Shelton, seeded eighth, has been playing exceptionally well throughout the tournament. He secured a thrilling five-set win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. The last American to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

In the final, Shelton will face Alexander Zverev of Germany. Zverev earned his place in the final by defeating Karen Khachanov in a tense match that included two tie-breaks. This is Zverev’s second US Open final and his third Grand Slam final of the season, following wins at the French Open and a runner-up finish at Wimbledon.

Zverev’s victory over Khachanov makes him one of only 12 men since 1978 to reach Grand Slam finals on three different surfaces in the same year. However, Shelton has never won against Zverev in their five previous meetings, which began in a quarterfinal at the Cincinnati Masters in 2024.

In India, Star Sports is broadcasting the US Open final live. The match between Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev will air on Star Sports channels, with live streaming available through the JioStar app and website.

Padikkal began his recent run of good form with an unbeaten 142 in a practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. He then continued his impressive performance by scoring centuries in both Test matches during the series. He finished the series with 328 runs, making him India’s highest run-scorer.

His good form continued in the Duleep Trophy. Playing for South Zone against East Zone in the final, Padikkal scored 62 runs and once again showed his ability to contribute with the bat in important matches.

Now, Padikkal is preparing for another major challenge. He will lead India A in two four-day matches against Australia A in Puducherry. The matches will give several Indian players an opportunity to prove themselves and gain valuable experience against strong opposition.

At the age of 26, Padikkal has also recently taken over as the captain of Karnataka. He believes his experience leading his state team will help him handle the responsibilities of captaining India A.

Padikkal has said that he enjoys leadership because it keeps him focused on the team’s goals. He also feels that captaincy can have a positive effect on his batting. Instead of thinking only about his individual performance, he remains focused on contributing to the team’s success.

The batter believes that this approach helps him stay calm and focused when he plays. His main objective as captain will be to help India A win the matches, while also making sure that every player gets the opportunity to perform.

Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan has returned to the India A squad after missing India’s Test series because of an injury. His inclusion could create strong competition for the No. 3 batting position.

With both Padikkal and Sudharsan looking to establish themselves, the competition for places in India’s Test setup could become more intense. However, Padikkal appears focused on what he can control — scoring runs and contributing to his team’s success.

His recent performances, combined with his growing leadership experience, make the Australia A series an important opportunity. If he continues his strong form, Padikkal could strengthen his case for a regular place in India’s senior team in the future.

Sheikh played an attacking but controlled innings, hitting eight fours and four sixes. He opened the innings alongside Arjun Kumal, who contributed 43 runs. The pair gave Nepal an excellent start, putting together a 93-run partnership for the first wicket before Kumal was dismissed.

After losing his opening partner, Sheikh continued to bat confidently and kept the Nepal innings moving. He reached his century in the 36th over, completing his first hundred of the 2026 Premier Cup. His innings provided Nepal with a strong foundation as the team looked to post a competitive total.

Nepal reached 210/3 after 38 overs, with 12 overs still remaining in their 50-over innings. Rohit Paudel and Gulsan Jha were at the crease as Nepal looked to add more runs during the final stages of the innings.

Sheikh’s century was particularly important after his disappointing performance in the semi-final against Oman, where he scored only 11 runs. Nepal nevertheless won that match comfortably by 87 runs after being bowled out for 147 and then dismissing Oman for just 60.

The century marked Sheikh’s first hundred of the 2026 Premier Cup. He was eventually dismissed for 102 by Haider Ali in the 36th over, ending an important innings for Nepal in the final.

Sheikh has been an important member of Nepal’s international cricket team since making his debut in April 2021. He has represented Nepal in 75 ODIs and 76 T20Is, establishing himself as one of the team’s experienced opening batters.

Nepal had enjoyed a strong campaign before reaching the final. They won all their Group A matches against Bahrain, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, before defeating Oman in the semi-final.

With Sheikh providing a strong start in the final, Nepal gained valuable momentum against the UAE. His century gave the team an important platform as they looked to finish the tournament with the Premier Cup title.

The eighth-seeded Shelton came back strongly after losing the opening set. He eventually defeated Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to book his place in Sunday’s final. Shelton showed great confidence and control as the match progressed, especially in the final two sets.

