Category: Sports

Ishan Kishan fires warning as India brace for Usman Tariq threat vs Pakistan: ‘Preparation done, just watch the ball and play’ | Cricket News – The Times of India

Ishan Kishan (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: India’s preparations for the high-voltage T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan have taken a clear tactical direction, with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan insisting that the team is already equipped to tackle the unique challenge posed by spinner Usman Tariq. Fresh off a commanding win over Namibia, Kishan revealed that facing Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus — who also bowls with a sidearm action — offered valuable rehearsal ahead of the much-anticipated showdown.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kishan’s explosive 24-ball 61 laid the foundation for India’s imposing 209/9, ensuring momentum even during a middle-overs slowdown. Speaking after the match, the left-hander emphasised that India’s batters have already completed their homework against Tariq’s unconventional action.

T20 World Cup | Tilak Varma provides update on Abhishek’s fitness, mindset during rehab

“No, I think we have already done the preparation part, and now it is just time to watch the ball and play our natural game,” he said, underlining the team’s belief in sticking to basics despite the hype around the Pakistani spinner.According to Kishan, video analysis and on-field exposure to Erasmus’ bowling proved crucial. “At this level, we just watch a few videos, and we get an idea of what kind of bowling is going to happen. So we are just keeping it simple. Yeah, he [Erasmus] bowled pretty well today, and I think there was quite a bit of learning for us,” he added, suggesting that India’s approach will revolve around clarity rather than overthinking.

Poll

How confident are you in India’s ability to handle Usman Tariq’s spin bowling?

Reflecting on the Namibia clash, Kishan explained that although the surface looked flat, the ball initially held up, forcing him and Sanju Samson to pick their moments carefully. The attacking opener’s knock, combined with Hardik Pandya’s blazing fifty, powered India to a total that proved far beyond Namibia’s reach as spinners later dismantled the chase.Kishan also spoke candidly about his personal evolution after leading Jharkhand to a maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph. “I think I am a changed man now… earlier I used to joke around 24×7, but now it is just two-three hours. I am focusing more on batting and my wicket-keeping,” he admitted, highlighting a more disciplined mindset.Looking ahead to the Pakistan encounter, Kishan acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion but stressed that preparation remains process-driven. “Pakistan clash, obviously, it would be a special one for everyone… once we get there, we look at the wicket and just play accordingly,” he said.

February 13, 2026
Zimbabwe 0/0 in 0.0 Overs | Australia vs Zimbabwe Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026: Australia win toss, opt to bowl against Zimbabwe – The Times of India

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Steve Smith (cover for Mitchell Marsh).

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.

February 13, 2026
T20 World Cup: Desperately seeking the Rashid Khan of old | Cricket News – The Times of India

Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan (PTI Photo)

Afghanistan captain & leggie’s decision not to bowl in any of the two Super Overs in the defeat to South Africa was perplexing, especially since it was a spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who got the job done for the winners…There are some defeats that can crush you. For Afghanistan, it was one such afternoon in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The double Super Over loss to South Africa, that has all but ended the team’s T20 World Cup campaign, may seem the end of the world for now. But Afghanistan should take heart from the fact that it was their famed fighting spirit, so intrinsic to their cricket, that kept them in the game against all odds.

T20 World Cup | Jonathan Trott press conference after loss vs South Africa

It’s not that Afghanistan haven’t endured heartbreaking losses before. The 2023 ODI World Cup defeat to Australia following Glenn Maxwell’s superheroics at the Wankhede probably cost them a place in the semifinals. The 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal defeat to South Africa was more sobering, but in this defeat, there was hardly anything that the Afghans could have done differently. Maybe just one thing — their choice of bowler in at least one of the Super Overs. Rashid Khan, their talisman for years and still considered one of the best in T20 cricket, chose to intriguingly keep himself away from the action.Rashid is somebody who used to bowl in the Powerplay for fun. However, in both losses in this World Cup, the superstar didn’t bowl in the first six overs. His decision to avoid the pressure cooker of a Super Over was slightly baffling, more so since South Africa opted for Keshav Maharaj in the second Super Over.

