympiad campaign with a 4-0 win over Tunisia, but top board Maxime Vachier-Lagrave remains realistic about his teams chances. In an exclusive interaction, MVL named USA, India, China and Uzbekistan as the favourites. The French star also reflected on his three-decade chess journey, handling setbacks, his love for the game and his recent time in India.
China's cricket journey in the Asian Games came to an unforeseen halt, as their quarter-final clash with Bangladesh was called off due to a soaked outfield. Consequently, Bangladesh moved forward to the semi-finals, taking advantage of their superior international ranking. This marked a sudden end to China's third participation in the Asian Games cricket event, a situation governed by tournament rules favouring the higher-ranked team.
Indian athletes in rowing and shooting faced a tumultuous start upon arrival, encountering major issues with their accommodation and registration. Several competitors were left without lodging, while others noticed their names were missing from the official list. Additionally, the rowing team's practice was hampered by delayed oars. On the shooting front, coach Samaresh Jung experienced accreditation problems, limiting his access.
India's second-ranked Arjun Erigaisi suffered a surprising Round 1 defeat at the Chess Olympiad. He lost to Thailand's Prin Laohawirapap despite a significant rating advantage. Other Indian players secured victories, ensuring a team win against Thailand. The Indian women's team also achieved a dominant 4-0 victory over their opponents. These results occurred on the opening day of the prestigious Chess Olympiad.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games will introduce Indian spectators to a range of unique sports, such as teqball, kurash, soft tennis, sepak takraw, and sport climbing. These events not only highlight athletic prowess but also celebrate Asian culture. With a delegation of 503 athletes, India will participate robustly, showcasing diverse sporting talents on an international scale.
Rashid Khan believes Afghanistan needs to find solutions in the powerplay, while India's fearless young batters have caught his eye. The Afghanistan star explains what makes Abhishek Sharma a very big package for Team India and calls 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a God-gifted talent. Rashid also identifies Noor Ahmad and Abdollah Ahmadzai as players to watch and opens up about the one ICC achievement he still wants in his book.
India has unveiled its teams for the highly anticipated home series against the West Indies. Shubman Gill will take charge of the One Day International squad, while Shreyas Iyer has been named captain of the Twenty20 International team. Additionally, the Rest of India roster for the upcoming Irani Cup has been released, featuring Rishabh Pant as the leader.
Vishal TK reflects on his record-breaking year and sets his sights firmly on the Asian Games, with the big challenge ahead.
The IPL auction is gearing up to make a comeback to India for its 2027 season. While the exact host city remains undecided, this event promises to be more intimate. Amid discussions surrounding the contentious Impact Player rule, the BCCI is actively gathering insights from franchises and stakeholders. Notably, several key Indian players have raised concerns regarding the effect of this rule on all-rounders' roles in the game.
Animesh Kujur opens up on his Asian Games preparations and the challenge of competing against Asias top sprinters.
Sanju Samson highlighted the importance of team objectives over individual rivalries and societal expectations. He mentioned that selections hinge on a players current form and the imperative to secure victories. Acknowledging external pressures, he noted that experience aids in navigating them. Samson concluded that players should always prioritize team dynamics, even amid personal challenges, as evidenced by his key role in steering India to a series win against Afghanistan.
Jos Buttler has now become the second-highest run-scorer in men's T20I cricket. He achieved this milestone during England's victory against Sri Lanka. Buttler scored eighty runs off forty-four balls in the match. Harry Brook also contributed significantly with an unbeaten century. England secured a dominant win in the first T20I.
From consoling a devastated Nihal Sarin after a cruel time loss to calling out Indias accommodation mess in Samarkand, Srinath Narayanan has been the steady hand all around. The Gambits captain helped his GCL side bounce back to bronze, and now turns his focus to Indias Chess Olympiad campaign, confident a young, tightly knit squad can deliver.
Sanju Samson speaks about Indias fearless approach, competition for the top-three spots and handling outside noise after the match.
In a remarkable feat, Harry Brook reached a notable captaincy milestone in 2026, becoming the only Full Member captain to score two T20I centuries within the same year. His latest achievement was an explosive 114 not out against Sri Lanka in Southampton, which he accomplished off just 42 deliveries, leading England to a commanding 119-run victory in their first T20I match.
Following their stunning victory against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final, India's women's cricket team made a bold statement by refusing to accept the trophy. The players chose to remain in the dressing room, adhering to the BCCI's advisement regarding the presentation. This moment recalls a similar stance taken by the men's team in the previous year's tournament.
Sanju Samson's explosive 57 off 22 balls against Afghanistan in the second T20I was more than a match-winning cameo it was a compelling reminder of why India's T20I selection calls remain so difficult. Having lost ground to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Samson responded with fearless batting while acknowledging the challenge of balancing merit, opportunity and India's long-term vision at the top.
Jasprit Bumrah opened the bowling for India with a maiden over. It was his 13th maiden in T20I cricket and helped him become the bowler with the most maiden overs among players from Full Member nations. He moved past Zimbabwes Richard Ngarava, who has bowled 12 maiden overs in T20Is.

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