The Times of India

Nitish Kumar Reddy addresses the media after Indias second T20I against New Zealand, discussing his crucial partnership with Tilak Varma, Indias batting approach under pressure, Gautam Gambhirs message to the team and the challenges of managing his workload as an all-rounder.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner addresses the media after the second T20I against India, discussing missed catches, crucial partnerships, pitch conditions, dew and the key moments that shaped the match.

Tilak Varma shone brightly with an unbeaten 51 runs, leading India to a thrilling victory over New Zealand. Inspired by encouraging words from coaches Gautam Gambhir and Sitanshu Kotak, he anchored the innings in a tense chase, with Nitish Kumar Reddy supporting him with a vital 26 runs. India's last-ball triumph secured a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, highlighting their impressive form.

Arshdeep Singh achieved a significant milestone by becoming India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is in a calendar year, taking his tally to 38 wickets in 2026 to surpass Bhuvneshwar Kumar's previous record of 37. In the second T20I against New Zealand, Arshdeep dismissed Tim Seifert early and later claimed the crucial wicket of Glenn Phillips. Despite India's struggles during the chase, Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 kept the visitors in contention. Arshdeep's consistent performances further underline

In a thrilling second T20I, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased their prowess, steering India to a nail-biting victory against New Zealand. Chasing a formidable target of 181, India found themselves in trouble at 112/6. However, Varma's explosive unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls proved crucial, leading the team to triumph in 19.5 overs, despite New Zealand's strong bowling performance from Mitchell Santner, who claimed four wickets.

Pollard, who was Mumbai Indians' batting coach for the last four IPL seasons, takes over from Mahela Jayawardene, who parted ways with the franchise last week. The former West Indies all-rounder has been associated with MI since IPL 2010, when he was signed as a player.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his long-awaited return to India's playing XI in the second T20I against New Zealand, stepping in for the injured Ishan Kishan. Unfortunately, he couldn't seize the moment, managing just four runs from eight balls before being caught out by Nathan Smith. New Zealand set a formidable target of 181 runs, and Sooryavanshi's early dismissal hindered India's chase of 180/5.

Tilak Varma achieved a historic milestone by taking the most catches in T20 Internationals during 2026. His remarkable performance included two catches in the second T20I against New Zealand. Varma surpassed the previous record held by Danilson Hawoe with a total of 26 catches this year. India won the toss and opted to bowl, making two changes to their playing XI.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the second T20. The team made two changes, with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replacing Ishan Kishan and Prince Yadav coming in for Mayank Yadav. Iyer emphasized the importance of maintaining their aggressive approach while addressing fielding improvements. New Zealand also made a change, bringing in Jacob Duffy for Adam Milne.

Australian umpire Ben Treloar is experiencing Indian domestic cricket for the first time as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia exchange programme. From aeroplanes flying overhead at Delhi's Palam ground to Mumbai's red-soil pitch at BKC, the 44-year-old shares his impressions of Indian first-class cricket, the warmth of its people and his growing love for local cuisine, including garlic naan and vada pav.

India concluded the Asian Para Games 2026 with an extraordinary display of talent, amassing a total of 114 medals, consisting of 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze. This achievement surpasses their previous record from 2022 edition, securing a commendable fourth place overall. The rise of India's para-athletes on the continental stage was evident, even as China led with an impressive 217 gold medals.

Kieron Pollard has been named the head coach of Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL 2027 season. He takes over the position from Mahela Jayawardene, who has stepped down. Pollard expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and emphasised his connection to the team. The franchise is hopeful that Pollard will help restore their winning form. Mumbai Indians aims to build on their past successes and inspire their fans.

On a grass-covered pitch offering assistance to the fast bowlers, the Dhruv Jurel-led side had no answers to New Zealand A's disciplined attack. Five Indian batters failed to score a single run, while the top order once again failed to justify its reputation.

Iyer, who took over as India's T20I captain from Suryakumar Yadav in June, has scored 632 runs in 22 matches as skipper this year.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said the club would give Kompany all the time he needed to recover, stressing that his health remained the priority.

A last-minute security-driven postponement of PSGs Ligue 1 clash against Lyon has created a scheduling conflict with the 2026 Ballon dOr ceremony in London. With 10 players nominated, the French champions face a dilemma over balancing club commitments and footballs biggest individual awards. Injured stars, including defending winner Ousmane Dembl, could have greater freedom to attend, but final plans remain unconfirmed.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 197 despite a half-century from Beloved Biza, with Charani and Kranti Gaud (3/42) leading India's bowling effort. Pratika then guided the chase with an unbeaten 100 as India reached 200/1 in 27.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

In a historic accomplishment, India's para-athletes triumphed at the Asian Para Games, collecting a total of 114 medals, highlighting their outstanding prowess with 30 golds. This achievement not only broke their last record of 108 medals but also marked a significant shift in India's sporting landscape. Athletics emerged as the strongest discipline, asserting India's dominance despite South Korea's attempts to compete.

India finished its campaign at the Asian Para Games with a record total of 114 medals. This achievement included 30 gold medals, surpassing their previous best in Hangzhou. A significant contribution came from athletics, as athletes excelled in various events, including javelin and club throw. Additionally, badminton players delivered impressive performances, securing multiple gold medals. Shooter Mona Agarwal also achieved world record status in her event.

India's para-athletes had a remarkable performance at the Asian Para Games, securing two gold medals. Sumit Antil maintained his dominance in the men's javelin throw with a top distance of 72.46m, while Pranav Soorma broke records to defend his men's club throw F51 title. Complementing their achievements, Mahendra Gurjar earned silver, and Sandip Sanjay Sargar claimed bronze in javelin, boosting India's standing in the competition.