Choudhary controlled most of the bout, employing sharp combinations and effective movement to keep the experienced Welsh boxer under pressure. Her consistency across the three rounds impressed the judges, earning her a clear 4-0 verdict and a place in the gold-medal contest.

The result made her the latest Indian boxer to reach a Commonwealth Games final in Glasgow and guaranteed India another medal in the discipline. Choudhary will now aim to convert her strong campaign into gold when she steps into the ring for the final.

Earlier, Jaismine produced a dominant performance to book her place in the women’s 57kg final, defeating Lesotho’s Rapelang Maselela via Referee Stops Contest. From the opening bell, Jaismine controlled the action with sharp combinations, precise footwork and sustained aggression. She won the first round convincingly on all five judges’ scorecards before increasing the intensity in the second. Unable to withstand the pressure, Maselela was counted out and the referee halted the contest in Round 2.

In the men’s 80kg category, Ankush Panghal also reached the final after outclassing Canada’s Joshua Ofori 5-0. Displaying control, precision and composure throughout, Panghal secured his third successive unanimous decision of the campaign and moved within one win of the gold medal.

The semi-final successes of Choudhary, Jaismine and Panghal added to India’s growing medal tally in boxing at the Games and underlined the depth of the country’s contingent in Glasgow.

The 27-year-old managed only two valid throws across six rounds after repeatedly seeing the disc become entangled in the side netting. The podium finish marked the first major international medal of her career. Kaliramna is also a PhD aspirant and the mother of a four-year-old son, Rudra.

Motherhood has coincided with her rise as a top-level athlete. Before Rudra was born in 2022 her personal best stood at 48.08 metres. After an 11-month break she returned to competition in 2024 and improved the mark to 57.19 metres, later reaching 59.73 metres at the Indian Championships in Bhubaneswar earlier this year.

She is coached by her husband, Ravinder Kaliramna, himself one of India’s leading discus throwers and a former gold medallist at the national under-18 and under-20 championships. Alongside her sporting commitments she is pursuing a PhD in Physical Education at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University in Bhiwani.

Her career had earlier suffered a major interruption when a serious knee injury kept her out of competition for more than three years. Through extensive rehabilitation and sustained determination she returned successfully and re-established herself among the country’s leading discus throwers.

She won gold at the 2025 National Games and later claimed the national title. Her resurgence continued with gold at the 2026 South Asian Athletics Championships and a series of strong performances on the national circuit. In 2026 she recorded a personal best of 59.73 metres, emerging as one of India’s top performers in the event and securing qualification for the Asian Games as well as selection for the Commonwealth Games squad.

Kaliramna’s bronze in Glasgow therefore represents both a competitive breakthrough and the culmination of a recovery that has spanned injury, motherhood and academic pursuits while she continued to raise her performance standards.

Rahane announced his decision to retire from all formats on Thursday, ending a career that spanned more than a decade. He is best remembered for leading India to a historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victory in Australia in 2020-21.

Kohli, who shared many significant moments with Rahane in the Indian dressing room, posted a warm message on social media: “Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless.”

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also paid tribute, recalling Rahane’s composure and selflessness. “It felt good to share the dressing room with you, Ajju bhai. Calm in every situation, selfless in every role and a leader by example. Thank you for everything you have done for Indian cricket. Wishing you nothing but the best for what’s next,” Pant wrote.

Rahane made his India debut on the 2011 tour of England and went on to play 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. In Test cricket he scored 5,077 runs across 144 innings, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. He also accumulated 2,962 runs in ODIs. His final appearance for India came during the 2023 away Test series against the West Indies.

The high point of his captaincy arrived during the 2020-21 tour of Australia. After India were dismissed for 36 in Adelaide and Kohli returned home for the birth of his child, Rahane assumed leadership of a depleted side. Under his charge India secured a memorable 2-1 series win, highlighted by an eight-wicket victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and a historic triumph at the Gabba that breached Australia’s long-standing home fortress and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli’s description of Rahane as both a reliable slip fielder and a preferred batting partner underscores the mutual respect that developed during their years together. Pant’s emphasis on calmness and leading by example further reinforces the quiet authority Rahane brought to the team in demanding situations.

The tributes from two of Indian cricket’s most prominent figures add to the widespread appreciation expressed for Rahane’s contributions as a dependable overseas batter, a composed leader and a consistent team man.

Rahane shared the decision in a video posted on his Instagram account, formally closing a distinguished playing career that spanned more than a decade at the highest level. The right-handed middle-order batsman featured in 85 Tests, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals for India. His final international appearance came in a Test against the West Indies in July 2023.

In a post on X, Naik wrote: “Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket. His dedication, composure under pressure, and commitment to excellence have made him one of Mumbai cricket’s finest ambassadors. His legacy will inspire generations to come.”

Rahane scored 5,077 runs in Test cricket at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries. In ODIs he accumulated 2,962 runs at 35.26 with three hundreds, while in T20Is he managed 375 runs at a strike rate of 113.29. He captained India in six Tests, winning four and drawing two. He was also part of India’s squads for the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups.

The defining chapter of his international career arrived during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. With regular captain Virat Kohli away on paternity leave and India reeling from a 36-all-out collapse in the first Test at Adelaide, Rahane stepped up as stand-in leader. He guided a depleted side to a memorable 2-1 series victory, a result widely regarded as one of Indian cricket’s most resilient overseas triumphs in recent years.

More than half of Rahane’s Test matches were played away from home, where he consistently demonstrated his ability to handle quality pace and bounce on challenging surfaces. In the Indian Premier League he appeared in 212 matches for six different franchises, ending his competitive career as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2026 season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India also paid tribute on X, stating: “An illustrious career comes to an end. Thank you @ajinkyarahane88 for your immense contribution to Indian cricket and all the memories that will be cherished forever. Wishing you the very best in your next chapter.”

Naik’s remarks underscore the high regard in which Rahane is held within Mumbai cricket circles. Known for his calm demeanour and team-first approach, the 36-year-old leaves the game with a reputation built on consistency, leadership under pressure and quiet professionalism. His journey from Mumbai’s domestic ranks to international leadership continues to serve as a benchmark for aspiring cricketers across the country.

The Indian boxer was in complete control throughout the quarterfinal, impressing all five judges with his sharp combinations, effective footwork and superior ringcraft. Sachin won the opening two rounds 10-9 on all five scorecards before sealing the contest comfortably in the final round to register a comprehensive victory.

The judges scored the bout 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 in favour of the Indian pugilist, underlining his dominance against the Botswana boxer.

With the victory, Sachin advanced to the men’s 60kg semifinals and, under Commonwealth Games boxing rules, also assured India of at least a bronze medal.

Sachin will now aim to carry his impressive form into the semifinals as he looks to secure a place in the gold-medal bout and add another boxing medal to India’s tally in Glasgow.

Earlier in the day, compatriots Sakshi and Arundhati too made it past the quarterfinal stage in their respective weight categories.

Sakshi assured the country of another medal after registering a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision over Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers in the women’s quarter-finals.

Sakshi was in complete control throughout the contest, winning all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards. Four judges awarded her 29-27, while one scored it 29-25, reflecting her dominance in the bout. She also benefited from a point deduction against her opponent.

The convincing victory takes Sakshi into the semifinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal under the Commonwealth Games boxing format, where both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals.

Arundhati Choudhary assured the country of another boxing medal after defeating Morgan Henderson (NZL) by a 3-1 split decision in the women’s 70kg quarterfinals.

The Indian pugilist displayed composure and tactical discipline throughout the three-round contest to edge past Henderson in a closely fought bout. Three judges scored all three rounds in Arundhati’s favour (30-26), while one judge awarded the contest to the New Zealander 29-27. The fifth judge had the scores level at 28-28, but a one-point deduction against Henderson tilted the verdict in Arundhati’s favour.

The Indian weightlifting icon was spotted training in Glasgow as she began preparations for the continental showpiece. With the Commonwealth Games title secured, Mirabai has wasted little time in turning her attention to the only major multi-sport prize that has so far eluded her.

The Manipur-born weightlifter opened India's gold-medal account at the Commonwealth Games 2026 by clinching the women's 48kg title in commanding fashion. Despite failing her opening 82kg snatch attempt, she recovered brilliantly to clear the weight on her second lift before raising the bar to 85kg, setting new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch.

She encountered another hurdle in the clean and jerk after dropping her first attempt, but responded with the composure of a seasoned champion by successfully lifting 105kg on her second attempt, sealing the gold medal well before the competition concluded.

The triumph completed a hat-trick of Commonwealth Games titles for Mirabai, who had earlier won gold at Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. Her Commonwealth journey began with a silver medal at Glasgow 2014, making her one of the most decorated weightlifters in the history of the Games.

The Asian Games, however, remains unfinished business. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Mirabai finished fourth in the women's 49kg event with a total lift of 191kg, comprising 83kg in the snatch and 108kg in the clean and jerk. Her medal hopes ended painfully when she sustained a thigh injury while attempting 117kg in her final clean and jerk effort.

Now fully fit and carrying the confidence of another Commonwealth Games triumph, Mirabai has already begun laying the foundation for another medal bid. With the Asian Games fast approaching, India's most celebrated weightlifter will be hoping her latest chapter in Glasgow becomes the springboard for redemption on the continental stage.

Harjinder, who added another medal to the country’s tally at the Commonwealth Games 2026, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 69 kg weightlifting competition, said she reaches out to her mother immediately after winning any major events. 

'I usually call my mother first whenever I win a medal, and today was no different—I spoke to her briefly right after my event as she was a little upset with me for being away at competitions for so long," Harjinder told IANS. 

The 29-year-old weightlifter finished with a combined lift of 227kg (101kg snatch + 126kg clean and jerk). She stayed in medal contention throughout the competition and sealed second place with a successful 126 kg lift in her final clean and jerk attempt to secure her second successive Commonwealth Games medal. 

Reflecting on her performance, the weightlifter admitted that while she had achieved higher numbers during training sessions, she was pleased with her consistency on the big stage.

"I am happy with my silver medal. I have achieved better clean and jerk lifts during my training, but I am satisfied that all six of my lifts were valid," she said.

Having set her sights on the top step of the podium, Harjinder, who upgraded her bronze from 2022 Birmingham Games to Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow, revealed that upgrading her medal status was her main target entering the competition. "I came here with the goal of changing the colour of my medal," she added. 

Harjinder's sporting journey began late and unexpectedly. She was initially a passionate Kabaddi player, training as a raider and even cycling five kilometres daily just to practice. It was only in 2016, at the age of 20, that her life changed at Punjabi University in Patiala.

Esha produced a composed and commanding performance in the eight-woman final, registering 40 hits to finish atop the podium. Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu, meanwhile, battled through a fiercely contested final, surviving a crucial shoot-off before ending with 28 hits to claim the bronze medal.

The Indian duo had laid the foundation with outstanding performances in qualification. Manu topped the standings with 586-20x, while Esha followed closely with 585-18x as both comfortably progressed to the medal round. Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed out on the final after shooting 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) competed under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.

Speaking after her victory, Esha admitted the expectations following her record-breaking triumph at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this season had added to the challenge.

“This match was very pressure-riding for me because of the previous medal I had. The better you get in your event, the more you feel that weight of prestige you have to conquer. I'm happy that I was able to get past it today and grateful that I had the ability to endure it. I really love competing here in Hangzhou. Recalling how the competition went during the Asian Games, where I won four medals, I was really excited to come back. Being familiar with the range, the lighting, and the atmosphere in the final hall definitely counted in my favour,” Esha said.

