Sport Updates
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India Declare on 503/9 as Dhruv Jurel Hits Unbeaten Century in Colombo
India declared their first innings on 503 for 9 late on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, with Dhruv Jurel 's unbeaten 115 anchoring a mammoth total that leaves the hosts facing a daunting deficit of 503 runs. India resumed the morning session with Devdutt Padikkal's overnight century behind them, and continued to pile on the runs through the middle order. Rishabh Pant made a fighting 63 on his return from a wrist injury, adding 112 for the sixth wicket with Jurel in a stand that formed the backbone of the innings. Jurel, promoted to bat as a specialist at No. 6, made the most of his opportunity, reaching his second Test century and going unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls, striking nine fours and two sixes along the way. The lower order chipped in too, with debutant Saransh Jain making a quickfire 6 and Manav Suthar adding a useful 18, before India called a halt to their innings with the score on 503 for 9 in 138 overs. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with 4 for 106, while Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha shared two wickets apiece, with Sri Lanka's spin duo left underwhelmed by their overall returns on a good batting surface. With rain briefly interrupting play, Sri Lanka were left with just a few overs to survive before the close, sending out a new-look opening pair of debutant Kamil Mishara and Lahiru Udara to face Mohammed Siraj's opening burst. India, 1-0 up in the series after their win in Galle, will feel they have more than enough runs on the board to push for a series-clinching result, with the game now firmly in their control heading into day three.
Shoriful Islam's 7/48 Makes Him First Visiting Bowler in 33 Years With a Seven-For in Australia
Shoriful Islam produced a career-defining spell on day two of the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Mackay, taking career-best figures of 7 for 48 to become the first visiting bowler in 33 years to claim a seven-wicket haul in a Test on Australian soil. The left-arm pacer's effort helped bowl Australia out for 210 on day two, after the hosts had earlier skittled Bangladesh for just 64. Shoriful repeatedly found ways to break through Australia's middle order after the hosts had briefly threatened to pull away from 41 for 3, extracting movement and attacking the stumps throughout a relentless spell of 15 overs. It also produced what many observers called the ball of the series, a delivery that castled Cameron Green. The 7 for 48 places Shoriful alongside West Indies great Curtly Ambrose , who was the last visiting bowler to take seven wickets in a Test in Australia, with figures of 7 for 25 against Australia at the WACA in Perth back in 1993. It's also the first seven-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in Test cricket, and the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test, surpassing Taijul Islam's 7 for 138 against Zimbabwe earlier this year. It even beats the previous benchmark set by his own teammate just one match earlier, with Hasan Mahmud's 6 for 55 in the Darwin Test having briefly held the record for best figures by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia before Shoriful bettered it in Mackay. Despite his heroics, Bangladesh's overall position in the match remained precarious given their first-innings collapse, with the tourists still trailing by over 100 runs after Australia's reply. Shoriful's spell nonetheless stands as one of the standout individual performances of the series, a rare bright spot with the ball for Bangladesh in a Test that has otherwise been dominated by Mitchell Starc at the other end.
ICC Sanctions Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando Over On-Field Altercation
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando have both been sanctioned by the ICC following an on-field altercation on day one of the second Test in Colombo, with each player fined 25 percent of their match fee and handed a demerit point. The incident occurred in the 17th over of India's innings, moments after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45. As Jaiswal walked back towards the pavilion, he appeared to change direction and approached Fernando, who was in the middle of Sri Lanka's celebratory huddle. Words were exchanged between the two, and Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal, prompting Jaiswal to lean in as well, resulting in the two players making contact. Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC's Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel . In simple terms, this article covers inappropriate physical contact with another player, official, or any other person during an international match, essentially barring behaviour like pushing, shoving, or headbutting in the heat of the moment, even when it falls short of anything more serious. It's classified as a Level 1 offence, which carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player's match fee, along with one or two demerit points. Both players admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel, meaning no formal hearing was required. Neither Jaiswal nor Fernando had committed a similar offence in the 24 months prior, so the punishment was applied at the lower end of the scale. India go into the match 1-0 up in the two-Test series following their win in Galle, with the Colombo Test continuing at pace despite the day-one flashpoint, which briefly overshadowed what had otherwise been a dominant batting display from the tourists.
Rishabh Pant Overtakes Dhoni as India's Leading Wicketkeeper Run-Scorer Away From Home
Rishabh Pant made a stirring return from injury on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, scoring a fluent 63 off 89 balls to go past MS Dhoni's tally and become India's leading run-scorer among wicketkeepers in away and neutral Tests. Pant had retired hurt on the first day after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara bouncer, having managed just 3 off 15 balls at the time. He returned to the crease after debutant Saransh Jain was dismissed early on day two, and picked up right where he left off, striking two sixes and six fours before eventually falling caught at long-off off Keshara Nuwantha, having added 112 with Dhruv Jurel in a stand that formed the backbone of India's morning session. The knock, his 21st Test half-century and a second successive one after his fifty in the second innings at Galle, took him to 2,534 runs as a wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests , moving him past Dhoni's tally of 2,496 and also past former South Africa gloveman Mark Boucher's 2,514. Farokh Engineer (1,209) and Syed Kirmani (1,109) round out the top Indian names on the list, both well over 1,300 runs behind Pant's new benchmark. Among all wicketkeepers globally in this category, Pant now sits third, behind former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (2,696) and Australia great Adam Gilchrist (2,634). The innings also pushed Pant to 2,948 runs in World Test Championship history, leaving him just 52 shy of becoming the first Indian to reach 3,000 WTC runs. With India well placed in Colombo and Pant back among the runs after a scare with the wrist injury, the milestone adds another significant chapter to a Test career that continues to be defined by fearless strokeplay under pressure.
Harry Kane Named Germany's Player of the Year, Kompany Wins Coach of the Year
Harry Kane has been voted Germany's Player of the Year for 2026 , while Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany claimed the Coach of the Year award, capping off another outstanding season for the Bavarian giants. Kane enjoyed a stunning campaign, scoring 61 goals across all competitions as Bayern defended their Bundesliga title and added the German Cup, with the England captain scoring a hat-trick in the final against Stuttgart. The England forward comfortably topped the yearly poll, organised by Kicker magazine among 659 members of the Association of German Sports Journalists, gathering 272 votes ahead of teammate Michael Olise on 203. Stuttgart's Deniz Undav finished third with 61 votes, followed by Bayern's Joshua Kimmich and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Vincent Kompany collected close to half the votes cast for the coach's award, comfortably ahead of Freiburg's Julian Schuster, who had won the honour the previous year. It continues a remarkable turnaround for the Belgian, who arrived at Bayern in 2024 and has since guided the club to sustained domestic success, with Florian Wirtz having claimed the player's prize the year before Kane's win. The awards also extended to the women's game, with Bayern's Giulia Gwinn named Women's Player of the Year, giving the club a rare sweep of both the men's and women's top individual honours in the same year. Club president Herbert Hainer hailed the achievement, calling it the first time a club has won both awards simultaneously and a reflection of Bayern's strength across the men's and women's game alike. The player of the year award has been handed out since 1960, with Franz Beckenbauer the record holder on four wins, while the coach's prize has been awarded since 2002.
Ferran Torres' Debut Brace Rescues PSG in 2-2 Draw at Rennes
Ferran Torres marked his PSG debut with a stunning late brace to rescue a 2-2 draw away at Rennes in the Ligue 1 season opener, coming off the bench to spare Luis Enrique's side an opening-day defeat. Rennes made a dream start at the Roazhon Park, going ahead in the 9th minute when Sebastian Szymanski's shot cannoned in off the post from 25 yards. PSG failed to respond, and were dealt a second blow just before the break when Esteban Lepaul converted a Przemyslaw Frankowski cross to make it 2-0, leaving the reigning champions with a mountain to climb after a below-par first-half display, with the fixture only taking place at Rennes due to the poor state of the Parc des Princes pitch. Ferran Torres, a summer signing from Barcelona, was introduced at half-time alongside Mika Godts and transformed the game. He pulled one back in the 71st minute, latching onto a Fabian Ruiz through-ball, before completing his brace 11 minutes later, glancing home another Ruiz delivery to level the score. Willian Pacho then produced a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Rennes a late winner as PSG held on for a share of the points, finishing with 69.6% possession and 19 attempts to Rennes' nine. The result means PSG's Ligue 1 title defence begins with a draw, following on from a difficult pre-season that also saw them lose the Trophee des Champions to Lens. Ferran Torres's introduction offers an encouraging sign for Luis Enrique going forward, with the Spaniard now level with two other players as PSG's leading scorer in the fledgling campaign after such an eye-catching start to life in Paris.
Barcelona Thrash Elche 5-0 in La Liga Title Defence Opener
Barcelona made an emphatic start to their La Liga title defence, thrashing Elche 5-0 away at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, with braces from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez and a debut goal from new signing Karim Adeyemi . Raphinha broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, converting a penalty after being brought down in the box, before Adeyemi doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, latching onto a Lamine Yamal pass to slot home on his league debut following his summer move from Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona were forced into an early reshuffle before the break when Gavi had to be replaced due to a knee issue, but continued to dominate after the interval. Raphinha added his second and Barcelona's third after the hour mark, teed up by fellow debutant Anthony Gordon, who had come on at half-time and looked lively throughout. Fermin Lopez then struck twice in quick succession, first tapping in after more good work from Gordon before rounding off the scoring with a stunning turn-and-finish from the edge of the box. Hansi Flick's side were missing several key names, including new marquee signing Rodri, who was left out of the matchday squad entirely as he continues to build fitness. The result gives Barcelona the perfect start as they chase a third straight La Liga title, with the Catalans looking sharp in attack despite a rotated lineup, and sends an early statement to the rest of the division ahead of what promises to be another closely fought title race in Spain this season.
Gvardiol's Stoppage-Time Winner Gives Maresca Winning Man City Debut
Manchester City produced a dramatic late fightback to snatch a 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, handing new head coach Enzo Maresca a winning start in his first Premier League match since succeeding Pep Guardiola. Bournemouth, themselves under a new manager in Marco Rose , took a shock lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier , who slotted home at the back post to threaten a memorable opening-day upset. City created plenty of chances throughout, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo all going close, but couldn't find a way through until deep into the second half. The equaliser finally arrived six minutes from time when Marc Guehi rose to head home a Rayan Cherki corner, sparking hope of a City turnaround. That turnaround was completed a minute into stoppage time, when Josko Gvardiol latched onto another Cherki assist to fire home from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a lengthy VAR check overturned the decision, sending the Etihad into raptures and completing a dramatic late win. The result offers real relief for Maresca, whose first home game in charge threatened to end in disappointment against a well-organised Bournemouth side that had Rose five minutes away from becoming the first Bournemouth manager to win at the Etihad. Instead, City's pressure and resilience were rewarded at the death, giving the new boss the perfect start to life after Guardiola as the post-Pep era at City begins with a hard-fought three points.
Brighton Thrash 10-Man Aston Villa 4-0 as Joao Gomes Sees Red on Debut
Brighton produced one of the most one-sided opening-day performances in recent Premier League history, hammering Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in a first half that saw Villa concede four goals in just 31 minutes and finish with 10 men. The rout began when a wayward Pau Torres back-pass gifted Brighton an early lead via an own goal, before Maxim De Cuyper doubled the advantage soon after, converting a Georginio Rutter cross. Brighton then produced a devastating quickfire double through Jack Hinshelwood , scoring in the 30th and 31st minutes to put the game to bed inside the opening half hour, with Villa's summer rebuild already under serious scrutiny. Villa's afternoon got even worse five minutes before the break. New signing Joao Gomes , a £38 million arrival from Wolves making his competitive debut, was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for kicking out at Rutter, having already been booked earlier in the half. It made him the first player to receive a first-half red card on his Premier League debut for a club in more than 14 years, with former QPR midfielder Samba Diakite the last to suffer a similar fate, back in February 2012. Gomes had also been directly involved in the buildup to Brighton's fourth goal, losing possession on the edge of his own box moments before Hinshelwood struck. The result leaves Unai Emery's heavily rebuilt Villa side with plenty of questions to answer after a chastening start, having also been without a recognised centre-forward with Ollie Watkins left out of the squad amid transfer interest from Saudi Arabia. For Brighton, it's about as perfect a start to the season as they could have hoped for, with the Seagulls firing on all cylinders in what was an emphatic statement result against one of last season's top-four contenders.
Bangladesh Climb to All-Time High No. 6 in ICC Test Rankings
Bangladesh have climbed to No. 6 in the ICC Men's Test team rankings, their highest-ever position, despite losing the second Test to Australia by an innings and 51 runs in Mackay. The Tigers jumped three places, moving past West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the back of their historic first-ever Test win in Australia, achieved in the series-opening Darwin Test. Bangladesh now sit on 78 rating points from 24 matches, marking the first time the side has ever risen above the No. 9 spot in the format's history. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto called it a "huge achievement" after the defeat in Mackay, while acknowledging the side's own inconsistency, noting it would have been better if they had played better cricket in the Test itself. He also pointed to the challenges of touring Australia so infrequently, with most of the squad never having previously played in the conditions. The wider table remains topped by Australia , unaffected by their earlier Darwin defeat, with 126 rating points from 27 matches. Bangladesh's rise means Sri Lanka (76 points) and Pakistan (75 points) have both been overtaken, while West Indies also slip below the Tigers in the standings. The result also has implications in the World Test Championship 2025-2027 standings, where Bangladesh remain fourth, one place above India, having recorded three wins, two losses and a draw from six matches in the cycle. The Darwin win proved decisive for both metrics, with the Mackay defeat doing little to dent the historic rankings rise that followed it.
Nathan Lyon Reaches 600 International Wickets, Fifth Australian to the Milestone
Nathan Lyon reached the milestone of 600 international wickets during Australia's innings win over Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, becoming just the fifth Australian bowler in history to the mark, and only the second Australian spinner after Shane Warne to get there. Lyon got there with figures of 3 for 25 in Bangladesh's second innings, having not been needed at all in the tourists' meagre first-innings total of 64. The veteran off-spinner now has 601 wickets from 174 international matches at an average of 31.00, with 24 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls to his name, and career-best figures of 8 for 50. The vast majority of his wickets have come in the Test arena, where he has taken 571 scalps in 143 matches at an average of 30.20. Lyon now sits fifth on Australia's all-time international wicket-taking list, behind only Shane Warne (999 wickets), Glenn McGrath (948), Mitchell Starc (771), who himself completed a 10-wicket match haul in the very same Test, and Brett Lee (718). It caps a landmark match for Australia's bowling attack, with Starc's dominant display taking the headlines while Lyon quietly ticked over yet another significant career milestone in the background. Having made his Test debut back in 2011 with a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Galle, Lyon's longevity and consistency have made him one of the most reliable spin options in world cricket for well over a decade. Reaching 600 international wickets extends an already extraordinary legacy, and cements his place among the finest bowlers Australian cricket has produced.
Devdutt Padikkal Hits Back-to-Back Test Centuries With 117 in Colombo
Devdutt Padikkal struck his second Test century in as many matches, top-scoring with a brilliant 117 off 193 balls on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo, continuing a red-hot run of form on the tour. Padikkal, who arrived in Colombo on the back of a match-winning 167 in the series-opening win at Galle, batted with the same fluency here, striking 12 fours in a knock that anchored India's innings after they were put in to bat first. He shared useful stands through the middle order, including a lively 60-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill, who made 50, before eventually being bowled by Keshara Nuwantha, undone by a quicker, flatter delivery that snuck past the outside edge and clattered into off stump, with India well placed at 281 for 4 at the time of his dismissal. The century is a continuation of the kind of form that has made Padikkal one of the standout performers of India's tour so far. Having struggled for a settled place in the side over recent years, back-to-back hundreds in his last two Test innings mark a significant statement, and go a long way toward cementing his position in the middle order heading into a busy home season. India, chasing a series win having already gone 1-0 up in Galle, will look to build a big first-innings total on the back of Padikkal's knock, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (45), KL Rahul (18) and Gill (50) all getting starts earlier in the day without going on to make it count. Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel were at the crease as play continued, with India well placed to post a substantial total on a good batting surface in Colombo.
Saransh Jain Makes Test Debut at 33 After Decade-Long Domestic Wait
Saransh Jain has made his Test debut for India in the series-deciding second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, capping off a remarkable domestic career that has spanned more than a decade before finally earning international recognition at the age of 33. The Madhya Pradesh off-spinning all-rounder, who is also employed with India Post, made his first-class debut for the state all the way back in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu, claiming a five-wicket haul on debut. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of Indian domestic cricket's most reliable dual threats, a rare off-spinning all-rounder in a system that has traditionally produced far more left-arm orthodox options. If he takes the field, Jain will be the first India player to debut at age 33 since Robin Singh back in 1998. Jain's rise to a maiden call-up has been built on standout performances across multiple domestic competitions. He was the hero of Madhya Pradesh's maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2022, taking 13 wickets and scoring a half-century in the final. In the 2024 Irani Cup, he claimed a six-wicket haul against Mumbai, dismissing Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur and Shams Mulani in a single spell. His most productive season came in 2025-26, when he became one of only four Indian players to complete the rare double of 300-plus runs and 40-plus wickets in first-class cricket over a 12-month period, finishing with 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and 30 wickets at 20.43 in his last Ranji season alone, while also topping the wicket charts among all off-spinners in the country with 44 scalps. His stock rose further still in the recent Duleep Trophy, where he was named Player of the Series for Central Zone after scoring two half-centuries and taking 16 wickets across two games, including a match-winning 5 for 49 in the final against South Zone that sealed Central Zone's first Duleep title in nearly 11 years. That form, combined with a strong showing for India A in Sri Lanka, ultimately paved the way for his maiden Test call-up. Jain now gets his chance on the biggest stage, coming in for Kuldeep Yadav in a Sri Lankan spin-friendly setting tailor-made for his skill set.
