Virat Kohli is on the brink of reclaiming the World No.1 spot in ICC ODI batting rankings following another masterclass innings against New Zealand, underlining his remarkable consistency and elite fitness levels.
Kohli’s fluent 93-run knock helped India take a 1–0 lead in the ODI series, and capped an extraordinary run that has seen him score 469 runs in his last five ODIs at an astonishing average of over 150. This surge has allowed him to close an eight-point gap and edge past teammate Rohit Sharma in the latest rankings update.
Cricket experts and former players believe Kohli’s form mirrors his vintage “chase-master” era, where composure, precision, and hunger defined his batting. Former India captain Mohammad Kaif recently remarked that Kohli’s discipline and fitness could see him represent India all the way till the 2031 World Cup.
Fans across the country have erupted in celebration. One admirer reportedly spent ₹15 lakh on a customised gold iPhone case engraved with Kohli’s image, reflecting the unmatched devotion the former India skipper commands.
As India prepares for the day-night ODI in Rajkot, all eyes remain on Kohli — not just for the rankings milestone, but for yet another reminder of why he continues to be one of the greatest batters of the modern era.
The win completed a historic double for Indian kabaddi, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams clinching gold at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. For a sport deeply rooted in Indian soil, this triumph reaffirmed the nation’s unmatched dominance on the mat and its unbreakable connection with kabaddi’s spirit.
From the opening whistle, both teams showcased defensive steel and tactical aggression. Led by captain Ishant, the Indian boys started brightly, forcing early do-or-die situations against Iran and converting them through smart raiding rotations. But midway through the second half, the match turned heated when Iran refused to restart play, accusing Ishant of using oily substances on his legs to evade tackles — an allegation that delayed play and drew loud reactions from a partisan crowd. After a long referee discussion, the claims were dismissed, and India resumed play with renewed fire.
Their defenders — notably the right corner and cover combination — produced back-to-back tackles to shift momentum, though Iran fought back with a string of super tackles and bonus points, narrowing the scoreline to just two points in the closing minutes.
Tension reached a peak when Iran called for a referral over whether an Indian raider had crossed the baulk line before contact. After a lengthy review, the decision went India’s way. Iran’s bench erupted in protest, leading to another brief halt in play. Yet, through all the chaos, the young Indian side showed remarkable composure. Ishant, at the heart of the controversy, delivered when it mattered — scoring vital raid points and organizing the defence in the dying seconds. As the final whistle blew, the Indian team erupted in joy, waving the tricolour and embracing their coaches as chants of “India! India!” filled the arena.
The final scoreline — India 35–32 Iran — captured the drama of a contest that demanded skill, nerve, and unity.
India’s journey to gold had been nothing short of dominant. In the group stages, the boys crushed Bangladesh (83–19), Sri Lanka (89–16), Pakistan (81–26), and Thailand (86–30). Even in their earlier encounter with Iran, a 46–29 victory had foreshadowed their superiority. But the final tested their mental strength and discipline, qualities that define true champions.
Earlier, the Indian girls’ team had dismantled Iran 75–21 in a one-sided final — the largest margin in Youth Games kabaddi history. Raider Neha Patel shone with 28 points, while Riya Singh led a rock-solid defence. Across five matches, the girls’ squad scored 312 points and conceded just 89, underlining total dominance.
Together, these triumphs mark a new era for India’s youth kabaddi. The performances displayed not only talent but also maturity beyond years — a reflection of the sport’s strong grassroots structure and the guidance of initiatives like Khelo India.
For the young players, this victory was more than just a medal — it was a statement of pride, resilience, and legacy. The sight of the tricolour waving over the mat in Bahrain symbolized India’s enduring supremacy in a sport it gave to the world.
Final Score: 🇮🇳 India 35–32 Iran 🇮🇷 Result: India win Gold in Boys’ Kabaddi at Asian Youth Games 2025 Double Gold for India! 🥇🇮🇳 — Boys defeat Iran 35–32 in a thriller — Girls defeat Iran 75–21 in the final
India’s young kabaddi stars didn’t just win medals — they wrote a new chapter in India’s sporting story, one defined by passion, precision, and pride.