The victory marks another significant milestone for the 21-year-old from Hyderabad, who earlier this year created history in Munich by setting both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. A Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, Esha has continued her rapid rise among the world's leading pistol shooters.

Manu, meanwhile, said the bronze medal was an important marker as she builds towards the major events on the international calendar.

“This medal is very important because it acts as a stepping stone. It gives me clarity on what is working and the direction I want to head in. While the medal surely boosts my confidence, the experience I gained from this competitive match will help even more as we look ahead to major assignments like the World Championships and Asian Games,” Manu said.

The gold medal further cements Hyderabad’s 21-year-old Esha’s impressive career. Earlier this season at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Esha made history by breaking both senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. As a Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Award recipient, Esha continues to rise among the world's top shooters.

For Manu, the bronze medal highlights her exceptional consistency on the world stage, building on her historic Paris 2024 Olympic run, where she made history as the first athlete from independent India to earn two medals at a single Games.

After suffering series defeats in Ireland (2-0) and England (4-0), Iyer got his maiden series victory as India's T20I captain when the visitors sealed a clinical 35-run win in the third and final T20I over Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

“I think we were flawless, honestly speaking, throughout the series, barring the catches that we dropped. But phenomenal effort by each and every individual, including the support staff and whatever we mentioned in the team meeting, executing it to the best of the abilities was something that we always looked up to. 

“The approach was a notch above the others. So congratulations to each and every individual who have been part of this victory and thank you to VVS sir as well for motivating us and inspiring each and every day when we stepped onto the field. I think everything that you mentioned was apt and we could relate to it. So thank you so much and thank you to each and every individual,” said Iyer in a video posted on BCCI’s social media accounts on Monday.

VVS Laxman, who stepped in as India’s head coach for the series, lauded Iyer’s leadership and pointed out how the skipper bounced back after a tough start to his captaincy tenure to unite a largely fresh squad.

“Firstly, a big round of applause to everybody. We set out to win the series and that was what we aspired to do. I would like to congratulate Shreyas because he had a rough start to his captaincy career, but the way he came back and right from the first day when he joined us, one day before the first game, he was very optimistic.

“He was in fact looking forward to play with all of you. It's a new group of players. We know that only four or five were there in England, joined us on this tour. But he was so confident and I think a lot of credit for this victory should be given to the captain. The way he encouraged each one of us. It was again a very collective effort.”

Laxman further spoke on how the squad embraced a winning mentality from day one of assembling in Zimbabwe. “We had one thing which we wanted to achieve. We wanted to exhibit the winner's mindset. If you remember the first meeting we had before the first match, we said that as a team we can display the winner's mindset and I think through the three matches, each one of you have displayed that. 

“So congratulations on that. I would like to thank all the coaches, all the support staff and Amit and the manager for your efforts through the series. Sometimes we don't realise how important a role you all play. So thank you very much for your commitment towards making sure that our players were ready for this series and through the series. All of you have made sure that they are best prepared for each and every match. So thank you to each one of you.”

Thakur claimed his maiden T20I wicket by dismissing the dangerous Brian Bennett for 32, and eventually took 2-30 in his four overs as he helped India defend a massive total of 219/5 and secure a 90-run victory to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

"I'm really grateful to have got the opportunity to play this game. I'm also really grateful to my family and my close ones, who have always supported me. So I'm really grateful for this," Thakur said at the conclusion of the game. 

Elaborating on his tactical discussion with skipper Shreyas Iyer to break Bennett's opening assault, Thakur said, "I think the wicket was really good to bat on. Me and Shreyas bhai discussed our plans before the spell, and we stuck to them. We felt the slower ball would be a very effective option on this wicket, so we backed it, and it worked for us." 

Thakur, 27, represents Punjab Kings in the IPL and won the Ranji Trophy in 2024/25 with Vidarbha. He has been a regular with the India 'A' team for the last 12 months in both red-ball and white-ball formats. 

"Last month I was playing in the India A tour of Sri Lanka. I played both the one-day and Test series there. I always keep my plans ready for both white-ball and red-ball cricket," he said. When asked about his personal preference between formats, Thakur kept it simple. "No, I enjoy both. I just want to play the game." 

The immediate goal is, of course, winning gold in the Mixed 4x400 metres relay at Oregon, but her biggest dream is achieving the holy grail of world sports -- becoming an Olympic champion.

"My ultimate goal is to win gold at the Olympics. For now, I am totally focused on the World U20 Athletics Championships. I will compete in the mixed 4x400m relay, which will require a collective effort from the entire team in order to win a medal. However, I will put in my best effort and will do my best to make the country proud," Tahura said on the eve of her departure for what will be the biggest event of her career so far.

Tahura, who hones her skills under the watchful eyes of chief coach Sanjoy Ghosh and assistant coach Jaspal Singh Pannu at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Eastern Centre, has already etched her name in the history books by winning gold in the Women's 4x400m relay at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships last month, which earned her qualification for the world meet.

"There have been a lot of changes in my life after my success at the Asian U20 event. The expectations are greater now. However, I am in good form now and have won gold at the recent state meet, where I created a new meet record. I am aiming to carry this form into the World U20," she asserted.

Haiing from the remote Phulbari village in Bhangar of the South 24 Parganas district, the 19-year-old had started her foray into the world of sports by playing football and cricket with the local boys before venturing into athletics.

The teenager credited her coaches at SAI, Eastern Centre for helping her to realise her full potential. "I have been training at SAI for the last five years, and I owe all my achievements to the coaches and support staff over here. They look after all my requirements, including training, diet etc," the athlete said.

"When I started my journey in athletics, I faced a lot of difficulties since my family was finding it tough to fund my training. But after I was selected to train at SAI, my life has changed, and I hope to achieve greater glory under the guidance of my SAI coaches Sanjoy sir and Jaspal sir," she added.

"I hope my achievements will inspire the youth of West Bengal to take up athletics in bigger numbers."

As she stands on the threshold of the biggest competition of her career, there is one thing that rankles Tahura.

"When I returned after the Asian U20, there was no one to receive me at the airport, " she rued. "I aim to change that by winning medals at the world level.

The ball is now in her court

Samson spent 11 years with RR and captained them for five seasons, before moving to CSK through a high-profile trade ahead of IPL 2026. “Leaving Rajasthan Royals was a huge risk. Once you convey your feelings to the franchise, there is no going back. You could end up in a team you don't want to go to or even in the auction with no certainty. There were two reasons behind this decision.

“First, I was sure that 2025 would be my last season with RR. I had long conversations with my family and my wife. They kept asking me if it was an impulsive decision or if I was really sure. We discussed it for two or three weeks, and then we decided it was time. I was convinced it was the right call.

“Second, I am a confident person. I believe I can stand on my own. I am always ready to start from zero. Many people told me that my batting style might not suit the slow Chepauk wicket. Those thoughts did cross my mind. But then I told myself, 'You are 30 years old. Go out and find a way.' This IPL season, I went in with a lot of energy, thinking I had to achieve something. I discovered a new energy there, and it was working very well for me,” Samson said on JioStar's 'Superstars.’

His initiation at CSK, however, began on a tough note, with low scores in his first three outings amidst team defeats after becoming Player of the Tournament in India’s 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup triumph. Samson highlighted how the franchise's calm environment helped him navigate the slump.

“In T20 cricket, failure is common. In this format, you tend to fail more than you succeed. So, when you are going through a rough patch, you need people around you who understand that failure is part of the game. When I joined CSK, I failed in my first three games. We lost all three, and I didn't score runs.

“I had just come off playing in the World Cup final, but I wasn't able to carry that form into the IPL. In that situation, no matter how experienced you are, you know that the coach expects more, the captain expects more, and Mahi bhai is watching you. So I went to the nets, worked on my game, and stayed in my zone.

“I was more mature this time around and I knew what I had to do. But what really stood out was that the response from the team management and my teammates didn't change even one per cent. When I failed three matches in a row, their faith in me never wavered. That meant a lot to me.”

It was a succinct piece of advice from Dhoni that ultimately settled his nerves, clearing the way for a turnaround century against Delhi Capitals in the next match. “I still remember, Mahi bhai met me after the first three matches when we went for practice. I usually sit right behind him, facing him. So, we sat down, and he looked at me and asked if I was fine. I said, 'Bhaiya, I am fine.'

“Then I kept saying 'but' and 'yes' without even realising it. Then he told me, 'Don't get into but. Just focus on doing what you do best. Everything will be alright.' It was very subtle, but a huge lesson for me. He was telling me that everything is okay. Just because I was failing didn't mean I had to change my batting style, look like I was stressed, or practice for three extra hours.

“At that moment, I felt I really had to perform for them. Then I told Stephen Fleming, 'Don't worry, we'll be fine in the next game.' And in the next game, I scored a hundred against Delhi Capitals. From there, the momentum came back.”

Having captained RR for five years, Samson explained why he didn't seek the leadership role upon joining CSK. “I really started enjoying captaincy at RR. It's a different skill, and I was getting better at it every year. By the fourth year of captaincy, I had a clear idea of what it takes to lead a side in IPL and T20s. I was enjoying it completely.

“But more than that, I wanted to enjoy cricket more. If the environment changes and doesn't suit you anymore, it's okay to move on. Captaincy is not something you should ask for. It's something that should be given to you because people believe you are the right person. Even at RR, I never asked for it.

“Manoj Badale sir, the owner of RR told me I was the next captain, and I said I was ready. I captained for five seasons and after that, I was confident enough to leave that role, start fresh, and enjoy my cricket again. But it was important to have the right people around me. Ruturaj was someone I knew I would enjoy playing under. I was ready to play under his captaincy and that was one of the thoughts that guided my decision of not demanding for captaincy after joining CSK.”

Addressing his perspective on national selection and individual milestones, Samson reiterated that he prefers focusing on his own processes rather than chasing accolades or pushing for spots. “I had already proven what I am in the IPL and I feel that if the Indian team needs me, I don't need to score big runs and win the Orange Cap.

“There have been many instances where I was very close to getting selected in the World Cup team and someone else was picked. But I am not the kind of character who will tell my leaders, 'Bhaiya, please select me, I will play.' I am always like, 'I am here. If you want me, call me.' I will keep doing my training, I will keep doing my processes.

“But when you feel that you need Sanju the most, that is the only time when my best will also come out. That is what happened in CSK as well, and in the World Cup too this time. It's always best to be where you are comfortable, instead of moving out of it, I feel,” he concluded.

Returning to international cricket after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Mayank struck with the very first ball of the match and finished with impressive figures of 2-18. Along with fellow Delhi pacer Prince Yadav (2-19), he laid the foundation for India’s clinical victory before teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a record-breaking 18-ball half-century to guide the visitors to a comfortable chase of 126 and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Reflecting on the difficult period away from the game, Mayank admitted that the lay-off tested him mentally. "It was very difficult, especially this two-year gap was very challenging for me as a person because the main thing is age wasn’t on my side at that time. I was only 22 or 23 years old," Mayank told reporters after the match.

"So that thing always affected me that at such a young age, I’m having to see so much. At the same time, the motivation to play for the country exists from childhood for every player. So that motivation was there for me that I should return to play for the country and perform the way I did," he added.

Mayank made an immediate impact by dismissing Brian Bennett off the opening ball after Ishan Kishan completed a successful review behind the stumps. He later removed Dion Myers with another lively delivery as Zimbabwe slipped to 32/4 before recovering to post 125/7 through Wessly Madhevere’s 39 and Tadiwanashe Marumani’s unbeaten 27.

Mayank also praised Iyer’s leadership, saying the India skipper gave his bowlers complete freedom to execute their plans.