Starc's 10-Wicket Haul Seals Innings Win for Australia, Series Levelled 1-1
Mitchell Starc produced a career-defining performance to seal a commanding win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay, taking his fourth career 10-wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia won by an innings and 51 runs inside just two days to level the series 1-1. Bangladesh, who had stunned the cricket world with a 9-wicket win in the series opener at Darwin, were completely undone by Starc's new-ball burst on day one, bowled out for just 64 as he claimed 6 for 12 . Australia's reply was far from serene, stumbling to 165 for 8 at one stage as Shoriful Islam hit back with 6 for 35, before Cameron Green's gritty unbeaten 67 and useful support from the tail lifted the hosts to 210 all out , a lead of 146. Bangladesh's second innings brought little relief. Starc struck twice more early, and though Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29 not out) briefly offered resistance, the tourists were bowled out for 95 , handing Australia the win comfortably inside the second day. Starc finished with match figures of 10 for 51 , and Pat Cummins chipped in with 3 for 10 in the second innings as Bangladesh's batting fell away for the second time in the match. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul, and also collected the Player of the Series award for his all-round body of work across both Tests. It's a stunning turnaround after Bangladesh's historic win in Darwin, and the result levels the two-match series at 1-1, with both sides sharing the spoils in what turned out to be a dramatic, fast-moving contest played out largely across just three days combined.
2nd Test XI Changes: Saransh Jain Debuts for India, Sri Lanka Field Mishara and Sooriyabandara
Both India and Sri Lanka have made changes to their playing XIs for the second and final Test of the series at the SSC in Colombo, with the hosts forced into reshuffles through injury and India opting for a like-for-like spin swap. India have made one change, bringing in off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain for his Test debut in place of Kuldeep Yadav . Kuldeep had a relatively quiet outing with the ball in Galle, and despite public backing from spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule during the buildup, the team management has opted to hand Jain his first cap. The rest of the winning combination from Galle has been retained, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna all keeping their places. Sri Lanka have made two enforced changes to their XI. Kamil Mishara comes in for his first Test cap in place of Nishan Fernando, who had a quiet outing in Galle filling in for the injured Pathum Nissanka. The bigger change is enforced: Dinesh Chandimal misses out after entering concussion protocols following a blow sustained on day four in Galle, with the mandatory stand-down period ruling him out. Pasindu Sooriyabandara , who deputised for Chandimal as a concussion substitute in the first Test, has now been named in the starting XI on merit for Colombo. Sri Lanka remain without regular gloveman Kusal Mendis, sidelined by a hamstring injury, with Niroshan Dickwella continuing behind the stumps. With Sri Lanka needing a win just to keep the series alive, the changes reflect a squad under pressure from both form and fitness, while India have shown faith in personnel by making only the one alteration to a side that delivered a convincing 165-run win in the series opener.
Ravindra Jadeja Set to Become First Indian and Asian to Play 50 WTC Matches
Ravindra Jadeja is set to become the first Indian, and the first Asian, to play 50 World Test Championship matches , reaching the milestone in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo, starting August 23. Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test side since the WTC's inception in 2019, and his consistency across all three cycles so far has made him one of the format's most reliable performers. He remains only the second bowler in WTC history, after R Ashwin, to take 50 wickets in a single cycle, and became the first player to combine 2,000-plus runs with 100-plus wickets in the competition's history during last year's tour of England. His numbers across the WTC era reflect a rare blend of control with the ball and calm under pressure with the bat, qualities that have repeatedly bailed India out of tricky situations. The milestone comes at a significant juncture for India in the current cycle. Sitting fifth in the standings after a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Galle, India will be eager to seal a series win in Colombo and continue building momentum in a campaign that has been mixed so far. Jadeja's experience in Sri Lankan conditions, dating back to India's 2017 tour, makes him one of the more seasoned campaigners in the current squad alongside KL Rahul. Reaching 50 WTC appearances also underlines the remarkable longevity Jadeja has shown at the top level, spanning multiple head coaches, captains and eras of Indian cricket since the format's introduction. As India chase a series-clinching result in Colombo, all eyes will be on whether the veteran all-rounder can mark his landmark appearance with another significant contribution, the kind that has defined his career in whites for over a decade.
Joao Pedro Signs New Chelsea Contract Until 2034, Takes on No. 9 Shirt
Joao Pedro has signed a new contract with Chelsea that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2034 , with the Brazilian striker also taking on the club's No. 9 shirt as he enters his second season in west London. The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton last summer and made an immediate impact, scoring in the Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain shortly after his arrival. He went on to finish his debut campaign with 20 goals and nine assists, a return that saw him overwhelmingly voted Chelsea's Player of the Season. Pedro's improved deal, on extended terms from a contract that was previously set to run until 2032, comes as recognition of that impact, with the extension reportedly seeing off interest from Barcelona, who had considered him as an alternative to Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Pedro takes over the No. 9 jersey vacated by Liam Delap, stepping into a shirt with a difficult recent history at the club. Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's era, a string of high-profile attackers including Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain and Romelu Lukaku have struggled to make a lasting impact wearing the number, a trend some fans have dubbed the "curse of Khalid Boulahrouz." Pedro is set to begin the new season as Xabi Alonso's first-choice striker, with both Delap and Nicolas Jackson made available for transfer as the club reshapes its forward options. "I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club," Pedro said following the announcement. Chelsea open their Premier League campaign away to Fulham on Monday, with Pedro expected to lead the line as the club looks to build on a season that ended with the Club World Cup title in the bag.
Anton Stach's Late Free-Kick Gives Leeds 1-0 Win Over Nottingham Forest
Anton Stach curled home a stunning 88th-minute free-kick to hand Leeds United a 1-0 opening-day win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, giving Daniel Farke's side their first Premier League win at the venue since 1972. It looked to be heading for a goalless draw for long spells, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough despite decent chances at either end. Forest, under new manager Oliver Glasner for his first match in charge, had the better of the openings, hitting the woodwork twice through Nikola Milenkovic and, later, via a free-kick that bounced back off the post from a crowded box. James Trafford, making his Leeds debut in goal, produced a smart save to deny Igor Jesus early on, while Matz Sels kept out efforts from Brenden Aaronson and Tarik Muharemovic at the other end as the game remained finely balanced. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Milenkovic fouled Stach just outside the penalty area. The German midfielder stepped up himself and curled a low effort past Sels at his near post, sending the away end into raptures and securing a smash-and-grab victory for the visitors. It capped an ideal start for Leeds following last week's 4-0 win over Augsburg, while Forest, who fielded no new signings in their starting eleven, were left to rue their missed chances on Glasner's first outing at the helm. The result gives Leeds a perfect start to the season as they look to build on last term's survival fight, while Forest, with ambitions of a top-half finish under their new manager, will need to sharpen their finishing quickly with a Carabao Cup rematch between the two sides already on the horizon this week.
Jack Clarke's Late Winner Sinks Former Club Sunderland as Ipswich Win 2-1
Jack Clarke scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Ipswich Town beat former club Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road, marking a triumphant Premier League return under new head coach Gary O'Neil. Ipswich, newly promoted and fielding several debutants after a summer of 12 signings, took the lead in the 24th minute when Emersonn steered home a low cross from Julio Enciso following a slick counter-attack. Sunderland, back in the top flight themselves after a strong 2025-26 campaign, levelled just before the break through a stunning Nilson Angulo free-kick from the edge of the box. The game looked set to finish level until Enciso was forced off through injury with 19 minutes remaining, with substitute Jack Clarke coming on in his place. Clarke, who made 114 appearances for Sunderland before his £15 million move to Ipswich in 2024, made an instant impact. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Sunderland substitute Omar Alderete gave the ball away cheaply, and Sasa Lukic found Clarke in space, who cut inside and curled a finish beyond goalkeeper Robin Roefs for his first-ever Premier League goal. The strike sparked wild celebrations at Portman Road and gave Ipswich a first opening-day league win since 1993-94, having lost four straight top-flight openers before this. The result also handed O'Neil a winning start in his first competitive match since replacing long-serving boss Kieran McKenna over the summer. Ipswich outshot their visitors and finished with the better expected-goals numbers on the day, a promising sign as they look to establish themselves back in the top flight. For Sunderland, there will be disappointment at throwing away a point so late, but they'll have chances to bounce back as the new season gets underway.
Everton Beat Crystal Palace 2-0 as Chadi Riad Suffers Serious-Looking Injury
Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in a Premier League opener overshadowed by a serious-looking injury to Palace defender Chadi Riad , who was stretchered off in tears late in the match. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with a thunderous strike into the top corner, before Thierno Barry doubled Everton's lead eight minutes into the second half, heading home a pinpoint Iliman Ndiaye cross. Palace, in Pierre Sage's first game in charge following his move from Lens, had chances of their own, twice striking the woodwork through Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but couldn't find a way past David Moyes' well-organised hosts. The result gave Everton their first opening-day win since 2021 and ended a run of four straight defeats to start a season without scoring. The bigger story by full time was the fitness of Chadi Riad, who appeared to twist his knee attempting to block a Vitaliy Mykolenko cross in the second half. The Morocco international was in visible distress, pulling his shirt over his head as he was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu. The 23-year-old has already endured a difficult run of injuries at Palace, having previously missed a combined 430 days through a cruciate ligament issue and other setbacks, and the club will now face an anxious wait for the results of scans before knowing the extent of the latest blow. Everton, who ended last season without European qualification after a poor run of form, will look to build on the win, while Sage and Palace turn their attention to assessing the fallout from Riad's injury ahead of their next fixture.
Hull City Shock Manchester United 2-0 to Ruin Carrick's Opening Day
Newly-promoted Hull City stunned Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium, ruining Michael Carrick's first game in charge of United's opening-day campaign and delivering one of the shock results of the Premier League's opening weekend. Hull, back in the top flight for the first time since 2017, were without 10 players through injury but still put in a vibrant, disciplined display under manager Sergej Jakirović. The hosts took the lead in the first half through defender Semi Ajayi , who capitalised on defensive hesitancy from United to poke the ball home from close range. They doubled their advantage before the break when centre-back Nobel Mendy headed home from a free-kick in the 38th minute, leaving United with a mountain to climb after just over half an hour. United huffed and puffed after the interval without ever really threatening a way back into the game. Bryan Mbeumo had United's best chance when he broke through one-on-one, only to be denied by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis . Carrick made changes at the break, bringing on Marcus Rashford for a struggling Patrick Dorgu, and later introducing Kobbie Mainoo and Benjamin Sesko as United chased the game, but they lacked a cutting edge throughout and Hull comfortably held out for a memorable win. Hull even had late chances of their own to add a third, with Cody Drameh's effort drifting just wide. It is a chastening start for Carrick, who takes charge with United expected to challenge for the title after finishing third last season. The result leaves the Red Devils under early pressure following a dismal afternoon on Humberside, with fans already calling for further defensive reinforcements before the transfer window shuts. For Hull, it is a dream return to the Premier League and an immediate statement that they won't be there just to make up the numbers.
Starc's 6/12 Bowls Out Bangladesh for 64, Enters Top 10 Wicket-Takers as Australia Stumble to 50/3
Mitchell Starc completed a stunning spell to finish with 6 for 12 as Bangladesh were skittled for just 64 in 34 overs on day one of the second Test in Mackay, extending the destruction that had already left the tourists reeling at 35 for 6 at the lunch break. Starc struck with the first ball of the match for the fourth time in his career, removing Shadman Islam, and continued to run through the top and middle order as Bangladesh, who arrived in Mackay leading the series 1-0 after their historic Darwin win, endured a horror reply. Four batters, including Darwin centurion Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, failed to open their account. It was the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, with the six-wicket haul completing one of the most destructive new-ball spells seen in Australia in years. The performance moved Starc to 440 Test wickets , taking him into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time and past South African great Dale Steyn's mark of 439. He now sits just behind Nathan Lyon among Australians, with only James Anderson, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad and Glenn McGrath ahead of him on the all-time list, an extraordinary achievement for a bowler who came into the series just one wicket shy of Kapil Dev's tally. Australia were far from untroubled in their reply. Despite the huge first-innings advantage, the hosts stumbled to 50 for 3 at stumps, losing three wickets in the final session to leave the game finely poised heading into day two, only 14 runs ahead of Bangladesh's meagre total. Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Travis Head all fell relatively cheaply as Bangladesh's bowlers fought back after their batting horror show, keeping the tourists' hopes of a series-levelling turnaround alive on a lively Mackay surface being used for Test cricket for the first time.
Arsenal Open Title Defence With 3-0 Win Over Coventry, Arteta Reaches 150 PL Wins
Arsenal made the perfect start to their Premier League title defence, beating newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 at the Emirates in the season opener, with Kai Havertz , Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all on the scoresheet. Havertz opened the scoring after 15 minutes, converting from a Riccardo Calafiori cross after Coventry gifted possession away cheaply. Saka doubled the lead eight minutes later, turning in a low cross from debutant winger Christos Tzolis, who impressed throughout with two assists on his first Premier League appearance. Odegaard added a third four minutes into the second half, finishing off a move involving Saka and Ben White to put the game to bed. Coventry, back in the top flight after 25 years away, struggled throughout and became the first side since 2007 to have no touches in the opposition box or make a single tackle in the first half of a Premier League game. The win also brought up a personal milestone for manager Mikel Arteta , who recorded his 150th Premier League victory in just 249 games in charge, making him only the fifth manager in the competition's history to reach 150 wins in fewer than 250 matches, joining an elite list that includes Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson. Arsenal did have one significant absence. Summer signing Bruno Guimaraes , a £75 million arrival from Newcastle, missed out after picking up a groin injury during last week's Community Shield win over Manchester City. The issue was later described as a slight tension rather than anything more serious, offering some relief after early concern, though he wasn't risked for the opener. New defensive signing Ezri Konsa was presented to the crowd before kickoff but had to settle for watching from the stands on his big unveiling, with his debut still to come. With the win, Arsenal open their title defence in the manner they'll have wanted, and will be targeting a first successful defence of the English title since the 1930s as the new season gets underway.
WTC Table Update: England Climb After Win, Pakistan Drop to Last Place
England's innings-and-103-run thrashing of Pakistan at Headingley has shaken up the bottom of the World Test Championship 2025-2027 table, with the result lifting the hosts and dropping Pakistan to last place. England move to 50 points from 14 matches, with a points percentage climbing from 24.36 to 29.76 , though the win wasn't enough to shift them off 7th spot. Their overall record in the cycle now reads 5 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, a reminder of how far off the pace England remain in this WTC cycle despite the resounding win to open Joe Root's second stint as full-time captain. The bigger shake-up came at the very bottom. Pakistan drop to 9th and last place in the table, their points percentage falling to 19.05 from 7 matches, with 2 wins and 5 losses recorded so far. The defeat sees them swap places with West Indies , who move up to 8th on 20.83 percent from 12 matches, having played far more Tests in the cycle without adding to their points tally in this particular update. At the top of the standings, there's no change: Australia continue to lead comfortably with 84 points and a 77.78 PCT from 9 matches, with South Africa (75.00), New Zealand (72.22) and Bangladesh (66.67) rounding out the top four. India remain 5th on 53.33 percent, and Sri Lanka hold 6th on 33.33 percent. With Pakistan now needing a response in the second Test at Lord's, starting next Thursday, and England looking to build on their strong start under Root, both sides have plenty to play for as they look to climb away from the foot of the table before the business end of the cycle arrives.
