The Times of India

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's selection for the T20I series against New Zealand showcases his impressive form with RCB. Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized that Bhuvneshwar concentrated on honing his skills instead of aiming for a comeback on the national team. Ashwin is optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, attributing this to solid bowling assets and seasoned hitters. He pointed out South Africa's strength, citing their understanding of local conditions.

Smriti Mandhana remains the highest-ranked batter in the ICC womens ODI rankings with 790 rating points. Harmanpreet Kaur maintains her place in the top ten at ninth position. The T20I batting rankings feature three Indian players, with Shafali Verma leading in fourth place. Indian bowlers dominate the T20I bowling rankings, with Shree Charani in the top spot. India maintains a strong presence in both ODI and T20I team rankings.

Indias Sports Ministry has greenlit a team of 275 individuals for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This contingent includes 166 talented athletes across ten disciplines, featuring standout players like gold medallist Sheetal Devi and world champion Pramod Bhagat. Para-athletics leads the representation, closely followed by para-badminton and para-swimming, highlighting emerging athletes. The games will take place from October 18 to 24, 2026.

The Sports Ministry has officially dismissed Jai Prakash Nautiyal from his role as the para-shooting coach for India's 2026 Asian Para Games contingent. This action comes in response to allegations of improper practices in the selection process, spurring protests among athletes and an investigation. The squad features 166 talented athletes, including stars Avani Lekhara and Bhavina Patel, and aims to showcase their skills in multiple sports.

UNICEF India has appointed Indian womens cricket captain Smriti Mandhana as its Celebrity Advocate to promote girls rights, health, well-being and equal opportunities. Mandhana will support efforts to empower young girls and help them achieve their potential. A celebrated cricketer, she was part of Indias historic 2025 Womens Cricket World Cup-winning team and has set several batting records.

Shaun Pollock has raised an intriguing idea about the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches to combat delays from poor light conditions. His proposal came after weather interruptions plagued the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban. While cricket's governing body permits pink balls in daytime matches with both captains' approval, Ashwell Prince advocates for the traditional red ball due to varying team experiences.

Cristiano Ronaldo edged closer to the monumental milestone of 1,000 career goals by netting a goal for Al-Nassr in their AFC Champions League match. Although security alerts caused a postponement against Neftchi Fergana, which caused discomfort among fans and players, Al-Nassr clinched a 3-1 victory with Ronaldo being instrumental. A pending dispute with the Portuguese Football Federation, however, looms over him.

Lalremsiami Hmarzote made history by clinching gold at the Asian Games in women's hockey, a pivotal accomplishment for her and her team. She scored vital goals, particularly in the final against China. Remembering her late father, who was her source of motivation, Hmarzote is now determined to inspire young girls in Mizoram to take up hockey and chase their sporting dreams as the Indian women's team eyes the Olympics.

Cricketer Prithvi Shaw and actor-influencer Akriti Agarwal have reconciled weeks after calling off their engagement. Akriti admitted that others opinions influenced her decision to separate and said honest conversations helped them reunite. The couple got engaged in March 2026 but parted ways in September. Meanwhile, Shaw is working on his cricket comeback, recently scoring 70 for Maharashtra against Services.

Ahead of Indias tour of New Zealand, NZC CEO Geoff Allott speaks to TOI about hosting the countrys biggest-ever series, record ticket sales, pitches, the IPLs influence on Kiwi cricket and the enduring bond between the two nations.

Sumit Nagal apologised to the Maia crowd and Portuguese player Henrique Rocha for making a talking gesture after his hard-fought first-round win at the Maia ATP Challenger. Nagal called it a heat-of-the-moment reaction and confirmed he had apologised personally to Rocha. The incident comes after India's disappointing Asian Games tennis campaign ended without a medal for the first time since 1986.

As Ahmedabad builds its case to host the 2036 Olympics, it faces competition from cities and countries with different advantages. From Munichs existing venues and Qatars event-ready infrastructure to South Koreas regional model, South Africas continental ambition, Istanbuls Olympic experience and Hungarys low-construction approach, each offers challenge, and lessons, for India.

England batter Ollie Pope has withdrawn from the Afghanistan Premier League draft amid concerns over the Talibans treatment of women and girls. England cricket director Rob Key said participation was a personal moral decision, despite the ECBs refusal to arrange bilateral series with Afghanistan. Former England batter Dawid Malan remains in the draft, highlighting the conflict between ethical concerns and players livelihoods.

