Winds of change are sweeping through Indian cricket. After the tours of Ireland and England, where India lost two T20I series and an ODI series, the BCCI was expected to conduct a review. It has now been confirmed that the BCCI will not renew the contracts of assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip. The development was shared by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. "Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeshchate's two-year contract with Indian men's team ended on June 10. Fielding coach T Dilip, who was given a one-year extension after his original term ended, also had his contract ending on June 8," BCCI secretary Saikia told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
"The BCCI continued with the duo till the end of India's tour of United Kingdom. However, the BCCI is not giving them any extension. There is no question of accepting resignation as the contract has ended," the secretary cleared the air.
A few reports have claimed that Subhodeep Ghosh will be the new Indian fielding coach. However, Saikia said: "BCCI is in talks with two or three candidates to finalise the new fielding coach for the Indian men's team."
Assam's Ghosh, who has been in the system for last six to seven years since the time of Rahul Dravid at the NCA, is the favourite right now.
It must be mentioned that Ten Doeschate intended to leave as when he was brought on board on Gautam Gambhir's insistence, he was promised fielding coach's job but was given no specific role in last two years.
In case of Dilip, his extension for one year before the 2025 Test series in England was on insistence of a senior superstar but no one was happy with his performance. It would have been a miracle had he been given any further extension after poor show during the recent white ball tour of UK.
Gujarat has scripted a new chapter in Indian sports, with a record nine athletes and one reserve player earning selection to represent India at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The achievement marks a remarkable rise for the state, which had only three representatives at the 2014 Asian Games. Twelve years later, Gujarat has tripled that number, underlining its emergence as one of India's fastest-growing sporting hubs Calling it a proud moment for the state, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the achievement reflects the long-term investments made in sports development.
"Former Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid a strong foundation for sports in Gujarat through initiatives such as Khel Mahakumbh and the Shaktidoot Yojana. The results of those efforts are now visible. Gujarat is steadily emerging as a global sports powerhouse," Sanghavi said.
The state's sporting success is being credited to sustained investments in grassroots development and athlete support over the past decade. Initiatives introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, including the Shaktidoot Yojana and Khel Mahakumbh, created pathways for identifying and nurturing sporting talent across the state.
The current government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has continued to strengthen that ecosystem through enhanced infrastructure, athlete support programmes and high-performance training.
Highlighting the state's sporting ambitions, Harsh Sanghavi said Gujarat is focused on building a world-class sporting culture.
"Our goal is not just to train athletes but to build an entire ecosystem that enables them to excel on the international stage and bring glory to the nation," he said.
He also noted that Gujarat is preparing on a war footing to develop world-class sports infrastructure ahead of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Over the past decade, Gujarat has consistently increased its representation at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, reflecting the state's steady transformation into a multi-sport powerhouse.
With a record-breaking contingent set to compete in Japan, all eyes will now be on Gujarat's athletes as they look to make their mark on one of Asia's biggest sporting stages. The nine selected athletes represent a wide range of disciplines, highlighting Gujarat's growing contribution to Indian sport beyond its traditional cricketing identity. The contingent comprises a blend of experienced international performers and promising young talent.
The selected athletes are:
Elavenil Valarivan - Shooting
Harmeet Desai - Table Tennis
Manav Thakkar - Table Tennis
Manush Shah - Table Tennis
Aniket Patel - Soft Tennis
Aryan Nehra - Swimming
Ankita Raina - Tennis
Vaidehi Chaudhari - Tennis
Devyani Zala - Athletics (Sprint)
Meanwhile, Jil Desai has been named as a reserve player in tennis.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian judoka Harsh Tokas is aiming to script history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with the 81kg competitor setting his sights on becoming the first Indian to win a judo gold at the Games. The 23-year-old, who will be making his Commonwealth Games debut, said he has left no stone unturned in his preparations and is looking forward to competing on one of the biggest stages of his career. "The preparation is going really well. It has been at a next-level intensity for the past 2-3 months. I have given it my absolute 100% effort. This is the first time I've played at this level; it's going to be a unique experience. I am competing in the 81kg category. As for the challenges, I'll only find out the specifics once I'm there, but the plan is to play freely. The goal is definitely gold. No one from our country has ever won gold in this event at the Commonwealth Games, so bringing back gold would create history and be a wonderful achievement for the nation," Tokas told ANI.
