The Times of India

Lionel Messi may be leading the Golden Boot race, but Germany's Deniz Undav has emerged as FIFA's highest-rated attacking player after the 2026 World Cup group stage. The substitute striker edged Messi in FIFA's official performance rankings through extraordinary efficiency off the bench, while stars including Kylian Mbapp, Vincius Jnior and Erling Haaland also featured among the tournament's top-rated performers.

The federation cited her suspension period and an unsatisfactory reply to its show-cause notice as reasons for the rejection.

Sunil Gavaskar has backed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his India debut in the first T20I against England, believing the youngster can help India bounce back from their 0-2 series defeat to Ireland. Gavaskar also urged patience with new captain Shreyas Iyer, backed Rohit Sharma's ODI future, and warned that an in-form Jofra Archer could trouble India.

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin emerged as one of the biggest attractions in the Global Chess League Season 4 player draft, joining American Gambits after a bidding battle. The Bengaluru-based tournament, scheduled from September 3-13, will feature top stars including Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand, who switched teams to join PBG Alaskan Knights, as all six franchises finalised their squads.

Stokes was never a man of averages. He belonged to moments, and moments have an inconvenient habit of resisting arithmetic. The 258 at Cape Town, the fastest Test 250 ever scored, tells you more about him than any spreadsheet could. The mean is for actuaries. Stokes dealt in extremes, in tamasha, in the improbable stories grandparents tell children who politely pretend they have never heard them before.

Chasing 373, England resumed the final day on 103 for 4 but never managed to build the partnerships needed to threaten the target. They were bowled out for 212 shortly after lunch, handing New Zealand their first comeback series win in a three-Test series after losing the opening match.

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has questioned who will take responsibility for India's 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland, arguing that captain Shreyas Iyer should not be made the sole scapegoat. Tiwary urged critics to address the elephant in the room, indirectly pointing towards the team management and coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir for the disappointing result.

I think there is a little bit of disbelief, we have just won a World Cup. We have been outdone, outsmarted by a team which did their basics very well. Firstly credit to Ireland and secondly the learning for us (is) in terms of being able to adapt to different conditions and against different teams and that is the biggest takeaway from this series, Ten Doeschate said at the post-match press conference.

Kidambi Srikanth finished runner-up at the US Open Super 300 after losing 15-21, 21-16, 9-21 to Chinese Taipei's Su Li-yang in the men's singles final. Srikanth fought back brilliantly to force a decider, but Su's aggressive play proved decisive. The victory marked Su's first-ever BWF World Tour title, while Srikanth settled for second place.

Ireland completed a 2-0 sweep after beating India by one run in the second T20I on Sunday. It was Ireland's first-ever series win over India in any format. They had won the opening match by 34 runs a few days earlier against the reigning T20 world champions.

India's young batting lineup faltered in Ireland's seamer-friendly conditions, leading to a surprising 2-0 T20I series loss. Former player Sanjay Manjrekar points to an over-reliance on all-rounders, advocating for a specialist middle-order batter. He suggests Shubman Gill, with his adaptability, is a prime candidate for a return to T20 plans, offering depth on challenging pitches.

Former England pacer and Ashes winner Steve Harmison has called for England head coach Brendon McCullum to step down following Ben Stokes' retirement. Harmison criticised McCullum's Bazball approach, calling it amateur and arguing that Stokes and McCullum were a joint project. Meanwhile, Stokes said he retired due to burnout and to rediscover his love for cricket.

West Indies, a two-time T20 World Cup champion, faces a potential Olympic absence at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Their qualification hinges on a global playoff, but the IOC's recognition of individual Caribbean nations, unlike the ICC, creates a unique hurdle. A regional tournament will determine which of these separate NOCs can even compete for the final Olympic spot, a complex path for the cricketing powerhouse.

From spending hours plotting against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to dismantling India's star-studded batting line-up, Jai Moondra's dream debut for Ireland was years in the making. His childhood coach and mother recount the relentless work ethic that transformed an engineering student from Tonk, Rajasthan into Ireland's hero in their historic series win over India.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu wasn't surprised by India's T20I series loss to Ireland, citing the team's lack of preparation for the challenging conditions post-IPL. He highlighted technical issues with batters struggling to adapt from flat pitches. Rayudu also advised patience with young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, emphasising learning over immediate debut, and anticipates better batting conditions in England.

