Cricket: Pant to Lead India in Decisive Second Test Against South Africa
The Indian cricket team faces a critical challenge in the second Test against South Africa, commencing today in Guwahati. With Shubman Gill ruled out due to a neck injury, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will step in as captain. India, currently trailing 0-1 in the series after a loss in Kolkata, will be looking to level the series. Sai Sudharsan is expected to fill Gill's spot in the playing XI.
In other cricket news, India A suffered a Super Over defeat against Bangladesh A in the semi-final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson has made headlines with his transfer from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026 for a reported Rs 18 Crore, expressing his excitement to play alongside MS Dhoni. This deal saw Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran move to Rajasthan Royals.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia has publicly supported Gautam Gambhir amidst recent scrutiny following the team's performance. Looking ahead, the schedule for the 2026 T20 World Cup indicates a highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo.
Football: India U17 Kicks Off Asian Cup Qualifiers, Senior Team Slips in FIFA Rankings
The India U17 men's football team is set to begin its journey in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers today, taking on Palestine in Ahmedabad. This campaign is crucial for the young squad, especially after the senior and U23 teams failed to qualify for their respective tournaments.
However, the senior Indian men's football team has experienced a dip in its global standing, falling to 142nd in the latest FIFA rankings. This drop comes after a 0-1 defeat to Bangladesh in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The Super Cup, a significant domestic football tournament, is scheduled to conclude today, November 22, with the final match.
Kabaddi: Indian Women's Team Dominates World Cup Group Stage
The Indian women's kabaddi team has showcased an impressive performance at the Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025, finishing the group stage undefeated. With four consecutive wins, including a commanding 51-16 victory over Uganda, the defending champions have secured their spot in the semifinals.
Other Sports: Advani Shines in Snooker, FICCI TURF Summit Underway
In snooker, former champions India 'A', spearheaded by Pankaj Advani, have powered into the quarterfinals of the World Cup of snooker, maintaining an all-win record in the league phase. Meanwhile, the 15th Global Sports Summit, FICCI TURF 2025, commenced on November 21, 2025, in New Delhi. The summit, themed 'Indian Sports - Forging the Path to Global Excellence,' saw the launch of the 'Sporting India Rising' knowledge report. Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has also strengthened his qualification prospects for the 2026 Candidates Tournament following his performance at the London Chess Classic 2025.