Pakistan Set Unwanted Record: First Team to Lose First Wicket for 0 in Both Innings
Pakistan set an unwanted new Test record during their innings-and-103-run defeat to England at Headingley, becoming the first team in Test history to lose their first wicket for 0 in both innings of the same match . The pattern was set inside the very first ball of the Test, when opener Azan Awais was dismissed by Ollie Robinson without scoring, becoming the first Pakistan batter ever to fall on the opening delivery of a Test match. Awais at least avoided a king pair, surviving Robinson's next over, but Pakistan slid to 0 for 1 for the second time in the match when Jofra Archer struck in the second innings, having Imam-ul-Haq caught behind for a duck as he tried to evade a short delivery. Archer completed a double blow soon after, removing Awais himself for 9 to leave Pakistan reeling at 13 for 2 in the second innings, a mirror image of their first-innings capitulation. From there, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue once again did the bulk of the damage, having shared all 10 wickets in the first innings, this time combining for six more as Pakistan folded for just 135 in 37.3 overs, having managed only 171 first time round. The result rounded off a chastening return to Test cricket for Pakistan, who lost 20 wickets across the match in under 86 overs and have now gone 16 innings without adding 100 runs after losing half their side. It was also the joint-second fastest of Joe Root's 66 Tests as England captain, wrapping up in just three days as the hosts opened the new era under Root and interim coach Marcus Trescothick with a statement win. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match for his eight wickets, edging out Josh Tongue, who also finished with eight. Pakistan now face an anxious wait before the second Test at Lord's, which begins next Thursday, as they look to arrest a slide that has left their batting fundamentals under serious scrutiny.
Mitchell Starc's 5/11 Burst Leaves Bangladesh 35/6, Bowler Passes Dale Steyn's Wicket Tally
Mitchell Starc ripped through Bangladesh's top order on day one of the second Test in Mackay, taking 5 for 11 in just 22 balls to leave the tourists reeling at 35 for 6 at lunch, one of the most destructive opening spells of his career. Starc struck with the very first ball of the match, having Shadman Islam edge behind to gully, and barely let up from there. He removed both openers, then captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper Litton Das for ducks to leave Bangladesh reeling at 12 for 5, before completing his five-for inside the opening hour. Pat Cummins chipped in from the other end, removing Mushfiqur Rahim for 5 on a pitch likened to a typical Gabba surface. It's the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, with Starc himself holding the outright record, having taken five wickets in just 15 balls against West Indies in Kingston last year. The spell also carried him past a significant career mark. Starc entered the Mackay Test on 435 Test wickets, and his burst here takes him to 440 , moving him past South African great Dale Steyn's tally of 439 and into the top five fast bowlers in the history of the format, behind only James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh. It continues a remarkable few weeks for the left-armer, who had already gone past Rangana Herath to become the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test history, and past Kapil Dev to enter the top 10 wicket-takers of all time, both during the series-opening Darwin Test. Bangladesh arrive in Mackay leading the series 1-0 after a famous win in Darwin, but were made to pay for a horror start on a lively surface at Australia's newest Test venue. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (11 not out) and Hasan Mahmud (8 not out) steadied things briefly at the other end, but the tourists will need something special to recover from such an early collapse and keep the series alive.
England Thrash Pakistan by an Innings and 103 Runs in Root's Captaincy Return
England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs inside just three days at Headingley, Leeds, to make the perfect start to the first Test of the series and, with it, Joe Root's first Test back as full-time England captain. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but were skittled for just 171 , with Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson both claiming five-wicket hauls, the first time two England bowlers have taken five-fors in the same innings since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar managed it back in 2006, also against Pakistan. England's reply was built around contributions right through the middle order. Harry Brook led the way with 91, Jordan Cox made 73, captain Joe Root chipped in with 66 on his first day back in charge, and Dan Lawrence added 51, as England posted 409 , a first-innings lead of 238. Mohammad Usman was the pick of Pakistan's bowlers with 5 for 92, showing plenty of fight despite the lopsided contest. Set an improbable task of avoiding an innings defeat, Pakistan folded again in their second innings, bowled out for just 135 in only 37.3 overs. Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 41, but there was little else to shout about as Robinson (3/29), Tongue (3/43) and Jofra Archer (3/50) shared the wickets and wrapped up the innings before tea. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match for a superb all-round performance, finishing with match figures of 5 for 51 and 3 for 29. The win also saw Joe Root break the record for most catches by a fielder in Test history, moving past Steven Smith's mark of 218. With Pakistan left with plenty to ponder, attention now turns to the second Test at Lord's, starting Thursday, as Root's new-look England side look to seal the series.
Australia vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test Preview: Tigers Eye Series Win in Mackay
Australia and Bangladesh return to action on Saturday for the second and final Test of their two-match series, with Bangladesh leading 1-0 after a historic win in the series opener at Darwin. The second Test gets underway at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay , Queensland, marking the venue's first-ever men's Test match and its elevation to become Australia's 12th Test ground. Play begins at 10am local time and runs across five scheduled days, from August 22 to 26. Bangladesh's win in Darwin was a landmark result for the touring side, and they now have the chance to complete a first-ever series win in Australia if they can back it up in Mackay. A win, or even a draw, would seal the series for the Tigers, while Australia must find a way to level things up on unfamiliar territory to keep the series alive. Australia have made a change to their top order for the pink-ball-free red-ball assignment, recalling Matthew Renshaw in place of Jake Weatherald , who has been dropped following the opener. Renshaw arrives with a strong record at the Mackay venue itself, having previously scored first-class centuries there, and the hosts will be hoping his experience can help stabilise an opening combination that has been unsettled through the past few series. With home advantage and a venue debut on the line, the Mackay Test carries plenty of intrigue beyond just the series result. A new ground stepping up to Test status always brings its own storylines around pitch behaviour and conditions, and how both attacks adapt to a surface with little historical red-ball data will likely play a big role in how the match unfolds. Bangladesh will sense a genuine opportunity to complete a famous series win away from home, while Australia know anything less than victory ends their hopes of squaring the ledger.
Joe Root First Player to 3,000 WTC Runs as Captain
Joe Root has become the first player in history to reach 3,000 runs as captain in the World Test Championship , reaching the landmark during the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds. The milestone came as England piled on the runs in reply to a below-par Pakistan total, with the hosts closing day two on 366 for 8 in their first innings, having earlier bowled Pakistan out for just 171 to seize control of the match. This is a different mark to the overall 3,000-WTC-runs landmark Root reached back in 2022, which counted all his runs across WTC cycles regardless of leadership status. This latest record is specific to runs scored purely in matches where Root was leading the side, underlining just how central he has been to England's Test fortunes across his various stints in charge. Root first took over the England Test captaincy in 2017 and led the side for the best part of five years before stepping down in 2022, handing the reins to Ben Stokes. Even after giving up the armband, Root has continued to captain England in select matches when Stokes has been unavailable through injury, adding further to his overall leadership tally and, evidently, his WTC runs column as captain. Root's numbers as a batter have remained extraordinary regardless of leadership duties. He continues to be one of the most consistent run-scorers in the world across formats, and this latest landmark adds another layer to a Test career already built on volume, longevity and a rare weight of runs across different eras of WTC cricket. With England well on top against Pakistan at Leeds, Root will be hoping to add plenty more to this new record before the innings, and the match, are done.
Champions League Play-Offs: Celtic and Bodø/Glimt Take Control in First Legs
Wednesday's Champions League play-off first legs saw both Celtic and Bodø/Glimt take control of their ties with convincing away-goal buffers, after Tuesday's three fixtures had all ended level. Celtic 3-0 LASK : Celtic put in a ruthless finishing display at Celtic Park to seal a commanding first-leg lead over the Austrian champions. Benjamin Nygren curled home the opener after LASK had twice had the ball in the net in the opening minutes, both efforts ruled out for offside. Camilo Duran then struck twice, first turning in a Kieran Tierney cross before sidefooting home a second after a one-two, to complete the scoring. LASK, unbeaten in eight games across all competitions coming in, huffed and puffed but could not find a way past a resolute Celtic defence. The second leg follows in Linz next Tuesday. Bodø/Glimt 3-1 NEC Nijmegen : The Norwegian side made history with their first-ever away win in a Champions League qualification play-off, moving them to the brink of a return to the league phase. Sondre Fet opened the scoring after a slick move involving Jens Petter Hauge, before Andreas Helmersen doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time. Haitam Aleesami added a third early in the second half to put the tie to bed, and though Clement Bischoff pulled one back late for NEC, it did little to change the complexion of the contest. The return leg takes place in Norway next week. Elsewhere on Wednesday, Slovan Bratislava and Celje played out a 1-1 draw, leaving that tie finely balanced heading into the second leg. With two of Wednesday's three ties now well in the control of the away underdogs turned first-leg favourites, the return fixtures promise to be decisive for spots in this season's Champions League league phase.
Manav Suthar Becomes Youngest Indian Spinner to Take 10-Wicket Haul in an Away Test
Manav Suthar has etched his name into the record books, becoming the youngest Indian spinner to claim a 10-wicket haul in an away Test, at just 24 years and 16 days . The left-arm orthodox spinner produced match figures of 10 for 131 in Galle, picking up 4 wickets in the first innings and a superb 6 for 55 in the second, as India sealed a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener. Suthar's feat takes him past Harbhajan Singh , who was 28 years and 28 days old when he took 10 for 153 against Sri Lanka at the same venue back in 2008. Ravichandran Ashwin also managed the feat in Galle, aged 28 years and 11 months, when he took 10 for 160 in 2015. Further back, Bishan Singh Bedi was 31 years and 3 months when he claimed 10 for 194 against Australia in Perth in 1977-78, while Bhagwat Chandrasekhar took 12 for 104 in the same series at the age of 32 years and 7 months. Suthar now stands as the youngest of this group of Indian spinners. It's worth noting the wider record among all Indian bowlers, not just spinners, still belongs to Irfan Pathan , who took 11 wickets against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December 2004 at 20 years and 44 days. Suthar's mark applies specifically to spin bowlers picking up a 10-wicket haul away from home. The Galle Test was only Suthar's second appearance in whites. He had already made a mark on debut against Afghanistan in June, taking a 7-wicket match haul including 6 for 33 in the first innings. With his 6-wicket second-innings return in Galle, he became just the second Indian bowler after Narendra Hirwani to take a six-wicket haul in each of his first two Tests, and the fourth Indian overall to pick up 10 wickets in a match within his first two Tests. Suthar now has 17 wickets from just two Test matches, at an outstanding average of 11.35. India captain Shubman Gill praised the youngster after the win, saying he had bowled magnificently both on debut against Afghanistan and again in Galle, calling him a promising talent who could play for India for a long time. Attention now turns to the series decider in Colombo, starting August 23, where Suthar will look to continue his remarkable start to international cricket.
Justin Greaves Named ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2026
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2026 , edging out fellow nominees Harry Brook and Tanzid Hasan after a month of standout performances with both bat and ball in Test cricket. Greaves' month began against Sri Lanka in North Sound, where the visitors had posted a daunting 549/9 declared in their first innings. With West Indies reeling at 144/4, Greaves walked out and produced a magnificent 180 , striking 14 fours and two sixes to steady the innings and help the hosts close the gap on Sri Lanka's total. His knock ensured West Indies batted out time to secure a draw, which was enough to seal a 1-0 series win at home and collect valuable WTC points. He also featured in two ODIs against New Zealand during the month, opening the batting and scoring 32 runs at a strike rate of 114.28, before returning to the Test arena for the series against Pakistan in Tarouba. There, Greaves delivered arguably his most complete all-round performance of the year, claiming his maiden Test five-wicket haul with figures of 5/27 in the first innings, including a remarkable spell of five consecutive wicket-maidens. He followed it up with 2/12 in the second innings to help West Indies close out the match. Across the month, Greaves finished with 215 runs from two Tests at an average of 71.66, and eight wickets at a superb average of 10.25. "I have had a memorable month playing at home, and to have contributed with both bat and ball against Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been particularly special for me," Greaves said after receiving the honour. He added that impactful Test performances in front of home fans were something he would always cherish. Greaves saw off competition from England's Harry Brook, who was outstanding across the home T20I series against India, and Bangladesh's Tanzid Hasan, who was the leading run-scorer in white-ball series against Zimbabwe. The award continues the ICC's monthly recognition series, running since the start of 2021, with winners chosen by a panel of respected journalists and former cricketers.
Harry Brook Reclaims No. 1 Test Batting Spot, Bumrah Stays Top Among Bowlers
Harry Brook has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings, moving above Joe Root after a string of strong performances that have kept England's middle order firing. Brook now sits on 852 rating points , with Joe Root close behind in second on 840. It's the latest twist in what has been a closely fought battle for top spot between the two England batters over the past few months. Steven Smith holds third place with 833 points, followed by Travis Head in fourth on 819, though Head has slipped a place after a recent dip in returns. Temba Bavuma rounds out the top five for South Africa. Among Indian batters, Shubman Gill is the highest-ranked at 7th with 743 points, with Yashasvi Jaiswal at 9th and Rishabh Pant climbing to 13th on the back of his recent form in Sri Lanka. In the bowling charts, there's no change at the summit. Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the No. 1 spot among Test bowlers with a rating of 870 , comfortably ahead of the chasing pack despite playing a reduced workload through careful management of his fitness. New Zealand's Matt Henry is closest in second on 861, with Mitchell Starc third on 826. Marco Jansen has been the standout mover, climbing to fourth on 825 points and edging closer to Starc's mark, while Pat Cummins has dropped to fifth after a quieter run with the ball. India's other frontline pacer, Mohammed Siraj , sits joint-14th alongside Kuldeep Yadav on 695 points. Both rankings remain fluid with a heavy Test calendar still to come, including India's series decider against Sri Lanka in Colombo and Australia's ongoing assignment against Bangladesh. Any big performances from the contenders below Brook and Bumrah could shake up the top of the charts before the year is out.
India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs in Galle, Take 1-0 Series Lead
India wrapped up the first Test against Sri Lanka in style, winning by 165 runs in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Match for his twin knocks of 167 and 44 , a performance that shaped the game from the very first day. Sent in to bat after winning the toss, India piled up 462 in their first innings. Padikkal's 167 was the standout, but he had support all around him. KL Rahul made 82, Dhruv Jurel chipped in with 51, and Rishabh Pant added a brisk 39. Sri Lanka hit back through Prabath Jayasuriya , who picked up 4 wickets, but the total gave India a platform they never really gave up. Sri Lanka's reply fell well short. Sonal Dinusha was the one shining light with a fighting hundred, but the rest of the batting couldn't build around him, and the hosts were bowled out for 284, handing India a lead of 178 runs. India didn't let up in their second innings either. Padikkal's second-innings 44 and a quickfire 66 from Rishabh Pant helped set Sri Lanka a target of 372, well beyond what the hosts had shown they could chase on a wearing surface. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 4 wickets in that innings. Sri Lanka fought hard in the fourth innings. Dinusha made his second half-century plus fifty of the match, and Niroshan Dickwella played a lively 80 to keep India waiting. But Manav Suthar had other ideas, ripping through the tail with a maiden Test 10-wicket haul across the match to seal victory for India well inside the fifth day. The result puts India firmly in charge of the series with one Test to go. Attention now shifts to the second and final Test, starting August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo , where Sri Lanka will look to level the series and India will aim to close it out.
India Climb to 5th in WTC Table After Galle Win Over Sri Lanka
India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle has lifted them to 5th place in the World Test Championship 2025-2027 standings. The victory takes India to 64 points from 10 matches, with a points percentage of 53.33 , built on 5 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw in the cycle so far. It's been a mixed campaign for India in this WTC cycle, but the Galle result gives them some momentum with a second and final Test against Sri Lanka still to come. A win in Colombo would push their tally further and put them in touching distance of the top four, who currently occupy the spots that matter most heading into the business end of the cycle. At the top of the table, Australia continue to lead the way with 84 points from 9 games and a healthy 77.78 PCT, having won 7 of their 9 Tests. South Africa sit second on 75 PCT despite having played just 4 matches, while New Zealand are third on 72.22 PCT with 4 wins from 6. Bangladesh , buoyed by their recent form, are fourth on 66.67 PCT. Below India, Sri Lanka remain 6th on 33.33 PCT after the Galle defeat, with England , Pakistan and West Indies rounding out the table, all struggling to keep pace after a heavy run of Test defeats. With the cycle running through mid-2027 and plenty of cricket still to be played across all nine teams, the standings remain fluid. India's next Test, the series decider against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo starting August 23 , offers a chance to climb further before attention turns to the home season ahead.
Champions League Play-Offs: All Three First Legs End in Draws
The Champions League play-off round got underway on Tuesday, and all three first legs ended level, leaving every tie wide open before the return matches. In Istanbul, Fenerbahçe and Lyon played out a 1-1 draw . Lois Openda put Lyon ahead with a headed goal, his first for the French club. Fenerbahçe hit back after the break through Mason Greenwood , who scored a fine equaliser to level things up. Neither side could find a winner after that, so the tie is finely poised going into the second leg in France. Dinamo Zagreb and Viking shared a wild 2-2 draw in Croatia. The hosts raced into a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes through Dion Beljo and Mateo Lisica. Viking, though, hit back before half-time with goals from Peter Christiansen and Zlatko Tripić to level the score. It is a big result for the Norwegian side, who are playing in the Champions League for the first time in 34 years and are chasing a first-ever spot in the league phase. In Bulgaria, Levski Sofia and AEK Athens could not be separated either, playing out a goalless 0-0 draw . AEK's Luka Jović came closest to scoring, but his effort came back off the crossbar. Levski goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha also made a couple of key saves to keep the visitors out. All three second legs are set for next week, with the winners securing a place in the Champions League league phase and the losers dropping into the Europa League play-offs.
