Category: Sports

An FIR has been registered against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal for sexually exploiting a woman on the pretext of marriage. According to the complaint, the woman alleged that she was in a five-year relationship with Dayal, during which he mentally, physically, and financially exploited her under the false promise of marriage.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and India fast bowler Yash Dayal has been booked under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after a woman from Ghaziabad levelled serious allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against him. The FIR was registered at Indirapuram police station following a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed via the Chief Minister’s grievance portal, IGRS.

Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita deals with sexual acts committed on the basis of deceitful promises, such as false assurances of marriage or employment. It treats such acts as a form of fraud and exploitation, punishable by up to ten years in prison.

According to the complaint, the woman alleged that she was in a five-year relationship with Dayal, during which he mentally, physically, and financially exploited her under the false promise of marriage. She claimed that Dayal introduced her to his family and behaved as though they were a married couple, further deepening her trust. However, when she confronted him about his intentions, he allegedly became violent and continued to harass her.

The complainant also stated that Dayal took money from her during the course of their relationship and has reportedly behaved similarly with other women in the past. She said she possesses chat records, screenshots, video call recordings, and photographs as evidence to support her claims.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/fir-registered-against-rcb-cricketer-yash-dayal-in-sexual-harassment-case-2752239-2025-07-07

England vs India, 2nd Test: Akash Deep played a match-winning role in India’s 336-run victory over England in Birmingham. He dedicated his 10-wicket haul to his sister, who has been battling cancer for two months.

Fast bowler Akash Deep dedicated his match-winning performance in the 2nd Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England in Birmingham to his elder sister, revealing she has been battling cancer over the last two months. In an emotional post-match chat with broadcasters, Akash said he wanted to put a smile on her face, and he was reminded of her struggles every time he had the ball in his hand.

Mohammed Shami was asked by the Calcutta High Court to pay Rs 4 lakh per month as maintenance expenses to Hasin Jahan and daughter Aaira

From the time Indian cricket team star Mohammed Shami was asked by the Calcutta High Court to pay Rs 4 lakh per month as maintenance expenses to Hasin Jahan and daughter Aaira, the cricketer has come under verbal attack from his estranged wife. According to the order, Hasin Jahan will have to be paid Rs 1.50 lakh per month while the daughter will get Rs 2.50 lakh per month. This amount will be levied from a back date of seven years. The lower court has been ordered to dispose the case within six months. The case was filed under ‘Protection Of Women From Domestic Violence’ act.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Hasin Jahan tagged Mohammed Shami, and used strong words like “greedy, mean-minded” against the cricketer. Following is the Instagram post that Hasin Jahan shared, that started with the line: “I love you so much jaanu.” However, what followed was a rant.

Earlier, Hasin Jahan had called Shami a person with ‘wrong mindset’.

“A person with a wrong mindset, who has crime in his mind, and who pushes his own family, wife and children towards trouble, and who was never anything and suddenly a lot happens, these people get arrogance and attitude. They develop such an attitude that they themselves do not know which path they are standing on, what they are doing and why they are doing it. Right now, he (Shami) is completely consumed by pride. The day that pride fades, he will remember his wife, his daughter, and all his wrongdoings. As of now, because of that arrogance, he has made no effort to contact me or our daughter. In fact, the last time he met our daughter was only because of Hon’ble Justice Tirthankar Ghosh’s fear,” said Hasin.

Jahan had moved the high court against a district sessions court’s order directing the cricketer to pay Rs 50,000 to his wife and Rs 80,000 to her daughter in 2023.

“In my considered opinion, a sum of Rs 1,50,000 per month to the petitioner no.1 (wife) and Rs 2,50,000 to her daughter would be just fair and reasonable to ensure financial stability for both the petitioners, till disposal of the main application,” the order passed by Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee on Tuesday stated.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/mohammed-shami-targeted-by-estranged-wife-hasin-jahan-again-in-social-media-rant-greedy-mean-minded-8828441

Novak Djokovic of Serbia continues his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title after storming into the fourth round of the Wimbledon 2025 men’s singles event.

Novak Djokovic achieved his 100th win at Wimbledon with a commanding victory over Serbian Davis Cup team-mate Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday, maintaining his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title. Before this year’s tournament began, Djokovic expressed that Wimbledon offered his best chance to surpass the 24 majors won by the retired Australian, Margaret Court.

A seven-time champion in south-west London, Djokovic is proving to be a strong contender for his first Slam victory since 2023. At 38 years old, he has lost just 12 games in his last two matches, following a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 win in under two hours on court.

Djokovic’s 100 wins place him behind only Roger Federer’s 105 victories in the men’s game and nine-time winner Martina Navratilova’s all-time record of 120.

“Wimbledon is the dream tournament of most players. I’ve been blessed to win here many times and any history I make at my favourite tournament, I am blessed,” said Djokovic, who secured his first match win at the All England Club 20 years ago.

“I try not to take anything for granted, especially at this age. Still going strong, trying to compete with the young players, doing some slides and splits, and pushing myself to the limit.”

With his children Stefan, 10, and Tara, seven, watching, Djokovic celebrated by pumping his arms in a manner that has become customary during the tournament’s opening week.

“It’s a little tradition we have now, so hopefully, we can keep going and keep pumping more at Wimbledon,” added Djokovic as Tara showcased her dance moves from the players’ box.

Source : https://www.news18.com/sports/novak-djokovic-wins-100th-match-at-wimbledon-to-enter-4th-round-9423614.html

Neeraj Chopra NC Classic 2025 Event Highlights: Neeraj Chopra has won the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 javelin event at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, claiming top spot with a best throw of 86.18m amid extremely windy conditions. In what is the first-ever international javelin competition in India, two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj claimed top spot in the tournament named after him. 2016 Olympic silver medalist, Kenya’s Julius Yego, also finished second here, with a best throw of 84.51m. Former Sri Lankan under-16 fast bowler Rumesh Pathirage settled for third with 84.34m. India’s Sachin Yadav narrowly missed out on the rostrum, finishing fourth with a best throw of 82.33m.

Gukesh has a three-point lead heading into the Blitz event of the SuperUnited, which is the third event of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour. The 19-year-old started the competition with a defeat before going on an unbeaten run with six wins and two draws.

Gukesh created history by clinching the top spot and the rapid title at the Grand Chess Tour’s SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz in Zagreb, Croatia and is part of the Grand Chess Tour 2025. The 19-year-old achieved the feat with a three-point margin to complete a stunning display.
The Classic World Champion has emerged as the top favourite to clinch the overall tournament trophy. The winner will be determined following the Blitz event, which will take place over the weekend on July 5 and 6. The player with the most points after both events will be declared the winner.
As things stand, Gukesh is leading the chart with 14 points and has a three-point lead over second-placed Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who has 11 points. Magnus Carlsen is in third place with a tally of 10 points, while Indian star Praggnanandha is joint-fourth with nine points to his name.

Gukesh had a remarkable campaign despite being dismissed by competitors most notably Magnus in the rapid format. The teenager started the competition with a defeat to Duda before going on a winning run and winning five games in a row on the second day to come into the final day with a lead of two points. The fifth victory came over Magnus, which marked his second win over the legendary Norwegian in as many months and the first in a shorter time control format.

On the third day, he started with two draws in a row against Anish Giri and Ivan Saric but sealed his victory with a win over Wesley So.
While Gukesh has proved his supremacy in the classic chess, there were several questions over him in Rapid and Blitz as he also missed the World Championship of the format last year and did not have much to show.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/chess/gukesh-reigns-supreme-wins-rapid-event-at-superunited-on-course-for-title-win-at-grand-chess-tour-article-152223643

Esther González scored twice and world champion Spain delivered a strong statement by routing Portugal 5-0 in their Women’s European Championship opener on Thursday.

The 32-year-old González became the oldest player to play for Spain at the tournament and she scored minutes before the youngest, 18-year-old Vicky López, added the second goal.

Spain captain Alexia Putellas also scored for La Roja, showing she’s ready to lead the team to success after missing Euro 2022 with a knee injury. Spain lost to eventual winner England in the quarterfinals of that tournament.

“We’ve been talking about how motivated we are for this (Euro) for so long, and now we had to show it. We have reason to be pleased,” Putellas told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

Substitute Cristina Martin-Prieto completed the scoring with a header in stoppage time.

González wasted little time before opening the scoring after 87 seconds with a flick past Inês Pereira. It quickly became apparent the Portugal goalkeeper would have a busy game. She did.

Pereira did well to clear a cross but was unable to stop Mariona Caldentey giving López a tap-in minutes later.

Only 24 minutes were played when the fans started a Mexican wave around the nearly 30,000-capacity Wankdorf Stadium, normally home to Swiss Super League team Young Boys. The club also has a women’s team, which is also called Young Boys.

Spain dominated possession in a textbook first-half display. Teammates’ work off the ball ensured there was always a passing option. No player had the ball for long as it zipped around and the Portuguese players were left to chase it.

Putellas went close, Pereira denied Clàudia Pina, and it was no surprise when Putellas finally got the third goal after she displayed some brilliant control to evade a defender in the 41st.

The fourth came two minutes later when González tucked in the rebound after Pina’s cross came back off the post.

But Spain coach Montse Tomé may have concerns about her team’s second-half performance as her players’ level of control dropped. Martin-Prieto’s late goal was the only addition.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/euro2025-spain-portugal-e0d6a64806fe7caa0099525336e43168

Although KL Rahul did all the talking at India’s huddle, it was confirmed that Rishabh Pant, the designated vice-captain, has taken over the captaincy duties.

Rishabh Pant took over the captaincy from Shubman Gill as India began their defence of a mammoth 587 on Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Gill, who scored a historic double century after batting for nearly five sessions, did not take the field at the start of England’s innings. He was receiving some treatment on his back that had been troubling him a bit since the Headingley Test.

Although senior pro KL Rahul did all the talking at India’s huddle, like he has been doing in this Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, it was confirmed that Rishabh Pant, the designated vice-captain, has taken over the captaincy duties when he was seen ringing in the changes in the first over bowled by Akash Deep.

Pant did not have to do the captaincy for long, though, as Shubman Gill was back on the field after the second over. And as soon as Gill was back on the field, India got success. He has been India’s lucky charm in this Test match.

Akash Deep got one to straighten from around the wicket off a good length to Ben Duckett, who played at it with hard hands. The ball took the outside edge and flew towards the slip cordon where Gill was stationed. He moved very quickly to his left and held on to a sharp catch.

England’s No.3 Ollie Pope was then guilty of closing his bat face way too early. The ball took the outside and KL Rahul took the catch, albeit in two attempts. India got off a dream start through Akash Deep, who sent back previous match centurions Duckett and Pope for a duck.

Skipper Shubman Gill’s classic maiden double hundred carried India to a formidable 587 all out in their first innings. Gill (269 off 387 balls) led India’s batting charge as there were two other notable run-makers in Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Ravindra Jadeja (89). Gill also became the first Indian and Asian captain to score a double hundred in a Test match in England. The skipper also posted the highest individual score by an Indian batter on English soil, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 scored at the Oval in 1979.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rishabh-pant-becomes-indias-new-test-captain-briefly-shubman-gill-takes-back-control-quickly-by-plucking-a-sharp-catch-101751559632490.html

Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while defending women’s champion Barbora Krejcikova battled into the third round. After three days of stunning upsets at Wimbledon, Djokovic avoided becoming the latest star to crash out in second-round action. The Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans with a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court. “It means I’ve been playing quite a long time!” Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory.

“I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special.”

Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history.

The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open.

And despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals against Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major.

“I’m aware of the history on the line. I’m thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament,” he said.

“I don’t reflect on it for now. I think that will come when I sip a margarita on the beach with (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal!”

– Krejcikova’s relief –

Eight top 10 seeds in the men’s and women’s singles were beaten in the first round, which ranks as the most at a Grand Slam in the Open era.

Only one of the top five women’s seeds — world number one Aryna Sabalenka — is still standing.

But Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three set wins.

Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025.

Despite not feeling 100 percent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro.

“Definitely a huge relief,” said the Czech. “I wasn’t feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I’m really happy I won the third set.”

Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon’s lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club.

The former world number one dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, was in fine form as she demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.

Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged just 18, beat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) on Court One.

Jack Draper is the new figurehead of British men’s tennis, taking on a role filled for a generation by the now-retired Andy Murray.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/tennis/novak-djokovic-routs-dan-evans-to-step-up-history-bid-at-wimbledon-8821632

Reigning world champion D Gukesh has stunned chess great Magnus Carlsen once again. He defeated the Norwegian chess grandmaster in the sixth round of Grand Chess Tour SuperUnited Rapid 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia on Thursday. With the victory, Gukesh took the top spot individually at the ongoing competition. The Indian grand master shared the top spot at the end of play on Day 1 and he continued his good form on the second day as well. Gukesh started the second day with a win over Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the fourth round and then defeated American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the fifth round.

After this came his match with Carlsen and Gukesh triumphed in that as well with black pieces. This was Gukesh’s fifth win in a row at the tournament. Interestingly, this victory came after Carlsen termed Gukesh ‘one of the weaker players’ at the event.

“Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament,” Carlsen had said in an interview before the tournament.

“Gukesh actually played quite well here last time. But it remains to be proven that he’s one of the best players in such a format. This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh and Anish Giri… they have a lot to prove because there aren’t a lot of players you can feast on. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh’s sake that he can play better, but playing him in this tournament I will sort of approach it as I’m playing one of the presumably weaker players in the tournament actually,” he had added.

Starting the tournament with a loss against Duda, Gukesh overpowered a reckless Alireza Firouzja of France before defeating compatriot R Praggnanandhaa to reach on four points out of a possible six.

Carlsen beat Wesley So and drew his remaining two games against local star Ivan Saric and Duda to match Gukesh on points, while Wesley was the only other player involved in all decisive games, apart from Gukesh, as he put it across his US compatriot Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri of Holland.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/chess/d-gukesh-stuns-magnus-carlsen-defeats-chess-great-yet-again-this-time-in-grand-chess-tour-8821741

State gold medallist Brijesh Solanki, a Pro Kabaddi League hopeful, had not taken the rabies vaccine; symptoms appeared just days before his death.

Brijesh Solanki, a 22-year-old state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly died of rabies weeks after he was allegedly bitten by a stray puppy he had rescued from a drain.

A gold medallist in state championships and a hopeful for the Pro Kabaddi League, Brijesh had not received an anti-rabies vaccine after the stray puppy bit him, the Times of India reported on Wednesday, quoting officials. Symptoms of the disease began showing only a few days before he passed away.

The youngest of three siblings, Brijesh lived in Farana village.

Following his death, health officials visited the village on Monday. They vaccinated 29 residents and started a campaign to spread awareness about rabies prevention.

A video of Brijesh in a deteriorating state circulated on social media on Sunday, a day after his death.

Speaking to news agency ANI, his brother Sandeep Kumar said, “He went to practice in the village and got a little bite from a dog after pulling it out of a drain. He did not pay attention to it. We had not heard of a rabies case… The illness after the bite was confirmed in Aligarh Hospital after I reported that he was hesitating in drinking water… I demand from the government that we be provided a job because my brother was the sole breadwinner of the family…”

Brijesh ignored the bite, mistook it to a kabaddi injury

Quoting Brijesh Solanki’s coach, Praveen Kumar, TOI reported that the Kabaddi player mistook his symptoms for a routine sports injury.

“Brijesh mistook the pain in his arm for a regular kabaddi injury. The bite seemed minor and he didn’t think it was serious, so he didn’t take the vaccine,” he told the outlet.

On June 26, Brijesh began experiencing numbness during practice. He was first taken to a district hospital, but as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to a private hospital in Noida.

His brother, Sandeep Kumar, shared, “All of a sudden, he was afraid of water and was showing symptoms of rabies, but we were denied treatment at govt hospitals in Khurja, Aligarh and even Delhi. It was only in Noida that doctors confirmed he was likely infected with rabies. Brijesh died on Saturday while we were taking him to a faith healer in Mathura.”

Rabies: all you need to know

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can be prevented through vaccination, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Rabies is generally not curable once symptoms appear and is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms appear.

It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. In up to 99 per cent of human rabies cases, dogs are the primary source of transmission. Children aged 5 to 14 are among the most commonly affected.

The virus can infect mammals such as dogs, cats, livestock, and wild animals. It typically spreads through the saliva of infected animals, most often via bites, scratches, or when it comes into contact with mucous membranes like the eyes, mouth, or open wounds.

Symptoms

Rabies typically has an incubation period of two to three months, though it can range from as little as a week to up to a year. This depends on factors like the site of infection and the amount of virus introduced. Early symptoms are often general and may include fever, pain, or unusual sensations such as tingling, pricking, or burning around the wound. As the virus reaches the central nervous system, it causes severe and ultimately fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. While clinical rabies can sometimes be managed, it is almost never cured and usually leaves serious neurological damage.

Rabies appears in two forms:

• Furious rabies is marked by hyperactivity, extreme agitation, hallucinations, poor coordination, and fear of water (hydrophobia) or air (aerophobia). The condition rapidly worsens, with death typically occurring within a few days due to heart and respiratory failure.
• Paralytic rabies, seen in around 20% of cases, progresses more slowly and subtly. Muscle paralysis begins near the bite area and gradually spreads, leading to coma and ultimately death. This form is often misdiagnosed, which contributes to rabies being under-reported.

Prevention

Dog vaccination: Mass vaccination of dogs, including puppies, is the most cost-effective way to prevent rabies in humans, as it targets the virus at its primary source. Simply culling stray dogs does not help control the spread of rabies.

The Calcutta high court has ordered Indian pacer Mohammed Shami to pay ₹4 lakh every month to his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, and daughter.

A bench of Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee passed the order on a plea filed by Hasin Jahan and directed the Indian cricketer to pay ₹1.5 lakh to her wife and ₹2.5 lakh to her daughter monthly.

“In my considered opinion, a sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- per month to the petitioner no.1(wife) and Rs. 2,50,000/- to her daughter would be just fair and reasonable to ensure financial stability for both the petitioners…” the court said in its order on July 1.

The court also noted that Shami is free to voluntarily contribute to educational or other expenses beyond what has been specified for her daughter.

Jahan had approached the high court against a district sessions court’s order directing Shami to pay ₹50,000 to her wife and ₹80,000 to her daughter in 2023.

She had sought a compensation of ₹7 lakh per month for herself and ₹3 lakh for her daughter before the court.

Jahan worked as a model and cheerleader for the Kolkata Knight Riders before marrying Shami in 2014. The couple gave birth to their daughter in 2015.

In 2018, Jahan accused Shami of domestic violence, dowry harassment and match-fixing. She claimed that the pacer had received money from a Pakistani woman. Jahan had also alleged that her husband stopped payment to her to run her family expenses.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/calcutta-high-court-orders-mohammed-shami-to-pay-rs-4-lakh-monthly-to-estranged-wife-hasin-jahan-and-daughter-101751378793776.html

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s bid to trademark the phrase “Captain Cool” for entertainment and sports-related services has cleared a key regulatory hurdle, with the Trade Marks Registry formally accepting the application and publishing it in the official journal on June 16, 2025.

Filed under Class 41, the application covers services related to education, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities including coaching and training.

The application, filed in June 2023, initially attracted an objection from the Registry under Section 11(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, which deals with relative grounds of refusal. Such objections are raised when the proposed mark is identical or deceptively similar to an existing registered trademark for the same or similar goods or services, and is likely to cause confusion in the minds of the public.

In Dhoni’s case, the Registry noted a prior registration of the same mark “Captain Cool” by Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Private Limited for gaming services in Class 41.

However, during a hearing held under Rule 115 of the Trade Marks Rules, Dhoni’s legal team submitted that the term “Captain Cool” is inextricably linked to Dhoni’s identity as a public figure, particularly in the realm of cricket and entertainment.

Accepting this argument, the Senior Examiner of Trade Marks noted:

“The applicant Mr. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a renowned public figure and former captain of the Indian national cricket team, is widely recognized…by the sobriquet ‘CAPTAIN COOL’. The phrase ‘CAPTAIN COOL’ is closely and uniquely associated with the applicant’s persona and has acquired a distinct secondary meaning in reference to him in the context of sporting and entertainment services.”

