Sport

Kolkata Knight Riders enter IPL 2026 with a strong spin attack and deep batting lineup but face concerns over their pace unit and team balance. Cameron Green’s role and injury risks could prove decisive in shaping their campaign

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill emphasised consistency and adaptability ahead of IPL 2026, stating the team’s goal is to perform well in all conditions. Coach Ashish Nehra backed the approach as Titans aim for another successful season

India Under-20 men’s team defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the SAFF Championship in Maldives, powered by Punjab FC academy players. Omang Dodum scored a brace as India advanced to the knockout stage and will face Bangladesh next

Telangana shuttler Hasini Reddy clinched the girls’ under-16 singles title at the 10th National Deaf Sub-Junior Badminton Championship in Chandigarh and also secured a bronze medal in mixed doubles with partner Arman.

The BCCI has announced the schedule for the second phase of IPL 2026, with 50 league matches set to be played from April 13 to May 24 across 12 venues in India, starting with Sunrisers Hyderabad facing Rajasthan Royals.

The Telangana government will organise the first Legislators’ Sports Meet on March 28 and 29 at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad, bringing together MLAs and MLCs from all parties for sports and cultural programmes to promote fitness and unity.

Registrations for the 15th NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2026 have opened, with entries available until April 30. The event, organised by Hyderabad Runners Society, will also feature a charity window in May with over 30 NGOs partnering for social causes.

Siddu Nayak’s impressive five-wicket haul for Imperial and B. Hari Krishna’s explosive 148 for LIC were the highlights of Thursday’s HCA League cricket championship matches in Hyderabad, with Vidyuth Soudha and Canara Bank also registering victories.

Siddu Nayak’s five-wicket haul for Imperial and B. Hari Krishna’s 148-run blitz for LIC were the highlights of Thursday’s HCA League cricket championship. Charminar posted 397 in B-Division final, while LIC dominated CCMB in D-Division one-day clash.

Homegrown skincare brand Foxtale has appointed rising Indian cricketer Tilak Varma as its brand ambassador, extending its “Play On Till The Sun’s Gone” campaign for Glow Sunscreen. The campaign highlights sunscreen as an essential part of daily grooming routines.

The Esports Foundation has appointed NODWIN Gaming as India’s National Team Partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, a global nation-based esports competition debuting in Riyadh. NODWIN will oversee team formation, grassroots mobilisation and pathways for Indian players.

The ICC’s T20CreatorClub programme during the Men’s T20 World Cup generated over 2.5 billion video views globally. More than 350 content creators produced digital storytelling around the tournament, significantly expanding fan engagement across social media platforms.

The BCCI has announced India’s 2026-27 home season schedule, featuring 22 matches across formats. Hyderabad will host ODIs against West Indies and Zimbabwe, while the season also includes series against Sri Lanka and Australia, ending with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Mirabai Chanu is focused on winning her first Asian Games medal after years of near misses and injuries. The Olympic silver medallist is adjusting weight categories and building form after a strong national performance ahead of upcoming international competitions.

Indian skeet shooters will begin their campaign at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup season opener in Tangier, Morocco on Friday. Olympic champions, world champions and emerging talents are part of the strong field competing in the opening event of the 2026 season.

Promising Indian hockey players Anmol Ekka and Sakshi Rana have been nominated for under-21 honours at the Hockey India Annual Awards 2025. The youngsters expressed pride in the recognition after impressive performances at the Junior World Cups and in international competitions.

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya reacted to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s nearly $2 billion sale, defending his original investment and calling it gratifying. He congratulated new owners, recalling early criticism while highlighting the franchise’s massive value growth over time

Jannik Sinner defeated Alex Michelsen in straight sets to reach the Miami Open quarterfinals and stay on course for the Sunshine Double, while Martin Landaluce continued his impressive run by upsetting Sebastian Korda to enter the last eight

Connor Esterhuizen smashed 75 off 33 balls as South Africa defeated New Zealand by 33 runs in the fifth Twenty20 in Christchurch, sealing the five-match series 3-2 with a strong batting and disciplined bowling performance

Amelia Kerr’s brilliant 105 and two wickets powered New Zealand to a 92-run win over South Africa in the fifth WT20I at Hagley Oval, helping the hosts seal the five-match series 4-1 with a dominant all-round performance

Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans have signed Navdeep Saini and Kulwant Khejroliya respectively as replacements for injured players ahead of IPL 2026, strengthening their squads with experienced pacers

Sreenidi Deccan FC climbed to the top of the IFL table with a 3-1 win over Dempo SC, delivering a strong all-round performance despite being reduced to ten men in the second half

Sunrisers Hyderabad aim for a strong comeback in IPL 2026 under stand-by captain Ishan Kishan, focusing on consistency and improved bowling strength after a disappointing previous season, with key players expected to play crucial roles

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka and cricket director Tom Moody expressed confidence in the team’s revamped squad for IPL 2026, highlighting improved bowling strength and stressing the importance of collective performance to secure the franchise’s first title