SPORTS ROUNDUP: India’s World Cup landmark, T20 twists in Australia, and a hectic week across tennis, football and F1
Sultanul Arefin 
Cricket — India’s women make history
India are world champions at last in the women’s game, beating South Africa in Navi Mumbai to claim their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side controlled the final with disciplined bowling and big-match composure from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma, sealing a result that many in India framed as emotional redemption after the men’s 2023 heartbreak. The title caps a tournament that broadened audiences and reignited the debate over investment and domestic pathways for women’s cricket. Broadcast audiences surged across markets.
Men’s T20 — series level in Hobart
Across the Tasman, India’s men squared their Twenty20 series against Australia in Hobart. Chasing briskly under lights, the tourists hauled in 187 with nine balls spare, a victory built on Washington Sundar’s late surge with the bat and three sharp strikes from left-armer Arshdeep Singh. The result came two days after Australia’s authoritative win at the MCG, underlining the swingy, momentum-heavy nature of modern T20 bilateral tours.
Test cricket — format talk keeps simmering
Even as white-ball headlines roll, the sport’s guardians continue to wrestle with red-ball economics. ICC discussions about allowing four-day Tests in the next World Test Championship cycle have gathered support as a way to help smaller boards stage longer series and reduce costs, while keeping five-day marathons for showpiece rivalry series. Traditionalists remain wary, but reformers say realistic scheduling is essential if more nations are to play meaningful Test cricket.
Tennis — Sinner’s Paris statement
Jannik Sinner lifted the Paris Masters trophy and reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking, his fifth title of 2025 and another data point in a breakout indoor season. The Italian beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, extending his indoor winning streak to 26 matches and setting up a compelling narrative heading into the ATP Finals in Turin later this month.
Football — managers move, fixtures pile up
In Europe, club football’s winter squeeze is already evident. Wolves dismissed head coach Vítor Pereira as pressure rose ahead of the weekend schedule, while attention in Scotland turned to the Old Firm in the League Cup semi-final. Across the major leagues, fixture density is pushing coaches to rotate deeper benches as national-team windows give way to domestic sprints toward December.
Formula One — form guide to the run-in
The 2025 season has delivered variety at the front: Max Verstappen reasserted Red Bull power at Monza and Baku, George Russell won a tactical Singapore night race for Mercedes, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri owned Zandvoort with a composed drive in changing conditions. With the calendar winding toward its finale, the constructors’ tactics around upgrades versus 2026 car development are as much a storyline as the on-track duels.
Image: ESPN Cricinfo.
About The Author
Suzan Seherin 