India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the fifth women’s T20I at Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to complete a 5-0 series clean sweep. Asked to bat first, India were in trouble at 77 for five after early wickets. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the innings with 68 off 43 balls, while Arundhati Reddy added an unbeaten 27. India finished on 175. Sri Lanka fought hard in reply as Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani built a partnership. Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma then took key wickets. Sri Lanka ended on 160 for seven. (PC: India Today)

British former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, 36, was injured in a serious car crash on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria, local police confirmed on December 29, 2025. The Lexus SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck, killing two passengers at the scene. Joshua, seated in the rear, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities said preliminary investigations suggest excessive speed and a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre caused the crash. An official inquiry is underway, and details about the deceased are yet to be released. (PC: AP)

Indian ODI vice‑captain Shreyas Iyer is nearing a long‑awaited return to competitive cricket following a near‑fatal spleen laceration injury sustained during an ODI against Australia in Sydney in October. After being hospitalised and treated for internal bleeding, Iyer was discharged and has been progressing well in recovery. He recently resumed batting and is training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as he builds fitness. Reports indicate he could play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6, before potentially rejoining India for the ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026. (PC: X)

The BCCI had informally approached former India batter VVS Laxman to take charge of the Test team after India’s 0–2 home series defeat to South Africa, a report said. The move came even though current head coach Gautam Gambhir is under contract until the 2027 ODI World Cup. This was the second time Laxman was contacted, after a similar outreach last year before Gambhir’s appointment. Laxman declined again, saying he is happy as Head of Cricket at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The report said the board still has doubts about Gambhir’s red-ball role, with India sixth in the World Test Championship. (PC: HT)

The BCCI has named a 15-member India squad for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ayush Mhatre will lead the side, with Vihaan Malhotra as vice-captain. Vaibhav Suryavanshi is set for his first World Cup after strong youth form this year. He scored 690 runs in 12 youth one-day games in 2025. The squad also includes Aaron George and wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu. India will play New Zealand, USA and Bangladesh in the group stage. The team will tour South Africa for three one-day matches from January 3 before the tournament begins on January 15. (PC: India Today)

England snapped a 15-year drought in Australia by defeating the hosts in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, winning by four wickets while chasing 175. The Boxing Day Test concluded within two days amid dramatic collapses and spirited batting from England’s middle order. Australia’s first defeat in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle still leaves them atop the table with a strong points percentage, while England slightly improved their position but remain in the lower half. The result hasn’t altered the Ashes series outcome, with Australia already leading 3-1.

Fourteen-year-old cricketing prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi received India's highest civilian honor for children, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP), from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. Following the ceremony, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside fellow awardees. The Bihar batsman missed the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Manipur to attend the prestigious event. Vaibhav gained national attention after smashing a stunning 190 runs off just 84 balls in Bihar's opening match against Arunachal Pradesh. The PMRBP recognizes exceptional achievements by children aged 5-18 in bravery, art, culture, environment, innovation, science, technology, social service, and sports, celebrating India's youth excellence.

Harmanpreet Kaur created history by becoming the first captain to achieve 77 T20I victories, breaking Australian legend Meg Lanning's record of 76 wins. The milestone came after India's eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, sealing a 3-0 series lead. Harmanpreet has captained India in a record 130 T20Is, making her one of only three captains to lead over 100 matches in the format. She also became the first captain to win 16 matches against a single opponent (Sri Lanka) and holds the record for most Women's T20I appearances (185 games). This achievement follows India's historic World Cup victory two months ago, marking their first-ever ICC tournament title. (PC: X)

Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has declared the veteran batter "fully ready" for the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa, calling him "the most consistent player of the Indian team." After retiring from Tests and T20Is, Kohli now exclusively plays ODIs for India. Following back-to-back ducks during the Australia tour, he's rebounded with two centuries and two half-centuries in his last four international matches. He carried this form into domestic cricket, scoring 131 against Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener and 77 against Gujarat. Sharma defended Kohli's occasional poor innings, stating his record speaks for itself. Kohli next plays internationally in January against touring New Zealand. (PC: X)

Shreyas Iyer is nearing a comeback after suffering a broken rib and ruptured spleen during a match against Australia two months ago. The Indian ODI vice-captain has resumed batting at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, practicing for nearly an hour without discomfort. BCCI sources confirm Iyer is pain-free and has returned to regular gym training. He will spend four to six days at the Centre for assessment before finalizing his return timeline. Iyer is eyeing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for his comeback to competitive cricket. With India's ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, his inclusion cannot be ruled out, with squad announcement expected January 2-3. (PC: Times Now)