The Indian men’s football team will face Panama in an international friendly at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium on September 26, 2026. The match will mark India’s return to Bengaluru after the 2023 SAFF Championship, when the Blue Tigers won the title at the same venue. Panama, ranked 44th in the world and a participant in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will provide India with a strong test during the FIFA international window. The fixture is particularly important as it comes one week before India’s high-profile clash against five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. (PC: X)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports after the broadcaster aired an interview with former Prime Minister and cricketer Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, during the second Test against England at Lord’s. The brothers raised serious concerns about their father’s health and alleged treatment in prison. Reports said the PCB considered keeping Pakistan’s players off the field after lunch in protest against the broadcast. Sky Sports initially delayed the interview but eventually aired it. Pakistan later resumed play, while the controversy highlighted the continuing political sensitivity surrounding Imran Khan’s imprisonment. (PC: Getty Images)

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. In the final at St. Louis, he defeated American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana 15–13 after overcoming a six-point deficit. Caruana led 9–3 following the Classical games, but Praggnanandhaa dramatically turned the match around by winning both Rapid games and taking an 11–9 lead. He then held his advantage through the Blitz section to secure the championship. The 2026 title earned Praggnanandhaa a $200,000 prize and a guaranteed place in next year’s Grand Chess Tour. (PC: X)

India’s women’s hockey team defeated world No. 5 Germany 3-1 in the fifth-place classification match at the 2026 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen, Netherlands. The victory secured India’s best World Cup finish in 52 years, matching their strong showing since finishing fourth in 1974. Ishika opened the scoring in the 43rd minute before Navneet Kaur struck twice in the 44th and 47th minutes to put India firmly ahead. Germany’s Lynn Krings scored in the 59th minute, but India held on for a historic win. India lost only once in six matches during an impressive campaign. (PC: X)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly threatened to withdraw its team from the second Test against England at Lord’s after Sky Sports aired an interview with former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman. The interview, conducted by former England captain Michael Atherton, included serious allegations about their father’s deteriorating health and prison conditions, with the sons claiming authorities were “trying to kill him.” The PCB objected to the political content being broadcast during the Test and lodged a formal complaint with Sky Sports. Despite the dispute, Pakistan returned to the field and the match continued.

Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour, defeating defending champion Fabiano Caruana 15–13 in the final at St. Louis. Praggnanandhaa entered the final day trailing Caruana by six points at 3–9 but produced a remarkable turnaround by winning both rapid games and taking the lead. He then held his advantage through the blitz games to secure the title. The victory earned Praggnanandhaa a $200,000 prize and capped a remarkable 2026 campaign. The historic triumph marks the biggest Grand Chess Tour achievement by an Indian player. (PC: PTI)

India’s women’s hockey team secured fifth place at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup after defeating Germany 3-1 in Amstelveen on Thursday. The victory marked India’s best finish at the tournament since their fourth-place performance in the inaugural 1974 edition. India entered the fifth-place playoff after losing just one match in the competition and looked set for a tense contest after Germany controlled stretches of the first half and kept India’s attack quiet. India, however, produced a strong second-half turnaround to take control and seal a memorable win. The fifth-place finish caps an impressive World Cup campaign and represents India’s highest placing in the tournament in 52 years. (PC: Hockey India)

India’s women’s hockey team produced a historic performance by defeating Germany 3-1 to secure fifth place at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen. Navneet Kaur scored twice, while Ishika Chaudhary added another goal as India delivered a strong second-half comeback against the higher-ranked Germans. The result marks India’s best World Cup finish since their fourth-place showing in 1974, ending a 52-year wait for a top-five finish. India’s campaign included just one defeat, against hosts Netherlands. Despite narrowly missing the semifinals, the team’s resilient performances provide significant momentum ahead of the upcoming Asian Games. (PC: X)

Anaya Bangar is aiming to return to cricket and pursue a place in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), with March 2027 emerging as a key eligibility milestone. Bangar has been in contact with Cricket Australia and sees the country as providing a pathway to women’s cricket rather than guaranteeing her a team spot. She remains focused on developing her game and meeting eligibility conditions before seeking opportunities in Australia. Her ambition is to establish herself in the Australian cricket system and earn a WBBL opportunity through performance, preparation and persistence.

India will face two-time FIFA World Cup champions Uruguay in an international friendly at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on October 6, 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed. Uruguay, currently ranked 20th in the FIFA World Rankings, will become one of three World Cup-playing nations visiting India during the FIFA window, alongside Brazil and Panama. The Uruguay fixture will come just three days after India’s planned clash against five-time world champions Brazil at the same Kolkata venue. It will be India’s third high-profile friendly of the window, following the September 26 match against Panama in Bengaluru. The Uruguay fixture gives Indian football fans another opportunity to watch a historically successful international side on home soil. (PC: X/@RevSportzGlobal)