The Times of India
Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates were seen celebrating after their record-extending eighth Women's Asia Cup title. However, the Indian team did not collect the trophy from Naqvi during the presentation ceremony. The ceremony ended with Sri Lanka receiving their runners-up cheque, medals and mementoes from the officials.
In an exhilarating final, India Women clinched the Women's T20 Asia Cup title by overcoming Sri Lanka. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana stood out, crafting a robust opening partnership that propelled Indias score. The bowlers shone, especially Shree Charani, who captured four wickets and effectively dismantled Sri Lanka's batting lineup, securing India's remarkable eighth victory in this prestigious tournament.
India dominated the first T20I, achieving a decisive seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan. The highlight was Abhishek Sharma, whose explosive 82 runs from 32 balls led the charge against a target of 156 set by Afghanistan, despite their recovery efforts from Omarzai and Nabi. On the bowling side, Arshdeep Singh excelled with 3 wickets for just 19 runs, allowing India to take a lead of 1-0 in this thrilling three-match series.
India chose experience in the opening game, with Sanju Samson selected in the XI instead of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Shreyas Iyer also confirmed that Washington Sundar and two other players were left out, making it clear that team combination was behind the decision.
Ancy Sojan opens up about her historic 6.88m national-record jump, the sacrifices behind her breakthrough, her comeback from a difficult year and her ambition to reach the 7m mark and win gold.
In an impressive display of skill, Joe Root not only surpassed two thousand runs in fourth innings but also became the first cricketer to net one thousand Test runs at Edgbaston. His unbeaten sixty-two propelled England to victory against Pakistan, marking his sixty-ninth Test fiftyan achievement that puts him ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in the record books. Root continues to break records and redefine Test cricket achievement.
During the toss, Bangladesh's captain Nigar Sultana declined to shake hands with India's skipper, a decision that the Bangladesh Cricket Board clarified was her own. The board plans to evaluate her leadership after the Asian Games, taking into account the teams performance. Additionally, there have been complaints regarding her behavior. Bangladesh faced a setback, losing the semi-final against India by 40 runs.
England triumphed with a commanding 3-0 Test series win against Pakistan, with returning captain Joe Root commending the team's ability to adapt amidst significant turmoil. The players showcased impressive resilience and execution, building on the foundation set by earlier coaches and leaders. This victory highlights their capacity to overcome challenges both on and off the field.
Shreyas Iyer is set to captain India's full-strength T20I team against Afghanistan, marking the return of pace ace Jasprit Bumrah after a lengthy injury break. This series acts as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where the team looks forward to engaging with athletes from various sports. Iyer is particularly thrilled about his debut experience at a multi-sport event.
Magnus Carlsen suffered his first GCL 2026 defeat as Alireza Firouzja's Triveni Continental Kings upset APL Pipers, but the result failed to alter the standings. Home favourites American Gambits briefly revived their qualification hopes before losing to Pipers. Nihal Sarin's defeat on time ended their finals bid, setting up a third-place clash with Mumba Masters on Sunday.
Divyanshi Choudhary has come to terms with her removal from the Asian Games wushu squad after an injury, as her federation put her health first. Now prioritising her fitness, she aims for future triumphs with gold medals in sight. Additionally, she continues to raise issues of harassment by a peer, but feels reassured by the federation's backing and the supportive stance of its officials.
Elena Rybakina triumphed at the US Open, claiming both the championship trophy and the prestigious world number one ranking. In a thrilling showdown against Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina showcased exceptional skill and poise, winning her third Grand Slam and second major title of the year, while Sabalenka's remarkable run at Flushing Meadows came to an unexpected end.
Jasprit Bumrah is set to return to international cricket after missing matches due to a left knee injury. His return gives India another major option with the ball, but Zadran said Afghanistan will not make things complicated while facing the star pacer.
In a detailed communication issued through advocate Himanshu Chaturvedi, a copy of which is with TOI, Srivastava was informed that all authority ordinarily exercised by him as director general would remain in abeyance with immediate effect pending further consideration under the Hockey India Bye-Laws.
Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir have worked together at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where they helped the franchise win the IPL title in 2024. Iyer was the captain, while Gambhir was the mentor. Iyer believes Gambhir's aggressive approach and his ability to understand individual players can help the team stay clear about their roles.
Joe Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 69 balls, hitting nine fours, as England chased down 130 to complete a 3-0 Test series whitewash. His unbeaten half-century took his tally of Test fifties to 69, moving him past Tendulkars 68. West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Ricky Ponting has 62.
England's batting was led by Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 62 in the third Test, while Jordan Cox scored an unbeaten 59 as England chased down 130 with eight wickets in hand. The result gave England their second 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan, after their success in the 2022/23 series. It was also England's 15th three-match Test series sweep overall.
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13. With traffic restrictions beginning from 1400 hours, commuters and spectators have been advised to plan their travel accordingly.
The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles. Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.
Clarke is not sure which match the incident took place in.
Wasim Akram voiced concern over Pakistan's lack of batting talent emerging from their system. He questioned the Pakistan Super League's decade-long impact on developing batsmen for the national team. Akram suggested reviving club cricket and implementing long-term planning for improvement. He also criticized the team's batting approach during their ongoing England Test series. Patience and consistent domestic structure reform are essential for Pakistan's cricket.
Trent Boult, the former New Zealand bowler, predicts a tough challenge for India in the upcoming Test series. He highlighted KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as key players to keep an eye on. With cold temperatures and green pitches in play, the Indian side will face a significant test against a New Zealand bowling unit known for its pace and swing.

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