Monday, June 22
Zak Crawley lauded Ben Stokes' leadership and bowling prowess after England's strong showing on Day 2 of the fourth Test. Crawley and Duckett's impressive opening partnership put England in a commanding position, trailing India by just 133 runs.
Aakash Chopra voiced significant apprehension regarding Rishabh Pant's injury during the fourth Test, labeling it potentially "serious." Pant retired hurt after a blow to his foot, raising concerns about his return. Chopra cautioned that Pant's absence, particularly with the new ball approaching, could severely impact India's chances, emphasising the need for a substantial first-innings score to avoid trouble.
After a string of low scores in the Youth ODI series against England U-19, India U-19 captain Ayush Mhatre rediscovered his form in the Test matches, scoring crucial centuries. Advised by his coach to revisit his successful Ranji Trophy innings, Mhatre overcame the challenges of English conditions and captaincy pressure. His next assignment is the Duleep Trophy in September.
Anshul Kamboj, making his Test debut due to multiple injuries in the Indian pace unit, provided a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett for 94. The young pacer's maiden Test wicket shifted the momentum after England's dominant opening stand. Kamboj's inclusion and immediate impact offer India a chance to claw back into the fourth Test.
History is guaranteed at the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 as Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh, both from India, secured their spots in the final after defeating their Chinese opponents in the semifinals. Deshmukh triumphed over Tan Zhongyi, while Humpy edged out Lei Tingjie in tiebreaks.
Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised India's team management for promoting Karun Nair to No. 3, arguing it negatively impacted his mindset. Ashwin praised Sai Sudharsan's composed 61 in the fourth Test, highlighting his solidity and mental strength. Ashwin believes Sudharsan should own the No. 3 spot and also pointed out a technical area for improvement in Sudharsan's batting.
Koneru Humpy triumphed over Tingjie Lei in a gruelling eight-game semi-final at the FIDE Women's World Cup, securing her place in the final. After a series of draws and tense tiebreaks, Humpy's resilience shone through as she won crucial blitz games. She is now set to face Divya Deshmukh in an all-Indian final.
