Team India celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day by hoisting the Tricolour at their hotel in Galle, Sri Lanka, ahead of the opening Test against the hosts. Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir led the ceremony, with the squad joining in the national anthem. The celebrations carried special significance as India was set to play its historic 600th Test, becoming the first Asian team and only the third side overall to reach the milestone. The two-match series is also important for India’s World Test Championship campaign. The team entered the match seeking a strong start against Sri Lanka.

India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games due to a hamstring injury. The BCCI said she suffered a high-grade tear in her right hamstring while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred on August 3. Jemimah was in good form and won two Player of the Match awards in six games. The Asia Cup begins on August 28 in the UAE, while the Asian Games will be held in Japan in September. The BCCI Women’s Selection Committee has named Pratika Rawal as Jemimah’s replacement for the Asia Cup.

India will begin its Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign on August 15 against Wales in the Netherlands. India are in Pool D with Wales, England and Pakistan. The team is aiming to win its first World Cup title in 50 years. India qualified after winning the 2025 Asia Cup. Head coach Craig Fulton will lead the team. India will play all three group matches at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. They will face England on August 17 and Pakistan on August 19. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the next round.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said his “cockroach” remarks were misquoted and used with “malicious intent” to mislead young people. Speaking to DD News, he raised concerns about short clips of court proceedings being shared without context on social media. In May, the CJI had compared some people with fake degrees to “cockroaches” during a hearing. His remarks later sparked the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” campaign. Justice Kant urged the media to report court proceedings responsibly. He also warned against the unauthorised use and commercial exploitation of audio and video recordings from judicial proceedings.

New Zealand Football has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election. The decision comes amid growing criticism of FIFA and its leadership. New Zealand Football also called for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. The plan aimed to bring private investment into major football events, including the World Cup. It offered member countries $20 million in funding, with the amount potentially doubling under the deal. The proposal faced strong opposition and was later cancelled. Meanwhile, the Oceania Football Confederation continues to support FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plan, creating a split within the region. (PC: IANS)

Indian football authorities are increasingly optimistic that eligible British Indian players could soon represent the Indian national team without surrendering their overseas passports. An AIFF task force is examining the issue, with former Mumbai City FC executive Arunava Chaudhuri suggesting four or five British Indian players could strengthen the squad if regulations change. The report also highlights British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, whose consortium, including Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, is reportedly close to acquiring roughly a one-third stake in Liverpool, valuing the club at about £4.4 billion. Meanwhile, Yan Dhanda’s memorable Swansea debut and other British South Asian football developments are revisited.

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritise a high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan confirmed that India cannot participate in both competitions because their dates overlap. The ASEAN Cup is scheduled during the September 21–October 6 international window, with India originally drawn alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The AIFF had considered sending a developmental squad but ultimately chose to withdraw and focus on the Brazil fixture. The decision gives India an opportunity to face a top-ranked opponent amid limited opportunities for high-level international matches. 

Veteran Sri Lankan cricket coach Sumith Fernando, 62, died after an altercation involving young players during a cricket match in Colombo. The incident occurred on August 8 and reportedly began with a dispute over drinking water before escalating into a physical confrontation. Fernando was taken to hospital following the incident and died on August 11 while receiving treatment. Police have arrested a 17-year-old school cricketer on suspicion of assaulting the coach; he has been placed in child probation custody until August 17. Fernando, a former Prince of Wales College coach, had mentored several players, including Sri Lanka ODI captain Kusal Mendis. (PC: News 18)

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to focus on their high-profile friendly against 5-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it was not possible to play both competitions. India were initially scheduled to participate in the ASEAN Cup from September 21 to October 6, alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in Division 1 Group A. The AIFF had considered sending a separate squad but dropped the plan. Instead, India will look to arrange other friendlies during the international window. Cabo Verde and Iran are reportedly possible opponents, but neither match has been confirmed. (PC: India Today)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez are officially married, with Ronaldo confirming the union on Tuesday by sharing a photograph of their hands displaying wedding bands. However, several photographs circulating online that allegedly show football stars including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane attending the wedding have been identified as fake and AI-generated. The images have sparked online speculation about the guest list, but there is no credible evidence that the prominent footballers were present at the ceremony. Ronaldo’s post remains the key confirmation of the marriage, while the viral images demonstrate how AI-generated content can create convincing but fabricated scenes involving high-profile celebrities and sporting personalities. (PC: X/@obua24)