Tokas has risen through India's age-group judo system after making his mark on the Asian circuit. He won a bronze medal at the 2018 Macau Cadets Asian Cup before recording a top-eight finish at the Asian Cadet Championships later that year. He also finished among the top five at the 2019 Asia-Oceania Cadet Championships.
Having progressed into the senior 81kg category, Tokas secured his place in India's Commonwealth Games squad through the national selection process and will be part of a six-member men's judo team competing in Glasgow.
India heads into the Games looking to secure its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo. The country's best performance in the sport came at the 2014 Glasgow Games, where Indian judokas claimed four medals, including two silver and two bronze.
The Indian judo team will depart for Glasgow on July 27, with competition beginning on July 31 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).
India's original 14-member judo contingent has been reduced to 12 athletes following the withdrawal of men's 73kg judoka Arun Kumar after a positive out-of-competition anti-doping test and Birmingham 2022 silver medallist Tulika Maan due to a provisional suspension over whereabouts failures.
Despite the setbacks, Tokas remains one of India's promising medal hopefuls as he prepares for his maiden Commonwealth Games appearance with the ambition of creating history.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Indian fencing achieved its best-ever performance on the global stage as Epee fencers Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan concluded their individual campaigns at the Senior World Fencing Championships 2026 in Hong Kong. Both athletes became the first Indian women's Epee fencers to qualify for the Main Table of 64 (Direct Elimination Round) at a Senior World Championships, competing in a field of over 180 athletes at the Asia World Expo. In the final standings for Women's Individual Epee, Taniksha Khatri placed 43rd overall, registering India's highest-ever individual rank in the event at a Senior World Championships.
Her teammate Prachi Lohan finished 58th, giving India two fencers in the top 60. Rounding out the Indian squad in the same event, Yashkeerat Kaur Hayer ranked 143rd, and Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari ranked 150th.
Expressing his support for the athletes, Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Confederation of Asia and the Fencing Association of India, said: "I am immensely proud and delighted to witness this historic achievement by Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan.
Their qualification for the Main Table of 64 at the Senior World Fencing Championships is a landmark moment for Indian fencing and reflects their exceptional talent, dedication, and perseverance. This remarkable feat is a testament to the growing standard of Indian fencing and will inspire many young athletes to excel on the international stage. I congratulate both fencers, their coaches, and the entire support team on this memorable success."
In the Men's Individual Foil event, Sachin finished as the top Indian fencer in 107th place, followed by Aditya at 137th, Sanasam Hemash Singh at 143rd, and Tejas Manoj Patil at 149th.
The tournament continues on Sunday, with the final stages of the Women's Individual Epee and Men's Individual Foil events, before transitioning into the team competitions.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro has surfaced on Geekbench ahead of its expected launch, revealing several key hardware details. The benchmark listing suggests that the upcoming Galaxy F-series smartphone will be powered by the same chipset as the recently launched Galaxy M47. The appearance follows multiple certification listings, indicating that Samsung could introduce the handset soon. Previous leaks have also hinted at its display, battery, cameras, software support and possible pricing in India.
Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro Geekbench Listing
A Geekbench listing for the Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro, carrying the model number SM-E476B, has revealed the phone's chipset, memory configuration and software. The benchmark database shows the handset with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and Android 16. It recorded a single-core score of 998 and a multi-core score of 3,090.
The Geekbench listing also identifies the motherboard codename as parrot, while the listed CPU configuration and Adreno GPU match the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. The same processor recently debuted on the Samsung Galaxy M47.
Before appearing on Geekbench, the smartphone had already surfaced on Samsung India's website, the BIS certification portal and the Bluetooth SIG database, pointing to an approaching launch.
Earlier reports have indicated that the Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro could feature a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset is also expected to pack a 6,000mAh battery with support for 45W fast charging. The handset is tipped to feature a triple rear camera unit led by a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilisation. Other expected features include NFC, an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance, LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
The Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro is expected to ship with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. Samsung is also tipped to provide up to six years of Android OS upgrades for the handset. The Galaxy F70 Pro could additionally feature a leather-like rear panel, continuing a design approach seen on several recent Galaxy F-series smartphones.