Poll

Do you think Afghanistan can learn from this Super Over defeat?

Rashid, who has presented Afghanistan with many memorable moments, wasn’t asked why he kept himself away. Nor was coach Jonathan Trott made to face the question, but it remains to be asked, is Rashid still the bowler he used to be?The question is pertinent because the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is a ground that the bowler knows like the back of his palm. Rashid plays for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and has immense experience of Indian conditions. He took 2-28 during the South African chase and was Afghanistan’s most economical bowler during the 20 overs. And most importantly, no other bowler in his team generates the fear factor that he does.Yet Azmatullah Omarzai was asked to bowl the second Super Over and the 24 the medium-pacer conceded really made the task immensely difficult. But one player who still made a fight out of it was Rahmanullah Gurbaz.The three sixes that Gurbaz hit off Maharaj showed his strength of character as it followed his 42-ball 84 during Afghanistan’s chase.The 24-year-old has been the lynchpin of the Afghan batting lineup for a while now.Coach Trott felt that the kind of talent Gurbaz has, he should come up with more such performances.“It’s probably the best innings I’ve seen him play and it’s unfortunate he couldn’t get us over the line. With the amount of talent, physique, sporting ability and natural hand-eye coordination that he has, it’s about going forward for him now.“He wears his heart on his sleeve and over the years, I have just tried to get him to be a little more consistent in everything that he does,” Trott said.With time, it will be interesting to see if Gurbaz gets more responsibility, taking the baton from Rashid and turning Afghanistan into a team that deals with the crunch moments a little bit better.

February 13, 2026
T20 World Cup 2026: India register convincing wins against USA, Namibia but expose a few cracks | Cricket News – The Times of India

India’s Axar Patel is bowled out by Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Namibia in New Delhi. (AP)

New Delhi: 45/1 to 77/6 against the USA. 205/4 to 209/9 against Namibia.India won their first two T20 World Cup contests rather convincingly but two batting collapses, occurring at different junctures of the game, should serve as a wake-up call for the batters ahead of the game against Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo.

T20 World Cup | Ishan Kishan press conference: On fifty vs Namibia, India’s batting collapses

In both matches, the word from the Indian camp remained constant. They expected the wicket to be flatter and behave a certain way but the sluggishness in Mumbai and the odd low bounce in Delhi caught them off guard. Colombo is expected to be no different and will require a lot of adaptation and unlearning for a destructive batting unit which has feasted on batting paradises in the bilateral fixtures which preceded the multi-nation tournament.The sample size isn’t that big but both Shadley van Schalkwyk and Gerhard Erasmus have provided a blueprint to the remaining teams. If you must stop this marauding Indian unit, be tactically smart: mix up your approach and have different plans ready. This Indian XI boasts of as many as five, even six when Abhishek Sharma played the first game, left-handers in the top-eight but they are all different. What works for Ishan Kishan may not work for Abhishek and a similar plan will not get the job done for the likes of Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh and Axar Patel. From their approach to hitting arcs to technicalities, there is very little similarity, which makes it all the more important to have clear and precise plans for each one.

Shadley van Schalkwyk celebrates a wicket during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match between India and USA at the Wankhede Stadium. (Getty Images)

Schalkwyk mixed up his bumpers based on advice from his USA teammates and Erasmus was very smart in using angles, different release points and the crease. The delivery which got Tilak Varma took forever to reach the India batter because the bowler released it from far behind the crease. Even the step-out didn’t achieve the desired connection. Namibia coach Craig Williams praised his skipper, lauding his ability to deliver the toughest overs of an innings.“He trains incredibly hard at all these variations, and I think – he plays cricket around the world in some leagues and bowls all the difficult overs, he bowls some really tough overs. And, he’s continuously working on his game and trying to see how he can be more effective against batters. And I think tonight, again, against a world-class cricket team, he showed the world again what he’s got and his execution was just really good tonight. “I think his first three overs went for 16 or something and then to bowl that 19th over as all under pressure – first ball going for six and then pulling it back, I think it was just really fantastic so I’m really happy for him he trains hard and he works hard at these variations in his game,” said Williams at the post-match press conference.

Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus troubled India’s batting in the T20 World Cup. (Agencies)

Erasmus certainly came prepared. While the occasional sling in the action can disrupt a batter’s concentration, Ishan felt it only takes a couple of balls to get used to it and clear it from one’s mind. Does it affect the plans to go big? Not really!“It might play in your head for a couple of balls, but I think at this level you need to have trust on your own strength as well. Even if he is trying to do something, we can go for sixes or boundaries at the same time. So important thing is how we are thinking at that point of time when the bowler is trying to do something different. But if we are just looking for boundaries and sixes and we are believing in our own strength I think that helps the batters more so we are just doing trying to keep it simple yeah some batters might score on, some batters won’t but it’s part of game and you keep on learning game by game,” said Kishan.India were set for another big total vs Namibia but ran out of steam in the last two overs, losing five wickets and added just four runs off the ten deliveries they faced. The set pair of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube departed off consecutive balls, Axar Patel didn’t score, and the ending starkly contrasted the explosive start Ishan and Sanju Samson provided. Ishan echoed the team’s sentiment on the pitch but felt the unit fared well with the bat and appreciated the opposition for executing their plans under pressure. The wicketkeeper-batter expects his side to take learnings from this fixture into the remaining games of the tournament.

Ishan Kishan smashed a 24-ball 61 against Namibia in the T20 World Cup. (Pic credit: BCCI)

“I think they batted pretty well. In both the wickets, I feel it was a bit different from what we expected to happen. And today, looking at the death overs, when we were not able to regularly hit big sixes, I think we need to also give credit to Namibia bowlers because they were bang on with their yorkers, they were bang on with their slow ones. “So yeah it was a good learning maybe if some other team is doing the same thing maybe we can use the crease more or we can do something different which can irritate the bowler. So it was a good learning in this game and especially I think It was not about our batters not able to hit sixes, but it was more of them bowling very well in the death overs,” explained Ishan.The USA had India on the mat, Namibia had their moments and an immediate course correction with the bat is needed to cover all bases against a spin-heavy Pakistan, who have already experienced the Colombo strip. The Suryakumar Yadav-led unit has bludgeoned attacks in the build-up to the World Cup but what worked yesterday may not work today and tomorrow is always a dive into the unknown. The muscle memory of tonking bowlers on flat pitches will need a quick unlearn as Colombo, and remainder of the tournament, may not follow the script everyone is so used to seeing played on loop.India’s remaining opponents would surely have noted the cracks that both the USA and Namibia exposed.

February 13, 2026
IPL: Riyan Parag set to be named as Rajasthan Royals captain | Cricket News – The Times of India

File photo of Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag. (AP Photo)

New Delhi: India all-rounder Riyan Parag is all set to be named as the new Rajasthan Royals captain at 4pm today. While options included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and even the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, the think tank favoured Parag, who has been with the franchise since making his IPL debut in 2019. The RR unit has consistently backed the youngster and even retained him for Rs 14 crore ahead of the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league.He was always groomed for bigger roles in the franchise and the big hint came last season when he served as the stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Sanju Samson. The original captain also signalled what the future could hold.

Rajasthan Royals trade, releases, IPL squad retention: Crucial auction for Sanju Samson-less RR

“I won’t be Rajasthan Royals‘ captain forever. There has to be someone groomed for the future. The franchise has developed multiple leaders, and for the next three games, we believe Riyan Parag is ready and capable of leading the side,” Sanju Samson told PTI in 2025.The 24-year-old has been with the IPL franchise for seven years but his best performance came in 2024 where he scored 573 runs in 16 games at an average of 52.09 and a healthy strike rate of 149.22. His IPL outings put him on the selectors’ radar, earning him his first T20I and ODI caps for the country that same year.Under Parag, who became the youngest player to lead RR last season, the franchise is set to usher in a new era and hopes the long wait for the title — which was last won in the inaugural IPL edition under the late Shane Warne — will end.