Pakistan Cricket Board has granted the Pakistan Super League full administrative and financial autonomy, a significant governance shift. Domestic cricket sees a Rs1 billion budget increase, with player match fees for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy more than tripling. Central contracts are revised, and women's cricket receives dedicated tournament funding. Furthermore, Rs6. 7 billion is allocated for stadium upgrades and infrastructure development.

Will the Dutch trip against Morocco? Can Germany beat Paraguay? Read this and more in today's Offside.

Sunil Gavaskar expressed surprise at 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's exclusion from the Ireland T20Is, believing he should have debuted before tougher England assignments. Despite the omission, Gavaskar anticipates Sooryavanshi's eventual call-up, citing his record-breaking domestic feats. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, however, urged patience, emphasising faith in established players while acknowledging the youngster's readiness.

World Champions stunned! Ryan ten Doeschate reacts to Ireland's historic win over India

Avesh Khan opens up on knee surgery, frustrating rehab & desire to play for India again

Former England captain Michael Vaughan speculates that a breakdown in trust between Ben Stokes and the ECB might have contributed to his sudden international retirement. Vaughan observed Stokes seemed ot quite right even before the Lord's Test, suggesting a loss of confidence in those around him, including the board, as a significant factor alongside other recent challenges.

San Francisco Unicorns have reclaimed the top spot in the MLC 2026 standings with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Washington Freedom. Chasing 191, the Unicorns achieved the target in just 15.1 overs, propelled by a blistering 102-run opening stand. Player of the Match Lhuan-dre Pretorius highlighted management's backing for his consistent performance, including a rapid 16-ball fifty.

After a year-long battle with injury and knee surgery, Avesh Khan says he is ready to return to the grind. Fresh off a successful Madhya Pradesh Premier League campaign, the fast bowler speaks about his rehab, Test cricket ambitions, preparing for the Ranji Trophy, and why he sees high-scoring T20s as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket, despite his omission from the Ireland tour. Following a shock T20I series loss to Ireland, the coach emphasised that Sooryavanshi must still follow the team's established selection process. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the team's struggles with conditions and Ireland's superior execution.

Cape Verde's captain, Ryan Mendes, is under investigation by New Zealand Police following an alleged rape by a Brazilian interpreter during the FIFA Series in March 2026. The woman claims Mendes entered her hotel room without permission and assaulted her. Police are actively investigating, reviewing CCTV and forensic evidence. FIFA has stated it takes such allegations seriously and is cooperating with authorities.

Canada have etched their name in World Cup history with a dramatic stoppage-time victory, propelling them into the Round of 16 stage. This historic win marks their first-ever appearance in the Round of 16. The tournament's expanded format has seen a record-breaking group stage, with nine African nations advancing. The intense Round of 32 matches are underway, leading to a thrilling weekend of sudden-death football.

India's T20I series loss to Ireland, their first ever, has been labelled a 'reality check' by former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He believes the young Indian batters, accustomed to flat IPL pitches, struggled on Ireland's seamer-friendly surfaces. Ashwin highlighted that true international value is tested on challenging wickets, which ultimately aids player development for varied conditions.

Tennis icon Serena Williams has voiced strong disapproval of the sport's anti-doping system, calling its current testing protocols unprofessional and unreasonable. Williams revealed these stringent rules nearly deterred her from returning to professional tennis, citing the difficulty of adhering to whereabouts requirements while managing a busy life as a mother and businesswoman.

Brazil, topping their group with seven points, gears up to face Japan in Houston for the Round of 32. Coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized the need for mental fortitude and a clear strategy, highlighting the team's strong comeback after a slow start. Both nations enter the knockout stage undefeated, promising a tense encounter where Brazil's intelligent players are urged to embrace the high stakes of a single-match elimination.

Harshavardhan GB became India's 97th Grandmaster, ending a six-year wait since earning his IM title in 2020. Nicknamed legend by his chess peers for his creative brilliance, the 22-year-old overcame repeated near-misses, financial struggles and travel hardships. Backed by his family and coaches, Harshavardhan's emotional breakthrough has now set him on the path towards becoming a super Grandmaster.

At the NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2026, India's defeats revealed more than the gap to Asia's best. For NBA India Head Sunny Malik, the bigger story is the pathway now taking shape - from Jr. NBA to RSI and beyond - as the league looks to build an ecosystem that consistently produces elite basketball talent.

