From the electrifying victory of the Indian cricket team in the recent T20 series to the rising star power of young badminton sensations, India's sporting landscape is ablaze with action! This week alone saw record-breaking performances in the Pro Kabaddi League, showcasing the nation's unwavering passion for indigenous sports. The upcoming Asian Games are generating immense anticipation, with athletes across disciplines sharpening their skills and aiming for glory on the international stage. We delve into the crucial role of sports sponsorships in nurturing talent and boosting India's sporting infrastructure. Furthermore, debates rage on about the future of cricket's dominance in India's sporting ecosystem, with other sports like hockey and football vying for increased attention and investment. Stay updated on all the latest scores, match analyses, and exclusive interviews with your favorite athletes. Explore the dynamic world of Indian sports—from the bustling stadiums to the quiet dedication of rising stars—right here. Discover the stories that shape the nation’s sporting spirit and witness the unfolding drama of the sporting year.
NEW DELHI: Football legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, bringing the curtain down on his much-celebrated GOAT India Tour 2025. Hosted by Anant Ambani at Vantara, the visit marked Messi's final stop before his exit from the country, capping a tour that drew massive crowds and unprecedented attention across four major Indian cities.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Jamnagar followed a whi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Football great Lionel Messi seems to have extended his stay in India beyond his GOAT tour to visit Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Footage of the Argentine captain along with Luis Suárez, reaching Jamnagar amid tight security, was shared by news agency ANI. Messi and his teammates will be the latest in a long list of global dignitaries to visit the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, set up by Ambani scion Anant. Donald Trump Jr, son of US president Donald Trump, visited Vant ...Read More >
New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) could look to buy England's batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone at the IPL 2026 auction to bolster their lower-order firepower, said former India batter Mohammad Kaif. The IPL 2026 auction will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi Tuesday, and they come in with a purse of Rs 22.95 crore to fill six slots, four of which are for roping in overseas players. With David Miller released ahead of the auction, LSG's primary goal will be to get a player who f ...Read More >
Jamnagar (Gujarat) [India], December 16 (ANI): Football legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed from Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, where the Argentine footballer was hosted by Anant Ambani. Jamnagar marked the final stop of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which saw the Argentine footballer visit four Indian cities--Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Delhi hosted the grand finale of the Argentine footballer's India tour, bringing the historic fo ...Read More >
The BCCI has made it mandatory for all current national team players to feature in at least two one-day matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting December 24. It is understood that with a gap of three weeks between the last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad (December 19) and the first ODI against New Zealand (January 11, 2026), the Board wants all its senior players to play domestic cricket. The diktat has been communicated to the players by the Ajit Agarkar-led national selectio ...Read More >
IMAGE: Harshit Rana celebrates the wicket of Dewald Brevis. Photograph: BCCI India's new-ball bowlers and his own team's failure to deal with the general challenge of higher dot balls in a low-scorer led to South Africa's loss in the third T20 International against India, visiting skipper Aiden Markram has said. The pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana struck early to leave South Africa reeling at 7 for 3 inside the first four overs, a setback from which the visitors never recovered as ...Read More >
Star Indian batter Abhishek Sharma is 87 runs away from breaking Virat Kohli's nine-year-old record of scoring the most T20 runs in a calendar year. The latter set the T20 benchmark in 2016 with 1,614 runs from 31 games at a stunning average of 89.66, featuring four hundreds and 14 half-centuries. Abhishek now sits just 87 runs shy of eclipsing that record. This year, he has scored 1,533 runs in 39 T20s at an average of 41.43, including three hundreds and nine fifties. Abhishek is all set to p ...Read More >
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have plenty of work to do at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. With the highest purse and the most slots to fill, the three-time IPL champions will undoubtedly be the busiest franchise on Tuesday, December 16. What could Kolkata's auction strategy look like? Following Andre Russell's transition into the coaching staff and several high-profile releases, the Knight Riders have virtually an entire playing XI to build. They will need to be careful, as tea ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The BCCI has made it mandatory for all current national team players to turn up in at least two one-day matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting December 24. It is understood that with a gap of three weeks between the last T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad (December 19) and the first ODI against New Zealand (January 11, 2026), the Board wants all its senior players to play domestic cricket. The diktat has been communicated to the players by the Ajit Agarkar-led nati ...Read More >