The Registry concluded that the applicant’s use of the term was unlikely to create confusion among the public due to its well-established association with Dhoni. Accordingly, the objection under Section 11(1) was waived, and the mark was accepted for advertisement under Section 20(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

The publication of the mark in the Trade Marks Journal on June 16 triggers a four-month opposition period. During this window, third parties may file a formal notice of opposition if they believe the registration would infringe their existing rights or create marketplace confusion.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/ms-dhoni-bid-to-trademark-captain-cool-accepted-opposition-window-open

Rishabh Pant’s surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who treated him after his near-fatal car accident in 2022, called the summersault celebration ‘unnecessary’.

Rishabh Pant’s surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who treated him after his near-fatal car accident in 2022, called the somersault celebration ‘unnecessary’. Following his century against England in the first Test match, Pant performed a brilliant summersault leaving both fans and experts stunned. However, during an interview with The Telegraph, Dr Pardiwala said that although Pant has trained as a gynmast and possesses the training and agility to perform it, the somersault celebration may not be necessary. “Rishabh trained as a gymnast. Although he looks large, he is quite agile, and he does have a lot of flexibility.” “And, that’s why he’s been doing those somersaults of late.”

“It’s a well-practised and perfected move – unnecessary though!” he added.

When India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was brought into a hospital in Mumbai following grievous injuries suffered in a car crash in December 2022, the first question he asked the attending doctor was “will I be able to play again?” recalled renowned orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who treated the superstar cricketer following the horrific incident.

Pant, while driving from Delhi to his hometown, Roorkee, on December 30, 2022 lost control of his car which crashed into a divider and caused him severe injuries.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2025/rishabh-pants-somersault-celebration-called-unnecessary-by-his-surgeon-reason-8792363

Keshav Maharaj, who has been playing Test cricket for the past nine years, has gradually grown into the South Africa’s lead spinner in the five-day format.

Stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj on Sunday became the first spinner from South Africa to take 200 Test wickets, reaching the landmark on the second day of the first match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. The 35-year-old, who has been playing Test cricket for the past nine years, has gradually grown into the team’s lead spinner in the five-day format. Maharaj achieved the feat when he dismissed his Zimbabwe counterpart Craig Ervine in the 34th over, stumped by Kyle Verreynne. Maharaj has been South Africa’s highest wicket-taker among slow bowlers since going past former off-spinner Hugh Tayfield’s tally of 170 scalps.

Left-arm spinner Maharaj now has 202 wickets from 59 Tests, with 11 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket match haul.

Maharaj also has 631 wickets from 166 matches in First-Class cricket.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/keshav-maharaj-scripts-history-becomes-first-south-africa-spinner-to-8792843

Smriti Mandhana’s hundred and Shree Charani’s sensational bowling effort on debut helped India secure a crushing win over England in the first women’s T20I on Saturday, June 28.

The men’s team may have suffered a heartbreaking loss at Headingley during the recent Test match but the Indian women’s team stepped up to hand England a massive 97-run loss in the first T20I between both sides at Trent Bridge on Saturday, June 28. Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana led the way with her record-breaking hundred that allowed India to post a mammoth total of 210 for five in their 20 overs.

Chasing the target, the England batters, apart from Nat Sciver-Brunt, were blown away by the Indian bowlers as the hosts suffered their biggest loss in the T20I format. Sciver-Brunt scored 66 but it was Sree Charani, who was making her debut, who was the star of the show in the second innings, picking up four for 12 as England were bundled out for just 113 runs in 14.5 overs.

No Harmanpreet, no problem
India were dealt a heavy blow before the toss as captain Harmanpreet Kaur was ruled out of the contest. Harmanpreet was hit on the head during a warm-up game and the team management decided to give the star batter some rest. This meant Mandhana had to come in as the skipper for the game on a wicket that seemed like an absolute delight for the batters.

India were put into bat by England and Mandhana was the aggressor early on. She got a few boundaries going while Shafali Verma at the other end struggled for momentum. Despite Mandhana’s 31 off 19 balls in the powerplay, India got just 47 runs in the first six.

Something needed to change and it was Mandhana, who led the charge. The turning point of the match was the seventh over when the stand-in skipper decided to take Sophie Eccelstone to the cleaners with a couple of sixes and a boundary as 19 came from the ace spinner’s first six balls.

Mandhana got to her 31st T20I fifty soon after, but Shafali’s struggle in the middle came to an end, bringing in Harleen Deol to the middle. The right-handed batter was probably going to sit out the game had it not been for Harmanpreet’s niggle and she made full use of the chance.

Harleen started with some confidence and four boundaries and this helped Mandhana also to switch gears easily. Harleen got a lifeline as Wyatt-Hodge dropped a sitter and the duo cashed in on it, getting their fifty-run stand in quick time.

Mandhana was always eyeing a hundred in this format after her many attempts and finally decided Saturday was the day for her to be in the history books. The run-rate kept increasing and so was the elegance in the shots from the skipper as two boundaries were enough for her to get to the landmark and become the second Indian batter to reach the feat.

Soon after, Harleen fell for a well-made 43 off 23 balls as the wickets started to tumble. Mandhana added some more runs and was dismissed in the final over, but the damage was already done.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/england-vs-india-1st-t20i-smriti-mandhana-hundred-shree-charani-trent-bridge-2747757-2025-06-28

RCB and Indian pacer, Yash Dayal, has been accused of exploitation on the pretext of marriage by a woman from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Indian pacer, Yash Dayal, has been accused of exploitation on the pretext of marriage by a woman from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad. The woman has lodged a complaint through the Chief Minister’s online grievance portal, IGRS. In her complaint, the woman alleged that she had been in a relationship with the cricketer for the past five years, during which she was emotionally, mentally, and physically exploited. “For the last five years, the complainant was in a relationship with a cricketer. The man emotionally, mentally and physically exploited her by misleading her with the promise of marriage. He introduced the complainant to his family as their daughter-in-law, which made her trust him completely,” the complaint stated.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to feature in the 2nd Test against England, starting July 2 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Before Team India’s departure to England, head coach Gautam Gambhir had confirmed that Bumrah will only play three of the five Tests, citing workload issues. With India 0-1 down in the five-match series, following the loss in Leeds earlier this week, Bumrah’s likely absence in Birmingham could significantly impact their chances of making a comeback in the series.

However, former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Gambhir for the lack of secrecy surrounding Bumrah’s workload. Chopra feels that Gambhir and management could have kept England guessing about Bumrah’s availability.

“Bumrah said he will play three matches only, and I am thinking whether it was required to publicise it. Why was it not kept a secret? We don’t announce our team as well. So why was it necessary to reiterate it repeatedly before the start of the tour that he would play three matches only? Let them guess. You play whichever Tests you wish,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“You have played one, and you know you can play only two of the remaining four matches, which is not a good thing. If you play the second as well, you will play one of three. So, suddenly, the opposition gets into a great frame of mind that Bumrah, your biggest strength, is also not there. You can prepare pitches accordingly,” he added.

Chopra highlighted the importance of producing new crop of fast bowlers as uncertainty looms large over Bumrah and co.

“The next generation of Indian fast bowlers will have to be prepared. It’s a serious issue. There were two important pillars of India’s good performance away from home. One was batters starting to score runs, but it doesn’t work out with that, as you need to pick up 20 wickets. So Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj were outstanding with Jasprit Bumrah,” said Chopra.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2025/gautam-gambhir-faces-heat-over-revealing-big-team-secret-after-1st-test-defeat-8775896

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa became India’s top-ranked chess player in the live ratings after winning the UzChess Cup Masters 2025 in Tashkent on Friday. The win took Praggnanandhaa’s live rating to 2778.3, making him World No.4 — up three places — as he achieved his highest career ranking. The 19-year-old leapfrogged world champion D Gukesh (2776.6) and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7), who was India’s top-ranked player until Thursday but has now slipped to world No.6. Magnus Carlsen (2839.2) remains No.1, followed by Hikaru Nakamura (2807.0) and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2).

Praggnanandhaa started the final day a point behind local favourite Nodirbek Abdusattorov and half a point behind Javokhir Sindarov.

A crucial win over Abdusattorov in the final round helped him join both players at 5.5 points at the end of the round-robin stage.

Erigaisi missed a chance to make it a four-way tie after drawing with Aravindh Chithambaram.

In the first round of tiebreaks, a double round-robin blitz, all three players finished with two points.

Abdusattorov and Sindarov drew both their games, while Praggnanandhaa beat both with white but lost with black.

In the second tiebreak, Praggnanandhaa drew with Abdusattorov with white and beat Sindarov with black.

Sindarov’s win over Abdusattorov sealed the title for the Indian.

This was Praggnanandhaa’s third title of the year, after wins at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament and the Grand Chess Tour Superbet Classic in Romania.

He was also runner-up at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial earlier this month. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand congratulated Praggnanandhaa on social media, posting: “Congrats to @rpraggnachess for winning the Uzbekistan Chess Cup.” “Third major classical victory this year. Of all his wins this year, this one seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go.” He continued: “However, he defeated Arjun Erigaisi and today in the crucial match defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov to tie for first place.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/chess/r-praggnanandhaa-becomes-top-ranked-indian-and-world-no-4-after-winning-uzchess-cup-masters-8778769

Peter England, a leading menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., raises the bar with a campaign unlike any other. Titled ‘The League of Legends’, the campaign is a stirring tribute to the timeless spirit of cricket and its enduring legacy, brought to life by cricketing icons Sir Vivian Richards, Kapil Dev and the voice of international cricket himself, Harsha Bhogle.

The brand has taken a bold step by uniting cricket lovers with a dash of fashion -not for sports jerseys, but to create a cricket-inspired collection, “The League of Legends” Collection- an extension to the brands existing “The Gentleman’s League” Collection.

At the heart of the campaign are four cinematic films that blend nostalgia, mentorship, and personal legacy. Two of these brand films feature cricketing icons Kapil Dev and Sir Vivian Richards as they step in to guide young players through moments of doubt and pressure, offering wisdom and quiet strength drawn from their own legendary careers. Clad in key pieces from the collection, the legends embody timeless grace and strength. Harsha Bhogle’s evocative commentary ties the scenes together, elevating the emotional impact.

Complementing these are the third and fourth heartfelt reaction films, where the legends first lay eyes on their tribute tees-the ’83’ and ’79’ T-shirts with their iconic poses-designed to honour their World Cup triumphs. The emotion is raw and real, capturing just how much the game-and its legacy-continues to mean to them.

Kapil Dev, India’s legendary World Cup-winning captain, shared: “This campaign brought back so many emotions. To see the spirit of ’83 captured in a design-it’s very special and I’m grateful to Peter England for making this. I’ve always believed cricket teaches you how to carry yourself. This collection does exactly that-with style and pride.”

Sir Vivian Richards, a two-time World Cup winner and one of cricket’s most fearless and iconic batsmen, said: “Style is about confidence. And cricket-well, that’s a game of confidence. It’s amazing to see a collection that reflects both. That ’79 tee? That’s not just a t-shirt. That’s history. And I’m honoured that Peter England chose me.”

Harsha Bhogle, the celebrated commentator whose voice has become synonymous with the spirit of cricket, added: “This is my second season with Peter England, and I’ve enjoyed being a part of the brand’s journey in creating fashion for the cricket lover. Cricket is a narrative-a beautiful, unpredictable story. Lending my voice to these films was about celebrating those stories. I think every cricket lover will feel that same emotion when they watch this campaign.”

Anil S Kumar, Chief Business Officer, Peter England said, “Cricket is not just a sport-it’s a legacy. With legends like Kapil Dev, Sir Vivian Richards on board, we’re paying our humble tribute to the game and everything it stands for. We love how the voice of international cricket, Harsha Bhogle himself has added passion and a real feel of commentary to our films. The League of Legends is about inspiring individuals to carry that same spirit-on and off the field.”

Building on the success of its 2023 debut, The Gentlemen’s League collection returns with a brand-new drop, featuring polos and graphic tees inspired by iconic moments of Kapil Dev and Sir Vivian Richards on the field. The limited-edition line embodies timeless style fused with cricket’s unapologetic boldness.

The campaign is currently live across 240+ storesand a series of on-ground activations, amplified through strategic content collaborations and immersive experiences.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/peter-england-unites-cricketing-icons-kapil-dev-sir-vivian-richards-harsha-bhogle-for-the-league-of-legends-campaign-8429201

A FORMER college football star has died after being struck by a vehicle over the weekend.

Chandler Jones, a former running back at San Jose State University, was killed on Sunday after being hit by a Toyota RAV4 near an off-ramp on State Route 90 in Los Angeles at around 2 am.

Jones, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene, the city’s medical examiner’s office told MyNewsLA.

Details about what caused the fatal accident are unknown.

Jones arrived at San Jose State University in 2009 after graduating from Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, Los Angeles County.

Bishop Montgomery High School announced Jones’ death on Facebook, mourning their former standout player.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of alum, Chandler Jones ’09,” the school wrote.

“Jones was a standout player on Bishop’s football team and still holds the record for longest kick-off return (97 yards) and longest fumble recovery (98 yards).”

Meanwhile, the San Jose State University football team’s X account posted, “Forever in our hearts, #89.

“In loving memory of Spartan wide receiver and coach, Chandler Jones.”

Brent Brennan, the former head coach of the San Jose State Spartans, said on X, “From his freshman year as a WR, to coaching on our staff, he made @SanJoseStateFB better everyday.

“The Jet was special. Love you brother.”

Jones finished his collegiate career with the Spartans as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (248) and touchdown catches (31).

“I coached for 50 years and I’ve coached a lot of people and there’s some really special ones, and he’s at the top of the deal,” former San Jose State receivers coach Terry Malley told the San Francisco Chronicle.

“He brought a vibrancy to every day, he was passionate about it, and he was a great teammate. Chandler was a really, really good human being.”

In 2014, the Spartans’ star running back joined several practice squads in the NFL, including for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns.

Despite never making the active roster on an NFL team, Jones took his talents north, joining the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.

He played on the Alouettes’ active roster in 2016 before being released.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14552578/chandler-jones-dead-san-jose-state-university-football/

His finest hour was getting five wickets in India’s Test win at the MCG in 1981 when the visitors defended a paltry target.

Former India left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi, who carved out a niche for himself despite being in the shadows of Bishan Singh Bedi, died due to cardiac arrest in London on Monday, the Saurashtra Cricket Association said.

He was 77 and is survived by his wife Kalindi, son Nayan, who has also played first- class cricket, and daughter Vishakha.

Doshi made his Test debut in 1979 after Bedi’s retirement and played his last of his 33 games in 1983.

In those matches, he took 114 wickets with six five-wicket hauls and was exceptional at home during the first three seasons, completing 100 scalps in just 28 Tests.

His finest hour was getting five wickets in India’s Test win at the MCG in 1981 when the visitors defended a paltry target.

Doshi bowled with a fractured toe and was literally unplayable on an up-and-down MCG track. Doshi, Karsan Ghavri and the peerless Kapil Dev won that game for India.

He was also a stalwart in English county circuit having plied his trade for more than a decade there. He represented Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.

“Dilip bhai suffered a heart attack in London. He is no more,” Saurashtra CA president Jaydev Shah told PTI.

“Dilip’s passing away is a personal loss to me. He was like a family. He was one of the finest human beings,” former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

In the Indian domestic circuit, he played for Bengal and Saurashtra. In all he had a staggering 898 first-class scalps with 43 five-fors.

He was Bengal’s go-to man in Ranji Trophy for years.

While Bedi remains India’s greatest left-arm spinner, Doshi was one of the most accurate bowlers who would flight the ball when required and was very accurate for the better part of his career.

The touring Australian, English and West Indies teams found it difficult to handle his arm balls, and it was Javed Miandad, who actually hastened his exit from international cricket during the 1982-83 series against Pakistan.

The bespectacled cricketer was a gentleman to the core.

Miandad would often tease him by enquiring about his room number in the middle of the game.

“Ae Dilip tela loom number kya hai,” Miandad would ask in a slurry tone.

His batting and fielding in those days wasn’t top notch but in that era he could survive because his bowling was from top drawer.

He was a close friend of Sunil Gavaskar and the legend was first introduced to his wife Marshaniel by Doshi.

After retirement, he had migrated to London where he became a successful businessman.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/former-india-cricketer-dilip-doshi-passes-away-3599363

While Alcaraz will be seeded number two at Wimbledon behind Jannik Sinner as he bids for a hat-trick of titles there, he will arrive in red-hot form and as overwhelming favourite.

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz edged powerful Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 to claim his second Queen’s Club title and send out a powerful statement ahead of his Wimbledon defence on Sunday.

Spaniard Alcaraz, who triumphed at Queen’s a few weeks before claiming his first Wimbledon title in 2023, extended his winning streak to 18 matches but was pushed hard by Lehecka who underlined his own credentials as a rising force.

Alcaraz (22), pounced at 5-5 to break the Lehecka serve and duly bagged the opening set in 45 minutes.

Lehecka, bidding to become the first Czech to win the Queen’s title since Ivan Lendl in 1990, continued going toe-to-toe with the five-times Grand Slam champion and edged the second-set tie-break with some clinical tennis.

Alcaraz had more in his locker though and forged 4-1 ahead in the decider as Lehecka’s level finally began to drop on a breezy Andy Murray Arena in west London.

He then broke the 23-year-old Lehecka’s serve again to complete victory, letting out a roar of a delight as Lehecka struck a backhand into the net.

While Alcaraz will be seeded number two at Wimbledon behind Jannik Sinner as he bids for a hat-trick of titles there, he will arrive in red-hot form and as overwhelming favourite.

He has won 27 of his 28 matches since April, his lone loss coming against Holger Rune in the Barcelona final, and Sunday’s win was his fifth title this year.

“This is really special this trophy and this tournament for me,” Alcaraz said on court as he clutched the huge piece of silverware. “Jiri had an incredible week and his level is very high and it’s a nightmare to play against you.”

Lehecka, whose ball-striking and physique are not dissimilar to Lendl’s, beat home favourite Jack Draper in the semi-finals on Saturday and began full of confidence against Alcaraz whom he beat at the start of the year in Doha.

With serve dominating on the slick lawn, there was nothing between the players until Lehecka made a couple of errors at 5-5 and Alcaraz needed no second invitation to take the set.

The second set followed a similar pattern but it was Lehecka who raised his game in the tiebreak to get a mini-break ahead.

Alcaraz replied to win a sensational point at 3-4, sprinting to retrieve a drop shot and then back to chase down a lob.

But Lehecka did not flinch and banged down an ace. Alcaraz double-faulted at 5-5 and then Lehecka levelled the final.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/alcaraz-beats-lehecka-in-queens-final-to-send-wimbledon-statement-3597865

Jasprit Bumrah gave a powerful reply to his critics while being asked about the constant speculation over his fitness. The Indian cricket legend claimed that he has had hearing people predicting the end of his career since he started playing.

Jasprit Bumrah fired back at his critics after his heroic display for India in the Leeds Test match against England, as he took a five-wicket haul against England in the first innings of the series opener in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The 31-year-old was a class apart from his peers, with bowlers from both sides looking out of sorts on a placid track with a record-breaking display. Despite four catches being dropped from his bowling, and also a wicket on a no-ball, Bumrah not just got the milestone but also ensured India got a vital first innings lead of six runs.
Bumrah finished with figures of 5-83 and addressed the media in the post-day press conference. On being asked about him being the subject of intense speculation over recent months, Bumrah gave an emotional reply stating that people have been telling him that his career will finish soon for more than a decade.

“Log jo likhte hai vo toh mere haath main hai nahi. Main kisiko seekh dene ki koshish toh kar nahi raha ki mere baare main aaise likho. (What people are writing is not in my hands. I am not trying to teach anyone what to write about me) Everybody is free to write whatever they want. I understand that in our country, cricket is very popular. I understand with my name, viewership will increase. I do understand, but at the end of the day it does not matter.

A THREE-YEAR-OLD has been killed in a tragic accident at a harness horse racing event in Canada.

The horror incident happened when the boy was hit by a starting gate.

The gate was being towed by a pickup truck at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, New Brunswick.

Footage of the race was posted on YouTube and the chilling moment the incident occurred could be heard.

The truck towing the starting gate was leading horses round the track.

The method is used to begin races in harness events.

