Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised the BCCI selection committee for excluding young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal from India’s ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series. Ashwin described the decision as “unfair and unfortunate,” arguing that Jaiswal deserved an opportunity, particularly with Shubman Gill unavailable for the final two matches. He warned that repeatedly overlooking the talented opener could damage his confidence. Jaiswal has demonstrated strong recent form, including two centuries in his last three ODI innings. India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand is scheduled to begin on November 4, 2026. (PC: AFP)

India Women defeated Zimbabwe Women by four wickets in a T20I, securing victory in 15.4 overs while chasing 115. The win marked the beginning of Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy era, despite India’s top-order collapse to 18/4. Deepti Sharma scored 49 off 37 balls, including eight fours, while Niki Prasad remained unbeaten on 39 from 35 deliveries, hitting six boundaries. Their partnership revived India’s chase, with Arundhati Reddy finishing unbeaten on two. Earlier, Zimbabwe posted 114/5, led by Sharne Mayers’ unbeaten 43 off 33 balls and Kelis Ndhlovu’s 42. India’s Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani and Nandani Sharma each took a wicket. (PC: X)

Indian table tennis prodigy Divija Paul won the bronze medal in the Under-13 Girls category at the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship held in Panchkula, Haryana, from October 6 to 13, 2026. The 13-year-old, currently ranked No. 1 in India in her age category, represents Adani Sportsline’s ‘Garv Hai’ initiative. Her latest achievement follows a gold medal at the WTT Youth Contender Puerto Princesa 2026 in the Philippines. Born in Silchar, Assam, Divija began playing table tennis at six. She will next compete in Chennai and Jalandhar, aiming to strengthen her record and pursue Olympic gold for India. (PC: ANI)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced sharp criticism at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15, 2026, after apologising for failing to consult members over his abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. The proposal involved selling a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors. English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt questioned Infantino’s suitability to lead FIFA, while German football chief Bernd Neuendorf demanded governance reforms and greater transparency. Officials also raised concerns about the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case and FIFA’s Peace Prize for Donald Trump. Infantino’s future remains under scrutiny ahead of the March 2027 presidential election. (PC: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games, where the country finished fourth in the medal tally for the second consecutive edition, winning 85 medals, including 21 golds. Addressing medal winners at New Delhi’s Dhyan Chand Stadium, Modi said India’s sporting ecosystem had developed considerably over the past 12 years. He highlighted medals in sports where India had not previously reached the podium and celebrated double golds in cricket, kabaddi and hockey. Modi particularly praised the women’s hockey team for ending a 44-year wait for gold. Both Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold medals at the continental event held in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya.

Indian wrestler Vishvajit More created history on October 14, 2026, by becoming the first Indian to reach the Greco-Roman final at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, USA. Competing in the 55kg category, More defeated Russia’s Malik Gigiev 7–4 in the semifinals after earlier victories over Mexico’s Isaac Marin Mata and Iran’s Armin Shamsipour. A two-time U23 World Championships bronze medallist, More will face Georgia’s Koba Karumidze in the final. Victory would make him India’s first Greco-Roman gold medallist at the U23 World Championships, marking a significant milestone for Indian wrestling. (PC: X)

Indian women’s hockey captain Salima Tete has urged authorities to improve mobile connectivity and drinking water facilities in her native village, Barki Chhapar, in Jharkhand’s Simdega district. Despite leading India to a historic Asian Games gold medal on October 2, 2026, her village continues to lack basic infrastructure. Poor network coverage prevents residents from making calls, accessing the internet and receiving important messages. Tete submitted a letter to the district administration requesting urgent action. Her father has even offered land for a mobile tower, but the issue remains unresolved, highlighting rural India’s persistent digital divide. 

Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium will host an exhibition match between Real Madrid Legends and Barcelona Legends on November 25, 2026, West Bengal sports minister Indranil Khan announced. In a post on X, he confirmed the fixture at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, although the full squads for the highly anticipated Legends Faceoff are yet to be revealed. Last year, the event took place at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, where Carles Puyol led Barcelona Legends and Luis Figo captained Real Madrid Legends. Barcelona Legends previously played in Kolkata in 2018, defeating Mohun Bagan veterans 6-0. Ronaldinho’s participation remains uncertain following his appearance at Miami’s Legends Cup last week. (PC: X)

India’s Smriti Mandhana has retained the top position in the latest ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, released on Tuesday. The Indian batter holds the No. 1 spot with 790 rating points, continuing her strong presence in international cricket.   Australia’s Ellyse Perry has returned to the top 10 after her recent performances against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and Megan Schutt have also improved their positions in the ODI bowling rankings. The latest update reflects changes following the ongoing Australia-Bangladesh series, with Australia leading 2-0. Mandhana’s continued position at the top highlights her consistency in the 50-over format. (PC: X)

Renee Noronha, 20, has made history by completing the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, becoming the youngest Indian woman to finish the prestigious event. The gruelling race covers 226.2 kilometres, including a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre cycling section and a 42.2-kilometre marathon. Noronha proudly represented India after months of preparation for one of the world's toughest endurance challenges. An IIT Madras student pursuing a BSc in Data Science and Applications, she has already completed multiple full-distance Ironman races. Her achievement highlights her determination and could inspire more young Indian women to take up endurance sports. (PC: X)