Thursday, May 14
Mondo Duplantis playfully questioned Noah Lyles about his post-race incident with Kenny Bednarek, eliciting a "no comment" response. Lyles then jokingly requested Duplantis not to set a new world record. The upcoming 100-meter race is highly anticipated, featuring Lyles and Kishane Thompson, promising a near-replica of the Olympic final with top contenders.
S. Sreesanth defended Virat Kohli's aggressive style, terming it as passion essential for his success. He reflected on the 2008 IPL incident with Harbhajan Singh, revealing its impact on his family and his daughter's perception. Sreesanth emphasized that he wouldn't alter his cricket journey, embracing both challenges and controversies as learning experiences.
Despite recent series losses to India in both T20Is and ODIs, England women’s head coach Charlotte Edwards remains optimistic about her team's chances at the upcoming ODI World Cup. Edwards believes the challenging contests against India provided valuable experience. She expressed confidence that when England plays at their best, they can defeat any team in the tournament.
Ravi Shastri supports Shubman Gill as a vital player for India, and sees him playing a huge role for years to come. Gill, at 25, had an outstanding series against England. He scored 754 runs, averaging 75.40, with four centuries. Gill also secured the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for July 2025. Shastri praises Gill's temperament and elegant batting style.
Jannik Sinner stormed into the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, crushing Felix Auger-Aliassime in a dominant display, marking his 25th straight hardcourt win. Ben Shelton also advanced, setting up a clash with Alexander Zverev. Coco Gauff secured her quarter-final spot, overcoming Lucia Bronzetti, and will now face Jasmine Paolini, who defeated an injured Barbora Krejcikova.
Gautam Gambhir's Independence Day message reflects his deep patriotism, mirroring his cricketing journey now as India's head coach. His tenure has seen mixed Test results, including a 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, India has dominated in T20Is and rebounded from an ODI series loss to win the 2025 Champions Trophy, showcasing Gambhir's commitment to accountability and national pride.
Himani Mor, Neeraj Chopra's wife, transitions from professional tennis to sports business, declining a lucrative US job offer to pursue her own venture. Currently in Europe with Neeraj during his training, Himani holds a degree in Political Science and Sports Management. Neeraj, meanwhile, withdrew from the Silesia Diamond League, focusing on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Steve Smith eyes a spot in Australia's T20I squad for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, acknowledging the selection challenges. Cricket's return to the Olympics after 128 years has sparked his interest in representing his country on a global stage. Despite his extensive experience in major cricket tournaments, the Olympics presents a new and exciting opportunity for the veteran batsman.
Shubman Gill's Test success has sparked debate about his T20 inclusion and potential leadership role, despite his batting style not aligning with the team's aggressive approach. While his ODI place is secure, fitting him into the T20 side, which prioritizes high-strike-rate hitters like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, seems forced.
India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final under Rohit Sharma's captaincy. Rishabh Pant's video captured the team's jubilant celebrations, including a playful exchange with Rohit about his retirement plans. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to make their ODI comeback in the series against Australia in October.
