Thursday, July 02
Shikhar Dhawan, in his autobiography, revealed a past relationship during the 2006 India A tour to Australia. He secretly brought his girlfriend into his hotel room, shared with Rohit Sharma, leading to distractions and impacting his performance. A senior selector spotted them, and despite the romantic interlude, Dhawan later had a successful international career.
After their heartbreaking five-wicket loss in Leeds, the Shubman Gill-led Indian team hit the nets ahead of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, starting on July 2 at Edgbaston. TimesofIndia.com brings you all the talking points from India’s first net session in Birmingham.
Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced concerns over Mohammed Siraj's performance in the recent Test match against England, urging him to prioritize controlling the run flow over solely focusing on taking wickets. Jasprit Bumrah stood out as India's best bowler in England’s first innings, claiming a five-wicket haul. Prasidh Krishna also picked up three wickets but was expensive, conceding runs at an economy of 6.40.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old Indian prodigy, showcased his talent with a rapid 48 off 19 balls in his debut Youth ODI against England U19. His explosive innings, featuring five sixes, propelled India's chase of 175. Earlier, England U19 were bowled out for 174, with Rocky Flintoff scoring 56, as Indian bowlers, led by Kanishk Chouhan (3/20), dominated.
David Beckham is recovering in hospital following surgery to address a wrist injury that has troubled him since 2003. Victoria Beckham shared updates on Instagram, showing David in good spirits post-surgery and displaying a 'Get well soon' bracelet from one of their children. This news comes shortly after the announcement of Beckham's upcoming knighthood.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has ascended to India's No. 1 chess player, securing the UzChess Cup Masters title by defeating Nodirbek Abdusattorov. This victory propelled his live rating to 2778.3, ranking him World No. 4 and surpassing Viswanathan Anand in live classical ratings. This triumph signifies a generational shift in Indian chess, marking Praggnanandhaa's arrival as the nation's new chess leader.
The first Test between West Indies and Australia is marred by controversial third-umpire decisions. Several contentious calls by third umpire Adrian Holdstock have significantly impacted both teams, leading to widespread debate.
Rishabh Pant stands on the verge of joining cricket legends like Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid. As Team India prepares for the Edgbaston Test, Pant aims to achieve a rare feat: scoring centuries in three consecutive Tests in England. His previous Edgbaston innings of 146 in 2022 showcased his brilliance.
Mohammad Kaif has criticised Mohammed Siraj's bowling performance in the first Test against England, where India suffered a five-wicket defeat. Kaif emphasized the need for Siraj to bowl with his mind and focus on line and length to take wickets. He also highlighted how England strategically attacked the other bowlers, while playing defensively against Bumrah, ultimately leading to their victory.
Rishabh Pant's spectacular twin centuries at Headingley, though insufficient to secure an Indian victory, have garnered widespread acclaim, with Michael Vaughan highlighting his "game-changer" status and deep cricketing intelligence. Despite Pant's heroics, India's fragile lower order and inconsistent bowling led to a five-wicket defeat for India.
