Monday, May 11
Rajasthan Royals have appointed Kumar Sangakkara as their head coach for IPL 2026, alongside his Director of Cricket role. This move follows a disappointing 2025 season under Rahul Dravid. Sangakkara, who previously led the team to the 2022 final, aims to bring stability and renewed competitiveness with a strengthened coaching staff.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to rejoin India's Test squad for the second match against South Africa in Guwahati. He was previously released for India A fixtures to gain game time.
India's recent Test defeat to South Africa highlights a decline in defensive batting, according to former batter Sanjay Manjrekar. He believes the dominance of T20s and leagues has made Test cricket the least favoured format, diminishing players' ability to block out quality spells. Manjrekar suggests a shift in pitch philosophy, advocating for English-style pitches to revive competitive Test cricket.
Football legend Lothar Matthaus reflects on his intense rivalry and eventual friendship with Diego Maradona, comparing their dynamic to Messi and Ronaldo. Matthaus, in Kolkata for the Bengal Super League, expressed his admiration for Messi's entertaining style and lamented Germany's recent lack of passion on the field, citing their early World Cup exits.
Norway secured their first World Cup berth since 1998 with a dominant 4-1 victory over Italy. Erling Haaland netted twice, capping a flawless qualifying campaign where Norway finished with a perfect record. The win confirmed their automatic spot, while Italy faces play-offs after a disappointing performance. Haaland scored both of his goals within seconds.
England concluded a historic World Cup qualifying campaign with a perfect record, defeating Albania 2-0. Harry Kane scored twice, securing their eighth consecutive Group K victory and becoming the first European team to finish a qualifying campaign of at least six matches with a 100 percent record and no goals conceded.
A fierce debate surrounds the Eden Gardens pitch after India's Test defeat to South Africa. Coach Gautam Gambhir insists the surface was fair, testing technique and temperament. However, legends Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn strongly disagree, calling the wicket treacherous and unplayable. This controversy highlights India's recent struggles on turning tracks.
India's Test captain Shubman Gill has been discharged from hospital after a neck spasm ruled him out of the first Test against South Africa. His absence significantly impacted India's batting collapse, leading to a 30-run defeat. Gill's availability for the second Test remains uncertain, with doctors advising against air travel, raising concerns about India's batting lineup.
Russian Grandmaster Daniil Dubov's dismissive comments after defeating R Praggnanandhaa highlight a trend of early exits for elite players at the FIDE World Cup 2025. Several top seeds, including World Champion D Gukesh, fell to lower-rated opponents, prompting discussions about the narrowing gap in skill and flaws in the rating system.
A heated Asia Cup Rising Stars match between India A and Pakistan Shaheens in Doha saw Pakistani bowler Saad Masood give Indian batter Naman Dhir an aggressive send-off after taking his wicket. This incident, coupled with both teams skipping the customary pre-match handshake, amplified the intense rivalry, reflecting broader dynamics beyond the sport.
