The Times of India

Australia secured a commanding 41-run victory over Pakistan in the second ODI, leveling the series at 1-1. Josh Inglis and Cameron Green anchored the Australian innings with crucial half-centuries, setting a target of 232. Nathan Ellis and Matthew Short then starred with the ball, restricting Pakistan to 190 and forcing a series decider.

Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, embarked on their 2026 campaign with a special send-off ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Their team aircraft received a traditional water salute before departing for the tournament. The Seleo, aiming to reclaim football's biggest prize, will kick off their Group C matches against Morocco on June 14.

Mohammed Siraj's availability for the Afghanistan Test remains uncertain, with selectors monitoring the pacer's workload after a long IPL season. Jammu & Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, one of the six net bowlers, is on standby and will join the squad if Siraj is rested.

After a breakthrough IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, Mukul Choudhary is set to fulfil a dream far bigger than cricket: helping his family clear a long-standing bank loan. From overnight bus journeys between Gurugram and Bharatpur to years of living in rented homes, the youngster's rise has been built on sacrifice, hard work and unwavering family support. Now, armed with lessons from Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, Mukul believes the IPL has changed his life and opened the

A pre-World Cup friendly between DR Congo and Chile in Spain was cancelled due to health concerns over the Ebola outbreak. Local authorities intervened after health experts warned of potential risks. DR Congo has already altered its training plans due to the epidemic.

Gujarat Titans' Jos Buttler described a frightening safety scare after their IPL final loss. The team bus caught fire due to a short circuit, forcing players and staff to evacuate. This incident compounded their disappointment after falling short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, adding a bizarre end to their campaign.

At Norway Chess Round 8, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Magnus Carlsen for the second time in two weeks, outplaying the World No. 1 in a sharp French Defence to stay in title contention. Meanwhile, Gukesh suffered another classical setback against Alireza Firouzja after a preparation mix-up in the Ragozin Defence. In the womens event, Divya Deshmukh lost to women's leader Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL heroics have ignited a debate on his national team prospects. While some advocate for a fast-track, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar urges caution, emphasizing the difference between T20 success and red-ball cricket. Manjrekar believes Sooryavanshi should chart his own career path, free from undue pressure and public speculation.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor hailed the inclusion of two players of Indian heritage in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a proud moment for Indian football fans. Qatars Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, whose roots are in Kerala, and Australias Nishan Velupillay, with family origins in Tamil Nadu, were highlighted. Tharoor said they follow the path of former France midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo and praised the Indian diasporas growing impact on footballs biggest stage.

India arrived in New Chandigarh on Tuesday for a one-off Test against Afghanistan starting June 6, marking their return to red-ball cricket after IPL 2026. Led by Shubman Gill, India will use the match to prepare for upcoming overseas tours. Afghanistan aims to test itself against a top side. The teams last met in a Test in 2018, when India won convincingly.

PV Sindhu battled past Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan 25-23, 21-16 to reach the second round of the Indonesia Open and is likely to face world No. 1 An Se-young next. It was otherwise a disappointing day for India, with Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, Malvika Bansod, Treesa-Gayatri, and Dhruv-Tanisha exiting, while Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun advanced.

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has returned to the world's top 10, climbing to No. 8 in the June 2026 FIDE ratings after gaining 10 points. He is the only Indian in the top 10. Strong performances, including at the TePe Sigeman tournament in Malm, boosted his ranking. Although he lost a playoff to Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi's overall results secured his comeback among chess's elite.

If the question is which batter produced the most extreme combination of volume, speed and power across a single IPL season, the evidence points overwhelmingly in one direction. The IPL has seen bigger run tallies. It has seen cleaner six-hitters. What it had never seen before 2026 was a player score nearly 800 runs while striking at 237 and smashing 72 sixes. For 18 seasons, volume and violence existed separately. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi merged them, and that is why his IPL campaign 2026 may be on

Cristiano Ronaldo has begun training with Portugal ahead of the FIFA World Cup, sharing a photo captioned, The World Mission Begins! The 41-year-old is set for a record sixth World Cup appearance and hopes to win the only major trophy missing from his career. Ronaldo enters the tournament in top form after helping Al Nassr win the Saudi Pro League title.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to serve as a farewell stage for several of footballs most iconic players. From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Luka Modri, Neymar and Mohamed Salah, a generation that has defined the modern game could be making its final World Cup appearances. For some, it is one last chance at glory; for others, a final opportunity to cement enduring legacies.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has advocated for more foreign captains in the IPL, saying teams should select the best leader regardless of nationality. While acknowledging that Indian captains boost a franchises brand value and fan appeal, he argued that leadership quality should take precedence. Manjrekar cited successful overseas skippers like David Warner and Pat Cummins as examples.

Hardik Pandya is set to undergo fitness drills at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from June 2, aiming for the ODI squad against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Test team begins training in Mullanpur for their one-off match. Auqib Nabi might be a late addition to the Test camp.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 performance, including 776 runs and 72 sixes, has ignited calls for his immediate promotion to India's T20I squad. While many former cricketers back the young talent, ex-player Sanjay Manjrekar urges caution, advocating for gradual exposure to international conditions and allowing his career to develop organically.

Lalit Modi has predicted a meteoric rise for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2026. Modi believes the Rajasthan Royals prodigy could score a T20 double century and become a global superstar, surpassing even Hollywood and Bollywood actors.

Moments after RCBs IPL 2026 victory, Patidar shared an emotional embrace with childhood friend Abhishek Pathrod, saying, Dekha, jeet gaye. Kar diya na maine. The triumph capped a remarkable rise for the soft-spoken leader, whose calm captaincy and prolific batting helped transform RCB from perennial underachievers into back-to-back champions.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are celebrating a historic back-to-back IPL title win. Following their 2026 victory, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat challenged the team to achieve an unprecedented three consecutive championships. Captain Rajat Patidar and players like Virat Kohli embraced the prospect of making IPL history, igniting a frenzy of excitement as they aim for a 2027 triumph.