Samsung has previously introduced closely related Galaxy M and Galaxy F series models with similar hardware, but offered them through different sales channels. If the company follows the same strategy, the Galaxy F70 Pro could arrive as the Galaxy F-series counterpart to the recently launched Galaxy M47.
A retailer communication leaked earlier this year suggested that the Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro could be offered in three storage variants. The 6GB + 128GB model could be priced at Rs. 32,999, while the 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants may cost Rs. 36,999 and Rs. 41,999, respectively.
Actor Saanvi Talwar has spoken about one of the most controversial incidents from her television career, revisiting her experience of working with Karan Kundra and sharing her version of events years after the controversy made headlines.
In an interview with Telly Masala, the actress alleged that Karan Kundra had shown interest in her and also recalled an on-set incident that, according to her, left her deeply shaken.
"He Was Interested In Me, Not Me In Him"
Addressing long-standing speculation about their equation, Saanvi claimed that it was Karan Kundra who was interested in her.
"He was interested in me, not me in him," Saanvi said.
She also revealed that certain scenes during the shoot made her uncomfortable. According to the actress, a bathroom scene was particularly difficult for her, prompting her to seek help instead of staying silent.
Saanvi said she approached Karan Kundra's then-girlfriend, Anusha Dandekar, and spoke to her about how she was feeling.
"After this, Anusha started coming to the set and keeping an eye on things herself."
Saanvi Opens Up About The Alleged Slap Incident
Saanvi also revisited the alleged slap incident, which became a major talking point at the time.
Recalling the sequence of events, she said a kissing scene between her and Karan Kundra was being filmed when he allegedly kissed her before the director had called for the shot.
She said, "I was very depressed. Then one day we had a kissing scene between Karan and me, and Karan kissed me before the director's cue. So, that was a wrong move, wasn't it? When the director didn't say anything like 'we have to do it now,' how did you do that? So, I slapped him (Karan)."
The actress further alleged that Karan later returned and slapped her in front of the crew.
"After that, he left. Then he came back 10-15 minutes later and slapped me so hard in front of everyone. A girl's hand... a boy's hand is much heavier than a girl's hand. And he slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground, and there wasn't a single person there... not from the crew, not from the direction team, not a single person supported me in any way."
"I Thought I Don't Want To Work Anymore"
Speaking about the aftermath of the incident, Saanvi said she felt devastated and decided to leave the set.
She shared, "At that time, he abused me; he abused my parents, and at that time I took my car and went to my home, and I thought I don't want to work anymore."
The actress also claimed that producer Ekta Kapoor later reached out to her and apologised on Karan Kundra's behalf.
She added, "After that, Ekta Ma'am apologised to me on Karan's behalf; I received a message from her. She then personally called me to her office, where we had a one-on-one conversation, and I respect Ekta Ma'am a lot. She told me that whatever you want will happen, but the show must go on."
Saanvi further claimed that the director of the show was replaced following the incident.
Karan Kundra has not publicly responded to Saanvi Talwar's latest claims yet.
At least 60+ companies are scheduled to report their earnings on Tuesday. Following the results, companies will hold earnings calls with investors and analysts to discuss their performance and future plans. Watch this space for all the action from India Inc earnings reports.
Stay tuned to NDTV Profit for all back-to-back live updates of Q1 Results and company announcements on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Christopher Nolan has sparked fresh excitement among his fans, hinting at a horror film being on the cards. The Academy Award winner, whose latest release The Odyssey is making waves at the box office, and working on the film has only made him more interested in exploring horror.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the director was asked if audiences could finally stop asking him to make a horror film, considering The Odyssey includes several dark and unsettling moments. Responding with a laugh, he said, “I was going to say that. They don't need to beg me to tell a horror story anymore. Just buy a ticket.”
While The Odyssey may have touched on horror, Nolan made it clear that it had not ended his interest in the genre. In fact, the experience pushed him closer to it.
“It very much whets my appetite for more. But I've always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view. In other words, you have to have an amazing idea.”
For Christopher Nolan, a horror film is not about technical tricks or visual effects. He feels the story always comes first. Explaining what inspires him, he referred to Brian De Palma's Obsession.
“When you go see a film like Obsession, that's an amazing idea. That movie works like a mo********er. It's not about the technical side. It's not about what technical itches I would have to scratch. It's about a story. So I'm always looking.”
