Thursday, July 02
Sheetal Devi, the Indian Paralympic archery star, inspires again by confidently driving a car using her feet, showcasing her unwavering spirit. Despite being born with phocomelia, she has defied limitations, achieving international success in para-archery. Her record-breaking performance at the Paris Paralympics and her ability to master new skills continue to inspire millions.
World Champion D Gukesh will not be playing in the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, citing exhaustion after Norway Chess. Vidit Gujrathi will replace him, donning Gukesh’s red jacket. The $750,000 event runs July 16–20 at Wynn Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the India leg in September is cancelled, and Jan Henric Buettner will step down as CEO on July 1.
Following their Headingley defeat, the Indian cricket team has commenced preparations for the second Test against England in Birmingham. Despite Jasprit Bumrah's presence, he refrained from on-field activities, while Prasidh Krishna was also absent from bowling drills. Coach Gautam Gambhir engaged in discussions with pacers, and players participated in net sessions.
The ICC has introduced significant changes to cricket playing conditions across all formats, including Test, ODI, and T20I. A stop clock will be permanently implemented in Test cricket to address over rates, while ODI ball usage is modified to manage wear and tear.
West Indies bowler Jayden Seales has been fined 15% of his match fee for breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct during the first Test against Australia in Barbados. The incident occurred after he gestured towards the Australian dressing room following Pat Cummins' dismissal. Seales received a demerit point, his second in 24 months.
Rohit Sharma recalls the electrifying atmosphere surrounding India-Pakistan matches, describing it as a festival-like experience. He lauded Rishabh Pant's crucial innings and the exceptional bowling performance of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in the T20 World Cup clash. Sharma emphasized the strategic use of Bumrah and Arshdeep to defend a low total on a challenging pitch.
Following India's underwhelming bowling performance in the first Test, former cricket stars Michael Clarke and Nick Knight have urged the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav. Clarke criticized India's selection strategy, emphasizing the need to prioritize wicket-taking over bolstering batting depth.
Former India player Ajinkya Rahane has suggested that captain Shubman Gill should utilise Shardul Thakur's bowling skills more effectively. Rahane believes Thakur, an experienced all-rounder, can be a valuable asset if given more opportunities. He proposed specific strategies to maximise Thakur's impact, including using him as a first-change bowler.
Shubman Gill aimed to be the series' top scorer and scored a century on his captaincy debut. However, India lost the first Test against England. While his batting wasn't affected, his leadership is developing. Coach Gautam Gambhir supports Gill. Ravichandran Ashwin suggested using Shardul Thakur earlier. Gill remained composed, but his field placements faced criticism.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah's five-wicket haul in the first innings, India faced a five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. Off-field, a pre-marriage anecdote shared by his wife, Sanjana Ganesan, on 'Who's The Boss' added a light-hearted touch.