February 13, 2026
Messi in India: Kolkata Visit Cut Short as Chaos Unfurls

Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated visit to Kolkata on December 13, 2025, as part of his “G.O.A.T India Tour” began with high expectations but ended in disorder and frustration for many fans at the Salt Lake Stadium.

The Argentina football captain arrived in the city early in the morning alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul to kick off the four-city tour covering Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Before the main event at the stadium, Messi’s itinerary included the unveiling of a 70-foot statue in his honour, which he inaugurated remotely from his hotel. He also met with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and local officials at a separate engagement.

Expectations were high as tens of thousands of ticket-holding spectators packed into Salt Lake Stadium, many having paid several thousand rupees for the opportunity to see the football icon in person. The event was meant to include a lap around the stadium by Messi, interactions with fans, a few penalty kicks and meet ups with former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee all in the span of two hours.

However, the scheduled programme was disrupted. As Messi entered the stadium, he was surrounded by a large group of VVIPs, officials and security personnel, creating a barrier that left many fans in the stands unable to see him clearly. Within minutes, Messi’s appearance was cut short, with him on the field for only about 20 minutes before being escorted away by security.

In the aftermath, organisers faced sharp backlash from fans and authorities alike. Police detained the main organiser for questioning, and an investigation was launched into alleged mismanagement, including crowd control failures and misleading expectations around the event’s format. Discussions around ticket refunds were initiated as public pressure mounted. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded by issuing an apology to both Messi and the fans, expressing regret that the event did not proceed as intended. Hrishit Bhattacharya, a college student who attended the event said “We were supposed to have a once in a lifetime experience but the politicians and leaders in Bengal made sure that we are deprived of it. If not anything, we do expect a full refund from the concerned authorities.”

The Kolkata event concluded amid administrative scrutiny and public criticism, with authorities reviewing the arrangements that led to the disruption. While Messi’s tour continued in other cities without disruption, what was intended to celebrate a global football icon instead raised questions around planning, crowd management, and accountability.

December 17, 2025
F1 2025: A Season of Shifts and What Awaits in 2026

The 2025 Formula 1 season has come to an end, with Lando Norris securing his first World Drivers’ Championship after a consistent and closely contested campaign. The McLaren driver finished the year with multiple wins and regular podium finishes, allowing him to edge out Max Verstappen in the final round, the Red Bull driver finishing only two points behind in second.

The season was kickstarted with a celebration of Formula 1’s 75th anniversary, a live event hosted in London’s O2 Arena, where all 10 teams showcased their brand new liveries. For the sport itself, races were sold out months in advance, TV and viewership surged, while social media platforms were gaining popularity. The calendar remained one of the busiest on record, featuring 24 races and several sprint events distributed across various venues across the world.

The season was dominated by McLaren, where, with an updated car, their mid-2020s rise, which began with incremental upgrades in 2023 and 2024, became a full-fledged championship contention this season. After a season-long battle marked by multiple wins, several shifts in the points lead, and close competition with teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, Lando Norris emerged as the title champion. Despite setbacks including collisions, penalties, reliability issues, and a late disqualification in Las Vegas, Norris kept himself in contention through consistent podiums and key victories in Monaco, Austria, Britain, Mexico, and São Paulo. He regained the championship lead in the final phase of the season and ultimately sealed the title with a third-place finish in Abu Dhabi.

While Norris emerged as the championship leader, Oscar Piastri’s results prompted debate among fans and analysts. Piastri led the standings for the majority of the season before facing a slump in the second half, going from a 34-point lead over Norris to being 25 points behind with two races remaining. Some argued that strategic misalignments and reliability issues hindered Piastri at key moments, leading to claims that McLaren had not fully balanced its support between the two drivers. His struggles also drew mixed opinions on McLaren’s highly adaptable 2025 car playing a decisive role in the championship.

Max Verstappen mounted a comeback in the final phase after being 104 points behind after the Dutch Grand Prix. A strong run of results across the closing rounds reduced the gap significantly, and he reached the Abu Dhabi season finale just two points behind the championship leader. Verstappen ultimately finished the season as runner-up after falling short in the final race.