Apart from its action and mythical world, The Odyssey also explores the idea of Zeus' law, often linked to the Golden Rule of treating others the way you want to be treated.
Sharing his thoughts, the director said, “The fact that we have mutual respect is what, to some extent, defines civilization. I don't think that's something that can be entirely imposed by, for example, a religious framework. I think it has to be innate in us for that to be as prevalent and as effective as it has been over thousands of years.”
Based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who faces a dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, and Travis Scott.
That veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is a masterclass of acting need not be said. It certainly need not be reiterated as the ace actor turns 76 and is better at his craft than ever.
What's interesting recently is how incredible talents from the '80s and '90s have found their second innings in the cinematic landscape extremely rewarding. Old gen, new crowds - they are all there to praise stellar performances. And Naseeruddin Shah has had a swell 2026 so far.
He is being applauded for his performances in Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga and Made In India: A Titan Story on OTT, both of which have highlighted that he's owning the year with less showsha and more work.
This invariably reminds us of another actor who had an equally fruitful 2025, all while remaining in the shadows of overflowing fan love.
Akshaye Khanna.
Not that we are comparing the two actors - they weren't of the same generation to begin with. While Naseeruddin Shah rose up the ladder in the '70s and '80s, Akshaye Khanna began his journey in the '90s.
But the common thread between the two vastly different and availed actors is the renewed recognition they have received within a year. And it indeed is commendable.
Naseeruddin Shah - The Moment
Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga has been a classic example of how you flip the table, becoming a sleeper hit.
Sharvari and Vedang Raina were impressive, but Naseeruddin Shah (Ishwar Grewal), who plays the older version of Vedang Raina's character - Keenu - stole hearts and triggered a meltdown of sorts. He delivered a convincing portrayal of a 95-year-old partition survivor losing his memory as he is haunted by hallucinations due to Alzheimer's and dementia.
All he wishes is to keep his promises: to return to his ancestral home and his lost love in Pakistan, from whom he was estranged when communal violence gripped the nation on the brink of independence.
The heart-wrenching pain and emotional depth that an actor of Naseeruddin Shah's calibre captured have received thunderous applause from far and wide, across age groups. At one point he was so immersive that he embodied the lingering longing of Ishar Grewal, his onscreen soul, completely.
Main Vaapas Aaunga came right after his massively acclaimed OTT series, released just a week after Made in India: A Titan Story. He played legendary Tata Group leader JRD Tata in the latter, the tale of how the visionary established Titan Watches.
Naseeruddin Shah's grace and strong screen presence blended effortlessly with the dignity and gentle manner expected of someone playing a character as formidable as JRD Tata. That left critics impressed, and they duly expressed it.
Naseeruddin Shah was the sun, and June its brimming rays. With the first half of 2026 behind us, it's safe to say the veteran actor led with true-blue main-character energy.
And this makes us want to revisit a similar success story from 2025, when Akshaye Khanna was critics' and audiences' favourite.
Akshaye Khanna - The Moment That Was
Akshaye Khanna had his OTT film Ikka released earlier this month, headlining with Sunny Deol and directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra. While fans were excited to see him again after the Dhurandhar craze he unleashed as the menacing crime lord Rehman Dakait, it still doesn't match the frenzy that enveloped him in 2025.
Akshaye Khanna literally started and ended 2025 with a bang. He began with Laxman Utekar's Chhava and ended with Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar; what's more, he played villains in both.
In Chhaava he was the ruthless Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who challenged Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and led to his merciless death. Rather than adopting a loud approach to antagonism, Akshaye Khanna brought a chilling restraint. He was cold, heartless, and could compel anyone to hate him - and he did. That's just an example of how terrific he was.
He underwent an intense transformation that impressed the masses: long grey hair, a heavy beard, kohl-rimmed eyes and hours of prosthetics were all part of the process.
And he carried the same determination into Dhurandhar.
Aditya Dhar's spy film had an ensemble cast, with Ranveer Singh headlining alongside Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan and Rakesh Bedi as irreplaceable additions. But Akshaye Khanna, as the powerful crime kingpin, stole the limelight - and how!