And just when the announcer said, “there they go,” a loud noise was heard.

Audio briefly cut out while jockeys turned to see what had happened.

Screams could be heard in the background as the race started.

The announcer then said, “We need an ambulance, call an ambulance please to the grandstand folks.

“If there’s a doctor on the grounds anywhere to the grandstand please right away.”

Reports in Canada said the three-year-old was rushed to hospital but couldn’t be saved.

He was named as Gunnar Dickison, and Connell Park Raceway sent a tribute on Facebook saying, “Love you always Gunnar.”

Deputy chief Simon Watts from Woodstock Police issued a statement at a press conference.

He said, “It does appear, based on the initial information from some people that we’ve got, that it is a tragic accident.

“We know nowadays, everyone’s got a cellphone camera.

“So if we can obviously get clarification on where the incident actually took place and the details of it.

“And there’s a few questions with regard to closeness of the gate.”

It’s unclear if anyone will face charges over the tragic accident.

But an investigation has been launched by the New Brunswick Coroner’s Service and the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission.

Horse racing New Brunswick president Mitchell Downey said, “The entire racing community is deeply saddened by the tragic events of June 14.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14524874/harness-racing-death-connell-park-raceway-woodstock/

Lionel Messi urled home a fine free-kick in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring the winning goal in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over FC Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano admitted he is surprised at Lionel Messi’s desire to win after the MLS side shocked Porto at the Club World Cup on Thursday. Veteran playmaker Messi curled home a fine free-kick in a man-of-the-match performance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the winning goal in Miami’s 2-1 Group A victory over their Portuguese opponents. Mascherano said his Argentine compatriot’s competitive spirit at 37 was more surprising to him than the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s quality.

“Beyond his goal… he’s a player who shows us how to compete, his hunger, his desire to continue competing at whatever level it is,” Mascherano told reporters.

“In a footballing sense, what else is there to say? He’s the best player that has played this sport in its history, but what is surprising is his will to win.

“Today, even in the last minutes, tired, with a knock, he kept helping the team in any way he could, in attack, in defence, to get the result…

“We know having him gives us an advantage, but above all, through his contagious spirit, the winning spirit that he has.”

Many expected Porto to beat Inter Miami but the American side recorded a first ever victory in a competitive match for an MLS team against European opposition and the first shock at the Club World Cup.

“I think that we understood that in football there are obviously hierarchies, and we were facing against a team at a high level, with international players,” said Mascherano.

“But we were convinced that if we did what we had to do, if we had a plan, if we supported each other, if we were together, but above all, if we dared to play, we could compete.”

Samu Aghehowa netted a first-half penalty for Porto but Telasco Segovia and Messi’s strikes after the break earned Inter Miami victory which puts them level on four points with Palmeiras at the top of the group.

“What I told them (at half-time) was… to raise their spirits, because we had clearly showed we could compete, and that we had reached a moment where I didn’t care about the result,” added Mascherano.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-club-world-cup/best-player-in-history-lionel-messi-hunger-at-age-37-stuns-inter-miami-coach-javier-mascherano-8712370

Neeraj Chopra Men’s Javelin Throw Highlights, Paris Diamond League 2025: Neeraj Chopra finished on top in the Paris Diamond League with a best throw of 88.16m, that came in his first attempt

Sachin Tendulkar sat with Hindustan Times as he spoke about India’s upcoming Test series in England, and his own experiences of playing in the country.

Sachin Tendulkar caught the imagination wherever he played, right when he started off as a baby-faced 16-year-old on his first Test tour of Pakistan. But in Leeds, and other parts of Yorkshire, they positively adore him. After all, in 1992, he became the first non-Yorkshire-born cricketer to represent the side in the English County Championship.

Tendulkar didn’t have a roaring stint, making one century and seven fifties in 16 games that fetched him 1,070 runs, but as a 19-year-old, he charmed audiences, sent membership numbers soaring and was quickly accepted as one of the ‘locals’. A decade on, he made a magnificent 193 in the third of four Tests against England, one of the prime movers behind India’s series-levelling innings victory in 2002.

“That time, the weather was completely different,” Tendulkar tells Hindustan Times from London, the voice coming through clear as crystal. “Now it’s scorching heat there (in Leeds) but that time I remember, before the Test, we couldn’t even have proper practice sessions because it had rained. The game also didn’t start on time, I think it started half an hour late or something like that because it was raining. And it was a damp pitch, a green-top. We won the toss and batted first…”

That move by Sourav Ganguly baffled onlookers because everything cried out for a ‘bowl-first’ decision, but through Sanjay Bangar, Tendulkar, Ganguly himself and Player of the Match Rahul Dravid, India defied all predictions to post 628 for eight declared and troop out commanding victors.

“It was something that, as a team, we decided – to take up this challenge. We had gone in with two seamers (Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar) and Sanjay Bangar, and we played with two spinners – Harbhajan (Singh) and (Anil) Kumble. The decision to bat first was obviously a collective decision and we felt that okay, we will put up a total on the board and we will put pressure on them. We were able to do that, we were able to execute our plans and put a lot of pressure on them and beat them by an innings. It was possibly one of the sweetest victories ever for us.”

India were shored up a 170-run second-wicket stand between Dravid and Bangar, after which Tendulkar and Dravid put on 150. India slammed the door on England’s face when Tendulkar realised 249 for the fourth wicket in a powerhouse batting display that flattened Nasser Hussain’s men. “Rahul and Bangar had that crucial partnership, and then there was that partnership between me and Sourav. I had two big partnerships, one with Rahul and the other with Sourav,” Tendulkar recalls, then adds with a chuckle. “On the second evening, the batters (himself and Ganguly) wanted to continue but the umpires said the light was too bad and we need to walk off! They took the third new ball. It was the only time in my career where the umpires said, ‘We can’t see the ball, we need to go away’!”

India’s five-Test series against England, beginning at Headingley on Friday, will be played for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, as the Pataudi Trophy has been rebranded. The move has raised hackles, displeasing many – including the great Sunil Gavaskar – about the legacy of the Pataudi family being tarnished.

Having maintained a steadfast silence thus far, Tendulkar observes, “It’s a huge honour (that he is one half after whom the trophy has been named). When the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and the ECB (Emirates Cricket Board) decided to retire his trophy, it was completely their decision, I think I was travelling somewhere. And then after a couple of months, I got this surprise that they have decided to name the trophy after me and (James) Anderson. My initial impression was that it was a nice way to recognise two players – one has played 24 years for the country, Test cricket, and the other one has played 21 years of Test cricket for his nation. I thought it was a good way to recognise that.

“I picked up the phone and I spoke to the Pataudi family. I told them about this and also in the same breath, I said that I have always respected my seniors and their contributions, and I will do everything possible to keep that legacy alive. ‘Let me come back to you’. After that, I spoke to Mr Jay Shah (the ICC independent chair), the BCCI and the ECB. We had a few calls, I shared a few ideas and later on, they were all on the same page and they graciously accepted a few suggestions — the outcome of that was very good. The Pataudi Medal of Excellence for the winning captain – it’s a good match because he was known for his leadership. I felt by introducing this, we are keeping the legacy alive, which is important. I feel very happy about the outcome. The phone calls that I made ended up in a result that we have been able to keep the legacy alive.”

As for the reactions that have accompanied the renaming, he says, “To be honest, I have not followed (that) at all. I know a few people have reacted, but I really don’t want to think about that because those are only reactions without knowing what the reality is. The reaction is there, the statement is there, without knowing what is happening. The thing is that I have not taken the decision to retire the trophy. But I did make an effort to introduce the medal in his honour. By me doing this, I feel that a positive outcome was there from all this because the trophy was anyways retired.”

Tendulkar on transition and Gill’s captaincy

There is excitement, but also a little trepidation, among Indian fans with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirements having plucked a chunk of experience out of the Test side, to be now led by Shubman Gill. “There are going to be multiple challenges and it’s something that everyone looks forward to because it’s not going to be a smooth ride all the way in a five-Test series. There are going to be ups and downs, some challenging moments,” Tendulkar agrees, with a rider. “But that is what all the players work hard for — to prepare themselves for those difficult moments. I think the team has the firepower to counter whatever the England team is going to do. We have the experience also of players like KL Rahul, (Ravindra) Jadeja, (Jasprit) Bumrah… Rishabh (Pant) is experienced now, Shubman is experienced now. We have got these guys. We have Karun (Nair), who has been around. At the international level, he has tasted success and also played a lot of first-class cricket, county cricket here. Yashasvi (Jaiswal). All these guys are there. Sai Sudharsan has looked good. I feel we are very much there. It will be a close encounter.”

In many ways, the Rohit-Kohli retirements spark a stroll down memory lane to 2012, when Dravid and VVS Laxman retired within months of each other, after India’s tour of Australia and before the start of the home season, with a two-Test series against New Zealand. Tendulkar was still around then to oversee that period of change. Who does the Indian team look up to to reprise that role, one wonders.

“This transitional phase is there for us,” Tendulkar concurs. “And along with those two (Rohit and Kohli), I would also add one more name, which is (Ravichandran) Ashwin, who also has retired. (But) I feel the players are capable of handling the pressure. This transitional period, it happens to all teams. This time, it is KL Rahul who is one of the senior most guys. There is Jadeja, Bumrah — they will take that responsibility. Gautam (Gambhir, the head coach) is there to guide the team and overall, I feel that the guys, they are not coming straight into the Test team from the Under-19 team. They have been around. It’s a nice blend. Karun, though he is coming back to the Test team, he has been around. He is 33, has a lot of experience. Not an absolute youngster as such, which kind of helps, you know. This is the phase where those kinds of cricketers will come and guide youngsters. It will surely help someone like Sai Sudharsan to have experienced players around them. I feel the players are talented. If they were not skilled, then one could have said it’s worrying. But the players are skilled and I don’t see it as a problem as such.”

Tendulkar was first made India’s captain when he was only 23, and one of his earliest assignments, a little over two months into the role, was leading the team on a three-Test tour of South Africa in December 1996. Gill, 25, starts his baptism by fire with this five-Test outing of England, but Tendulkar was swift in saying, “I wouldn’t compare the two eras because the way everything functioned at that point of time was completely different to the way it is functioning today. Multiple things happened during that period; the less we talk about that, the better it is.

“My message to him (Gill) would be to shut off from the outside world because there will be a lot of opinions. There will be a lot of discussions – was he being more aggressive or too defensive and all those kinds of things will happen. But he can’t be thinking of what X, Y, Z is saying about what is happening. When you sit in the dressing room, you have plans and there is an end goal at the end of the Test match — how do you get to the destination? They would have planned all those things. The outside world will say a lot of things. But he should not worry too much about that and do what is best for them to do in the interests of the team and the nation. So long as he knows that whatever decisions are being made, are being made in the interest of the team, interest of our country, then that is what matters.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sachin-tendulkar-refuses-to-draw-own-captaincy-parallel-with-shubman-gill-the-less-said-about-it-the-better-101750383545669.html

The Bombay High Court dismisses BCCI’s challenge to arbitration awards, directs it to pay over Rs 538 crore to the defunct Kochi IPL franchise over wrongful termination of agreements.

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed two petitions filed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), challenging arbitration awards that directed it to pay over Rs 538 crore to the now-defunct IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The judgment comes as a major setback for the cricket board, which has been contesting the award for nearly a decade.

Justice RI Chagla, while pronouncing the verdict, said there was no patent illegality in the 2015 arbitration order that warranted interference from the High Court. However, the court granted BCCI two more weeks to appeal against the ruling.

The court noted that the awards had been under conditional stay for several years and extended the time to allow the Kochi Tuskers to initiate recovery of the awarded amount.

The case dates back to disputes arising from franchise agreements that Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) and Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) had entered into with the BCCI. RSW had won the bid for the Kochi IPL franchise in 2010, submitting a bank guarantee of Rs 153.34 crore.

While an interim franchise agreement was signed in April 2010, it was later transferred to KCPL in November that year following the creation of the joint venture.

Disputes began after KCPL allegedly failed to deliver the requisite bank guarantee by March 2011. BCCI subsequently terminated the franchise agreements with KCPL and RSW on September 19, 2011. In response, the Kochi franchise owners invoked arbitration in 2012.

In June 2015, the arbitrator directed BCCI to pay KCPL Rs 385.5 crore along with 18 percent annual interest. In RSW’s case, BCCI was ordered to pay Rs 153.34 crore with similar interest terms, beginning from the date of the alleged wrongful termination of the agreement.

BCCI, represented by senior advocate Rafiq Dada, argued that the arbitrator had overlooked key clauses related to deadlines for submission of guarantees and changes to contract terms. However, the High Court said the arbitrator had correctly interpreted the evidence and contractual terms.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/bcci-loses-rs-538-crore-arbitration-case-defunct-ipl-team-kochi-tuskers-2742830-2025-06-19

Former BCCI selector Saba Karim believes that KL Rahul is ‘ideal’ to replace Virat Kohli at No. 4 for the Indian cricket team in Tests. Virat announced his retirement ahead of the Test series against England and since then, there has been a lot of conversations surrounding India’s batting order. In an interview with NDTV, Karim explained that the absence of Kohli presents a ‘monumental’ opportunity to Rahul. Rahul is currently one of the senior members of the side and can provide a ‘dual role’ to the team at No. 4.

“Well, in the absence of Kohli, Rahul’s role is monumental. And I look at him, as a batter who can bat a number four. Many people have suggested different batting positions, but I feel that KL is ideal to replace or take over, the role of Virat Kohli at number four, because that number four, he can play a dual role of negotiating the early setback if that happens in the Indian side, and then he can carry the innings forward. He does have the right kind of technique. He has done well in England,” he said.

“He has a temperament. And I think with the past season, season and a half, there is a lot of maturity that has come in. So I think that’s the kind of responsibility with Indian team management.”

“It is not going to be easy because things have changed. The game itself has evolved. Strategies have evolved. So for someone who’s making a comeback after so many years, he will need lot of backing from the Indian side to do well in England. Experience of playing domestic cricket, experience of scoring tons of runs in domestic cricket and also on this, couple of matches that India played, from a couple of practice matches that India played, all that should come in handy.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2025/ex-bcci-selector-picks-india-star-ideal-to-replace-virat-kohli-not-shubman-gill-or-sai-sudharsan-8693160

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule of the Women’s World Cup 2025, which will take place from September 30 to November 2 in India. Four Indian cities will host matches, while 11-13 matches will be played in Colombo.

India and Sri Lanka will play the opening match of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in Bengaluru on September 30, while the Women in Blue will face Pakistan outside Indian shores at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on October 5. A total of five cities, including four in India will host the event.
While India is the sole host nation of the tournament, a special agreement struck between India and Pakistan ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy means that both will not travel to each other’s shores for any ICC event, and a hybrid model will be followed.
Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo. The final is scheduled to take place on November 2 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, if Pakistan qualifies for the mega clash, it will take place in Colombo. A similar arrangement is in store for the first semi-final, which has been awarded to Guwahati but will be shifted to the Sri Lankan city if the Women in Green qualify.

Alongside Bengaluru and Colombo, Guwahati, Indore, and Visakhapatnam will also host matches.

Shardul Thakur, representing India A, smashed an unbeaten 122 off 68 balls and claimed 4 wickets in a brilliant all-round show during the intra-squad match against India at Beckenham on Sunday.

Shardul Thakur, the seam-bowling all-rounder of India, made a big statement ahead of the first Test of the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 at Leeds. The 33-year-old, representing India A, smashed an unbeaten 122 off 68 balls and claimed 4 wickets in a brilliant all-round show during the intra-squad match against India at Beckenham on Sunday.
Thakur became the second player to reach the three-figure mark in India A’s innings after Sarfaraz Khan, who played a quickfire 101 from 76 balls, including 15 boundaries and two sixes.
Notably, Thakur’s blitzkrieg came against a bowling attack that featured India’s top-rated pacers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh.

However, the intra-squad match between India and India A was called off by the management midway through Day Three. The game was supposed to last until Monday, June 16, but the management decided to end the match after two and a half days.

“Team India’s intra-squad game has ended. A complete day off on 16th June. The team will leave for Leeds on 17th June,” the BCCI stated on Sunday.
The match was not telecast live, nor were the scores made available to the media officially.
However, for Shardul—who last played for India in the 2023 Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town—it was a bright performance that strengthened his case for selection.
Shardul was considered for the England series owing to his superb performances for Mumbai in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy. He finished as the second-leading run-getter for the most successful team in Ranji Trophy history and took 35 wickets in nine matches.
The all-rounder, however, failed to make a mark in the two unofficial Tests for India A against the England Lions. Notably, the centuries by Shardul and Sarfaraz came in front of chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI’s Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/shardul-thakur-shines-bright-ahead-of-leeds-test-blasts-122-off-68-balls-bags-4-wickets-article-151986667

Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh congratulated South Africa on winning the World Test Championship against Australia at Lord’s.

The cricketing fraternity could not keep calm after South Africa’s win in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Temba Bavuma and his brave men chased down 282 in the fourth and final innings to win the third edition of the WTC final against Australia by five wickets. Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma played out of their skins to help South Africa end their trophy drought and win an ICC title after a 27-year gap.

Former India batter Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record for scoring the most runs in Tests and ODIs, congratulated the Proteas on winning the contest against a high-profile Australian lineup.

Markram and Bavuma played knocks of 136 and 66, respectively, as South Africa chased down 282 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The duo put on 147 runs for the third wicket. On Day 4, Australia gave it their all but in the end, it did not prove enough as Proteas got over the line in the first session.

“Test cricket continues to weave its magic. In a final where every session had its own story, @ProteasMenCSA found calm in the storm. Markram’s composure and Bavuma’s grit under pressure stood tall in the fourth innings,” Tendulkar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“A century that will be remembered, a partnership that turned hope into history. Congratulations to South Africa on becoming World Test Champions! #WTC25,” he added.

‘Okay, to let go of one trophy’

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh too congratulated South Africa on winning the WTC. He also gave a shoutout to Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen for bowling well and restricting Australia in the entire game.

Rabada returned with nine wickets in the contest, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings to go with four more in the second. Yuvraj also tipped his hat to Australia’s knack of winning ICC events but told Pat Cummins and it’s “okay to let go of one trophy.”

“The class of 2025 ends a 27-year wait and lifts the ICC World Test Championship Trophy in style! Huge congrats to the @ProteasMenCSA on a historic win at Lord’s. I’ve always believed there’s no greater measure of resilience and character than Test cricket and South Africa rose to the occasion! #AidenMarkram’s century was pure class,” wrote Yuvraj.

“”@KagisoRabada25, @marcojansen2000 and @NgidiLungi brought relentless intensity and #TembaBavuma led with calm and courage. A final worthy of the format. Tough luck #Australia! You know It’s okay to let go of one trophy,” he added.

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan too was elated as the Bavuma-led side lifted the Test mace riding on the stunning performance from Markram. Irfan’s brother, Yusuf and India legend Harbhajan Singh too reacted to South Africa ending their 27-year wait for an ICC trophy.

This is Australia’s first defeat in the ICC finals since 2010 when they lost the T20 World Cup summit clash against England in Barbados.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sachin-tendulkar-cant-keep-calm-after-south-africa-win-wtc-yuvraj-singh-tells-australia-okay-to-let-go-of-one-trophy-101749907861089.html

The Indian cricket team pay tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad ahead of the start of play on the first of day of a four-match intra-squad match at the Kent Cricket Ground in Beckenham.

The Indian cricket team paid tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday (June 12) during their intra-squad match in England. Ahead of the start of the fixture at the Kent Cricket Ground in Beckenham on Friday (June 13), the players and support staff of the national team observed a minute’s silence and also wore a black armband.
“The players and members of the support staff involved in the intra-squad game in Beckenham are wearing black armbands. A minute’s silence was also observed today to pay homage to the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, as a mark of respect for the lives lost and solidarity with the affected families,” wrote BCCI in a post on X.

The four-day fixture, which is India’s sole warm-up game ahead of the Test series against England is a closed doors event and is not being telecasted or live streamed as cameras are barred from the venue.

