The Times of India

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson criticised Gautam Gambhir for frequently changing Indias playing XI and batting order, saying it affects team consistency. However, he praised Gambhir for backing players like Sanju Samson. Meanwhile, West Indies defeated India by six wickets after chasing 250, with Shai Hope scoring an unbeaten 102 to level the five-match T20I series at 1-1.

Australia's 18-member squad has an average age of around 32.6, with only three players under 30.

Hope and Sherfane Rutherford turned the match on its head with a 120-run stand for the fourth wicket. Rutherford smashed 84 off 37 balls, while Hope remained unbeaten on 102 off 45 as the West Indies chased down India's 250-run target with nine balls to spare.

Sahibzada Farhan made a remarkable debut as captain, scoring 89 runs and guiding Pakistan to an impressive win over Sri Lanka, successfully chasing down 183. The aggressive pairing with Maaz Sadaqat shone through, sealing victory with seven balls left in the first T20I. Sri Lanka had set a competitive stage, thanks to Lahiru Udara's 91 runs. The anticipation builds for the upcoming matches scheduled in Rawalpindi.

India showcased their batting prowess against the West Indies, amassing an unprecedented T20I total of 249 runs. The highlight of the match was Sanju Samson, who electrified the crowd with an explosive 82 runs from 41 balls. Significant input from Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, alongside Tilak Varma's not-out 44, fortified India's position.

Pakistan has officially withdrawn from the men's Asian Champions Trophy scheduled for late October. Bangladesh will step in as Pakistan's replacement, with matches starting on October 27. The tournament will include major teams like India, Malaysia, and Japan, competing in a round-robin format. India will begin their campaign against Bangladesh after winning the Asian Games gold medal.

Latif was himself nicknamed Nana after the actor, a connection that former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali also recalled while paying tribute to Patekar.

India's compound archers have made landmark strides by attaining the first Olympic quota in their category, thanks to their exceptional performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games where they earned three golds and a bronze medal. Despite their triumph, coach Dave Cousins has encountered troubling salary delays, raising issues for the Archery Association of India and the Sports Authority of India.

Kumkum Mohod won the women's individual recurve gold medal at the Asian Games. She defeated South Koreas Oh Yejin in a closely contested final. Kumkum also won gold in the recurve team event and silver in the mixed team event. Her success has secured a quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. She aims to achieve her ultimate goal of winning Olympic gold in the future.

Ritu Negi, the celebrated captain of the kabaddi team, has been overlooked for a cash reward following the women's gold medal win at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. While her teammates received acknowledgments, her exclusion has raised serious concerns about recognition for athletes, especially after marriage. The Sports Minister has committed to reviewing this oversight and ensuring that Ritu's remarkable contributions are appropriately honored.

After more than two years out of the Indian team, Mukesh Kumar is back on the selectors radar following his selection for India As tour of New Zealand. The Bengal pacer discusses rediscovering his rhythm, improving his fitness and seam position, managing the demands of a packed cricket calendar, and his determination to fight his way back into the national setup.

Nana Patekar, renowned actor, passed away at the age of 75 after a cardiac arrest at his residence. Former cricketer Basit Ali shared heartfelt memories of his enduring friendship with Patekar throughout the years. Ali recalled how Patekar supported him during difficult times, including his mother's illness and his own health issues. Tributes from the Pakistani cricket fraternity, including Umar Akmal, honored Patekar's legacy and contributions.

After lackluster performances in the T20I series against the West Indies, Sanju Samson is under fire from critics. Aakash Chopra advises against dropping him for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, asserting that Samson's previous accomplishments merit further chances. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy's entry into the squad is debated but seems unlikely imminently. The talks surrounding India's opening combination will likely persist as long as performance concerns remain.

Pranavi Urs, 1st Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games golf gold, wants to bring more attention to a sport she believes is still misunderstood in India. From the rise of women's golf, influence of Aditi Ashok to the support system behind her career, Pranavi speaks on what the medal can do for the sport, overcoming a final-round setback and her belief that an LET title will eventually come.

Ishan Kishan is returning to his hometown of Ranchi, ready to take on the West Indies in the second T20I. This match offers a golden opportunity for Kishan to demonstrate his skill and confidence. The batting coach of India highlighted their unwavering fearless attitude towards the game. With selection decisions on bowlers and batting spots pending, players are eager to impress.

The BCCI's Centre of Excellence reported a rise in rehabilitated players, with 32 men undergoing treatment recently. A budget increase of nearly Rs 35 crore was allocated for injury management and rehabilitation. Soft-tissue injuries predominated among the cases, with notable players affected. Communication issues between Team India and the CoE's Sports Science Medicine team have been highlighted.

The young batter went on an attacking spree in the nets, repeatedly hitting the ball over the boundary and towards the stands. With every big hit, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed why he has become one of the most talked-about young batters in the Indian squad.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has played down concerns that Usman Khawajas upcoming autobiography could bring fresh attention to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate. Australia are returning to South Africa for the first time since the scandal. The three-Test series begins at Kingsmead on Friday, but Cummins said the incident had already been dealt with and the team had moved on.

Abhishek Sharma is on the brink of achieving a remarkable milestone, needing just 53 runs to cross 2,000 T20I runs during the second T20I against West Indies. With a chance to eclipse Suryakumar Yadav's record for the fastest attainment of this feat, Sharma's current high strike rate demonstrates his game-changing prowess.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 12 is scheduled from March 18 to May 2, 2027, aligning with IPL 2027. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed this timeline while maintaining the eight-team format. Notably, last season saw overseas players opted out in favor of IPL contracts, impacting the league's dynamics. In a fresh approach, this season will implement a player auction, enhancing fan engagement and building on last years success.

In this episode of Bombay Sport Exchange, Times Internet's Head of Content (Sports) K Shriniwas Rao speaks to sports lawyers Aahna Mehrotra and Riya Sharma as they take a deep dive into the business of Indian sport and question the growing tendency to package every sport as the next big league.From the economics of sports leagues and the pressure to replicate the IPL model to celebrity culture, foreign-player exposure and the sustainability of competitions, this conversation examines what it re

On October 13, officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will evaluate India's performance at the Asian Games. The nation secured far fewer medals than in previous tournaments, prompting a detailed review of financial allocations and the performance of seasoned athletes who fell short of expectations. Additionally, the existence of injuries before the Games has raised questions about the overall fairness of the competing teams.