Another notable event was Lewis Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari. Finishing sixth this year, inconsistencies in tyre management and pace prevented better performances. Hamilton finished with zero podiums (albeit one sprint win in China), becoming the first new Ferrari driver in 44 years to do so. Nevertheless, Ferrari viewed the season as a foundational step toward stronger performance under the upcoming regulation changes.

The new regulation rules, set to take effect in the 2026 season, are aimed at making the cars more agile, safer and sustainable while maintaining their competitiveness. The cars will be lighter and smaller (a 30 kg weight reduction), with a redesigned hybrid power unit that increases the role of battery power and incorporates advanced sustainable fuels. Active aerodynamics, including movable front and rear wings, are being introduced to promote closer racing and reduce reliance on the current DRS system.

In addition to these changes, there will also be a restructure of the teams and also an addition of an 11th team, Cadillac, with veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez joining the F1 grid again. Audi will fully take over Sauber, while Arvind Lindblad will join Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson, in place Isack Hadjar who in turn replaces the outgoing Yuki Tsunoda to become teammates with Max Verstappen.

Overall, the 2025 season delivered a new world champion, highlighted continued growth in Formula 1’s global reach, and marked the closing chapter of the current regulatory era. With teams now shifting focus toward 2026, the coming year is expected to redefine competitive order once again into the next phase of the sport.

December 13, 2025
India Lifts 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, Defeating South Africa

In a historic night at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the Indian women’s cricket team clinched their first-ever World Cup title, defeating the South African women’s cricket team by 52 runs in the final. The victory marked a historic achievement for the Indian team, which had previously reached the finals in 2005 and 2017 but fell short on both occasions.

Match Summary

India won the toss and chose to bat, posting a total of 298 for 7 in 50 overs. Shafali Verma scored 87 runs off 78 balls, providing a strong foundation with a 91-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, who contributed 44 runs. In the middle order, Deepti Sharma added 58 runs, stabilising the innings after a brief slump during the middle overs.

For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the most clinical bowler, taking three wickets for 57 runs, while Marizanne Kapp maintained tight control in the death overs.

In the second innings, South Africa fell short of the target, getting dismissed for 246 runs in 45.3 overs. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt scored a century (110 runs off 127 balls), but the rest of the batting order struggled to maintain partnerships. Renuka Singh Thakur took three wickets for 40 runs, and Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets, completing a strong all-round performance.

Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her contribution with both bat and ball, while Deepti Sharma was named the Player of the Tournament award for consistent performances throughout the World Cup.

India’s Path to the Title

The Indian Women’s Team had a strong run, leading their group in the league stage and winning six of their seven matches, including victories over Australia, England, and New Zealand.

In the semi-final, India beat Australia by 17 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. Shafali Verma scored 74 runs, and Renuka Singh took four wickets, which were key to their success. The final win against South Africa marked India’s first world title in women’s cricket after many years of coming close.

Team Composition

The core group included Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), and Renuka Singh Thakur. The bowling attack combined pace and spin effectively, with Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Shreyanka Patil contributing at crucial stages. Pratika Rawal, one of the youngest members of the team and a batting all-rounder, played a pivotal stabilising role in the middle order, scoring 308 runs (the second highest run scorer) before an unfortunate injury during the match with Bangladesh, which ruled her out of the final.

Harmanpreet Kaur, in her third World Cup as captain, provided tactical consistency and led the team to its most successful global campaign. The fielding unit, traditionally an area of concern, showed marked improvement through tighter positioning and reduced errors.

Conclusion

India’s 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup victory represents a significant moment in both sporting and institutional terms. Beyond the immediate celebrations, the challenge now lies in sustaining momentum through continued financial and infrastructural support. If maintained, the 2025 triumph may stand as the foundation of a new era for women’s cricket; one in which India is not only a participant but a defining power in the sport.

November 8, 2025
Indian Tennis Star, Grand Slam Winner Rohan Bopanna Announces Retirement

Veteran Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna has announced his retirement from the sport, bringing an end to an illustrious 22-year-long career. At age 45, Bopanna formally revealed his decision on 1st November 2025 via a statement on social media.