Barcelona Complete Double Transfer Swoop: Rodri and Cancelo Both Signed
Barcelona have completed two big transfers in the same week, adding both Rodri and João Cancelo to Hansi Flick's squad. Rodri's move from Manchester City is now fully done. The Spain midfielder has signed a deal until June 2030 . Barcelona are paying City around €76.5 million for the World Cup winner, who is set to wear the No. 16 shirt. Rodri was seen as the best defensive midfielder in the world at City, and his arrival gives Barcelona even more strength in an already stacked midfield. Real Madrid had also chased Rodri hard this summer, so losing out on him is a blow for them too. Cancelo's return is a different kind of deal. He is coming back to Barcelona for a third time, but this time on a permanent, free transfer . He had been on loan at the club from Al-Hilal for the second half of last season and became a key part of the side, playing mostly at left-back. To make the move happen, Cancelo agreed to end his contract with the Saudi club early, giving up a large chunk of his pay in the process. He has now signed a new three-year contract with Barcelona, running until 2029. Both deals show how serious Barcelona are about building on their recent success. The club has already won the league title in back-to-back seasons, and adding a world-class holding midfielder plus a versatile, experienced full-back gives Flick even more depth and quality to work with heading into the new campaign. Barcelona's business does not appear to be over either, with reports linking the club to more late moves before the transfer window shuts.
Australia Drop Jake Weatherald, Recall Matt Renshaw for Second Bangladesh Test
Australia have made one change to their squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, dropping opener Jake Weatherald and bringing in Matt Renshaw as his replacement. The match starts Saturday at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, a venue making its Test debut. The call comes after Australia's shock nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the series opener in Darwin. Weatherald managed just 23 and a duck in the match, extending a lean run that has now cost him his spot after only one Test since his recall. His career average across 12 innings stands at 20.36. Renshaw, a left-hander like Weatherald, is set to open alongside Travis Head , breaking up the pairing that had put together strong stands during Australia's 4-1 Ashes series win. He has previously scored two first-class centuries at the Mackay venue, and remains in Australia's white-ball setup after making his ODI debut in October last year. Marnus Labuschagne keeps his place in the squad for now, though coach Andrew McDonald has said he needs more runs to secure his spot. Australia must win in Mackay to keep the series alive after Bangladesh's win in the opener. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw , Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Root Begins Second Stint as England Captain, Pakistan Turn to Salman Agha as Babar Sits Out
A new era begins for England as the three-Test series against Pakistan gets underway today at Headingley. It's the hosts' first Test assignment since Joe Root took over the captaincy again following Ben Stokes' retirement, marking the start of his second stint in charge of the side. Root already holds the record for the most Tests captained by an England player, with 64 in his first spell plus an interim game against New Zealand in June. A full run through to the next Ashes would take him level with Stephen Fleming's 80, third on the all-time list. Pakistan arrive without their own captain. Babar Azam has been ruled out of the opener with a right-hand injury picked up during the tour warm-up game, the same hand he was struck on during the West Indies series last month. Scans have ruled out a fracture, but he wasn't considered fit to play or lead the side in Leeds. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has handed the captaincy to Salman Ali Agha for the first Test. It will be his first Test as Pakistan captain, though he already leads the side in T20Is and has plenty of experience within the leadership group. Babar's absence is expected to be limited to this Test, with hopes he recovers in time for the second match at Lord's. Pakistan are playing a Test series in England for the first time in six years, having lost 1-0 on their last visit in 2020. Both sides go into the contest under pressure in the World Test Championship table, making the opening exchanges at Headingley an early litmus test for two teams in transition.
Rishabh Pant Becomes Fastest to 100 Test Sixes, First Indian to the Landmark
Rishabh Pant reached a landmark of his own during his 66 off 69 balls in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. He struck two sixes in the knock, and the second of them took him to 100 sixes in Test cricket . It's a mark no batter has reached faster. Pant got there in just 89 innings , quicker than Adam Gilchrist, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the only other three men to hit a century of Test sixes. Gilchrist had been the previous benchmark, needing 130 innings and 6,578 balls to get to 100. Pant did it in only 4,918 balls. He's also the first Indian batter to reach three figures in Test sixes. Virender Sehwag was the closest an Indian had come before this, finishing his career with 91 sixes from 104 Tests. Six-hitting has become a defining part of Pant's Test batting. He has struck at least one six in 43 of his 89 Test innings, the best such ratio among batters with a minimum of 50 innings. His sixes have also contributed nearly a sixth of his total Test runs. Pant's innings helped India post 193 in the second innings and set Sri Lanka a target of 372. Asitha Fernando took four wickets and Prabath Jayasuriya picked up a four-wicket haul as India lost their last five wickets for just 19 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja Enters an Elite Test Cricket Club
🏏 Ravindra Jadeja Enters an Elite Test Cricket Club Ravindra Jadeja has added another remarkable achievement to his Test career, becoming only the fourth player in cricket history to score 4,000+ Test runs and take 350+ Test wickets. 🇮🇳🔥 This milestone puts Jadeja alongside three legendary all-rounders — Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori — highlighting his incredible consistency with both bat and ball. 📊 The Elite Club - 🇮🇳 Kapil Dev: 5,248 runs | 434 wickets | 131 Tests - 🏴 Ian Botham: 5,200 runs | 383 wickets | 102 Tests - 🇳🇿 Daniel Vettori: 4,531 runs | 362 wickets | 113 Tests - 🇮🇳 Ravindra Jadeja: 4,108 runs | 350 wickets | 90 Tests 💚 Jadeja's Test Legacy Jadeja reaching this landmark in just 90 Tests makes the achievement even more special. Over the years, he has established himself as a crucial part of India's Test team, contributing valuable runs in the middle and producing match-winning spells with his left-arm spin. His combination of batting, bowling and elite fielding has made him one of the most complete all-rounders of the modern era. 🏆 A Milestone Worth Celebrating From Kapil Dev's legendary career to Botham and Vettori's greatness, this exclusive club represents the highest level of Test all-round ability. Now, Ravindra Jadeja's name stands proudly alongside them. 🇮🇳💪 4000+ runs. 350+ wickets. One elite club. Class is permanent! 🔥 Follow Gameonfield – Field of Dreams for more cricket updates, records, stats and stories.
Premier League 2026/27 Season to Kick Off August 21 With Arsenal vs Coventry
The Premier League has confirmed its full fixture list for the 2026/27 season, and defending champions Arsenal will kick things off at home to newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21. The curtain-raiser at the Emirates Stadium kicks off at 8pm BST and will be shown live on Sky Sports. This is a week later than usual. The Premier League has pushed the start back to give players extra recovery time after the 2026 World Cup in North America. The final round of matches falls on Sunday, May 30, 2027, with all 10 fixtures kicking off together, as is tradition on the last day. The rest of the opening weekend is packed too. Hull City host Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime, while Newcastle United face Liverpool in Andoni Iraola's first match in charge of the Reds. There's also a London derby feel to the weekend with Brentford hosting Tottenham Hotspur , and Fulham welcoming Chelsea on the Monday night to close out the round. Three clubs return to the top flight this season: Coventry City , promoted as Championship winners under Frank Lampard, Ipswich Town , back after finishing second, and Hull City , who won the play-off final. West Ham, Burnley and Wolves make the drop the other way after being relegated from the 2025/26 season. Before a ball is kicked in the league proper, Arsenal get an even earlier look at the new campaign. They face 2026 FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Bangladesh Stun Australia by 9 Wickets in Historic Darwin Test
Bangladesh pulled off one of the biggest results in their Test history, beating Australia by 9 wickets in the series-opening Test at Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin. It's their first-ever Test win on Australian soil. Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match for his match haul of 9 wickets (6/55 and 3/56). Put in to bat after losing the toss, Australia never got going on a lively opening day. Mahmud ripped through the top and middle order, finishing with 6 for 55 , while Steven Smith's fighting 71 was the only real resistance as the hosts folded for just 198. Bangladesh's reply was built around a maiden Test century from Tanzid Hasan Tamim , who made 101 off 197 balls in only his second Test. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto supported him with 84, and useful contributions from Mominul Haque (49) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (65) took the total to 426 all out , a lead of 228. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 6 for 89. Australia fought harder in their second innings, with Cameron Green striking a defiant 104 and Steven Smith adding 44. But Mehidy Hasan Miraz ran through the tail with a 5-wicket haul (5/56) , and support from Mahmud (3/66) bowled Australia out for 284, leaving Bangladesh a modest target of 57. Openers Shadman Islam (25*) and Mominul Haque (30*) knocked off the runs without much fuss to seal a 9-wicket win , sparking wild celebrations in the Bangladesh camp. It's just their third-ever Test appearance in Australia, and their first Test win in the country in any format history. Captain Shanto called it one of the proudest days of his career, while Mehidy credited the team's self-belief for turning around a tour that began with a warm-up defeat. Bangladesh will look to seal the series when the two teams meet again in the 2nd Test at Mackay, starting August 22 .
Sony Bags TV Rights for Afghanistan-India T20Is; ACB Requests Ganesh Chaturthi Fixture
Sony Sports Network has secured the linear television broadcast rights for the upcoming Afghanistan versus India T20I series, set to be played in Delhi in September. FanCode will hold the digital streaming rights for the three-match contest. ITW Universe, which holds the global media rights for the series, allotted the broadcast deal to Sony after discussions with other networks including JioStar, Zee and Unite8. The three T20Is are scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17, with Afghanistan officially designated as the home side for the series. Alongside the broadcast news, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has reached out to the BCCI requesting a modest schedule adjustment, seeking to have either the first or second T20I moved to September 14, which falls on Ganesh Chaturthi. ITW Universe founder Bhairav Shanth wrote to ACB CEO Naseeb Khan asking the board to consider the shift as a cultural gesture, noting that both proposed options would preserve the tight three-match window with only a minor change to the currently confirmed dates. The series marks a notable occasion, being the first time Afghanistan will formally host India in a bilateral series on Indian soil, and will also serve as valuable preparation for both sides ahead of the Asian Games in Japan later in September.
Afghanistan Complete 4-0 ODI Series Sweep of Ireland
Afghanistan completed a dominant 4-0 sweep of their ODI series against Ireland, sealing the whitewash with a five-wicket win in the fifth and final match at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. Chasing Ireland's total built around a Harry Tector half-century, Afghanistan were rocked early as Ireland's McCarthy removed both openers cheaply inside the first six overs, dragging the scoring rate down below three an over. The innings was rebuilt through a marathon 201-run partnership between captain Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal, who anchored the chase before Atal fell for 98 attempting to accelerate. Shah continued unbeaten, finishing the match on 143 off 133 balls to guide his side home, with Azmatullah Omarzai chipping in with a brisk 24 late in the chase before departing in the 47th over. The result extends a commanding tour for Afghanistan, who had already sealed the series with a 42-run win in the fourth match courtesy of centuries from Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. Ireland, playing their first ODI series in over 15 months under a new head coach, could not find enough with either bat or ball across the five matches to trouble the visitors, leaving captain Paul Stirling to admit his side had been "thoroughly outplayed" over the series.
India's 600th Test Coincides with Galle's 50th as SL vs IND Series Begins
India's tour of Sri Lanka begins with a landmark occasion at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, as the opening Test of the two-match series doubles up as India's 600th Test match overall. The fixture also falls on India's Independence Day, adding extra significance to the milestone. With this game, India become just the third team in the sport's history to reach 600 Tests, joining England and Australia, who remain the only two sides ahead of them on the all-time list. India's Test journey stretches back to 1932, when they made their debut against England at Lord's. The venue itself reaches a milestone of its own. Saturday's Test is also the 50th Test to be played at Galle, making it the first ground in Asia to reach that mark. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who grew up playing school cricket at the venue, spoke of the pride in leading his side in the stadium's 50th Test. Shubman Gill leads India into the contest, calling it a huge honour to captain the side in such a historic match. The series carries added weight beyond the numbers, with both teams eyeing World Test Championship implications as India continue their build-up towards a possible WTC final appearance. India go into the series without premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, handing opportunities to the rest of the bowling attack to step up on what are traditionally spin-friendly conditions at Galle.
Jemimah Rodrigues Ruled Out of Asia Cup and Asian Games with Hamstring Injury
India have suffered a fresh injury blow ahead of a busy stretch of white-ball cricket. Middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup and the Asian Games in Nagoya with a hamstring injury. Rodrigues picked up the niggle during training and was advised rest and rehabilitation by the BCCI medical team rather than risk further damage during the busy tournament window. She did not travel with the squad and will now undergo a structured recovery programme back home. The timing is a blow for India's plans. Rodrigues has been one of the most consistent performers in India's middle order over the past year, valued both for her calm temperament in run-chases and her handy off-spin option. Her absence leaves a gap in the middle order that the team management will need to address with the squad already finalised for the continental events. Cricket returns to the Asian Games programme this year, with India fielding a full-strength squad for the tournament in Nagoya, Japan. The Asia Cup remains one of the most keenly watched events on the calendar for India's white-ball group, and losing an established middle-order option this close to the start is far from ideal. The selectors are expected to name a replacement in the coming days. This update will be revised once the BCCI confirms who steps in for Rodrigues across both tournaments.
Tanzid Hasan Becomes First Bangladeshi to Score a Test Century in Australia
Tanzid Hasan Tamim has etched his name into Bangladesh cricket history, becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century on Australian soil, with a composed 101 on Day 2 of the series-opening Test in Darwin. Playing just his second Test, the 25-year-old opener reached his century off 188 balls, striking eight fours and a six down the ground off Beau Webster along the way. He survived two dropped catches during the innings, including a let-off on 62 when Steve Smith couldn't hold on to a sharp chance at first slip off Nathan Lyon. Tanzid eventually fell for 101, holing out to Mitchell Starc at deep mid-off while attacking Lyon once more. The milestone ends a wait of more than two decades for Bangladesh in Australia — the previous best individual score by a Bangladeshi batter on Australian soil was Hannan Sarkar's 76, made at Cairns back in 2003. Tanzid also became just the second Bangladesh player to score a Test century against Australia in any conditions, after Shahriar Nafees's hundred in 2006. Tanzid's innings, alongside a fifty stand-building effort from Mominul Haque (49) and an unbeaten knock from captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, helped Bangladesh take firm control after bowling Australia out for 198 in the first innings at Marrara Stadium.
Bangladesh Set for Direct 2027 World Cup Qualification After Afghanistan's Result
Bangladesh are now set to qualify directly for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, after Afghanistan's win over Ireland in Belfast pushed the Tigers into an unassailable position in the ODI rankings. The top eight teams in the rankings as of September 30, 2026 — excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe — earn automatic qualification, and Bangladesh currently sit ninth overall with 83 rating points, comfortably clear of West Indies on 77. Although the rankings won't be finalised until the September 30 cut-off, Bangladesh cannot realistically be overtaken with fewer than seven weeks remaining, even accounting for their three scheduled ODIs against India in that window. The confirmed direct qualifiers alongside Bangladesh now read: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and Afghanistan, in addition to co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. This would mark Bangladesh's fourth consecutive direct qualification for the 50-over World Cup, having also done so for the 2015, 2019, and 2023 editions.
West Indies Face 2027 World Cup Qualifiers Again After Afghanistan Seal Direct Spot
Two-time champions West Indies will have to navigate the qualifying rounds for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup for the third consecutive edition, after Afghanistan's win over Ireland in Belfast sealed their own direct spot and closed the door on the Caribbean side. The top eight teams in the ODI rankings as of September 30, 2026 — excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe — earn automatic qualification. West Indies currently sit 10th in the rankings and cannot make up enough ground even with two ODIs against India still to play before the cut-off. Under the revamped 14-team qualification structure, West Indies will enter the 2027 Qualifier alongside Ireland — the two lowest-ranked non-host Full Members — plus teams progressing from the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 and the Qualifier Playoff. Only the Qualifier winner advances directly to the World Cup's group stage; the teams finishing second, third, and fourth instead enter a newly introduced Super Series for one further spot. West Indies missed the 2023 World Cup for the first time in the tournament's history after finishing fifth in the Super Six stage of that qualifier, a shock that also cost them a place in the subsequent Champions Trophy. The 2027 Qualifier is scheduled to begin in February.
Pakistan's National Champions Cup Kicks Off 2026-27 Domestic Season in Multan
Pakistan's 2026-27 domestic cricket season kicks off with the National Champions Cup , a seven-match List A tournament running from August 11 to 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The 50-over competition features four sides — Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues, and Pakistan Gold — playing a single round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final on August 18. All matches will be day-night fixtures with a 3pm local start. In a notable structural change, the PCB has fixed playing XIs for each team throughout the tournament, backed by a 13-player reserve pool that can only be used in case of injury or concussion, aimed at ensuring consistent team combinations. The 44-player squad and reserve pool were selected with an eye on the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup , giving national selectors a live platform to evaluate both established performers and emerging talent ahead of the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Entry to all matches is free.
