India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the first ODI at Eden Park in Auckland, and Virat Kohli was the centrepiece of a chase that kept the touring side firmly in control. The win gives India a strong start to their ODI campaign in New Zealand, and it came in a match that was shaped by rain.
New Zealand were restricted to 185. India then reached a revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs under the DLS method. Kohli top-scored with 74 off 51 balls, while Shubman Gill added 37. Arshdeep Singh claimed four wickets, and Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj also made important contributions with the ball.
Kohli’s fifty is his second-fastest away from home in ODIs
Kohli reached a 35-ball half-century during the chase. That makes it the second-fastest fifty of his away ODI career. The only quicker one came in 2016, when he needed 34 balls against Australia in Canberra.
It was another statement performance from the former India captain.
The innings was a reminder of how quickly Kohli can take a match away from the opposition when the situation demands it. On a day when conditions were unsettled and the target was revised, he set the tone for India’s finish.
Tanvi Patri makes Youth Olympics history in Dakar
The biggest individual headline from the bulletin came from Dakar, where 15-year-old Tanvi Patri scripted history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. She beat Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 in a thrilling semi-final that lasted 54 minutes.
Patri is now the first Indian badminton player to reach a Youth Olympics final in women’s singles. That result assures India of a historic medal, and she will now compete for gold.
India’s campaign in Senegal received another boost from judo. Khushbu Darjada won silver in the women’s 63kg category after reaching the final. She lost to Germany’s Jolina Reinhold in the decider. Her result adds another significant medal to India’s haul and points to emerging talent in combat sports.
India storm into the Asian Champions Trophy final
In hockey, India produced an emphatic 8-1 win over South Korea in the semi-final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scored twice each. Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Angad Bir Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad also found the net.
The defending champions now face Japan in Thursday’s final, and they are chasing another continental title. The scoreline sent a clear message about the team’s attacking form heading into the decider.
Liverpool fall in Istanbul as Real Madrid and Arsenal win
Liverpool suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahce in Istanbul. They surrendered the lead twice. Vedat Muriqi scored the decisive goal in the 79th minute, handing the Turkish side a memorable victory.
Real Madrid also needed late drama. They edged AEK Athens 3-2, and Federico Valverde struck a stoppage-time winner to settle the game.
Arsenal kept their own Champions League campaign on track with a 2-1 win over Slavia Prague. Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres scored the goals that took them through the night’s action.
East Bengal fall short in the AFC Women’s Champions League
East Bengal lost 1-4 to South Korean champions Hwacheon KSPO in their AFC Women’s Champions League group-stage fixture at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Fazila Ikwaput gave the hosts an early lead, but Lee Su-bin equalised before the visitors took control. Wie Jae-eun scored twice, and Min Eun-ju added another.
The defeat leaves East Bengal needing a response in their final group-stage game against DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC.
WPL 2027 schedule locked in
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced the schedule for the fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League. The tournament begins on January 14, 2027, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Mumbai Indians in the opening match in Vadodara.
The 22-match competition will be split between Vadodara and Mumbai. Mumbai will host the playoffs and final at Brabourne Stadium, and the title clash is scheduled for February 7.
TL;DR
- India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the first ODI at Eden Park, with Virat Kohli top-scoring with 74 off 51 balls.
- Kohli’s 35-ball fifty is the second-fastest of his away ODI career, behind his 34-ball knock against Australia in Canberra in 2016.
- Tanvi Patri became the first Indian badminton player to reach a Youth Olympics women’s singles final, beating Japan’s Yuzuno Watanabe in a 54-minute semi-final.
- India thrashed South Korea 8-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy semi-final and will face Japan in Thursday’s final.
- Liverpool lost 3-2 to Fenerbahce in Istanbul, while Real Madrid and Arsenal both won in the Champions League.
- East Bengal lost 1-4 to Hwacheon KSPO in the AFC Women’s Champions League in Kolkata.
