The Indian sports landscape has been bustling with significant developments over the past 24 hours, spanning cricket, wrestling, boxing, and major event hosting bids.
Cricket: India vs Australia T20I Series Begins, Women's World Cup Boost, and Injury Updates
The first of a five-match T20I series between India and Australia is set to commence on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Canberra. This series follows Australia's 2-1 victory in the preceding One Day International (ODI) series. India's squad sees the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya is sidelined due to injury. The series also places focus on the form of India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who has faced scrutiny for his recent performances.
In the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, a significant change was announced as Shafali Verma replaced the injured Pratika Rawal in India's squad for the semi-final clash against Australia. Rawal sustained an ankle injury during the final league match against Bangladesh. This comes as Smriti Mandhana solidified her position as the world's No. 1 batter in Women's ODI rankings.
There's positive news regarding Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer, who is reported to be stable and recovering well after sustaining a serious on-field injury during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney. Iyer suffered a spleen laceration that required emergency ICU care, but doctors have successfully arrested the internal bleeding, and his recovery is progressing faster than anticipated. In domestic cricket, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami showcased strong form, boosting his chances for an international return with an eight-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy.
Wrestling: Sujeet Kalkal Secures Gold at U23 World Championships
Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal brought glory to the nation by winning a gold medal in the men's freestyle 65kg category at the U23 World Wrestling Championships. Kalkal dominated the title clash against Uzbekistan's Umidjon Jalolov with a 10-0 victory by technical superiority.
Boxing: Squad Announced for World Boxing Cup Finals
India has named a strong 20-member squad for the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, scheduled to begin on November 14 in Greater Noida. The squad includes prominent names like Nikhat Zareen, Jaismine Lamboria, Pooja Rani, and reigning world champion Minakshi Hooda. Notably, Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain will miss the event due to impending surgery. In other boxing news, six Indian boxers have advanced to the finals at the Youth Asian Games.
Chess and Other Sports
In the world of chess, India's D Gukesh took an early lead in the 'Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown', finishing Day 1 with 4/6 points, ahead of chess maestro Magnus Carlsen. Meanwhile, over 4000 aspiring players participated in the Delhi trials for the Dream League of India (DLI), touted as the country's biggest tennis ball cricket tournament.
India's Global Hosting Ambitions and Policy Stance
India is making strong strides towards hosting major international sporting events, emerging as a frontrunner for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with Ahmedabad proposed as a key venue. The nation is also a contender for the 2036 Olympics. The Sports Ministry recently justified its policy of allowing Indian athletes to compete against "political enemy" Pakistan in multilateral tournaments, citing the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) sanctions against Indonesia for denying visas to Israeli athletes. This stance aims to safeguard India's bids for major global events.