Meanwhile, the Australian and South African players also observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on the third day of play in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

For those unversed, Air India Flight A171, which was travelling from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed seconds after it took off from a campus building of the BJ Medical College in the city.
The plane had 242 people on board, which included Passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian citizens, 53 British Nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian. 241 people lost their lives while one survivor emerged.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/indian-team-pays-tribute-to-ahmedabad-plane-crash-victims-during-intra-squad-match-in-england-article-151907924

India have named a youthful squad for the high-profile series following the Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

England vice-captain Ollie Pope believes the young Indian side, led by a “fantastic” Shubman Gill, has plenty of depth and talent, but it will miss the aura of Virat Kohli during the upcoming five-Test series starting in Leeds on June 20.

India have named a youthful squad for the high-profile series following the Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

“It’s a young team, but these Indian players they have got so much depth and talent,” Pope told talkSPORT Cricket.

“So they’ve got a lot of young guys coming through; a lot of good players. Shubman Gill, their new captain, is a fantastic player. They will miss the aura of Virat Kohli standing at slips and chirping away.

“But they have got some good talent, so they will feel confident. But our players are ready for it.” India have not won a Test series in England since 2007, having lost in 2011, 2014 and 2018, while the 2021-22 series ended in a draw.

“It’s a great time for us to play India”

Pope emphasised the importance of the upcoming India series for England, calling it vital preparation in the lead-up to the Ashes later this year.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/india-have-depth-and-talent-but-will-miss-kohlis-aura-ollie-pope-3581638

Shreyas Iyer opened up about captaincy, and the thrills and joy that leadership brings him.

Shreyas Iyer, despite making his India debut in 2017, remains an enigma. The guy’s got everything: charisma, talent and the right attitude. The one factor he lacks, however, is luck. Every time Iyer is destined to do anything good, something comes along the way that derails his progress. Iyer was India’s marathon man in the 2023 World Cup. You thought he would be there forever. But a back injury, followed by BCCI’s decision to strip him from the Central Contracts, spiralled him down in the pecking order. This, when he’s hardly put a foot wrong. Yes, short balls seemed to be his undoing, but he’s worked hard on that aspect and looks a lot more assured against them.

Nonetheless, as always, Shreyas Iyer has once again risen from the ashes. So much so that if a senior BCCI official is to be believed, he has joined India’s captaincy race, officially challenging Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as India’s next in command in white-ball formats. Iyer is hot on the heels of a mighty successful season with Punjab Kings, and with Rohit pushing 40, Iyer could well replace him as India’s next ODI captain. In 2020, he led Delhi Capitals to the final of the IPL for the first time, and four years later, shepherded Kolkata Knight Riders’ third title win before taking PBKS one step short of glory.

Such is Iyer’s form that he is likely to be part of India’s T20I and Test set-up, and once he does, the leadership group promises to become that much stronger. Currently captaining in the Mumbai T20 League, Iyer is on the money right away, leading his team, Sobo Mumbai Falcons, to the semi-final of the tournament. Opening up on the importance of captaincy and what it means to him, Iyer went candid, saying he loves the challenge.

“It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain. I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact to come out and lead, ” Iyer said on the sidelines of the T20 Mumbai League.

“I just keep telling myself…”

Shreyas, 30, has joined Indian stars such as Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in the T20 Mumbai League, a prominent domestic franchise-based tournament. Iyer shared that he thrives in high-pressure situations, drawing motivation to deliver his best performances and also expressed joy in playing alongside familiar teammates from his childhood cricketing days, which adds a special sense of camaraderie to the tournament.

The referee awarded Hong Kong the penalty after India custodian Vishal Kaith came out of the goalline and tried to palm the ball to safety, only to end up hitting Michael Udebuluzor.

Kowloon (Hong Kong): A profligate Indian football team suffered a calamitous 0-1 defeat to hosts Hong Kong after an injury-time goal by Stefan Pereira in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match here on Tuesday.

The referee awarded Hong Kong the penalty after India custodian Vishal Kaith came out of the goalline and tried to palm the ball to safety, only to end up hitting Michael Udebuluzor.

Pereira (90+4) stepped up to take the spot kick and shot the ball to the right of Kaith, who was also shown a yellow card for his injury-time foul.

Earlier, India coach Manolo Marquez kept out veteran striker Sunil Chhetri from the starting XI.

A sea of red packed the stands at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium but despite the strong home support, India did pretty well to create a few chances in the first half, even though Hong Kong enjoyed more possession.

But, as has been the trend with them in recent times, the lack of finishing has again let the Blue Tigers down in the first 45 minutes.

Among the opportunities that came their way before the half time break, the Indians came closest in the 35th minute but Ashique Kuruniyan shot the ball wide from a close range after Liston Colaco ran down the left to provide him a nice cross.

Meanwhile, after having received medical attention after getting injured, Colaco unleashed a powerful long-range shot but it went straight into the keeper’s gloves.

Hong Kong also grew in confidence as the game approached the half time. The home team could have taken the lead from a free-kick had it not been for a timely clearance by Asish Rai from goal-mouth after custodian Vishal Kaith was beaten.

Both India and Hong Kong have had their moments but neither side could convert in a tightly contested first half of this crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.

Kuruniyan, who has otherwise performed his job admirably on the flanks, looked to have got another chance to break the deadlock some minutes into the second half, but could not.

Soon after, coach Manolo Marquez brought on India’s all-time highest goal-scorer Sunil Chhetri alongside Naorem Singh in place of Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/india-go-down-0-1-to-hong-kong-in-crucial-2027-asian-cup-qualifier-match-3579567

The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments kick off with high-stakes matches, and John Cena makes his final appearance in Phoenix on his farewell tour. Plus, WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella returns, and Jey Uso defends the World Heavyweight Championship against the dominant Gunther

Tonight’s RAW features the return of R-Truth, now reborn as Ron Killings, in a powerful new persona. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments kick off with high-stakes matches, and John Cena makes his final appearance in Phoenix on his farewell tour. Plus, WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella returns, and Jey Uso defends the World Heavyweight Championship against the dominant Gunther.Let’s check out the results

Gunther defeats Jey Uso WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Despite the early fire, Jey’s injured ribs slowed him down. Gunther relentlessly targeted the injury and eventually made Jey pass out in a submission hold to become the new champion.

R-Truth Reinvents Himself as Ron Killings

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh officially got engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj in Lucknow on Sunday. The couple held an engagement ceremony that was attended by some of the biggest names in the cricketing and political spectrum. Some beautiful videos and pictures have surfaced on social media in which Priya and Rinku are flaunting their engagement rings. Rinku, who plays for the Indian cricket team in the T20I format and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, couldn’t have many of his international teammates at the ceremony due to cricketing commitments.

In the pictures that have surfaced on social media, politician Akhilesh Yadav and the BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla could also be seen. Here are some other videos and pictures form the ceremony:

A few months ago, Priya’s father, Tufani Saroj, had made the relationship status of the two clear. Tufani, who’s also a sitting MLA from the Samajwadi Party, spoke to ANI and said that both Rinku Singh and Priya Saroj sought their parents’ permission. He also confirmed that the engagement has not taken place yet, and only the initial talks have taken place.

“Both the children have expressed their desire to get married and have sought our permission for the same. The engagement has not taken place yet. Initial talks have taken place in this regard,” Tufani Saroj had told ANI.

Rinku had quite an ordinary IPL 2025 campaign with KKR, scoring 206 runs at an average of 29.42 and a strike-rate of 153.73. The Knight Riders had a forgettable season that saw them finish eighth in the table with 12 points and a net run rate of -0.305, winning just 5 out of 14 matches.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/rinku-singh-gets-engaged-to-politician-priya-saroj-pictures-and-videos-out-8617091

Carlos Alcaraz saved three championship points and became the ninth man in the Open Era to rally from two sets down in a major final.

Carlos Alcaraz saved three championship points as he produced an astonishing fightback from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday. Reigning champion Alcaraz rallied from the brink of defeat to overcome world number one Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/2) to clinch his fifth Grand Slam title after five hours and 29 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard is now unbeaten in five Grand Slam finals after snapping Sinner’s 20-match winning run at the majors.

Alcaraz pulled off his first ever comeback from two sets down to stun Sinner in the longest Roland Garros final in history. It easily eclipsed the 1982 final in Paris when Mats Wilander triumphed in four sets over Guillermo Vilas in 4hr 42min.

Alcaraz becomes the third youngest man to win five Grand Slams — after Bjorn Borg and compatriot Rafael Nadal — following an incredible duel between the two stars of a new generation.

Sinner fell agonisingly short of a third successive Grand Slam crown after last year’s US Open title and back-to-back Australian Open triumphs.

He suffered his fifth straight loss to Alcaraz in what was their first meeting in a Grand Slam final — and the first championship match at a major between two men born in the 2000s.

Alcaraz leads 8-5 overall having also beaten Sinner to win in Rome, where the Italian returned to competition in May after a three-month doping ban.

Alcaraz put the pressure on Sinner by carving out three break points to start Saturday’s final, but the Italian resisted and soon had a chance of his own.

He couldn’t take advantage and found himself having to fend off two more break points at 1-1, producing clutch serves to grind out another tough hold.

Alcaraz’s persistence paid off in the fifth game when he broke to nudge 3-2 ahead, only for the Spaniard to immediately hand the lead back.

The unshakeable Sinner threatened to break again at 4-3, with a brief lapse from Alcaraz eventually enabling Sinner to snatch the first set.

Sinner hit the accelerator to start the second set, surging 3-0 in front. After facing seven break points in the opener, he tightened up considerably on serve.

But Alcaraz brought up his first break point of the second set with Sinner serving for a two-set lead, duly pouncing on the opportunity to check his rival’s momentum.

With the swagger back in his step at a crucial juncture, Alcaraz sought to bring the crowd into the contest but Sinner remained unflustered in the tie-break.

The first five points went with serve before Sinner whipped a forehand down the line and Alcaraz then steered an attempted drop-shot wide.

A tame return into the net presented Sinner with four set points. Alcaraz saved two before Sinner unleashed a blistering cross-court forehand to move to within a set of the trophy.

Alcaraz pulls off miraculous comeback

It all looked to be going his way when he broke Alcaraz to begin the third set, but the Spaniard refused to surrender his title quietly and rattled off four games on the bounce to lead 4-1.

Alcaraz lost serve at 5-3 but promptly broke to love to force a fourth set, lapping up the roars of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.

That ended Sinner’s run of 31 consecutive sets won at Grand Slams.

Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game amid a series of holds as Sinner doubled down. The Italian appeared to be closing in on victory when he broke at 3-3 as the finish line neared.

But Alcaraz had other ideas as he staved off three championship points at 3-5 and then broke Sinner when he tried to seal the title on his serve.

Successive aces spurred a reinvigorated Alcaraz on in the tie-break and into a decisive fifth set.

A despairing Sinner lost his serve right away and his gloom deepened as Alcaraz saved two break points to pull 3-1 ahead, but incredibly there was another twist.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/french-open-2025/carlos-alcaraz-saves-three-match-points-against-jannik-sinner-to-win-french-open-8620325

The Aragon Grand Prix has historically been a favorable track for Honda riders, with the manufacturer securing multiple victories since the circuit’s introduction to the MotoGP calendar in 2010. Mir’s familiarity with the track and past performances had set expectations for a strong showing this weekend.

Honda HRC Castrol rider Joan Mir experienced a crash at Turn 2 of the Ciudad del Motor de Aragon circuit in Spain during the free practice session for the Aragon Grand Prix. The incident occurred as Mir was navigating the early stages of the session, leading to a temporary halt in proceedings while marshals ensured the track was safe for continuation.

Mir was able to walk away from the crash unaided, and initial assessments suggest that he did not sustain any serious injuries. This crash adds to a challenging season for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, who has faced multiple setbacks, including a recent incident at the French Grand Prix where he suffered a fracture to his right hand following a collision with Francesco Bagnaia. Despite these hurdles, Mir has shown resilience, aiming to capitalize on circuits like Aragon, where he has previously enjoyed success.

The Aragon Grand Prix has historically been a favorable track for Honda riders, with the manufacturer securing multiple victories since the circuit’s introduction to the MotoGP calendar in 2010. Mir’s familiarity with the track and past performances had set expectations for a strong showing this weekend.

Australian MotoGP rider Jack Miller suffered a setback at the Thailand Grand Prix, crashing in the Tissot Sprint. The Prima Pramac Yamaha rider’s impressive qualifying effort was undone when he suffered a disappointing crash on lap seven, forcing him to retire from sixth position.

In a previous crash at the Valencia Grand Prix, Miller slid off while leading the race, ultimately losing control of his bike. He also had a close call at the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he was involved in a scary crash with Brad Binder and Fabio Quartararo.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/motogp-joan-mir-walks-away-unhurt-after-high-speed-crash-ahead-of-aragon-gp-qualifying-video

KL Rahul started the England tour on a high by scoring a century for India A against England Lions on the first day of the second unofficial Test. Rahul justified his special request to the BCCI after not being named in the squad.

KL Rahul kick-started his England tour on a high by scoring a century on the first day of the second unofficial Test between India A and England Lions on Friday (June 6) at the County Ground in Northampton.
Rahul replaced Sarfaraz Khan in the playing XI despite the latter scoring a fine knock of 92 in the first game, which ended in a draw. Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran demoted himself as Rahul walked out to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
After the Lions won toss and chose to bowl first, Rahul looked at ease despite a green pitch and cloudy conditions. The home team fielded a strong bowling unit consisting of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue, who will play for England in the Test series against India.

Rahul made a knock of 111 in 168 balls before being dismissed by George Hill. No other Indian player in the top six managed a half-century.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/kl-rahul-justifies-special-request-to-bcci-ends-gautam-gambhirs-headache-sends-england-big-warning-article-151805021

This comes in the wake of heightened emotions across Bengaluru, following both the team’s iconic victory and the tragic stampede that marred the celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The chilling video highlights a darker side of fanaticism, where admiration for cricketers crosses into self-harm and ceremonial extremes.

A disturbing video has surfaced online showing an overly zealous Virat Kohli fan applying a blood tilak on the cricketer’s poster to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) long-awaited IPL 2025 title win. The video, which has gone viral, has left netizens both stunned and concerned, with many questioning the extremes of fan devotion in modern sports culture.

The footage depicts a visibly distressed fan slicing his wrist and using the blood to ceremonially mark Kohli’s forehead on a poster he’s clutching. Social media users questioned whether such extreme acts of devotion are prompted by Kohli’s influence or the broader fan culture at RCB.

This comes in the wake of heightened emotions across Bengaluru, following both the team’s iconic victory and the tragic stampede that marred the celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The chilling video highlights a darker side of fanaticism, where admiration for cricketers crosses into self-harm and ceremonial extremes.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to the video:

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ajeeb-pagalpan-hai-netizens-react-as-fanatic-virat-kohli-fan-applies-blood-tilak-on-his-poster-after-ipl-2025-triumph-video 

Gautam Gambhir, Indian cricket team head coach, has said that Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebration victory parade road show should never have taken place

Gautam Gambhir, Indian cricket team head coach, has said that Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebration victory parade should never have taken place. He added that such events must take place in a closed-door environment. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s joy of winning a first IPL title in 18 years turned tragic as 11 people lost their lives in stampede at a planned victory parade on Wednesday. The RCB team members, including Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, were felicitated at the Vidhan Soudha by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at around 5 PM IST after which there was a planned open bus parade. Lakhs of people gathered around the area where it was supposed to take place. It turned tragic as 11 died and close to 50 people got injured in the event.

“I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows. Never. When I was playing, I had the same statement, even after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup that we should not have road shows. The lives of people are far more important and I will continue to say that. In future we can be little bit aware about not holding these kind of road shows and probably have it in a closed door environment. What has happened is very tragic. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones,” Gautam Gambhir said at a pre-departure press conference ahead of India vs England Test series.

Asked if the nature of fandom had changed over the years, Gambhir spoke about being responsible in every aspect of life.

“I can’t say whether the fan base has increased or all that kind of stuff. All I can say is that we need to be responsible. We need to be responsible in every aspect of whether being a franchise or everything (else) because every life matters.” Gambhir also questioned the need to hold a road show when they were simply not prepared.

“If you were not ready to hold a road show, you shouldn’t have done that. (It is) as simple as it can get,” he couldn’t be more blunt.

He said he understands the excitement of fans but what happened in Bengaluru was beyond tragic.

“I know fans do get excited. Everyone gets excited. The fan base gets excited. But nothing compared to what has happened recently. You cannot at any point of time lose 11 people,

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia talked to NDTV and admitted ‘some lapses’ were there on the part of the organisers.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/lives-of-people-far-more-important-than-roadshows-gautam-gambhir-attacks-rcb-title-celebration-organisers-8596591

Second seed Coco Gauff beats Lois Boisson 6-1, 6-2 to set up French Open women’s singles final against No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

For the first time in over a decade, the French Open women’s final will feature the top two players in the world, as World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 2 Coco Gauff set up a blockbuster clash for the Roland Garros title. Sabalenka and Gauff are set to clash for the Roland Garros title after Sabalenka defeated Swiatek and Gauff beat Lois Boisson in the semifinals. Gauff eyes her second Grand Slam title after reaching the final for the second time.

Sabalenka booked her spot in the final by ending Iga Swiatek’s reign in Paris. In a gripping semifinal showdown, the Belarusian defeated the three-time defending champion in three sets, halting Swiatek’s dominance on clay and securing her first-ever appearance in a French Open final.

Shortly after, Gauff kept her dream run alive with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over French wildcard Lois Boisson, whose surprise journey to the semifinals had captured hearts across the tennis world. For Gauff, this will be her second Roland Garros final, having reached the title match in 2022, where she lost to Swiatek.

Now, two years later, the American returns more experienced and with a Grand Slam title already under her belt—her breakthrough win at the 2023 US Open, where she defeated Sabalenka in a memorable three-set final.

The upcoming championship clash marks the 11th meeting between Sabalenka and Gauff. Since Gauff’s US Open triumph, the two have split their last four encounters, setting the stage for an evenly matched and high-stakes battle.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/french-open-2025/coco-gauff-beats-lois-boisson-to-set-up-french-open-final-against-aryna-sabalenka-8597828

18 years in the making. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Virat Kohli overcame years of heartbreak to finally lift the Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday. In a final of close margins, RCB edged out Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For Kohli, however, meant a lot much more. After all, he gave every ounce of his energy for the franchise. Friends and former colleagues were in attendance to witness Kohli finally get his hands on the trophy.

An emotional Kohli was thronged by his teammates after the final ball was bowled. Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, was also present inside the stadium to support her husband and RCB. After bathing in glory, alongside his teammates, Kohli went to hug Anushka, who was seen wiping her husband’s tears.

After embracing each other for a few seconds, Kohli planted a kiss on the forehead of Anushka, who has been coming to support the team even before the two got married. Since 2014, to be precise.

After the match, Kohli spoke candidly about his loyalty to the team and his motivation to keep pushing himself even at this stage of his career.

“I’ve stayed loyal to this team, and they’ve stayed loyal to me. My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore. There were other moments, but I stuck with RCB because it means everything to me,” he added.

Kohli also hinted at the approaching end of his career but made it clear that he intends to give his all until the very last day.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/anushka-sharma-wipes-virat-kohlis-tears-after-he-hugs-her-post-ipl-triumph-rcb-icon-then-does-this-8580746

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs in the final to clinch their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title. The Rajat Patidar-led side, that has cricketing icon Virat Kohli, ended its 18-year long wait for a maiden IPL trophy. Opting to bowl first, PBKS restricted RCB to 190 for 9, with Arshdeep Singh (3 for 40) and Kyle Jamieson (3 for 48) being the major contributors. Virat Kohli was top-scorer for RCB with 43 off 35. RCB never got going in the innings and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. In reply, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 38) and Krunal Pandya (2 for 17) bowled magical spells to stop PBKS at 184 for 7 in 20 overs.

RCB vs PBKS : Thank you!

IPL 2025 comes to an end. The festival will come again next year. That’s a wrap for our coverage. 74 matches, a week’s break in between, and at the end, history made by RCB. Thank you for joining us along the way on NDTV Sports.

Stay tuned, as we bring you live coverage of the French Open, the Club World Cup, and very soon, India’s tour of England!

Thank you! Goodnight.

RCB vs PBKS LIVE: RCB LIFT IPL 2025 TROPHY!

