Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA Men's World Cup, announced during FIFA’s Extraordinary Congress meeting. The decision comes alongside Spain, Portugal, and Morocco being chosen as joint hosts for the 2030 tournament, with centenary matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. While the English FA expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia's capabilities, organizations like Amnesty International criticized the decision, highlighting concerns over human rights abuses. The Danish Football Union and Norway’s FA also raised concerns about the bidding process. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated, “We trust our hosts to address all open issues responsibly.”

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest World Chess Champion at just 18. He defeated defending champion Ding Liren in a thrilling final game of the 2024 World Chess Championship. Gukesh, who had long dreamed of this achievement, was seen holding back tears after securing the title. In an emotional moment, he thanked Ding for the tough fight. Gukesh now holds the record for being the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov’s previous record. His victory capped off a grueling 13-game series, ending with Ding’s mistake in the final game.

Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, defeating Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in Singapore's 2024 World Chess Championship. Tied 6.5-6.5 before the final game, Gukesh, playing with black pieces, capitalized on Ding’s 53rd-move blunder in a tense endgame. Despite losing Game 1, Gukesh showcased resilience, winning Games 3 and 14 to claim the title. Reflecting on the victory, Gukesh said, "It's the best day of my life." He is the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to achieve this milestone. Earlier this year, Gukesh led India to Chess Olympiad gold, solidifying his status as a global chess icon.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was reportedly upset after Yashasvi Jaiswal delayed the team’s departure from Adelaide to Brisbane for the third Test against Australia. Jaiswal arrived 20 minutes late at the hotel lobby, forcing the team bus to leave without him. The young batter later traveled separately in a hotel car. The delay caused frustration among team management, with Rohit visibly annoyed. India faces pressure to improve after a mixed performance in the series, as Australian bowlers and batters dominated in Perth. The Brisbane Test starts on December 14, with Indian batters urged to improve their performance.

India's World Test Championship (WTC) final hopes face a major setback as "unusual" weather in Brisbane threatens the third Test against Australia. The match, starting Saturday at the iconic Gabba, comes after India's 10-wicket loss in Adelaide. Brisbane has experienced heavy rainfall, making conditions uncertain for the Test. Forecasts predict a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Day 1, with chances rising to 60% on the final day. If the match is washed out, India’s path to the WTC final becomes even more difficult, as a loss or draw in the remaining series matches could eliminate them.

Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat was Google India's most-searched personality in 2024. Her disqualification from the Paris Olympics final for being overweight and her subsequent appeal rejection grabbed headlines. Upon returning to India, she joined the Congress and won the Julana seat in Haryana's elections, though her party lost to BJP. Phogat's activism alongside Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh also kept her in the spotlight. The top-searched list also included Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, cricketer Hardik Pandya, and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan.

South Africa's 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka has almost secured their spot in the 2024 World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. India, currently in third, faces mounting pressure from South Africa's surge and must avoid further losses in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy to stay in contention. To guarantee qualification, India needs a 2-1 series win over Australia or a 2-2 draw, while hoping for favorable results in Sri Lanka's series against Australia. With South Africa needing one more win, the final WTC spot hinges on upcoming matches.

Mohammed Siraj has been fined 20% of his match fee and handed one demerit point following his heated exchange with Travis Head during the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Adelaide. Head was also sanctioned with a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. The altercation took place after Siraj dismissed Head with a yorker, having previously been hit for a six. Despite the verbal clash, both players avoided suspension, as it was their first offense in the last 24 months. The incident added drama to Australia’s 10-wicket win, and the matter was resolved amicably afterward.

India dropped to 3rd in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings after a 10-wicket loss to Australia in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide on December 8. Australia regained the top spot with a points percentage of 60.71, while India stands at 57.29. New Zealand, after losing to England in Wellington, is now out of the WTC final race, slipping to 6th with 44.23%. India must win all remaining matches and rely on Sri Lanka defeating South Africa to secure a WTC final berth. The next India-Australia Test begins in Brisbane on December 14.

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and Australian batter Travis Head will face ICC sanctions for their on-field altercation during Day 2 of the Adelaide Test. Siraj celebrated Head’s dismissal with a fiery send-off, prompting a heated verbal exchange. While Head admitted his reaction was excessive, Siraj denied accusations of disrespect, citing video evidence. The duo later reconciled with a handshake on Day 3, earning praise on social media. The ICC’s disciplinary hearing is expected to issue fines, with no suspensions anticipated. Cricket enthusiasts hope this serves as a reminder of the game’s spirit and sportsmanship.