"I didn’t speak much to him before the match. But when he was captaining, I felt that he showed a lot of confidence in the bowlers and I felt very good that whatever I wanted to bowl, he backed that," Mayank said.

"When he gave me some advice too, I felt very confident that I could back that and it was a good option. I felt very free playing with him. It’s the first time I’m playing under his captaincy. I’ve only seen him lead on TV or with other teams, so it felt very good."

India will look to seal the three-match series when the two sides meet in the second T20I on Saturday.

The 2027 contest will mark the second time The Oval hosts the championship decider after staging the inaugural final in 2021, where Australia defeated India in front of a capacity crowd. 

Last year, during the ICC Annual Conference 2025, ECB was awarded hosting rights for the next three World Test Championship Finals, which are 2027, 2019 and 2031. The first three editions of the WTC Final were held at different venues in England, with Lord’s hosting the 2025 final, where South Africa beat Australia by five wickets. 

New Zealand claimed the inaugural title by defeating India in Southampton in 2021, before Australia lifted the trophy at The Oval in 2023. The upcoming final will also conclude the fourth cycle of the World Test Championship.

ECB Managing Director of Competitions and Major Events Neil Snowball said England was proud to continue hosting the global showpiece for the longest format of the game.

“We are honoured to be staging the next three ICC World Test Championship Finals in England and Wales, and we’re pleased to confirm that The Oval will play host again next year. The 2023 final at The Oval was a huge hit with broadcasters and fans, and I’ve no doubt that next year’s event will be extra special again.

“This promises to be another fantastic opportunity for cricket fans in this country and from around the world to see the best two Test teams in the world from the past two years taking each other on in a showpiece event,” Snowball said in an ECB statement on Thursday.

The 2027 edition will carry additional historical significance as it coincides with celebrations marking 150 years of Test cricket, adding further prestige to a fixture that brings together the world's two top-performing Test sides over the preceding two-year cycle.

ICC General Manager, Events & Operations, Gaurav Saxena, believes the choice of venue reflects the strong relationship between the ICC and the ECB, while also recognising The Oval's place in cricket history.

“The ICC World Test Championship Final has established itself as one of the most prestigious occasions in the global cricket calendar, bringing together the two best Test teams in the world after two years of sustained excellence and consistency. The confirmation of The Oval as the venue for the 2027 final is another testament to the strong and collaborative partnership between the ICC and the ECB. This partnership was showcased through the outstanding success of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where both organisations worked seamlessly together to deliver several landmark moments for women’s sport and create an unforgettable experience for players, fans and the wider cricket community.

“The 2027 World Test Championship Final will hold special significance as cricket celebrates 150 years of Test cricket. The Oval has played a proud role in the history of our sport and has hosted some of its most memorable moments. We look forward to working closely with the ECB to deliver another world-class event that celebrates the enduring legacy of Test cricket and creates lasting memories for fans around the world,” Saxena stated.

Australia are currently atop the WTC rankings, with 87.50 percentage points, while defending champions South Africa follow them in the second spot with 75 percentage points. New Zealand, Bangladesh and India occupy the third, fourth and fifth spots, while Sri Lanka, England, the West Indies and Pakistan hold the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth places respectively. 

The tournament will last 11 days, ending on August 3, with the best teams from both zones battling for the championship.

Twelve academy teams are split into two pools of six. Each team plays the others in its pool during the league stage. The top two from each pool will advance to the semi-finals on August 2. The tournament concludes with a third-place playoff and the final on August 3.

Pool A includes Raja Karan Hockey Academy, Khalsa Hockey Academy (Amritsar), Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy, Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy, and Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy in Sonepat.

Pool B includes Ritu Rani Hockey Academy, Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy, Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta, Mumbai Schools Sports Association, Adyar Hockey Academy, and Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

The tournament will operate in a league format during the pool stage, where teams earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. In classification matches needing a winner, tied games will be resolved through a shoot-out as per the FIH Tournament Regulations.

Speaking ahead of the championship, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, "The Junior Women Academy Championship has become an important platform in our efforts to strengthen the grassroots development pathway for women's hockey in India. The tournament provides young players with an opportunity to compete against some of the best academy talent in the country while gaining valuable experience in a highly competitive environment. We are confident that this championship will help identify future stars who will go on to represent India at the highest level."

Hockey India Secretary General Bola Nath Singh added, "Academies play a vital role in nurturing young players and preparing them for the next stage of their hockey journey. Championships like these not only promote healthy competition but also provide exposure to talented athletes from across the country. We wish all participating teams the very best and look forward to witnessing exciting hockey over the coming days."

The opening day action kicks off with Raja Karan Hockey Academy against Khalsa Hockey Academy (Amritsar) at 7:30 AM. This is followed by the Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy versus Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, Sonepat, at 9:00 AM. Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society will then compete against Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy at 10:30 AM. 

In Pool B, Ritu Rani Hockey Academy will face Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy at 1:30 PM, and Mumbai Schools Sports Association will compete with Adyar Hockey Academy at 3:00 PM. The day concludes with Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta playing against the host, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, at 4:30 PM.

Harbhajan, one of India's greatest off-spinners, said Tendulkar's words have remained with him throughout his playing career and continue to shape the advice he now gives to the next generation of cricketers.

"I think our seniors were so good because they wanted us to play well and become better within our limitations. The best advice I ever got was from the great Sachin Tendulkar," Harbhajan told Jio Star.

"Sachin paaji told me, 'There will be many distractions, many things will come your way, but you have to keep your blinders on, so that you can't look left or right, and only look straight ahead. And what lies ahead? Cricket! If you stay on this path, no one in the world can stop you. Whatever you want to become, whatever you want to do, you will earn every kind of respect, honour, and fame, everything, if you keep walking on this path,' he added.

The former spinner said the same principle is central to the message he now shares with young players breaking into international cricket.

"So, I give the same advice to youngsters: keep your focus on the game. You are who you are because of the game. Don't think that you are bigger than the game. If your attitude isn't right, as much as this game provides, it also knows how to take it back just as quickly," he said.

Harbhajan enjoyed a distinguished international career spanning nearly two decades and played a pivotal role in several of India's biggest triumphs. The off-spinner claimed 711 international wickets across formats, including 417 in 103 Tests, making him one of only a handful of Indian bowlers to cross the 400-wicket mark in the longest format. He also picked up 269 wickets in 236 ODIs and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is.

Ashok, who earned his maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, said he made full use of the opportunity to learn from Siraj whenever they trained or spent time together in the dressing room.

"I had a lot of talks with Siraj bhaiya as well. Whenever we were in the dressing room or bowling together in the nets, I would keep asking him questions throughout the day. I would ask him, 'Bhaiya, when you play a match, how much pressure do you feel? What do you think before bowling a delivery? If I have to bowl to someone, how should I set him up?' I would discuss all these things with him," he told JioStar.

According to Ashok, Siraj never hesitated to share his knowledge and even analysed his bowling during practice sessions.

"Siraj bhaiya would explain everything to me very well. He would stand with me and watch two or three of my deliveries. Then he would tell me, 'Do this, make this change, try this.' So I learned a lot from him. I have carried all those learnings with me. Whenever I get time to practice in Jaipur, I focus on those things and try to do them even better," he added.

Ashok was purchased by Gujarat Titans for Rs 90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction. He finally made his IPL debut against Punjab, where he immediately grabbed attention by clocking 154.2 kmph, underlining his ability to generate genuine pace. The young fast bowler featured in six matches during IPL 2026 and picked up six wickets, with his best figures being 2 for 32, performances that strengthened his case for higher honours.

Ashok also recalled a valuable piece of advice from veteran India fast bowler Ishant Sharma during his early days with Gujarat Titans, saying the conversation changed the way he looked at his bowling.

"When I joined the Gujarat Titans camp for the first time, Ishant Sharma bhai was standing there. He asked me about my recent performance, how many wickets I had taken in Ranji Trophy and what my figures looked like. I told him, 'Bhaiya, I have 16 wickets in four matches.' He said, 'Everything looks good. You are bowling well. But if you work a little more on your length, especially the good length area, those 16 wickets in four matches can easily become 24. Just focus on hitting that consistent length," he said.

"That was a big moment for me. Ishant bhai has played Test cricket for India and has taken more than 300 wickets. He has bowled to the best batters in the world. If he gave me that advice, he must have said it after watching me closely. That advice stayed with me. It reminded me that small improvements in the right areas can make a big difference," he added.

Reflecting on the turning point in his international career, Samson admitted he could see the selectors' thinking change as Kishan grabbed his opportunity.

"After that, Ishan came in, and his story was completely different. He wasn't even in the team. He won Jharkhand the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy almost single-handedly, then came into the Indian team and was batting on a different level altogether. I could clearly see that Ishan was moving above me in the pecking order,” Samson told JioStar.

Kishan capitalised on his opportunity with a string of impactful innings, while Samson endured a lean run in the five-match series, leaving the Kerala batter convinced that the race for a World Cup berth had effectively ended.

"You get five matches and score 24, 6, 6, 10 and 0, then another guy comes in, scores 70-odd straightaway, gets a hundred later in the series, and the next match is directly in the T20 World Cup. Anyone would prefer an in-form batter. It was clear that the World Cup was done for me. Whatever had to happen had happened, and the only thing I could do was sit quietly and clap,” he added.

The 31-year-old said the disappointment was particularly painful because it came just when he believed he had finally established himself in India's T20I setup after a remarkable run of form.

"That's the spice of being an Indian cricketer, actually. Everything can change in a single day. The same thing happened with me as well. When I was given those seven matches, I don't think even I would have imagined that I would score three hundreds in those seven games,” he expressed.

Samson said that success had convinced many that his place in the side was secure, but he never allowed himself to think that way. The wicketkeeper-batter also admitted that the setback taught him an important lesson about balancing preparation with mental well-being.

"When I made those runs, people would say, 'Now you're sorted, you're settled. You've made your position in T20Is.' But in my mind, I couldn't believe it. Was it for real? Then the New Zealand series happened. This T20 format is such a funny game. I put my heart and soul into it, practised like mad, thinking my goal was right in front of me, of making sure that I was in the World Cup team. And after giving everything, 24 was my highest score in five matches,” the Kerala batter stated.

Samson revealed that it was during this difficult phase that he realised relentless practice alone was not the answer, as he said, "I realised I was overdoing it, and my wife was right, being happy and mentally in a good space is much more important than putting in hours and hours of practice. The New Zealand series taught me that."

"I think it's really wonderful to see the country host the world championship again. It's a great moment not only for badminton but for Indian sport. In general, there's been a lot of push in the last few years in many sports. And badminton as a sport has grown over time. So it's only fair in time that we host a prestigious event like the world championships. And I'm very happy that at this moment in time Delhi can host this prestigious event,” Gopichand told the media at the BWF World Championships’ official mascot and anthem launch event here.

The 30th edition of the BWF World Championships will be held in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, marking the tournament's return to India after 17 years. The launch event was attended by Badminton Association of India (BAI) president and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra, and senior officials.

Looking ahead to the busy international calendar, Gopichand pointed out that the World Championships will be followed immediately by the Asian Games, making the coming weeks crucial for India's leading shuttlers.

"I think it's a wonderful event. It's also great timing. We have the world championships followed by the Asian Games. So the next two months are going to be very critical for India, back-to-back. To have Sindhu reach the finals in Japan, to have Ayush, you have Satwik and Chirag. Some really good medal contenders. To go into the big games with such contenders, I think it's great. I'm sure the home conditions, the home crowd, and the support and the familiarity would definitely help the players,” Gopichand stated.

On concerns over the packed international schedule, Gopichand said Indian players have become accustomed to balancing multiple major events during the season.

