Eden Gardens in Kolkata is under 'high alert' for the India-South Africa Test beginning November 14, following Delhi's deadly Red Fort car blast that killed eight people. Major cities are treating the Monday evening incident as a suspected terror attack, prompting heightened security nationwide. Kolkata Police, alongside Special Task Force deployment, has implemented comprehensive three-layered security encompassing the stadium's perimeter, gates, and stands. Hotels accommodating both teams face intensified surveillance, while Indian coach Gautam Gambhir's Kalighat temple visit may be postponed. Plainclothes officers will monitor suspicious activity, with strict prohibitions on bags and restricted items. Enhanced entry checks using handheld scanners and metal detectors will secure surrounding government establishments including West Bengal Legislative Assembly and Raj Bhavan. (PC: CNN & India Beyond Curry)

Eden Gardens in Kolkata has been placed on high alert ahead of the India-South Africa Test beginning November 14, following a deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed eight and injured several. Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected terror attack, prompting heightened security across major cities. Kolkata Police, alongside the Special Task Force, are enforcing a three-layered security ring at Eden Gardens, covering perimeters, gates, and stands with scanners, detectors, and plainclothes officers. Hotels housing both teams are under strict watch, while Indian coach Gautam Gambhir’s temple visit may be deferred. The Cricket Association of Bengal will finalize protocols before the November 14–19 fixture. (PC: CNN & India Beyond Curry)

India star Jemimah Rodrigues shared a funny remark after joining Brisbane Heat for the Women’s Big Bash League, saying she was unsure Australia would let her in after India beat them in the World Cup semi-final. Her comment went viral, drawing a humorous reply from Australia batter Beth Mooney. During a WBBL match, Mooney joked she feared Australia might not let her back in after losing. India ended Australia’s 16-match World Cup winning streak, with Jemimah’s unbeaten 127 guiding India to victory and the team later winning their first-ever ODI World Cup title. (PC: NDTV)

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi will be dismantled to build a new 102-acre Sports City, sources said. The project aims to upgrade India’s sports infrastructure as the country eyes hosting the 2036 Olympics. Officials are studying models from Qatar and Australia to design world-class, multi-sport facilities. Built for the 1982 Asian Games and renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has been a key sports landmark for decades. The new Sports City will feature high-performance training centres and modern venues. Construction will begin once final plans and approvals are completed. (PC: India Today)

Pakistani cricketer Muhammad Shahzad faced backlash from Indian fans after mocking Team India following Pakistan's Hong Kong Sixes triumph. Shahzad responded to Indian captain Dinesh Karthik's "business as usual" tweet celebrating India's two-run rain-affected victory over Pakistan, their only defeat in the tournament. Pakistan won their sixth Hong Kong Sixes title, most by any team defeating Kuwait in the final. India suffered losses to Nepal, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka, continuing their poor tournament record with just one win in 21 editions since 1992. India fielded retired players like Karthik, Robin Uthappa, and Stuart Binny, while Pakistan sent a young squad. Fans questioned whether India should participate without competitive teams.

South Africa-A shattered India's 44-day-old world record, chasing down 417 against Rishabh Pant-led India-A in Bengaluru to level the unofficial Test series 1-1. This marks the highest successful fourth-innings chase by any 'A' team in first-class cricket history, surpassing India-A's 413-run chase against Australia-A in September. Jordan Hermann (91) and Lesogo Sonokwane (77) provided a 156-run opening stand, while Zubayr Hamza (77), Test captain Temba Bavuma (59), and Connor Esterhuizen's unbeaten 52 sealed victory. It's the sixth-highest fourth-innings chase on Indian soil and third-highest in red-ball international cricket. Eight India-A players including KL Rahul, Pant, and Kuldeep Yadav are in India's senior Test squad. (PC: India Today & NDTV)

Australia's Beth Mooney joked she feared being barred from entering the country after India's World Cup semi-final victory. Responding to Jemimah Rodrigues, who earlier worried Australia wouldn't let her cross the border for Women's Big Bash League, Mooney quipped during a Perth Scorchers-Sydney Sixers match: "I actually thought they weren't going to let us back in for losing. Thankfully, immigration let me in." India ended Australia's 16-match World Cup winning streak, chasing down 338 runs marking the highest chase in women's cricket history. Jemimah's unbeaten 127 and 167-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur (89) powered the victory. India subsequently won their first ICC title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs. (PC: NDTV Sports)

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will start on February 7 and end on March 8, with India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the tournament. The BCCI announced that Ahmedabad will host both the opening match and the final. If Pakistan reaches the final, it will be shifted to Sri Lanka under a special agreement. Other Indian venues include Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai, while Sri Lanka will host games in Colombo, Pallekele, and possibly Dambulla or Hambantota. The BCCI has also decided that no venue from the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup will be reused to ensure wider participation. (PC: PTI)

Meghalaya batter Akash Choudhary created history by smashing the fastest fifty ever in first-class cricket. He reached the milestone in just 11 balls during a Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh. The 25-year-old broke England’s Wayne White’s 2012 record of a 12-ball fifty. Batting at No. 8, Choudhary hit eight sixes, including six in one over off Limar Dabi. He remained unbeaten on 50 from 14 balls as Meghalaya declared their innings at 628 for six. Choudhary also became the third player to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket.

India’s World Cup star Richa Ghosh received a hero’s welcome in her hometown Siliguri after her brilliant performance in the Women’s World Cup. She scored 235 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 133.52, hitting 12 sixes — the most by any Indian in the tournament. Her childhood coach Tapan Kumar Bhawal said Richa’s success shows Siliguri’s sporting talent and called for an international-standard cricket stadium in the city. Currently, Siliguri has the Kanchenjunga Stadium, which hosts football and domestic cricket. Locals hope Richa’s victory will inspire better sports facilities for young players. (PC: NDTV)