August 2025: What Shook India This Month

August was a jam‑packed month on the Indian news scene. From nail‑biting cricket battles to a surprise win at the International Booker Prize, the headlines kept us on our toes. Below is a quick walk‑through of the most talked‑about stories, split into sports and the rest of the buzz.

Sports & Cricket Fever

The cricket calendar was buzzing. The Asia Cup shifted its start times to 8 PM IST, giving fans prime‑time action across the UAE. India, the defending champs, opened the tournament against the UAE on September 10, while the possibility of meeting Pakistan up to three times – in the group stage, Super 4 and the final – sparked endless debates.

Across the continent, Sri Lanka toured Zimbabwe for a short ODI‑T20 series. The first ODI saw Sri Lanka cruising to 81/1 early on, and the schedule, squad details, and streaming options were all laid out for Indian viewers.

Meanwhile, the women's game scored a dramatic win: Ireland edged Scotland by a single wicket in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. The thriller kept fans glued to the screen and showed how close the competition has become.

In the world of tennis, the 2025 Australian Open attracted a wave of fact‑checking as rumors about Serena Williams resurfaced. While the claim about a 49‑minute first‑round win proved false, the tournament still delivered big names like Djokovic, Alcaraz, Gauff and Pegula, setting the stage for an exciting first week.

Entertainment, Culture & Business Moves

Literature got its moment when Banu Mushtaq’s "Heart Lamp" won the International Booker Prize, marking the first time a Kannada work and a short‑story collection took the prize. The win highlighted regional Indian voices on a global stage.

Bollywood and Kollywood had their share of drama. Actor‑writer Zeishan Quadri faced a string of fraud accusations involving a Rs 1.5 crore cheating case, a car theft claim and unpaid hotel dues. At the same time, Tamil star Vishal and actress Sai Dhanshika announced their engagement on Vishal’s birthday, postponing the wedding to focus on the Nadigar Sangam project.

The auto industry turned heads with Toyota’s upcoming Urban Cruiser EV. Expected to start around Rs 20 lakh, the electric SUV promises 49‑61 kWh batteries and fast‑charging capability, positioning it against rivals like the Creta EV and ZS EV.

On the economic front, the U.S. slapped a 50 % tariff on Indian exports, linking the move to India’s Russian oil purchases. The duty, covering textiles, jewelry, machinery and food, could affect up to $87 billion in shipments and raise concerns about job losses in export hubs.

Back home, the Reserve Bank of India kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.5 % despite global trade tensions, signaling a cautious stance on inflation and lending rates.

Political drama surfaced when former UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya was slapped at a Raebareli event, blaming the Karni Sena and the state government. The incident added fuel to an already tense regional political climate.

Finally, the month closed with a cultural splash as Rajasthan’s Hari Kirtan Dangal went viral, bringing traditional folk duels to a wider online audience.

All these stories, plus countless others, painted August 2025 as a month of high stakes, bold moves and cultural milestones. Whether you’re into sports, books, cars or politics, there was plenty to keep you talking.