"I think it happens year on year. Every year, this challenge is there. In fact, this year, if we had had the Commonwealth Games, we would have had to play another event prior. I think in some sense, badminton players are used to the calendar being packed. They are used to competing multiple times in a year. And I'm sure with the experience that the players have in the local conditions, it is only more advantageous than many other countries' players who had to travel for it,” Gopichand expressed.

Reflecting on India's preparations to host one of badminton's biggest tournaments, Gopichand said the country's infrastructure and event management have improved significantly, while expressing confidence that the championships would leave a lasting impression on players and fans alike.

“It would be fair to say that we have our own infrastructure. But the government today has put in all its effort to ensure that the rebuilding of the stadium is underway. We have lots of new players. The stadium is looking really nice. And the organising has gotten better. So I'm sure that this time around, the experience of the players will be very different from what it was in India. It's a great tournament. 

“People are really focused. It will be a great tournament for us as Indians to watch our top players play against the best in the world. And today, when I look back, I think it was a great evening. We had our president, Himanta Biswa Sarma. And also, the mascot and the themes have come out so beautifully in a very young way. I'm sure that this will energise the players. And also the fans look forward to this festival,” Gopichand concluded.

With the three-match series level at 1-1, the iconic Lord's will host a winner-takes-all contest after India claimed the opening ODI at Edgbaston before England bounced back with a four-wicket victory in Cardiff, powered by Joe Root's unbeaten 99.

Speaking to IANS, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain described the series decider as an evenly balanced contest but gave England a slight edge because of home conditions. He also felt India's inability to gel as a settled unit has been the main reason behind their T20I series defeat and the ODI series remaining undecided until the final match.

"I think both teams are 50-50 at the moment. Since England are playing at home, you can say they have a slight edge, maybe 51 percent," Kapil told IANS.

"Looking at the way our team has performed in the T20Is and so far in the ODI series, I don't think the team has gelled completely yet. If this Indian side starts clicking as a unit, I would even give them a 60 percent chance," he added.

India head into the decider with positives despite the defeat in Cardiff. Virat Kohli returned to form with a fluent 65, while Jasprit Bumrah remains the leader of the bowling attack. However, Rohit Sharma will be looking for a significant contribution after an inconsistent run with the bat.

England, meanwhile, will once again rely heavily on Root, who has continued his remarkable consistency in ODI cricket and will be aiming to guide the hosts to another home series triumph.

A victory at Lord's would also help India end a 22-year wait for an ODI win at the iconic venue and secure their eighth bilateral ODI series win over England since 2010.

Kapil also threw his support behind India head coach Gautam Gambhir amid discussions surrounding the team's recent performances, saying the decision on the former opener's future lies with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selection committee.

"That is up to the cricket board and the selection committee to decide. I think he has done a fairly good job, and I wish him all the best," Kapil said.

Displaying immense mat resilience, Hansika Lamba earned her place in the final with a sensational comeback victory in the semifinals, where she overturned a 2-7 deficit against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas by executing a series of explosive takedowns to win 10-7.

In the gold medal bout, the Indian wrestler put up a tough resistance against a formidable opponent in Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska, eventually going down 0-5 on points (VPO) to finish second on the podium.

The silver medal adds to a rapidly growing international resume for Hansika, who previously clinched a bronze at the 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.

The Indian contingent's freestyle wrestlers bolstered the nation's medal count further by capturing two bronze medals on the second day of competition. In the 65kg third-place play-off, Vishal Kaliraman delivered a commanding tactical display to outclass Kazakhstan's Ossumzhan Dastanbek 8-2.

In the 125kg heavyweight class, Rajat Ruhal clinched the bronze medal against USA’s Mason Mark Parris. Ruhal was declared the winner after the American wrestler was forced to forfeit the bout due to an injury (VIN).

These three podium finishes have pushed India's overall medal haul to five, building directly on the opening-day momentum where Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat won gold in the 57kg division and Deepak secured a bronze in the 61kg class.

The squad will look to expand this tally as the remaining women’s wrestling weight categories- 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg, are scheduled to commence tonight at 9:00 PM IST.

India’s challenge will be spearheaded by Neha in the 59kg category, Mansi in the 62kg division, and Nisha in the 68kg class.

Consolidated medal tally (up to day 2)

Men’s freestyle

• 57kg: Aman Sehrawat- Gold Medal

• 61kg: Deepak- Bronze Medal

• 65kg: Vishal Kaliraman-Bronze Medal

• 125kg: Rajat Ruhal- Bronze Medal

Women’s wrestling

• 55kg: Hansika Lamba- Silver

Total medals won so far: 5 (1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)

This marked Sindhu's third semifinal of the season, after the Malaysian Super 1000 and Australia Super 500. Moreover, this is her first Super 750 semi-final since the 2023 Denmark Open.

The 31-year-old Indian, is chasing her first title of the season, will face Tokyo Olympic champion and world No. 4 Chinese shuttler Chen Yufei, whom she trails 6-8 in the head-to-head record.

Sindhu has suffered a loss in the last five meeting with YuFei. A victory in the semifinal would not only end Sindhu's that losing streak but also secure Sindhu’s first Super 750 final in nearly three years.

The two-time Olympic medallist, who is the only Indian challenger left standing at the of the BWF Super 750 tournament, defeated world No. 5 Han Yue of China 21-16, 21-14 in just 35 minutes to make the final eight.

This year, YuFei, 28, won the Indonesia Masters and advanced to the Super 500 finals in Thailand and Malaysia. She also regularly made it to the semifinals of the Super 750s in Singapore and India, as well as the Super 1000s Malaysia Open and All England.

Earlier, India's mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto bowed out after losing 20-22, 17-21 to China's Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in the pre-quarterfinals.

India's challenge suffered another setback in the women's singles draw, where Unnati Hooda was beaten by Chinese Taipei's Huang Yu-Hsun despite taking the second game. 

India had already lost both of its men's doubles combinations on Tuesday after Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, bowed out in the opening round, with the former pair sustaining another injury.

Samson spent 11 years with RR and captained them for five seasons, before moving to CSK through a high-profile trade ahead of IPL 2026. "Moving on from RR was a very big decision for me. I believe that after playing for a team for some time, you start to feel like this is your team and nobody can remove you.

“But I always had the awareness that there is a limited time for everyone at one place. You do your part, and you move out and after the end of IPL 2025, a point came when I felt that I should move on. I told myself that the boys are ready, and RR is ready to play without Sanju Samson. That is when I thought of leaving," Samson said on JioStar's 'Superstars.’

Explaining his choice to join CSK, Samson highlighted the influence of MS Dhoni and current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. "And when you think of moving out, you wonder where to go and which team to join. There were two or three options at that time. But honestly, CSK, Mahi bhai's influence, the franchise itself, and my friends there, especially Ruturaj, meant I had great connections.

“Based on what I had heard about CSK from other players, I felt that this franchise was my type. If I go there, it will be very good for me. I had wished for that, but a trade is a tricky thing. I want to go there, but do they want me? And the original team needs to get what they want in return. Everyone has to agree. It was a major turning point. Luckily, I ended up in CSK. It was a great feeling," he added.

While his move to CSK was fueled by a desire to share the field with his childhood idol, Dhoni's fitness issues meant he didn’t play in IPL 2026. In turn, it has temporarily delayed Samson’s dream of sharing a partnership with him in CSK colours. "When I was in school, Mahi bhai had just gotten into the Indian team. The way he carried himself and his aggressive batting style really attracted me. I started following him closely.

“He used to appear in the ads, and I would cut out his picture and stick it in my diary. Every kid has an idol, and Mahi bhai was mine. As a child, I used to watch India play every day. Mahi bhai would be captaining and winning matches. I would go to sleep thinking, 'I have to play one day too.' I used to dream of batting with him, building a partnership, and fielding alongside him.

“Now, I have joined CSK. I felt like destiny had brought me here, and I would finally get to play with him. But unfortunately, he wasn't fit this time. He had a calf injury towards the end. But the dream is still alive. Let's see what happens next year," he remarked.

Recalling his early days in the IPL, Samson credited former India pacer S Sreesanth for forcefully pushing his case during the RR trials when he was just a teenager. "Sreesanth bhai is a very generous person. In the Kerala dressing room, when I was young, I used to see him take five or six players every year to the Rajasthan Royals trials.

“At that time, I was dropped from the Kerala team because I wasn't scoring runs. Sree bhai came down to play a crucial Ranji Trophy match. He called our secretary, TC Mathew sir, and said, 'I want Sanju in the team.' Mathew sir replied, 'He is not performing, why should we take him?'

“But Sree bhai insisted, 'No, bring him. I'll make him perform.' I was about 16 years-old then. I scored 122 in the first innings and 51 in the second. After the match, Sree bhai took me to the trial in Jaipur. Rahul Dravid sir came to meet me for the first time. Right in front of him, Sree bhai started hyping me up.

“He said, 'Rahul bhai, look at this boy. He has hit me for a lot of runs. He hit sixes, did this, did that.' I was already under pressure, and he made up a lot of stories there for me. But somehow, I managed to hit a few sixes after that," he recalled.

Though Dravid promised him an opportunity, Samson had to bide his time on the bench during the 2013 season, which he used as a massive learning curve by maintaining a personal diary of advice from legends. "Rahul sir was impressed with my performance in the trials, and he brought me into the Rajasthan Royals setup. He told me, 'I will make you play. In this team, I can promise you that you will get a chance. In other teams, I am not sure, but here I will give you an opportunity.'

“I did well in the trials and also performed for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the first practice match before the IPL, Rahul sir gave me a game, but I didn't do well. Still, he had promised me a chance. But when the playing XI was announced for the first match, my name was not there. However, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“I sat out for about five or six games. I used to go and talk to Rahul sir every day for about half an hour. I asked him how to handle pressure. I was picking the brains of all the big players in those first six games. Shane Watson was there, Rahul sir, Ajinkya Rahane, Brad Hodge, all big names. I was just an 18-year-old kid asking them questions. I had a small diary. I would ask them questions, go back to my room, and write down their answers. I noted down how I should try and play if I got a match,” he said.

Samson’s big IPL break eventually came due to an unfortunate injury to regular keeper Dishant Yagnik, though it ended with a quick reality check. "After the first six games, I finally gathered the courage to ask Rahul bhai why I wasn't playing when he had promised me. He calmly explained that I needed to be patient and that my time would come.

“I was frustrated and disappointed after hearing that, so I took out all my anger in the nets. I would go to the nets and hit sixes, thinking, 'I'll show them.' Luckily for me, our wicketkeeper, Dishant Yagnik bhai, got injured. There was no plan to play me, but Dishant bhai got injured for one match.

“So, they played me against Punjab, which was my debut in the IPL in 2013, and I won that game for the team. It was my first match. I scored 27 not out batting at number 6. I also got three-four dismissals while keeping the wickets. But in the next match, Dishant bhai was fit again, and I was dropped," he concluded.

Designed to provide internationally recognised learning opportunities, the workshops aim to equip participants with the latest coaching methodologies, technical knowledge and officiating standards.

The initiative will feature separate workshops for coaches and technical officials, with sessions conducted by FIH educators and experts. Hockey India said the programme is aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of coaches and officials while promoting a structured hockey education system across India.

As part of its long-term vision to strengthen hockey at the grassroots level and upskill coaches and technical officials, Hockey India hopes to build a nationwide network of qualified professionals. The federation believes that making quality hockey education more accessible will help create a sustainable ecosystem for the growth of players, coaches, officials and the sport.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the development of Indian hockey depends not only on players but also on the quality of coaches and technical officials.

