Sport

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.

Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal, and Sporting CP have advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals. Real Madrid defeated Manchester City, PSG overcame Chelsea, Arsenal triumphed over Leverkusen, and Sporting CP staged a thrilling comeback against Bodo/Glimt

Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the interim captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the first few matches of IPL 2026, replacing Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a back injury. Abhishek Sharma will serve as his vice-captain

Experts AB de Villiers and Anil Kumble say CSK’s move to bring in Sanju Samson signals a planned transition beyond MS Dhoni. While Dhoni’s legacy remains strong, Samson is seen as a key figure in the franchise’s future leadership structure.

India’s men’s and women’s teams have received a favourable draw in the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup, with both placed in Group A. While the men are favourites to progress, the women face a tougher challenge in the group stage.

Marredpally Cricket Club will conduct open selections for its HCA B-Division League team on March 22 at the ML Jaisimha Cricket Academy in Hyderabad. Interested players must bring required documents and cricket kits to participate in the trials.

Several closely fought matches marked the Senior National Table Tennis Championship in Indore, with multiple players clinching hard-fought victories in deciding games across men’s and women’s singles, reflecting intense competition and narrow margins in qualification rounds.

The Indian women’s hockey team has been placed in Pool D alongside England, China and South Africa for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, with Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressing confidence in the team’s preparation and consistency ahead of the tournament.

New Zealand defeated South Africa by 68 runs in the second T20 at Hamilton to level the five-match series 1-1. Devon Conway scored 60, while Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson shared six wickets as South Africa collapsed for 107