The Times of India
Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
With the publication of Usman Khawaja's autobiography, the spotlight has returned to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket. Khawaja reveals that discussions about tampering were commonplace among players during their time in South Africa. In response, Michael Vaughan sarcastically remarked that these suspicions were already widely acknowledged in the cricketing world. Cricket Australia, however, reaffirms its findings regarding player knowledge, keeping the scandal alive
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh and Auqib Nabi made full use of the conditions and kept the New Zealand batters under pressure. India are leading the five-match ODI series 1-0.
Former New Zealand pacer Kyle Mills joins TOI Sports for an exclusive interview, discussing India's tour of New Zealand, Jasprit Bumrah's impact, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future, and Gautam Gambhir's demanding coaching style. Mills also shares his insights on India's challenges and what to expect from the series.
Mohammed Shami has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of a distinguished twelve-year journey. Over his career, he participated in 64 Tests, claiming 229 wickets for India, with standout performances particularly against South Africa and Australia. Manoj Tiwary, his fellow cricketer, honored Shami's impact on the sport, calling him a true warrior. Shami plans to remain active in limited-overs formats.
Usman Khawaja has shed light on the extent of discussions regarding ball tampering among Australian cricketers. He revealed that these conversations were not only prevalent but also conducted openly during their contentious 2018 tour in South Africa. This revelation casts doubt on the integrity of Cricket Australia's previous investigation, which insists it considered all pertinent information before drawing its conclusions.
India's cricket team is experiencing a transition under coach Gautam Gambhir while maintaining stability in the ODI format. Senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play crucial roles in this transition. Former New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills commends Gambhir's tactical approach and acknowledges the scrutiny faced by the Indian team. New Zealand's cricket has improved significantly with upgraded infrastructure and a rich talent pool.
Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday, exactly 13 years after making his debut against West Indies in 2013. The 36-year-old fast bowler signed off with 229 wickets from 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls. Shami last played a Test in June 2023 against Australia, sharing an emotional farewell message on Instagram.
The Olympic Games once awarded gold medals for poetry, music, architecture, painting and sculpture alongside traditional sporting events. Introduced at Pierre de Coubertins insistence in 1912, the artistic competitions even saw the Olympic founder secretly win a literature gold medal under two assumed names. However, amateurism rules and declining interest eventually brought the unusual tradition to an end after the 1948 London Olympics.
Kylian Mbappe's comments referencing Mao Zedong have stirred considerable controversy in China, jeopardising his sponsorship ties. This prompted Real Madrid and LaLiga to extend apologies to the Chinese community. Consequently, Chinese businesses have severed connections with Mbappe and put a hold on LaLiga broadcasts. Talks continue between Chinese officials and Spanish football organisations to foster clarity.
Indian Grandmaster Pranav Venkatesh won the Open title at the FIDE World Junior Blitz Championship in Al Ain, UAE, scoring 10.5 points from 13 rounds. The 20-year-old finished a point clear of his closest rivals, adding blitz gold to the rapid silver he won earlier. Indias Aamuktha Guntaka finished fifth in the Girls section, while Savitha Shri placed seventh.
At just 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named the captain of the senior cricket team for Bihar. The Bihar Cricket Association revealed the squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, featuring 17 players, with Suraj Kashyap as vice-captain. The team's journey kicks off on November 14, following Sooryavanshi's standout performances in both the Indian Premier League and international T20 cricket.
R Praggnanandhaa expects an exciting World Chess Championship battle between D Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov, highlighting their recent form and long-standing familiarity. He also said defending the world title brings pressure he cannot fully understand without experiencing it. Meanwhile, Gukesh visited Neem Karoli Babas ashram ahead of the November 24 title clash in Geneva
The Delhi High Court ruled that the film Doosra violated Sourav Ganguly's personality rights, compelling producers to provide a bank guarantee. Despite this, the court allowed the film to continue its theatrical release, underscoring the importance of Ganguly's rights in the narrative. Producers are mandated to add disclaimers clarifying Ganguly's lack of consent for using his persona.
Aaryavir Sehwag and Lakshya Raichandani remained unbeaten as India chased down the target of 129 in just 19.1 overs, with 30.5 overs to spare. Sehwag scored 70 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes, while Raichandani made 53 off 63 balls, including seven boundaries.
The incident took place in the 78th over of West Indies' first innings when Shadman chased a ball played towards fine leg by Amir Jangoo. The opener slipped while trying to stop the ball and immediately went down in pain near the boundary.
Sarfaraz's effort in the field opened the door for Mumbai, who picked up their fourth outright win of the season to finish the first round with 27 points.
India's fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh discusses Virat Kohli's stunning catch, Rohit Sharma's run-out, fielding preparations for New Zealand conditions and Mohammed Siraj's availability ahead of the 2nd ODI.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved a significant milestone by being appointed as the East Zone vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy, a testament to his talent. However, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has voiced reservations about Sooryavanshi taking on such a crucial leadership role at a young age. With only eight red-ball matches under his belt, Tendulkar advised him to gather more experience before stepping into the spotlight.
New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner discusses Virat Kohli, the importance of the bowling attack, the upcoming IPL auction and more ahead of the India vs New Zealand series.
India cancelled training as rain disrupted New Zealand's preparations in Wellington ahead of the second ODI, with Mohammed Siraj's possible inclusion adding to the selection intrigue. Heavy rain is forecast for match day, raising concerns over another washout. India lead the five-match series 1-0
Dharam Singh Mann, Gold Winner At 1964 Oly, Relives A Fierce Final With Pakistan
Before Ronaldo, a senior Portugal side had never won anything, had only made the World Cup semifinals twice, in 1966 and 2006 (his first World Cup). With him leading them, they won three trophies in nine years.
Kris Srikkanth has raised concerns regarding Chennai Super Kings' recent trades involving Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards. He contends that Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged as the true winners of the four-player exchange ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Srikkanth examined Livingstone's potential role in CSK's squad and expressed skepticism over acquiring Edwards, noting that existing overseas talents may hinder Livingstone's chances, ultimately favoring Sunrisers Hyderabad in the deal.
Venkatesh Iyer experienced significant online backlash from Kolkata Knight Riders supporters after Shubman Gill's release. Fans would often criticize him on social media whenever Gill performed well. He revealed his thoughts about his situation ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, mentioning his previous approach to Shah Rukh Khan. After being released, Iyer moved on and joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he noticed the strong fan connection.
Devon Conway will miss the ODI series against India due to a concussion injury, making way for Nick Kelly to step in. Kelly is set to join the team in Wellington by Friday. In a positive update, Matt Henry has been declared free of concussion after a training incident. New Zealand faced defeat in the first ODI, despite a strong performance from Virat Kohli.
Saishiva Sankaran and Viswas Vijayaraj underline the challenges young Indian racers face in pursuing a career in motorsport, with limited testing, financial constraints and the demands of balancing education and racing. As they target Formula 1, both stress the need for greater support for Indian drivers to compete on the international stage. Their return to the Buddh International Circuit also brings back memories of India's previous F1 era.
In a remarkable achievement at the Youth Olympic Games, Tanvi Patri has secured a historic silver medal in badminton, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a medal at the event. Competing fiercely, she reached the finals, facing off against China's Zhang Yi Xin. Although she narrowly missed out on victory, her unwavering spirit and determination shone through, amplifying India's growing reputation in the badminton arena.
Jaypal Malviya announced his talent by winning a silver medal at the ISSF World Championships. His performance earned India its first shooting quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Malviya had qualified for the final in third place and showed resilience during tense moments. He previously made a mark by winning gold in national trials and has since equipped himself for future competitions.

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