Three-times champion Novak Djokovic reached a century of wins at the French Open in a straight sets victory against Cameron Norrie on Monday and top seed Jannik Sinner produced another masterclass to also blaze into the quarter-finals.
Men’s fifth seed Jack Draper bowed out though, as did women’s third seed Jessica Pegula who was stunned by world France’s world number 361 Lois Boisson.

Serbian Djokovic, the sixth seed, looked serene in outclassing Britain’s Norrie 6-2 6-3 6-2 to edge closer to a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic became the second man to win 100 matches at the Paris Grand Slam after retired 14-times champion Rafael Nadal (112), to set up a last-eight clash against Alexander Zverev.
“It’s a number which is very good and nice, but a 101st win is even better,” Djokovic, who won the Olympic gold medal last year in Paris to complete his trophy cabinet, told the appreciative crowd in fluent French.
“It’s not finished for me here the tournament and I feel very good and good to make history here. I hope there will be another win here in two days.”
His German opponent in the last eight spent even less time on the court, third seed Zverev punching his ticket when Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor retired midway through the second set with an abdominal injury.

Zverev has reached his seventh French Open quarter-final in the last eight years and is still looking to secure a maiden Grand Slam title.
“From now on I have the toughest draw in the tournament,” Zverev said. “I’m looking forward to the battles ahead, and I’m looking forward to playing the best in the world.”

SUBLIME SINNER

World number one Sinner lit up the night session with a sublime display to beat Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-3 6-4 and stretch his winning streak in Grand Slam play to 18 matches.
Italian Sinner, the U.S. and Australian Open champion, has won all 12 sets he has played this year on Parisian clay and looks in ominous form as he closes on a first French Open title.
While Djokovic, Sinner and Zverev were all smiles, Britain’s dark horse Draper was heading for home after succumbing to a mesmeric display by Kazakh Alexander Bublik , who a few months ago questioned his future having dropped down the pecking order.

The 27-year-old, among the most naturally gifted players on tour who has admitted to lacking the commitment of other top professionals, seized his moment to drop shot his way past young gun Draper to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Bublik, who had never got past the second round in Paris, hit a staggering 37 drop shots in his 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4 win.
“Standing here is the best moment of my life, period,”, Bublik, in tears, told the crowd.
“I’m standing here like I won the thing. I can’t cry here, let me be in peace, I’m a professional tennis player, I’ve got one more match, I’ve got to get ready.”
Bublik’s victory was the second upset of the day after unheralded Boisson shook up the women’s draw with a shock 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over Pegula .
Wild card Boisson outplayed the American favourite with the aid of a fierce forehand that had the Chatrier crowd on their feet.

As if that was not enough for the home crowd, they also got to see the Champions League soccer trophy minutes later, after Paris St Germain’s victory over Inter Milan on Saturday.
PSG forward Ousmane Dembele carried it onto the court to ear-splitting cheers as his team became the second French outfit to lift the European Cup after Olympique de Marseille in 1993.
Second seed Coco Gauff was in no mood for surprises, however, as she brushed aside Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 to stay on course for her first title in Paris.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/gauff-speeds-past-alexandrova-book-french-open-last-eight-spot-2025-06-02/

A video of when D Gukesh sealed a win against Magnus Carlsen is going viral on social media. It shows the moment Carlsen banged a table in frustration after losing to the 18-year-old Indian in Norway Chess 2025. However, some social media users, instead of just celebrating the Indian champion, have flooded the comments section with racist remarks. Many users targeted Gukesh’s nationality with xenophobic and derogatory comments, sparking outrage online.

An NRI pointed it out in an X post and wrote, “Can I ask why isn’t @NorwayChess moderating its TikTok account, despite repeated racist comments targeting Gukesh? These comments are visible, liked by thousands, and consistently appear at the top.” The individual further shared a screenshot of a remark under the video that reads, “Magnus was distracted by the curry scent (sic).”

How did social media react?

People had a lot to say about this post. An individual remarked, “West hates Indians, they always did.” Another added, “They encourage racism against Indians.”

A third expressed, “No worries. The whole world hates India’s rise. Who cares about trolls? Let them waste their time and mind.” A fourth wrote, “They can’t accept the fact an Indian talent got over the top. Nobody from the West is complaining about Magnus’ attitude, saying it’s all. It’s pure jealousy.”

The 18-year-old sealed a surprising win against the World No. 1 in their Round 6 face-off. Initially, Gukesh was in a losing position. However, after a blunder by Carlsen, the Indian clinched a win against the Norwegian.

Gukesh’s grandfather on Carlsen’s table banging:

Gukesh’s grandfather, Shankar Rajesh, defended Carlsen by saying, “That is natural.” He continued, “He will be relaxed, and he will be practising.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/magnus-was-distracted-by-curry-scent-instead-of-applause-d-gukesh-s-win-video-draws-racist-hate-on-tiktok-101748913292494.html

Shreyas Iyer is leading Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, and he played a match-winning knock for the Mohali-based franchise in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians.

Shreyas Iyer is leading Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, and on Sunday (June 1), he entered his name in the history books by becoming the first captain in the world to lead three different teams to the IPL final.

Iyer played a super knock for the Mohali-based franchise in the second qualifier of IPL 2025 against Mumbai Indians at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He remained unbeaten on 87 runs from 41 balls and, during his stay at the crease, hammered five fours and eight sixes.

His memorable knock helped PBKS chase down the 204-run target in 19 overs for the loss of five wickets and book a place in the IPL 2025 final.

Iyer made his captaincy debut in the IPL for Delhi Capitals during the 2018 edition and led them to the IPL final in the 2020 edition, where they finished as runner-up. He captained Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 and 2024 and won his maiden IPL title as captain with the Kolkata-based franchise last year.

By leading PBKS to the IPL 2025 final, Iyer also becomes the fourth captain in the world after MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya to play back-to-back IPL finals and the first captain to play back-to-back finals with two different teams.

Captains to play back-to-back IPL finals

• MS Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) and (2018, 2019)
• Rohit Sharma – Mumbai Indians (2019 2020)
• Hardik Pandya – Gujarat Titans (2022 2023)
• Shreyas Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders (2024) and Punjab Kings (2025)

Shreyas Iyer’s record as captain

• 2019: Delhi Capitals (Playoffs)
• 2020: Delhi Capitals (Final)
• 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders (7th)
• 2024: Kolkata Knight Riders (Champion)
• 2025: Punjab Kings (Final*)

In the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025, Iyer came out to bat at No. 4 and added 84 runs for the fourth wicket with Nehal Wadhera (48 runs) and 38 runs for the sixth wicket with Marcus Stoinis (2 runs).

Iyer’s super knock with the bat also helped Punjab Kings become the first team in IPL history to chase down a target of more than 200 runs against Mumbai Indians.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/shreyas-iyer-creates-history-becomes-1st-captain-in-the-world-to-ws-l-9363386.html

It looked like Magnus Carlsen would extend his lead in Norway Chess 2025 by another three points, with a second win against reigning World Champion D Gukesh. But the 18-year-old, who was in a losing position in the endgame, scripted a massive comeback, taking advantage of a blunder by the World No. 1 and sealing his first classical win against Carlsen.

Such was the style in which Gukesh won, that fans and experts are calling it the ‘turnaround of the year’. Carlsen was equally shellshocked by the win, and banged the table in frustration as the pieces also fell off. It also left the commentators and fans in shock, with the video going viral online. After Carlsen slammed the table, he also shook hands with Gukesh, who was also shocked that he finally bagged his first classical win vs the Norwegian, and the Indian GM stood up, looking dazed and confused. Carlsen then on his way back, patted Gukesh on his back, and walked off.

For Gukesh, it was the perfect revenge, as he had lost to Carlsen in the opening round. Gukesh has now climbed to third spot with 8.5 points and is behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana by just one point. It was also a big comeback by Gukesh, who didn’t look like he was in good form in the opening round loss to Carlsen. But on Sunday, he turned things around to seal a win against Carlsen, in 62 moves and over four hours.

Full video of Magnus Carlsen’s reaction to D Gukesh’s epic revenge:

With this victory, MI advances to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2, vying for a spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As the tournament progresses, moments like Pandya’s serenade underscore the team’s cohesion and the spirited environment that fuels their pursuit of the title.

In a delightful post-match moment that captured the camaraderie within the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp, captain Hardik Pandya serenaded teammate Jonny Bairstow following their victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2025 Eliminator. The light-hearted gesture not only showcased the team’s unity but also highlighted Bairstow’s impactful debut performance for MI.

Following the match, MI’s official X handle shared a video capturing Pandya’s playful tribute to Bairstow. In the clip, Pandya is seen singing, “Jonny! Jonny! Jonny baby! teri meri… hai kahani!” The unexpected serenade left Bairstow momentarily puzzled before both players burst into laughter, reflecting the joyous atmosphere within the team.

Jonny Bairstow, recently acquired by MI as a replacement for Will Jacks, made an immediate impression by scoring a rapid 47 off 22 balls. His explosive innings, featuring a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, propelled MI to a commanding total of 228-5. This formidable score laid the foundation for MI’s 20-run victory, keeping their championship aspirations alive.

With this victory, MI advances to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2, vying for a spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As the tournament progresses, moments like Pandya’s serenade underscore the team’s cohesion and the spirited environment that fuels their pursuit of the title.

The IPL 2025 Eliminator clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT) featured tense interactions between former teammates Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill.

Before a ball was even bowled, the spotlight was on the captains. At the toss, MI skipper Hardik Pandya and GT captain Shubman Gill shared a visibly awkward moment. After winning the toss, Pandya appeared to move toward Gill, perhaps to shake hands. Gill, simultaneously unsure, mirrored the motion. Both then pulled back in a split second of hesitation, resulting in an odd exchange.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/teri-meri-hai-kahani-hardik-pandyas-funny-song-leaves-jonny-bairstow-confused-after-ipl-2025-eliminator-win-video 

In a recent incident that has garnered significant attention, former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam was involved in a heated confrontation with fans on the streets. A video capturing the altercation has gone viral, showing Azam visibly agitated, gesturing aggressively, and pushing a young fan aside as he attempted to navigate through a crowd of onlookers.

While the exact cause of the confrontation remains unclear, it’s speculated that the fans’ taunts may have been related to Azam’s recent exclusion from Pakistan’s T20I squad following the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

This is not the first time Azam has found himself at odds with fans. Earlier in Cardiff, he was seen asking security to disperse a crowd of fans seeking selfies, expressing his frustration over the invasion of personal space.

These incidents highlight the growing tension between public figures and fan expectations. While fans play a crucial role in an athlete’s career, maintaining boundaries is essential for the well-being of both parties.

In a humorous turn of events during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, England’s Sam Billings playfully teased Pakistan’s Babar Azam over their contrasting half-century performances. Billings, representing Lahore Qalandars, achieved the fastest fifty of the tournament, reaching the milestone in just 19 balls against Quetta Gladiators. Conversely, Babar Azam, leading Peshawar Zalmi, recorded the slowest fifty, taking 47 balls to reach the mark.

Billings shared an Instagram story juxtaposing their innings. This light-hearted jab highlighted the stark difference in their scoring rates while acknowledging that both innings contributed to their respective teams’ victories.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/babar-azam-engages-in-physical-fight-with-fans-on-street-was-seen-shoving-a-man-video

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Champions League for the first time by beating Inter Milan 5-0 on Saturday (local time). Luis Enrique’s young team dominated the match, with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in what became the biggest winning margin in the history of the final of the tournament, which began in 1956.

Achraf Hakimi, facing his former club, scored the opening goal early in the game. Doue’s shot took a deflection and gave PSG a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute. He scored again just after the hour mark, making the result certain. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added the fourth goal, and substitute Senny Mayulu made it five.

Inter struggled throughout the match. PSG’s victory is the biggest in a final since the European Cup and Champions League began 70 years ago.

This win comes after years of investment by PSG’s Qatari owners. It also follows their 2020 loss to Bayern Munich in their only other final. PSG had already won the French league and cup this season. They are now only the second French club to win the Champions League, after Marseille, who beat AC Milan in 1993, also in Munich.

PSG coach Luis Enrique has now won the Champions League twice. He previously won it with Barcelona 10 years ago.

The current PSG squad was built over the last two years and came together after Kylian Mbappe left the club.

Doue, who turns 20 on Tuesday, was the standout player in the final.

Inter Milan could not add a fourth Champions League title. Their last win was in 2010. Coach Simone Inzaghi has now taken Inter to the final twice in three years and lost both times. They also missed out on the Serie A title this season and end the campaign without a trophy.

Match summary: 

PSG took the lead in the 12th minute. Vitinha passed to Doue, who squared the ball to Hakimi. Hakimi scored into an empty net and did not celebrate against his old club.

This was the earliest goal in a Champions League final since 2019. Inter had little hope after conceding early. The last time both teams scored in a final was in 2018. The last team to concede first and still win was Real Madrid in 2014.

PSG scored again on a counterattack. Willian Pacho stopped Inter from getting a corner. His clearance went to Kvaratskhelia, who passed to Ousmane Dembele. Dembele found Doue, who shot past goalkeeper Yann Sommer with a deflection off Federico Dimarco.

Inter had one chance in the first half when Marcus Thuram’s header went wide. Things got worse in the second half. Defender Yann Bisseck came on for Benjamin Pavard but had to go off injured after 10 minutes.

PSG scored a third in the 63rd minute. Dembele flicked the ball to Vitinha, who passed to Doue. Doue beat Sommer at the near post. He was then substituted and applauded by the crowd.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/champions-league-final-psg-hammer-inter-milan-5-0-to-win-first-ever-title/articleshow/121542273.cms

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya had an awkward moment during the toss in the Eliminator match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Friday. Right after the coin landed in favour of MI, Gill walked back to let Hardik come to the front. As per the custom, the captain that wins the toss has to speak first and announce his decision whether to bat or bowl first. When Gill was going away from the scene after the toss, Hardik offered his hand to shake with Gill, but the latter failed to notice it, giving rise to an awkward moment.

Toss @mipaltan won the toss and elected to bat first against @gujarat_titans

Updates https://t.co/R4RTzjQfph #TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/E3G3NU0FXK

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025
Some fans felt that Gill deliberately missed the handshake and they claimed it a matter of “ego clash”.

The ego clash between Hardik and Gill in eliminator pic.twitter.com/IlEdgDg3lY

— Bosmin (@bas_you_hi) May 30, 2025

Gill refused to shake hands with Hardik Pandya. pic.twitter.com/DNlwykaIWU

— (@Ro45Aryan) May 30, 2025

Shubman gill involved in ego war with Hardik Pandya Hardik tried to shake his hands but Shubman didn’t because of his fragile ego that too in front of the one who made his t20 career.

pic.twitter.com/MletxWmTyu

— Crasher (@lmao_crx3r) May 30, 2025
Rohit Sharma rode his luck to make a stroke-filled 81 after Jonny Bairstow made instant impact on his MI debut, propelling the five-time champions to a daunting 228 for 5 in Mullanpur.

On a surface which had less grass compared to the one used on Thursday, Mumbai Indians decided to bat first and the batters ensured the team goes into the break with an upper-hand. Titans dropped three crucial catches — two of Rohit (81 off 50 ) and one of Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20) – and produced another ordinary effort with the ball in the knock-out fixture.

Rohit was dropped twice in the powerplay before veteran made the opposition pay dearly for their on-field errors. On the first occasion, Gerald Coetzee dropped him in the deep and Kusal Mendis’ GT debut went all awry when he bungled a regulation take behind stumps off Mohammed Siraj. It was Bairstow (47 off 22), who gave Mumbai Indians the momentum in the powerplay with some sublime hitting.

The out of favour England batter, who joined the mighty Mumbai Indians days after collecting back-to-back fifties in county cricket for Yorkshire, took his chances early on and was well rewarded.

He targeted Titans’ best pacer of the season, Prasidh Krishna, plundering him for 26 runs in the fourth over of the innings that included three sixes. The first hit was a pull that comfortably sailed over square leg fence before picking the pacer for a clean hit down the ground.

Rohit too got into the act when spinner Sai Kishore was introduced inside the powerplay. The former MI captain employed the sweep shot to perfection to collect two fours and a massive six to take his team to 79 for no loss in six overs, the team’s best powerplay of the season.

Most batters prefer to see out Rashid Khan but having found his rhythm, Rohit even went after the star Afghanistan spinner. He first went for the inside out aerial drive before slog sweeping Rashid for a six. At 113 for one in 10 overs, Mumbai Indians looked unstoppable.

When Suryakumar joined Rohit in the middle, boundaries continued to flow. India’s T20 captain welcome Gerald Coetzee into the attack with couple of sixes, one a pull shot while the other was cut that just about cleared the ropes.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/ego-clash-fans-react-to-shubman-gill-hardik-pandya-awkward-moment-during-gt-mi-game-watch-8549178

The internet can’t stop talking about Anushka’s celebratory reaction from the stands. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, she stood up, clapping and beaming with pride.

Anushka Sharma couldn’t hold back her joy as Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed their place in the IPL 2025 final. In a high-stakes Qualifier 1, RCB decimated Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings by restricting them to just 101 runs and comfortably chasing the target.

The internet can’t stop talking about Anushka’s celebratory reaction from the stands. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, she stood up, clapping and beaming with pride, as Kohli’s team clinched the win. In one frame that’s now all over social media, Anushka is seen laughing and hugging a friend beside her in delight.

In another moment that melted hearts, Virat Kohli looked up at the stands and pointed one finger to Anushka. The gesture, fans believe, was his way of saying “just one more win to go” before they can lift the long-elusive IPL trophy.

The image of Kohli with his arm raised, intense focus in his eyes, and Anushka watching from the stands with visible pride, quickly went viral.

“The happiness of Anushka Sharma when RCB qualify for the final,” wrote a user on X (formerly Twitter). Another fan added, “Virat Kohli saying to Anushka Sharma that we are one more win away from the IPL trophy.”

Kohli’s passion on the field and Anushka’s unwavering support off it has always been a highlight for fans, and Thursday night was no different.

Source : https://www.news18.com/movies/bollywood/anushka-cheers-as-virat-shows-one-more-win-gesture-after-rcb-reaches-ipl-2025-final-watch-9358796.html

Many wondered how much winning the Conference League would mean to Chelsea – but there were few doubts at the final whistle.

Nearly all season the Blues have walked over their opposition in Uefa’s third-rated tournament, but they were really tested by Real Betis in Wroclaw, especially in the first half.

However, four second-half goals were all wildly celebrated – and the players then partied after the 4-1 win as much as if they had won any other major trophy.

Cole Palmer, the man of the match, set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, with Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo also netting.

“Winning this trophy is massive,” said former Blues keeper Mark Schwarzer, a BBC Radio 5 Live summariser for the game.

“You can see what it means to them and how important it is to win it.

“This is what it’s about. It’s about creating that bond and that experience of winning a trophy.”

It was Chelsea’s first trophy since the Fifa Club World Cup in February 2022 and their first considered a major prize since the 2021 Champions League.

The club’s former midfielder Joe Cole, watching for TNT Sports, said: “People turn their noses up at it but look at all the smiling faces among the players, the staff, the fans. This is what it is all about.”

Fellow pundit Lucy Ward added: “People mock this trophy but this will mean a lot to this set of Chelsea players because it is a platform to move on into the Champions League this season.”

BBC Sport takes a look at the story of Chelsea’s Conference League campaign.

Virat Kohli has made history for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025. Playing against Lucknow Super Giants, Virat Kohli reached 9000 runs for RCB when he reached the score of 24. The former Indian cricket team captain is the first player to do so. He also slammed a half-century in 27 balls. Kohli achieved another big feat. Kohi is now the first batter to cross 600 five times in IPL. Virat is RCB’s highest-ever run-getter in history, combining statistics from IPL and now-defunct Champions League T20. Kohli ultimately fell on 54.

Most runs for a team in Men’s T20s
9004 – Virat Kohli for RCB
6060 – Rohit Sharma for MI
5934 – James Vince for Hampshire
5528 – Suresh Raina for CSK
5314 – MS Dhoni for CSK

600-plus aggregate in an IPL edition most often
5 – Virat Kohli (2013, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025)
4 – KL Rahul (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)
3 – Chris Gayle (2011, 2012, 2013)
3 – David Warner (2016, 2017, 2019)

Before Tuesday’s match, in 279 matches and 270 innings, he has scored 8,970 runs at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 133.49. He has scored eight centuries and 64 fifties. His best score is 113*.

