Thursday, June 11
Indian pacer Harshit Rana discussed the mental challenges of being dropped from the national team. He spoke about the emotional impact of being excluded from the squad after initial selection. Rana highlighted the supportive environment within the team despite the pressures. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a love for cricket.
Lovlina Borgohain, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, has accused BFI's Col Arun Malik (Retd) of disrespectful and gender-discriminatory behavior, leaving her deeply hurt. Malik has denied the allegations, stating the call in question was professional and addressed her concerns according to BFI policies.
MS Dhoni praised Virat Kohli for his charisma. Dhoni called Kohli a complete entertainment package. He highlighted Kohli's singing, dancing, and mimicry skills. Dhoni mentioned Kohli is very funny when in the mood. Kohli has always respected Dhoni as a mentor. Kohli revealed Dhoni was the only one to message him after he stepped down as Test captain.
The Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament faced an unexpected disruption as a fire broke out at the Hyatt Regency venue early Wednesday. An electrical issue triggered the incident, prompting organisers to evacuate players and staff to a nearby hotel. The start of the tournament has been postponed to Thursday, with the rest day canceled to accommodate the revised schedule.
India secured a thrilling six-run victory against England in the fifth Test at The Oval, drawing the series 2-2. Mohammed Siraj's stellar performance, claiming 5 for 104 and 23 wickets in the series, earned him Player of the Match. A lighthearted moment followed as Arshdeep Singh playfully mimicked a fan chanting for Yashasvi Jaiswal, showcasing the team's camaraderie.
Mohammed Siraj's remarkable performance in the Oval Test, highlighted by a crucial delivery to dismiss Gus Atkinson, secured India's narrow victory. Despite missed edges and dropped catches, Siraj's unwavering spirit shone through, culminating in a Player of the Match award.
Rishabh Pant demonstrated his compassionate side by assisting Jyoti Kanaboor Math, a bright student from Karnataka, in achieving her academic aspirations. Despite scoring 83% in her Class 12 exams, Jyoti faced financial constraints that threatened her BCA enrollment. Pant's timely intervention, a Rs 40,000 donation, ensured her admission and first-semester fees were covered, earning him gratitude and admiration.
Navjot Singh Sidhu lauded Gautam Gambhir for his conviction and support of emerging talent during India's Test series in England, despite facing criticism. Sidhu highlighted Gambhir's role in providing opportunities to players like Akash Deep and Washington, emphasizing the team's spirited performance and commendable draw achieved despite missing key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir's coach-captain partnership has started strongly, drawing a challenging five-Test series in England. Gill's leadership and Gambhir's focus on team over individuals have instilled confidence in a young Indian side. With senior players retiring and Bumrah's availability managed carefully, the team is looking ahead, potentially revisiting ODI leadership with Gill as a key figure.
The Chennai Grand Masters 2025 has been delayed by a day due to a fire at the Hyatt Regency, its venue. All players are safe and relocated. The tournament will now commence on August 7, with the first round on the original rest day.