"The growth of Indian hockey depends not only on our players but also on the quality of our coaches and technical officials. Through these workshops, we are committed to creating a strong education pathway that reaches every corner of the country. By bringing FIH educators and experts, we aim to ensure that modern coaching practices and officiating standards are accessible to everyone, ultimately strengthening the foundation of the sport in India," he said.

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said continuous education is vital for the long-term development of the game.

"At Hockey India, we believe continuous education is essential for the long-term development of the sport. These Coaching and Officiating Education Pathway workshops will provide valuable learning opportunities for aspiring and experienced coaches and officials. By conducting these workshops nationwide, we are creating a more inclusive and structured system that will contribute to the overall progress of Indian hockey," he said.

Spain have produced a complete team performance to overcome France. They controlled the game from start to finish, nullifying Les Blues' world-class forwards while playing with poise and verve in attack.

"We didn't play the match we wanted to play, whether tactically, technically, or in terms of our overall performance. When you don't do what you're supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win. Spain stuck to their game plan. In terms of controlling the game, they're better than us; we weren't able to do that. There were too many technical errors. We didn't play the match we had prepared for; we let them dictate the tempo, and if Spain dictates the tempo with their ball control and overall level, it's difficult," Mbappe said after the match.

"It was up to us to change that. How? From the start, in our pressing, in the way we pressed them, we always found ourselves three against two in midfield, and against Spain, that's always difficult." 

France lost their first knockout match in the World Cup since the 2014 quarter-final against Germany (0-1). That makes 11 matches (10 wins, 1 draw). This was France's fourth defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup (1958, 1982, 1986, 2026) in eight appearances. Moreover, this was the third consecutive elimination against Spain in the semi-finals of a competition after Euro 2024 (2-1) and the Nations League 2025 (5-4).

"We needed to play one-on-one; this is a team that doesn't like to run… When we won the ball back, the first passes, the first touches weren't worthy of a World Cup semi-final. It's a huge disappointment, of course, but if we're objective, we didn't put in all the necessary effort. I feel very disappointed; it was a dream for us to reach the final and give our country that chance to dream. 

"When you win, you hold your head high; when you lose, you have to keep it. I'm struggling to find the words. We'll have to pick ourselves up, go on holiday, and put this defeat behind us because other things will come up at club and international level," he added.

France will now play in the third-place playoff, which will be Didier Deschamps’ last game as coach. 

England marked two significant milestones as wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler became only the second English cricketer to play 200 One-Day Internationals, joining former captain Eoin Morgan (225 ODIs). Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Tongue made his ODI debut for England, while left-arm spinner Liam Dawson celebrated his 50th international appearance across formats.

England captain Harry Brook said his side opted to bat first after winning the toss, believing the surface would favour batting early before offering assistance to the spinners later in the match. Brook said England would approach the ODI series with the same mindset as the T20s by quickly assessing conditions, maintaining clear communication and adapting as the game progresses. He added that having a largely similar squad across the two white-ball formats gives him confidence as captain and reflects the faith the team management has in the group. While acknowledging England's inconsistent ODI performances in recent years, Brook expressed hope that the team could "turn the page" and deliver consistent results, insisting they have the players to do so. He also confirmed England had gone in with a balanced bowling attack comprising two spinners and three seamers.

India captain Shubman Gill said he would have preferred to bowl first, noting that the conditions were more similar to those in South Africa than what India usually experiences at home. He added that the team wanted to use the series to give opportunities to players with limited ODI experience. Gill welcomed the return of several senior players, saying the presence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah added valuable experience to the squad. Reflecting on his previous success in England, Gill said he had fond memories of the Test series and hoped to carry that form into the ODI campaign. He also confirmed India's team combination, with four seamers, including Shivam Dube, supported by spin duo Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

Playing XIs:

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

England: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid

Seven teams will compete in each category, with the men's event featuring hosts Oman, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. The women's competition will see India face Pakistan, Oman, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Iran.

The Indian squads were selected from 15-member national camps currently underway in Chandigarh for the boys and Bhopal for the girls.

The Sub-Junior women's side will be led by Sweety Kujur and includes goalkeepers Khili Kumari and Mahak Parihar. Nilam Topno and Kiran Ekka have been named in defence, while Diya, Pushpa Manjhi and Shruti Kumari will operate in midfield. Nousheen Naz and Sandeepa Kumari complete the forward line alongside captain Sweety.

Speaking after the squad announcement, women's coach Rani expressed confidence in the team's preparations.

“We have selected a balanced squad with a good mix of skill, speed and character. The players have worked extremely hard during the preparatory camp and have shown great commitment to improving every aspect of their game.”

“Hockey5s is a fast-paced format that demands quick decision-making, adaptability and high energy, and we have focused on these areas throughout our preparations. This tournament will be a valuable platform for our young players to test themselves against some of the best teams in Asia. We are confident they will embrace the challenge, play fearless hockey and represent India with pride,” she added.

The Sub-Junior men's team will be captained by Ketan Kushwaha. The squad includes goalkeepers Sawan Kumar and Ayush Rajak, defenders Karan Gautam and Ashish Tani Purti, midfielders Rahul Yadav and Romit Pal, and forwards Prahalad Rajbhar, Arshdeep Singh and Shahrukh Ali.

Men's coach Sardar Singh believes the squad is well-equipped to make an impact in Oman.

“The squad has earned its place through consistent performances and a strong work ethic during the training camp. Hockey5s is an exciting format that rewards speed, creativity and composure under pressure, and the boys have adapted well to its unique demands. Our emphasis has been on building a cohesive unit that can execute our plans with confidence while playing an attacking brand of hockey. This championship is an excellent opportunity for these young players to gain international exposure and showcase their potential. We are looking forward to a strong performance and hope to make the country proud.”

With qualification for the inaugural FIH U18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup at stake, India will look to make a strong start in the first edition of the continental championship and continue its rich tradition of success in age-group hockey.

Indian squads for the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship, Muscat 2026:

Sub-Jr Women

Goalkeepers: Khili Kumari, Mahak Parihar

Defenders: Nilam Topno, Kiran Ekka

Midfielders: Diya, Pushpa Manjhi, Shruti Kumari

Forwards: Nousheen Naz, Sandeepa Kumari, Sweety Kujur (c)

Sub-Jr Men

Goalkeepers: Sawan Kumar, Ayush Rajak

Defenders: Karan Gautam, Ashish Tani Purti

Midfielders: Rahul Yadav, Romit Pal

Forwards: Ketan Kushwaha (c), Prahalad Rajbhar, Arshdeep Singh, Shahrukh Ali

Neeru produced a composed display in the women's Trap final on Saturday, hitting 27 of her 30 targets at Trap Concaverde in Lonato to clinch her maiden ISSF World Cup title. The victory also marked the biggest international success of her career and strengthened India's growing reputation in international shotgun shooting.

Joining in the celebrations, Dhawan applauded Neeru's achievement with a message highlighting the rewards of perseverance.

“Jab mehnat nishane par lage, toh medal bhi sona hi hota hai (When hard work hits the target, the medal can only be gold). Bahut bahut badhai (Many congratulations) Neeru Dhanda on winning the World Cup trap gold. Proud moment for Indian sport,” Dhawan wrote on X.

Former India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav also praised the shooter for creating history, describing the feat as a landmark moment for Indian sport.

“Proud moment for Indian Sports! Huge congratulations to Neeru Dhanda on creating history by clinching the GOLD medal in the Shotgun Trap event at the #ISSFWorldCup2026! To become the first Indian woman to win an ISSF World Cup Gold is an extraordinary milestone. You have made the entire nation incredibly proud. Keep shining and firing, Neeru! Wishing you many more victories ahead,” Jadhav wrote on X.

Neeru remained composed throughout the medal round, delivering a consistent performance under pressure to finish atop the field with 27 hits from 30 targets. The triumph earned her a maiden ISSF World Cup gold and added another milestone to India's growing list of achievements on the international shooting circuit.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Tendulkar was seen walking out and interacting with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, as well as the support staff members, to provide an unforgettable motivational boost, especially with India standing on the cusp of a famous Test victory on English soil.

“Wow, the day gets better and better if you're an Indian player, an Indian fan. The great man, the great man Sachin Tendulkar unannounced, has just popped in and he's decided to come over and chat with the Indian players. I mean, what a lift that is.

“They're about to win this historic Test match surely in the morning session and some incredible words there from Sachin. It is so good to see him here. It is so good to see him here involved in women's cricket as well. And what a moment that is for all those players,” said former England batter Nick Knight on air before the morning session began.

The timing of Tendulkar's surprise visit could not have been more perfect - India enters the final day of the first-ever women’s Test match in a dominant position – they need just four wickets to secure a monumental victory at the 'Home of Cricket.

On day three, after declaring their second innings at 341/7 in 86.3 overs, thanks to Yastika Bhatia’s historic 113, India then reduced England to 130/6 at stumps and put themselves on the doorstep of a famous victory. The final day's play is more of a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' for India to seal the match in their favour.

Thomas Tuchel’s men battled their way past Norway in the quarter-finals on, coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1 after extra-time courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s brace.

Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead in the first half when his delivery from the left flew across Jordan Pickford’s box and crashed off the far post before crossing the line.

Bellingham showed a moment of individual quality to pull England level before he prodded home from close range in extra time to complete the Three Lions' comeback and put them into just their third World Cup semi-final since 1966.

James, who returned to action from the bench against Norway, played a key role in defence and midfield after recovering from a hamstring injury picked up earlier in the tournament. And after helping the Three Lions reach their fourth World Cup semi-final, James opened up on what their progress in North America means to him

“This is what dreams are made of,” James said on the latest episode of Lions’ Den Connected by EE. “Everyone from a little boy dreamt of playing in a World Cup and this is part of the process. To play in a semi-final against one of the best nations.. we’re delighted to be here.”

Asked whether he’s able to enjoy moments like Bellingham’s double against Norway by host Andrew Mensah, James added, “It’s difficult in games. You might get 10 seconds to enjoy the moment then it’s gone. As soon as yesterday’s game finished, the focus is forward now. We don’t look back. We have a new challenge in a few days and we’re preparing for that already.”

England will take on Argentina in the last four in Atlanta on Thursday, with the winners going on to face either France or Spain in Sunday’s showpiece final.

Argentina are the defending world champions, but James is confident he and his team-mates can deal with the pressure of facing Lionel Messi and Co on football’s biggest stage.

"It comes with experience. Higher stakes the game is, usually the more pressure. But at the end of the day, this is what we’ve been doing for 20/25 years; playing football. So the fundamentals are the same, but the prize is slightly different," said James.

Delhi appeared headed for defeat after Ankur stunned experienced Indian paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in straight games to hand Kolkata the advantage heading into the final rubber. However, Sutirtha responded with a commanding display against her long-time doubles partner Ayhika Mukherjee, winning all three games to complete a remarkable turnaround and preserve Delhi's unbeaten run this season.

The tie began with the two overseas singles fixtures. Egypt's Youssef Abdelaziz recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Romania's Eduard Ionescu 2-1, giving Delhi the early edge. Kolkata hit back immediately through Singapore's Zeng Jian, who edged Spain's Maria Xiao in a closely fought three-game contest to restore parity.

Delhi regained the initiative in the mixed doubles as Sathiyan and Maria Xiao defeated Ankur Bhattacharjee and Zeng Jian 2-1, ensuring the former champions carried a slender lead into the closing stages of the tie.

The momentum, however, shifted dramatically in the men's singles. Roared on by the crowd, Ankur produced one of the biggest upsets of the season by defeating Sathiyan 3-0. The youngster rallied from 3-9 down to snatch the opening game on Golden Point before dominating the second. Sathiyan forced another Golden Point in the third, but Ankur held his nerve again to complete an impressive straight-games victory, leaving Kolkata needing just one more game to clinch the tie.

