Current Affairs - Sports

Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, received a unique honour when Mattel created a Barbie doll in her likeness ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026. The doll was introduced as part of the Barbie Dream Team initiative and serves as a non-commercial tribute celebrating her achievements and role as an inspiration for young athletes. Mandhana has also made history by becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to score centuries in all three international formats—Tests, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals. This recognition highlights the growing global influence of Indian women’s cricket and encourages more girls to pursue sports professionally.

Jammu & Kashmir secured its first-ever Ranji Trophy title in the 2025–26 season, marking a historic achievement after 67 years of participation in India’s premier domestic first-class cricket tournament. The team defeated Karnataka in the final held at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium in Hubballi. This victory is regarded as a transformative milestone for cricket in the Union Territory, symbolising resilience, consistent talent development, and competitive growth. The Ranji Trophy, organized annually by the BCCI since 1934–35, features teams from states and union territories across India, making this triumph especially significant.

Ravi Shastri will have a stand named after him at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai following approval by the Mumbai Cricket Association during its Apex Council meeting. The Level 1 Stand below the Press Box will bear his name, recognising his long and multifaceted contribution to Indian cricket as a player, captain, head coach, and commentator. A former all-rounder, he was part of India’s 1983 World Cup era and later guided the national team to significant overseas Test victories as coach. The tribute highlights Mumbai’s rich cricketing legacy and honours his enduring association with the sport.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry secured his first ATP Tour title and the biggest victory of his career at the Rio Open ATP 500 event in Brazil. The 26-year-old Argentine defeated Alejandro Tabilo in a hard-fought three-set final, demonstrating resilience after overcoming a rain-delayed schedule and winning two crucial matches on the same day. This triumph marked a breakthrough moment following three previous runner-up finishes. The victory significantly improved his global ranking, pushing him up 18 places to World No. 33 and returning him to the Top 40, strengthening his position ahead of the clay-court season.

Vaishnavi Adkar became the first Indian woman since Sania Mirza in 2009 to reach a major International Tennis Federation Women’s singles final. She achieved this milestone at the Bengaluru W100 tournament, part of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, which features higher prize money and strong international competition. Although Adkar finished runner-up after losing to Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel, her impressive performance helped her break into the WTA Top 500 rankings for the first time, marking a significant achievement in Indian women’s tennis.