KL Rahul showcased his batting prowess on Day 1 of the 2nd Unofficial Test against England Lions, scoring a century off 151 balls at the County Ground in Northampton. The experienced right-hander’s innings included 13 boundaries and a six. With 58 Test appearances for India, Rahul is a key player in English conditions, having previously scored two centuries in England.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke speculates that Virat Kohli might reconsider his Test retirement if India faces a significant defeat in the upcoming England series. Clarke believes that strong fan and team management support could entice Kohli, who deeply values Test cricket, to return. He also noted Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement, highlighting the tactical loss for the team.
Reigning World Champion Gukesh is challenging World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Norway Chess tournament. Carlsen, with 15 points, is closely trailed by Gukesh at 14.5. Following a loss to Gukesh, a frustrated Carlsen expressed his disillusionment with classical chess, even hinting at quitting. Despite a win against Caruana, Carlsen admits the tournament’s enjoyment diminished after the Gukesh game.
Deepika Kumari, India’s celebrated archer, secured her 18th World Cup medal, fueled by her Olympic aspirations. Despite past heartbreaks, she remains determined, focusing on rebuilding her fundamentals with a new coach and support. Kumari acknowledges the challenges in Indian archery, including high expectations and equipment costs, while looking forward to the LA 2028 Olympics and the inclusion of compound archery.
Vikram Singh, a disabled cricketer, tragically died on the Chhattisgarh Express en route to a tournament after experiencing severe pain. Despite urgent calls for medical assistance, help failed to arrive in time, leading to his death before reaching Mathura station. The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the Indian Railways’ emergency medical response capabilities for disabled passengers.
Indian compound archers faced disappointment at the Archery World Cup Stage 3, failing to secure medal round positions in individual events after a strong showing in Shanghai. Madhura Dhamangaonkar and Aditi Swami were ousted in the women’s section, while Rishabh Yadav’s quarter-final loss and Ojas Deotale’s first-round exit marked struggles in the men’s competition.
In a disappointing turn at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were ousted in the quarterfinals. The former champions succumbed to Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, losing 19-21, 16-21. The Indian duo struggled with serves and defence, allowing the Malaysians to dominate with flat trajectory shots.
Mitchell Starc remains dedicated to Delhi Capitals in the IPL, despite opting out of the tournament’s resumption due to security concerns following events in Dharamsala. He cited unease before a match near the border and differing handling of the situation among teams as factors. Starc prioritized red-ball cricket and the upcoming World Test Championship final.
Following the tragic stampede at Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory parade, which resulted in 11 deaths and 75 injuries, Diageo, RCB’s parent company, has remained silent. On the ground, Bengaluru Police have arrested RCB’s marketing head and three others while the government have started an investigation led by a former Karnataka High Court judge.
Following Punjab Kings’ defeat in the IPL final, co-owner Preity Zinta addressed fans. She praised the team’s resilience and the performance of young Indian players. Zinta acknowledged the season’s challenges, including injuries and relocations. She thanked the ‘Sher Squad’ for their support. Zinta promised a stronger comeback in the next IPL season.