With Delhi under immense pressure, Sutirtha rose to the occasion. She recovered from an early deficit to take the opening game 11-6, then dominated the second 11-2. Carrying the momentum into the third, she closed out an 11-7 victory over Ayhika to seal an 8-7 triumph for her side.

For her decisive performance, Sutirtha was named the Indian Player of the Tie, while Ankur Bhattacharjee claimed both the Player of the Tie and Shot of the Tie awards. Singapore's Zeng Jian received the Foreign Player of the Tie honour.

Earlier in the day, U Mumba TT continued their impressive run in the Dream UTT Juniors competition with a 7-2 victory over PBG Pune Jaguars, while Dempo Goa Challengers edged UP Prometheans 5-4, handing the latter their first defeat of the campaign.

England have already won the series via an unassailable 3-0 lead, and another victory over India will help them seal a clean sweep victory, as well as become the new top-ranked team in men’s T20Is.

India, meanwhile, will look to salvage some pride and conclude a difficult T20I leg on a high before heading into the three-match ODI series against England, starting on July 14 in Birmingham.

After winning the toss, skipper Shreyas Iyer, who’s won every coin flip so far on this tour, said Samson and Shedge have replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Washington Sundar in the playing eleven. "Today, based on the conditions, it's windy, and we had a chat before, and they said the wicket won't change that much, so we've elected to bowl first. 

"I just want to give 100 per cent effort today, irrespective of the result. I just want them to have a solid state of mind where they go in and just try to get the best out of themselves, rather than sulking or being in a situation where they're a bit ahead of the game. Be in the moment and just stop thinking about what's happened and what could happen."

England captain Harry Brook said left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has replaced leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in their playing eleven. “We’d have had a bat, so we’re pretty happy. If we win today, we go to world No 1, so that’s at the back of our minds. But, as we’ve done all series, we want to adapt to the surface and communicate well.”

Playing XIs: 

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Josh Tongue

Tendulkar and Gill were among the celebrities who visited Wimbledon on Friday, and both were welcomed by the Club. Tendulkar was accompanied by his wife, Anjali.

A picture of Gill with Anjali and Sachin Tendulkar sitting in the Royal Box was posted by the India Test and ODI captain via his official handle on X, which went viral, causing a lot of excitement among netizens as Gill is reported to be dating Tendulkar's daughter Sara. 

Earlier, the official handle of Wimbledon on X posted a photograph of Tendulkar watching the match from the Royal Box on Friday, rejoicing that the cricket royalty was spotted among the celebrities in the box.

"Cricket royalty returns to the Royal Box. Welcome back to Wimbledon, Sachin Tendulkar," said the official handle of Wimbledon in its post on X, formerly Twitter.

Gill is the fourth Indian captain to receive an invitation to watch Wimbledon from the Royal Box, after Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. He is also the fourth Indian cricketer to visit the hallowed grass courts of SW18 in 2026, joining the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Deepti Sharma, and Sachin Tendulkar.

Another former cricket star, Brian Lara of the West Indies, was also in the Royal Box, an area reserved for special guests invited by the All England Club.

Both Gill and Tendulkar met many international celebrities during their time in the Royal Box. Gill met the Fashion ICON, Anna Wintour! 

Tendulkar, considered one of the greatest cricketers ever, retired in 2013 after playing in his 200th Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

On Friday, Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic in the second semifinal to set up a summit clash with Alexander Zverev, who ended the dream run of British wildcard Arthur Fery.

Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers ran through the middle order after Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 83 in what was also her 300th international appearance. In the process of picking a three-for, Sophie also became England’s highest wicket‑taker across formats, going past Katherine Sciver-Brunt, and climbed to third overall behind Deepti Sharma and Jhulan Goswami.

England’s reply began shakily with Tammy Beaumont, who’s playing her farewell international game, falling for two in the fourth over. But Maia Bouchier (17 not out) and Heather Knight (one not out) steadied the innings till stumps were called on the opening day. Sneh Rana found turn in her solitary over late in the evening, a sign that India’s spinners could have plenty to work with on day two.

In what is also the first-ever women’s Test to be played at the iconic venue, England picked up three crucial wickets in an action-packed first session. Opting to bowl first, England found immediate movement off the ball via Lauren Bell. India suffered an early blow in the second over when opener Shafali Verma was completely squared up by a sharp, short-of-length delivery from Lauren Filer and nicked behind to wicketkeeper Amy Jones for a duck.

Yastika Bhatia (12) joined Smriti and started confidently with a flurry of boundaries, while also surviving a close leg-before-wicket review on umpire's call off Bell. However, Bell redeemed herself soon after, cleaning up Yastika with a brilliant inswinger that nipped away to hit the off-stump.

Jemimah Rodrigues then partnered with Mandhana to steady the innings, capitalising heavily on a wayward English bowling display that lacked discipline. Smriti looked in sublime touch, punishing the loose balls and welcoming premier spinner Ecclestone into the attack with a massive slog-sweep over midwicket for six to close out the first hour.

Smriti then brought up a sparkling run-a-ball half-century off just 50 deliveries in the 16th over and got the distinction of getting the first-ever Women’s Test fifty at Lord’s. The dangerous 64-run third-wicket partnership was eventually broken against the run of play when Jemimah (35) chopped onto her stumps while going for an expansive drive against Issy Wong.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (14 not out) then joined Smriti to safely navigate the remaining overs, ensuring India walked into the lunch break as the happier side. While the first session majorly belonged to India, England's bowlers roared back into the contest in the post-lunch session by showing discipline in their bowling and picking up the crucial wickets of set batters Smriti and Harmanpreet, who compiled 58.

Resuming from 122/3 in 25 overs, Smriti and Harmanpreet frustrated the hosts by taking India past the 150-run mark. Smriti was in splendid touch, using her feet elegantly against Sophie and executing crisp pulls off the fast bowlers.

At the other end, Harmanpreet battled intensely through physical discomfort and needed continuous medical attention from the team physio for troubles in her hand and hamstring. Scoring mainly through the off-side, Harmanpreet reached her second Test half-century off 99 balls with a drive off Mady.

However, England’s persistence soon broke the 79-run stand off 155 balls against the run of play. Issy, operating with supreme control, induced a faint outside edge from Smriti, as she fell 17 short of a historic century after being caught neatly behind by a diving Amy Jones standing up to the stumps.

England also burned two unsuccessful reviews during the session - one for a caught-behind off Smriti and another off Deepti. Just as the session seemed to be closing out evenly, Mady tossed one up beautifully outside off, and lured Harmanpreet into an expansive drive before turning sharply through the gate to castle the skipper and give England more delight at the stroke of tea break.

The final session saw India suffer a spectacular slide by losing their last seven wickets for just 95 runs to end 15 runs short of 300, as Sophie and Mady shared five scalps between themselves. Resuming the post-tea session from 202/5, India desperately needed stability. However, the visitors suffered an early setback when aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (13) was cramped by pacer Lauren Filer and top-edged a short delivery straight to fine leg.

Deepti, who played a gritty 57 off 87 balls, laced with seven boundaries, tried to courageously hold the innings together. She employed the sweep shot to fantastic effect against the spinners and brought up a well-deserved half-century off 70 balls. Unfortunately, she completely lacked support from the lower order.

Mady continued her highly impressive debut by trapping Sneh (13) plumb lbw and breaking a brief period of resistance. Sophie then took complete charge by cleaning up the tail with ruthless efficiency. She trapped Sayali (1) lbw, before ending Deepti’s valiant knock, as she was caught by mid-wicket.

Sophie ultimately wrapped up the innings by castling Kranti (1) and getting a glowing reception from 10,768 fans at Lord’s, as she walked off the field as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats.

After bowling out India for 285, Maia and Tammy faced a testing 11-over spell from the Indian new-ball bowlers. Sayali Satghare opened the attack for India, starting with a no-ball, but quickly adjusted her line to test Maia with subtle away movement.

The breakthrough came in the fourth over when Kranti delivered a superb, incoming back-of-a-length delivery that kept low. Tammy (2) was caught completely in the crease and trapped plumb in front. The veteran chose not to review, though it was eventually hit by the stumps via the umpire’s call.

Kranti nearly handed India a massive second breakthrough in the eighth over when she hit Heather Knight on the pads. The vociferous appeal was turned down by the umpire, and India decided against using the Decision Review System (DRS). However, replays later confirmed the ball would have crashed into the leg stump, handing Heather a major reprieve.

Maia, meanwhile, held her ground watchfully and broke the shackles in the ninth over, dispatching a rare loose delivery from Sayali through mid-wicket for the first boundary of the innings.

Harmanpreet introduced spin in the penultimate over through Sneh Rana, who bowled a tidy maiden over. In the final over of the day, Maia capitalised on a stray delivery from Kranti by clipping through fine leg to finish unbeaten on 17 alongside Heather, who’s unconquered on one.

Brief scores: 

India 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58; Sophie Ecclestone 3-68, Issy Wong 2-41) lead England 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17 not out; Kranti Gaud 1-8) by 264 runs

After suffering a crushing nine-wicket defeat in Bristol, Shreyas Iyer's side trail the five-match series 3-0, with the opening game having been washed out. They will look to avoid the whitewash on English soil for the first time and get a consolation win.

India's batting has let them down on the tour. After slipping to another shaky start in the 4th T20I, Iyer's unbeaten 80 almost single-handedly carried the visitors to 158/7. But the total proved nowhere near enough as Harry Brook and Phil Salt dismantled the attack with an unbeaten 151-run partnership, chasing the target with 37 balls to spare.

England, on the other side, is leaving no stones unturned to dismantle the visitors with sheer pace and an attacking mindset. Harry Brook's side is looking like a well-oiled machine, with both batters and bowlers contributing to their success.

India and England have faced each other in 34 T20Is, with India holding a narrow edge with 18 victories compared to England's 15 wins, while one match ended without a result. Their first-ever T20I meeting came on September 19, 2007, when India emerged victorious. The most recent encounter was on July 9, 2026, with England registering a comprehensive win to take an unassailable lead in the ongoing series.

When: Saturday, July 11 at 7:00 PM IST

Where: The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Where to watch: Sony Sports Network TV channels and live-streaming on JioHotstar

Squads:

India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Prasidh Krishna, Suryansh Shedge, Washington Sundar.

England: Harry Brook (c), Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed, James Coles.

India once again endured a batting collapse before skipper Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. But no other Indian batter managed to make a significant contribution as the visitors finished on 158/7 in 20 overs.

Chasing a modest target of 159, England lost Jos Buttler early, but thereafter India had no answers as Brook and Salt stitched together an unbroken 151-run stand for the second wicket as England raced to 159/1 in just 13.5 overs, winning with 37 balls to spare.

This is the first time England have beaten India in a bilateral T20I series of two or more games. India have won five of the previous six, while one ended in a draw. India’s last two defeats in a bilateral series against England (any format) had come on the 2018 tour (by 2-1 in ODIs and by 4-1 in Tests). Post then, until before the ongoing one, they had won eight out of 10, with the last two Test series in the country ending in draws (both 2-2). 

"Again, it was a disappointing one. Definitely, 158 wasn't the perfect total on the board. And eventually we saw how quickly they chased down. When we came on to bowling, I just asked our bowlers to repeat the lengths as much as possible because top of middle-stump and leg-stump, it was very difficult to hit and score boundaries off that. So I think we fell a bit short in terms of our execution. And, yeah, we saw that when we were changing the pace, when we were trying something else, they scored off those loose balls, Iyer said after the match.

Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. Walking in after the fall of early wickets, Iyer anchored the innings almost single-handedly, striking four fours and five sixes.  

Reflecting on his own performance, Iyer said personal performances mattered little without a victory. "Definitely happy with my performance, but see, if it's not on the winning cause, it just goes to the side. So disappointed on that aspect because whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins. But unfortunately, today wasn't that day. Definitely look forward in the next game," he said.

Iyer further said the Indian side is currently in transition phase and backed the players to learn from their mistakes. "See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realize how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions," said Iyer.

"It's important that you learn quickly from your mistakes so that the team also benefits eventually out of it. And I'm sure that there are quick learners in the team. I'm sure they will assess themselves and get back stronger in the next game," he conluded.

Before the ongoing season, India had won 11 of their last 12 bilateral T20I series, while the one in South Africa in December 2023 ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 27-year-old achieved the historic feat during France’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco at the Boston Stadium, where he recovered from a first-half penalty miss to score in the 60th minute before setting up teammate Ousmane Dembele for the second.

While Argentina’s Lionel Messi is the outright record holder for FIFA World Cup appearances with 30, Mbappe has become France's first-most capped player in the competition with 20 appearances. He is level with Hugo Lloris and ahead of Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Raphael Varane. 

With his eighth goal of the ongoing 2026 tournament, Mbappe has now taken his overall World Cup tally to 20 goals in just 20 appearances across three editions (2018, 2022, and 2026), just one goal shy of equalling Messi (21) for the most goals scored in the history of the competition.

France's all-time leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappe has cemented his place among the greatest players in FIFA World Cup history across his appearances at three editions of the tournament. He features prominently in numerous all-time rankings and boasts an impressive collection of individual records.

After France's 3-0 victory over Sweden at World Cup 2026, the 27-year-old Frenchman became the French player with the most wins in the tournament's history (15). His 16th triumph, against Paraguay, saw him draw level with Brazil's Cafu on the all-time list. Against Morocco in the quarter-final, he levelled with Miroslav Klose with 17 wins. Only Lionel Messi (20 wins) remains ahead of him.

With eight knockout-stage goals to his name before the 2026 tournament, Mbappe was level with Brazil's Leonidas and Ronaldo. His brace against Sweden in France's 3-0 win in New Jersey took him clear at the top of the all-time ranking, before he extended the record to 11 goals with another against Paraguay and to 12 against Morocco.

Morocco head coach Mohammed Ouabhi confirmed Saibari's exit in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. According to Ouabhi, the forward could not recover on time after picking a hamstring injury during Morocco's round of 16 victory against Canada. However, the coach is hopeful that the 25-year-old will be fit for the semi-finals if their team makes the cut. 

"He's not ready, but I hope it's not the end of the tournament for him," Ouahbi told reporters ahead of the clash.

Saibari is one of the top performers for the African side in the ongoing tournament. He scored a goal in all three group stage matches and also converted the penalty in the decisive shootout against the Netherlands in the round of 32. His absence will force Morocco to adopt a more defensive approach against the 2022 World Cup runners-up. 

FIFA has sparked a massive debate ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals by appointing an entirely Argentine officiating crew for France's clash against Morocco, marking the first time in the 2026 tournament that a match will be handled exclusively by officials from a single nation. However, Morocco's coach has downplayed the impact of the officials.

"Regarding the referees... we're talking about a very experienced referee," he said at his pre-match news conference. "That's what we want. We want experienced referees for these types of matches. So we're very calm."

"We had a Dutch referee before facing the Netherlands, and he did very well. So that's not something we really talk about because we know that they're just trying to do their best. The referee we'll have against France is not so quick to give bookings, and that can have an impact, but I would not say anything against the quality of the referees," he added.

France and Morocco have played each other six times across all competitions, with France holding the advantage with four wins, one draw, and one win for Morocco. Both teams played in the historic 2022 World Cup semi-final, where the Atlas Lions suffered a 2-0 defeat and were knocked out of their first semi-final in FIFA World Cup history.

England, who hold a 2-0 lead after the opening match was washed out, produced a record 125-run victory in the third T20I, India's biggest-ever defeat in the format, with the performances reflected in the weekly rankings update.

Jacob Bethell was among the biggest movers, climbing seven places to No. 8 in the T20I batting rankings after his unbeaten 76 off 46 balls guided England to victory in the second T20I.

Sam Curran enjoyed gains across all three disciplines after claiming 3/33 in the second match before smashing an unbeaten 41 in England's emphatic win in the third. He rose 12 places to No. 108 in the T20I batting rankings, climbed 12 spots to joint 71st among bowlers, and advanced six places to joint 13th in the all-rounders' list.

Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid moved up one place to No. 3 in the T20I bowling rankings after returning figures of 2/14 in the third T20I, while pacer Josh Tongue, who claimed four wickets in only his second T20I appearance, entered the rankings at joint 301st.

Will Jacks also made progress after contributing with the ball during the series, climbing six places to break into the top 10 of the T20I all-rounders' rankings at No. 7.

Despite India's difficult start under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, the batter made a massive leap of 425 places to joint 93rd in the batting rankings after scoring 68 in the rain-hit opening game and 37 in the second match.

In the Test rankings, Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Udara climbed 52 places to No. 85 after registering a career-best 188 against the West Indies in the second Test, while Kamindu Mendis moved up two places to sixth following his aggregate of 128 runs in the drawn match.

Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who claimed the only five-wicket haul of the Test, advanced two places to No. 20 in the bowling rankings.

For the West Indies, Justin Greaves jumped 14 places to No. 49 after his fighting 180 helped the hosts secure a draw and seal the Sobers-Tissera Trophy, while Shai Hope rose six places to No. 51 following his century.

The ODI rankings also witnessed notable movement after Zimbabwe's opening win over Bangladesh in Harare. Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana climbed 17 places to No. 12 in the ODI bowling rankings after producing career-best figures of 6/21.

Zimbabwe's pace trio also reaped rewards for defending 141 successfully. Richard Ngarava improved one place to No. 19, Brad Evans jumped 17 spots to No. 111, while Blessing Muzarabani also climbed 17 places to No. 33 in the ODI bowling rankings.

Saini began the race from Astoria, Oregon, on June 7 and reached the historic Lincoln Memorial in Washington on July 5 after covering nearly 3,500 miles (about 5,630 km) through 11 US states. The event attracted around 30 cyclists from across the world, including riders from the United States, Europe and two from India.

The Trans Am Bike Race is consideres as one of the world's toughest unsupported cycling events wherein participants carry their own equipment, arrange their own food and accommodation, and ride virtually non-stop across the United States without support crews.

Speaking to IANS after completing the race, Saini described the ride as far more demanding than he had expected.

"When the Trans Am Bike Race started, on the second day itself I realised that this was something else," he said, recalling rapidly changing weather, mountain climbs, heavy rain, gravel roads and long stretches without settlements. He said riders encountered temperatures as low as five degrees Celsius, rode through forests, rain and unpaved roads, making the challenge unlike anything he had experienced before.

Travelling through rural America left a lasting impression on him.

"I have seen that America's geographical area is so vast," he said, adding that while riding on country roads he often travelled for kilometres without seeing another person. Small villages with only a handful of residents, he said, offered a perspective that tourists visiting major cities rarely experience.

Saini said people in small American towns recognised India from the Indian jersey he wore during the race.

"They know India very well," he said, adding that many people immediately associated India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and were eager to ask questions about the country. He said hearing such comments in remote parts of the United States made him feel proud as an Indian.

The cyclist also highlighted the logistical challenges of an unsupported race. Carrying only essential clothing, tools and supplies on his bicycle, he depended largely on petrol station convenience stores for food. As a vegetarian, he said finding suitable meals was often difficult, forcing him to rely on bread, cheese, nachos, chocolates and biscuits during long sections where no towns were available.

Reflecting on his motivation, Saini said cycling allowed him to experience countries beyond their famous landmarks.

"If you want to explore the world, there cannot be a better way than cycling," he said. He also urged people to prioritise their health, saying, "Health should be the first priority."

The Trans Am Bike Race is an annual self-supported endurance event that follows a transcontinental route across the United States. Riders are responsible for navigation, food, repairs and rest, with no outside assistance permitted. Completing the race requires sustained physical endurance, mental resilience and careful logistical planning.

The ICC Chair presented the trophy to captain Sophie Molineux, who lifted the T20 World Cup title just six months into her tenure as captain. After surrendering both the 20- and 50-over titles over the past two years, Australia reasserted themselves as the world's best team, securing their 14th white-ball title.

“Congratulations to Cricket Australia on winning their seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title with another incredible campaign. Huge credit to England cricket too - fantastic runners-up but champions in spirit. This tournament reminded us why women’s cricket is unmissable - power, passion, and pure class on display from start to finish. Thank you to both teams and everyone who made this World Cup so special. Women’s cricket is in a golden era,” Jay Shah posted on X.

In front of a 28,000-plus record crowd at the Lord's Cricket Ground, Australia wrapped up their invincible run at the tournament in style, restricting England to 150 after electing to bowl and then chased down the target in 17.1 overs with Beth Mooney leading the way scoring 64 runs.

An emphatic win to seal an emphatic tournament, as Australia returned to the summit of T20 cricket after three years. In doing so, they broke a streak of rotten luck at World Cups on UK shores dating all the way back to the 1993.

England, who were playing their first T20 World Cup final in eight years, previously won all four of the Women's World Cups (50-over and T20) they had hosted; but Australia had won all six of the finals (50-over and T20) the two nations had contested.

Ishan Kishan scored 49 and, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (37) and Abhishek Sharma (43), helped India post a challenging 190/7 upon electing to bat first at Old Trafford on Saturday. However, England rode on an unbeaten 76 from Jacob Bethell to overhaul the target and reach 191/6 in 19 overs, recovering from a precarious 1/2 and 51/3 for a four-wicket win. The key to India's defeat was the 17th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi that cost 29 runs as the leggie finished with figures of 4-0-60-0.

Asked whether India needed an off-spinner to capitalise on the situation in the middle and lower-order, Ishan Kishan said the bowlers picked for the match were "quality bowlers," and all this talk was conjecture.

"No, I mean, we played for a perfect team, you know. It's just that when you don't win, there are a lot of thoughts coming in, a lot of ifs and buts are coming in. But at the same time, I feel all of them were very good bowlers who have done well in the past, who have made their team win in different situations. Even bowling on very flat tracks and still getting wickets. So, I don't think we could have done anything different looking at the team side," said Ishan Kishan in the post-match press conference.

Kishan, however, admitted that the team has to consider how it can improve its performance, taking the conditions into account.

"Yeah, like I said, we need to just understand what conditions are and how we can improve, what we can do better. You know, thoughts will keep coming in. But at the end of the day, we just need to understand the situation, like we are playing outside India, and what the pitch requires from us as a batter and as a bowler. Not only one batter or one bowler can, you know, just make the difference. But as a group, I feel we need to just understand more, like where we can get better," he added.

Kishan came in at one down as India went in with 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the second match. The first match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the second innings after India posted 189/7 in the rain-hit match.

Pointing out that the team has been losing momentum in the backend and falling short by 15-20 runs from what they could have in both times they batted in this series, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter said the team has to improve, and said all batters would have to think about where they can score those 20-plus runs.

He said they will have to look at the hosts' batters to understand what they are doing better because they know the conditions better.

"100%, I mean, yes. Obviously, you know, they'll have the best choice of bowling, where to pick up, which bowler to put (under pressure), and which batsman to put (under pressure). They understand the condition better than we do. But at the same time, you know, as I said, I mean, everyone's answer is the same. Like, we are all looking to improve.

