Thursday, June 25
In a stunning upset at the FIDE Women’s World Cup, India's Divya Deshmukh defeated world No. 2 Zhu Jiner, showcasing remarkable composure. With this victory, Divya leads their match and is on the verge of reaching the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Vaishali, Humpy, and Harika secured draws in their respective first games, setting the stage for crucial Game 2 encounters.
Team India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has confirmed that Rishabh Pant is nearing full fitness before the fourth Test against England. Despite a finger injury sustained during the Lord's Test, Pant batted with pain and scored a valuable 74. The decision on whether he will keep wickets in Manchester is yet to be made, prioritizing his complete recovery.
Team India's assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, revealed that Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the crucial fourth Test at Old Trafford will be decided in Manchester. The decision hinges on factors like weather conditions, the team's best chance of winning, and a holistic view of the last two games in the series, considering Bumrah's preferred shorter spells.
Team India faces mounting challenges ahead of the crucial fourth Test against England in Manchester. Arshdeep Singh's hand injury during practice adds to existing concerns, including uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah's availability and Rishabh Pant's finger injury. England also suffer a blow with Shoaib Bashir ruled out due to a finger fracture.
Pakistani Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris Games, has voiced concerns over unfulfilled promises of land plots made after his victory. Despite receiving cash prizes, the plot announcements remain unfulfilled. Nadeem recently underwent successful muscle surgery in the UK for a calf injury and is preparing for the World Championships.
Stuart Broad criticized Yashasvi Jaiswal's poor shot selection in the second innings of the Lord's Test, stating it opened the door for England's victory. Broad highlighted that Jaiswal's aggressive style puts pressure on the opposition, but his dismissal allowed England to control the game and ultimately win by 22 runs, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
Italy, known for their exploits in football and water polo, has qualified for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. They defeated Netherlands in the Europe Region Final. Pacer Thomas Draca expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing in India and Sri Lanka in a year's time. He sees this as a beginning for cricket in Italy.
Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta suggests replacing Karun Nair with B Sai Sudharsan for the remaining Test matches against England. Nair's struggles at number three, with only 131 runs and no half-century, prompt the call.
Moeen Ali has joined critics questioning Ravindra Jadeja's all-rounder role after India's loss at Lord's, despite praising his batting. Ali acknowledges Jadeja's tight bowling but notes a lack of wickets. He suggests including Kuldeep Yadav in the team, though fitting him in would be difficult. England currently leads the series 2-1.
Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera, 19, tragically died after a fall during the Tour of the Aoste Valley-Mont Blanc. The accident occurred on Wednesday's first stage, with the cause still under investigation. Privitera, riding for Hagens Berman Jayco, was promptly assisted and taken to a hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
