BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia defended India's scheduled Asia Cup clash against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, amid public outrage following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. Saikia cited government policy allowing participation in multinational tournaments with non-friendly countries while maintaining bilateral engagement bans. He emphasized that India must comply with ICC commitments for multinational events to avoid sanctions affecting all sports. Saikia warned that boycotting could impact athletes like Neeraj Chopra across disciplines if global sporting bodies imposed restrictions. The BCCI follows central government guidelines distinguishing between mandatory multinational participation and prohibited bilateral contests. Former cricketers and fans had called for boycotting the Pakistan match, but official policy permits such fixtures under international tournament frameworks. (PC: BCCI)

The Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a lead sponsor on their jerseys, resulting in a striking display of the word "India" across their kits . This follows fantasy sports platform Dream11 terminating its contract due to new government regulations targeting real-money gaming . In light of Dream11’s exit, Adidas has discounted Indian team jerseys by up to 80%, bringing prices down from ₹5,999 to ₹1,199. (PC: News 18)

Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela in their World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires. After the game, the 38-year-old captain spoke about his future and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi said he has not made a decision yet and it depends on how his body feels. “At my age, it’s logical I might not play another World Cup,” he admitted. Fans filled Monumental stadium with chants and celebrations for Messi, creating a carnival atmosphere. He said finishing this way in front of his people was always his dream, making it a special night. 

Seventeen-year-old Naisha Mehta from Mumbai created history by securing India’s first Junior Girls Solo Dance gold medal at the 20th Asian Roller-Skating Championship in South Korea, winning with a commanding 6.72-point lead on her international debut. Starting her skating journey at just 4½ years, Naisha has already won 10 national, 28 state, and 23 district-level golds. Alongside sports, she excels in academics, topping Olympiads in math and science while preparing for NEET 2026. Despite balancing rigorous training with studies, her discipline, passion, and versatility in dance and gymnastics have shaped her remarkable journey. (PC: Rediff)  

Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin superstar, delivered a modest 85.01 m in last week’s Diamond League final in Zurich—well below the 90 m benchmark he needs to defend his world championship title in Tokyo this month. Despite six consecutive top-two finishes and a personal best of 90.23 m earlier this year under new coach Jan Zelezny, his recent performances fall short of expectations. Chopra remains optimistic: “This was not too bad... In Tokyo, everything will be different,” he reflected after Zurich, eyeing peak form for the championship challenge ahead. 

An old Irfan Pathan interview has gone viral again, reigniting debate about his relationship with former Indian captain MS Dhoni. In the resurfaced clip, Pathan suggested that Dhoni smoked hookah and allegedly favored players who participated. This has sparked widespread trolling and renewed scrutiny of team dynamics . The controversy is further fueled by renewed attention to a past incident where Pathan criticized Dhoni for wearing army-insignia gloves during a match . Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, has weighed in—launching a scathing attack on Dhoni and other legends for allegedly mistreating fellow players—and backed Pathan’s claims.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned cricketer Shikhar Dhawan in a money laundering case linked to the betting app 1xBet. Officials said Dhawan promoted the platform on social media and has been asked to clarify his role. The 39-year-old former India opener will have his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED is investigating several cases where betting apps allegedly duped people of crores and evaded taxes. Many celebrities, including Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Vijay Deverakonda, have also been questioned. The government recently banned real-money gaming through new legislation. (PC: PTI)

India’s winning run in the Asia Cup 2025 ended after a 2-2 draw against defending champions South Korea in Rajgir. Hardik Singh scored a fine solo goal early, but Korea equalised through Jihun Yang, who later struck again to give his side the lead. India pushed hard but wasted several chances before Mandeep Singh scored late in the final quarter to secure a point. Heavy rain delayed the match, adding to India’s struggles. Earlier, Malaysia beat China 2-0 while Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0. India will face Malaysia next in the Super 4s stage. (PC: India Today)

Cricket legend Wasim Akram put an end to comparisons with India’s Jasprit Bumrah, likening the debate to “begano ki shaadi mein Abdullah deewana”—a way of saying the comparisons are inevitable, but pointless. Speaking on GEO TV’s Haarna Mana Hai, Akram praised Bumrah’s unique action, pace, and the management by the Indian board, calling him a “modern-day great” and noting that cross-era comparisons—Bumrah bats right-handed, while Akram bowled left-arm—don’t hold much meaning . Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron echoed this praise, saying Bumrah has already surpassed Akram in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) wicket tallies—an endorsement of his extraordinary talent. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)

India will host the Badminton World Championships in New Delhi in August 2026, the Badminton World Federation announced. This will be India’s second time hosting the event after 17 years, with Hyderabad staging it in 2009. The announcement came during the closing of the 2025 edition in Paris. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won India’s only medal in Paris, taking bronze in men’s doubles. PV Sindhu reached the quarterfinals, while Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also impressed in mixed doubles. The Badminton Association of India promised to deliver an event matching the standards of Paris. (PC: PTI)