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Articles by Thomas Abraham
ICC board meeting focus on WTC cycles, major men’s events for 2028-35
THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL began its board meetings in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Running until Sunday, 15 November, the meetings continue consultations on the future of cricket’s events, formats, commercial sustainability and the structural frameworks aimed at expanding the sport’s global footprint, in line with the ICC’s ongoing strategy to deepen and widen fandom.
Asian stocks rise on AI enthusiasm, bonds decline
Asian stocks climbed after better-than-expected earnings from CoreWeave revived interest in the artificial intelligence trade, helping offset a Wall Street sell-off fuelled by hotter-than-expected (Nov 11): Asian stocks climbed after better-than-expected earnings from CoreWeave Inc revived interest in the artificial intelligence trade, helping offset a Wall Street sell-off fuelled by hotter-than-expected US inflation.
Fanatics, American Express debut credit card featuring 500+ sports stars
SPORTS BRAND POWERHOUSE FANATICS and American Express on Monday unveiled the Fanatics American Express Card, designed to “reward sports fans with more of what they love and connect them across the entire Fanatics experience”. Inspired by Topps trading cards, the credit card design lets fans select their favorite player from a roster of more than 500 NBA, NFL, UFC and WWE athletes — with more leagues and players to come.
Jake Paul backs Chennai to host India’s ‘biggest boxing night’
NEERAJ GOYAT AND FORMER UFC CHAMPION Anthony “Showtime” Pettis stood face to face for the first time over the weekend, at a press conference in Hyderabad ahead of their 23 January 2027 bout — “the biggest professional boxing event ever staged in India”.
PKL 13 to skip 2026 edition, may follow ISL template on new operating model
PRO KABADDI LEAGUE APPEARS TO BE HEADED THE WAY OF THE Indian Super League in terms of how it will be structured going forward. The parallels are inescapable. PKL’s 13th season will skip 2026 and the earliest it is expected to return is in the June-July 2027 window. Reason: The league still has no broadcast partner after its five-year media rights agreement with Star India, now JioStar, ended when Season 12 concluded in October 2025.
Pankaj Advani pitches for televised league to mainstream cue sports in India
Indian billiards and snooker icon Pankaj Advani, who recently secured his 29th world championship title, has emphasised the need to popularise cue sports in India, stating that introducing a televised league, creating greater awareness, simplifying the various forms and formats of the sport and establishing more academies could help advance the discipline in the country.
IFL scores multi-platform b’cast deal with Z, DD Sports for 2026-27 Season
THE INDIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (IFL) has onboarded Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Z) and DD Sports as broadcast and streaming partners for its 2026-27 season, expanding the competition’s reach across television and digital platforms. Under the multi-platform arrangement, DD Sports will telecast all matches live, while selected fixtures will also be available on Unite8 Sports.
Business Today partners with PGTI for 27th edition of BT Golf across 8 cities
BUSINESS TODAY HAS ANNOUNCED THE 27TH EDITION of its corporate golf tournament, BT Golf, in partnership with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India, with the eight-city tournament scheduled to tee off at Tollygunge Club in Kolkata on October 31. The partnership was announced at a season preview held at Qutub Golf Course in New Delhi, attended by Kapil Dev, president of PGTI, professional golfers and senior Business Today editors, who participated in a pitch-and-putt session.
Neeraj Chopra’s VEL Sports to represent Asian Games medallist Pooja
VEL SPORTS MANAGEMENT, AN ATHLETE REPRESENTATION initiative founded by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, has signed on top woman high jumper Pooja. VEL will support India’s national record holder and 2026 Asian Games bronze medal winner across sporting development, commercial representation, brand partnerships, contract negotiations, media and personal branding, and long-term career planning.
Leander Paes opts out of AITA president poll race
Indian tennis great Leander Paes has ruled himself out of the running for president of the All India Tennis Association, the elections for which are scheduled for November 27. Paes was conspicuously missing from the list of nominees for the Sports Person of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections, which will be held on November 7 and includes the likes of Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza.
