On his 19th birthday, D Gukesh, the world champion, revitalised his Norway Chess campaign by defeating World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura. After suffering consecutive losses, Gukesh secured a crucial win in 42 moves, showcasing improved time management.
Chelsea triumphed over Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final, securing their place as the first club to win all five major European trophies. After an early goal from Betis’s Abde Ezzalzouli, Chelsea rallied with goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, and Moises Caicedo.
Virat Kohli’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket ahead of the England tour has surprised fans, marking the end of a significant era. He amassed 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 55.57. Even Harbhajan Singh’s daughter, Hinaya, expressed her disappointment, receiving a lighthearted reply from Kohli, who had previously retired from T20Is and will now concentrate on ODIs.
IPL 2025 witnessed Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive entry alongside Rishabh Pant’s struggles, amidst a season disrupted by border conflicts. Mumbai Indians staged a comeback, Gujarat Titans maintained composure, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru dominated away games. Punjab Kings exceeded expectations, while Chennai Super Kings faltered, setting the stage for a thrilling playoff showdown.
Ravindra Jadeja credits two influential figures named Mahendra, both from Bihar, for shaping his cricket career. He highlights his childhood coach, Mahendra Singh Chauhan, for instilling a strong emphasis on fitness and fielding. Jadeja also praises MS Dhoni’s unparalleled greatness and Virat Kohli’s relentless pursuit of victory in Test cricket, emphasizing his positive approach.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have strongly criticized Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after a Delhi court dismissed the POCSO Act case against him. Punia highlighted Singh’s celebratory roadshow despite six other sexual harassment cases still pending. He alleges continued pressure on the remaining female wrestlers to withdraw their complaints.
Defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz earned progression to the third round with a convincing win, while two-time finalist Casper Ruud fell early. Alcaraz will face either Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Damir Dzumhur in the Round of 32. Ruud’s defeat appears to have been caused by an injury that pestered him in the final two sets.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been under scrutiny himself since the controversial run-out of Jos Buttler in IPL 2019, stood firmly in support of Lucknow Super Giants bowler Digvesh Rathi on Wednesday. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin dissected the incident involving Rathi’s attempt to dismiss Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma at the non-striker’s end during their IPL 2025 clash.
Seattle Orcas CEO Hemant Dua believes cricket will carve out a space for itself in the USA. He says if Major League Cricket (MLC) along with the other stakeholders can work hand in hand, then sky is the limit for cricket’s expansion in the US. In a free-wheeling interview with TimesofIndia.com, Dua spoke at length about the various issues, the challenges, the ambition, and how MLC is taking its baby steps in the USA.
Haider Ali’s journey from a small Pakistani village to the UAE national cricket team is a testament to his unwavering resilience. Overcoming obstacles like working as a waiter, selling fruits during the pandemic, and surviving a near-fatal accident, he persevered to chase his cricketing dream.