The Times of India

VS Rathanvel's journey to becoming India's 99th Grandmaster took an unexpected turn after FIDE did not recognise his initial rating achievement. Despite completing his norms in 2022, the Coimbatore player had to cross the 2500 rating mark again. After setbacks, pressure and uncertainty, he finally secured the required rating in Hungary, ending a four-year wait with relief rather than celebration.

In an interview with TOI, former New Zealand paces Shane Bond discussed the challenges of player management, the value of ODI cricket as Test preparation, and the recurring debate surrounding Bumrahs availability.

Shubman Gill outlined India's strategy for the middle order before the ODI series against New Zealand. The team plans to adopt a flexible approach for the No. 5 and No. 6 batting positions during the matches. Axar Patel and KL Rahul will take on these roles based on the match situation, ensuring adaptability. Gill also addressed concerns regarding his previous neck issue, asserting he is fit to play.

Indias preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup are taking shape, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja in focus. What lies ahead for Team India?

India's Dhinidhi Desinghu created history by winning bronze in the women's 100m freestyle at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, becoming the first Indian female swimmer to medal at the event. The 16-year-old clocked 56.27 seconds. Her coach Nihar Ameen backed her chances of another medal in the 200m freestyle. India also celebrated Khushbu Darjada's judo victory.

CoE updated team management about plan on Saturday, wicketkeeper has begun cricket drills

India thrashed South Korea 8-0 to finish the Asian Champions Trophy league stage unbeaten with 15 points from five wins. Dilpreet Singh scored twice, while six others found the net. India will face South Korea again in Wednesday's semifinal in Mohali, while Japan take on Malaysia in the other last-four clash.

BCCI has announced a strong 15-member India A squad for the upcoming ACC Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup. The tournament will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29, featuring several promising players. Tilak Varma will captain the squad, with Rajat Patidar as his deputy for the competition. India A is placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal, and UAE for the group stage.

Nihal Sarin broke into the world's Top 20 for the first time, reaching a career-best World No. 19 with 2720 rating points after winning individual gold at the European Chess Club Cup. India also has 13 players in the Open Top 100 and 11 in the Women's Top 100, while remaining the world's second-ranked chess federation across all three categories.

India secured a 3-2 T20I series win against New Zealand, showcasing a powerful beginning despite faltering in the final matches. Captain Shreyas Iyer expressed his pride in the team's efforts using the Maori expression 'Ka mau te wehi.' While recognizing the need for batting and bowling enhancements after losing the last match, Coach Gautam Gambhir celebrated Iyer's effective guidance of a young bowling squad under tough conditions.

Afghanistan's cricket team has achieved a historic milestone by entering the top six of the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings. They have surpassed Sri Lanka after consistent performances and landmark victories against major teams. Their climb follows notable wins during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup. Afghanistan recently completed a dominant series against Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh in various formats.

Pujara feels Kohli's position at number three gives him more time to settle in and build an innings. Rohit, meanwhile, usually has the responsibility of giving India an aggressive start during the powerplay

Why was Virat Kohli missing from India's nets session in Auckland? Here's the latest from India's preparations ahead of the New Zealand ODIs.

India had also beaten Australia in the semi-final to book their place in the title clash. After years of coming close, the team finally had a chance to win the trophy.

India will start a five-match ODI series against New Zealand at Eden Park, which has historically been challenging for them. Their ODI record at this venue shows only four wins out of eleven matches played against New Zealand. In their last encounter on November 25, 2022, New Zealand won by seven wickets in chase of 307 runs.

India won the first three matches to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series, but New Zealand bounced back by winning the final two games at home.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul turn up the heat during an intense training session in the nets. Here's a look at their preparations, along with why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were missing.

Shubman Gill put in a nearly three-hour workoutat Eden Park, combining an extended batting session with intensive fielding drills, while KLRahul was the only other designated batter tohit the nets. Virat Kohli opted for a gym session,with Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad also staying indoors ahead of India's ODI series opener against New Zealand on November 4.

Irfan Pathan has raised concerns regarding the selection of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the recent T20I series. Despite his experience, Bhuvneshwar struggled to perform effectively during the matches against New Zealand. Pathan indicated that this decision prevented young bowlers from gaining valuable experience in international cricket. He emphasized the need for selectors to provide opportunities for emerging fast bowlers. This approach is crucial for their development, especially in challenging play

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest Formula One world champion at the age of 20. Antonelli secured the title after finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, which was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Sanju Samson's performance in the T20I series against New Zealand raised eyebrows, as he could only amass 67 runs over five encounters. His struggles culminated in just four runs during the final match, prompting discussions about alternatives like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ravichandran Ashwin lightheartedly responded to critiques on social media. After initially leading 3-0, India concluded the series 3-2, following New Zealand's comeback in the last two games.