Captain Nikki Pradhan led from the front as Ranchi pressed aggressively and moved the ball quickly. Their sharp passing and repeated circle attacks unsettled Shrachi Bengal Tigers early. Hannah Cotter opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a clean field goal. Beauty Dungdung doubled the lead four minutes later from a penalty corner rebound.

Ranchi continued to dominate the second quarter with confident possession and solid defence. The team created far more circle entries and denied Bengal clear chances. The score stayed 2–0 at halftime due to disciplined defending.

Lucina von der Heyde extended the lead in the 33rd minute with a well-worked goal. Sangeeta Kumari added the fourth goal in the 44th minute, lifting the home crowd. Von der Heyde struck again in the 57th minute from a penalty corner to complete the rout.

The convincing victory strengthens Ranchi Royals’ position in the league and boosts team confidence ahead of upcoming matches.

The post Ranchi Royals dominate Bengal in Women’s HIL rout appeared first on India Podcast.

Harmanpreet achieved the feat after India defeated Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Thiruvananthapuram. India won the match by eight wickets and sealed a dominant performance. With this victory, Harmanpreet recorded her 77th win as captain in T20 Internationals.

She went past former Australian captain Meg Lanning, who had led her team to 76 T20I victories. Harmanpreet has now captained India in 130 T20I matches. Her consistency and leadership have played a key role in India’s rise in women’s cricket.

Meg Lanning has slipped to second place on the all-time list. England’s Heather Knight stands third with 72 wins as captain. Former England skipper Charlotte Edwards follows closely with 68 victories.

After the match, Harmanpreet expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. She praised the bowlers for controlling the game. She said the series helped the team improve its T20 approach.

Harmanpreet added that the team aims to play with more aggression. She believes this mindset will help India in future global tournaments.

The post Harmanpreet Kaur Creates History as T20I Captain appeared first on India Podcast.

The suspended players are Abhishek Thakuri, Ishan Ahmed, Amit Sinha, and Aman Tripathi. ACA confirmed that the suspension will remain in force until the investigation concludes. The players will stay away from the tournament and all cricket-related activities during this period.

According to ACA, the allegations relate to attempts to influence Assam team members during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. The tournament took place in Lucknow between November 26 and December 8. ACA secretary Sanatan Das said the association has already filed an FIR with the Guwahati Crime Branch.

He also confirmed that the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has completed a preliminary inquiry. Initial findings suggest possible involvement of the players in activities that threatened the integrity of the game.

Abhishek Thakuri is the most prominent among the suspended players. He featured in two Ranji Trophy matches for Assam earlier this season. The other players have also represented the state at various domestic levels.

ACA has barred the four players from participating in any state-level tournaments. They cannot serve as coaches, umpires, or officials either. The association has instructed all district units, clubs, and academies to strictly enforce the suspension. ACA stated it will fully cooperate with police and BCCI during the probe.

The post Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Match-Fixing Row Rocks Assam appeared first on India Podcast.

The sixth seed struggled with rhythm in the opening set, but his turnaround in the second was emphatic as he blanked Zhang 6-0. Nagal carried the momentum into the decider, dominating from the baseline and closing out the match with confidence.

The event, held from November 24–29 at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre, offers its champions a prized wild card into the 2026 Australian Open main draw — a major incentive for all participants.

Nagal’s participation itself was uncertain after his Chinese visa application was initially rejected, prompting him to publicly seek intervention. The issue was later resolved, allowing him to travel and compete.

With this win, Nagal now awaits the winner of the match between top seed Bu Yunchaokete and Zijiang Yang. A victory in the quarter-finals will take him one step closer to securing an Australian Open berth.

The post Sumit Nagal Reaches AO Asia-Pacific Play-Off Quarter-Finals After Stunning Comeback and Resolved Visa Hurdle appeared first on India Podcast.

However, the newly enforced rule will not impact the current leadership. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and the existing executive committee remain protected until their term concludes in September 2026, as noted by the Supreme Court earlier while recognising the committee’s legitimacy.

The amendments, aligned with the framework prepared by Justice (Retd) L. Nageswara Rao, were approved during a virtual Special General Meeting. This decision ends a governance battle stretching back to 2017, during which the clauses had been repeatedly deferred.

The Supreme Court had already approved the draft constitution on September 19 and granted four weeks for implementation. With the adoption of these contentious clauses, the AIFF has now brought its constitution fully in line with judicial, FIFA, and AFC requirements.

The post AIFF Finally Enforces Supreme Court-Mandated Ban On Dual Posts; Kalyan Chaubey Exempt Till 2026 appeared first on India Podcast.

Nikhat, competing in only her second event since returning from a shoulder injury, battled through a scrappy 51kg semifinal against Uzbekistan’s Ganieva Gulsevar to clinch a unanimous decision — her first international medal since the 2023 Strandja Memorial. Calling the win “a fresh start” after the Paris Olympics, she said she is confident of striking gold against Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi Xuan in the final.

India will have six finalists on Thursday: Nikhat, reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, Pawan Bartwal, Sachin Siwach and Hitesh Gulia. Jaismine impressed with a flawless 5-0 decision over Kazakhstan’s Ulzhan Sarsenbek, while Jadumani drew the loudest cheers with his relentless victory over Australia’s Omar Izaz.

Three Indians — Neeraj Phogat, Sumit Kundu and Jugnoo — settled for bronze after semifinal losses.

The post Nikhat Zareen Ends 21-Month Medal Drought, Enters World Boxing Cup Finals; India Sends 6 Boxers to Title Bouts appeared first on India Podcast.

The decisive moment came from Shekh Morsalin, whose composed finish sealed the emotional victory for Bangladesh in front of a roaring home crowd. The result carried immense symbolic weight, reaffirming Bangladesh’s growing competitiveness on the Asian football stage.

For India, however, it was another frustrating night marked by familiar shortcomings. The Blue Tigers produced a disjointed first-half performance, struggling with pressing, build-up play, and defensive structure. Aside from flashes of creativity by Vikram Pratap Singh, India lacked attacking cohesion and repeatedly invited pressure, eventually paying the price.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, defended with remarkable discipline, absorbing India’s attacks and maintaining composure until the final whistle. The win adds pressure on India, who remain winless in their campaign with only Hong Kong left to face. The loss deepens concerns over the team’s direction as qualifying hopes continue to fade.

The post Bangladesh Stuns India 1-0 in AFC Asian Cup Qualifier, Ends 22-Year Winless Run appeared first on India Podcast.