From his dance moves to his flip-and-flaunt flair, to his cold stare, to a brawl with Ranveer Singh and a climatic fall at the end of Dhurandhar Part 1, Akshaye Khanna became the internet's sweetheart.
The internet was in love with Akshaye Khanna, and while he remained as reclusive as ever, far from the uproar of fan frenzy, 2025 ended on the note that Akshaye Khanna had nailed it.
If we compare, Naseeruddin Shah and Akshaye Khanna's journeys in 2026 and 2025 respectively, they do have dissimilarities. Akshaye Khanna's soaring success and recognition were visible in roaring box-office numbers; Naseeruddin Shah's time in the sun came as critical acclaim, rampant social-media appreciation and glowing reviews.
Both are killing it in their own styles, just like their diverse filmographies.
Either way, it's an excellent time to enjoy cinema, with actors from different generations and with distinct skill sets giving viewers performances worth watching.
The relaxation, issued by the Maharashtra Home Department under Section 33 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, follows a request from the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Mumbai, seeking permission for hospitality establishments to remain open for live screenings of the tournament finale.
The order applies to licensed eateries, hotels and restaurants across the state and is valid only for the FIFA World Cup final.
According to the government order, establishments must deploy adequate private security personnel inside and outside their premises and ensure that the extended operating hours do not lead to any law-and-order issues or public nuisance.
The order also bars illegal activities, obscene acts, loud music or any behaviour that could inconvenience the public. Restaurant managements will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and conditions.
The Maharashtra government said all existing rules governing licensed establishments will continue to remain in force. Any violation of the law or breach of public peace could invite legal action, including withdrawal of the relaxation.
The order further authorises District Magistrates and Police Commissioners to impose additional restrictions or revoke the extended timings depending on local law-and-order requirements and prevailing conditions.
The decision comes after the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Mumbai, in a letter dated July 19, requested permission for restaurants, hotels and eateries to remain open beyond their usual closing hours so fans could watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
PTI reported that Kerala has declared a holiday on Monday for all schools, colleges and higher educational institutions to allow students to watch the FIFA World Cup final. The decision was taken after the state government received requests from students, many of whom wanted to stay up to watch Sunday's late-night final between Argentina and Spain.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni urged fans to make the most of seeing Lionel Messi lead his team out in another World Cup final at the age of 39 as the holders aim to retain the trophy when they take on Spain this weekend. "He has made history. He is a legend," Scaloni said of the former Barcelona player, who has already helped Argentina win a World Cup and back-to-back Copa America titles in the last five years. Messi's international career has enjoyed a remarkable late renaissance -- a decade ago he briefly retired from the Argentina team at the age of 29 after a Copa America final loss to Chile, his fourth defeat in a final for his country.
Messi and Scaloni hugged on the pitch at full-time after Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final win over England, with the Argentine captain calling that victory "pure history".
"It fills me with pride because he is the best player in the history of football," Scaloni said of Messi, who has scored eight goals at this World Cup, which is his sixth, and is the tournament's all-time top scorer with 21.
"To have been able to get to a final in the way that he has in this moment, at the age of 39, I think it is incredible.
"That is why I said we should enjoy having him, because look at what happened with Diego (Maradona) and how we ended up missing him.
"We still have Leo and we should appreciate that. He is the historic figure and the legend, as are all these players who have given us these marvellous years."
Argentina had gone 28 years without winning a major international title before lifting the Copa America in 2021 to spark this current golden era.
"They have done things that a few years ago were unthinkable. It was not easy to get here and to compete at this level over so many years," he said ahead of Sunday's final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.
"We might win and I hope we do but in any case the journey to get this far has been incredible."
Scaloni said he could not answer whether the game would definitely be Messi's last at a World Cup, but it seems highly unlikely he will continue until the next one in 2030.
Argentina will have to beat the reigning European champions if they are to become the first nation in 64 years to win back-to-back World Cups.
"They are a great team. Everything worries me about them," Scaloni said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The BCCI on Friday rubbished speculation about Rohit Sharma's future, stating he will continue to play for India after the series-deciding third and final ODI against England at Lord's on Sunday.
Speculation has been rife that the Lord's ODI on Sunday could be Rohit's last international match, but BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed any such suggestion.
"There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma's future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord's on Sunday," Saikia told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
"Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord's ODI wont be his last match."
