Sport

Punjab Kings received a boost ahead of IPL 2026 as Australian players Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly joined the squad in Mohali. The team is now preparing for its opening match against Gujarat Giants on March 31

Young goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh, yet to make his senior debut, is gaining recognition with major award nominations and strong junior performances. With growing confidence and experience, he now aims to become India’s first-choice goalkeeper and win Olympic gold.

A commemorative event was held in Secunderabad to mark the death anniversary of former world chess champion Alexander Alekhine, with speakers highlighting his legacy while young participants, including an eight-year-old, shared insights on the chess legend’s life and achievements.

Faf du Plessis says Rishabh Pant needs a clearer and more structured approach in T20 cricket, highlighting inconsistency in his game. He suggests Pant bat at number three for LSG and focus on a defined game plan to improve performance.

Srikanth Yalamanchili of the Andhra Kabaddi Association has been appointed Chairman of the Beach National Commission by AKFI, recognising his role in organising the national beach kabaddi championship and promoting the sport at the national level.

Knight Riders underline their strong presence in Caribbean cricket with a successful franchise and TKR Women’s title win, while continuing to scout and develop emerging cricket talent globally through their academy’s year-round training and performance improvement programmes.

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the Miami Open quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Zheng Qinwen, while Coco Gauff reached the last eight and will face Belinda Bencic after both players registered strong victories

Rajasthan Royals is set to be sold to a Kal Somani-led US consortium for USD 1.63 billion, reflecting a sharp rise in IPL franchise valuations. The deal, subject to BCCI approval, is expected to take effect after IPL 2026

A consortium led by Aditya Birla Group and Times Internet Limited has acquired Royal Challengers Bengaluru from United Spirits Ltd for Rs 16,660 crore, marking one of the biggest franchise deals in IPL history, subject to regulatory approvals

The Indian senior women's football team will play in FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya from April 11-15. The Blue Tigresses face Kenya in the semi-final, while Australia meets Malawi. Matches will be held at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi

P. Harshith of Narayana School, Kurnool, won the Brilliant Trophy Open online chess tournament with 11.5 points from 12 rounds. Srikara Darbha and Siddharth Pernati finished second and third. B. Sahasra and P. V. Satyanarayana earned special awards

The AIFF Technical Committee recommended considering Indian coaches for the senior women’s national team and appointed Renjith TA as assistant coach for the senior men’s team. A study group will assess U23 player performance for potential senior-level promotion

Former Telangana Sports Authority chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy staged a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal, criticizing Sunrisers Hyderabad for ignoring local cricket talent. He urged SRH to provide opportunities for Telugu-speaking players and promote the game, especially in rural areas

Kumar Mohanty, former national ball badminton player from Hyderabad, passed away at 74. He represented Hyderabad State for nearly 25 years, served as coach and selection committee member, and is remembered for his skill, resilience, and contributions to Indian ball badminton

Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer is confident ahead of IPL 2026, praising a strong auction, fit fast bowlers, and Rishabh Pant’s leadership. Langer highlighted mentorship, pre-season preparation, and the professional setup under Tom Moody and Bharat Arun

India’s badminton squad for the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, has been announced. Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu lead the men’s and women’s teams, with a mix of senior stars and promising youngsters included

Indian senior men's national football team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 final round match against Hong Kong, China, scheduled on March 31, 2026, in Kochi

Top-seeded Sri Sai Baswanth of Hyderabad won the Open prize money chess tournament at A2H Chess Academy, Kukatpally, scoring 4.5 points from five rounds. Kumaran Charan finished second. The winner received Rs 6,000 and the runner-up Rs 5,000

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra says the team will not change its approach for IPL 2026. Speaking at Shubharambh 2026, he emphasized trust in players, consistency, and the aim to compete and win, starting March 31 against Punjab Kings

David Payne replaces injured Jack Edwards in Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for IPL 2026. KKR roped in Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for Akash Deep, who is recovering from lumbar stress injury under BCCI Medical Team at COE Bengaluru

Kondapaka Atharv, a class V student from Karimnagar, qualified for the national level archery competition after excelling at the state Under-10 event in Hyderabad. The national championship will be held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on March 29

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said the team will not change its approach for the upcoming IPL season. Emphasising trust in players, he highlighted the team’s consistent performances and strong mindset since joining the league in 2022.

Mumbai Indians have launched their 2026 campaign ‘Fans Nahi. Fam.’, highlighting the deep emotional bond with supporters. The initiative includes fan-first experiences, city-wide activations and The MIX festival, aiming to bring fans closer to the team beyond cricket.

The Women’s Selection Committee has announced India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa starting April 17. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the team, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain for the away tour.