Thursday, July 02
Usman Khawaja declined a post-game interview with SEN after their controversial dismissal of journalist Peter Lalor for social media posts about Gaza. Khawaja, a vocal advocate for human rights, previously faced restrictions for displaying supportive messages on his shoes. Lalor expressed his gratitude for Khawaja's unwavering support, highlighting the cricketer's principled stance.
Former England coach David Lloyd has likened Ben Duckett's aggressive batting style to that of Virender Sehwag, highlighting Duckett's proficiency with the reverse sweep. Duckett's school coach, James Knott, revealed that his attacking flair was nurtured from a young age, stemming from his hockey background.
Rishabh Pant has achieved a career-best seventh position in the ICC Test rankings after his remarkable centuries in the first Test against England. He equalled Andy Flower's record as the only wicketkeepers to score two centuries in a single Test. Pant's success is inspiring, especially after his near-fatal car accident in 2022.
Neeraj Chopra clinched his second victory of 2025 at the Ostrava Golden Spike event with an 85.29-meter throw, following his Paris Diamond League title. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, focusing on World Athletics Championships training, secured gold at the Asian Athletics Championship with an 86.40-meter throw. Nadeem also recently inspired young athletes at a World Olympic Day celebration in Lahore.
Chelsea defeated Esperance, securing a Club World Cup match against Benfica. Benfica had earlier triumphed over Bayern Munich. Minnows and semi-professional Auckland City drew with Argentina giants Boca Juniors. Los Angeles FC and Flamengo ended in a stalemate. Andreas Schjelderup's goal led Benfica to victory against Bayern. Chelsea's win featured goals from Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo and Tyrique George.
Shubham Ranjane and Donovan Ferreira's explosive batting propelled the Texas Super Kings to a 52-run victory over the LA Knight Riders. TSK posted a formidable 196/8, fueled by Ranjane's 70 and Ferreira's quickfire 43. The Knight Riders struggled to chase the target, with Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad's impactful bowling performances restricting them to 144/7.
Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's century in the Leeds Test, his fielding woes became a talking point after dropping four catches, a first for an Indian in a Test innings. An old video of him missing catches in a previous match resurfaced. However, coach Gautam Gambhir and Jasprit Bumrah defended Jaiswal, citing difficult conditions.
Rohit Sharma lauded Axar Patel and Virat Kohli's pivotal contributions in India's T20 World Cup victory over South Africa, marking their first ICC title since 2013. Axar's crucial 47 off 31 balls and his partnership with Kohli steadied India's innings. Kohli's anchoring 76 earned him Player of the Match, while Bumrah and Arshdeep sealed the win in a tense final.
Following India's shocking Test defeat against England, head coach Gautam Gambhir downplayed individual achievements, despite centuries from Rishabh Pant and others. He emphasised the team's failure to defend a massive score, highlighting England's record chase led by Ben Duckett. Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been released from the squad as injury concerns eased.
India faced a tough 5-wicket defeat against England in the first Test, despite a strong batting performance with five centuries and setting a 371-run target. Crucial dropped catches and batting collapses in both innings hampered India's chances. While the top order shone, the lower order struggled, contributing significantly less to the overall score, ultimately costing India the match.