Raksha Khadse calls for stronger pathways for women in sports
MINISTER OF STATE FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS and Sports Raksha Khadse has emphasised the need to expand opportunities for women across sports, from grassroots participation and coaching to high-performance competition and leadership. The minister was addressing the All-Women Coaches Course under the All India Tennis Association’s ACE 2032 initiative in New Delhi on Saturday.
Mumbai Indians, Nike strike multi-year kit deal starting with 2027 season
Mumbai Indians has announced Nike as its kit sponsor for its men’s and women’s teams in a multi-year agreement starting with the 2027 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either party. For Nike, the deal marks a return to the Indian Premier League ecosystem after nearly 20 years for the struggling US sportswear brand. Nike last featured in the IPL during the inaugural 2008 season as the kit sponsor for the Deccan Chargers.
Vijay Amritraj planning to bring 4 WTA 125 tourneys to India in 2028
TENNIS LEGEND VIJAY AMRITRAJ, president of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA), has said efforts are being made to host four consecutive WTA 125 events in India in early 2028. WTA 125 is a category of tournaments between the main WTA Tour and the ITF circuit. “The plan is to put four WTA 125s – one each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra – in January-February 2028.
NZC pulls plug on MLC franchise plan to focus on ‘opportunities in New Zealand’
NEW ZEALAND CRICKET HAS PULLED back from NZC’s partnership with the US-based True North Sports Ventures which involved launching a Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise in 2027. The collaboration, announced in April 2025, was meant to provide high performance and operational support to the now still-born venture.
ICC opens media rights sale for ’27 events in Bangla, Afgh, 4 other Asian mkts
THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL HAS launched the media rights sales process for Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong for 2027. The rights packages will cover three men’s events, including the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, which is the ICC’s flagship event in each four-year cycle, and one women’s event, the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy 2027.
Australian Open aces global Adobe deal to boost fan engagement
THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AND TENNIS AUSTRALIA Monday announced a multi-year partnership with Adobe, naming the global technology leader as the Official AI Marketing and Creativity Partner. The Australian Open will become Adobe’s first tennis sponsorship globally marking a significant milestone for both organisations.
TCM Sports LIST announces ‘experiences’ around India’s NZ tour
TCM SPORTS LIST, THE SPORTS HOSPITALITY vertical from TCM Sports, is taking its next offering to New Zealand, curating a journey around India’s tour of the country from 22 October to 1 December. Following its Wimbledon 2026 debut, where TCM Sports LIST brought together Centre Court access, exclusive hospitality and interactions with tennis legends like John McEnroe and Pat Cash, the brand now takes its approach to New Zealand.
Better Nutrition onboards Varun Dhawan as investor, brand ambassador
BETTER NUTRITION, A BIOFORTIFIED STAPLES brand owned by Greenday, has onboarded actor Varun Dhawan as investor and brand ambassador. In that role, he joins PV Sindhu, who had invested an undisclosed amount and became brand ambassador in June 2024. Per an official release, Dhawan’s association with the company began after he acquired agricultural land and started exploring soil, seeds and the food produced on his farm.
SC Delhi onboards GD Goenka Schools as Knowledge Partner
SPORTING CLUB DELHI HAS ANNOUNCED GD Goenka Schools as its Knowledge Partner for the 2026-27 season, focused on learning and development initiatives for young athletes. The club has also signed with Pure Nutrition as Nutrition Partner, Bisleri as Hydration Partner, and Gold’s Gym as Fitness Partner.
IOC confirms India among 7 bidders in race to host 2036 Olympics
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) confirmed on Tuesday that India was among seven nations with ambitions to host the 2036 Olympic Games. The IOC will decide in 2029 by a vote of its 100-plus members the country that will host the 2036 edition of the Games. It bears noting that a big plus in India’s favour is that the nation, along with Qatar, have long been seen as the leading candidates to ultimately win the right to host the world’s biggest and most prestigious multi-sport event.
