Sport

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva has urged his pacers to improve their performance as the hosts prepare for the second Test against India. After a heavy defeat in Galle, Sri Lanka aim to score big and take 20 wickets

The Hyderabad Cricket Association has invited entries for its Under-16 Inter-School and Inter-College Tournament 2026-27. A maximum of 120 teams will participate, with registrations opening on August 24 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal

Three five-wicket hauls from Prateik Rajaneni, K Karthikeya and K Pradeep Kumar, along with C Siddhardha’s century, highlighted the HCA C-Division one-day league. Several teams produced strong performances as competitive matches unfolded across Hyderabad on Saturday

A2H Chess Academy will organise an open rapid chess tournament in Hyderabad on August 26. The six-round Swiss League event carries a total prize money of Rs. 15,000 and is open to rated, unrated and new players

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured India’s maiden women’s doubles bronze at the World Championships after a fighting semifinal loss to defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. The Indian pair impressed with a spirited performance against the world No. 1 duo

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj praised India’s young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, calling him a “gem” after his impressive performances against Sri Lanka in Galle. Maharaj said Suthar’s control and variations could help him carry India’s spin legacy forward

Olympic bronze medallist Casey Kaufhold will make her Archery Premier League debut as 12 international stars from 10 countries join Season 2 in Hyderabad. The league will feature 48 athletes across six franchises, including Olympic medallists and world champions

Gautam Gambhir backed Kuldeep Yadav ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, advising the spinner to focus on delivering quality spells rather than chasing wickets. The India coach also defended the five-bowler strategy and stressed building depth in red-ball cricket

George Russell won the Zandvoort Sprint on Formula One’s return after the summer break, collecting maximum points and reducing his championship deficit. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second ahead of Lando Norris, while Kimi Antonelli retained the title lead

The BCCI is yet to finalise a title sponsor for India’s home matches after limited interest in the rights, reportedly due to the steep base price. Google Gemini, Spinny and SBI Life are among potential sponsors in discussions with the Board.

Gautam Gambhir dismissed criticism over India’s recent Test struggles, saying his priority remains winning trophies. The head coach backed Kuldeep Yadav and the five-bowler strategy, insisting India are undergoing a transition and rankings do not reflect their progress

Ben Stokes has criticised the exclusion of Headingley from the 2027 men’s Ashes schedule, calling the decision ‘shambolic’. The omission of northern venues has drawn backlash from players and commentators, with concerns raised over representation and accessibility of the iconic series

The BCCI is yet to finalise a title sponsor for the Indian cricket team’s home matches after limited response to its tender. Reports suggest brands including Google Gemini, Spinny and SBI Life are in discussions, with pricing emerging as a key hurdle

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has signed a new contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2034. The Brazil international joined from Brighton in 2025 and helped Chelsea win the FIFA Club World Cup in his debut campaign.

Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces a major red-ball and leadership challenge as the Duleep Trophy begins India’s domestic season. The tournament will also spotlight Mohammed Shami, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and several Test hopefuls seeking strong performances

India added three more medals at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia, with Mansi Lather winning silver and Tanvi Gundesh Magdum and Komal taking bronze. Earlier, Kajal Dhochak claimed gold, while Tanu Sharma and Savita secured silver medals.

India aim to seal their first overseas Test series win in three years against Sri Lanka, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver big scores. Kuldeep Yadav’s place is also under scrutiny

Rahul Dravid has urged patience with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stressing the importance of regular red-ball cricket in his development. The former India captain believes the youngster can eventually become an all-format player for India if given enough time.

Mitchell Starc became the leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship history after claiming 6-12 against Bangladesh in Mackay. The Australia pacer moved past Pat Cummins to reach 230 WTC wickets and also topped the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.

Amritsar Soormas captain Abhishek Sharma said helping young teammates earn state and IPL opportunities would be the biggest reward in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League. He also stressed attacking cricket, self-belief and fearless decision-making while leading his hometown team.

Coco Gauff defeated No. 10 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Cincinnati Open semifinals. The No. 4 seed will face Sara Bejlek, who stunned former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in a thrilling three-set quarterfinal.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Britain's Jack Draper have withdrawn from the US Open due to injuries. Sinner's absence further disrupts his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, while Draper's long-term arm injury adds to a depleted men's singles field

Pakistan were bowled out for 135 to suffer an innings and 103-run defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. Ollie Robinson starred with 8/80 as England secured a dominant three-day victory and valuable World Test Championship points

India's women's hockey team suffered a 0-2 defeat to defending champions Netherlands in their opening second-stage match at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. India now need to beat Australia and hope Netherlands defeat China to reach the semi-finals