This is Shelton’s second appearance in the US Open semi-finals. He had previously reached the last four at Flushing Meadows in 2023, but this time he went one step further by securing a place in his first Grand Slam final.

Shelton entered the semi-final after producing one of the biggest wins of his career against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. He defeated Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set quarter-final that finished at 3:33 a.m., becoming the latest-ending match in US Open history. The victory was also Shelton’s first against a top-three player and made him the first American to defeat Alcaraz at a Grand Slam.

His impressive run had already included victories over several former top-10 players, including Hubert Hurkacz, Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas. His straight-sets victory over Tsitsipas in the fourth round further demonstrated his strong form throughout the tournament.

The semi-final against Tiafoe was their fifth career meeting. Shelton entered the match with a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head record. Their previous two meetings at the US Open had been split, with Shelton winning in 2023 and Tiafoe taking the victory in 2024.

Tiafoe had also enjoyed a difficult run to the semi-finals. He reached the last four after defeating Alex Michelsen in a dramatic five-set match, recovering from a 3-0 deficit in the fifth set.

Shelton’s success at the US Open adds to an already impressive 2026 season. Earlier in the year, he won the Canadian Open in Montreal, claiming his fourth singles title of the season and seventh ATP singles title overall.

In Sunday’s final, Shelton will face top seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) in the other semi-final. Zverev will be playing in his third consecutive Grand Slam final and his second US Open final.

The 2026 US Open men’s singles tournament will therefore have a new champion, as defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by Shelton in the quarter-finals. Shelton now has the opportunity to win his first Grand Slam title on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

The top-seeded Zverev won the closely fought semi-final 6-3, 7-6(9-7), 7-6(8-6). Although Khachanov pushed him hard in the final two sets, Zverev stayed calm during the crucial tie-breaks and eventually secured his place in Sunday’s championship match.

Zverev started strongly and won the opening set 6-3. The second set was much more competitive, with neither player able to create a clear advantage. Khachanov forced a tie-break and even had opportunities to take the set, but Zverev held his nerve to win it 9-7.

The third set was another major test for the German player. Khachanov took a 5-2 lead and appeared to be in control, but Zverev fought his way back into the set. He once again performed strongly in the tie-break, winning it 8-6 and completing the victory in straight sets.

The result gives Zverev his second US Open final appearance. His first came in 2020, when he faced Dominic Thiem in a dramatic final. Zverev led by two sets before Thiem fought back to win the championship in a fifth-set tie-break.

Six years later, Zverev has another opportunity to lift the US Open trophy. His current Grand Slam season has been particularly impressive. He has won 24 of his 26 matches at major tournaments this year, showing remarkable consistency at the highest level.

His road to the final, however, was not completely straightforward. Zverev had to win difficult five-set matches against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys earlier in the tournament. Since those demanding victories, he has improved his level and reached the semi-final without dropping a set. He defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarter-finals before overcoming Khachanov.

Khachanov, ranked 50th in the world, was attempting to reach his first Grand Slam final. Despite producing a strong challenge, especially in the second and third sets, he could not convert his opportunities against the experienced top seed.

Zverev has already enjoyed a highly successful Grand Slam season, winning the French Open and finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon. He now has another chance to add a major trophy to his collection.

In Sunday’s final, Zverev will face the winner of the other semi-final between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. With another Grand Slam title within reach, Zverev will look to finally complete his US Open journey and add another major championship to his growing tennis legacy.

Madubuike missed most of last season because of a serious neck injury. The injury initially raised concerns about whether he would be able to continue his football career. However, he recovered well enough to remain on the Ravens’ 53-man roster and has continued working toward a full return.

Madubuike said he always believed he would return to the field. He explained that his recovery was mainly about being patient and following the proper process. He compared the injury recovery to dealing with any other football injury that requires time and rehabilitation.

The Ravens signed Madubuike to a four-year contract before the 2024 season. His absence last year was a major setback for Baltimore’s defense because he had been an important player in both stopping the run and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Madubuike has recorded 30 sacks during his six seasons with Baltimore. His best season came in 2023, when he recorded 13 sacks and became one of the team’s key defensive players.

