India has enlisted six promising domestic bowlers to assist the national squad in its preparations for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on June 6 in Mullanpur. The selected group features a blend of emerging pace bowlers and experienced spinners who have impressed in domestic and franchise cricket. While some players narrowly missed selection in the main squad, their inclusion as net bowlers provides valuable exposure to the international setup.

A brief Instagram story from Indian badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has triggered a nationwide conversation about athlete recognition and the unequal treatment of Olympic sports in India. Posted after the Indian badminton team returned from Denmark with a Thomas Cup bronze medal, the message reflected disappointment over the lack of public or institutional acknowledgment awaiting the players at home. The post rapidly went viral, reigniting debate about cricket’s overwhelming dominance in India’s sporting culture and the relative invisibility faced by athletes from other disciplines.

Olympian Vinesh Phogat has intensified her ongoing standoff with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after posting a cryptic but defiant message on social media following her exclusion from the National Open Ranking tournament. The development has reignited scrutiny over governance practices, athlete rights, and administrative transparency within Indian wrestling. While the WFI’s decision to bar the decorated wrestler from competition has generated controversy across sporting circles, Vinesh’s response suggests she is prepared to continue challenging the federation publicly.

Former tennis professional Chetan Desai is attempting to modernize India’s fragmented grassroots sports ecosystem through SportsSkill, a technology platform focused on athlete tracking and performance analytics. Drawing from his early years in competitive tennis — when coaching decisions largely relied on observation and intuition — Desai identified a critical gap in structured athlete development. SportsSkill seeks to introduce measurable performance benchmarks, digital reporting systems, and data-backed coaching tools into youth sports programs.

In a move aimed at strengthening India’s future hockey pipeline, Hockey India has appointed seasoned French tactician Frederic Soyez as head coach of the Indian junior men’s hockey team. The appointment underscores the federation’s growing emphasis on international expertise, structured player development, and long-term competitiveness in global hockey. Soyez arrives with more than 30 years of elite experience, including an extensive career as a French international player and over 15 years in top-level coaching roles.

Virat Kohli delivered a captain's knock of unbeaten 75 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final, securing their second consecutive Indian Premier League title.

RCB's bowlers laid the foundation for victory by restricting Gujarat Titans to 155/8 in the summit clash in Ahmedabad. Chasing a target of 156, Bengaluru comfortably reached the mark with 12 balls remaining, thanks largely to Kohli's brilliant innings.

India's celebrated men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, captured their maiden Singapore Open title after staging a brilliant comeback against Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the final of the BWF Super 750 tournament on Sunday.

The former world No. 1 duo recovered from losing the opening game to secure a hard-fought 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 victory in a match that lasted one hour and 13 minutes.

The appointment of Raktim Saikia as vice president of the All India Tennis Association marks a significant moment in the evolving governance structure of Indian tennis. A veteran sports administrator and current president of the All Assam Tennis Association, Saikia brings decades of institutional experience to one of the sport’s most influential leadership roles. His career within the national federation has included responsibilities spanning finance, development, and junior talent management.

India’s premier men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are preparing for another major international challenge as they begin their campaign at the Thailand Open 2026 in pursuit of a historic third title. Entering the tournament as reigning Asian Games champions and one of the world’s top-ranked doubles partnerships, the duo carries significant momentum following a strong showing at the Thomas Cup.

Gujarat Titans stormed into the IPL 2026 final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur. The win sets up a blockbuster title clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday.

Leading from the front, captain Shubman Gill produced a magnificent unbeaten 104-run innings, while Sai Sudharsan chipped in with a crucial half-century as Gujarat successfully chased down a daunting target of 215 with eight balls remaining.

Rajasthan’s Early Troubles