KS Bharat, an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has announced his retirement from international cricket after a 7-Test career. He now intends to pursue opportunities in overseas T20 leagues.
In domestic cricket, he represented the Andhra cricket team and holds the distinction of being the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has won the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB achieved their second consecutive championship, becoming the third franchise in IPL history to defend their title after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The winning team was awarded a prize money of ₹20 crore, while the runner-up received ₹12.5 crore.
Virat Kohli (RCB) was named the Player of the Match in the final and became the first cricketer to complete 9,000 runs in the IPL. Kagiso Rabada of GT claimed the Purple Cap with 29 wickets.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals secured the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs (776 runs). He also received Player of the Series, Emerging Player of the Season, Most Valuable Player (MVP), Best Strike Rate Award, Fantasy Player of the Season, and the Most Sixes Award.
Vijay Shankar, an Indian all-rounder from Tamil Nadu, has announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). The decision was made to enable him to explore opportunities in various overseas cricket leagues.
The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, known as the “Oscars of Sport”, was held in Madrid, Spain. The event was co-hosted by Novak Djokovic (five-time winner) and Eileen Gu (Olympic skiing champion). Carlos Alcaraz (22 years old) was named the World Sportsman of the Year, becoming the youngest-ever recipient. Aryna Sabalenka won the World Sportswoman of the Year, and Paris Saint-Germain was named the World Team of the Year.
It is to be noted that the women cricket team of India was nominated for the World Team of the Year following their first One Day International (ODI) World Cup victory in 2025. Other winners include Lando Norris (World Breakthrough of the Year), Rory McIlroy (World Comeback of the Year), Lamine Yamal (Young Sportsperson of the Year), Chloe Kim (World Action Sportsperson), and Gabriel Araújo (Sportsperson with a Disability).
Nadia Comaneci, a gymnastics legend, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, while former footballer Toni Kroos received the Sporting Inspiration Award. The organization Futbol Mas was presented with the Sport for Good Award for supporting vulnerable communities through football.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has become the first fast bowler in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to reach the 200-wicket milestone.
He is the second bowler overall to achieve this feat, following the record set by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
CD Gopinath, the oldest living Indian Test cricketer, passed away at 96. He was the world’s second-oldest living Test cricketer after Neil Harvey (97).
Following his demise, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Chandu Patankar (95) has become the oldest living Indian Test cricketer.