DHARAMSALA: India's new-ball bowlers and his own team's failure to deal with the general challenge of higher dot balls in a low-scorer led to South Africa's loss in the third T20 International against India, visiting skipper Aiden Markram has said. The pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana struck early to leave South Africa reeling at 7 for 3 inside the first four overs, a setback from which the visitors never recovered as they slumped to a seven-wicket loss after posting just 117. The re ...Read More >
The Athletic FC ⚽ is The Athletic's daily football (or soccer, if you prefer) newsletter.Sign up to receive it directly to your inbox. Hello! Lionel Messi and a GOAT tour to India. What could possibly go wrong? He's a week on from winning MLS Cup with Inter Miami after three years of trying. His run to the final generated record TV viewing figures. He's headed towards his sixth World Cup, and despite his modesty, there's not a chance that he misses it, unless his body gives out. First stop f ...Read More >
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Auction is approaching and all the franchises are ready for an intense batter to strengthen their squads. A total of 77 slots are available to fill with the teams collectively allowed to spend up to INR237.55 crores as they look to complete the team. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has the largest purse with INR 64.3 crores followed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with INR 43.40 crores. Both the teams are likely to go big and pick the best out of the pool. Among the ...Read More >
New Delhi: Star India batter Mohammad Kaif did not hold back while criticising Shubman Gill, stating that the opener should be rested from T20Is. The 26-year-old, who recently made a comeback after recovering from a neck injury during the South Africa series, has struggled to make an impact in the first three matches, as he scored just 4, 0 and 28. In the third T20I at Dharamsala, Gill found it hard to accelerate after the powerplay and eventually ended with a run-a-ball 28. Gill was appointed ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI): The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to take place from March 26 to May 31, continuing its traditional slot in the cricket calendar. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the complete schedule, the 19th edition of the tournament is expected to begin around three weeks after the T20 World Cup, which will be held from February 7 to March 8 across India and Sri Lanka, and will conclude at the end of May, as per ESPN ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], December 15 (ANI): Day six of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) Season 7 marked the business end of the tournament at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium, culminating in a high-stakes grand finale, where GS Delhi Aces emerged victorious to clinch their maiden title, as per a TPL release.In the grand finale, GS Delhi Aces and Yash Mumbai Eagles battled it out for the Tennis Premier League Season 7 title. The tie opened with the Women's Singles, where Sofia Costoulas t ...Read More >
The BCCI is currently not recognised as a National Sports Federation (NSF), stated Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the Lok Sabha on Monday. This status is anticipated to change with the implementation of the new National Sports Governance Act next year. Mandaviya was responding to a question from Mala Roy, the representative of Trinamool Congress' Kolkata Dakshin constituency. Roy inquired whether the government plans to take control of major sports bodies like the BCCI and the financially ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15: India suffered a setback ahead of the concluding phase of the T20 International series against South Africa as all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remaining two matches due to illness, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday. Axar, who has been an integral part of India's white-ball setup with his all-round abilities, was unavailable for the third T20I in Dharamsala on Sunday, where wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was drafted into the playing ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15: The BCCI is not a recognised National Sports Federation (NSF), Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated in the Lok Sabha on Monday, reiterating a long-held status that is expected to change once the new National Sports Governance Act comes into effect next year. Mandaviya was responding to a query from Trinamool Congress' Kolkata Dakshin representative Mala Roy.Roy asked whether the Government intends to take control of big sports bodies such as the BCCI and the cash-strapped ...Read More >
Memories in midst of Madness: Dipendu Biswas, Syed Rahim Nabi get jerseys autographed IMAGE: Dipendu Biswas, who represented the Mohun Bagan Messi XI in the exhibition match against the Diamond Harbour Messi XI, was among the few who walked away with memories to cherish forever. Photograph: ANI Photo Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour began amid chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, but for former India players Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi, it still turned into the moment of a lifetime in ...Read More >
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and ISSF World Cup Final 2025 gold medallist Simranpreet Kaur Brar delivered outstanding performances to win gold medals in the senior and junior women's 25m sports pistol events, respectively, at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad near New Delhi on Monday. Manu Bhaker scored 36 in the final to secure the gold, finishing four hits ahead of Divya T.S. from Karnataka, who claime ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and ISSF World Cup Final 2025 gold medallist Simranpreet Kaur Brar delivered top-class performances to win gold medals in the senior and junior women's 25m sports pistol events, respectively, of the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad near New Delhi on Monday. Manu shot 36 in the final to secure the gold, finishing four hits clear of Divya T.S. of Karnataka, who bagge ...Read More >
