Virat Kohli unleashed a stunning 139 with a record nine sixes as Shubman Gill's century and Kuldeep Yadav's four-wicket haul powered India to an emphatic eight-wicket win. Kohli's explosive knock also saw him complete 15,000 ODI runs and underline his enduring class.
Panama coach Thomas Christiansen pointed to Bengaluru's traffic, travel and limited preparation after his side's 1-1 draw with India, while also accepting responsibility for a transitional team that struggled to cope with the hosts' intensity.
India held World Cup-bound Panama to a 1-1 draw in Bengaluru after Ryan Williams put the Blue Tigers ahead. Despite a sparse crowd, Khalid Jamil's side matched their opponents for intensity and threatened to win.
India return to Bengaluru for their first match at Kanteerava since the 2023 SAFF Championship, but a quiet build-up and ticket concerns have left questions over the atmosphere before World Cup-bound Panama arrive for Friday's friendly.
Khalid Jamil refused to dwell on Carlo Ancelotti's comments about India's football culture, saying everyone is entitled to an opinion. The India coach instead turned his attention towards the upcoming Panama friendly.
India are preparing to face three World Cup-bound teams, but Panama coach Thomas Christiansen says the bigger challenge lies at home. He has pointed to the league, facilities, coaching, ambition and long-term player development.
India opened their Asian Games 2026 gold account as the women's cricket team beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs. The day also brought assured medals through the men's badminton team and Roshibina Devi, alongside mixed results elsewhere.
US Open: Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final after beating Frances Tiafoe in four sets at the US Open. The American will now face Alexander Zverev in New York with his first major title within reach.
Khalid Jamil's India are heading into a very different kind of international window, with Brazil, Uruguay and Panama on the other side. A youthful squad, some big omissions and a few intriguing new faces could make this a defining stretch for the next generation.
Tata Steel's exit marks the end of its Jamshedpur FC ownership era, but the club's ISL journey could continue under Churchill Brothers. The proposed Rs 100 transfer remains subject to AIFF approval.
Indian football is desperate for stability, yet the Sports Minister sees "excellent progress". Between club exits, financial uncertainty, falling broadcast value and national-team confusion, the reality looks very different.
India have finally earned a place at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup, but uncertainty over the roles of Ranjit Bajaj and Bibiano Fernandes is eating into crucial preparation time.
AIFF's latest youth football appointment has unravelled within hours of being announced. Ranjit Bajaj has questioned both the federation's handling of the process and the logic behind the role he says was never properly communicated to him.
AIFF has put Ranjit Bajaj alongside Bibiano Fernandes for India's U15 World Cup campaign. While the move can be seen as bringing grassroots strength and coaching pedigree together, it also raises questions about whether the combination will actually work.
The failed World Cup stake-sale proposal was more than a commercial misstep. It became the moment football collectively questioned where Gianni Infantino's ambition ended and his greed began.
Former Indian Super League Shield winners Jamshedpur FC have confirmed they will not compete in the 2026-27 ISL season, ending a nine-year run in India's top-flight football league. The decision follows the club's failure to meet the AIFF's participation fee deadline under the league's revised commercial framework.
Football gave us Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Modric and so many unforgettable icons who shaped an entire generation. The 2026 World Cup felt like the moment we realised their era had quietly come to an end.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain did not stop Lionel Messi with brute force or relentless man-marking. They simply denied him the spaces where he has spent two decades deciding football matches.
FIFA World Cup Final: Spain wore down Argentina before Ferran Torres scored the extra-time winner at MetLife Stadium. The goal ended Lionel Messi's title defence and delivered Spain a second World Cup crown.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina and Spain meet in the World Cup final with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal at the centre of attention. A resurfaced Barcelona photograph and a clash of styles have given the match an added sense of history.
