India Takes 2-1 Lead in T20I Series Against Australia
The Indian men's cricket team has established a commanding 2-1 lead in the five-match T20 International series against Australia, following a decisive 48-run victory in the fourth T20I held at Carrara Oval in Queensland. Chasing a target of 168 runs, Australia was bowled out for 119 in 18.2 overs. India's spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy, along with Washington Sundar's three wickets, played crucial roles in stifling the Australian batting lineup. Shubman Gill was the top scorer for India with 46 runs.
Indian Women's Cricket Team Honored After Historic World Cup Win
The victorious Indian women's cricket team, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence on Wednesday, November 5, to celebrate their historic triumph at the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. The team also met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, who congratulated them for their unprecedented achievement. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash prize of INR 51 Crore for the team. Additionally, Tata Motors has pledged to gift a new Sierra SUV to each member of the World Cup-winning squad. In related news, the Women's Premier League (WPL) saw retentions being announced, with players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Shafali Verma retained, while others like Deepti Sharma and Marizanne Kapp were reportedly released ahead of the mega auction.
Indian Hockey Celebrates Centenary with Nationwide Events
Indian Hockey commenced nationwide celebrations today, November 7, to commemorate its 100 glorious years. More than 1400 matches are scheduled to take place across 550 districts as part of the centenary festivities. The main event, held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, featured an exhibition match between the Union Minister's XI and Hockey India's Mixed XI, showcasing gender parity and inclusivity. The celebrations also included the felicitation of hockey legends and the release of a commemorative volume titled "100 Years of Indian Hockey." India boasts a rich hockey legacy, holding the record for the most successful hockey nation with eight Olympic gold medals.
Narendra Modi Stadium to Host T20 World Cup 2026 Final
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final is reportedly set to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world's largest cricket stadium. Five major venues across India, including Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, and Kolkata's Eden Gardens, have been shortlisted to host matches for the tournament.
Other Sports Highlights
In football, Australian Ryan Williams and Nepali-Origin Abneet Bharti have reportedly joined the Indian football team camp ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. Indian chess grandmasters Gukesh, Erigaisi, and Harikrishna have advanced to Round 3 of the FIDE World Cup, demonstrating strong performances.