Sport

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.

India’s Under-20 women’s team has arrived in Thailand for the AFC Asian Cup, marking their return after 20 years. The Young Tigresses will undergo a 13-day preparation phase before opening their campaign against Japan on April 2.

India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has reportedly sought an extension until the 2027 ODI World Cup, with BCCI considering the request amid his successful tenure that saw multiple ICC titles, despite mixed results in Test cricket

Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals, with Barcelona scoring seven, Liverpool overturning a deficit and Bayern cruising, setting up high-profile clashes including Bayern versus Real Madrid

Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal during Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville, joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the elite club, though his team was knocked out after a draw on away goals

Bison FC defeated Bolarum FC 3-0 to win the Garden Football Club’s Ugadi one-day seven-a-side football tournament, with Avinash scoring twice, as winners and runners-up were awarded cash prizes at Bolarum Cantonment Ground

India’s Tanvi Sharma and the men’s doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun advanced at the Orleans Masters 2026, with Tanvi entering the Round of 16 and the duo reaching the quarterfinals after impressive performances

Hyderabad pacer Rahul Kartikeya has been selected for the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation course, with the Hyderabad Cricket Association lauding his dedication and expressing confidence that the opportunity will help him excel further in his cricketing career.

A2H Chess Academy will host an open prize money chess tournament in Hyderabad on March 22, offering a total prize pool of Rs 50,000, with registrations open for interested participants through the academy’s FIDE Arbiter.

India’s U20 women’s team, led by Shubhangi Singh, is set to return to the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup after 20 years, aiming for a strong performance and knockout qualification following extensive international preparation and improved team cohesion.

Tamil Nadu’s Balamurugan and Siddhesh Pande upset top-seeded West Bengal to enter the semifinals of the Senior National Table Tennis Championships, as RSPB dominated the men’s doubles event with two pairs advancing in Indore.

Punjab Kings players Yuzvendra Chahal and Shashank Singh expressed confidence ahead of IPL 2026, highlighting strong preparation through multiple camps, team bonding and trust within the squad as key factors driving their ambition to win the title this season

The India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set new digital records on JioHotstar, achieving the highest-ever reach and watch time, driven by India’s strong performance and massive fan engagement across mobile and connected TV platforms

India head coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence after the team was drawn in a challenging Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, outlining a focused preparation strategy ahead of the tournament.