All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against England due to a side strain injury. He will receive treatment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Rinku Singh, who suffered a back spasm, will miss the second and third matches of the series. Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh have been called up as replacements. India has had a strong record in T20Is this year, winning previous series under Suryakumar Yadav. India won the first T20I against England easily, chasing down 133 in 13 overs.

Rohit Sharma was named captain of the ICC T20I Men's Team of the Year 2024. Three other Indians—Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh—also made the list. Despite his match-winning knock in the T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli was excluded. The team includes stars like Babar Azam, Rashid Khan, and Sikandar Raza. India’s pace attack dominated the lineup after their World Cup win. Rohit’s stellar performance, including 378 runs in the tournament, earned him this honour. The announcement highlights India’s successful year in cricket, ending an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy.

Mumbai cricket fans flocked to watch Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir. Despite Mumbai needing a strong response after a first-innings collapse, Rohit lived dangerously, scoring 28 runs in 70 minutes before being caught. Jaiswal followed with 26 runs, as Mumbai erased the 86-run deficit but lost half their batsmen by lunch. Rohit displayed glimpses of brilliance with a six and elegant boundaries but ultimately fell to a sharp midwicket catch. Defending champions Mumbai now face an early elimination, raising concerns over their form and composure in the domestic tournament.

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has made stunning allegations against MS Dhoni, claiming he was unfairly dropped after scoring a century in 2011. Speaking to Lallantop, Tiwary revealed that despite his match-winning performance, he was sidelined for 14 matches, while players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retained their spots despite poor form. Tiwary highlighted the dominance of captains in Indian cricket, stating that team selections often depend on their decisions. He also criticized the lack of clarity and support for dropped players. Tiwary, who later led Bengal and served as a minister, expressed frustration over missed opportunities.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag and his wife, Aarti Ahlawat, are reportedly separating after 20 years of marriage. The couple, who wed in 2004, have unfollowed each other on Instagram, sparking divorce rumors. Photos from Sehwag’s recent Diwali celebrations showed him with their two sons, Aryaveer and Vedant, but Aarti was notably absent. Additionally, Sehwag shared a visit to the Vishwa Nagayakshi temple in Palakkad on Instagram, where Aarti was also not mentioned. The couple has yet to release an official statement regarding their separation.

India's cricket luminaries experienced a disastrous day in the Ranji Trophy, raising serious concerns about their form ahead of the Champions Trophy. Captain Rohit Sharma scraped just 3 runs for Mumbai, Yashasvi Jaiswal managed 5, Rishabh Pant scored a solitary run for Delhi, and Shubman Gill fell for 4 in Punjab's match against Karnataka. These underwhelming performances highlight potential vulnerabilities in India's batting lineup. The BCCI-emphasized domestic cricket platform failed to provide the expected rhythm and confidence for these star players, leaving selectors and fans questioning the team's preparedness for upcoming international challenges.

Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh dazzled at Eden Gardens, taking 2 key wickets against England in the 1st T20I. With Mohammed Shami's absence raising eyebrows, Arshdeep stepped up, breaking Yuzvendra Chahal's record as India's leading T20I wicket-taker (97). His fiery spell, combined with Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi's tight bowling, restricted England to 132. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 20-ball 50 sealed India’s emphatic win, delighting the Kolkata crowd. Fans celebrated Arshdeep’s heroics, chanting his name and enjoying his impromptu bhangra. The match ended early, ensuring many reached home before midnight.

Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a thrilling Australian Open quarter-final, marking his 50th Grand Slam semi-final appearance. The 24-time Grand Slam champion showcased his resilience, bouncing back after losing the first set. The 3-hour, 37-minute match saw Djokovic dominate with tactical aggression and exceptional court coverage. This win keeps his quest for an 11th Australian Open title alive. Djokovic will face second-seeded Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Reflecting on his return to form, Djokovic’s performance reaffirmed his standing as a Grand Slam contender after a challenging 2024 season.

A new controversy surrounds the ICC Champions Trophy as the BCCI reportedly refused to print the host nation’s name, ‘Pakistan,’ on Team India’s jerseys. India will play all their matches in Dubai, though Pakistan remains the official host. The PCB accused India of mixing politics with cricket and called on the ICC to intervene. Earlier, the BCCI declined to send India’s captain to Pakistan for the tournament’s opening ceremony. Despite PCB’s push, India refused to travel to Pakistan, forcing the hybrid model. This dispute has raised tensions ahead of the tournament, which starts in a month.

The Indian men's team clinched the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup title with a 54-36 win over Nepal in New Delhi. This victory followed the Indian women's team's dominant 78-40 win over Nepal in the final. Led by captain Pratik Waikar and standout performer Ramji Kashyap, India dominated the match, building an early lead with spectacular sky dives and aggressive play. Despite Nepal’s efforts in the final turn, India’s defense, led by Waikar and Sachin Bhargo, held strong. India’s journey to the title included impressive wins over Brazil, Peru, and Bangladesh in the knockout rounds.