Thursday, June 18
Lionel Messi is set to visit Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium this December. Previously, many football legends have visited India. Brazil's Ronaldinho has participated in futsal and promotional events. Diego Maradona visited Kolkata in 2008. Pele played in Kolkata in 1977. David Beckham also came in 2023 as a UNICEF ambassador. Zinedine Zidane has also visited the country as part of a promotional event.
Akash Deep's fiery spell halted England's explosive start at The Oval, dismissing Ben Duckett for 43. Duckett and Crawley's rapid 92-run opening stand threatened India before Akash's persistence paid off, inducing a mistimed reverse scoop. Akash's animated send-off underscored the intensity of the breakthrough, marking a personal triumph within the crucial Test match.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley's exceptional opening partnership continues to flourish, setting new records against India in Test cricket. They surpassed Greenidge and Haynes with their eighth 50-plus stand, accumulating the highest runs for an England opening pair against India.
Jasprit Bumrah's release from the squad during the final England Test, despite his impressive 14 wickets, sparks debate over workload management. With the Asia Cup and a home series against West Indies looming, the team faces a tough decision - to prioritize red-ball cricket or white-ball tournaments for the 31-year-old.
Indian cricket team's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, revealed Jasprit Bumrah's limited availability for three England Tests due to workload management. Despite the challenging decision, the team respected Bumrah's initial commitment, prioritizing his physical well-being. Doeschate defended Bumrah against accusations of selectively playing matches, emphasizing the team's focus on managing his workload and fostering a positive team environment.
The intense India-England Test series has been marred by a string of injuries, impacting both squads significantly. Chris Woakes' shoulder injury in the final match adds to England's woes, with Ben Stokes and Shoaib Bashir already sidelined. India has also faced setbacks, losing Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy, highlighting the physical toll of this closely contested series.