He is the highest run-getter in IPL history, with 8,552 runs in 264 matches and 256 innings at an average of 39.59, with eight centuries and 62 fifties. His best score is 113*.

In 15 matches for RCB in CLT20, he has made 424 runs at an average of 38.54 and a strike rate of 150.35, with two half-centuries. His best score is 84*. He is the franchise’s top run-getter in the competition.

Virat has been sensational this season, top-scoring for the franchise with 548 runs in 12 innings at an average of 60.88 and a strike rate of 145.35. He has scored seven fifties, with the best score of 73*. He is the sixth-highest run-getter in the tournament currently.

Rishabh Pant produced his best batting of the season in the last league match, scoring a scintillating unbeaten century to propel Lucknow Super Giants to 226/3 in 20 overs in Match 70 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Ekana Stadium here on Tuesday. Pant, who has struggled throughout the season, moving up and down the order but managing only one half-century, found his mojo in the last match and put up a brilliant display of power-hitting as he hammered his second century in IPL history to help LSG set the biggest chase ever at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The previous highest chase here is 206 and RCB will not have to set a new record for the venue if they have to win this match.

Pant remained unbeaten on 118 off 61 balls while Mitchell Marsh continued with his superb form for the season with 67 off 37 balls as LSG reached a massive total.

RCB, who need to win this match to finish among the top two and secure a place in Qualifier 1, faltered with their team selection, leaving out skipper Rajat Patidar on the bench.

Asked to bat first, Lucknow Super Giants were off to a poor start as debutant Matthew Breetzke (14 off 12, 1×4, 1×6), who was struck on his head by Nuwan Thushara, departed with 25 runs on the board, Thushara castling him with a beauty. However, skipper Rishabh Pant showed a welcome return to form in their last match of the season as he joined Mitchell Marsh in raising 142 runs for the second wicket, propelling the side towards a huge total.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), needing to win the match to finish among the top two, looked a bit off-colour on the field as their bowlers proved a bit ineffective against Pant and Marsh.

Pant looked in his element as he started with a 2,6,2,4,0,4 blitz against Yash Dayal in the fourth over and went from strength to strength from there as LSG reached 55/1 in the power-play.

Pant continued to flourish with a six and four off successive balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over, a six followed by two fours in the 10th off Suyash Sharma, and a four and six off successive balls against the same bowler in the 10th as he raced to his half-century in 29 balls.

Marsh, who has been the top scorer for LSG this season, was equally good at the other end as he raced past the 600-run mark for the season, scoring his half-century in 31 balls as they reached the 150-run mark in their partnership in 85 balls.

Desperate to stem the run flow, RCB skipper Jitesh Sharma brought Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the attack but Marsh treated his return with sixes off successive balls — the first over the bowler’s head, while the second was a loft off a fullish delivery bowled wide, went high into the sky but landed way beyond the long-off boundary. However, the bowler had the last laugh as he induced an outside edge on a scrambled seam delivery that landed full on sixth stump. Marsh attempted a loft again but edged it behind. He was out for 67 off 37 balls studded with four fours and five sixes.

Pant continued to thrive and reached his second century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in seven years as he blasted boundaries at will, reaching the three-figure mark off 54 balls.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/virat-kohli-reaches-historic-high-becomes-1st-ever-batter-in-ipl-history-to-8522923

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) will see a closing ceremony before the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are planning a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to honour their work during Operation Sindoor. Top chiefs of the IAF have been invited for the summit clash.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will give a special tribute to the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) and honour their extraordinary services to the national during the 2025 Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Closing ceremony which will be held before the tournament’s final starts on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the Indian cricket governing body has invited the chief of the defense staff as well the chief of the army, navy, and air staff.
“The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation. As a tribute, we have decided to dedicate the closing ceremony to the armed forces,” said BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in an interaction with Sportstar.

The same publication also reported that the event will feature a performance by the military band before a musical ceremony is held.

For those unversed, India launched a counter-strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) on the intervening night of May 6 and 7, following the barbaric Terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
Later, the IAF retaliated strongly to the offensive action by Pakistan before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
The 2025 IPL was suspended for a week before the tournament resumed on May 17. The league’s final was originally scheduled to be played on May 25 in Kolkata. However, it was moved to Ahmedabad in the revised schedule due to concerns over weather and a major rain threat with the early onset of monsoon in various parts of the country.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/bcci-plan-special-tribute-to-operation-sindoor-in-ipl-2025-closing-ceremony-iaf-chiefs-invited-article-151726097

Even as the spotlight was firmly on the match between India’s teenage world champion Gukesh and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi, ranked No.4 in the world, was the first to take the opening points by beating China’s No.1 player Wei in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw after 54 moves.

Stavanger, Norway: Magnus Carlsen showed why he is the best player in the world in all formats of the game, beating world champion D Gukesh of India in the opening round of Norway Chess to take three full points here on Monday.

It was a day when Carlsen tried to unnerve Gukesh, playing his first Classical game against the Norwegian since winning the world title last year in Singapore, by employing the Jobava London, a rarely-used opening move.

But Gukesh, playing with black pieces, did not fall into the trap and instead neutralised the white’s advantage by the 11th move and had Carlsen in a bit of a trouble.

But the Norwegian, a five-time world champion, who has since moved to shorter formats, such as Rapid and Blitz and more recently Freestyle chess, showed he has not lost his touch with the Classical format, winning a contest which lasted for over four hours and 56 moves.

Earlier, Arjun Erigaisi, the other Indian in the six-player round-robin Open category, impressed in the first round beating his Chinese opponent Wei Yi in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw.

Even as the spotlight was firmly on the match between India’s teenage world champion Gukesh and world No.1 Magnus Carlsen, Erigaisi, ranked No.4 in the world, was the first to take the opening points by beating China’s No.1 player Wei in Armageddon after the two had agreed to a draw after 54 moves.

Erigaisi, playing black, played aggressively to take the match to a draw and then beat his opponent on time in Armageddon.

In Armageddon, the white gets 10 minutes, while the black gets only seven, still Erigasi overcame the disadvantage to beat Wei.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/carlsen-beats-gukesh-in-nerve-wracking-opening-round-of-norway-chess-3558375

Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly’s brother Snehasish Ganguly and his wife Arpita had a narrow escape in Odisha on Sunday after their speedboat capsized in the sea. The couple was on a holiday in Puri and were enjoying water sports activity when the incident happened. Snehasish Ganguly is a former Bengal cricketer and current president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Both Snehashish and Arpita are safe and have returned to Kolkata.

“I thank Lord Jagannath. This is sort of a second life for us,” Snehashish told Cricbuzz on Monday. “It was a life-threatening accident. Our boat capsized inside the sea and we were saved by the local people and lifeguards.”

Snehasish added that visiting Puri has been sort of a tradition for them.

“I visit Puri every year – it has been a tradition for the past 31 years. I perform puja at the Jagannath Temple annually. On Saturday, we suddenly decided to go into the sea. I don’t know why I chose to do it – it was a last-minute decision,” he said.

“It was around 5:30 in the evening when we boarded the boat along with another couple. There were lifeguards on board. Suddenly, a powerful wave struck the boat, and it capsized instantly, turning [it] upside down. We were trapped beneath the capsized boat, inside the water.

“Before we could even realise what had happened, another wave struck, and the boat flipped upright. That gave us a chance to wriggle free from the trapped situation. Around that time, some lifeguards also reached and rescued us. I can’t express the relief – I just thank Lord Jagannath.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sourav-gangulys-brother-snehashish-recalls-near-death-experience-in-puri-at-sea-trapped-beneath-8513672

Gukesh and Carlsen will be playing the classical format for the first time after the Indian became the world champion late last year and the opening match will be crucial for both going deeper into the tournament.

Stavanger, Norway: World champion D Gukesh acknowledged that starting with black pieces is a tricky proposition against Magnus Carlsen after he was drawn against the World No.1 in the Norway Chess tournament beginning on Monday.

Gukesh and Carlsen will be playing the classical format for the first time after the Indian became the world champion late last year and the opening match will be crucial for both going deeper into the tournament.

“For sure, it’s (match against Carlsen) a special game to start the tournament with. But also, I mean, you play all the players with both colours, so it really doesn’t make a difference,” said Gukesh when asked how he felt starting with black pieces against the five-time world champion in his backyard.

“Since it’s the start of the tournament, I guess we’ll both try to be as sharp as possible and get into the tournament as quickly as possible as it’s the first round.

“It’s always kind of tricky to get your best shape in the first round, so, it’ll be a fun challenge,” added Gukesh, whose form has slumped following the world title triumph last year.

Carlsen too kept his cards close to his chest, saying he wasn’t “quite sure what to expect” in the opening round, as he had played very little classical chess of late.

“Honestly, I haven’t really played a proper classical tournament since last year. Classical chess that I have played, it’s mostly been against somewhat lower-rated players. So, whether it’s against Gukesh or somebody else, I’m not really quite sure what to expect,” he said.

“I think, I certainly want to do well in those games and he (Gukesh) does as well. I mean, I cannot speak for him, but I wouldn’t imagine otherwise,” added Carlsen, the six-time Norway Chess champion who is defending his title here.

The 18-year-old Gukesh said he has been trying to work his back to top form ahead of the event.

“I guess after the world championship, I mean, all of the tournaments that I played, Wijik Aan Zee was really good, after that none of the tournaments have been actually good.

“I am back to working, I am back to playing, training apps, so it’s just that if I continue to do it, continue doing the right things and stay consistent, then the results will improve. So, this (Norway Chess) will be one opportunity to bring back (my form),” he added.

The Indian prodigy said he has started training more seriously now, following the world championship triumph against Ding Liren of China.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/its-tricky-to-get-your-best-shape-in-first-round-with-black-pieces-gukesh-3556859

Rafa Nadal said the presence of his friends and rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray during a celebration of his glorious career at the French Open made an emotional Sunday evening all the more special.
Thousands of fans including defending men’s and women’s champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek wore brick-red ‘Merci Rafa’ shirts before 14-times Roland Garros champion Nadal was immortalised on Court Philippe Chatrier with a plaque.

The loudest cheers, however, came when Federer, Djokovic and Murray stepped onto the hallowed clay court to share a few words and laughs with Nadal after the Spaniard had welled up watching a video of his greatest moments.
“I didn’t know, but I imagined they would come. The agendas of people sometimes are difficult. But of course, they knew that they were going to make the day very special,” Nadal told a packed press conference.
“Novak is playing here, so it’s easier. But Andy and Roger coming meant a lot to me because they represent a very important part of my tennis career. In some ways we pushed each other to the limits. That’s the truth.

“We were four of the best rivals. In some way when you’re only two, you can lose a bit the motivation because the other starts losing or gets injured. Here, you never had to imagine, because always one of the four was winning the tournament.

“We achieved our dreams. And probably because of that kind of rivalry we raised the numbers of the history of tennis to the next level. That helps to the next generation to try to improve them. I’m sure that’s going to happen.”
Nadal, who ended his career after representing Spain in the Davis Cup in November, said he had “infinite gratitude” for the people who ensured his name was permanently etched on the main showcourt at Roland Garros.
“I never thought about becoming one of the best players of all time or winning Grand Slams. I just worried about trying to improve every single day,” he added.

“I felt that way during all my career. Probably step by step, that’s why I was able to build my career, this successful career. Because I always had doubts, and I never considered myself that good.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/nadal-touched-by-presence-great-rivals-during-french-open-tribute-2025-05-25/

The Ferrari driven to victory by Formula One legend Michael Schumacher at the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix has been sold for 15.98m euros (£13.43m) at auction.

He also raced in the F2001 to win the Hungarian Grand Prix and clinch the fourth of his seven world titles in that year.

The car was sold by RM Sotheby’s before qualifying for this year’s Monaco Grand Prix and became the most expensive car driven by the German, 56, to be sold at auction.

It was also the fourth most expensive F1 car ever sold – the world record was set in February when a Mercedes ‘streamliner’ raced by Sir Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio went for £42.75m.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cz0dyj3993po

The BCCI on Saturday (May 24) announced the Test squad for the five-match series against England. Barring Arshdeep Singh’s selection, there were no surprises in the Test team. Shubman Gill was appointed the new Test captain of Team India.

The Indian selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, announced the Test squad for the England tour on Saturday (May 24). Shubman Gill, who was the frontrunner for the top job, was appointed the Test captain while Rishabh Pant was made his deputy. The selectors showed faith in many players who were part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Arshdeep Singh and Sai Sudharsan are only two new faces in the Test format. Arshdeep’s selection comes as a surprise as he wasn’t named in the India A squad while Sudharsan seemed to be an automatic selection following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
The selectors have named as many as 9 players in Team India and India A squads for the England tour. Here’s a look at them –

Shubman Gill: The India Test captain will join the India A team before the second unofficial Test match. He could take over the charge from Abhimanyu Easwaran for the second game.

Red-and-white streamers exploded into the air as Arsenal lifted its second Women’s Champions League trophy after stunning defending champion Barcelona 1-0 in the final on Saturday.

Tough defense and a goal by Stina Blackstenius in the 75th minute from a pass by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead powered Arsenal to glory at Estádio José Alvalade.

Arsenal’s title came 18 years after it became the first — and still the only — English club to win the top club title in women’s soccer.

Arsenal’s players embraced on the final whistle and ran to celebrate in front of the corner of the stands where their supporters reveled in the shock result.

“We had to be basically perfect to beat Barcelona,” Arsenal captain Kim Little said. “Our players who came on today had an incredible impact.”

Little and Leah Williamson raised the trophy and streamers and glittering confetti shot over the podium. Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey, who played for Barcelona until this season, consoled Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatí before she stepped up to collect her fourth Champions League winner’s medal.

Barcelona was the heavy favorite. It was aiming for a fourth title in five years and to become the only team other than Lyon to win three consecutive titles. The team led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas won nine straight in the competition and blew out Wolfsburg and English champion Chelsea in the knockout rounds.

But Arsenal locked down in defense — except for early in the second half — and created the best chances. Only two superb saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll to deny Frida Maanum and Blackstenius kept it scoreless until Blackstenius finally beat her.

Defense wins championships

The victory marks an incredible finish to a rocky season for Arsenal, which included coach Jonas Eidevall resigning and being replaced by assistant Renée Seglers.

Since taking over, Seglers steered the team through a spectacular European campaign. Arsenal built its confidence from come-from-behind wins over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout rounds before laying low the almighty Barcelona.

Seglers delivered a masterful coaching performance in the final, getting her substitutions right and devising a way to stop the highest scoring team in the tournament.

“What we did so well was using all possible tools to speed the game up, to disrupt it, but to stay true to who we are. This was key to why we won today,” Seglers said. “Barcelona are so good, but we tried to exploit weaknesses where we could. We said beforehand that the midfield of Barcelona was the engine. So we wanted to stop them.”

Arsenal defender Katie McCabe said it was all about the work rate the entire side put in. That started up front, where England striker Alessia Russo was a rock for Arsenal, using her size to win balls and keep the attack going.

“We respect them but we can’t give them too much respect either,” McCabe told The Associated Press. “We needed to put pressure on them and we know we are a really good pressing team and our frontline and the midfield really worked their socks off today.”

Barcelona falls short on biggest stage

The loss was a huge disappointment for the more than 15,000 Barcelona fans who filled the stadium that is home to Sporting Lisbon. Blue-and-burgundy shirts and flags outnumbered the red-and-white section, but their calls of “Yes we can!” in the final minutes weren’t enough to inspire a comeback by the Catalan club.

The closest Barcelona came to a goal was a shot by Claudia Pina that hit the crossbar just after halftime when the Spanish team had its best period. Otherwise, the game was to Arsenal’s liking.

Source :https://apnews.com/article/barcelona-arsenal-womens-champions-league-final-54f013e34c2c546d4240149beac2178a

It has been a fascinating 18th edition at the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a lot of drama, both, on and off the field. The tournament resumed again on the 17th of May after a 10-day hiatus due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. While the season has witnessed some memorable performances, there have been a few big players who haven’t lived up to their reputation and failed miserably this year. From Rishabh Pant to Glenn Maxwell to Jake Fraser-McGurk, from Mohammed Shami to Rachin Ravindra – we look at five stars who haven’t quite twinkled in this edition.

1. Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings)

Glenn Maxwell’s IPL stock took a big hit and continued to spiral down for a second successive season after the Australian T20 superstar could muster just 48 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 97.95 before a finger injury ruled him out of the tournament. Maxwell registered four single-digit scores and looked all at sea against the spinners this season – he scored just 30 runs off 29 deliveries getting dismissed 5 out of 6 times by the slower bowlers.

Maxwell had a horrendous run in IPL 2024 too, scoring just 52 runs in nine innings at a paltry average of 5.77 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A change in franchise did not change the fortunes of the Australian all-rounder.

2. Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)

Rishabh Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for a whopping INR 27 crore making him the most expensive player in IPL Auction history! The LSG skipper, however, has failed to deliver and been a patch of the T20 batter he was between 2017-2019 – his peak in the IPL. Pant has managed to score just 128 runs in 11 matches at a shocking strike rate of 99.22 – it is the lowest strike rate amongst the 67 batters who have scored a minimum of 100 runs in the season!

Pant has registered 6 single-digit scores this season while also failing in two other outings. He has produced just one substantial knock (63 off 49 balls) – that too in a losing cause against Chennai Super Kings. Pant’s sluggish rate of scoring has put enormous pressure on the LSG middle-order and is one of the prime reasons for their reversal of fortunes after a blistering start to the season.

3. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami has been an IPL great and one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the last five editions of the tournament. In fact, Shami was the highest wicket-taker in the IPL between 2019 and 2023 and bagged a total of 106 wickets in 75 outings at a sensational strike rate of 16.2 in these five seasons.

Shami’s dramatic drop in form in IPL 2025 has been one of the major reasons for the poor showing by his new franchise – Sunrisers Hyderabad – the finalists from last season. The veteran Indian pacer has just picked 6 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 56.17 in the competition while also being very expensive – Shami has been hit around the park and has an economy rate of 11.23 runs per over. The pacer has been so under-par that he was dropped from the SRH playing XI for a couple of matches.

4. Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)

Jake Fraser McGurk was one of the shining lights of the revolutionary IPL season last year when he blasted 330 runs in just nine innings at a startling strike rate of 234.04 – it was the highest strike rate in the tournament amongst all batters who scored a minimum of 100 runs!

However, cricket is a great leveller and Fraser-McGurk has learnt that the hard way in IPL 2025. He mustered just 55 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 105.76 for the Delhi Capitals before being dropped from the XI. Interestingly, the young Australian sensation struggled against pace this season with fast bowlers accounting for five of his six dismissals.

5. Rachin Ravindra (Chennai Super Kings)

IPL 2025 was supposed to be the big breakthrough season for Rachin Ravindra – the T20 batter. Unfortunately, the New Zealand star would need to wait a little longer after a disappointing season with the bat for Chennai Super Kings. Ravindra had an aggregate of just 191 runs in 8 innings with just one fifty-plus score to his credit. With the exception of his unbeaten 65 off 45 deliveries in CSK’s opening encounter against Mumbai Indians at Chepauk, the left-hander had nothing much to write home about.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/big-name-no-game-the-five-biggest-flops-of-ipl-2025-8492121

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was not at his best but managed a second-place finish behind Julian Weber of Germany at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on Friday.

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was not at his best but managed a second-place finish behind Julian Weber of Germany at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on Friday. The 27-year-old Chopra was at third place till the penultimate round but sent his spear to a distance of 84.14m in his sixth and final attempt to move to second. He had 81.28m and 81.80m in his second and fifth throws respectively. The other three were foul attempts. The competition was held under overcast conditions after rain at the Silesian Stadium earlier in the day..

German Julian Weber, who beat Chopra for the top spot in the Doha Diamond League on May 16 in a 90m duel, again emerged victorious with his second round throw of 86.12m.

Two-time world champions Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with a best throw of 83.24m. He was third in Doha also.