KOLKATA, Dec 15: Fresh details from eyewitness accounts, videos and photographs circulating on social media and television channels point to a serious security breach and lapses in crowd management during Argentine football icon Lionel Messi's brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium here, raising questions over planning and coordination. According to multiple eyewitnesses who were present close to the field, Messi appeared visibly uncomfortable moments after stepping out of his vehicle near t ...Read More >
South African spinner Simon Harmer beat Bangladesh's Taijul Islam and Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz to be named the ICC men's Player of the Month for the first time. The 36-year-old received the honours after taking an incredible combined haul of 17 wickets in the two-match ICC World Test Championship series to help South Africa to a comprehensive two-nil victory, their first Test series victory in India in 25 years. He returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in the series opener ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15 (ANI): With two wins from their first two matches, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave-led upGrad Mumba Masters went top of the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, on Monday. The Masters defeated Fyers American Gambits 9-7, before Ganges Grandmasters mounted a stunning comeback to beat Alpine SG Pipers 13-7 with Black for their first win of Season 3, according to a press release. Matchday 2 action kicked off at the Royal Opera Ho ...Read More >
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held from March 26 to May 31 in India, as per Cricbuzz. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule during a meeting with franchise owners in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Hemang Amin, CEO of the league, revealed these dates during the meeting. However, it's still unclear whether Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the season opener and final match. Traditionally, the IPL opener and final are held at the hom ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Argentine football great Lionel Messi along with his fellow World Cup-winning compatriot Rodrigo de Paul and former Uruguay star Luis Suarez enthralled football fans at Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Monday. Hordes of fans who packed the stadium and waited for Messi for several hours, braving the chilly weather and poor air quality, lustily cheered as Messi and the two footballers entered the stadium. The cheers of "Messi, Messi" perhaps somewhat compensated for the chaot ...Read More >
Jamnagar (Gujarat) [India], December 15 (ANI): Football icon Lionel Messi, along with Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and other members of the GOAT India Tour arrived in Jamnagar on Monday, where the Argentine star is scheduled to visit Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, and will be hosted by Anant Ambani. New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025", bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm ...Read More >
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 edition will begin on Thursday, March 26, and the final will be played on Sunday, May 31. According to Cricbuzz, the dates for the upcoming edition of the tournament were revealed by Hemang Amin, the league's CEO, during a briefing ahead of Tuesday's mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. However, the exact schedule for the tournament has not been revealed, and it will be made public in the coming days. However, it is certain that defending champions Royal Challengers B ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bengal opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been on the verge of international debut on a couple of occasions, along with New Zealand pacer Ben Sears and South Africa's Ethan Bosch, are among the late additions made to the auction list for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Monday night. Easwaran, who was part of the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the 2024-25 season, was included in the list of 19 players that were added to the list. Et ...Read More >
New Delhi: A 90-minute delay, a persistent smoky haze and an AQI upwards of 450 did little to dim the enthusiasm of a 25,000-strong crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as football's global superstar Lionel Messi descended on the national capital to wind up his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour on Monday. On a day that saw the city gasping under severe pollution that threw air traffic completely out of gear, Messi's chartered flight from Mumbai landed after a significant delay, pushin ...Read More >
From the electrifying victories of the Indian cricket team to the rising stars in badminton and hockey, India's sporting landscape is a vibrant tapestry of talent and passion. Stay updated on the latest scores, breaking news, and in-depth analyses of IPL matches, the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the performance of our athletes in international competitions. We bring you exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and expert commentary on everything from kabaddi to wrestling, ensuring you never miss a moment of the action. Dive into our comprehensive coverage of the Pro Kabaddi League, explore the exciting world of Indian football, and witness the thrilling triumphs and heart-wrenching defeats that define the nation's sporting spirit. Discover the stories that shape the future of Indian sports—explore Abtak.com's dedicated sports section today. Witness the drama unfold!