The Times of India

Paris Saint-Germain clinched a historic second consecutive Champions League title, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Despite an early Arsenal lead, PSG fought back, with Dembl equalizing from the spot. Missed penalties from Eze and Gabriel ultimately cost Arsenal, handing PSG another European crown and cementing Luis Enrique's managerial legacy.

IPL 2026 Final: RCB, Gujarat Titans eye their second title | Spotlight on Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli

Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 journey, though ending in Qualifier 2, was defined by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's sensational performance. He amassed 776 runs, becoming the season's breakout star and face of the tournament. Despite a mid-season slump, RR showed resilience, with Sooryavanshi's heroics powering their playoff run, hinting at future title contention.

Rajat Patidar has brushed aside talk of India's T20 captaincy and selection, insisting his sole focus is on helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win a second successive IPL title. On the eve of the final against Gujarat Titans, the RCB skipper highlighted the team's culture shift towards shared responsibility and a winning mindset.

Rajat Patidar press conference: On RCB's title push, IPL 2026 final and more

Shubman Gill press conference: On IPL final, Sai Sudharsan, GT mindset and more

While Nihal and his S8UL teammate Aravindh Chithambaram have both successfully qualified for the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 Chess main event, Nihal stands alone as India's premier direct invitee for the country-based ENC tournament, where he will represent Team India Esports.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill hailed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as one of the best batters in the world in T20s. Sooryavanshi's phenomenal IPL 2026 season, amassing 776 runs with a strike rate of 237.30, has stunned cricket. Gill lauded the youngster's remarkable ability to dominate attacks and adapt under pressure, predicting a tough future for bowlers facing him.

Liverpool has parted ways with manager Arne Slot after a disappointing 2025-26 season, ending his two-year tenure just one year after leading the club to Premier League glory. Despite significant investment and high-profile signings, the team finished fifth, prompting the ownership to seek a new direction for the club's progression.

Gujarat Titans bowler Kagiso Rabada lauded Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old's IPL 2026 season was marked by fearless batting and sharp reflexes. Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs, leading the tournament charts. Rabada emphasized the youngster's maturity and attacking approach, stating age is irrelevant to his performance. Gujarat Titans secured a spot in the IPL 2026 final.

The defeat ended Vinesh's campaign after an eventful day in which she had first secured permission to compete in the 53kg category and then battled her way into the last four.

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are set to clash in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 final at Budapest's Pusks Arna. Arsenal seeks their first European title after a 22-year Premier League drought, while defending champions PSG aim to retain their trophy, a feat last achieved by Real Madrid.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes India's 30-member men's cricket probables for the 2026 Asian Games. Notably absent are T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Shubman Gill due to a scheduling clash with the West Indies series. This forces a two-team strategy, with a younger core potentially emerging for future T20 tournaments.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan's exceptional opening partnership of 167 runs against Rajasthan Royals has drawn praise from Irfan Pathan, who declared them the greatest IPL opening pair. Their consistent brilliance, with both batters surpassing 700 runs this season, has been the cornerstone of Gujarat Titans' success, effectively sealing their path to the final.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless 96 once again showcased the teenager's extraordinary talent, but it was Shubman Gill's sublime century that carried Gujarat Titans into the IPL final. While Sooryavanshi provided the thrills, Gill's masterclass in timing and placement sealed a record playoff chase and a date with RCB.

PSG carry the weight of champions, refusing to stop as they hope to retain the crown. Arsenal arrive with carpe diem in their hearts and history at their backs as they find themselves in the final of the Champions League for the first time since 2006. And if Arsenal get over the line, they would also become only the 25th club to ever win the European Cup or Champions League, having played 225 games in the competition - more than any other club to have never lifted the trophy.

Gujarat Titans secured their third IPL final appearance by defeating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. After a slow start, the team dominated the latter half of the season, driven by their formidable opening pair and a resurgent bowling attack. They now face RCB for their second IPL title.

Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 campaign ended in heartbreak after a Qualifier 2 loss to Gujarat Titans. Despite a brilliant 96 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team fell short. Sooryavanshi's stellar season, marked by maturity and exceptional batting against top bowlers, has earned him high praise and suggestions of an imminent India call-up.

Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 campaign ended with a Qualifier 2 loss to Gujarat Titans, despite a stellar 96 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ravichandran Ashwin lamented the batting unit's failure to support the young prodigy's heroic effort, highlighting his exceptional performance against top bowlers. Gujarat Titans comfortably chased the target.

Sai Sudharsan etched his name in IPL history with two consecutive hit-wicket dismissals in the 2026 playoffs. His bat slipped and hit the stumps in back-to-back matches, first for 14 against RCB and then for a quickfire 58 against RR. Despite the bizarre setbacks, Gujarat Titans secured wins in both encounters, with Sudharsan humorously vowing to improve his grip.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are on the cusp of defending their IPL title after a dominant IPL 2026 campaign. Under captain Rajat Patidar, RCB finished top of the league and stormed into the final with a crushing win in Qualifier 1. They now face Gujarat Titans, looking like strong favourites to secure back-to-back championships.

LSG had made Rishabh Pant captain after bidding Rs 27 crore for him, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. On the other hand, MI stirred a controversy when they brought Hardik Pandya back to their fold from Gujarat Titans and named him captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, then Indias captain across all three formats.