Although Madubuike passed his physical examination in July, the Ravens have continued to limit his participation in practice. The team appears to be taking a careful approach to make sure he is fully prepared before returning to regular game action.

Madubuike also acknowledged that getting back into football shape takes time. After spending a long period away from competitive football, playing at full speed can be physically demanding. He said he is gradually getting comfortable again and finding his rhythm.

The Ravens will miss his presence in the opening game, but the team expects him to return soon. Once fully fit, Madubuike could provide a major boost to Baltimore’s defensive line and strengthen the team’s pass rush and run defense.

Athletics is India’s largest delegation with 79 athletes, followed by hockey (40) and shooting (30 each). The Opening Ceremony will be held on September 19 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, while the Closing Ceremony is scheduled for October 4 at the same venue.

Defending champions in hockey, India’s men will start their campaign in the knockout stage against Group A runners-up, while the women face Japan. The Indian hockey teams hope to secure spots in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning medals. In kabaddi, India’s teams are strong favorites, having won gold in both men’s and women’s events in 2022.

PV Sindhu leads India’s badminton team, which includes notable players like Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Shooting is expected to bring a significant number of medals for India, as it did in 2022 when they won seven golds.

Athletics remains crucial for India, despite Neeraj Chopra’s absence due to injury. The team secured the most medals in this category in 2022. In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain leads a strong contingent following their success at the Commonwealth Games.

Weightlifting also sees fresh momentum with Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who recently won gold at the Commonwealth Games. India’s athletes will aim to build on their achievements from previous editions and secure a successful 2026 campaign.

During the meeting, Kohli congratulated Shinde on receiving three awards during his stay in the UK. The talks focused on improving policies to expand sports facilities in Maharashtra and support athletes aiming for national and international success.

Shinde highlighted major infrastructure projects in the state, such as the Samruddhi Expressway, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Coastal Road, Atal Setu, Vadhavan Port, and plans for a Sports City near Navi Mumbai with modern facilities. Kohli showed strong interest in supporting these initiatives to provide youth with quality education and top-tier athletic training.

Shinde also spoke about national sports programs like ‘Khelo India,’ which encourages young people to pursue sports careers. Kohli shared his lifelong passion for cricket and his desire to contribute to the sport even after retiring, emphasizing the importance of fitness, nutrition, and proper diet for young athletes.

The interaction ended with Yuva Sena General Secretary Rahul Kanal and Shinde’s senior team present. Shinde was in London to promote investment opportunities in Maharashtra and build on the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). His visit began on September 9 with receiving the Commonwealth Public Leadership recognition at the House of Lords, followed by the Statesmanship Award in the House of Commons. He also received the Global Pride of Maharashtra award from Maharashtra Mandal London.

A planned tour of Lord’s Cricket Ground was canceled due to time constraints. However, Rahul Kale, an MCC member from Maharashtra, presented Shinde with original memorabilia from the 1983 World Cup at the end of his visit.

Both players are now part of India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning on September 13. Notably, Bumrah was not in the initial T20I team but joined for the ODIs. During their first combined training session under the Kotla lights, Bumrah showcased his expertise, challenging Sooryavanshi with precise deliveries.

Sooryavanshi, who recently triumphed in the Duleep Trophy with East Zone after 13 years, faced a tougher考验 from Bumrah’s varied pace and accuracy. In just four deliveries, Bumrah demonstrated the level of skill required at the international stage. The only moment Sooryavanshi excelled was when Bumrah slightly overpitched, allowing him to hit a boundary.

Other players like Yash Thakur and Arshdeep Singh also outperformed Sooryavanshi during training. Additionally, Sooryavanshi struggled in fielding drills, potentially due to the physical demands of recent matches, where he played 13 out of 18 days.

Meanwhile, the Indian squad trained at Arun Jaitley Stadium for the first time. Bumrah stood out, displaying his pace and confidence during net sessions with skipper Shreyas Iyer. This was Bumrah’s return to the national team since missing the England series due to injury.

Overall, this training session highlighted the challenges Sooryavanshi faces as he transitions from domestic to international cricket, underlining the importance of experience and skill at the highest level.