Beau Webster Eyes Permanent Test Spot Alongside Cameron Green Against Bangladesh
Australia all-rounder Beau Webster is determined to nail down a permanent spot in the Test XI as Australia begin a challenging home stretch with a two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting in Darwin from August 13. The 32-year-old, who has played eight Tests since his debut last year, top-scored for Australia in the World Test Championship Final loss to South Africa at Lord's and later starred with 150 runs across two half-centuries during Australia's series sweep of West Indies. He found himself out of the XI during the Ashes against England but earned a recall for the series finale in Sydney, hitting an unbeaten 71 and taking three wickets. With Cameron Green also in the 13-player squad, Webster has ruled out any rivalry between the two, insisting both can coexist in the same XI as batting all-rounders and give captain Pat Cummins added flexibility with the ball. Australia's squad for the series includes Cummins, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Webster. The first Test runs August 13-17 in Darwin, with the second from August 22-26 in Mackay.
Devdutt Padikkal's Unbeaten 142 Strengthens His Case for India's No. 3 Test Spot
Devdutt Padikkal has thrust himself into the conversation for India's No. 3 Test spot after an outstanding unbeaten 142 in the first innings of India's warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. Batting at number three, Padikkal anchored India's innings across 164 balls, striking 18 fours as he built crucial partnerships through the middle order, including an 82-run stand with Manav Suthar. His knock allowed India to declare at 357 for 6, trailing by just six runs, and set the platform for the eventual six-wicket win over the Sri Lanka XI. The timing is significant, with the No. 3 slot up for grabs following Sai Sudharsan's injury withdrawal from the squad. Padikkal's century, combined with the pressure it puts on the selectors, has made him a serious contender to walk into the XI for the opening Test in Galle on August 15.
Shubman Gill Cleared Fit for Sri Lanka Tests After Finger Injury Scare
India captain Shubman Gill has put fitness concerns to rest ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series, returning to action in the final day of India's three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo and playing a fluent 44 off 54 balls. Gill was hit on his right ring finger during a training session in Colombo and missed the first two days of the fixture as a precaution, with KL Rahul leading the side in his absence. He returned on Day 3 and put on a brisk 105-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, striking seven boundaries before being dismissed by spinner Keshara Nuwantha. India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed the knock was purely precautionary and that Gill has been training normally throughout, with the captain fully fit and available for the series opener in Galle starting August 15.
Afghanistan Beat Ireland to Confirm 2027 ODI World Cup Qualification
Afghanistan have secured direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, sealing an unassailable 2-0 lead in their five-match series against Ireland with a tense three-wicket win in the third ODI at Stormont, Belfast. Chasing a target set up by their bowlers, Afghanistan looked comfortable early on the back of Rahmanullah Gurbaz's fluent 71, reaching 97 for 2. But Irish leg-spinner Gavin Hoey triggered a dramatic middle-order collapse, ripping through the innings with figures of 4 for 34 as Afghanistan slumped from 154 for 6 to 176 for 7. With the target still 31 runs away, Rashid Khan held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 37 to guide his side home with 31 balls to spare. Rashid also picked up 3 for 44 with the ball earlier in the day. The opening match of the series had been washed out without a ball bowled, before Afghanistan won the second ODI by 92 runs to take a 1-0 lead. This latest win makes the series scoreline 2-0 and unassailable, officially confirming their spot at the 2027 World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Afghanistan become the ninth team to secure direct qualification, joining India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Netherlands. Ireland, meanwhile, must now navigate the qualifying pathway — via the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 and Qualifier — for a chance to reach the tournament.
Sandeep Lamichhane Named Nepal's New ODI Captain Ahead of ACC Premier Cup
Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been named Nepal's new ODI captain, taking over the 50-over reins from Rohit Paudel as the team heads into the ACC Men's Premier Cup. The 26-year-old, who has picked up 154 ODI wickets across his career, was confirmed as captain by the Cricket Association of Nepal as part of a 14-member squad announcement for the tournament, which will be held in Malaysia from August 30 to September 12. Lamichhane is no stranger to the armband — he previously led Nepal's national side from December 2021, guiding them to their maiden ACC Premier Cup title in 2023, where he was also named Player of the Series. He continues to be Nepal's leading wicket-taker across formats and earlier this year became the fastest bowler to reach 150 ODI wickets by matches played. Rohit Paudel, who had been leading Nepal through their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and recent Cricket World Cup League 2 fixtures, steps aside from the ODI captaincy as the leadership baton returns to Lamichhane ahead of this qualifying tournament for the Asia Cup.
Kusal Mendis Named Inaugural President of New Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers' Association
Sri Lankan cricketers have formally launched their own players' body, with white-ball captain Kusal Mendis named as the inaugural president of the Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers' Association (SLPCA) . The association was officially launched on Saturday, backed by prominent figures in the national set-up including women's captain Chamari Athapaththu and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga . Its stated aim is to serve as an independent and collective voice for professional cricketers in Sri Lanka, covering their rights, welfare, and broader professional interests. The SLPCA is directly affiliated with the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) , the global federation representing professional cricketers. This brings Sri Lankan players into the same international player-advocacy network as bodies like the Australian Cricketers' Association and England's Professional Cricketers' Association, giving them access to global welfare programmes and support systems they have historically lacked. Sri Lanka had been among a small group of prominent boards, alongside India's BCCI and Pakistan's PCB, without formal WCA affiliation. The timing is notable, with the launch arriving amid a broader phase of administrative reform in Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka Cricket is currently undergoing changes under a government-appointed Transformation Committee focused on strengthening governance and modernising the domestic structure. Unlike previous player unions in the country, the SLPCA is led directly by current marquee players and places the women's game on equal footing. Speaking as SLPCA president, Mendis said the body looks forward to working constructively with Sri Lanka Cricket, the Transformation Committee, and other stakeholders as the game continues to grow.
Sarfaraz Khan Named as Sai Sudharsan's Replacement for Sri Lanka Test Series
Sarfaraz Khan has been named as the replacement for Sai Sudharsan in India's Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, after Sudharsan was ruled out with a toe injury. Sudharsan had been in prime form heading into the tour, having smashed back-to-back centuries for India A against Sri Lanka A last month, but a stress reaction in his right big toe forced him out before the squad even departed for Sri Lanka. Sarfaraz now walks into a strong middle-order pool alongside KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal as the selectors weigh up options for the No. 3 slot. Known for his aggressive strokeplay and hunger for big domestic scores, Sarfaraz has waited patiently for a fresh opportunity at the Test level and will look to make the most of it if handed a chance in the XI. India begin the series on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium, before moving to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the second Test from August 23.
2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier Dates Finalised: February 22 to March 23
The ICC has locked in the schedule for the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier, with the tournament set to run from February 22 to March 23, 2027 . While the dates are now finalised, the host venue is still to be confirmed. The Qualifier is the last stop on the road to the 2027 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, 2027. Under the ICC's revamped 14-team format announced in July, only the Qualifier winner earns a direct berth in the main group stage. The teams finishing second, third, and fourth advance instead to a newly introduced Super Series, competing for the one remaining main-stage spot. The 10-team Qualifier field will be made up of the two lowest-ranked Full Member nations in the ODI rankings (excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) as of September 30, 2026, along with the top four sides from the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 and four more teams emerging from a separate Qualifier Playoff. The West Indies find themselves at the centre of the qualification drama. Currently 10th in the ODI rankings, they have just two ODIs left before the September 30 cut-off, both against India. Their fate could also hinge on the upcoming Afghanistan vs Ireland series — if Ireland win big, two West Indies wins over India could be enough to sneak into the top eight and avoid the Qualifier route altogether. A repeat of their 2023 World Cup qualification heartbreak remains a real possibility.
Sai Sudharsan Ruled Out of Sri Lanka Test Series with Toe Injury
India have suffered a fresh injury setback ahead of their two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. In-form No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan has officially been ruled out with a toe injury. Sudharsan has been battling a stress reaction in his right big toe. He first picked up the issue during India A's tour of Sri Lanka last month. He had been rehabbing at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ever since. His injury was reported to be nearly healed. But the medical panel felt he wasn't sufficiently recovered to be cleared fit for the series. Sudharsan did not travel with the Indian squad to Sri Lanka. He also missed the ongoing three-day warm-up game against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. The timing stings for team management. Sudharsan walked into this tour in prime form. He smashed back-to-back centuries for India A in the same shadow series against Sri Lanka A last month. He piled up 332 runs across four innings in that outing. Those knocks had all but sealed his spot at No. 3 in the Test side. He has played seven Tests for India so far, scoring 383 runs at an average of 39 with three half-centuries. With Sudharsan out, the No. 3 spot is now up for grabs. Devdutt Padikkal has put his hand up with a fluent century in the ongoing warm-up fixture. Sarfaraz Khan and Shaik Rasheed are also in the mix as replacement options for the selectors to weigh. This adds to an already stretched India squad. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is already out with a knee issue, with Auqib Nabi Dar drafted in as cover. The two-match series gets underway on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium, before moving to the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo for the second Test from August 23. Sudharsan has been removed from India's Test squad for the tour, and this update will be revised once the BCCI names a formal replacement.
Arsenal Close to Signing Bruno Guimarães From Newcastle
Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. Multiple reports say the two clubs have agreed the framework of a move worth around £75-80 million, with a medical expected before an official announcement. Guimarães has been Newcastle's captain and has made 153 Premier League appearances since joining from Lyon. Newcastle had long resisted selling him, but their position has shifted this summer following a string of exits, including Sandro Tonali's move to Tottenham. Manager Eddie Howe left the club by mutual consent last week, and Arsenal are said to have grown more confident of landing Guimarães since his departure. The 28-year-old Brazilian played for his country at this year's World Cup, where they were eliminated by Norway in the round of 16. For Arsenal, the move would add depth and physicality to a midfield that was stretched thin last season, with injuries hitting Martin Ødegaard and Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi carrying a heavy workload. Arsenal have already brought in Christos Tzolis, Illan Meslier and Piero Hincapié this summer, while Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard have departed.
Vinícius Júnior Extends Real Madrid Contract Until 2032
Real Madrid have extended Vinícius Júnior's contract through June 2032. The club confirmed the deal on Thursday, ending months of speculation about his future. The Brazilian winger had entered the final year of his previous deal. Arsenal were reportedly monitoring the situation and stood ready to move in had talks with Madrid broken down. Reports had earlier suggested Vinícius rejected a €22 million-a-year offer before an agreement was finally reached. Vinícius joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 at the age of 18. Since then he has played 375 matches, scored 128 goals and won 14 trophies, including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. He was also named FIFA's Best Men's Player in 2024. The club's statement called him one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in its history. Vinícius reacted on Instagram, writing that eight years at the Bernabéu were "too few" and promising "six more years, and forever." The extension arrives just as Real Madrid prepare for the 2026-27 season under returning coach José Mourinho, giving the club long-term certainty over one of its most important attacking players.
Ajinkya Rahane Signs as Marquee Player for Amsterdam Flames in ETPL
Ajinkya Rahane has signed with Amsterdam Flames as the franchise's marquee player for the inaugural European T20 Premier League. The tournament is set to begin on August 26. Rahane retired from international cricket on July 30. Amsterdam Flames is co-owned by former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who reached out to Rahane soon after his retirement was announced. Rahane said he asked for a day to think it over before agreeing to join. Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India. His last international appearance came against West Indies in a two-match Test series in July 2023. He also led India in Test cricket during his career and remains one of the country's most respected former captains. Steve Waugh, Co-Founder and Chief Cricket Officer of Amsterdam Flames, praised Rahane's leadership and composure under pressure. Tim Thomas, CEO of Amsterdam Flames, called the signing a defining moment for the club. Rahane is currently working as a commentator for The Hundred in England. The ETPL is a new tournament aimed at growing cricket's presence across Europe. Rahane's arrival is being seen as a major boost for the league ahead of its first season.
Pakistan Beat West Indies by 8 Wickets to Level Test Series 1-1
Pakistan pulled off an 8-wicket win in the second Test at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, to square the two-match series 1-1 against West Indies. West Indies posted 344 and 117 in their two innings. Pakistan replied with 387 in the first innings and chased down the target with ease, finishing at 77 for 2 in the second. The result avenged Pakistan's 90-run defeat in the series opener at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, where West Indies had bowled them out for 282 and 120 after posting 311 and 181. Abdullah Shafique was named Player of the Match for a big first-innings hundred, becoming the first Pakistan batter since 1977 to score 150-plus in a Test innings on West Indian soil. The result also moves the needle on the ICC World Test Championship table — Pakistan climb above West Indies into 8th place after the win.
Subhadeep Ghosh Named India's New Fielding Coach
India have a new fielding coach. Subhadeep Ghosh takes over the role, replacing T Dilip, whose contract was not renewed after India's tour of Zimbabwe. Ghosh's first job with the senior team comes straight away. He joins the coaching staff for India's two-match Test series in Sri Lanka this August. The 57-year-old played 17 first-class matches between 1994 and 2004, turning out for Assam and Railways. He later coached the Assam Senior Men's Team and has also worked at the National Cricket Academy. His resume includes stints with India A and the women's team, plus IPL spells with Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. Ghosh joins a support staff already reshaped this year. He comes in after the exits of Dilip and Ryan ten Doeschate, and now works alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel under head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Assam Cricket Association welcomed the appointment, calling it a proud moment for the state's cricketing community and a boost for young players and coaches in the region.
Jordan Henderson Completes Chelsea Move on Two-Year Deal
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Jordan Henderson on a two-year contract. The 36-year-old joins on a free transfer after leaving Brentford by mutual consent. It's Henderson's fourth club since leaving Liverpool in 2023. He first moved to Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq, then had a short spell at Ajax, before a year at Brentford in the Premier League. Xabi Alonso has now brought him to Stamford Bridge for his experience and leadership. Henderson has won eight trophies in his career, including the Premier League and the Champions League. He has 91 caps for England and was part of the squad that finished third at this summer's World Cup. "Given the size of the club, the manager, who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn't turn down," Henderson said. Chelsea have also signed Danny Welbeck from Brighton this window, with Alonso keen to add experience to a young squad.
India Finish CWG 2026 with 39 Medals — 13 Gold, 17 Silver, 9 Bronze
India have wrapped up their campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with a tally of 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze. Boxing was India's standout discipline, delivering a best-ever haul of 10 medals including seven golds, more than any other country managed in the ring at a single edition. Para athletics also had a landmark showing, ending a 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games para athletics medal for India with a six-medal return. Neeraj Chopra added to his collection with a silver in the men's javelin throw, his second Commonwealth Games podium finish. Gulveer Singh became the first Indian man to win two individual track medals at a single Games, taking silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5000m. India's para contingent closed out with their best-ever Commonwealth Games showing, finishing with three gold, two silver and two bronze across the para disciplines.
BCCI Confirms Jasprit Bumrah Ruled Out of Sri Lanka Tests, Auqib Nabi Named Replacement
Jasprit Bumrah has officially been ruled out of India's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The BCCI confirmed he has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury he picked up during the ODI series against England. The Men's Selection Committee has named Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi as his replacement. It's a maiden call-up to the senior national team for Nabi. Nabi has been in outstanding form over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, picking up 104 wickets in that span. That includes 60 wickets in the 2025-26 season alone, where he played a key role in Jammu & Kashmir's first-ever Ranji Trophy title. He also featured for India A on their recent tour of Sri Lanka, taking six wickets across two first-class matches there. Bumrah had not bowled since India's second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, and had been undergoing fitness assessments at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru without being cleared to resume bowling.
Gulveer Singh Wins Bronze in Men's 5000m at CWG 2026, Completes Historic Track Double
Gulveer Singh won bronze in the men's 5000m final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, clocking 13:24.95 to complete a historic track double at these Games. Gulveer ran a patient, tactical race, sitting with the lead pack for most of the distance before unleashing a strong finishing kick on the final lap. He moved up from fifth to third around the final bend and held off Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi by just 0.04 seconds to seal the podium finish. Australia's Matthew Kipsang won gold in 13:23.61, with compatriot Ky Robinson taking silver in 13:24.70. The bronze came days after Gulveer won silver in the men's 10,000m in 27:49.78, making him the first Indian man to win two track medals at a single Commonwealth Games. The 5000m bronze is also India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the event. The Army runner from Uttar Pradesh has built a strong international record in distance running, with earlier medals at the Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championships, and holds India's national records in both the 5000m and 10,000m.
Narender Wins Silver in Men's 90+kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Narender won silver in the men's 90+kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, losing a hard-fought heavyweight contest to England's Damar Thomas. The two big men traded evenly through the final, with Thomas eventually using his power to overpower Narender and take the win. It was India's final boxing medal bout of the session, closing out a session that produced seven golds and two silvers for the country's boxers. The silver adds to a historic day for Indian boxing at these Games, with the team matching its best-ever haul in a single edition.
Ankush Panghal Wins Gold in Men's 80kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Ankush Panghal won gold in the men's 80kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, beating England's Dimeji Shittu after a strong fightback. Ankush had a poor opening round against the home favourite but responded well, taking control of the contest with sharper combinations and better ring craft over the next two rounds to secure the gold. The win was India's seventh boxing gold of the day and came in the penultimate Indian final of the session, adding to golds already won by Jaismine Lamboria, Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary and Sachin Siwach.
