Wednesday, July 08
Magnus Carlsen extended his lead at Norway Chess with an Armageddon win over Fabiano Caruana, while Koneru Humpy took the sole lead in the women's section. Hikaru Nakamura suffered a painful loss, and Wei Yi secured another Armageddon victory.
Jasprit Bumrah rarely shows emotion on the pitch and seldom celebrates a wicket, but in the IPL 2025 Eliminator, he looked like a man possessed. He finished with 1/27 in four overs — below par by his standards — yet Washington Sundar’s wicket turned the tide in MI’s favour. In a world where bowlers get their due beyond talk shows and podcasts, Bumrah might well have pipped Rohit for the Player of the Match award.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, under Rajat Patidar's leadership, have reached the IPL 2025 final, defeating Punjab Kings. Dinesh Karthik's role as batting coach is drawing attention, with predictions of exuberant celebrations if RCB win their first title. Karthik's coaching has already shown positive results, and he expresses a strong connection to the team and a desire to contribute to their success.
Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians will clash in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad, a match relocated due to geopolitical tensions. While PBKS aim for their first final since 2014, MI seeks their sixth title. Although rain briefly impacted PBKS's training, the forecast for the match is clear.
Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj and cricketer Rinku Singh are set to get engaged on June 8 in Lucknow. Priya Saroj, a young MP from Machhlishahr, and Rinku Singh, known for his IPL performance with Kolkata Knight Riders, connected through a mutual acquaintance. Their families have approved the union, marking a blend of politics and sports in Uttar Pradesh.
Punjab Kings bowler Yuzvendra Chahal, who is nursing a wrist injury, and Mumbai Indians' seamer Deepak Chahar, who didn't play the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans due to a hamstring niggle, are likely to play for their respective teams in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya have dismissed rumours of a rift following Gujarat Titans' IPL 2025 elimination, addressing speculation fuelled by on-field interactions and Pandya's move to Mumbai Indians. Both players affirmed their camaraderie on social media after Mumbai Indians' victory in the Eliminator match. Mumbai Indians will play IPL Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings today.
