With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy still alive and series on the line, India are expected to veer from its safety-first approach in the fifth Test, starting Thursday at The Oval, and go all-out for the kill to level the series. Bumrah’s participation remains uncertain and the question marks over Shardul Thakur or Kuldeep Yadav persists. On the batting front, Dhruv Jurel replaces the injured Rishabh Pant.
England captain Ben Stokes’ leadership, especially his handling of Jofra Archer, has garnered praise amidst the ongoing Test series against India. Former skipper Nasser Hussain highlighted the trust and chemistry between Stokes and Archer, noting Stokes’ ability to motivate Archer effectively. The final Test vs India starts on July 31.
Gautam Gambhir has rallied his Indian team for a final, decisive effort in the Test series against England, following a tense draw at Old Trafford. Speaking at the Indian High Commission in London, Gambhir acknowledged the historical significance of the rivalry and the high quality of cricket displayed. The final Test will commence on July 31.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series highlights the contrasting yet compelling rivalry between Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja. While Stokes is celebrated for his match-winning performances in high-pressure situations, Jadeja’s consistent all-round contributions often go unnoticed. Despite Stokes’ impactful bowling in the series, Jadeja’s superior batting and overall value have sparked debate about who is the better all-rounder.
Australia created history by whitewashing West Indies 5-0 in their T20I series, a first against a full-member nation. They completed an unbeaten tour, having already secured the Test series 3-0. Despite Hetmyer and Rutherford’s efforts, West Indies were bowled out for 170. The visitors claimed a three-wicket win with three overs to spare in the final T20I.
Ravi Shastri has praised Virat Kohli, calling him the most influential player of the last decade. Shastri, the former India head coach, made the statement in a recent video on X. He also named Jasprit Bumrah as the bowler he’d least like to face. Shastri reminisced about his career, highlighting his World Cup win.
The drawn fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford saw late-game drama as Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar opted to continue batting despite a handshake offer from Ben Stokes and Harry Brook. Dale Steyn weighed in, suggesting a handshake would have been sportsmanlike once the draw was secured, though he acknowledged the batters’ right to pursue milestones.
In a historic win at Batumi, Georgia, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh clinched India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup chess title, defeating Grandmaster Koneru Humpy. The intense final saw Divya, playing with black pieces, triumph in a rapid tie-break. Amidst the drama, an untouched banana served as her quirky companion, a constant presence throughout her victorious journey.
An old controversy resurfaced as parallels are drawn to the Stokes-Jadeja incident. In the 1983 Bangalore Test, Pakistan’s captain Zaheer Abbas controversially left the field, halting play for nearly half an hour and leaving Sunil Gavaskar stranded. Gavaskar, battling illness, eventually completed his century amidst the drama, with teammates and officials questioning Zaheer’s sportsmanship.
Navjot Singh Sidhu has critiqued Ravindra Jadeja’s overseas Test performance, despite his recent century in Manchester. Sidhu acknowledged Jadeja’s restrictive bowling but questioned his match-winning ability, contrasting him with Kapil Dev. This criticism intensified after India’s 22-run defeat at Lord’s, where Jadeja’s conservative approach was debated.