S&P 500 Closes In on Record High as Tech Rallies: Markets Wrap
Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks were set to open higher after a tech-led rally pushed the S&P 500 index near a record as investors largely shrugged off concerns about bond yields at multi-decade highs. US oil prices extended declines.
HI announces र11l reward for men’s, women’s teams after golden finish in Japan
HOCKEY INDIA HAS ANNOUNCED a र11 lakh reward each for the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams (and their respective support staff) after they secured gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan and also booked Olympic spots for the 2028 LA Games. The men’s team gold came after a dominant thrashing of Malaysia 5-1 on Saturday to clinch top honours for the second time at the Asian Games.
S&P 500 Closes In on Record High as Tech Rallies: Markets Wrap
Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks were set to open higher after a tech-led rally pushed the S&P 500 index near a record as investors largely shrugged off concerns about bond yields at multi-decade highs. US oil prices extended declines.
Lionel Messi’s farewell match in Argentina shirt to stream live on Zee 5
FANS IN INDIA WILL BE ABLE to watch Lionel Messi take the field one final time On 7 October in the famous Albiceleste jersey, as Argentina face Benin at Buenos Aires’ iconic Estadio Monumental, streaming live on Zee 5. After changing how football is played, loved and remembered, Messi’s final Argentina appearance will give fans across India the chance to witness the closing chapter of one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen.
Capri Sports scores 15-yr cm & mktng rights of IWL, IWL 2
CAPRI SPORTS, THE SPORTS DIVISION OF Capri Global Ventures, with a growing presence across women’s cricket and football, has entered into a landmark 15-year partnership with the All India Football Federation to secure the commercial development and marketing rights of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2).
BCCI AGM: 2 inducted into IPL governing council; grand plans for IPL 20th edition in ’27
THE BCCI HELD ITS 95TH ANNUAL General Meeting at the cricket board headquarters in Mumbai on Friday. During the AGM, Arun Singh Dhumal and M Khairul Jamal Majumdar were inducted into the governing council of the Indian Premier League. The general body further approved plans to celebrate the 20th edition of the IPL in 2027 on a grand scale. In addition, the BCCI initiated the process for its centenary celebrations in 2028.
HCL Group named Tour Partner of DP World PGTI
THE DP WORLD PROFESSIONAL Golf Tour of India Monday announced a new partnership with HCL Group, a $14.8 billion conglomerate, which will join as a Tour Partner of the DP World PGTI. Per an official release, the partnership brings together India’s premier professional golf tour and a leading global organisation, with a “shared vision of drawing on institution building, technology and innovation to strengthen the professional golf ecosystem in India and broaden the sport’s reach”.
Sports Min asks HI, team owners to set up governance panel to revive HIL
UNION SPORTS MINISTER Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday asked Hockey India and Hockey India League franchise owners to work out a comprehensive roadmap to ensure financial viability and sustainability of the cash-strapped league and set up a five-member “governance” panel towards that end. Ministry sources told PTI that Mandaviya held a meeting with HI officials and representatives of HIL franchises and was apprised of the concerns surrounding the league.
Asian Champions Trophy: India host cities revealed; Pak among 6 teams
HOCKEY INDIA HAS ANNOUNCED the schedule and venues for the 2026 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy. The Champions Trophy will be staged in Punjab from October 27 to November 5, with Pakistan among the six teams set to compete. The tournament will be hosted between two Punjab cities – Jalandhar and Mohali. Jalandhar will stage the opening ceremony as well as all league-stage matches, giving the city the first opportunity to welcome the participating teams.
IMG scores mandate to deliver inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026
GLOBAL SPORTS MARKETING AGENCY IMG and the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 have announced a strategic partnership to launch the inaugural Southeast Asian men’s tournament and boost the development of football in the region. IMG is supporting delivery of the tournament, which takes place in Indonesia and Hong Kong from 24 September to 5 October, leading the worldwide commercialisation and sale of its media and sponsorship rights, and overseeing broadcast production.
