Saturday, April 26
Neymar jr shared his viewpoint on his time at PSG, mentioning Kylian Mbappé's jealousy after Lionel Messi's arrival, as per a podcast with Romário. Neymar noted their initial good partnership but attributed conflicts to ego clashes affecting team performance. He hinted at a return to Brazil after his contract with Al-Hilal ends.
Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh has expressed support for Rohit Sharma's captaincy of the Indian team. He highlighted Rohit's past successes, including victories in T20 World Cup and IPL titles, and asked for patience and broader evaluation of his performance. Yuvraj acknowledged recent setbacks but emphasized Sharma's overall contributions to Indian cricket.
Sanju Samson's decision to skip the Vijay Hazare Trophy might affect his selection for the Champions Trophy, drawing scrutiny from the BCCI and selectors. The absence of a clear reason for his unavailability has caused concerns, potentially influencing his chances in the ODI squad selection against England.
The Jukskei Derby between Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals was abandoned due to heavy rain. Joburg Super Kings used their spin bowlers effectively to restrict Pretoria Capitals to 138/8. Both teams secured two points each, moving Joburg Super Kings to the top of the table, while Pretoria Capitals are joint second with MI Cape Town.
Fakhar Zaman's impressive 67 off 52 balls helped Desert Vipers secure a five-wicket win over MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium. Contributions from Alex Hales and Sam Curran were crucial in chasing down a target of 160. Despite a late effort from Kieron Pollard and Romario Shepherd, Zaman's performance was pivotal for the Vipers' victory.
Indian chess gears up for a historic participation at the 87th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, from January 17 to February 2, 2025. Featuring five Indian Grandmasters for the first time, including the newly crowned World Chess champion D Gukesh, the tournament promises intense competition among top players.
Rohit Sharma is facing a tough phase with the bat, especially in Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He aims to regain form in his favoured ODI format against England. Despite recent struggles, Rohit boasts an impressive record in white-ball cricket, including three double hundreds in ODIs.
India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar faces uncertainty as the BCCI appoints Sitanshu Kotak as a batting coach. Nayar was fulfilling this role unofficially under head coach Gautam Gambhir. The BCCI made the change following lackluster batting performances and criticism from Sunil Gavaskar. Kotak's addition aims to address these issues.
Indian president Droupadi Murmu honoured D Gukesh, the youngest world chess champion, with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. At 18, Chennai-born Gukesh stunned everyone and won the World Chess Championship, besting defending champion Ding Liren. Gukesh's victory makes him the youngest world chess champion ever, surpassing Garry Kasparov's previous record.
