Former India player Ajinkya Rahane has suggested that captain Shubman Gill should utilise Shardul Thakur’s bowling skills more effectively. Rahane believes Thakur, an experienced all-rounder, can be a valuable asset if given more opportunities. He proposed specific strategies to maximise Thakur’s impact, including using him as a first-change bowler.
Indian badminton, once a promising sport, faces a concerning decline after a decade of success. The current state reveals poor results and a lack of successors to iconic players like Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.
Shubman Gill aimed to be the series’ top scorer and scored a century on his captaincy debut. However, India lost the first Test against England. While his batting wasn’t affected, his leadership is developing. Coach Gautam Gambhir supports Gill. Ravichandran Ashwin suggested using Shardul Thakur earlier. Gill remained composed, but his field placements faced criticism.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul in the first innings, India faced a five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. Off-field, a pre-marriage anecdote shared by his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, on ‘Who’s The Boss’ added a light-hearted touch.
Ricky Ponting’s son, Fletcher, showcased impressive batting skills during a net session with Washington Freedom, drawing comparisons to his father’s legendary style. The youngster displayed elegant pull shots and drives, impressing onlookers like Glenn Maxwell. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom secured a thrilling victory against the Los Angeles Knight Riders, strengthening their position in the MLC playoffs race.
Washington Freedom clinched a nail-biting five-wicket victory against LA Knight Riders in a high-scoring match in Dallas. Chasing 214, Freedom’s Glenn Phillips and Obus Pienaar secured the win on the final ball after Holder dropped a crucial catch. Andre Fletcher’s century for Knight Riders went in vain as Freedom strengthened their playoff hopes in MLC 2025.
Manchester City showcased their dominance by defeating Juventus 5-2, securing their place in the Club World Cup’s next round, while Real Madrid, led by a stellar performance from Vinicius Junior, triumphed over Salzburg 3-0. Al Hilal edged out Pachuca, and Al Ain prevailed against Wydad Casablanca. These fixtures concluded the group stage at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Shikhar Dhawan, in his autobiography, revealed a past relationship during the 2006 India A tour to Australia. He secretly brought his girlfriend into his hotel room, shared with Rohit Sharma, leading to distractions and impacting his performance. A senior selector spotted them, and despite the romantic interlude, Dhawan later had a successful international career.
Daren Sammy, West Indies cricket coach, expressed worry regarding TV umpire Adrian Holdstock’s choices during the Test match against Australia. Sammy met Javagal Srinath, the match referee, to discuss his concerns. The West Indies team was troubled by Roston Chase and Shai Hope’s dismissals. Sammy wants consistency in decision-making.
India U-19 wicketkeeper-batter Harvansh Singh Pangalia shared how he was struggling at 13 off 23 balls before something clicked — and went on to score a blistering 103 off 52 deliveries against England U-19 in a warm-up match. The 18-year-old is a Marvel fan, and his life motto revolves around a famous dialogue from Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man movie.