This was the first time Chopra had recorded a best throw of less than 85m in an event after the 82.27m while winning gold at the 2024 Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/athletics/neeraj-chopra-finishes-2nd-in-poland-event-behind-julian-weber-8491634

But Wrestlenomics claim the extravaganza is ready to depart from New Orleans.

And wrestling fans across the UK have gone wild with excitement at the possibility of a switch across the pond.

WWE enthusiasts are already at fever pitch – as a cryptic post from John Cena suggested the legend might NOT retire this year.

The undisputed champ and Hollywood star shared a Leonardo DiCaprio picture from The Wolf of Wall Street on Instagram – showing the movie’s famous “I’m not leaving” scene.

There’s even talk now that Cena could peak his feud with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson by taking on his biggest rival once more.

SunSport revealed earlier this month that London was hoping to hold WrestleMania within the next decade.

It’s been held every March or April since 1985, with the top performers from RAW and SmackDown on stage in front of millions.

Most of the greatest names ever in wrestling have taken part – like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, The Undertaker, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

WrestleMania 42 was in Las Vegas last month, attracting 125,000 fans to the Allegiant Stadium.

Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is booked for April 11-12 next year – although that now seems to be in doubt.

Indianapolis has also been lined up to host it at some point too.

But as speculation grows that London might have a future role, British fans are drooling.

One posted: “If Wrestlemania comes to London I will do laps around my house bro.”

Another WWE follower’s response to that was “After your laps you’re gonna have to sell your house to afford the tickets.”

But the first fan replied: “I will sell my KIDNEYS.”

Another enthusiast wrote: “WrestleMania needs to be in the UK, I’d love that.”

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/14303183/wrestlemania-wwe-london-cena-cryptic-post/

Delhi Capitals hit a historical low after failing to make the playoffs in the 2025 Indian Premier League. The Capitals were beaten by the Mumbai Indians by 59 runs in a virtual knockout at the Wankhede Stadium. DC have achieved an embarrassing feat which no team in IPL’s history has managed before

The Delhi Capitals (DC) hit a historic low after losing to the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 59 runs on Wednesday (May 21) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The result ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. MI confirmed the spot in the second round and joined Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
DC had a dramatic decline as they started the season as the trend-setters by winning their first four matches in the ongoing campaign in what were Axar Patel’s first four games as captain. Later, they won two of their next games and found themselves in a comfortable position with six victories in eight matches.
However, the Capitals are now winless in their last five matches, with four defeats and one washout. It is with pointing that they shared points against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a game they found themselves in a losing position in.

The IPL 2025’s new venues for playoffs and final have been announced. Hyderabad and Kolkata were initially supposed to host the last four games before the one week suspension of the tournament. Now, Mullanpur and Ahmedabad will be hosting the playoff stage matches. “After 70 action-packed league-stage matches filled with energy, drama, thrill, and entertainment; the spotlight will shift to the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh as it gears up to host the much-awaited Qualifier 1 – featuring the top-two ranked sides on Thursday, May 29th followed by an engrossing Eliminator clash on Friday, 30th May,” the BCCI said in a press stament.

“The excitement will elevate further as Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium in the world will host an electrifying Qualifier 2 and the grand Final. The Qualifier 2, to be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator, will take place on Sunday, June 1st. The highly-anticipated summit clash, which will crown the winner of the 18th Season of TATA IPL, is set to be played on Tuesday, June 3rd.”

The BCCI also divulged the reason behind changing the IPL playoff venues. “The new venues for the Playoffs were decided by the IPL Governing Council keeping in mind the weather conditions and other parameters,” it said.

There was another shift in venue in one of the IPL 2025 matches. “The TATA IPL Match No. 65 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been relocated to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, due to unfavourable weather conditions in Bengaluru,” the BCCI statement said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/bcci-breaks-silence-on-moving-ipl-2025-final-from-kolkata-to-ahmedabad-keeping-in-mind-8462595

The 29-year-old, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is learnt to have returned positive for a banned substance when his urine sample taken out of competition earlier this year was tested

Olympian javelin thrower Shivpal Singh has failed a dope test for the second time in his career, a development which may see him being banned for a maximum period of eight years if found guilty. The 29-year-old, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is learnt to have returned positive for a banned substance when his urine sample taken out of competition earlier this year was tested. He was training at the NIS Patiala then. He has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

“Yes, he has tested positive for a banned substance. It’s his second dope offence,” a source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

If proven guilty and handed a lengthy ban, Shivpal’s career will be as good as over.

Under the NADA and WADA rules, an athlete can be banned for a maximum eight years for a second doping offence.

Shivpal’s best achievement in his career is the silver medal he had won at the 2019 Asian Championships in Doha, where he had thrown his personal best of 86.23m.

Earlier in 2021, Shivpal’s dope sample had tested positive for a steroid in an out-of-competition test. The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of NADA, in August 2022, had handed him a four-year ban beginning from 2021, holding him guilty of committing a doping offence.

He was to serve the ban till 2025 but was able to argue successfully before the Appeal Panel of the NADA that “contaminated supplements” were behind his flunked dope test.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/indias-star-javelin-thrower-at-tokyo-olympics-shivpal-singh-fails-dope-test-stares-at-8-year-ban-8462128

Vaibhav Suryavanshi touched MS Dhoni’s feet after the Rajasthan Royals’ victory over Chennai Super Kings in a moment that quickly went viral on social media. The 14-year-old was RR’s top scorer as they registered a six-wicket victory in their final match of the season. Suryavanshi is the youngest player in IPL’s history.

In a moment that won the hearts of cricket fan around the world, Vaibhav Suryavanshi took MS Dhoni’s blessing with the ultimate gesture of respect by touching the feet of the Indian cricket legend after Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday (May 20).
The 14-year-old was the star of the show for the Royals in their six-wicket victory over the five-time champions. Suryavanshi hit a 33-ball 57 as he hit his second 50+ score in the IPL and shattered the record books once again.

For those unversed, in many cultures, especially in India, touching the feet of elders is considered a gesture of respect as well as a means of taking their blessing.

Suryavanshi (aged 14) and Dhoni (aged 43) are the youngest and oldest players in the 2025 IPL. The Royals’ batter is the youngest player in the league’s history, while Dhoni is the third-oldest player to feature since the league’s inception in 2008.

Talking about the match, RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl first in their final game of the season. CSK put up a score of 186 on the board with mid-season signings Ayush Mhatre (43 of 20) and Dewald Brevis (42 of 25) finishing as the top scorers. Akash Madhwal was the pick of the bowlers for RR with a three-wicket haul in which he gave away just 29 runs.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/vaibhav-suryavanshi-takes-ms-dhonis-blessing-touches-feet-of-csk-skipper-in-heartwarming-moment-watch-article-151684264

BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla was seen intervening between Lucknow Super Giants’ spinner Digvesh Rathi and SunRisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma as the fallout from the heated exchange continued. In a video surfaced on social media, Shukla seemingly tried to calm both Rathi and Abhishek from stretching the matter further.

The heated exchange between Rathi and Abhishek came after the leg-spinner dismissed the opener in the eighth over. With the wicket coming at a crucial juncture for the Super Giants, the leg-spinner gestured the left-handed batter to go back to the pavilion along with performing the notebook celebration. Although Abhishek was walking back to the pavilion, he returned to exchange some words with Rathi and the umpires had to intervene to break the fight up.

Meanwhile, below is the video of Rajiv Shukla intervening to break up the argument between the two cricketers:

Abhishek Sharma’s 20-ball 59 helps SunRisers Hyderabad knock out Lucknow Super Giants

Nevertheless, Abhishek had done nearly half the job for the SunRisers by the time he had lost his wicket. The 82-run partnership off 35 deliveries with Ishan Kishan helped the SunRisers march ahead in the run-chase of 206 massively. Ishan Kishan (35), Heinrich Klaasen (35) and Kamindu Mendis (32*) also chipped in with useful contributions to help the Orange Army register a six-wicket victory.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ipl-2025-bcci-vp-rajiv-shukla-tries-to-settle-argument-between-digvesh-rathi-abhishek-sharma-after-lsg-vs-srh-match-video

The recent hostilities between India and Pakistan on the border areas are set to have a long and lasting impact on the cricketing relations between the two countries. While India and Pakistan were already against playing bilateral cricket, the worsened political relations between the two nations have jeopardized multi-team events between the two teams too. With a Pakistan minister heading the Asian Cricket Council – the body governing cricketing affairs in the continent – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to pull out of this year’s Asia Cup, in a bid to further isolate the neighbouring country.

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in India, but with a match against Pakistan all but out of the picture, the contest doesn’t hold much significance from a financial standpoint. While countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan also earn revenues from the tournament, the biggest attraction unarguably remains an India vs Pakistan clash.

However, considering the current political climate, the BCCI doesn’t seem to be keen on continuing with the Asia Cup plan. Such a scenario would hurt the financials of the Asian body, led by Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Naqvi assumed the role after Jay Shah, former secretary of the BCCI, vacated the role after being named the chairman of the International Cricket Council.

“The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying.

With most of the sponsors for the Asia Cup coming from India, the current anti-Pakistan sentiment in the country makes it quite tricky for the BCCI to go ahead with the tournament’s plans.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bcci-adopts-bold-move-to-isolate-pakistan-set-to-pull-out-of-asia-cup-report-8449794

Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh struck fluent half-centuries, while left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar picked up three crucial wickets as Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs on Sunday to seal a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. The win took Punjab to 17 points — level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru — but RCB retained second place thanks to a better net run rate.

Leading PBKS in his debut season with the franchise, Shreyas Iyer etched his name in the IPL record books by becoming the first player to captain three different teams into the playoffs. He had earlier led Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020, and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, before repeating the feat with Punjab this season.

Overall, Iyer is only the fifth player to lead three different IPL franchises, joining the likes of Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant), Kumar Sangakkara (Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mahela Jayawardene (Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals), and Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Kolkata Knight Riders).

Among them, only Iyer and Sangakkara have led all three sides on a full-time basis.

Batting first, Punjab piled up a daunting 219 for 5, powered by Wadhera’s blistering 70 off 37 balls, Shashank’s unbeaten 59, and a handy 30 from captain Iyer.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/shreyas-iyer-creates-ipl-history-no-captain-has-ever-done-this-before/articleshow/121256497.cms

Due to the abandoned match, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can reach a maximum of 14 points, which would not be enough for qualification.

Reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have crashed out of the playoffs race in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after their game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out due to rain. Not a single ball was bowled in the first game following the resumption of IPL 2025, as heavy and persistent rain kept the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium under covers throughout Saturday evening. As a result, both RCB and KKR get one point each. This means that KKR can reach a maximum of 14 points, which won’t be enough to secure them a playoffs spot.

With fourth-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) and fifth-placed Delhi Capitals (DC) facing each other later in the season, it ensures that at least one of those two teams will definitely finish above KKR.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, edge closer to a playoffs spot. The no result takes RCB to 17 points and provisionally on top of the IPL 2025 table. However, a mathematical miracle could still see them eliminated.

If RCB lose their remaining two matches, DC win two matches, PBKS win one and MI win both, it would leave three teams on 17 points, and qualification would come down to net-run-rate.

KKR have endured a disappointing season. After romping to a dominant title win in 2024, the men in purple lost three crucial cogs at the mega auction, in the form of captain Shreyas Iyer, pacer Mitchell Starc and opener Phil Salt. KKR have suffered from inconsistency throughout the season. They lost five of their first eight matches under new captain Ajinkya Rahane.

An abandoned home match against Punjab Kings dealt a huge blow to KKR earlier in the season, and now it is yet another abandoned match that has seen them get knocked out.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/ipl-2025-playoffs-scenario-kkr-crash-out-fail-to-defend-title-rcb-not-yet-through-8440220

Coach Ajith Markose suggests that Afsal’s quality of being ‘a hybrid runner’ is what makes him distinct from the other Indian athletes in the event.

At 29, Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath realises the clock is ticking. This doesn’t, in any way, suggest that the clam middle distance runner from Palakkad in Kerala is panicking. If anything, Afsal has now reached a time zone in his life where erasing seconds off his runs feels exciting.

This positive emotion arises from correcting years of mistakes in training methods and better understanding of injecting tactics. Knowing when to chase or when to accelerate and when to push or when to relax, has taken Afsal to a place he has long desired.

A big star in school athletics, someone who went through his share of troughs, had his second biggest moment after winning silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games when he shattered Jinson Johnson’s 7-year-old national record in the 800m last weekend. Afsal clinched silver after clocking 1 minute 45.61 seconds at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai to erase Johnson’s 1:45.65 that was set in 2018 at the National Inter-State Championships in Guwahati.

“He (Johnson) was one of the first persons to congratulate me. I have always looked up to him and it feels great to have broken his record,” expressed Afsal, a Junior Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force.

“Since there were athletes from Kenya and South Africa, I knew it was going to be a fast race. I was feeling good before the start and I stuck to the strategy until the end.”

Trailing at the back of the pack at the end of the first lap (400m), Afsal hit the speed button at the 550m mark before overtaking competitors ahead of him at the final bend. The Indian’s final kick came 30 metres from the finish line that helped Afsal surpass South Africa’s Christopher Swart (1:45.84), who took bronze, but ended a tad bit short of Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat (1:45.38) who won the gold.

While Johnson has been India’s flag-bearer of middle-distance events for years, Afsal has now added his name by finding his footing in the two-lapped 800m race. And coach Ajith Markose suggests that Afsal’s quality of being ‘a hybrid runner’ is what makes him distinct from the other Indian athletes in the event.

“800m athletes are classified based on endurance and speed. Usually one aspect will be more dominant than the other. But Afsal is what we call a hybrid,” said Markose, the middle and long distance coach at the Reliance Foundation, who has been training Afsal since 2021.

“He responds well to and tolerates both endurance and speed training. This is the best kind of a combination in an 800m runner.”

The high in Dubai came after the setback at the Federation Cup in Kochi in April. After clocking 1:46.70 in heat 2, Afsal failed to bring out his best in the final where he finished fourth with a time of 1:48.33. The under-performance saw the Kerala man missing an opportunity to book a ticket to the Asian Athletics Championships starting on May 27 in Gumi, South Korea.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/making-the-two-lapped-race-his-own-the-afsal-way-3544486

Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s presence in Mumbai, for offering puja at the Siddhivinayak Temple on Thursday, had the rumour mills working overtime

The India captaincy was his for the taking, but since that fateful January 4 morning in Sydney, the peerless Jasprit Bumrah has gradually fallen behind in the race, and it will be difficult for him to avoid the feeling of being shortchanged. The leadership role was meant for him until he quietly left the Sydney Cricket Ground for a scan while holding his back few months ago. In Bumrah’s absence, any hopes of India winning the final Test against Australia went up in smoke, but that particular injury also dealt a telling blow to his chances of becoming India’s long-term Test captain.

“I am shocked that we are looking at option other than Bumrah as Test captain. Worried about his injuries? Then choose your vice-captain carefully,” former India Test player and noted pundit Sanjay Manjrekar wrote on his official ‘X’ handle.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s presence in Mumbai, for offering puja at the Siddhivinayak Temple, had the rumour mills working overtime that Shubman Gill is still not a done deal for the leadership role.

With the new captain-in-waiting having an extended meeting with the head coach in the national capital few days back, there is little chance for the selectors or Gambhir to retract from their original stand.

There were rumours that influential people running Indian cricket aren’t exactly happy with Gill’s sudden elevation but it would be completely foolhardy to believe that those powerful men weren’t taken into confidence before the Punjab batter was zeroed in as the next Test leader.

That leaves Bumrah, now 31, in a situation where permanent India captaincy might just look like a distant dream and, based on informed opinion, it will be difficult for him to play five Tests on the trot.

In the past, Ravi Shastri was bypassed during his best days, first by contemporary Kris Srikkanth and then by a younger Mohammed Azharuddin.

Down Under, the late Shane Warne was the best captain never to have led Australia, but that had a lot to do with the legendary leg-spinner’s off-field antics.

In case of Bumrah, the selectors had a very sharp, intuitive hands-on leader, but their worry is also understandable. What happens in case of a breakdown?

Freak on-field injuries can’t be controlled, but stress fractures (back), side strain, knee, and hamstring-related troubles that fast bowlers face are part of fitness-related issues.

One injury on a January morning in Sydney, and Bumrah was out for three months. Before that, he missed 11 months of action due to an on-field breakdown just before the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.

Going ahead, how the dressing room atmosphere will be depends on how Bumrah eventually takes this decision in his stride.

Needless to say, it will require a lot of man management from young skipper Gill and the seasoned dressing room figurehead Gambhir to ensure that Bumrah is accorded the respect and space he deserves.

It is an open secret that Gambhir is not a fan of star culture and believes that in a team environment, everyone is equal. But, even if that notion holds true, there would always be someone who is more than equal, and that person would need a bit of extra leeway going forward.

If one looks at the current Indian Test team, there are only two genuine match winners across conditions — Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.

Champions are a rare species, and they need to be mollycoddled at times to get the best out of them.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/indias-new-captain-has-extended-meeting-with-gautam-gambhir-both-need-to-tackle-jasprit-bumrah-question-report-8424849

A report states that Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket within the span of a week, leading to a tectonic shift in the Indian team. This comes with just a month to go before Team India begin their World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign with a five-match Test series in England. Many, including Ravichandran Ashwin, have predicted it to be the start of the Gautam Gambhir era in Test cricket. It looks like the Team India head coach might now want a big change in the dressing room post the retirements.
Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction.
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, Gautam Gambhir has conveyed to the team management that he wants full control in the dressing room as he does not want a repeat of the 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand. Choosing Shubman Gill as the captain might just be a step in that direction. This is because Gill is a fairly young captain and might not have the authority to question any of Gambhir’s decisions.

Jasprit Bumrah was the only player in the dressing room whose stature allowed him to question Gambhir, the report states. However, the fast bowler’s questionable injury record might be a deterrent to him becoming the next captain of the Indian team.

Mohammad Kaif claimed Virat Kohli had his plans intact for the England series, but lacked support from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee

Virat Kohli’s Instagram post on Monday (May 12), which garnered close to 18 million engagements in the last 48 hours, did not provide any information on why he suddenly decided to retire from Test cricket. The BCCI and its selectors, too, are numb. Hence, the announcement, which happened just days before the scheduled selection meeting for the England Test tour, sparked a plethora of speculations.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif reckoned Kohli had his plans intact for the England series, which will begin on June 20, and his claim was based on Kohli’s commitment to play in the Ranji Trophy after returning from the Australia tour. However, he felt that Kohli lacked support from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, who expressed concerns around his recent form and questioned his place in the Test line-up.

“I think he wanted to continue in the format. There must have been some internal talks with the BCCI, the selectors may have cited his form in the past 5-6 years and told him his spot in the team may no longer be there. We will never find out what happened, it is very difficult to guess what actually took place behind the scenes.”

“But given the last minute decision, having played the Ranji trophy, I definitely think he wanted to come back in the upcoming Tests. The developments in the last few weeks, he may have not gotten the support he thought he will get from BCCI and selectors which he may not have gotten,” Kaif was quoted by NDTV.

‘Kohli looked in a hurry to score runs in Australia’

The 36-year-old did experience a dip in form in the last five years, managing just 2028 runs in 68 innings with three centuries. The struggle even saw his career average drop to 46. Kohli showed signs of a comeback in the tour of Australia, where he scored a smashing ton in the Perth opener last November, but managed just 90 runs more in the rest of the tour as India lost 1-3.

Kaif felt Kohli’s uncharacteristic approach in Australia was a sure indication that he was done with the format.

“In the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he looked in a hurry to score runs. You have to stay out for hours and grind in Test cricket, which he has done in the past but the constant edging of the ball moving away from him while attempting to drive, made me feel his patience was a bit less,” he added.

“Maybe he was thinking ‘I am in the last phase of my career what’s the point of scoring a gritty century, there used to be a different level of patience on display from him before, he used to leave the balls, take his time, tire the bowlers and then took them down but I did not see that from him in Australia’.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/virat-kohli-got-no-support-from-bcci-selectors-was-told-his-spot-is-no-longer-there-they-cited-his-form-in-last-5-years-101747238375497.html

While Rohit took his game to another level since being recalibrated into an opener from the 2019 series against South Africa, Kohli made the coveted No. 4 slot his own, bringing the same sense of security and confidence his predecessor, the great Sachin Tendulkar, brought to the Indian team.

