by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 10:46 am
Sanju Samson discussed his difficult departure from Rajasthan Royals after many years. He felt both he and the franchise were ready for a change. The opportunity to join Chennai Super Kings and reunite with friends influenced his decision. He admired MS Dhoni since childhood and dreamed of playing alongside him. Samson’s IPL career began with Rajasthan Royals in 2013.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 10:40 am
India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar was warned by the ICC and given one demerit point for breaching the Code of Conduct during the first ODI against England after throwing the ball towards Ben Duckett in a manner deemed “inappropriate and dangerous.” Despite the incident, Brar took two wickets as India won by six wickets to lead the three-match series 1-0.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 9:48 am
Ravichandran Ashwin discussed Chennai Super Kings’ new chapter after Stephen Fleming’s departure. He believes MS Dhoni would be the ideal choice to lead the team. Ashwin noted the exceptional Fleming-Dhoni partnership that brought significant success. He also highlighted the challenges for any new coach due to Dhoni’s influence. The franchise faces a crucial decision shaping its future direction.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 9:28 am
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. During the post-match celebrations, Argentine players posed with a banner handed to them by supporters in the stands that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Malvinas are Argentine”). Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas.
on July 16, 2026 at 9:03 am
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 8:42 am
Nicholas Pooran, Andries Gous and Steven Smith all reached three figures in a game that rewrote multiple T20 records. While Pooran smashed a 31-ball hundred — the fastest century in Major League Cricket history — Gous and Smith responded with 40-ball hundreds each.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 8:01 am
The chase surpassed Punjab Kings’ successful pursuit of 265 against Delhi Capitals in the IPL earlier this year, making it the biggest chase ever completed in T20 cricket.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 7:55 am
Argentina secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after defeating England. Lionel Messi provided two assists, enabling Argentina to overcome a deficit. He dedicated the significant victory to the legendary Diego Maradona. This win mirrors Maradona’s iconic performance against England forty years prior. Argentina will now face Spain in the championship match.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 5:45 am
India returns to Sophia Gardens after a long eleven-year absence for their second ODI. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back on the field where they last played together. Suresh Raina’s century powered India’s dominant 2014 victory at this venue. Kohli also scored a century here in 2011, though in a losing effort. Both players have strong records against England in ODI matches.
by Nilesh Bhattacharya on July 16, 2026 at 4:56 am
An uncharacteristically banal France met their match in an uncannily beautiful Spain. A France entered the examination hall with a class-topper’s swagger and suddenly looked in an incremental confusion. A Spain, perhaps a little detached from all this pre-match chaos, turned ecstatic with the joy of passing the test with seamless proficiency.
by Arani Basu on July 16, 2026 at 4:45 am
While his T20 form has fluctuated, India’s ODI plans remain firmly tied to him. TOI understands that the selectors are reluctant to revisit Jadeja as a first-choice option in the format.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 4:24 am
Messi produced two assists in the last minutes as Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday (local time) and book a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed home Messi’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time to complete another Argentina comeback.
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 3:47 am
Argentina’s World Cup semifinal victory over England has ignited a fresh controversy. Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso displayed a banner claiming the Falkland Islands are Argentine. FIFA rules prohibit political messages during football matches, potentially leading to disciplinary action. The Falkland Islands have been a subject of dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades. […]
by Jyotirmoy Halder on July 16, 2026 at 3:30 am
At 16, Indian chess prodigy Md Imran was stranded in Slovakia after a bus carrying his passport, visas and belongings left without him. Despite the ordeal, financial struggles and lack of institutional support, he played on to earn two Grandmaster norms. Now on the verge of becoming India’s newest GM, Imran urgently awaits reissuance of his US visa to join his scholarship at UTRGV before August […]
by Tanuj Lakhina on July 16, 2026 at 3:24 am
Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 80 against England in the first ODI at Edgbaston was a lesson in calculated ODI batting rather than outright aggression. On a seamer-friendly surface, he absorbed pressure, rebuilt after India’s early setbacks and accelerated at the right moments to steer the chase. Even cramps couldn’t derail his composure, reinforcing why Gill, who is still uncertain for the second ODI […]
by TOI Sports Desk on July 16, 2026 at 2:18 am
Lionel Messi and Argentina teammates sparked a viral moment after their World Cup semi-final victory over England, as they inspected Jordan Pickford’s penalty notes taped to his water bottle. The England goalkeeper’s preparations for a shootout went unused after Lautaro Martínez’s stoppage-time winner sealed a 2-1 comeback. Messi’s amused reaction quickly became one of the tournament’s most […]