"We are all looking to understand what these guys are doing against us. Like, when we play in India, we have more ideas about the wicket. So, here, obviously, every batter needs to understand, as a team, like, where we can, you know, get those extra 20 runs, whether it's by scoring boundaries or, because it's a big ground, you need to take those, whether you have to target the gaps. So, these are a few things I feel we'll talk about as a group, we'll understand, and we'll get better with time," he said.

The four nominees have been instrumental in their respective teams' fortunes, with finalists Australia and England accounting for two of the contenders, while Mandhana and Kapp earned recognition despite their sides falling short of the title clash.

Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Perry has enjoyed another stellar ICC event, scoring 185 runs at an average of 46.25 and claiming four wickets at 7.50. The veteran all-rounder collected three Player of the Match awards during Australia's unbeaten march to the final, beginning with an all-round display against Bangladesh, where she picked up two wickets before finishing unbeaten on 19.

The 35-year-old followed that with successive half-centuries against Pakistan and India, helping Australia maintain a perfect record and secure a place in Sunday's final.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)

England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge heads into the final as the tournament's leading run-scorer, amassing 294 runs at an impressive average of 73.5. Her campaign began spectacularly with a century against Sri Lanka in the opening match before she added two more half-centuries to power England into the title decider.

Wyatt-Hodge has also provided consistently brisk starts for the hosts, striking at 152.33 throughout the tournament.

Smriti Mandhana (India)

India's Smriti Mandhana is the lone nominee from a side that failed to reach the semi-finals. The left-handed opener scored 205 runs at an average of 41, including back-to-back fifties against Pakistan and the Netherlands to launch India's campaign in style.

Mandhana also contributed a fluent 38 against Australia in a must-win final group-stage fixture, though India eventually fell short of securing a semi-final berth.

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) 

Completing the shortlist is South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, whose all-round contributions once again proved invaluable for the Proteas. Kapp scored 124 runs at 31 and claimed eight wickets at an average of 14.37 during South Africa's run to the semi-finals.

Her defining performance came against India, where she claimed two wickets before steering South Africa's chase with an unbeaten 81 to keep her side's knockout hopes alive. The experienced all-rounder also showcased remarkable consistency with the ball, taking at least one wicket in every match except South Africa's group-stage fixture against the Netherlands.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following Sunday's Women's T20 World Cup final between England and Australia at Lord's.

--IANS

Under new coach Frederic Soyez, the team will play six matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands as part of its preparations for key upcoming international competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup.

India will play two matches each against Austria and Belgium, along with one match each against Germany and the Netherlands. Five matches will be played at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, while the final fixture against the Netherlands will be held at the Hockey Centre of Excellence in Antwerp.

The tour will be the team's first assignment under newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez and will serve as a key preparatory phase ahead of the FIH Hockey Men's Junior Asia Cup later this year.

The exposure tour is expected to provide valuable international match experience while helping the young Indian side test its combinations and playing style ahead of the continental tournament.

Defender Anmol Ekka has been entrusted with the captaincy for the upcoming exposure tour. The goalkeeping unit comprises Vivek Lakra and Kunal Tewatia. The defensive line features captain Anmol Ekka, Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Prasant Barla, Sanjit Tirkey, and V. Manimaran.

The midfield will be occupied by Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Mukesh Toppo, Mannu Malik, and Ritik Lakra. The forward line consists of Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Arjun Hargude, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh, and Mohd. Konain Dad and Gurusewak Singh.

Notably, four members of the squad - Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Ajeet Yadav, and Rohit Kullu - were also part of the Indian team that secured the bronze medal at the FIH Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025. Their international experience is expected to add valuable depth to the squad during the tour.

The squad: 

Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra, Kunal Tewatia

Defenders: Anmol Ekka, Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Prasant Barla, Sanjit Tirkey, V. Manimaran

Midfielders: Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Mukesh Toppo, Mannu Malik, Ritik Lakra

Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Arjun Hargude, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh, Mohd. Konain Dad, Gurusewak Singh

Sooryavanshi, 15, etched his name into the annals of cricketing history by making his highly-anticipated international debut during the second T20I against England at Old Trafford on Saturday. At 15 years and 99 days, Sooryavanshi was handed his maiden cap by vice-captain Tilak Varma, thus becoming the youngest-ever Indian cricketer to debut in international cricket.

Eventually, Sooryavanshi, playing at the expense of Sanju Samson, made 14 before being stumped off the bowling of Will Jacks. "Today will be remembered as a golden day in the history of Bihar cricket. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi representing India at such a young age is a matter of immense pride for the entire state.

“Through his hard work, discipline, and exceptional talent, he has proved that no dream is impossible when dedication meets opportunity. By surpassing the record of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, he has created history.

“On behalf of the Bihar Cricket Association, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Vaibhav and his family and wish him a long, successful, and illustrious international career," Vardhan said in a BCA statement on Saturday.

In doing so, Sooryavanshi has shattered long-standing benchmarks of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Shafali Verma, who was previously the youngest cricketer to play T20Is for India in both men’s and women’s circuit.

Tendulkar had famously made his international debut for India in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi back in November 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days. Meanwhile, Shafali was 15 years and 239 days old when she earned her maiden T20I cap against South Africa in Surat in 2019.

Echoing Vardhan’s sentiments, BCA Secretary Ziaul Arfin highlighted that Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise reflects the steady progression and overhaul of grassroots cricket infrastructure in the state.

"Vaibhav Suryavanshi's international debut for India is not just an individual achievement but the outcome of years of hard work and the steady development of cricket in Bihar. The history he has created today will inspire young cricketers in every district of the state.

“By reaching the international stage at such a young age, he has shown that with the right platform and proper guidance, talent can achieve global recognition. The Bihar Cricket Association is immensely proud of Vaibhav and wishes him a long, successful, and distinguished international career," he added.

Leading the side in the series opener at Chester-le-Street, Iyer struck 68 off 47 deliveries to anchor India’s innings after the visitors were reduced to 6/2 inside the first two overs. His knock, along with Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 59 off just 24 balls and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 42 off 21 deliveries, helped India recover to post a competitive 189/7.

However, persistent rain after the completion of India’s innings prevented England from beginning their chase, forcing the match to be abandoned without a result.

Reflecting on Iyer’s innings, Parthiv said the India skipper displayed excellent awareness by complementing Abhishek’s aggressive approach instead of looking for big hits himself. “Those raising questions over Shreyas Iyer would have felt a lot more relieved after this innings. As a player, Shreyas Iyer doesn’t have to worry about anything. He’s a proven performer in this format. It was a very important innings because India had lost two early wickets, while at the other end, Abhishek Sharma was batting quite aggressively. So, Shreyas had to play the second fiddle rather than rely too much on hitting sixes, which is something every Indian player is so used to from playing in the IPL," Parthiv told Jio Hotstar.

“You have to rotate the strike, and score boundaries along the ground. I thought it was a masterclass from Shreyas Iyer, understanding the situation and the dimensions of the ground. That’s something both the captain and the Indian team would have learned from those two games against Ireland,” he added.

Patel also felt India’s batting display was an important step forward after an inconsistent start to the tour during the two T20Is against Ireland, saying the innings showed the team’s ability to adapt to different conditions.

“The way India’s first two games against Ireland went, it was important for India to produce this kind of batting performance. There were obviously doubts about whether India could adapt to certain conditions and whether they could change their game plan. Looking at those games in Ireland, in my opinion, this innings was necessary for India, where you see a complete batting performance.”

India and England will now clash in Manchester in the second T20I at Emirates Old Trafford, with the five-match series still level after the rain washed out the opener.

Deepti, who is attending Wimbledon for the first time, shared her thoughts on how Dhoni, like Djokovic, handles pressure with calmness. "When you talk about Djokovic, everyone speaks about his mental strength. He is someone who never gives up, no matter how tough the situation is. In cricket, I think MS Dhoni sir is very similar. He is known for being very cool and calm. Whenever pressure situations come, he handles them really well. It never looks like he is in a difficult situation. He handles pressure so easily," Deepti told Jio Hotstar.

"Both Djokovic and Dhoni have that rare quality of staying calm and strong when it matters the most. Watching them, we learn how to stay calm and find a way out of tough situations," she added.

The Indian all-rounder also revealed that watching a Wimbledon match in person had been a bucket-list wish for years.

"My dream was that one day I would come to watch a Wimbledon match, and it feels really good to finally be here. When you go to watch a match at an iconic venue like this, and when you have always seen it on TV but today you are seeing it live for the first time, it feels amazing. The atmosphere, the crowd, the energy – everything is different. I am really enjoying watching tennis at Wimbledon. It just feels great," she said.

Deepti also named Djokovic as the player she admires the most, praising the Serbian's resilience and competitive spirit.

"My favourite is Djokovic. I follow his game very closely. The way he fights on the court, his mental strength, and his never-give-up attitude, I really admire all of that. Watching him play is always inspiring," she said.

"I grew up watching greats like Federer and Nadal. I followed their matches closely for a long time. But lately, Djokovic has become my favourite. I follow his matches more than anyone else now," Deepti said.

Asked whom she would like to accompany her for a day at Wimbledon, Deepti named three Indian cricket legends.

"I would choose three people to take with me: Sachin Tendulkar sir, Ravi Shastri sir, and Sunil Gavaskar sir. They are all legends in their own right, and I think watching tennis with them would be a great experience. They have so much knowledge about sports, and I would love to hear their thoughts and analysis while watching the matches," she said.

Deepti is the second Indian cricketer to visit Wimbledon in two days. On Wednesday, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan made an appearance at the Centre Court at the All-England Club.

Kishan attained a new career-best rating to move ahead of Abhishek after the latest ICC rankings update released on Wednesday, following India's 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast.

The left-handed batter's rise to the summit has been fuelled by his outstanding performances at the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he amassed 317 runs at a strike rate of almost 200. His campaign included a Player of the Match-winning knock against Pakistan in Colombo.

Abhishek, who had occupied the No.1 spot for almost 12 months, now trails Kishan by just seven rating points. Kishan also joins an elite list featuring Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav as only the fourth Indian men's batter to achieve the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket.

Among other movers in the T20I batting rankings, Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker jumped four places to equal 77th, while Ross Adair climbed six spots to 84th after impressive performances against India.

Ireland seamer Matthew Humphreys moved up one place to 25th in the T20I bowling rankings after claiming four wickets in the series, earning a career-best rating. In the T20I all-rounders' rankings, India's Shivam Dube rose three places to seventh, while Ireland's Gareth Delany and Harry Tector climbed to 24th and 38th respectively.

There were significant changes in the ICC Test rankings as well, with Australia's Travis Head becoming the world's No.1 Test batter for the first time in his career.

Head replaced England's Harry Brook at the top after Brook and Joe Root endured modest returns in the Nottingham Test against New Zealand. Brook slipped to second while Root dropped two places to third

India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also regained sole possession of the No.1 ranking among Test bowlers after New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry slipped to second.

New Zealand's victory over England at Trent Bridge also resulted in major gains for several of their batters. Rachin Ravindra climbed two places to seventh, Daryl Mitchell advanced five spots to 11th, Devon Conway surged 14 places to equal 15th, and Tom Latham rose 12 places to equal 31st in the Test batting rankings.

New Zealand pacer Nathan Smith improved eight places to 38th in the Test bowling rankings, while England captain Ben Stokes moved up two places to finish his international career at No.3 among Test all-rounders following his mid-match retirement.

West Indies fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach were also rewarded for their performances in the victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua. Joseph climbed nine places to equal 14th in the Test bowling rankings, while Roach rose four spots to 17th.

--IANS