Agni Dev Chopra, Mizoram's star batsman and son of Vidhu Vinod Chopra, has achieved a remarkable feat in the Ranji Trophy's Plate League. He scored his second consecutive double century, surpassing legend Don Bradman's record. Chopra's impressive 218 runs off 269 balls against Manipur follows his unbeaten 238 in the previous match against Arunachal Pradesh. This is his third century in three matches this season. Previously representing Mumbai in under-19 and under-23 levels, Chopra now shines for Mizoram.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to retain wicket-keeper batter Nicholas Pooran for Rs 20 crore ahead of the IPL mega auction. Pooran's retention was finalized after consultations with mentor Zaheer Khan and coach Justin Langer. LSG will reportedly not retain KL Rahul. The captaincy decision remains pending, with the team considering options in the upcoming auction, including Rishabh Pant. This move makes Pooran one of the IPL's highest-paid retained players.

England cricket captain Ben Stokes has appealed for help after his home in Castle Eden, North East England, was robbed. Masked intruders stole valuable items, including jewelry and sentimental family heirlooms, while Stokes' wife and two young children were inside. Fortunately, no one was physically harmed. Stokes shared photos of the stolen items on X, seeking public assistance in identifying them. He emphasized that catching the perpetrators is his priority, not recovering the items. Stokes expressed concern about the incident's psychological impact on his family, saying, "All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been."

Virat Kohli is reportedly set to return as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain for IPL 2025, following discussions with the franchise. Kohli, who led RCB from 2013 to 2021, stepped down before IPL 2022, with Faf du Plessis taking over. Under Kohli's leadership, RCB reached the final in 2016, though they have yet to claim an IPL title. The 35-year-old remains IPL's top run-scorer, amassing 8,004 runs across 252 matches. With Du Plessis nearing retirement, RCB is considering Kohli's return to the helm. They may also pursue players like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant for the upcoming season.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham defended Indian skipper Rohit Sharma following India's Test series loss to New Zealand, marking New Zealand's first Test series win in India. After India’s defeat in the second Test in Pune by 113 runs, Latham emphasized that a single loss doesn’t define India’s team strength, adding that India is filled with match-winners. He anticipated a strong comeback from India in the final Test in Mumbai. Reflecting on the historic series win, Latham expressed pride in leading New Zealand’s first Test series victory in India after 69 years of attempts.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr broke his silence after finishing second in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting, hinting that his anti-racism advocacy may have influenced the outcome. The Brazilian winger, favored to win after Real Madrid's Champions League and LaLiga triumphs, expressed disappointment and defiance on social media, stating, "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready." His management team interpreted the post as a reference to his ongoing fight against racism in football, suggesting it may have cost him the award. Vinicius Jr trails Manchester City's Rodri, the surprise winner.

Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, surpassing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham. The winner's name was leaked on social media hours before the official announcement at a ceremony in France, sparking debate among fans. Real Madrid opted not to attend the event in Paris, indicating their boycott of the proceedings. Following Rodri's victory, some fans expressed disappointment, arguing that Vinicius deserved the prestigious award instead. The controversy surrounding the leaks and the voting process has fueled discussions on social media about the legitimacy of the results.

Following India's home Test series defeat to New Zealand, former South African captain AB de Villiers commented on the evolving competitiveness in world cricket, noting, "Those times are gone" when Indian pitches guaranteed home advantage. India, trailing 0-2 in the three-match series, suffered their first home Test series loss in 12 years. De Villiers praised Indian batters but highlighted New Zealand's adaptability to Indian conditions. Using Virat Kohli's success in South Africa as an example, he suggested that global teams now better understand spin, making games in India more balanced.

Vinicius Jr.'s Ballon d'Or candidacy, bolstered by stellar performances and key contributions to Real Madrid's success, faced scrutiny after a 4-0 El Clasico defeat against Barcelona. While his remarkable 2023-2024 season, including 21 goals and 11 assists, positioned him among the favorites, fans are questioning his consistency in critical games. Despite his strong start in the 2024-2025 season, with five goals in La Liga and three in the Champions League, El Clasico raised doubts. With fierce competition from Jude Bellingham and Rodri, Vinicius's Ballon d'Or chances may hinge on his resilience in future high-stakes matches.

Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary has criticized captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir after India’s Test series loss to New Zealand, ending an 18-series home winning streak. Tiwary pointed to decisions made in the rain-hit opener in Bengaluru, where India chose to bat first. He questioned the team’s selection choices, noting the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Tiwary warned that these choices could lead to “cracks in the dressing room.” India now hopes to recover in the third Test starting November 1 before a crucial five-Test tour in Australia that may impact their World Test Championship hopes.