Sachin Siwach Wins Gold in Men's 60kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Sachin Siwach won gold in the men's 60kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, beating Namibia's Tryagain Morning Ndevelo 3-2 on a split decision in a thrilling contest. Sachin trailed after the opening round and remained under pressure through the second, with the bout too close to call heading into the decider. He forced a standing count on Ndevelo in the closing seconds of the final round with a big punch that swung momentum his way, and the judges rewarded his late surge with the split verdict. The win completed a remarkable comeback for Sachin and gave India its sixth boxing gold of the day, following wins from Jaismine Lamboria, Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas and Arundhati Choudhary. It set a new Commonwealth Games record for Indian boxing at a single edition.
Unnati Sharma Wins Bronze in Women's 63kg Judo at CWG 2026
Unnati Sharma won the bronze medal in the women's 63kg judo category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, defeating South Africa's Skye Knoester in the bronze-medal contest. Unnati sealed the win with a clean ippon, hooking her opponent's leg to unbalance her before driving her onto her back. The contest was over in just 1 minute and 7 seconds. She had earlier lost her semifinal to Australia's Saya Middleton, the eventual silver medallist, by ippon. Unnati made a bright start in that bout with an early yuko, but Middleton fought back to level the score before sealing the win with two waza-aris in quick succession. Unnati opened her campaign with an ippon win over Eswatini's Lamulela Magagula in the round of 16, then edged past New Zealand's Qona Christie by waza-ari in the quarter-finals. The bronze takes India's judo tally at these Games to four medals, following two golds from Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh and a silver from Yamini Mourya.
Soman Rana Wins Gold, Shubham Juyal Silver in Men's Shot Put F57 at CWG 2026
Soman Rana won gold in the men's shot put F57 final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with a best throw of 13.40m on his second attempt. Fellow Indian Shubham Juyal took silver with 13.28m, giving India a maiden one-two finish in the event. Soman opened with 13.38m before improving to his winning mark in round two, a distance none of his rivals could match for the rest of the competition. Shubham saved his best for last, climbing from an opening 13.08m through several attempts before landing his silver-medal throw of 13.28m on his final attempt. Cameroon's Cedric Idriss Lekezo Azamdzi took bronze with 12.57m. This is India's first-ever gold medal in the men's F57 shot put at the Commonwealth Games. Soman, an Indian Army havildar, lost a leg in a landmine blast in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. He found his way into para athletics during rehabilitation at Pune's Artificial Limb Centre and has since competed at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, adding silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games and bronze at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships to his resume. Shubham, who once aspired to join the Army like his father, turned to para sports after a motorcycle accident in 2022 left him with a leg amputation. Both athletes made their Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow and are supported under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
Priya Ghanghas Wins Gold in Women's 60kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Priya Ghanghas won gold in the women's 60kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She beat Canada's Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh 4-1 on a split decision in a closely fought contest. Priya conceded the opening round on a couple of judges' scorecards but stayed composed and gradually took control with sharp combinations and effective counter-attacks. The final round went 4-1 in her favour, with three judges scoring the bout 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27, and one judge scoring it for the Canadian. She had to fight through a tough draw to reach the final, coming back from a lost opening round to beat Scotland's Niamh Mitchell in the quarter-finals, before a dominant 5-0 win over England's Lucy Kings-Wheatley in the semis. The gold is India's fourth boxing gold of the day, coming after wins from Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria and Sakshi Chaudhary. It's a new record for Indian boxing at a single Commonwealth Games, surpassing the previous best of three golds.
Sakshi Chaudhary Wins Gold in Women's 51kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Sakshi Chaudhary won gold in the women's 51kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She beat England's Ruby White 5-0 by unanimous decision. Sakshi controlled the contest from the opening bell, using her superior height and reach to dictate the pace. She took the first round unanimously, then tightened her grip in the second, where three judges scored it 10-9 in her favour and one gave her a dominant 10-8. She carried that advantage into the final round, staying disciplined behind her sharp left jab to keep White under pressure throughout. This is India's third boxing gold of the day, following wins from Preeti Pawar and Jaismine Lamboria earlier in the session. It equals India's best-ever boxing performance at a single Commonwealth Games, matching the three-gold tallies from New Delhi 2010, Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Sakshi had a big year leading into these Games. She became the first Indian woman to win gold at the World Boxing Cup, beating the USA's Yoseline Perez in Astana, and also won gold at the Grand Prix in Usti nad Labem. She is a former World Junior champion and two-time World Youth champion.
Arundhati Choudhary Wins Gold in Women's 70kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Arundhati Choudhary won gold in the women's 70kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She beat England's Chantelle Reid 5-0 by unanimous decision, with four judges scoring it 30-27 and one 29-28 in her favour. Arundhati controlled the contest from the opening bell, never letting Reid settle in front of the home crowd. Her clean combinations, sharp counter-punching and disciplined defence saw her edge every round on all five scorecards, closing out a dominant three-round performance. She reached the final by beating defending champion Rosie Eccles of Wales in a close split-decision semifinal, using composed counter-punching to edge past the experienced Welsh boxer. The gold caps off a strong Commonwealth Games boxing campaign for India on the day, with Arundhati becoming the fifth Indian boxer to win gold at these Games.
Lovlina Borgohain Wins Silver in Women's 75kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Lovlina Borgohain won silver in the women's 75kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She lost 4-1 on a split decision to Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree in a tightly fought contest. Lovlina had a bye straight into the semifinals due to the small five-boxer draw in her category, then beat Tuvalu's Tarona Taafaki 5-0 to reach the final. In the gold medal bout, she traded evenly with Greentree in a tactical fight, landing a few sharp shots of her own, but the Australian's forward pressure and more effective scoring punches edged the rounds in her favour. The silver is Lovlina's first Commonwealth Games medal. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist and former world champion has now won medals at every major multi-sport event she's eligible for, including the Olympics and Asian Games.
Jadumani Singh Wins Silver in Men's 55kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Jadumani Singh won silver in the men's 55kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He lost to Australia's Jye Dixon by unanimous decision after a close, hard-fought contest. Jadumani edged the opening round 3-2 with a late flurry of punches, answering Dixon's early success with sharp counters. Dixon then took full control in the second round, sweeping all five judges 5-0 with well-timed combinations that swung the fight in his favour. Jadumani reached the final on a strong unbeaten run. He opened his campaign with a 5-0 win over Scotland's Aaron Cullen, followed it with another 5-0 win over Pakistan's Sumama Rehman, and then beat Namibia's Haoseb Philip Pumulo by unanimous decision in the semifinal to book his place in the gold medal bout. The silver is Jadumani's first Commonwealth Games medal. He had previously won a silver and a bronze at the 2025 World Boxing Cup.
Preeti Pawar Wins Gold in Women's 54kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Preeti Pawar won gold in the women's 54kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She beat Canada's Scarlett Delgado 5-0 by unanimous decision, sweeping all three rounds. Pawar made a composed start even as Delgado landed a few early punches. She settled into her rhythm quickly, using her left hook to control the opening round, which the judges gave her 5-0. She kept up the pressure in the second round with sharp combinations that forced a standing count on Delgado, and closed out the final round on top with clean punches to seal the win. This is India's first boxing gold of the day at these Games, coming just before Jaismine Lamboria's gold in the 57kg final. Pawar had already won titles at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships and the 2025 World Boxing Cup Final earlier this year. She reached the final unbeaten, having stopped Zambia's Catherine Mwape in the semifinal.
Jaismine Lamboria Wins Gold in Women's 57kg Boxing at CWG 2026
Jaismine Lamboria won gold in the women's 57kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She beat reigning champion Michaela Walsh of Northern Ireland 5-0 on a unanimous decision. Lamboria stayed patient through a cautious opening round, edging it 3-2 on a split decision. She then took control in the closing rounds, landing the cleaner and more precise punches as Walsh struggled to change the momentum. The two boxers embraced in the ring after the result. This is India's second boxing gold of the day, coming right after Preeti Pawar's win in the women's 54kg final. It's also India's second straight boxing gold at these Games. Lamboria is the reigning world champion and current World No. 1 in the 57kg category. She had won bronze in this event at the 2022 Birmingham Games, so this gold marks a big step up. She reached the final with a dominant RSC win over Lesotho's Rapelang Maselela in the semifinal.
Yash Vir Singh Wins Bronze in Men's Javelin Throw at CWG 2026
Yash Vir Singh won bronze in the men's javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. The medal marks his first appearance on a Commonwealth Games podium. Singh competed alongside Neeraj Chopra in the same final, with Chopra taking silver. Their podium finishes gave India a rare 1-2 result in the men's javelin at these Games, a first for the country in this event at the Commonwealth level. Singh has been building his profile on the domestic and international circuit over recent seasons. A bronze at a Commonwealth Games final is his biggest result yet, and it puts him firmly on the radar alongside India's established javelin talent. The result also adds to India's growing athletics medal count at CWG 2026 in Glasgow.
Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver in Men's Javelin Throw at CWG 2026
Neeraj Chopra won silver in the men's javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. The result adds another major medal to his growing collection on the global stage. Chopra has been the dominant force in Indian javelin for years. He holds the Olympic gold from Tokyo 2020, the Olympic silver from Paris 2024, and the World Championship gold from 2025. A Commonwealth Games podium finish extends that run of consistency across every major event he competes in. The men's javelin throw has become one of India's most reliable medal events at international meets, largely due to Chopra's presence. His silver in Glasgow keeps that streak alive and adds to India's athletics tally at these Games. Fellow Indian thrower Yash Vir Singh also medalled in the same event, taking bronze, giving India a strong 1-2 finish in the men's javelin at CWG 2026.
Stephen Fleming Appointed England's Test Head Coach
England have confirmed Stephen Fleming as their new Test head coach. The former New Zealand captain takes over a role that's been vacant since Brendon McCullum's exit from the red-ball job last month. Fleming replaces McCullum, who was removed as Test coach after a rough patch of results. That run included a 4-1 Ashes loss and a home series defeat to New Zealand. McCullum stays on as England's white-ball coach, so this is a straight swap in the Test dugout only. Fleming brings a long coaching résumé to the role. He spent close to two decades in charge of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, winning five titles and turning the franchise into the most successful team in the competition's history. That partnership ended earlier this month after CSK missed the playoffs three seasons running. As a player, Fleming captained New Zealand in 80 Tests, more than anyone else in the country's history. He retired in 2008 with over 7,000 Test runs to his name. His switch into coaching started at CSK in 2009 and has now led him to one of the biggest jobs in international cricket. Fleming inherits an England side coming off back-to-back tough results in the format. The ECB had been weighing several names for the position, including former players Andy Flower and Justin Langer, before settling on the New Zealander. England's next Test assignment is the Ashes next summer, giving Fleming time to work with the squad before facing his toughest test yet in the new role.
Harsh Singh Wins Gold in Men's 60kg Judo at CWG 2026
Harsh Singh won the gold medal in the men's 60kg judo category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, marking his first Commonwealth Games title. Harsh had earlier reached the final with a dominant semifinal performance against Australia's Pedro Carlos Antun Neto, winning by Waza-Ari. His gold added to a memorable day for Indian judo at Glasgow 2026, with Asmita Dey also winning gold in the women's 48kg category.
Asmita Dey Wins Gold in Women's 48kg Judo at CWG 2026
Asmita Dey won the gold medal in the women's 48kg judo category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, defeating Heidi Quach in the final. The final was tightly contested, tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time before Asmita edged ahead in Golden Score to seal the win 2-1. Asmita had earlier booked her spot in the final with a thrilling Golden Score victory over Scotland's Sumer Shaw in the semifinal, winning 1-0 (Yuko) in a contest that lasted 6 minutes and 27 seconds.
Seema Kaliramna Wins Bronze in Women's Discus Throw at CWG 2026
India's Seema Kaliramna won the bronze medal in the women's discus throw event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, marking her maiden Commonwealth Games medal. The result added to a strong day for India in the field events, coming on a day that also saw Lovepreet Singh clinch a weightlifting silver. Kaliramna's bronze contributed to India's growing medal tally in athletics at the Glasgow Games. Her achievement was recognised alongside Lovepreet Singh's, with President Droupadi Murmu congratulating both athletes on their performances at the Games.
Lovepreet Singh Wins Silver in Men's +110kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
India's Lovepreet Singh won the silver medal in the men's +110kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, narrowly missing out on gold by just 1kg. Lovepreet lifted a combined total of 388kg (176kg snatch + 212kg clean and jerk) . He set a new Games record in the snatch with 176kg, taking a commanding lead into the clean and jerk. However, New Zealand's David Liti produced a stunning final lift of 223kg in the clean and jerk to seal gold with a Games record total of 389kg, edging out Lovepreet by a single kilogram. This is Lovepreet's second Commonwealth Games medal, having won bronze in the 109kg category at Birmingham 2022. The 28-year-old from Amritsar, Punjab, took up weightlifting at age 13 and has progressed through India's junior and senior ranks via the SAI National Camp in Patiala. With this result, Indian weightlifters concluded the Glasgow 2026 Games campaign with eight medals overall — one gold (Mirabai Chanu), six silver, and one bronze.
Commonwealth Games 2026: Australia Tops Medal Table, India Cracks Top 10
Australia sit on top of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medal table with 51 gold, 24 silver and 35 bronze medals. That's 110 medals in total, well clear of the chasing pack. A dominant swimming program has driven most of Australia's gold-medal haul so far. Pos Team G S B Total 1 Australia 51 24 35 110 2 England 15 30 20 65 3 Canada 15 13 17 45 4 Scotland 9 7 9 25 5 Nigeria 8 5 3 16 6 South Africa 6 9 8 23 7 Malaysia 6 3 3 12 8 New Zealand 5 9 7 21 9 Jamaica 4 2 2 8 10 India 3 10 4 17 India have moved into 10th place with 17 medals: three gold, 10 silver and four bronze. Weightlifting and combat sports have carried India's tally so far. Mirabai Chanu won gold in weightlifting, completing a hat-trick of Commonwealth titles. Rishikanta Singh added a silver in the men's 60kg category with a new Games record in snatch. India's bigger tests are still ahead. Athletics and swimming, historically tougher medal sources for the country at these Games, have their biggest days coming up before competition closes on August 2.
Harjinder Kaur Wins Silver With Career-Best Lift in Women's 69kg at CWG 2026
Harjinder Kaur won silver in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, lifting a career-best total of 227kg (101kg snatch, 126kg clean and jerk). She sealed second place with a successful 126kg lift on her final clean and jerk attempt. Canada's Charlotte Simoneau took gold with a total of 235kg, while Australia's Nya Hayman claimed bronze with 218kg. Harjinder also rewrote the Commonwealth Games snatch record twice during the competition en route to the podium. This is her second consecutive Commonwealth Games medal, having won bronze in the 71kg category at Birmingham 2022. Born in Mehas village near Nabha in Punjab, Harjinder grew up in a modest, landless farming family. The result took India's weightlifting medal count at these Games to seven — one gold, five silver and one bronze.
Gulveer Singh Scripts History With India's First-Ever Men's 10,000m CWG Silver
Gulveer Singh won silver in the men's 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian in Commonwealth Games history to reach the podium in the event. He clocked 27:49.78, unleashing a powerful finishing sprint on the final lap in challenging rainy conditions to seal second place. Australia's Ky Robinson won gold, while Isle of Man's David Mullarkey took bronze. Traditional distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Uganda missed out on the medals entirely. A serving Naib Subedar in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army, Gulveer hails from Sirsa village in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, and started his running journey on village roads and farmland trails. He made his international breakthrough with a 5000m bronze at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, followed by a 10,000m bronze at the 2022 Asian Games, before winning double gold in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi. The medal was India's second of Day 6 in Glasgow, arriving shortly after Harjinder Kaur's silver in weightlifting, taking India's overall tally to 12 medals — two gold, seven silver and three bronze.
Murali Sreeshankar Wins Second Straight CWG Long Jump Silver
Murali Sreeshankar won silver in the men's long jump final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. His best effort of 8.09m came on his second attempt. Jamaica's Tajay Gayle took gold with 8.15m, while Scotland's Stephen Mackenzie claimed bronze with 8.08m. Sreeshankar stayed in contention for gold right up to his final attempt, managing 7.97m on his sixth jump, six centimetres short of Gayle's winning mark. Fellow Indian Lokesh Sathyanathan finished fifth with a jump of 7.97m. This is Sreeshankar's second consecutive Commonwealth Games long jump silver. He had also won silver at Birmingham 2022 with a best jump of 8.08m. The result makes him the first Indian men's long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sreeshankar for the achievement, calling his performance outstanding.
