Indian Football's AFC Asian Cup Qualification Hopes Dashed

The Indian men's football team's aspirations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup have come to an end following a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Singapore. The loss on October 14, 2025, meant India failed to qualify for the prestigious continental tournament, leaving them at the bottom of Group C with no wins in four matches.

The match, which saw India concede two goals to Singapore's Ui-Young after an initial lead by Lallianzuala Chhangte, has sparked calls for a radical overhaul within Indian football. Reports indicate that the team displayed a lack of ideas and innovation, particularly in defending, leading to a frustrating performance despite numerous opportunities.

Men's Cricket Team Dominates West Indies in Test Series

In a more positive development, the Indian men's cricket team completed a comprehensive 2-0 Test series sweep against the West Indies. India secured a seven-wicket victory in the second Test held at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. Resuming on Day 5, India comfortably chased down the target of 121 runs, with KL Rahul anchoring the innings with an unbeaten half-century.

This victory marks India's 10th consecutive Test series win against the West Indies and Shubman Gill's first series win as captain. Earlier, India had declared at 518-5 in their first innings, propelled by Yashasvi Jaiswal's 175 and Shubman Gill's unbeaten 129. Kuldeep Yadav was named Player of the Match for his eight-wicket haul.

In other cricket news, BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla has denied rumors surrounding the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after the upcoming Australia tour. Also, Australia's Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa are confirmed to miss the first One Day International against India due to injury and unavailability, respectively.

Thrilling Draw in Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey

The Indian junior men's hockey team was involved in an exciting encounter at the Sultan of Johor Cup, playing out a 3-3 draw against arch-rivals Pakistan. The match saw both teams demonstrate competitive spirit, with the Indian junior team also exchanging pleasantries with their Pakistani counterparts.

Other Sports Updates

In the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, a match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was washed out due to rain, leading to both teams splitting points. South Africa managed to hold their nerve and secure a victory against Bangladesh. The Indian women's table tennis team faced a defeat against Singapore in the Asian TT Quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Indian men's table tennis team finished sixth in the Asian Table Tennis Championships.