BCCI invites applications for head of sports science at Centre of Excellence
THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR Cricket in India on Friday invited applications for the position of head – Sports Science and Medicine at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), Bengaluru. The successful candidate will report to the CoE head of Cricket (currently VVS Laxman). The development comes amidst scrutiny around the rising cases of injuries in Indian cricket and the subsequent lengthy rehabilitation periods.
India–Japan T20I set for full house as tickets sell out
TICKETS FOR THE INDIA-JAPAN T20I on September 22 have sold out, the Japan Cricket Association announced. The one-off match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture as part of the Suzuki Cup, marking the first official international fixture between the senior men’s cricket teams of the two nations. The match also commemorates the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
Virender Sehwag joins Prime’s Rise and Fall Season 2 as host
PRIME VIDEO HAS UNVEILED THE first look of reality show Rise and Fall Season 2, with Virender Sehwag stepping in as host, marking his streaming debut. The show brings together 15 celebrities divided into Rulers and Workers, set across a penthouse and basement format where alliances, strategy, and decisions can shift the game at any moment. Season 2 follows a successful first season of the high-stakes reality format.
Busy 2 months: AIFF announces 13 international friendlies against 7 nations
THE ALL INDIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION’S National Team Department is organising a series of 13 international friendly matches across Bengaluru, Goa and Kolkata from September 25 to October 11, subject to Government clearance for the teams’ travel, the AIFF has announced. The matches will bring together India’s senior, women’s senior and youth teams against international opponents, offering players valuable exposure and competitive preparation across different age groups, per an AIFF press release.
GMR Sports elevates Ankit Baldi to chief executive officer
GMR SPORTS HAS PROMOTED Ankit Baldi, who joined the company in June 2025 as head of business development, strategy and governance, to chief executive officer. Baldi fills the vacancy left following the departure of Satyam Trivedi in April, having serving a nearly two-year stint as CEO.
John Abraham predicts ‘paradigm shift’ in Indian football after ISL clubs take control
EVEN AS THE COUNTDOWN TO the new season is in play, with the Indian Super League confirmed to kick off on October 10, NorthEast United FC owner John Abraham asserts Indian football is set for a “huge paradigm shift”, with ISL clubs taking a greater role in running the country’s top-tier competition from the upcoming season on. The 2026-27 ISL, beginning October 10, will return to its traditional home-and-away format, featuring 163 matches across eight months.
Reebok returns to Indian sport with NorthEast United FC jersey sponsorship
REEBOK IS BACK ON THE PITCH in India. The global athletic footwear and apparel company, now owned by Authentic Brands Group, with the primary master license for this market held by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL), unveiled NorthEast United FC’s new jersey in Mumbai on Saturday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru name here to stay, Aryaman Birla confirms
ARYAMAN BIRLA, DIRECTOR OF THE Aditya Birla Group, has ruled out any change to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru name, describing RCB as one of India’s strongest sporting brands, while underlining the group’s long-term ambitions in sport. Responding to speculation that RCB could undergo a name change following the Aditya Birla Group’s entry into the franchise, Birla was categorical. “That’s not happening. We think it’s a fantastic team and a fantastic franchise.
Global Chess League Season 4 Trophy unveiled ahead of B’luru opener
THE FOURTH EDITION OF the Global Chess League (GCL), a joint initiative of Tech Mahindra and FIDE, promises to be a scintillating affair as world number one Magnus Carlsen returns after a year’s hiatus to strengthen defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, while two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings retain their core group with an eye on a third title in four years.
Australia’s Foxtel Media rebadged as DAZN Media+, expands Kayo offer
FORMERLY OPERATING AS FOXTEL Media, DAZN Media+ has officially unveiled a new brand identity at its 2027 Upfronts event held Thursday in Sydney, marking a new era following DAZN’s 2025 acquisition of the Foxtel Group. Operating in more than 200 markets, DAZN is the world’s leading sports streaming platform reaching 300 million viewers globally and delivering more than 90,000 live events each year. The identity signals a new era for DAZN Media+ in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Conscient Sports appoints Abhishek Goel as CEO
CONSCIENT SPORTS LLP, a leading grassroots sports organisation in India and a part of Conscient Infrastructure Private Limited, has appointed Abhishek Goel as its chief executive officer. In his new role, Goel will lead the organisation’s next phase of growth, with a focus on strengthening its platform, streamlining systems and processes, and building capabilities aligned with its mid-to-long-term strategic plan and execution roadmap.
