Cristiano Ronaldo defeated Lionel Messi in the inaugural Ballon d’Or of All Time (B.O.A.T.) fan vote, winning recognition for his 2008 season at Manchester United. Introduced to mark the Ballon d’Or’s 70th anniversary, the poll invited fans to select the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season from 10 players who had won the award at least twice. However, the final rankings became a contest between Ronaldo and Messi, with the two footballers occupying all 10 positions. Several celebrated players, including Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer and Ronaldo Nazario, failed to make the final rankings. Ronaldo scored 42 goals in 2008, helping Manchester United win both the Premier League and Champions League. (PC: AP)

Indian wrestler Neelam Sirohi won silver in the women’s 50kg category at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships on Wednesday, losing to Japan’s Yui Susaki in the final. Susaki, a Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, pinned Sirohi just before the first period ended to secure her fifth world title. The 26-year-old Sirohi became only the second Indian woman, after Anshu Malik in 2021, to win silver at the senior World Championships. She reached the final with a 7-3 semifinal victory over Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova. The edition also marked a milestone for Indian women’s wrestling, with two Indians reaching gold-medal bouts for the first time, alongside Kajal Dhochak in the 76kg category. (PC: UWW)

India’s Under-20 women’s rugby sevens team secured a historic 17–0 victory over New Zealand’s Māori invitational side at the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar on October 27, 2026. India dominated the match with effective attacking play and disciplined defence, scoring 12 points in the first half and keeping their opponents scoreless throughout. The match was part of the India–New Zealand U-20 Rugby Series, organised to celebrate 100 years of sporting relations between the two countries. However, New Zealand’s men’s team defeated India 32–0, highlighting the contrasting results of the series. (PC: X)

New Zealand batter Finn Allen praised India’s Abhishek Sharma and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I on October 27, 2026. Chasing 199, India reached the target in just 13.2 overs, securing an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek smashed 113 off 38 balls, including a century in 35 deliveries, while Sooryavanshi contributed 45. Allen admitted the Indian duo were difficult to stop once they started attacking. He said New Zealand would learn from the defeat and prepare for upcoming matches. (PC: ANI)

Indian para-athletics has been shaken by the death of Neeraj Yadav, a 42-year-old athlete and three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, who was found dead in Delhi on October 27, 2026. Yadav won gold in the F55 javelin throw at the 2018 Jakarta Games and secured two more gold medals in javelin and discus at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Diagnosed with polio-related paralysis during childhood, he overcame physical challenges to build a successful sporting career. He was serving a doping suspension and missed the 2026 Asian Para Games. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. (PC: ANI)

India opener Abhishek Sharma has returned to the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings after scoring a century against New Zealand. His 113-run knock off 38 balls helped him reach 897 rating points. He replaced teammate Ishan Kishan, who dropped to third place due to missed matches. Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan ranks second. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Marco Jansen has become the world’s No. 1 Test bowler and Test all-rounder. His strong performances against Australia helped him reach the top in both lists. India’s Ravindra Jadeja has dropped to second among Test all-rounders.

Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, has reportedly died by suicide at the age of 42. According to PTI, he is suspected to have consumed poison. India’s chief para-athletics coach Satyanarayana confirmed his death. Yadav reportedly faced emotional distress after missing the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, due to a doping suspension. He won javelin gold at the 2018 Jakarta Games and gold medals in javelin and discus at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Diagnosed with post-polio paralysis at seven, he later became a leading name in para-athletics.

India pacer Arshdeep Singh equalled a world record after taking one wicket in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday. He finished with figures of 1/33 in four overs as India restricted New Zealand to 198/3 before securing a six-wicket victory. Arshdeep’s dismissal took his 2026 tally to 39 wickets in 30 T20I matches, matching Ireland’s Joshua Little, the former Gujarat Titans pacer, who claimed 39 wickets in 2022. Arshdeep has taken 149 wickets in 102 T20Is since his 2022 debut, making him India’s leading T20I wicket-taker. He is now one wicket away from reaching 150 international T20 wickets. (PC: Getty Images)

India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in Wellington on October 27, chasing 199 in just 13.2 overs and securing an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two matches remaining. Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 44 off 19. The opening pair added 133 runs in 7.1 overs, helping India score 118 runs during the powerplay. India reached 50 in just 2.2 overs and crossed 100 within five overs. The victory also extended India’s record in rapid successful chases: the team became the first to complete five chases of 150 or more in fewer than 15 overs, surpassing Australia’s previous mark. (PC: BCCI)

India produced a record-breaking batting display to beat New Zealand by 6 wickets in the 3rd T20I in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27. Chasing 199, India reached 199/4 in just 13.2 overs, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series. Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls, hitting 9 fours and 11 sixes, and completed his century in just 35 balls. Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 45 off 19 balls as the pair shared 133 runs. India scored 118 without losing a wicket in the powerplay, setting a new T20I record. (PC: HT)