Despite Rohit's publicly stated desire to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup, his modest returns in the first two matches of the series -- scores of 11 and 26 -- have fuelled the debate.
Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham were the two central characters in the England vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash. Much of their teams' chances depended on the duo. It was no surprise when the two had a brief argument over a contentious decision by the referee. Shortly after the match started, LeandroParedes went in late on Jude Bellingham, and Enzo Fernandez did likewise to Elliot Anderson soon after. The England camp felt it warranted a card, but the referee disagreed. It was at this point that Messi argued with Bellingham. Argentina ultimately won the match 2-1 and entered the final.
— All About Argentina (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 15, 2026
Lionel Messi sent in the cross that sent Argentina to the World Cup final after another improbable comeback.
Trailing 1-0 going into the final five minutes of regulation time, Messi delivered a pinpoint ball to substitute Lautaro Martinez in the second minute of injury time to give the defending champions a 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday.
Messi also provided the assist for Enzo Fernandez's equalising goal in the 85th minute.
At the end of another exhausting match - another match in which Argentina were stretched to the final minutes - Messi dropped to his knees in celebration.
Argentina, who will play Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are now one game away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, but the team's other chances failed to find the back of the net.
Fernandez scored the equaliser with a long-range effort as Argentina pressed desperately for a goal, and Martinez headed in the winner with time running out.
Argentina had to come through yet another tough match at this year's expanded 48-team tournament after surviving scares against Cape Verde and Egypt.
England vs Argentina Free Live Telecast, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Live Streaming | When And Where To Watch: England and Argentina made key changes for their World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday. England coach Thomas Tuchel called in Morgan Rogers in place of Noni Madueke on the right wing and also handed starts to Reece James and Djed Spence in defense. Ezri Konsa and NicoO'Reilly were benched. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made just one change, picking Gio Simeone in midfield ahead of Rodrigo De Paul. (England vs Argentina Live Updates, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Live)
When will the England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final be played?
The England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final will be played on Wednesday (Thursday IST, July 16).
Where will the England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final match be played?
The England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final match will be played in Atlanta.
What time will the England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final match start?
The England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final will start at 12:30 AM IST (Thursday).
Which TV channels will telecast the England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final for free?
The England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final match will be telecast live on the Unite8 SPorts. Free telecast will also be there on DD Sports (DD Free Dish)
Stakes are high
Defending champions Argentina are all set to take on England for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final.
In a major push towards futuristic transportation, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said India is planning to introduce a "flying bus" to transform urban mobility.
Speaking at an event in Lucknow, Gadkari said the proposed flying bus is part of the government's broader vision to modernise India's transport ecosystem by embracing cutting-edge technologies.
"Now I am going to bring a bus that flies in the air," the minister said, signalling the Centre's push towards futuristic modes of public transport.
While Gadkari did not disclose a timeline or technical details of the project, the announcement aligns with the government's growing focus on sustainable and innovative mobility solutions.
India has been encouraging the development of electric vehicles, alternative fuels, ropeways, cable cars and urban air mobility to improve connectivity while reducing pollution and traffic congestion.
The minister has previously advocated the adoption of emerging transport technologies, including electric aircraft, drones and other low-emission mobility solutions, as part of India's long-term infrastructure strategy.
If implemented, flying buses could represent a significant shift in urban transportation, particularly in densely populated cities where road congestion remains a major challenge.
However, such projects would require advances in aircraft technology, safety regulations, air traffic management and supporting infrastructure before commercial deployment.
Gadkari's remarks add to the government's ambitious transport agenda, which seeks to combine infrastructure expansion with technological innovation to create faster, cleaner and more efficient mobility options for India's rapidly growing urban population.
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 reaches the semi-final stage, legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn picked France as the strongest contender for the FIFA World Cup trophy, calling the Les Blues "the most complete side". France are set to take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 first semi-final on July 15 at the Dallas stadium. The two teams will face each other for the second time in the final stages of the World Cup after the round of 16 won by Les Bleus (3-1) in 2006. Kahn gave France a slight edge while acknowledging how closely matched the remaining teams are.
"If I had to pick one team based purely on what we've seen so far, I would probably say France. They look the most complete side in terms of balance, depth and their ability to win games in different ways. But the margins between these four teams are extremely small, and any one of them is capable of lifting the World Cup," Kahn said on Zee5.
