Sport

Virat Kohli laughs off reports claiming he requested chartered flights during IPL 2026. He shared a humorous Instagram story to refute the claims and delivered a motivational talk to RCB players in the first training session, emphasising focus and urgency from day one.

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner advanced to the third round of the Miami Open after a straight-sets win over Damir Dzumhur. The Italian extended his ATP Masters 1000 winning streak and continues his bid to complete the rare ‘Sunshine Double’.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes Rishabh Pant will face the most pressure in the upcoming IPL season after a difficult campaign last year. Experts also discussed LSG’s spin options and overseas combination ahead of the tournament.

Robin Uthappa believes IPL 2026 could be MS Dhoni’s final season with Chennai Super Kings, while backing Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain. He also questioned Sunrisers Hyderabad’s title chances, citing weak bowling despite their aggressive batting approach

India will play two T20 Internationals against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28, the BCCI announced. The series will serve as preparation ahead of India’s white-ball tour of England scheduled to begin in July

World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeated rising Brazilian Joao Fonseca in straight sets at the Miami Open, showcasing his experience and control. The Spaniard saved key break points and advanced to the third round, continuing his strong season form

Virat Kohli has urged Royal Challengers Bengaluru players to maintain high intensity and avoid wasting time during training as they prepare to defend their IPL title. The team begins its campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 in Bengaluru

Wimbledon will introduce video review technology on six courts for the first time this year, allowing players to challenge umpire decisions. The system, already used in other Grand Slams, will be available throughout the tournament starting June 29

Telangana Boxing Federation will conduct women’s boxing selections at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad on March 24 to select the State team for the second Chief of Army Cup boxing championship scheduled to be held in Pune

DRK Football Club has announced its squad for the Indian Women’s League to be held in Kerala. Coached by Nagaraju, the Telangana-based team features players from across the State and aims to perform strongly despite being placed in a tough group

Haryana emerged as overall champion at the 24th National Para Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar, topping the medal tally with 95 medals. The event saw participation from over 1,400 athletes, with strong performances across track and field events

Virat Kohli has urged Royal Challengers Bengaluru to stay focused as defending IPL champions, warning of a tough 2026 season. RCB began preparations in Bengaluru with head coach Andy Flower welcoming new signings ahead of their title defence.

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes Shubman Gill’s omission from the T20 World Cup squad could motivate him to deliver a strong IPL season. Pujara also backed Gujarat Titans as title contenders, highlighting their powerful batting line-up and strong pace attack.

The Indian senior men’s cricket team will tour Ireland in June 2026 for a two-match T20 International series, the BCCI announced on Saturday. Both matches will be played in Belfast on June 26 and June 28.

Top seed Manav Thakkar advanced after a tough win over Sanil Shetty in the Senior National Table Tennis Championship, which saw several upsets. Harmeet Desai and others progressed, while many seeded players exited in a competitive round

The Telangana State-ranking chess tournament will be held on March 22 at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad for boys and girls across age groups. Eligible players can register online or via phone before March 21. No spot entries will be accepted

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer emphasised the importance of team bonding and overcoming challenges ahead of the season, while pacer Arshdeep Singh described handling pressure as a privilege and expressed confidence in strong performances at home

Hyderabad-based martial artist Hanshi Shaswat Kumar and his student B Yashwanth set multiple world records in the Asian Book of World Records, showcasing exceptional speed and skill in backfist and full-extension punches

India’s Tanvi Sharma advanced to the semifinals of the Orleans Masters 2026 with a straight-game win over Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, while the Indian men’s doubles pair exited the tournament after a quarterfinal defeat

Telangana athletes Jeevanji Deepthi and Akira Nandan won gold medals in their respective 400m events at the National para athletics meet in Bhubaneshwar, delivering strong performances and bringing recognition to the State

The International Masters League will return for its second season from October 24 to November 14, 2026, featuring cricket legends and matches across Mumbai, Vadodara and Vizag, following a successful debut season that drew strong viewership

State Bank of India secured third place in the All India Public Sector T20 cricket tournament in Mumbai, winning three league matches before losing the semifinal, with the play-off decided by a coin toss after rain washed out the match

Mumbai Indians will open Phase 2 of ticket sales for IPL 2026 home matches on March 21, with prices starting at Rs 499. Phase 1 witnessed strong demand, with most tickets sold out quickly at Wankhede Stadium.

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant praised Bharat Arun’s addition as bowling coach, calling the team’s fast-bowling camp “fantastic” and emphasising the importance of enjoyment, self-improvement and consistency ahead of the upcoming IPL season.