What should children get out of sport a professional career, or something more fundamental? Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes challenges the pressure to treat sport as an investment, arguing that a healthy, active child is already a meaningful return.On Bombay Sport Exchange, host K. Shriniwas Rao speaks with Rhodes about sporting culture in India and South Africa, the role of parents in a child's development, and the habits that help athletes succeed. Drawing on his experience as an i

Alexander Zverev has made history by clinching the year-end world No. 1 ranking for the very first time. His remarkable journey to the top was amplified by Carlos Alcaraz's surprising defeat at the Shanghai Masters. Zverev's stellar season includes his inaugural Grand Slam triumphs at both the French Open and US Open.

Due to an unfortunate injury obtained in the Irani Cup, Rishabh Pant will miss the first two matches of India's tour to New Zealand. Kumar Kushagra has stepped in as his substitute. Starting October 24, India will engage in three multi-day matches against New Zealand A. Captain Dhruv Jurel will helm the squad, filled with experienced talent.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his Al-Nassr return, taking his career tally to 980 goals, while Portugal have made clear they want their captain back. Despite the disciplinary proceedings following his camp exit, Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus have left the door open for a reunion. With Novembers fixtures approaching, will Ronaldo return to Portugal after the fallout?

India's participation in the Asian Champions Trophy will proceed without traditional rivals Pakistan, which has withdrawn. Bangladesh will replace Pakistan in the tournament, altering the competitive dynamics among the teams. Suraj Karkera expressed that the intense rivalry's absence will be missed but emphasized the team's focus on performance. The tournament is scheduled from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali in Punjab.

Cristiano Ronaldo believes he is the greatest footballer ever, insisting his 980 career goals speak for themselves as he closes in on the 1,000-goal milestone. Despite disciplinary proceedings following his departure from Portugals camp, the federation wants him back for Novembers fixtures. Meanwhile, Ronaldo continues scoring for Al-Nassr, leaving fans wondering when he will finally reach four figures.

During the thrilling third T20I against West Indies, Abhishek Sharma crossed the impressive landmark of 2,000 runs. With an explosive 69 from just 30 deliveries, he played a pivotal role in granting India a 2-1 series edge. Former cricketer Ajinkya Rahane lauded Abhishek's remarkable adaptability and relentless aggression at the crease.

BCCI has confirmed that the opening ODI match against Sri Lanka will indeed take place in Delhi on December 13, despite speculation about possible changes due to construction at Arun Jaitley Stadium. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia reassured fans that no decision to relocate the match has been reached. Following this match, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad will host the subsequent games until December 27.

Naman Dhir, primarily recognised as a batting all-rounder, has made a significant impact with his bowling, particularly in a recent T20I match against the West Indies where he secured two important wickets. He attributes his bowling success to his keen understanding of batting techniques. While he still prioritises his batting skills, Dhir is dedicated to enhancing his bowling contributions, prioritizing enjoyment in his cricket journey.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken the decisive step to relocate President's Trophy matches amidst ongoing political unrest. With governor's rule now imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, several matches planned for that area are being moved. While Peshawar and Abbottabad's fixtures are affected, games will continue in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Starting October 14, matches will be held in Sheikhupura and Lahore, illustrating how political issues are shaping the domestic cricket landscape.

Abhishek Sharma speaks about Indias aggressive approach against West Indies, his preparation to tackle bowlers plans, the importance of big overs and his batting partnership with Ishan Kishan.

Nathan McSweeney used YouTube videos of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to prepare for the challenge of batting against spin in India. His preparation proved effective as the Australia A batter topped the run charts in the one-day series against India A, helping his team secure a 2-1 win in Puducherry.

Tilak Varma achieved a significant milestone by making 50 catches in T20Is against West Indies. This accomplishment makes him the fifth Indian fielder to reach this landmark. His efficiency is notable, with a dismissals-per-innings ratio of 0.757, the best among Indian players. In the match, he was involved in an unusual run-out but contributed 28 runs. India eventually won the match by 14 runs, leading the series 2-1.

Abhishek Sharma's dynamic performance with a blistering 69 runs played a crucial role in propelling India to a total against the West Indies. With determined bowling efforts, India successfully limited the visitors to 209 runs, clinching the match by 14 runs. West Indies all-rounder Shamar Springer mentioned their strategy to curb Sharma's aggressive play. Despite facing tough opposition, India showcased resilience, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.

India's U17 women's football team has etched its name in history once again by securing a spot in their second consecutive Womens Asian Cup. They dominated in the AFC qualifiers, thrashing Malaysia 4-0. Key contributions came from Redima Devi Chingkhamayum, Pritika Barman, Anushka Kumari, and Nidhi, who collectively showcased the extraordinary talent emerging in women's football in India with 20 goals throughout the tournament.

Dilip Vengsarkar has voiced his concerns about the BCCI scheduling an India A tour during the Ranji Trophy season. He argues that this decision diminishes the prestige of the domestic tournament, as domestic players' performances might lose value with top players being diverted to the India A team. Vengsarkar advocates for an earlier acclimatisation trip for the main team instead.