Gulf Oil unveils ‘Kuch Behad Kar’ brand platform featuring MSD
GULF OIL LUBRICANTS India Limited has unveiled a new brand platform and campaign for its flagship motorcycle oil brand, Gulf Pride. Titled ‘Kuch Behad Kar’, the campaign features brand ambassador MS Dhoni. The film, which is conceptualised and directed by the agency Curativity, is aimed at a generation of young Indians whose ambition isn’t defined by the resources at hand, which is captured in the campaign’s central insight ‘Sapna CC dekh kar nahi aata’.
Rohit Rajpal announces candidature for AITA president
IOA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL member Rohit Rajpal has announced his candidature for the AITA presidency. Rajpal, who also serves as president of the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, highlighted his experience as a player, Davis Cup captain, IOA executive council member, and Chef de Mission at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
LIV Golf reportedly set for potential bankruptcy filing next week
LIV GOLF MAY FILE for bankruptcy protection as soon as next week, according to the Financial Times. The league is racing to secure funding for a scaled-down version in 2027, with players owed millions in guaranteed payouts reportedly receiving settlement offers worth “a few cents on the dollar.” The league’s future has been in doubt since earlier this year when Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing.
Dream11 completes pivot from fantasy sports to ‘sports engagement’ platform
DREAM11 DECLARED ON Thursday that it had completed its pivot away from pure play fantasy sports to becoming a “global sports engagement platform”. The platform has discontinued all prizes to focus only on sports content, live streaming, stats, scores, commentary, community, experiences, and social contests.
BCCI in direct talks for home games title sponsor rights sale
AFTER A STEEP BASE PRICE proved a tough sell, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is now reportedly holding discussions directly with prospective partners for the title sponsorship for India’s home games. Google Gemini, Spinny and SBI Life are among the brands reported to be in the running for said rights. For the record, the BCCI had set August 13 as its original deadline to finalise terms.
EA SPORTS joins College Rivals Season 4 as official game partner
COLLEGE RIVALS SEASON 4, India’s premier collegiate gaming and youth culture movement, on Monday announced EA SPORTS as its Official Game Partner for the upcoming season, bringing EA SPORTS FC Mobile to campuses across India. With an estimated 300 million football fans, India is one of the world’s largest football audiences.
Harmanpreet bats for Sony Sports’ Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 campaign
SONY SPORTS NETWORK has launched a campaign titled ‘Not a Gentleman’s Game’ ahead of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026. The film opens with Amitabh Bachchan invoking the phrase “Cricket is a gentleman’s game,” before India captain Harmanpreet Kaur dismisses it with the line: “Na hum gentle hain, aur na hi humara game.” The campaign captures India’s training intensity and on-field aggression, with India entering the tournament as world champions.
Bombay Gymkhana unveils ‘The Journey So Far’ as it marks 150 years of sport
BOMBAY GYMKHANA HAS unveiled a 284-page commemorative coffee-table book titled ‘The Journey So Far ‘, celebrating more than 150 years since the club’s establishment in 1875. Edited, designed, and printed by Spenta Multimedia, the book brings together archival photographs, historical records, and contemporary images documenting the Club’s sporting achievements, personalities, and milestones.
Casey Kaufhold to make Archery Premier League debut in star-studded season 2
PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC BRONZE medallist Casey Kaufhold will make her APL debut in Hyderabad from October 8, with 12 overseas archers from 10 countries joining the second edition. The league will feature 48 athletes across six regional franchises. APL director Anil Kamineni said: “Bringing 12 leading international archers, including three Olympic medallists, to APL Season 2 reflects our ambition to make India an important destination on the global archery calendar.
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