Sport

Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s dependable Test batsman, has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, ending a career spanning 103 Tests and over 7,000 runs, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cricket history.

Lionel Messi led Argentina to play FIFA friendly in India Thiruvananthapuram India is all set to witness football history this November, as global icon Lionel Messi and the reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina are scheduled to arrive in Kerala for a friendly match. Taking to his social media account Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman said the official confirmation came through an email communication from the Argentine Football Association (AFA), confirming that the World Cup-winning squad will participate in an international fixture in Kerala during the FIFA International Match Window of November 2025. This marks the first-ever visit of Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning teammates to India, and the announcement has already sparked excitement among football fans across the country, particularly in football-loving Kerala. The state, which has long celebrated the magic of South American football, is preparing for what many are calling a “dream come true”

Dango Ouattara scored on his Brentford debut to secure a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in their first home Premier League match, giving Keith Andrews his side’s first win of the season

Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad, securing consecutive Premier League wins under new manager Thomas Frank, with Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha scoring in a disciplined defensive display

Chelsea crushed West Ham 5-1 at London Stadium in their first Premier League win of the season, with Joao Pedro starring in attack as Graham Potter’s side endured another heavy defeat

NorthEast United retained the Durand Cup with a dominant 6-1 victory over debutants Diamond Harbour in Kolkata, with Moroccan star Alaaeddine Ajaraie bagging three assists, a goal, and both top individual awards

Smriti Mandhana launched the Girls Cricket Academy at Suchitra Academy in Hyderabad, praising the initiative as a platform for young women cricketers, while urging players to enjoy the journey and remain humble

Nitish Reddy’s century powered Hyderabad to 205/4 in reply to Jharkhand’s 283, with Kumar Kushagra scoring 103. Tanay Thyagarajan and Rohith Rayudu starred with the ball in Chennai

Rounak Chouhan and Tankara Gnana Dattu advanced to the men’s singles final of the India Junior International Series in Hyderabad, while Shriyanshi, Aikya, and several doubles pairs also clinched semifinal wins

M Vihaan and Yashashree Sil clinched the boys’ and girls’ under-11 singles titles at the Telangana State-ranking table tennis tournament, winning their respective finals at All Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad

Top seed Rounak Chouhan defeated Ansh Negi in a three-game thriller to reach the men’s singles final at the India Junior International Series, with Shriyanshi, Aikya, and others also advancing

Sai Karan defeated Aryan Phogat in straight sets to advance in the Raja Narasimha Rao Memorial ITF Juniors at Bhuvanagiri, with several Indian and international players also progressing through the under-18 qualifying round

Telugu Titans skipper Vijay Malik expressed confidence ahead of PKL Season 12, highlighting a balanced squad of youth and experience, improved preparations, and the strong support of fans in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam

India defeated Bangladesh 2-0 in the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship, with goals from Pearl Fernandes and Bonifilia Shullai. The win brought redemption after last year’s losses and boosted India’s title hopes

The Hyderabad Cricket Association clarified that all resolutions passed by its six-member Apex Council are valid under existing rules. The Council will hold a Special General Meeting on 14 September 2025 to adopt amendments to HCA Rules & Regulations.

Tamil Thalaivas vice-captain Arjun Deshwal aims to lead the team to their maiden PKL title. Reflecting on past performances, he focuses on fitness, teamwork, and raiding strategies alongside star players like Pawan Sehrawat.

Tanay Thyagarajan and Rohit Rayudu took three wickets each to help Hyderabad limit Jharkhand to 209 for six on day one of the All India Buchi Babu Trophy cricket league match

PKL Season 12 starts August 29 with 108 matches, introducing Golden Raid tie-breakers, simplified points, and play-ins in playoffs, ensuring decisive results, intensified competition, and more thrilling kabaddi action for fans

Diamond Harbour FC, debutants in the Durand Cup, face defending champions NorthEast United FC in a high-stakes final in Kolkata, with a record Rs 1.21 crore prize at stake

Elavenil Valarivan clinched 10m air rifle gold with an Asian finals record, leading India’s dominant showing at the Asian Shooting Championship. India tops the medal tally with 17 gold medals

The Osmania University inter-college men’s carrom championship will be held on August 29 and 30, hosted by IIMC Khairtabad as part of National Sports Day celebrations in Hyderabad

Navi Mumbai replaces Bengaluru as a venue for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. DY Patil Stadium will host major fixtures including a semifinal and possibly the final, with unchanged dates

The BCCI has invited applications for two vacancies in the senior men’s selection committee and four in the women’s panel, with eligibility unchanged. Applications are also open for a junior selection role. The deadline for submissions is September 10

Bengal Warriors captain Devank Dalal, the costliest raider of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, said he is motivated to match Maninder Singh’s legacy. The former Patna Pirates star credited his 25-point game last season for transforming his career.