Previewing the last four, Kahn described Spain vs France as "one of the most fascinating tactical battles" of the tournament, with Spain's possession-based approach coming up against France's devastating counter-attacking game.
He said, "The team that controls the midfield without sacrificing its defensive structure will have the upper hand. Semi-finals are often decided by fine margins rather than sustained dominance."
On how Spain can break down France's compact defence, Kahn stressed patience and balance. "Spain have to stay patient but purposeful. They need to move the ball quickly, create overloads and maintain strong defensive balance because France are one of the best teams in transition."
The German great also believes the battle in midfield will determine the outcome, "It's not about pressing constantly - it's about pressing intelligently. Whichever side controls the central areas and prevents the opposition from playing through the middle will probably control the game."
Drawing on his own experience, Kahn highlighted the growing influence of goalkeepers in modern football. "Modern goalkeepers are effectively the first attackers as well as the last defenders... One good decision, or one mistake from a goalkeeper can completely change the outcome. The best teams stick to their game plan. They don't panic, stay emotionally disciplined and continue making good decisions under pressure."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The England Cricket Board has reportedly issued guidelines for its national team players regarding the consumption of alcohol. It is worth noting that alcohol consumption has created trouble for the board on numerous occasions. Under the new behaviour guidelines, players cannot drink a day before, during, or after a game. The players reportedly cannot drink in public places, including those at team hotels. However, approval from head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key could allow some relaxation of the recommendations.
"On every day of an England men's home series and tour: The midnight curfew is in place. Players cannot appear under the influence of alcohol in public, or post on social media about any 'alcohol-related material or activities'. Players must inform the team management or security if they are out of the hotel after 10 pm, including changes of plan. In addition, from the day before the start of any match until the end of the day after that match has finished: We recommend that no alcohol be consumed," said a report in The Telegraph, quoting the new policy.
There has been a lot of chatter surrounding Ben Stokes' sudden retirement announcement. He dropped the bombshell on Day 4 of the third Test match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge, and the cricketing world was left stunned by the development.
While Stokes and the ECB did not mention anything about the late-night celebrations following the win in the first Test that led to the England skipper missing the second Test, people were quick to find a connection. However, Stokes said that the reasons behind his decision stretched back even further to the 4-1 Ashes series loss against Australia in 2025.
"The Lord's Test, for me, was something that brought back negative feelings about where I was in my career," Stokes said.
"I'd worked so hard since getting home to put things right, or at least that's what I thought I was doing. I put so much time and effort into doing that and I just burned myself out," he added.
Stokes made it clear that the ECB did not force him out but did accept that the recent nightclub controversy did not help.
"There was a build-up to it, how things were during the whole week at Lord's and then another moment when I sat next to Joe Root in the dressing room," he said.
"Obviously another scenario happened that added to it. It's never easy with me, is it? It was an unfortunate situation to be involved in over the past two weeks."
Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja has criticised the PCB for removing Shan Masood as the Test captain for the upcoming tours of West Indies and England. The PCB has reinstated Babar Azam as the skipper, something that hasn't gone down well with Raja, who is also a former cricket board chairman. Incidentally Babar led the national Test team from 2020 to 2023. “You give him an ordinary Test team and then expect him to produce good results,” Ramiz commented on his YouTube channel.
He expressed concerns that Babar, who had replaced Shan as the Test captain for the coming tours of the Caribbean and England, would also face similar challenges.
"If I had been in Shan's place, I would have submitted a written protest with the board that when a captain is consistently given a group of ordinary players consistently then how can you expect positive results?," Raja lashed out at PCB mandarins.
“If the standard of the Test squad is not good, how is the captain only responsible for this,” he added.
Shan was removed after leading Pakistan in 16 Tests since December 2023 in which the team suffered 12 defeats.
Senior selector Aqib Javed has recently blamed the outgoing captain for poor leadership decisions.
Ramiz disagreed, insisting a captain is only as good as the group of players he is given. The Pakistan squad leaves on 13 July for the Caribbean where they play two Tests and then fly to England for three more red ball games in August and September.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The opening match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2026-27 will take place in Chennai, with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Perth Scorchers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, forming the centrepiece of a wider initiative to build a relationship between the two countries known as 'G'day Namaste'. It will be the first time ever that a Big Bash League match will take place in another country, and BBL organisers said that they expect a huge crowd for the encounter.