Ancy Sojan shattered a 22-year-old national record in the women's long jump, leaping 6.88m. This remarkable feat, achieved by a daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver and coached by another, fulfills long-held sporting dreams in their Kerala village. Her father and childhood coach, who themselves faced limited opportunities, now see their aspirations realised through Ancy's success, with hopes of her breaching the 7-meter mark.

Ireland achieved a historic 2-0 T20I series triumph over reigning world champions India, with debutant Jai Moondra emerging as the unlikely hero. The software engineer from Rajasthan claimed crucial wickets, including Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer, to seal a dramatic one-run victory. Moondra, named Player of the Match and Series, expressed disbelief at the monumental achievement.

Over six days in Singapore, the NBA Rising Stars Invitational evolved into far more than a high-school basketball tournament. With Asia's best young talent, NBA and WNBA legends, packed stands and a growing ecosystem around the game, the event offered a glimpse into where basketball in the region is headed.

Kemar Roach achieved a monumental career milestone, becoming the fifth West Indies bowler to claim 300 Test wickets during a crushing innings-and-217-run victory over Sri Lanka. This dominant win, one of the Caribbean's largest ever, was set up by a world-record 401-run partnership between Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase.

Ireland secured a historic 2-0 T20I series win over India, marking a tough start for captain Shreyas Iyer. India faltered in their chase of 155, falling short by one run despite a late surge. Iyer acknowledged Ireland's superior understanding of the conditions, admitting India's batting unit struggled to adapt. The defeat also ended India's impressive 16-series winning streak.

England captain Ben Stokes has revealed the profound emotional toll of the Ashes defeat as the primary reason for his international retirement. He confessed to his wife that he felt o more fight left to overcome the disappointment. Stokes cited overwhelming emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, accumulated over years of demanding cricket, as the driving force behind his decision to step away from the game he loves.

The loss meant India failed to qualify for the semi-finals despite posting 170 for four after being asked to bat.

Tilak Varma's resilient half-century was a lone bright spot for India in their narrow one-run loss to Ireland, despite becoming one of the slowest Indian fifties in T20Is. Walking in during a top-order collapse, Varma battled tough conditions to reach his milestone. Ultimately, Ireland secured a historic series win, ending India's impressive streak.

Australia knocked India out of the Women's T20 World Cup with a comfortable six-wicket win, thanks to a match-winning 100-run partnership between Ellyse Perry (56) and Ashleigh Gardner (53*). Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur's explosive 56 off 27 balls helped India post 170/4, but the total proved insufficient as Australia advanced to the semifinals unbeaten.

Ireland achieved a historic one-run victory over reigning T20 World Cup champions India, securing a stunning 2-0 series sweep. Debutant Jai Moondra's fiery opening spell and disciplined death bowling proved crucial as Ireland defended a modest 154. Despite Tilak Varma's valiant 55, India's chase faltered, ending their impressive 16-series winning streak and exposing familiar batting frailties.

Deepti Sharma became the highest wicket-taker in women's international cricket, surpassing Jhulan Goswami's record with the dismissal of Australia's Beth Mooney during India's must-win Women's T20 World Cup clash. Earlier, captain Harmanpreet Kaur's explosive 56 off 27 balls, including three consecutive sixes in the final over, helped India post a competitive 170/4.

As Jannik Sinner begins his Wimbledon title defence, questions remain over his fitness following his dramatic collapse at the French Open. Despite making changes to his training and preparation, experts believe managing physical demands over long matches remains his biggest challenge. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka revealed she sought help from a psychologist after her own Roland Garros disappointment.

Tempers flared during India's Women's T20 World Cup clash against Australia after a mix-up between close friends Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues led to Mandhana's run-out. The pair exchanged angry looks before Mandhana later brushed off the incident. Meanwhile, captain Harmanpreet Kaur's explosive 56 off 27 balls powered India to a competitive total of 170/4.

India's T20I series against Ireland began disastrously in Belfast as both openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, were dismissed for golden ducks in the opening over, a rare feat in T20I history. Despite restricting Ireland to 154, India's chase faltered early, losing four wickets within the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma also added to his tally of ducks in the current calendar year.

The announcement came while Stokes was in the middle of a bowling spell. England Cricket released a statement confirming that the 35-year-old would step away from international cricket after the conclusion of the Test.