May 2025

Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, Punjab Kings have reached the playoffs after 11 years, driven by a collective team effort. Iyer aims to secure PBKS’s first IPL title, fueled by his desire since the 2025 auction. Coach Ricky Ponting emphasizes the team’s unified culture and focus, highlighting the importance of staying grounded despite their success.

The BCCI confirmed Australia’s women’s team will tour India for a three-match ODI series in September, crucial for World Cup preparation. Chennai will host all matches, preceding India’s England tour with five T20Is and three ODIs. Additionally, India A will host Australia and South Africa in multi-format series.

Following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami’s injury, Shubman Gill will captain an inexperienced Indian Test team in England. Cheteshwar Pujara expressed his readiness for a return if selected. Rishabh Pant has been named vice-captain, while B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh receive their first Test call-ups for the challenging series.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a top-two position in IPL 2025 after defeating Lucknow Super Giants, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash with Punjab Kings. RCB started strong, defeating KKR with Virat Kohli’s 59 and Krunal Pandya’s stellar bowling. They continued their winning streak against CSK, highlighted by Rajat Patidar’s half-century and Josh Hazlewood’s bowling.

The French Open witnesses fervent crowd support for home players, creating a challenging atmosphere for visiting athletes. Players like Jakub Mensik and Quentin Halys have harnessed the energy, while Novak Djokovic acknowledges the partisan environment. The intensity of the crowd is a recurring debate, with Roland Garros and the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium standing out for their boisterous fans.

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, separated from his son Zoravar since his 2023 divorce, shared heartfelt advice for him on a podcast, emphasizing happiness and self-reflection. Despite his ex-wife blocking all communication, Dhawan maintains a spiritual connection with Zoravar.

Punjab Kings secured a spot in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 after topping the standings, ending an 11-year playoff drought. Their journey included impressive wins against teams like Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, fueled by strong performances from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are slightly ahead when it comes to head-to-head against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). PBKS have won 18 matches, while RCB have come out on top in 17 games out of the 35 fixtures the league’s perennial underachievers have played against each other. They have finished second on the IPL points table, and the winner will qualify directly for the final, while the loser will get another crack in Qualifier 2.

During a four-day match between Bangladesh and South Africa Emerging Teams, a physical altercation erupted between Tshepo Ntuli and Ripon Mondol after Mondol hit a six. The exchange escalated, involving shoves and helmet pulling, requiring umpire intervention. Tensions remained high, and the incident follows earlier suspensions in the one-day leg of the tour, prompting further investigation by cricket authorities.