India faces key decisions before the final Test at the Oval. Jasprit Bumrah’s participation hinges on workload management. Arshdeep Singh is likely to debut after recovering from injury. Kuldeep Yadav might feature, given concerns over Shardul Thakur’s bowling. Rishabh Pant’s foot fracture necessitates a batting order reshuffle. Team management will discuss and finalize the playing eleven soon.
Tensions flared between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Oval curator Lee Fortis ahead of the crucial fifth Test. A heated exchange, caught on camera, arose after Fortis allegedly behaved rudely towards India’s support staff and restricted the team’s pitch inspection.
Hockey India introduces an internship program aimed at developing homegrown coaches, envisioning them as crucial for future success, particularly with the potential 2036 Olympics bid. Harendra Singh emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities for Indian coaches to contribute at a higher level. Former goalkeeper Baljit Singh and coach P Shanmugam join the national setup, adding valuable expertise.
Koneru Humpy, a veteran of Indian chess, continues to inspire after securing a silver medal at the Women’s Chess World Cup and qualifying for the 2026 Candidates tournament.
Speaking exclusively with TOI from Batumi airport in Georgia, Divya talked at length and shared her thoughts on how it feels to be a Grandmaster, how she turned things around in her favour and the favourite dress she wore during all her tiebreak games to script history.
Divya Deshmukh made history by winning the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi. The 19-year-old defeated Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy in a tense tie-break. Spectators were absent during the final moments due to FIDE regulations. Divya’s victory marks a significant moment for Indian women’s chess. She also became India’s 88th Grandmaster.
India Champions secured a semi-final berth in the World Championship of Legends, triumphing over West Indies Champions at Grace Road. They chased down 145 runs in 14.1 overs, fuelled by Stuart Binny’s unbeaten 50 and Yusuf Pathan’s explosive finish. India’s bowlers, led by Piyush Chawla, restricted West Indies, despite Kieron Pollard’s powerful 74 not out.
KL Rahul is close to breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s record. This is for the most runs by an Indian opener in England. Rahul has 1108 runs, needing 45 more. In the fourth Test, India struggled early. Rahul and Shubman Gill formed a crucial partnership. Rahul scored 90, while Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar hit centuries.
Manoj Tiwary, former Indian cricketer, strongly opposes the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match, citing recent terror attacks and ongoing military operations. He believes playing Pakistan sends the wrong message amidst heightened tensions, referencing the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. While condemning terrorism, Sourav Ganguly offered a contrasting view, emphasizing that sport should continue.