The back to back retirement of two Indian legends — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — from Test cricket just ahead of the all-important five-game series against England has left a massive void that is certain to force the selectors and team management into deep thought on how to fill it.

While Rohit took his game to another level since being recalibrated into an opener from the 2019 series against South Africa, Kohli made the coveted No. 4 slot his own, bringing the same sense of security and confidence his predecessor, the great Sachin Tendulkar, brought to the Indian team. Now with both gone in quick succession, DH takes a look at the possible contenders for the two key slots as well as the middle order.

KL Rahul

The immensely-gifted but under-achieving Rahul is the odds-on favourite to partner Yashasvi Jaiswal. A natural opener since age-group cricket for Karnataka, the elegant and technically sound 33-year-old was shunted down to No. 6 since the away series against South Africa in December where he doubled up as a wicket-keeper too. The pattern continued even after Rishabh Pant returned as the management felt Rahul could add solidity down the order. Rahul, however, has made no bones about the fact that his intention is to play as an opener and he got to do that job during the previous away series against Australia, where he made a decent impression with two half-centuries.

Shubman Gill

Gill, the front-runner to take the Test captain’s role, started his career as an opener but the 25-year-old has always maintained that he’s a natural fit at No. 3. He got his wish fulfilled when veteran Cheteshwar Pujara, who occupied that position for a long time, was ignored before the series against West Indies last July. He has averaged 37.74 in 30 innings in his chosen position — almost 2.5 more than his career average — but can the 25-year-old take one for the team and drop a slot below to No. 4? It’s a position he has never batted in top-flight cricket, always occupying the top three slots. But with Kohli gone, India needs someone with similar talent and mindset to take over and who better than Gill, considered the heir to the King’s throne since his age-group days.

B Sai Sudharsan

There is no denying the fact that Sudharsan is one of the most talented batters in the country now. The 23-year-old has been one of the standout players in the IPL over the last three seasons, often getting Gujarat Titans to blazing starts with his easy-on-the-eye stroke play. The stylish southpaw, in fact, has been making waves since age-group cricket and the retirement of two legends could finally pave the way for his entry. Sudharsan, again, is a natural opener which means either Rahul or Jaiswal may have to drop down. If Sudharsan is handed a debut, then Rahul could bat at No. 4 considering he’s more experienced at handling various challenges. That would also ensure Gill bats at No. 3.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer, who returned from a year-long exile due to form and disciplinary issues during the three-match ODI series against England in February, could potentially be recalled for the England series. The 30-year-old Iyer, a gifted stroke-maker who was marked for bigger things as a youngster but couldn’t achieve them, could be an ideal fit for the No. 4 slot. Having struggled to find a permanent place in the Indian team owing to the presence of some stalwarts, this could be the door that Iyer has been waiting all his life. Although he’s highly vulnerable against short-pitched bowling, there’s no harm in handing him a lifeline.

Karun Nair

Not very long ago, Nair seemed lost to cricket itself that forced him to go on social media and plead for a second chance. The cricketing gods answered his call when he was signed up by Vidarbha from the 2023-24 season onwards and since then Nair has been a man on a mission. He’s batted better than he has ever, he has looked fitter than he has ever been and that fire and determination to prove that he is still got it is burning ever so passionately. Nair will mostly get picked for the India A series and if he performs there, then there’s every chance he could return to the national fold. If he does, it would be a natural justice for India’s only other triple-centurion considering England is where he was left a tad humiliated when India summoned Hanuma Vihari and played him instead during the 2018 series. And what better if he bats at No. 4, a slot that he’s comfortable at.

Devdutt Padikkal

Padikkal is another of those young turks hoping to make a name if selected. A tall elegant batter, the 24-year-old Padikkal has featured in two Tests where he has made a reasonable impression. Padikkal can play as an opener or slot himself in the middle order too.

Sarfaraz Khan

In the 6 Tests he’s played so far, Sarfaraz has given an indication of what he’s capable of and what he’s vulnerable against. A high-risk high-reward type of batter, Sarfaraz can demolish any attack on his day but that ploy, while highly successful for him in domestic cricket, can backfire in international cricket. England, where the ball talks a lot, could be a tough place for such a type of batter but given how pitches have changed since Bazball, Sarfaraz could be the crack addition to the line-up.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/who-can-fill-the-big-shoes-of-kohli-rohit-kl-rahul-test-cricket-team-india-karun-nair-3538821

The Indian cricket team will be looking for a new Test captain after the retirement of Rohit Sharma. Former skipper Virat Kohli has also bid adieu to the longest format of the game. With the national team looking for a new red-ball captain, here is a look at who the fans favour –

After the retirements of current and former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India will head into the marquee five-match Test series against England as well as the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a new captain.
Unlike in the past, when Kohli took over MS Dhoni or Rohit replaced Kohli, the Indian team does not have a clear-cut transition plan so far. Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) face a tough choice to name a replacement, and a unanimous choice is unlikely.

Virat Kohli, who ends his Test career as one of the modern greats with over 9000 runs and 30 centuries, has often spoken of drawing inspiration from athletes across disciplines — and Djokovic stands high among them. Likewise, Djokovic has previously expressed admiration for Kohli’s mental toughness and fitness standards, making this tribute all the more meaningful.

As the cricketing world reflects on the legacy of Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket, tributes have poured in from across sports — including from tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The Serbian star took to Instagram to honor Kohli, sharing a photo of the Indian cricket icon with a simple yet powerful caption: “Incredible Innings.”

The Instagram Story, posted shortly after Kohli made his retirement from Test cricket official, has gone viral across both tennis and cricket communities. Djokovic’s gesture reflects the immense global respect Kohli commands, not only within cricket but among the broader fraternity of elite athletes.

Kohli, who ends his Test career as one of the modern greats with over 9000 runs and 30 centuries, has often spoken of drawing inspiration from athletes across disciplines — and Djokovic stands high among them. Likewise, Djokovic has previously expressed admiration for Kohli’s mental toughness and fitness standards, making this tribute all the more meaningful.

Novak Djokovic’s tribute highlights the mutual admiration between two of the fiercest competitors in their respective sports, and serves as a reminder of how sporting greatness transcends boundaries.

Jay Shah Commends Virat Kohli’s Stellar Test Career After Retirement

The IPL was halted on May 8 after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were called off after Pakistan tried to invade Indian air space near Chandigarh, forcing a blackout in the stadium.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday decided on resume the IPL season across six venues from May17 with the final scheduled to be held on June 3.

The IPL was halted on May 8 after the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals were called off after Pakistan tried to invade Indian air space near Chandigarh, forcing a blackout in the stadium.

“BCCI is pleased to announce the resumption of the TATA IPL 2025. After extensive consultations with government and security agencies, and with all the key stakeholders, the Board has decided to proceed with the remainder of the season,” the board said in a statement.

The first match upon the resumption of the league will be between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on May 17.

The six venues for league matches as per revised schedule will be: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-to-resume-on-may-17-3537199

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif urged Virat Kohli to not retire from Tests and board the plane for the upcoming Test series against England.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif urged Virat Kohli to not retire from Tests and board the plane for the upcoming Test series against England. The rumours mills are rife that Kohli has decided to bring the curtain down on his Test career as he no longer wants to play the longest format. However, as per reports, the BCCI top brass are constantly in touch with the maverick batter, asking him to reconsider his decision and make the trip to the UK for the five-match series, beginning June 20.

The 36-year-old has been having a torrid time in Tests. In the last five years, the right-hander has scored just four centuries. In the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the former India captain managed 190 runs in nine innings.

His numbers would have looked all the more horrible had he not scored a century in the series opener in Perth. Kohli kept on chasing deliveries bowled well outside off and all of his eight dismissals happened in identical fashion.

“Virat Kohli, India’s Babbar Sher wants to relax. He is thinking about retirement. I think he should go to England, prove his point and end his career on a high note. Because of the work he did in the T20 World Cup, he should end his career on a good note. Is he thinking about retirement out of helplessness? Because there is one kind of delivery that has been troubling him for many years. The ball bowled outside the off stump,” Kaif said in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).

“When the ball was bowled in the fourth-stump channel, he got out many times. It was such a trouble that he couldn’t get over it. In his career, he went to England and got out there. In Australia, he got out here. At home, against New Zealand, he got out to spin. He tried a lot,” he added.

‘Kohli tried very hard’

Kaif said that Kohli has been trying his best, but he has been unable to get the better of his weakness – the deliveries bowled outside the off stump. However, he reckons the talisman should make a trip to the UK and look to end his career on a high.

“He tried very hard. His effort was 200 per cent. He always comes to play every match. But it didn’t happen. I saw for the first time that Virat Kohli was out of form after scoring 100 in Australia. This has never happened,” said Kaif.

He scores in every match if he gets a century in the series opener. He keeps scoring. You won’t be able to dismiss him. He has been such a hero of India. Go to England, play well and end your career on a high note. This is my prayer for him. His fans will also pray for him,” he added.

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) will resume next week after what is likely to be a week’s break. The tournament is set to be extended with the date for the final likely to be changed. The summit clash, which was originally scheduled to take place on May 25 could also be shited out of Kolkata.

The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume next week following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The league will re-start with a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which was originally set to take place on Friday (May 9).
As things stand, the playoffs and venue are scheduled to take place in the same venues with Hyderabad hosting the qualifier 1 and eliminator, while the second qualifier and final will take place in Kolkata. However, the venue of the summit clash could be shifted to Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium if there is a rain threat at the Eden Gardens.
The final is now set to take place either on May 30 (Friday) or June 1 (Sunday).

For those unversed, the league was brought to a stop on Thursday (May 8) as the game between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) was brought to a halt after 10.1 overs in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor as the Indian armed forces launched a counter-strike on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the aftermath of the barbaric terror attacks in Pahalgam, India on April 22.

So far, PBKS and DC have not been handed one point each, hinting that the match will be played again between both teams, although more details on that are still awaited.
At the stoppage of the league, the 2025 IPL playoff race was heading towards a heated ending. Gujarat Titans (GT) and RCB are currently in the top spot ,with both teams having 16 points each, while PBKS are third with 15 points. Mumbai Indians (MI) currently occupy the 4th spot with 14 points, while Delhi Capitals (DC) are fifth with 13 points.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-set-to-re-start-rcb-vs-lsg-match-new-date-for-final-final-could-be-shifted-from-kolkata-to-ahmedabad-article-151610493

Afsal had won a silver in 800m at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43s.

Asian Games silver medallist Mohammed Afsal on Friday broke the seven-year-old 800m national record while finishing second at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix event here.

The 29-year-old Afsal clocked 1 minute and 45.61 seconds to erase the earlier national record of 1:45.65s set by Jinson Johnson in 2018.

Afsal finished behind Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat, who clocked 1:45.38s to win the race in the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level competition held at Dubai Police Stadium.

He, however, could not breach the 2025 World Championships automatic qualification time of 1.44.50s.

Afsal had won a silver in 800m at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43s.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/mohammed-afsal-breaks-800m-national-record-in-uae-event-3533726

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has reportedly offered to host the remainder of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Notably, the season has been suspended for a week as the tensions between India and Pakistan escalate. The contest between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals on Thursday, that happened to be the 58th match of IPL 2025, was called off midway due to security reasons and the crowd at the venue was evacuated. The following day saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) postponing IPL 2025. The tournament has 16 more matches to be played, including the playoffs.

As uncertainity looms over the future of IPL 2025, The Guardian has reported that ECB chief executive Richard Gould has already contacted his equivalents at the BCCI regarding the proposal of ECB hosting the remainder of the season.

“Should India be unable to restart the IPL after this week-long hiatus, one suggestion is for England to host the remaining fixtures later in the year,” the report said.

“A senior ECB source has confirmed this could be possible in September, albeit adding that no ‘active discussions’ are currently taking place,” it added.

The report further said that a similar offer was made by the ECB when IPL 2021 was postponed due to the threat of COVID-19. At that time, the tournament was suspended following multiple bio-bubble breaches and rising COVID cases among players and staff in India. However, the season was resumed and completed in the United Arab Emirates around four months later.

Less than a day after deciding to relocate the Pakistan Super League to Dubai in the wake of the conflict with India, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a U-turn and decided to postpone the 10th edition of the franchise-based T20 league for an indefinite period.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announces the postponement of the remaining eight matches of the HBL PSL X,” said PCB in a statement on Friday.

The PCB made the announcement in a press release on its official website and said it has taken the decision because of increased aerial attacks by India and following advice received from the Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

“The last 24 hours have seen a worsening of the situation on the LOC, increased incursion of 78 drones, and the firing of surface-to-surface missiles from India.

“The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif who has kept in view the reckless aggression from India that has escalated to a point where national attention and sentiments are rightly focused on the courageous efforts of the Armed Forces of Pakistan who are vociferously upholding the sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan,” the PCB said in its statement.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/ecb-makes-huge-offer-to-bcci-after-ipl-2025-postponement-report-8374725

The Emirates Cricket Board is likely to reject PCB’s request to host PSL 2025 matches in UAE because it doesn’t want to be perceived as an ‘ally’ of the Pakistani board.

UAE’s cricketing body, Emirates Cricket Board, is likely to reject Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s request to host Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 matches in the country. If it materialises, it’d be a major blow to the PCB, which has already announced that the second half of its T20 league will be hosted in the West-Asian nation.

According to a report in PTI, the UAE board has cited ‘security concerns potentially emanating from the rising tension between India and Pakistan’ as the reason. The report said the Emirates Cricket Board is ‘wary of being perceived as an ally of PCB’, which it believes hosting the PSL may suggest.

“The Emirates Cricket Board has enjoyed a strong relationship with BCCI in recent years having hosted the ‘India’ edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, editions of the IPL as well as India matches during ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the mentioned source further stated in the report. “The UAE has a diverse South Asian population which enjoys cricket. Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks and stir unnecessary friction between communities,” the quoted source added.

The remaining matches in PSL 2025 include four league-stage games and playoffs, scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore. According to top intelligence sources, the decision was taken after India unleashed a drone attack on Pakistan on Thursday, in retaliation for its targeting of military bases on the border, one of which struck the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

“The PCB has always stood by the position that politics and sports need to be kept apart,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government, said in a statement.

“As a responsible organisation that has overcome adversities repeatedly and ensured that the game of cricket flourishes, it was important for us to ensure the mental well-being of all players participating in the HBL PSL. I regret that our domestic audience and cricket lovers will not be able to watch these matches in Pakistan’s stadiums,” he added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/embarrassment-for-pakistan-uae-to-decline-request-to-hold-psl-matches-because-ws-l-9330521.html

A STAR student has tragically died after a freak accident while playing lacrosse.

Dylan Veselic, 16, was taken to hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a ball in the back of his head.

Veselic, a sophomore at Bay Village High School in Ohio, died yesterday, two days after a shot from an opponent struck the back of his head underneath his helmet, reported Fox News.

His family confirmed the teen’s death in a statement on Thursday, which said, “With heavy hearts, the Veselic family shares the news that Dylan has passed away from injuries suffered during a lacrosse game.

“We are deeply touched by the overwhelming support and kindness shown by our community and beyond.

“We ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

The Bay High School team had been playing Olmsted Falls High School at Olmsted Falls when Dylan was hurt, said Cleveland 19.

Dylan had reportedly been rushed to hospital by ambulance on Tuesday night.

He was then transferred by air ambulance to another hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

With heavy hearts, the Veselic family shares the news that Dylan has passed away from injuries suffered during a lacrosse game

The Daily Mail reported that he had remained in a critical condition throughout Wednesday before his family confirmed his death.

Fr. Dan Schlegel of St. Raphael’s in Bay Village where the Veselic family belongs told Cleveland 19, “Dylan was a great kid.”

He anointed Dylan in hospital on Wednesday before he died.

Schlegel added, “He was a teammate and that was really important for us to note that he wasn’t about himself – he was really a team player.

“Our important part right now is to support and comfort with his family in the days ahead and figure out the way that each of us can honor Dylan in our own lives so that his memory stays in our hearts and stays in our thoughts forever.”

Jason Martin, the principal of Bay High School, also paid tribute to Dylan.

He said, “Dylan was a well-liked and respected young man who touched the lives of many with his kindness, character and spirit.”

Only 10.1 overs were possible during the game in Dharamsala as a floodlight failure occurred and only one of them was functioning at the venue.

A cheerleader at the Dharamsala Stadium expressed her fear amid the escalating situation between India and Pakistan in the border as it affected the IPL 2025 match between the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on Thursday. In a video surfaced on social media, her voice kept breaking as she was terrified of the situation that occurred suddenly in the stadium.

Only 10.1 overs were possible during the game in Dharamsala as a floodlight failure occurred and only one of them was functioning at the venue. After a prolonged wait, the officials decided to call off the contest, with the spectators and officials quickly evacuating the stadium. With India launching Operation Sindoor on May 7, Wednesday, to take down several terrorist camps, Pakistan have also retaliated and things escalated massively on Thursday.

Speaking in a video that surfaced on social media, the cheerleader said:

“So basically the whole stadium in the middle of the match was evacuated and it was very scary. Everyone was just screaming and it was very scary, it’s still very very scary. We want to really go out of Dharamsala and I hope the IPL people will look after us. So yeah, this is very very scary. I don’t know why I’m not crying. I think I’m still in shock.”

The toss also happened after a lengthy delay in Dharamsala

The IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was called off on Thursday after air raid alerts in neighbouring states due to Pakistan’s unprovoked attack.

The 58th league of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamshala was called off on Thursday after 10.1 overs of play following air raid alerts in neighbouring Indian cities of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

A video went viral showing one of the IPL cheerleaders describing the panic and chaos at the stadium as the players and spectators were being evacuated. “The whole stadium was evacuated in the middle of the game. It was very scary. Everyone was screaming that the bombs are coming,” she said in the video.

“It is still very, very scary. We want to really go out of Dharamshala. I hope the IPL people are gonna look after us. It was very, very scary. I do not know why I’m not crying, I think I’m just in shock,” she said in the video as the stadium went dark.

Punjab was cruising at 122 for the loss of one wicket with Priyansh Arya scoring 70 from 34 balls and Prabhsimran Singh scoring 50 off 28. However, as skipper Shreyas Iyer, the lights went off, and a floodlight failure was reported.

However, the team and the assembled fans at the 23,000-capacity stadium in Dharamshala were eventually evacuated from the stadium under tight security as Pakistan launched drone strikes at Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. The teams will be brought to Delhi aboard a special flight from Pathankot, which is 85 km away from Dharamshala.

The cancellation of the match has now also put the entire league at the risk of being called off as India’s military standoff with Pakistan escalates. Foreign players participating in the IPL have expressed a desire to head home at the earliest, sources told news agency PTI.

PL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal, while speaking to reporters, said the situation was being reviewed. “It is an evolving situation. We haven’t received any directive from the government. Obviously the decision will be taken keeping all the logistics in mind,” he said.

India Strikes Islamabad, Lahore In Retaliation

India struck Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, as well as Lahore and Sialkot, late on Thursday after thwarting multiple attacks on Indian cities, including Jammu, Jaisalmer and Pathankot, which reported intense artillery shelling. India also downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan

Following the unprovoked and unsuccessful attack by Pakistan on Indian cities, blackouts were imposed in Srinagar, Jammu and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, Amritsar and Jalandhar in Punjab, Bhuj in Gujarat and other cities key areas along the border.

This came after India foiled Pakistan military’s attempts to target military installations in 15 cities in the northern and western parts of the country using missiles and drones as tensions between the two neighbours mounted amid fears of a wider conflict.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/ipl-cheerleader-recalls-panic-as-pbks-dc-match-called-off-dharamshala-pakistan-attack-ws-kl-9329394.html

Cristiano’s Ronaldo’s eldest son has been called up to the Portugal Under-15s squad for the first time.

The 14-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr is at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia with his father, who signed for the Pro League club in December 2022.

Portugal great Ronaldo, 40, posted a picture on social media of his son’s name on the national team squad list along with the message, “Proud of you, son”.

Ronaldo Jr has been called up for a youth tournament, external in Croatia between 13-18 May, with Portugal scheduled to play Japan, Greece and England.