Sunday, May 03
Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand due to a side strain, with Ravi Bishnoi named as his replacement. Shreyas Iyer also joins the squad for the first three T20Is, replacing the injured Tilak Varma. Iyer brings significant T20I and IPL experience to the Indian team.
Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir sought blessings at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple before the crucial ODI series decider against New Zealand. He participated in the Bhasma Aarti and expressed contentment with the temple's arrangements. The three-match series is currently tied at 1-1, with the final match set to determine the winner.
Bangladesh cricketers ended their boycott of the BPL 2025-26 after controversial director Najmul Islam issued a public apology and was removed from his finance committee role. The standoff, triggered by Najmul's remarks about Tamim Iqbal and player compensation, saw matches postponed. Players agreed to return to action following a meeting with the BCB and CWAB.
Cricketer Manoj Tiwary expressed deep hurt over Mary Kom's public statements about her ex-husband, Karung Onkholer Kom, highlighting the crucial role of a support system for athletes. Tiwari emphasized the importance of mutual contribution in relationships and voiced concern for Onkholer's mental well-being following the public dispute over alleged financial misconduct.
Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan sparked online ridicule by choosing Ahmed Shehzad over cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in a questionnaire. Farhan cited Shehzad as an inspiration for his own cricket journey. Former Pakistan cricketers Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal expressed disbelief and apologized for Farhan's controversial selection.
Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt has strongly criticized the hygiene at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, calling conditions "unacceptable" after bird droppings disrupted matches at the India Open. Despite BWF assurances, she doubts the venue's readiness for the World Championships, citing ongoing issues with animals and cleanliness impacting player focus and fairness.
