Novak Djokovic, the ‘Mentalist,’ prepares to battle Jannik Sinner in the French Open semifinals, a clash of generations and contrasting styles. Djokovic aims to leverage his experience against the in-form Sinner, who has won their last three encounters. Meanwhile, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will face Lorenzo Musetti in the other semi-final.
Following a tragic stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations that resulted in 11 deaths and 75 injuries, Bengaluru Police have arrested Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s marketing head, and three individuals from DNA Entertainment Networks.
Gautam Gambhir is under pressure as India’s coach. He prepares for a tough England tour with a young team. The team aims for a better show in the World Test Championship. A key challenge is managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload. Selectors will monitor Bumrah, who will play only three of the five Tests.
Uzbekistan and Jordan secured historic first-time FIFA World Cup qualifications, joining South Korea in the upcoming tournament. Uzbekistan’s draw with the UAE and Jordan’s victory over Oman sealed their spots. The final group matches will determine final standings, with Australia and Saudi Arabia battling for another spot.
Shubman Gill, India’s newly appointed Test captain, addressed the media ahead of the team’s departure for England, acknowledging the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gill emphasized the team’s potential and the importance of player communication to foster confidence. He remained undecided about his batting position and supported players making individual choices regarding red-ball practice amidst IPL commitments.
Magnus Carlsen leads D Gukesh by a narrow margin heading into the final round of Norway Chess 2025, fueled by victories over Fabiano Caruana and Wei Yi respectively. Hikaru Nakamura remains in contention after an armageddon win. In the Women’s section, Anna Muzychuk surged to the lead, capitalizing on Koneru Humpy’s blunder against Lei Tingjie.
The Indian cricket team has departed for England to participate in a five-match Test series, marking the beginning of a new era following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket. Shubman Gill will lead the team, which includes both seasoned players and fresh talent.
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.
Shreyas Iyer’s stellar leadership turned Punjab Kings’ fortunes around in IPL 2025, taking them from ninth place to the final. Amidst injuries, inexperience, and exits, Iyer led with composure, scoring 604 runs and guiding youngsters with belief. Though PBKS fell just six runs short in the final, Shreyas’ inspiring captaincy drew praise for resurrecting a struggling franchise.
Rob Walter has been appointed as the new head coach of the New Zealand men’s cricket team across all formats, succeeding Gary Stead. Walter, a 49-year-old South African, brings a wealth of experience, including guiding South Africa to significant achievements in recent World Cups and Champions Trophy.