Saturday, July 04
Sarfaraz Khan showcased his impressive form with a rapid century for India A against the Indian Test squad in a warm-up match, scoring 101 off 76 balls. Despite his explosive innings, Jasprit Bumrah had a quiet outing, remaining wicketless. India A ended Day 2 at 299/6, trailing India's 459, with contributions from Siraj and Prasidh Krishna with the ball.
Texas Super Kings clinched a nail-biting three-run victory against MI New York in a last-ball thriller. Devon Conway's 65 and Calvin Savage's half-century propelled Texas to 185/6. Despite Monank Patel's 62, MI New York fell short at 182/9, undone by crucial run-outs orchestrated by Daryl Mitchell.
Team India has commenced preparations for the crucial Test series against England with an intense intra-squad match in Beckenham. Skipper Shubman Gill emphasized maintaining intensity during fielding, while Prasidh Krishna highlighted the importance of game time and the team's camaraderie.
Kevin Pietersen lauded Aiden Markram's century against Australia at Lord's as South Africa's greatest Test innings. Markram's 136 guided the Proteas to a five-wicket victory in the World Test Championship final, ending their 27-year ICC title drought. Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn also praised Markram's composure and the team's overall performance in securing the historic win.
Suruchi Phogat, a 19-year-old shooter from Haryana, clinched her third consecutive individual gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, marking her fifth international medal in as many tournaments. She equaled the national record in qualifying and demonstrated remarkable composure in the final, surpassing seasoned competitors.
Following the tragic stampede in Bengaluru after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory, the BCCI is establishing standard guidelines for post-match celebrations. A three-member committee, led by Devajit Saikia, has been formed to create comprehensive guidelines within 15 days. These guidelines will address crowd control, stadium capacity, emergency protocols, and coordination with local authorities to prevent future incidents.
The IPL 2025 final witnessed Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic win against Punjab Kings, drawing a record 169 million viewers in India. Surpassing the India vs Pakistan 2021 T20 World Cup match, it achieved an impressive TVR of 11. The match generated 15 billion minutes of watch-time, exceeding previous records.
Agni Chopra, son of Bollywood figures, carved his own path in cricket, overcoming assumptions and proving his dedication. Despite early success in Mumbai's U-23 team, Ranji selection eluded him, leading to a stint with Mizoram. Now, MI New York has picked him for $50,000 in MLC 2025, offering a fresh start and a chance to compete against top-tier talent.
South Africa secured their first ICC trophy in 27 years, winning the World Test Championship at Lord's. Cricket legends like AB de Villiers and Sachin Tendulkar lauded the team's character and Temba Bavuma's leadership. Aiden Markram's century and his crucial partnership with Bavuma were pivotal in the victory against Australia.
Australia face a setback as Steve Smith suffers a finger dislocation during the World Test Championship final against South Africa, ruling him out of the match and jeopardizing his participation in the upcoming West Indies Test series. The injury occurred while attempting a catch. With Smith sidelined, Australia's batting lineup faces further scrutiny amidst existing concerns about top-order form.
