Friday, June 12
Shashi Tharoor ignited debate over India's Test performance against England, pointing to Virat Kohli's absence as a potential game-changer. Tharoor emphasized Kohli's leadership and batting prowess could have altered the match outcome, especially during the crucial loss.
Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna's unbeaten 39-run partnership set a record for India, with Sundar scoring all the runs. Jaiswal's century, along with half-centuries from Akash Deep, Jadeja, and Sundar, propelled India to set a 374-run target against England. Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley late in the day, giving India an early breakthrough as England closed play at 50 for one.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially banned participation in future World Championship of Legends tournaments, citing biased treatment from WCL following India Legends' withdrawal from their semi-final match against Pakistan. The PCB criticised WCL's response as hypocritical, accusing them of prioritising political and commercial interests over sporting neutrality and fair play.
Jason Holder's exceptional all-round performance propelled West Indies to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20I, levelling the series. Holder's 4/19 restricted Pakistan to 133, while crucial contributions from Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd kept West Indies in the hunt. Holder sealed the win with a final-ball boundary, marking West Indies' first T20 success in seven matches.
Nasser Hussain praises Mohammed Siraj's relentless energy and fighting spirit, comparing his impact on the Indian team to that of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Despite injuries to key players and workload management concerns, Siraj has bowled tirelessly, picking up 18 wickets and demonstrating exceptional fitness.
During the fifth Test at The Oval, Ravindra Jadeja playfully requested a spectator to change his red t-shirt, which was interfering with his sightline. The fan obliged, earning cheers and a thumbs-up from Jadeja. Meanwhile, India dominated Day 3, propelled by Yashasvi Jaiswal's century and crucial lower-order runs, setting England a challenging target.
Joe Root's magnificent 39th Test century propelled England closer to their target against India at The Oval. His century played a crucial role in England's ongoing chase. Root surpassed Kumar Sangakkara's record, now standing fourth in all-time Test century makers. This was Root's 13th ton against India, the most by any batter.
