With Rohit Sharma’s retirement and Virat Kohli’s expected departure, India faces a Test squad rebuild for the next World Test Championship cycle. KL Rahul is crucial in the middle order, while youngsters like Sai Sudharsan are making a strong case for selection.
In a shocking turn of events at the Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, the UAE defeated Qatar by 163 runs after all ten of their batters bizarrely retired out. Openers Esha Oza and Theertha Satish dominated with a 192-run partnership before the unusual strategy was implemented, reportedly due to a looming rain threat. Qatar then collapsed for just 29 runs.
At the BWF Taipei Open Super 300, Indian shuttlers Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda reached the semifinals. Shetty, a junior bronze medalist, lost to Chou Tien Chen, while Hooda, a previous Masters winner, was defeated by Tomoka Miyazaki. Despite strong starts and displays of skill, both Indians were overcome by their experienced opponents in closely contested matches.
Teenage sensation Anahat Singh delivered a stunning upset at the World Championship, defeating world No. 28 Marina Stefanoni in a thrilling five-game match. Abhay Singh also secured a notable victory, ousting world No. 25 Nicolas Mueller. Anahat now faces world No. 15 Fayrouz Aboelkheir, while Abhay is set to compete against world No.
Maheshwari Chauhan narrowly missed an Olympic medal. The shooter is using the loss as motivation. She faced another setback at the World Cup. Maheshwari is focused on future competitions. She aims to consistently reach finals and secure podium finishes. Her goals include the Asian Games and the World Championship. She is also aiming for the 2028 Olympics.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Virat Kohli hinted at retiring from Test cricket, a notion initially dismissed. Despite a desire to lead again, the BCCI, focused on the future, didn’t entertain it, earmarking Shubman Gill for captaincy. Kohli’s decision, potentially influenced by form or captaincy discussions, means India will likely miss his presence at No.4 in Tests.
Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian beach handball team participated in the Asian Championships in Oman, facing pressure to remove black armbands worn in protest. Threatened with fines and bans, India reluctantly played Pakistan, losing 0-2.
Due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan, several sporting events have already been suspended and more could be affected as the situation unravels. Sporting events across cricket and athletics have been first hit by the geopolitical situation between the two neighbours.
India shines at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai. The team clinched gold in the compound men’s team event. Indian women secured silver in their team event. Abhishek Verma and Madhura Dhamangaonkar won bronze in the mixed team competition. These wins highlight India’s growing strength in compound archery.
Sourav Ganguly commented on the BCCI’s decision to suspend IPL 2025 for a week due to escalating India-Pakistan tensions. He expressed hope for a swift resumption, emphasising the importance of completing the tournament. The Punjab Kings-Delhi Capitals match in Dharamshala was halted abruptly due to security concerns, with players and staff transported to Delhi via special train.