India’s Sujeet Kalkal captured gold at the U23 World Wrestling Championships, dominating the men’s freestyle 65kg final with a commanding 10-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov.
The title bout lasted just four minutes and 54 seconds before the referee declared Sujeet the winner by superiority — an emphatic finish that showcased his technical mastery and confidence on the mat.
Kalkal’s road to gold was equally impressive. He began his campaign with back-to-back wins by technical superiority, defeating Moldova’s Fiodor Ceavdari (12-2) and Poland’s Dominik Jakub (11-0). In the quarterfinal, Sujeet was briefly tested by Bashir Magomedov but rallied to win 4-2. In the semifinal, he displayed resilience and precision to edge past Japan’s Yuto Nishiuchi 3-2, sealing victory with a stunning two-point throw in the final moments.
This marks Sujeet’s most significant international triumph so far. The young wrestler has already earned two U23 Asian titles (2022 and 2025) and a U20 Asian Championship gold (2022). At the previous U23 Worlds, he had settled for bronze — making this year’s gold a story of growth, redemption, and perseverance.
India’s 65kg weight class has long been a showcase of wrestling excellence, having produced global stars like Bajrang Punia, who won Olympic and multiple World Championship medals in the same category. Sujeet’s latest achievement reinforces India’s continued strength and legacy in the sport.
As Sujeet stood victorious, the Indian flag was raised once more at the global stage — a proud reminder of India’s wrestling tradition, discipline, and determination to excel.
Indian sports has a new star shining bright! 🥋✨ Himanshi Tokas has created history by reaching the World No. 1 spot in the Junior Women’s 63kg Judo Rankings, making her the first Indian ever to secure the top position in world judo rankings.
This extraordinary feat is not just a personal milestone but also a landmark moment for Indian judo, which has long awaited recognition on the global stage. Himanshi’s consistent performances in international competitions, backed by hard work, grit, and discipline, have propelled her to the top of the rankings.
Her achievement sends a strong message about the rising power of Indian women athletes and inspires the next generation to pursue excellence in sports.
As India celebrates this incredible milestone, all eyes will now be on Himanshi Tokas as she continues her journey to bring further glory to the nation. 🇮🇳🔥
Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
India scripted a memorable chapter in its tennis history on Saturday by defeating ninth-seeded Switzerland 3-1 in their Davis Cup 2025 World Group I tie at the Swiss Tennis Arena in Biel. This landmark victory has booked the Indian team a spot in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for early next year. More significantly, it marks India’s first win against a European nation on their home soil in over three decades—since 1993 when the team famously beat France 3-2 in the quarter-finals with legends Leander Paes and Ramesh Krishnan.
Heading into the second day of the tie with a 2-0 lead, thanks to opening-day singles victories by Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal, India needed just one more win to close out the contest. However, the doubles pair of N Sriram Balaji and Rithvik Bollipalli couldn’t seal the deal, falling to Jakub Paul and Dominic Stricker in a tightly contested three-setter. Despite taking the first set via a tiebreak, the Indian duo was broken late in the second and third sets, resulting in a 6(3)-7(7), 6-4, 7-5 loss that lasted two hours and 21 minutes.
With the tie still open, Switzerland brought in 18-year-old Henry Bernet to face India’s top singles player, Sumit Nagal. Unfazed by the pressure, Nagal delivered a clinical performance, breaking Bernet three times in the opening set and once in the second to secure a commanding 6-1, 6-3 win. His victory ensured that India would advance to the 2026 Qualifiers, a significant milestone considering the team had not progressed beyond World Group I since the Davis Cup format was revamped in 2019.
India, a three-time Davis Cup runner-up in 1966, 1974, and 1987, continues to chase the elusive title. With this victory, the team not only progresses to the next stage but also boosts confidence in its younger players and sets the stage for a strong campaign next year.
