Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar (ANI Photo) Sunil Gavaskar has strongly defended the IPL and the BCCI amid renewed criticism from former players and commentators over the growing influence of franchise cricket on the international calendar.The debate intensified during and after the 2026 IPL season, particularly in England, where concerns were raised about players prioritising…
Arjuna Award trophy, being held by a recipient, during the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. (left), and Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Photo/Agencies) More than six months after the selection committee submitted its recommendations, the National Sports Awards for 2025-26 are yet to be announced, leading to…
MUMBAI: Fresh from an impressive Test debut against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar is set for his first stint in county cricket after signing a short-term deal with Warwickshire.The 23-year-old made an immediate impact in his maiden Test, returning match figures of seven for 62 — including six for 33 in…
Kuldeep Yadav (Photo by @BCCI on X) TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: On the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir categorically stated that one of Manav Suthar or Harsh Dubey would be the fourth spinner for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, scheduled for August this year.Suthar, who eventually got…
England’s Ben Stokes (AP Photo) England’s preparations for the second Test against New Zealand have been overshadowed by a fresh off-field controversy involving captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson. The pair are reported to have broken the team curfew after England’s 115-run victory in the opening Test at Lord’s and later become involved…
Subhi Gupta (Special Arrangements) NEW DELHI: Imagine it is your first international chess tournament on your own. Your parents have burned a hole in their pockets to take you to the scenic country of Uzbekistan. There, you are supposed to play the toughest of opponents from across the globe. You reach the venue, and you…
Vaishali’s mother Nagalakshmi, Pranesh M, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Vaibhav Suri (Photo by Michal Walusza) NEW DELHI: A visa issue has cast uncertainty over Indian chess prodigy Pranesh Munirethinam’s participation in the upcoming FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Hong Kong, prompting an urgent appeal from coach RB Ramesh.Taking to X on Tuesday,…
India’s Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo) TimesofIndia. com in Mullanpur: Hardik Pandya is set to miss the upcoming three-ODI series against Afghanistan due to a leg sprain. It is understood that the premier all-rounder was at peak fitness and had been training hard at the BCCI Centre of Excellence since June 2. He was supposed to…
The FIFA World Cup Trophy (AP) There is no sporting event in the world that enjoys such a feverish build-up to the main event. Such is the global appeal of the ‘beautiful game’ and the FIFA World Cup. However, the 2026 edition, the first to feature as many as 48 teams, has struggled to adhere…
Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) Real Madrid’s attempt to sign Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez has ended in disappointment after their massive €150 million offer was turned down by their city rivals.The Spanish giants confirmed the bid in an official statement on Tuesday, making public what would…