Dilip Gavit Wins Gold, Basil Takes Silver in Historic India 1-2 at CWG 2026
Dilip Mahadu Gavit won gold in the men's T47 100m para-athletics final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He clocked 10.71 seconds, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Mohammed Basil Morssinganakth finished right behind him in 10.83 seconds to take silver. Together they gave India a historic one-two finish in the event. Gavit surged ahead over the final 30 metres to seal the win. Basil held off England's Kevin Santos, who took bronze in 10.85 seconds. Basil was born without his right arm and has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2026. Interestingly, he had actually beaten Gavit at the Commonwealth Games selection trials, making their joint podium finish in Glasgow even sweeter. This is India's first men's para-athletics gold at these Games. It also marked the second multiple-medal day for India in para-athletics at CWG 2026, after Sharmila Dhankhar's gold and Shilpa K Shyla's bronze in the women's shot put F57. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated both athletes for their performances, praising Gavit's speed and Basil's determination.
ICC Confirms 12 Venues for Men's Cricket World Cup 2027
The ICC has officially confirmed the 12 venues that will host the Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, set to be jointly staged by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October-November 2027. This will be the tournament's first return to Africa since 2003. South Africa (8 venues, hosting the bulk of matches): Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), SuperSport Park (Centurion/Pretoria), Newlands (Cape Town), Kingsmead (Durban), St George's Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Buffalo Park (East London), and Boland Park (Paarl). Zimbabwe: Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Harare Sports Club (Harare). Namibia (making its World Cup hosting debut): Namibia Cricket Ground and United Ground, both in Windhoek. The tournament will feature 54 matches in a 14-team format, with the two groups of seven advancing top three teams each to a Super Six stage. South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically as Full Members, while Namibia must go through the ICC qualification pathway as an Associate Member. Fans can head to ICC's official channels for more details and to register interest ahead of the tournament.
Ajinkya Rahane Announces Retirement From International Cricket
Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket. He confirmed the decision through an emotional video message on social media, captioned "Cap 278 signing off." Rahane made his India debut in 2011 and went on to play 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is . He scored 5,077 runs in Tests at an average of 38.46, with a highest score of 188. In ODIs, he made 2,962 runs at 35.26, and in T20Is he added 375 runs at 20.83. His biggest moment as a leader came in 2020-21 . He stepped in as stand-in captain for an injury-hit India side touring Australia and led them to a stunning series win, one of the most celebrated results in Indian cricket history. Rahane last turned out for India during the 2023 away Test series in the West Indies. He had continued to hold onto hopes of an international comeback as recently as this year's IPL, but said the "timing feels right" to step away now. In his message, Rahane thanked fans for their support through the highs and lows of his career. He said cricket had taught him that defeat is unavoidable, but that he always felt undefeated in the hearts of his supporters.
Harjinder Kaur Bags Silver in Women's 69kg Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026
Harjinder Kaur won the silver medal in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She lifted a combined total of 227kg at the SEC Armadillo. Her total included 101kg in the snatch and a career-best 126kg in the clean and jerk. Canada's Charlotte Simoneau took gold with a Games record total of 240kg. Australia's Nya Phebe Hayman won bronze with 218kg. Harjinder sat second after the snatch round behind Simoneau. She then set a Games record of 123kg on her second clean and jerk attempt before topping it with 126kg on her third to seal the podium finish. This is Harjinder's second straight Commonwealth Games medal. She had won bronze in the women's 71kg category at Birmingham 2022 with a total of 212kg. The improvement to silver this time marks a big step up in her career. The 29-year-old lifter is from Patiala, Punjab. Her result kept alive India's dominant run in weightlifting at these Games. Mirabai Chanu had opened India's medal count in the sport with gold in the women's 48kg. Gyaneshwari Yadav, Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja and Valluri Ajaya Babu had all added silver medals of their own, while Bindyarani Devi took bronze. Harjinder's silver took India's weightlifting tally at Glasgow 2026 to seven medals from eight events contested so far.
Gulveer Singh Wins India's First-Ever Commonwealth Games Medal in Men's 10,000m
Gulveer Singh claimed silver in the men's 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He clocked 27:49.78 at Scotstoun Stadium. Australia's Ky Robinson took gold in 27:48.93. The Isle of Man's David Mullarkey grabbed bronze in 27:50.28. No Indian athlete had ever medalled in this event at the Commonwealth Games before. Gulveer's silver ended that wait. It also marked the first time since 1986 that no African runner finished in the top three of the men's 10,000m at these Games. The race was run in heavy rain over 25 laps. Gulveer stuck close to the lead pack early on. He passed the 3000m mark in 8:39.2. He briefly slipped to fifth around the 6000m mark. He then worked his way back to third before the bell for the final lap. A strong finishing sprint carried him past several rivals to the silver medal position. Gulveer is the reigning Asian champion and already holds India's national record in the 10,000m at 27:00.22. He won bronze in the event at the 2023 Asian Games. He has broken the Indian record multiple times since 2024 and recently entered the top 10 of the World Athletics rankings for the event. This was India's second athletics medal of the Glasgow Games. Sarvesh Kushare had won silver in the men's high jump a day earlier. Gulveer is also set to compete in the 5000m later in the Games.
Zinedine Zidane Named France Head Coach on Four-Year Deal
Zinedine Zidane has officially been named head coach of the France national football team. The French Football Federation confirmed his appointment on Tuesday at their Paris headquarters. He signs a four-year contract that runs through the 2030 World Cup. Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps , who steps down after 14 years in charge. Deschamps led France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2022 final, and the 2026 semi-final. His tenure ended after a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup. Zidane takes over the role officially on 1 August. He said he turned down several club offers over the past four to five years while waiting for this job. He also revealed he had rejected interest from other national teams, holding out only for France. His first match in charge comes away to Turkey in the Nations League on 25 September 2026. His home debut follows against Italy on 2 October, exactly 20 years after his infamous red card in the 2006 World Cup final. Zidane's playing career with France included the 1998 World Cup title and the Euro 2000 crown, with 31 goals in 108 appearances. As a coach, Zidane won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018, along with two LaLiga titles. He has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Bindyarani Devi Wins Bronze in Women's 58kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
Bindyarani Devi won bronze in the women's 58kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She added to India's strong medal haul in the sport at these Games. The result marked another podium finish for India in weightlifting, following medals from Mirabai Chanu, Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Gyaneshwari Yadav, and Valluri Ajaya Babu. India now has one gold, four silver, and two bronze medals in the discipline at Glasgow 2026. Bindyarani has been a consistent performer for India on the international weightlifting circuit, and her bronze in Glasgow adds to a career built on steady progress at major events. The medal keeps India's weightlifting contingent among the standout performers of these Commonwealth Games, continuing the country's tradition of strength in the sport.
Sharmila Dhankar Wins Gold in Women's Shot Put F57 at CWG 2026
Sharmila Dhankar won gold in the women's shot put F57 final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. The 40-year-old Haryana para-athlete produced a season-best throw of 9.81m to top the podium. Ghana's Zinabu Issah took silver with 8.65m. Fellow Indian Shilpa K Shyla was later elevated to bronze after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following an official review, giving India a double podium finish in the event. Dhankar took up para-athletics just six years ago and has since become one of India's most consistent performers in the discipline. Her gold in Glasgow is one of the standout results of India's campaign at these Games. The win continues India's strong showing in weightlifting and para-athletics at CWG 2026, with medals now coming from across multiple disciplines.
Sarvesh Kushare Wins Silver in Men's High Jump at CWG 2026
Sarvesh Kushare won silver in the men's high jump final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He celebrated with the Indian flag after securing a podium finish in a competitive field. The result adds to India's growing medal tally in athletics at these Games. Kushare has been steadily building his international profile in the high jump over recent seasons, and a Commonwealth Games silver marks one of his biggest results yet. India's medal haul in Glasgow has been led by strong showings across weightlifting and para-athletics, and Kushare's silver extends that success into track and field. He becomes one of the standout Indian performers in athletics at CWG 2026.
Shilpa K Shyla Wins Bronze in Women's Shot Put F57 at CWG 2026
Shilpa K Shyla won bronze in the women's shot put F57 final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She had originally finished fourth with a personal-best throw of 7.26m. Shilpa was elevated to bronze after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following an official review. The result gave India its first double podium finish of these Games in a single event. Fellow Indian Sharmila Dhankar took gold in the same event with a season-best throw of 9.81m. Ghana's Zinabu Issah claimed silver with 8.65m. This was Shilpa's first Commonwealth Games medal. The Karnataka-based para-athlete lost her leg at age four and trains at SAI Bengaluru. She said the achievement was hard to put into words and thanked her coaches and support staff for helping her reach the podium. The bronze took India's overall medal tally at the Glasgow Games to 10.
Valluri Ajaya Babu Wins Silver in Men's 79kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
Valluri Ajaya Babu won silver in the men's 79kg weightlifting final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. The 22-year-old lifted a total of 330kg, made up of a 149kg snatch and 181kg clean and jerk. He missed out on gold by just 1kg. Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat took the top spot with a 331kg total, including a Games-record 184kg clean and jerk. Scotland's Chris Murray claimed bronze with 325kg. Ajaya set his own Commonwealth Games record in the snatch with his 149kg lift, which put him in the lead heading into the clean and jerk. Hidayat then produced a clutch final attempt to snatch gold away in the closing stages. The lifter hails from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh. His father won bronze in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and Ajaya has now gone one better with silver in Glasgow. He arrived at these Games as the reigning champion from the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, where he lifted 335kg to qualify. The result was India's sixth weightlifting medal of the Glasgow Games, following golds and silvers from Mirabai Chanu, Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, and Gyaneshwari Yadav.
India Name Squad for Two-Match Test Series in Sri Lanka
India have named their squad for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, starting August 15. Shubman Gill continues as captain, with KL Rahul as his deputy. The squad blends experience with a few fresh faces. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal add depth at the top of the order, while Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel give India two wicketkeeping options. Sai Sudharsan is also in the squad, subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Ravindra Jadeja , Kuldeep Yadav and uncapped left-arm spinner Manav Suthar lead the spin options on pitches expected to turn. Jasprit Bumrah is included but also carries a fitness tag, with Mohd. Siraj , Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar rounding out the pace attack. Saransh Jain completes the squad. It marks India's first Test tour of Sri Lanka since 2017. The opening Test is at the Galle International Stadium, followed by the second Test at the SSC in Colombo, with both matches forming part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Full squad: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain. *Subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Justin Greaves Bowls Five Straight Wicket-Maidens, a First in Test History
Justin Greaves produced a spell for the ages on day three of the first Test between West Indies and Pakistan in Trinidad. The all-rounder sent down five consecutive maiden overs, taking a wicket in each one. No bowler had managed that in Test cricket before, going by records that are freely available. Greaves split the feat either side of lunch. He struck twice before the break, then came back after the interval and immediately removed Mohammad Abbas to complete the set. It also handed him his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, with final figures of 5 for 27 from 11 overs. The effort beats the previous best of four consecutive wicket-maidens, held by England's Stuart Broad since a Test against South Africa in Johannesburg back in January 2016. Greaves credited a simple game plan for the breakthrough. Captain Roston Chase had told him to stay disciplined with his lines and lengths and let the wickets come. That's exactly how it played out, as Pakistan lost 6 wickets for just 38 runs during the collapse. Pakistan had looked well placed before the slide, with Shan Masood compiling his seventh Test century. But once Greaves found his rhythm, the innings fell away quickly, and Pakistan were bowled out for 282 in reply to West Indies' first-innings 311, leaving the hosts a slim lead heading into their second innings.
Jhandu Kumar Wins India's First Medal at CWG 2026 with Para Powerlifting Bronze
Jhandu Kumar won India's first medal of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, claiming bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event at the SEC Armadillo. He produced a best lift of 190kg on his second attempt to finish with 130.9 points, edging out Uganda's Dennis Mbaziira and Australia's Ben Wright. Kumar began with a successful 181kg lift before improving to 190kg. He then attempted 196kg in his final lift, a weight that would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record set at Birmingham 2022, but was unable to complete it and finished third overall. The 28-year-old comes from Nalanda district in Bihar and hails from a humble background as the son of a vegetable vendor. He once sold vegetables and worked as an auto-rickshaw driver, even selling his own vehicle in 2023 to fund a trip to the national championships. He started his sporting career in athletics before switching to para powerlifting. The bronze marked India's first-ever Commonwealth Games podium finish in para powerlifting. Kumar was later felicitated by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his achievement.
Gyaneshwari Yadav Wins Silver in Women's 53kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
Gyaneshwari Yadav continued India's strong weightlifting run at the Commonwealth Games 2026, winning silver in the women's 53kg category in Glasgow. She lifted a personal-best total of 199kg, made up of 88kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk. The 23-year-old from Bhondiya village in Chhattisgarh pushed Nigeria's Didih Onome Omolola all the way in a closely fought final. Yadav even set a new Commonwealth Games clean and jerk record with a 107kg lift, only for Didih to respond immediately. Didih eventually claimed gold with a 206kg total, rewriting both the Commonwealth and Games records. Canada's Rebeka Groulx took bronze with 178kg. Yadav became the third Indian weightlifter to medal in Glasgow, following Mirabai Chanu's gold and Raja Muthupandi's silver. She trains at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala and has represented India at the Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, and World Weightlifting Championships. The result marked India's fourth weightlifting medal and fifth overall at these Games, extending the country's strong tradition in the sport at the Commonwealth level.
Raja Muthupandi Wins Silver in Men's 65kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
Raja Muthupandi added another weightlifting medal for India at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, winning silver in the men's 65kg category. He competed at the SEC Armadillo, the venue that also saw Mirabai Chanu complete her hat-trick of CWG golds and Rishikanta Singh take silver in the men's 60kg. Muthupandi's silver made it three weightlifting medals for India on a single day of competition. The result reflects the depth of India's lifting squad heading into these Games, coming from a contingent that features six women and five men. India has a strong recent history in Commonwealth Games weightlifting, having topped the medal table at both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Muthupandi's podium finish keeps that tradition alive as the competition continues in Glasgow, with more weight categories still to come across the Games. For Muthupandi, the silver marks a big result on the international stage and adds to India's growing medal tally at CWG 2026.
Rishikanta Singh Wins Silver in Men's 60kg Weightlifting at CWG 2026
Rishikanta Singh added to India's opening-day weightlifting haul at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, winning silver in the men's 60kg category. He competed at the SEC Armadillo, the same venue where Mirabai Chanu completed her hat-trick of CWG golds on the same day. Singh's silver came alongside another Indian medal in the discipline, with Raja Muthupandi taking silver in the men's 65kg event. Together, the results gave India three weightlifting medals on a single day of competition, underlining the depth of the country's lifting contingent at these Games. India has traditionally been strong in Commonwealth Games weightlifting, topping the medal standings at both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Singh's performance continues that trend heading into Glasgow 2026, with more weight categories still to be contested across the Games. For Singh, the medal marks a significant result on the Commonwealth Games stage, adding to India's growing tally in Glasgow. The Indian weightlifting team, comprising six women and five men, will look to build on this strong start as competition continues through the week.
Mirabai Chanu Completes Hat-Trick of CWG Golds in Glasgow
Mirabai Chanu delivered India's standout moment at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, winning gold in the women's 48kg weightlifting category. She lifted a total of 190kg, an 85kg snatch and a 105kg clean and jerk, breaking Games records in both lifts and the overall total. It was her third straight CWG gold, after Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Her CWG story began with silver at Glasgow 2014, the same city where she completed the hat-trick. Nigeria's Ruth Asuquo Nyong took silver with 168kg. Malaysia's Irene Jane Henry claimed bronze with 167kg. Chanu finished 22kg clear of the field. Mirabai endured a rare shaky start, failing her opening 82kg snatch before recovering to clear it on her second try. She then produced a flawless 85kg lift on her final attempt to set the new Games snatch record. In the clean and jerk, she missed her opening 105kg attempt but converted it on her second try to seal the gold. The win capped a dominant run for India in weightlifting at the SEC Armadillo and continued Chanu's remarkable Commonwealth Games legacy since her first appearance in 2014.
India Beat Zimbabwe by 35 Runs in 3rd T20I to Complete 3-0 Series Whitewash
India completed a clean sweep of the T20I series in Zimbabwe, beating the hosts by 35 runs in the 3rd T20I at the Harare Sports Club. The result gives India a 3-0 series win. India batted first and posted 192 for 5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi led the innings with 81 off 49 balls, striking 8 fours and 4 sixes. Rinku Singh played a quick cameo of 25 off 14, and Ishan Kishan added 29. Brad Evans was the pick of Zimbabwe's bowlers with 2 for 41. Zimbabwe's chase never got going. Mayank Yadav struck twice in the powerplay, and Yash Thakur removed Dion Myers and Sikandar Raza off successive balls to leave Zimbabwe reeling. Ryan Burl fought hard for a fifty, finishing unbeaten on 54 off 43 balls, but the required rate had already slipped away. Mayank Yadav finished with 3 for 29, and Zimbabwe fell short at 157 for 7. The win completes a dominant tour for India, who won all three matches of the series. It's Shreyas Iyer 's first series win as India's full-time T20I captain, following winless tours of Ireland and England earlier this year.
