Thursday, June 11
Dhruv Jurel has been appointed captain of the Central Zone for the Duleep Trophy 2025-26. The 15-member squad includes Rajat Patidar, subject to fitness clearance, and Kuldeep Yadav. Despite a strong Ranji season, Karun Nair was excluded. The team features a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, with six standbys named.
The ECB opposes a two-division World Test Championship, fearing England might miss lucrative rivalries with Australia and India if relegated. While the ICC explores improvements for the 2027 cycle, ECB chairman Richard Thompson suggests refining the current format instead.
England's Chris Woakes, battling a shoulder injury sustained on Day 1, displayed remarkable courage during the fifth Test against India. Despite the pain, he walked out to bat when England were nine wickets down, earning applause from the crowd and respect from the Indian team. Shubman Gill praised Woakes' bravery after the match.
Irfan Pathan has critiqued Jasprit Bumrah's performance in the recent Test series against England, despite Bumrah being one of the top wicket-takers. Pathan believes Bumrah didn't display enough killer instinct in crucial moments, particularly when defending totals or needing breakthroughs. He highlighted instances where Bumrah could have bowled longer spells or varied his approach to create more pressure on the opposition.
Deep Dasgupta questions India's strategy about Jasprit Bumrah's Test availability. Dasgupta thinks pre-announcing Bumrah's three-Test limit was avoidable. He suggests decisions should be based on physical condition and series needs. Bumrah played three Tests, taking 14 wickets. Prasidh Krishna replaced Bumrah in the fifth Test. Krishna took eight wickets. Dasgupta praises Krishna's bowling and hopes he maintains his rhythm.
Jasprit Bumrah faced online criticism after India's drawn series against England, with fans questioning his selective participation and a celebratory post omitting Mohammed Siraj. Harsha Bhogle defended Bumrah, highlighting his immense workload and physical demands. Despite impressive individual performances, the omission stirred emotions, underscoring the importance of team unity in cricket.
Neeraj Chopra made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, securing India's first-ever athletics gold in the javelin throw. Overcoming past setbacks, including narrowly missing the 2016 Rio qualification and battling an elbow injury, Chopra's triumphant throw of 87.58m marked a defining moment for Indian sports. His victory fulfilled a long-awaited dream and signaled India's emergence on the global athletics stage.
Brendan Taylor marked his return to Zimbabwe's Test squad after a four-year ban, playing against New Zealand in Bulawayo. His comeback coincided with New Zealand introducing three debutants. Taylor was previously sanctioned for failing to report a financial inducement and testing positive for cocaine.
Despite India's Test dominance against England, several key players from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy are set to miss the Asia Cup. Jasprit Bumrah is rested due to workload, while KL Rahul is overlooked despite a strong IPL. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are committed to the Duleep Trophy, and Rishabh Pant is injured and out of contention.
Shubman Gill is set to captain the 15-member North Zone team in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, commencing on August 28. However, his participation, along with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, hinges on their selection for the Asia Cup. Replacements are already in place if any of them are chosen for the national squad, ensuring North Zone's preparedness.
