National pole vault record holder Dev Meena and fellow athlete Kuldeep Yadav were forcibly deboarded from a train at Panvel station by a Travelling Ticket Examiner who prohibited them from carrying their poles which is an essential sport equipment. The athletes were stranded for nearly five hours while explaining their situation to authorities after returning from the All India Inter-University Championships. A viral video shows Meena questioning the treatment, wondering about harassment faced by junior athletes if international competitors face such issues. The 19-year-old Meena holds India's national record at 5.35m, set in April 2025, though significantly trailing the Asian record (6m) and world record (6.27m by Armand Duplantis). The incident sparked nationwide controversy.

On The Great Indian Kapil Show, Kapil Sharma joked about Yuvraj Singh's cricket revenge against England despite marrying British actor-model Hazel Keech. Yuvraj's savage reply: "It's my karma." The episode featured Yuvraj, Virender Sehwag, and Mohammad Kaif sharing hilarious memories. Sehwag teased Yuvraj about owning multiple houses across Chandigarh, Gurugram, Mumbai, London, and Dubai. The trio admitted surviving with minimal English vocabulary. Yuvraj's England records include the fastest T20 fifty (12 balls) in 2007, career-best ODI score (150), and cricket's second-highest fourth-wicket partnership with MS Dhoni. He married Hazel in November 2016; they have two children. Yuvraj ranks second for most ODI runs against England with 1,523. (PC: Instagram/@yuvisofficial)

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has said he is open to returning to the Olympics to play cricket at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Cricket will return to the Olympics after 128 years at Los Angeles Olympics 2028. Bolt said cricket was his first sport before athletics and joked he would be ready if Jamaica called. He retired from track in 2017 after winning eight Olympic gold medals. Six teams each will compete in men’s and women’s cricket, with squads of up to 15 players. (PC: India Today)

The International Cricket Council has given Bangladesh until January 21 to confirm its participation in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has raised safety concerns about playing matches in India and has asked for games to be moved elsewhere. The ICC has refused to change the schedule or swap groups. It said independent security assessments found no specific threat in India. If Bangladesh withdraws, the ICC may name a replacement team. (PC: X)

The International Cricket Council has issued Bangladesh Cricket Board a January 21 deadline to confirm participation in T20 World Cup 2026 or face replacement. An ICC delegation met BCB officials in Dhaka on Saturday, delivering the ultimatum after Bangladesh refused to play matches in India citing security concerns. The dispute arose following Mustafizur Rahman's release from IPL. BCB requested relocating their World Cup matches outside India, but ICC rejected the demand. The global cricket body warned that failure to confirm by the deadline would result in Bangladesh's replacement, with Scotland emerging as the leading contender. The ICC's firm stance demonstrates diminishing patience with BCB's demands regarding the tournament's India-hosted matches. (PC: ICC)

A brilliant century by Virat Kohli was not enough as India lost the ODI series against New Zealand. Chasing 338 in the final match at Holkar Stadium, Kohli scored 124 off 108 balls. India were bowled out for 296 and lost by 41 runs. Earlier, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips scored centuries to lift New Zealand to 337 for eight. The visitors sealed the series 2-1, handing India their first-ever home ODI series defeat to New Zealand. (PC: AFP)

Former India captain Rohit Sharma had a disappointing outing in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, scoring just 61 runs. His highest score was 26. In the final match at Indore, he managed only 11 while chasing 338. Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull questioned whether Rohit still has the hunger to play the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. He pointed to long gaps in ODI cricket. Former India coach Ravi Shastri echoed the view, saying hunger and desire are key, especially after achieving so much. (PC: AP)

In the series‑deciding third One Day International at Holkar Stadium, Indore, New Zealand posted a commanding 337/8 in 50 overs, largely due to centuries by Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106) that resurrected their innings after early losses and set India a daunting 338‑run chase. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana took three wickets each for India but couldn’t contain the Kiwi batsmen’s big partnership. India, chasing the target, lost early wickets and were under pressure during the run chase as they attempted to clinch the series. The match is drawing intense attention as both teams vie for victory in this decider. (PC: PTI)

Bangladesh has sought Pakistan’s support amid a dispute over travelling to India for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, sources said on Sunday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has refused to play matches in India, citing security concerns, despite an ICC assessment finding no specific threats. Officials in Dhaka have reportedly contacted Islamabad, and Pakistan Cricket Board has indicated it could reconsider its own participation if the issue remains unresolved. The tournament, organised by the International Cricket Council, is scheduled to start on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. (PC: NDTV)

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has responded to controversy after the absence of a customary handshake between the captains of India and Bangladesh at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 toss in Bulawayo. Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar, standing in for the ill skipper Azizul Hakim, and India captain Ayush Mhatre did not exchange pleasantries, sparking debate. The BCB called the omission “completely unintentional” and due to a momentary lapse in concentration, insisting there was no disrespect intended and reminding players of sportsmanship standards. The board reiterated its commitment to cricketing values and has taken the matter seriously. (PC: HT)