Top 20 Sports News Stories Today
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | India & World
Here are the major sports developments and upcoming sporting events covering cricket, the Asian Games, football, and international sports.
1. India Announces ODI Squad for West Indies Series
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been selected for India’s upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Shubman Gill will captain the team, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.
2. India’s West Indies ODI Series Begins September 27
India will play a three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
3. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Included in India’s T20 Squad
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been selected for India’s five-match T20I series against the West Indies. The series begins on October 6 in Lucknow.
4. India to Play Historic T20I Against Japan
India is scheduled to face Japan in a one-off T20 international on September 22. The match will be played in Sano, Japan, ahead of the Asian Games.
5. Varun Chakaravarthy Ruled Out of Asian Games Matches
Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of India’s Japan T20I and Asian Games campaign because of a side strain. Vipraj Nigam has been named as his replacement.
6. India Prepares Five Cricket Squads in Five Weeks
The BCCI is managing five Indian teams across a busy five-week period, involving the West Indies series, Asian Games, India A matches against Australia A, and the Irani Cup.
7. India Names 503 Athletes for Asian Games 2026
India will send a contingent of 503 athletes to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The athletes will compete across 36 sporting disciplines.
8. Asian Games 2026 Set to Begin in Japan
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will officially run from September 19 to October 4. Around 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions are expected to participate.
9. India Targets Strong Asian Games Performance
India is aiming to build on its record 107-medal performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Athletics, shooting, archery, hockey, and cricket are among the country’s key sporting areas.
10. India to Defend Asian Games Cricket Gold Medals
India will seek to defend its men’s and women’s cricket gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games. Shreyas Iyer will lead the men’s team, while Harmanpreet Kaur will captain the women’s side.
11. Asian Games Introduce New Sporting Disciplines
The Aichi-Nagoya Games will feature sports including mixed martial arts, padel, surfing, virtual taekwondo, and teqball. Esports and breaking will also remain part of the programme.
12. Asian Games to Offer Olympic Qualification Opportunities
Several competitions at the Asian Games will provide qualification opportunities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, including archery, hockey, sailing, squash, surfing, tennis, and triathlon.
13. Japan Uses Asian Games to Promote Cricket
Japan is using its upcoming cricket fixtures, including the match against India, to increase the sport’s popularity in a country where baseball and football dominate.
14. Asian Games Organisers Face Accommodation Challenges
The number of registered participants has reportedly risen to approximately 17,000, creating additional accommodation pressures for organisers. Temporary housing and a cruise ship are among the solutions being used.
15. Asian Games Expand to 43 Sports
The 2026 Asian Games will feature 43 sports and 469 medal events, compared with 40 sports at the previous edition in Hangzhou.
16. Football Fixtures Draw International Attention
European football supporters are following Thursday’s scheduled fixtures, including matches involving Manchester City, Celtic, Marseille, and other clubs. Match previews and betting analyses are being published ahead of the games.
17. U-20 Women’s World Cup Continues
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is continuing in Poland during September. The tournament is among the major international football competitions taking place this month.
18. International Baseball Schedule Continues
Major League Baseball games scheduled for September 17 include matchups such as Athletics versus Tampa Bay and Philadelphia versus the New York Mets.
19. WNBA Fixtures Scheduled for September 17
The WNBA schedule includes games involving Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Seattle. The league is continuing its regular-season competition during September.
20. Golf and Motorsport Events Feature in Global Sports Calendar
The international sports calendar includes the BMW PGA Championship, NASCAR-related events, and other golf and motorsport competitions during the September 17–18 period