Krunal Pandya was instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's back-to-back IPL title wins in 2025 and 2026. He delivered crucial performances throughout the season, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. Captain Rajat Patidar acknowledged his vital role in the team's historic success.

In the sensational IPL-2026 season, young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the spotlight, smashing records left and right. Not to be outdone, the legendary Virat Kohli proved that age is just a number with his phenomenal performances on the field. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar steered RCB to triumph, securing a remarkable second title.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their second IPL title, defeating Gujarat Titans. Amidst the celebrations, Phil Salt and Suyash Sharma achieved a rare IPL title hat-trick, winning three consecutive trophies with Kolkata Knight Riders and then RCB. They join Karn Sharma as the only players to achieve this remarkable feat.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showcased a dominant performance, defeating former champion Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 to reach the French Open quarter-finals. Sabalenka's powerful serving and precision were key, and she delighted the crowd with a memorable Michael Jackson moonwalk celebration after her victory.

Round 7 of Norway Chess saw Indian stars bounce back after a difficult previous round. R Praggnanandhaa defeated Alireza Firouzja in a commanding classical game, while Divya Deshmukh beat Koneru Humpy in an Armageddon tie-break to remain second in the womens standings. Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen and D Gukesh won their Armageddon games but remained at the bottom of the open-section leaderboard.

An official announcement is awaited, but the matches are slated to be played on Sept 13, 16 and 19. Afghanistan are touring India for a one-off Test and three ODIs starting from June 6.

Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated IPL 2026, earning the Most Valuable Player award with a record 72 sixes and 776 runs. The explosive opener, known for his fearless approach, expressed his ambition to excel in Test cricket, a sentiment echoed by former chief selector MSK Prasad who urged his immediate inclusion in the Indian squad.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their second consecutive IPL title, defeating Gujarat Titans in the 2026 final. England captain Harry Kane congratulated Virat Kohli and RCB on their historic back-to-back championship wins. Skipper Rajat Patidar also joined an elite list of captains to achieve this feat, crediting Kohli for his support.

In the last two IPL seasons, Bhuvi has taken a combined 45 wickets, including 28 wickets this season. It is his best IPL performance, going close to his IPL 2016 (23 wickets) and IPL 2017 (26 wickets) tallies. In the last two seasons, no one has been as lethal as Bhuvi with Prasidh Krishna (41 wickets) coming closest. Among the bowlers who've bowled at least 100 overs, his economy (8.55) is only marginally behind Noor Ahmed (8.27). This season he finished just one short of eventual Purple Cap wi

Rasikh Salam Dar's rise from a two-year ban and career-threatening injury to becoming a key figure in RCB's title-winning campaign is a story of resilience and belief. Guided by family, shaped by hardship, and driven by an unwavering dream, the Kashmiri pacer has earned redemption.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy ended a 742-day wait for a BWF World Tour title by winning the Singapore Open, their third Super 750 crown. The Indian duo overcame injuries, ranking setbacks and near misses to reclaim momentum. Rejecting claims of inconsistency, Chirag said injuries disrupted rhythm, not performance. Backed by coaches Mathias Boe and Tan Kim Her, the pair now target bigger success ahead.

Serena Williams will return to competitive tennis for the first time since the 2022 US Open after accepting a wild card for the women's doubles event at Queen's Club. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 44, is expected to partner Victoria Mboko. Williams fuelled excitement with a social media teaser, while her comeback follows her re-entry into tennis' anti-doping programme last year.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles praised RCB's IPL 2026 title win as a symbol of the strong India-Australia partnership. Highlighting the contributions of Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David, Marles said their combined success reflected growing cooperation between the two nations. He also noted Kohli's popularity in Australia and described meeting Kapil Dev as a special fan moment.

RCB completed a remarkable transformation by winning back-to-back IPL titles, defeating Gujarat Titans in the 2026 final after years of heartbreak. Rajat Patidar's side dominated the season with 11 wins, powered by a balanced squad rather than relying solely on Virat Kohli. Kohli led the batting with 675 runs, while Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David and Krunal Pandya provided strong support.

The ICC Board resolved to suspend Cricket Canada from ICC membership with immediate effect due to serious breaches of its membership obligations, the ICC said in a statement.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took responsibility for Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 defeat, admitting they were 10-12 runs short against Gujarat Titans. The 15-year-old felt he should have kept more of the strike on a difficult pitch instead of exposing new batters. Despite the heartbreak, Sooryavanshi enjoyed a sensational season, finishing as IPL 2026's highest run-scorer with 776 runs.

French Open organisers fined Paraguayan player Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 65,000 euros after he said his second-round match should have been umpired by a man. Vallejo criticised Brazilian official Ana Carvalho following his loss to Moise Kouame, claiming she struggled to control the crowd. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo called the remarks unacceptable, while Vallejo insisted his comments were about crowd management, not officiating ability.

Virat Kohli starred with an unbeaten 75 as RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL final, securing another title. The veteran finished the season with 675 runs and was hailed by coach Andy Flower as the teams heartbeat. While fans celebrated Kohlis heroics, RCB skipped a public homecoming, with captain Rajat Patidar dedicating the trophy to supporters lost in last years tragedy.

Football fans in India can rejoice as Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has secured broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups, along with the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and other FIFA events until 2034.

Gujarat Titans narrowly missed the IPL 2026 title, falling to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a home final. Despite a shaky start, the consistent Titans reached their third final in five seasons, showcasing strong performances from Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler. Their bowling attack, led by Rabada and Siraj, also impressed throughout the campaign.