IPL 2026 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is garnering international acclaim for his bold batting. WWE superstar Drew McIntyre has now lauded the 15-year-old prodigy, even training in a Rajasthan Royals jersey as a tribute. McIntyre's admiration highlights Sooryavanshi's growing global impact beyond cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara questioned Sam Curran's absence from Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2026 playoff campaign, revealing the franchise had been informed of a season-ending injury. The RR director expressed disappointment after seeing Curran feature for Surrey and backed stricter enforcement of player contractual commitments.

Shubman Gill's spectacular century powered Gujarat Titans to a record-breaking chase in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, securing their spot in the final. He was celebrated with his family after the thrilling 7-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals. The Titans now head to Ahmedabad to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a highly anticipated title clash.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 dream ended in tears despite his stellar 96, as Gujarat Titans advanced to the final. The young Rajasthan Royals star, who amassed 776 runs this season, was visibly heartbroken after his team's elimination. Captain Riyan Parag lauded his exceptional talent and maturity, predicting a bright future for the prodigious cricketer.

RCB's Director of Cricket Mo Bobat believes the franchise's new identity matches with Rajat Patidar's. Built on fearless intent and collective contributions, RCB's second consecutive title push is strengthened by the experience of Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. They will face Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians faced a dismal IPL 2026, plagued by persistent dressing room unrest and damaging leaks of sensitive information. This internal turmoil, escalating since Hardik Pandya's captaincy, has frustrated franchise figures and insiders alike. Management is now prioritising an immediate crackdown on these breaches to restore the team's former glory.

Gujarat Titans batter Sai Sudharsan experienced a rare hit-wicket dismissal twice in consecutive IPL matches. This unusual event occurred during Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. Despite this setback, Gujarat Titans secured a seven-wicket victory. Skipper Shubman Gill expressed surprise at the repeated dismissal. Gujarat Titans will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.

IPL auctions are often won on perception in December, but the real story usually emerges months later. While franchises splashed massive sums on Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Liam Livingstone, the smartest buys of IPL 2026 quietly came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Jason Holder topped the charts by a distance, Josh Inglis maximised limited opportunities, and Ravi Bishnoi delivered steady returns. Meanwhile, several marquee signings struggled with injuries, poor form and role mismatches

Kumar Sangakkara believes 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket after a remarkable IPL campaign. The Rajasthan Royals opener amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a blistering strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five fifties. The teenager could have had back-to-back centuries in the playoffs, but fell short on 97 and 96, respectively.

Vikram Solanki on Shubman Gill-Sai Sudharsan masterclass, another IPL final

Kumar Sangakkara lashes out at Sam Curran, talks about RR season and more

The IPL 2026 Orange and Purple Cap races are set for a thrilling conclusion. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi leads the Orange Cap race, but Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are close behind. Kagiso Rabada has taken the lead in the Purple Cap standings. The final match will decide the tournament's top performers.

French Open 2026 witnessed two huge upsets as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner crashed out of the tournament. Teenager Joao Fonseca stunned Djokovic in a five-set thriller after coming back from two sets down. Earlier, World No. 1 Sinner collapsed physically in extreme Paris heat and lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, ending his 30-match winning streak and opening up the mens draw.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill spoke about Sai Sudharsan's unusual back-to-back hit-wicket dismissals. Despite this, Gill and Sudharsan's record partnership powered Gujarat Titans to a massive win. Gill's century and Sudharsan's quickfire fifty secured their place in the IPL 2026 final. The team's strong understanding was a key factor in their success.

Riyan Parag praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 exit, saying the 15-year-old doesn't slog and instead calculates and plays his shots. Sooryavanshi smashed 96 off 47 balls, but Gujarat Titans chased down 215 comfortably thanks to Shubman Gills 104 and Sai Sudharsans 58. Gujarat reached their third IPL final and will face RCB in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat Titans reached their third IPL final after defeating Rajasthan Royals. Shubman Gill scored a magnificent century to guide Gujarat in their chase. Rajasthan had posted a strong total thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's brilliant knock. Gujarat's opening partnership was key to their success. They will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.

Sai Sudharsan suffered another bizarre hit-wicket dismissal during Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals. Batting on 58, his bat slipped and hit the stumps while playing a shot off Brijesh Sharma. It was his second straight hit-wicket dismissal and third overall in IPL history, equalling Andre Russell and Shoaib Maliks mens T20 record.

Sai Sudharsan achieved a remarkable feat in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, joining Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle by scoring 700+ runs for the second consecutive season. He also equaled David Warner's nine 50-plus scores in a single IPL edition. Sudharsan and Shubman Gill's monumental opening stand set new IPL playoff partnership records.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan created T20 history during Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals by becoming the first mens pair to register 11 century partnerships. The duo achieved the feat in just 48 innings, surpassing legendary combinations like Chris Gayle-Virat Kohli and Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan while chasing 215 in Mullanpur.

Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred with a blistering 96, guiding his team to 214/6 against Gujarat Titans. Rashid Khan faced a tough outing, conceding 45 runs in two overs, including a 27-run final over assault by Donovan Ferreira. This marked a rare difficult night for the Afghan spinner in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat's participation in Asian Games trials is confirmed by courts, but her weight category remains a dispute. While Phogat desires to compete in 53kg, the WFI insists on 50kg, citing her Iconic Athlete status linked to her previous 50kg Olympic campaign. The final decision on her category is pending.