Tuesday, May 05
FIELD OF DREAMS: In 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma & their band of merry women learnt to believe. In doing so, they taught a thankful nation that when girls in India act on their vision, their wishes usually come true...
Quinton de Kock’s fluent 77 and a blistering 116-run stand with Matthew Breetzke powered Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a 48-run bonus-point win over Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park. The victory lifted Sunrisers to the top of the SA20 table, with Adam Milne’s four-wicket haul sealing a dominant all-round display.
Unheralded 19-year-old Surya Charishma Tamiri, without formal training at major academies, stunned top Indian players to win the Senior Nationals title in Vijayawada. Her impressive performance, marked by a cool demeanor and executed game plan, has experts believing she has a great future, provided she receives proper grooming and improved facilities.
India's batting depth was tested but Harmanpreet Kaur's 68 and Arundhati Reddy's explosive 27 off 11 secured a commanding 175/7. Sri Lanka's chase faltered despite a mid-innings surge, falling 15 runs short as India completed a 5-0 series sweep. Deepti Sharma also became the highest wicket-taker in women's T20Is.
India's women's cricket team dominated Sri Lanka 4-0, showcasing strong batting and bowling. However, a recurring issue of dropped catches and sloppy fielding marred their otherwise convincing performance. Despite these lapses, the team's overall strength ensured victory, but head coach Amol Muzumdar will aim to rectify these basic errors before facing tougher opponents.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was hospitalized in Nigeria after a road accident that tragically claimed the lives of two friends and team members. Joshua sustained injuries but is in stable condition, with authorities suspecting excessive speed contributed to the crash involving a stationary truck.
Arjun Erigaisi delivered a memorable performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2025, winning bronze medals in both events. He became the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand to achieve this feat. Despite semifinal losses to Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Arjun’s strong showing in Doha highlighted his growing stature in world chess.
Deepti Sharma has become the highest wicket-taker in women's T20 internationals, claiming her 152nd wicket against Sri Lanka. This milestone makes her the first Indian, across both men's and women's cricket, to achieve 150 T20I wickets. Sharma's impressive bowling record extends across all formats of the game.