"We know there are incredibly passionate cricket fans all over India, but particularly in Chennai. Everyone we've spoken to has been really optimistic that we should expect a good crowd," Alistair Dobson, CA's executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, told reporters.
Wonderful to visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground with PM Albanese. The passion for sport continues to bring the people of India and Australia closer.@AlboMPhttps://t.co/4agouUbx69
"What has become clear to us as we've built this event out is just how popular the BBL already is in India. It's got nothing on the IPL, obviously, but the BBL is well-liked and respected. We can't wait to see all the fans turn out, albeit I suspect there'll be a fair chunk of yellow in the crowd," he added.
The match will be a 'home' game for the Renegades, and both teams will be given extra time to return to Australia ahead of their next fixtures. The complete BBL schedule will be announced next week, according to media reports. Multiple BBL teams were interested in the fixture, but some teams did not formally apply in order to avoid a 'hectic' schedule.
"We looked across all our clubs and worked with them on what would need to be true for them to play in this game," Dobson explained. "It was a combination of a range of factors, including scheduling and different commercial considerations. Fitting this game into a hectic BBL schedule, for those teams to be able to travel back to the Australian market and continue on a successful BBL campaign, was important."
The Nifty 50 started Thursday's session on a positive note and touched an intraday high of 24,134.70 in early trade. This level marked nearly a 61.8% retracement of the previous day's decline. However, the index failed to sustain at higher levels and gave up more than 150 points from the day's high in the second half of the session. Despite this late weakness, the index ended higher by 80.75 points, or 0.34%, and snapped its two-day losing streak. However, the close below the psychological 24,000 mark kept the recovery muted.
Nifty Forms Inside Candle
Thursday's price action resulted in the formation of an inside candle. This came after the previous session recorded the widest single-day range in over one month. The latest candle had a small green body and a long upper shadow, which indicates hesitation at higher levels. This suggests that while buying interest emerged after the recent decline, traders were not confident enough to carry positions aggressively.
Broader Markets Outperform
Although the Nifty moved above its 8-EMA and 20-DMA during the session, it slipped below both these averages by the close. The index also continues to trade below its 100-DMA, which remains an important hurdle. However, market breadth stayed strong, supported by clear outperformance in the broader market. The Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 indices gained over 1% each, showing that stock-specific participation remained healthy. Meanwhile, India VIX declined nearly 9% to 13.36, indicating some cooling in volatility after the recent spike.
On the daily chart, the MACD is close to generating a fresh bearish signal, which needs to be watched closely. The 14-period RSI has moved back above the 50 mark, suggesting some recovery in momentum. However, the weekly RSI continues to remain below 50, reflecting that the larger trend has not yet regained strong momentum. Positively, the index is still trading above its 10-week and 20-week moving averages, which prevents the broader structure from turning sharply negative.
Key Levels to Watch on Friday
Going ahead, immediate support for the Nifty is placed near the 50-DMA at 23,825, followed by the lower end of the four-week range at 23,784. On the upside, the 100-DMA at 24,036 will act as the first resistance, followed by the 24,200 to 24,300 zone. As long as the index remains within the 23,784 to 24,300 range, traders may not get a clear directional bias. A decisive breakout on either side of this range would be important to determine the next meaningful move.
TCS Q1FY27 Results
Apart from technical levels, the market will also take cues from the start of the earnings season. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported a net profit of Rs 13,349 crore for Q1FY27, up 4.6% from Rs 12,760 crore in Q1FY26. Revenue grew 13.9% on a reported basis to Rs 72,275 crore as against Rs 63,437 crore in the same quarter last year. Since TCS is one of the first major index heavyweights to announce results, the market reaction to its numbers could influence sentiment towards the IT pack and set the tone for early earnings season expectations.
IIFL Finance gained over 5% on Thursday, taking the stock close to a two-week high. With this move, the stock is now on the verge of breaking out from a two-week consolidation phase. The upmove was supported by strong volumes, which were higher than its 10-day and 30-day average volumes, indicating healthy participation in the direction of the trend.