Over the years, he amassed 26 ATP tour‐level doubles titles, along with a landmark victory at the 2024 Australian Open alongside partner Matt Ebden, which helped him achieve the ranking of world No. 1 in men’s doubles, becoming the oldest player ever to do so. Starting his professional journey in 2003, he faced injuries and erratic performances before winning his first ATP title in 2008 at the Los Angeles Open while partnering with American player Eric Butorac. A big break followed in 2010 when he reached the US Open men’s doubles final with his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, which became known as the “IndoPak Express.” They were defeated by American legends Bob and Mike Bryan in straight sets: 6-7(5), 6-7(4). By 2013, Bopanna had become one of the top doubles players in the world, achieving a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 3.

Seven years later, Bopanna won the 2017 French Open mixed doubles title with Gabriela Dabrowski, further establishing his status as a top doubles player. However, his most notable highlight was when he lifted the Australian Open in 2024, partnered with home hero Matthew Ebden, winning the men’s doubles title. In the finals, they defeated the Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori with a score of 7-6 (0), 7-5. At 43 years old, Bopanna became the oldest male player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam men’s doubles title. This victory also brought him to the world No. 1 men’s doubles ranking, marking the first time in his career. For Bopanna, this was his first men’s doubles Grand Slam title, following his previous win in mixed doubles at the 2017 French Open.

Throughout his career, Bopanna became an important mentor and supporter of Indian tennis. He helped younger players through his academy in Bengaluru, promoting doubles as a legitimate and strategic sport. His impact went beyond the court, encouraging professionalism and fitness among the next generation of Indian athletes.

Bopanna’s journey from a hopeful young player in Coorg to a Grand Slam champion and a model of sportsmanship represents one of Indian sport’s most impressive stories. In the end, Rohan Bopanna leaves the game just as he played it: with grace, gratitude, and strong passion.

November 5, 2025
McLaren Racing Crowned as the Constructors’ Champions of 2025

In a remarkable show of its comeback, McLaren Racing has won the 2025 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. This is its second consecutive title and an important achievement that confirms the team’s return to the highest level of the sport.

McLaren’s 2025 performance stood out for its consistency, speed, and teamwork. After the Singapore Grand Prix, the team had gathered a total of 650 points, which was double the amount of its closest competitor and enough to clinch the championship with six races to go, achieving 12 wins in 18 races and earning 28 podiums between the two drivers.

McLaren’s 2025 machine, the MCL39, proved to be more than just an upgrade. Its aerodynamic efficiency, cooling systems, and suspension worked well on various circuits. By mid-season, the car often ranked as the fastest in many qualifying sessions and demonstrated race pace in different conditions. On the driver front, McLaren’s lineup of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri became a strong duo. They delivered impressive finishes, secured wins, and frequently occupied the front row, contributing steadily to the constructors’ tally through both qualifying and race performance. Their consistent results allowed McLaren to build a lead that eventually became unassailable.

Beyond the car and drivers, the McLaren team seemed unified at last. Every department, including design, factory, trackside engineering, and strategy, played a part. Their updates came at the right time, and their race strategies were flexible, minimising mistakes that could have cost them, and their decision-making under pressure improved.

While this achievement is significant, McLaren knows that 2026 will bring major regulatory changes. The risk is that their current dominance may not carry over to the new rules. Managing the relationship between two top drivers is always tricky; when competition is tight, conflicts within the team become more likely. Keeping morale high, avoiding costly mistakes, and staying innovative will be crucial. Their focus shifts to the Driver’s Championship, with both Piastri and Norris the main contenders to take the crown, in what promises to be a close fight till the end of the season.

In 2025, McLaren did more than just win. They overcame sceptics and moved past previous failures. They reestablished themselves not just as competitors but as leaders. The Constructors’ title is a reward for the drivers, engineers, and everyone in the pit lane and factory; this victory feels like a fresh start. Now, the question is whether they can build on this success to achieve even greater goals while adjusting to the upcoming changes in the sport.

October 18, 2025