Abhishek Sharma Sets Indian Record for Best Bowling Figures by an Opening Batter in T20Is
Abhishek Sharma set a new Indian record in the 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. The left-arm part-timer returned figures of 3 for 17 from his overs. That's now the best bowling figures by an Indian opening batter in T20I history. Abhishek doesn't bowl regularly for India. He came on as a change option in Zimbabwe's chase and made an instant impact. He removed Wessly Madhevere, Newman Nyamhuri and Richard Ngarava, breaking a middle-order stand and cleaning up the tail in the same spell. His bowling has taken a back seat to his batting so far in his young international career. He's better known as India's aggressive opener at the top of the order, with two T20I centuries already to his name. This spell adds a new string to his game, and gives India's think tank another bowling option to call on in tight matches. The all-round effort helped bowl Zimbabwe out for 129, as India completed a 90-run win to seal the three-match series 2-0 with a game to spare.
India Back at No. 1 in ICC Men's T20I Rankings After Sealing Zimbabwe Series
India have returned to the top of the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings after sealing an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match series against Zimbabwe. The 90-run win in the 2nd T20I at the Harare Sports Club was enough to push India back above England, who had held the No. 1 spot since July 11. India and England are locked on an identical rating of 268, but India's higher points tally, built over a larger sample of matches, edges them back to top spot. India had previously lost the No. 1 ranking after a 4-0 series defeat in England and a 2-0 series loss in Ireland earlier this year. Below England, Australia (260) sit third, followed by New Zealand (247) and South Africa (244). Pakistan (240) and West Indies (234) round out the top seven, with Bangladesh , Sri Lanka and Afghanistan completing the top ten. India will look to complete a series whitewash in the dead-rubber 3rd T20I, with the rankings picture set to be reassessed after the next full series involving the top sides. ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings - Top 10 Rank Team Rating Points Matches 1 India 268 16088 60 2 England 268 10186 38 3 Australia 260 9868 38 4 New Zealand 247 12348 50 5 South Africa 244 11717 48 6 Pakistan 240 13679 57 7 West Indies 234 13079 56 8 Bangladesh 224 11860 53 9 Sri Lanka 221 9703 44 10 Afghanistan 220 7935 36
India Beat Zimbabwe by 90 Runs to Win T20I Series 2-0, Kishan and Varma Star With the Bat
India wrapped up the three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe with a game to spare, beating the hosts by 90 runs in the 2nd T20I at the Harare Sports Club. The win gives India a 2-0 series lead. Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field. India made full use of the batting-first option. Ishan Kishan led the charge with 81 off 44 balls. Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten on 60 off just 29 balls. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also chipped in with a quickfire 20 off 9 at the top. India finished on 219 for 5 in their 20 overs. Zimbabwe never got close to the target. Brian Bennett top-scored with 32, and Tadiwanashe Marumani made 24, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Yash Thakur picked up 2 wickets on debut. Prince Yadav also took 2 before a hamstring issue forced him off the field. Abhishek Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3 wickets from his part-time off-spin. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 129 in 17.5 overs. Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his 81. The win also hands Shreyas Iyer his first T20I series win as captain, after a difficult run in the format on India's earlier tours of Ireland and England this year. The two sides meet again in the dead-rubber 3rd T20I at the same venue on July 26, before India's white-ball season moves on to their next assignment.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Handed Direct Entry to Asian Games Cricket Knockouts
The draw for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games was announced on Thursday, and India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have all been handed direct entry into the men's knockout stage as the top four seeds. The men's competition has 10 teams. The remaining six — Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman — will play a preliminary round for the four spots left in the quarter-finals. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal make up Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman form Group B. The top two from each group advance to face the seeded sides. The draw also keeps India and Pakistan apart, meaning the two can only meet if both reach the final. The men's event runs from September 24 to October 1 in Nagoya. The women's tournament, running September 17 to 22 , starts straight from the quarter-finals with eight teams. The opening fixtures are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, and Pakistan vs Thailand . India enter both events as defending champions after sweeping gold in both the men's and women's competitions at Hangzhou 2023.
Cricket Australia Boss Open to Playing an Ashes Test in India
Cricket Australia's chief executive Todd Greenberg says the board is open to hosting an Ashes Test in India. He made the comments on the BBC's Stumped podcast. Greenberg said CA's ties with both the ECB and the BCCI are strong. He added that India offers a chance to put "more content into certain areas" of the calendar. The Ashes has been played only in England or Australia since 1882. Moving even one Test to India would break that tradition. Any such move would still need sign-off from CA, the ECB, and cooperation from the BCCI. Greenberg was clear it isn't a current plan. He called it something CA "would certainly be open to consideration" on. The comments come as CA looks to grow its footprint in India. The Big Bash League will stage a match between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers in Chennai this December, its first-ever game outside Australia. The next Ashes series is already set for the 2027 English summer, running from June 18 to August 2.
2027 Cricket Calendar: BGT, IPL, WTC Final, Asia Cup, Ashes and World Cup All Set
2027 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years cricket has ever had. Every major format and tournament lines up back to back, starting in January and running all the way through November. The year opens with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy . Australia tour India for a five-Test series running from January 21 to March 3 . It's a rematch after Australia's win in the previous cycle, and it sets the tone for a packed 12 months. Right after that comes IPL 2027 , now set to run from March 10 to May 15 . BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the earlier window, moved up to dodge peak summer heat and pre-monsoon rain. The match count stays at 74. June brings a rare clash of two marquee events on the same day. The World Test Championship Final is set for June 9 to 13 . As reported earlier, the ICC has confirmed The Oval in London as the venue, the same ground that hosted the 2023 final. Australia currently top the WTC 2025-27 points table, with South Africa and New Zealand close behind. The very same week, two more tournaments get underway. The Asia Cup 2027 runs from June 18 to July 4 , and The Ashes also starts on June 18 , continuing all the way to August 2 . That gives fans a genuine test-your-loyalty stretch, with Test cricket, continental T20 cricket, and England-Australia rivalry all competing for attention at the same time. The year closes with the biggest prize of all. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 runs from October 4 to November 21 . This edition moves to a new three-stage format, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with 14 teams involved. Six major events, one calendar year. From five-day Tests to the shortest format, 2027 promises non-stop cricket for fans to follow from January right through to the World Cup final in November.
ICC Confirms The Oval as Venue for 2027 World Test Championship Final
The ICC has confirmed The Oval in London as the venue for the 2027 World Test Championship Final. The match is scheduled for June 9 to June 13, 2027 . This will be the second time The Oval hosts the WTC Final. It previously staged the 2023 decider, where Australia beat India by 209 runs to win their maiden Test mace. The venue was picked by the England and Wales Cricket Board, which was awarded hosting rights for the 2027, 2029, and 2031 finals last year. All three WTC finals so far have also been played in England, at Southampton in 2021 and Lord's in 2025. The 2027 final carries extra significance too. It falls in the year cricket marks 150 years of Test cricket. ICC General Manager of Events and Operations Gaurav Saxena said the occasion would add weight to what is already one of the sport's biggest fixtures. The race to reach the final is still wide open. Australia currently lead the WTC 2025-27 points table with an 87.50 percentage after winning 7 of their 8 Tests. South Africa , the defending champions, sit second, with New Zealand close behind in third. Several key series remain before the picture clears, including West Indies vs Pakistan starting July 25, Australia vs Bangladesh in August, and India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka starting August 15.
Mayank Yadav Becomes Third Indian to Take a Wicket on the First Ball of a T20I
Mayank Yadav made an instant impact in India's series opener against Zimbabwe in Harare. Handed the new ball, he struck with the very first delivery of the match, having Brian Bennett caught behind by Ishan Kishan. The wicket makes him only the third Indian bowler to take a wicket on the first ball of a men's T20I. He joins Ajit Agarkar and Arshdeep Singh on that short list. Mayank went on to finish with figures of 2 for 18 from his 4 overs, consistently troubling the Zimbabwe top order with pace touching 149 kmph. His second wicket, Dion Myers, came in similar fashion, caught in the deep off a mistimed pull. The 24-year-old had already made his India T20I debut back in October 2024 against Bangladesh, where he was one over away from becoming just the third Indian to bowl a maiden in his first T20I over. Injuries kept him out of India's white-ball plans through much of the following year, so this outing marked his first international appearance since then. Today's spell was a timely reminder of the pace and impact that first got him into India's setup. Zimbabwe never recovered from the early blow, eventually posting 125 for 7, a target India chased down inside 14 overs to win by 7 wickets.
India Beat Zimbabwe by 7 Wickets in 1st T20I, Sooryavanshi Blazes to Fifty in Harare
India kicked off their three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe with a comfortable 7-wicket win in Harare. Chasing 126, India got home in just 13.2 overs. Zimbabwe were sent in to bat and never really got going against India's new-ball attack. Mayank Yadav struck with the first ball of the innings, removing Brian Bennett for a duck. He finished with 2 for 18. Prince Yadav also picked up 2 wickets. Zimbabwe found some late momentum through Wessly Madhevere , who top-scored with 39, and Tadiwanashe Marumani , unbeaten on 27, as the hosts closed on 125 for 7. India's chase was set up by a blistering start from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi . The teenager smashed 50 off just 19 balls, with 4 fours and 4 sixes, putting the required rate under control inside the powerplay. Ishan Kishan kept the tempo going with 35 off 24 balls. Both fell to Zimbabwe's seamers, but Shreyas Iyer saw India home unbeaten on 28, with Tilak Varma alongside him on 6. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the series. The two sides meet again in the 2nd T20I at the same venue on July 25.
2027 Women's Ashes Schedule Confirmed: One Test, Three T20Is, Three ODIs
The schedule for the 2027 Women's Ashes is out. The multi-format series between Australia and England runs across June and July, opening with the one-off Test and closing with the ODI leg. The Test starts things off at Headingley, Leeds , from June 24-27 . The series then moves into the T20I leg, with three matches at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on July 3, the Kia Oval, London on July 6, and Old Trafford, Manchester on July 9. The three ODIs follow next. The first is at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton on July 13. The second is at Lord's, London on July 16. The series wraps up at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 20. As with previous editions, the Women's Ashes points system rewards a win in every format, with the Test worth more points than the white-ball games. Australia go into the series as defending holders of the urn.
FIFA Confirms 6 Teams Already Qualified for 2030 World Cup's Centenary Edition
Six countries already know they're playing at the 2030 World Cup, before a single qualifier has been played. FIFA has confirmed automatic qualification for the six nations set to host the tournament. Spain , Portugal and Morocco are the three main hosts, staging the bulk of the tournament across Europe and Africa. As hosts, all three get the usual automatic entry. The twist is South America. To mark 100 years since the first-ever World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA is staging three centenary matches on the continent before the tournament shifts to Europe and Africa. Uruguay , Argentina and Paraguay will each host one of these opening matches, and that hosting role earns all three automatic qualification too. Uruguay gets the honour of hosting the ceremonial opener, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, the same stadium that staged the 1930 final. Argentina and Paraguay each stage one match of their own before the tournament moves fully to its main hosts. Notably, defending champions Spain don't get in on the strength of winning World Cup 2026. Only host status has earned any of the six nations their spot. Every other country, including 2026 runners-up Argentina, will still have to go through the usual continental qualifiers, aside from the automatic entry Argentina gets as a centenary host. With this, the 2030 World Cup becomes the first edition to be staged across three continents, and the first tournament since 2026 to already have confirmed teams before qualifying begins.
FIFA Names Official Team of the Tournament for World Cup 2026
FIFA has named its official Team of the Tournament for the 2026 World Cup. Spain lead the way with three picks after winning the title, but the XI spans seven different countries. The line-up plays out in a 4-3-3. Vozinha gets the goalkeeper's spot after his string of heroics for debutants Cape Verde, including seven saves in a goalless draw with Spain. In defence, Spain's Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro take the full-back berths, with Dayot Upamecano of France and Argentina's Lisandro Martinez at centre-back. The midfield three is Rodri , Jude Bellingham and Michael Olise . Rodri was Spain's on-field leader all tournament and later picked up the Golden Ball. Bellingham gets in for England despite their semi-final exit, and Olise rounds out a strong showing for France in midfield. Up front, it's Lionel Messi on the left, Erling Haaland through the middle and Kylian Mbappe on the right. Haaland's inclusion caps a stunning debut World Cup for Norway, who reached the quarter-finals. Mbappe finished as the tournament's top scorer, while Messi was directly involved in Argentina's run to the final. Position Player Country GK Vozinha Cape Verde LB Marc Cucurella Spain CB Dayot Upamecano France CB Lisandro Martinez Argentina RB Pedro Porro Spain LCM Jude Bellingham England CDM Rodri Spain RCM Michael Olise France LW Lionel Messi Argentina ST Erling Haaland Norway RW Kylian Mbappe France Between them, the XI includes players from the champions, runners-up, and five other nations, spanning stories from title-winners to a 40-year-old shot-stopper from one of the tournament's smallest debutants.
Rahmat Shah Named Afghanistan's New Test and ODI Captain
Afghanistan have a new leader in the longer formats. The Afghanistan Cricket Board has named Rahmat Shah as captain of the Test and ODI sides, taking over from Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shahidi steps down after leading Afghanistan through one of its most successful stretches. His tenure included a sixth-place finish at the 2023 ODI World Cup, wins over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands at that tournament, and a maiden bilateral series win over South Africa. He also led the side to its first-ever appearance at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Rahmat is no stranger to leadership. He has served as Shahidi's deputy in both formats since 2021. The 33-year-old has played 128 ODIs and 12 Tests for Afghanistan since his debut in 2013, and briefly held the Test captaincy back in 2019 before Rashid Khan was named captain across all formats. Rahmanullah Gurbaz takes over as vice-captain in both formats. The new leadership group gets its first assignment next month. Afghanistan tour Ireland for a five-match ODI series starting August 5, giving Rahmat an immediate chance to put his own stamp on the side ahead of a busy build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Root Cracks Top 10 of ODI Batting Rankings, Rohit Closes In on Top Three
Joe Root is back among the world's top 10 ODI batters. The latest ICC rankings update has him climbing four places to No. 8, his best position since 2020. Root earned the jump with a superb three-match ODI series against India. He stayed unbeaten in all three innings, scoring 76, 99 and 74, and was named Player of the Series with 249 runs at a strike rate near 97. His form helped England win the series 2-1, their first bilateral ODI series win over India since 2018. India's batters also moved up despite the series defeat. Rohit Sharma stayed at No. 4 but closed the gap on the top three after smashing 138 in the third ODI at Lord's. He now sits just nine rating points behind Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill remains second, only one point adrift of New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell at the top. Shreyas Iyer also gained ground, moving up two places to 13th after his 66 in the second ODI at Cardiff. England opener Ben Duckett was another big mover, jumping 11 places to joint-19th after his 141 at Lord's, the highest individual score by a man in an ODI at the venue. Here's the full top 10 after the update: Rank Player Rating 1 Daryl Mitchell (NZ) 802 2 Shubman Gill (IND) 801 3 Virat Kohli (IND) 767 4 Rohit Sharma (IND) 758 5 Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) 712 6 Babar Azam (PAK) 689 7 Harry Tector (IRE) 679 8 Joe Root (ENG) 674 9 Shai Hope (WI) 672 10 Charith Asalanka (SL) 659 Duckett's rise to joint-19th and Iyer's move up to 13th came just outside this top 10 bracket.
Kuldeep Yadav Joins Yorkshire for Maiden County Stint
Kuldeep Yadav has signed with Yorkshire as an overseas player for the rest of the 2026 English season. This will be his first-ever stint in county cricket. The deal covers five One-Day Cup matches to start with. Kuldeep begins his stint against Glamorgan at Neath on Friday, July 24. He will then return to Headingley in September to play three of Yorkshire's final four County Championship matches. The move comes at an interesting time for the 31-year-old wrist-spinner. Kuldeep was part of India's recent tour of England but did not get a single game in the 2-1 ODI series loss. He also missed out during India's T20I series in Ireland and England. The lack of opportunities has been a talking point back home, with several former players questioning the team management's calls. Yorkshire's general manager of cricket, Gavin Hamilton, said the dry summer conditions make Kuldeep's left-arm wrist spin a valuable addition for the closing stages of the season. Kuldeep said he was excited to join a club with such a proud history and looks forward to contributing during his time at Headingley. Kuldeep joins a growing list of Indian players turning out in county cricket this season, including Yuzvendra Chahal at Northamptonshire, Jaydev Unadkat at Sussex, and Ashutosh Sharma at Hampshire.
India, Zimbabwe Both Name Squads for Three-Match T20I Series in Harare
India and Zimbabwe have both named their squads for a three-match T20I series in Harare, starting Thursday. All three matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club, on July 23, 25 and 26. India named their squad first, back on July 6. Shreyas Iyer continues as captain, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. The touring party is a young one, with uncapped players Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh, Ashok Sharma and Harsh Dubey all in the mix, alongside the returning Rinku Singh and Mayank Yadav. Zimbabwe have now followed with their own 15-man squad under Sikandar Raza . The home side have made three changes from the group that played Bangladesh recently. Wessly Madhevere and Newman Nyamhuri both return, and Tafadzwa Tsiga earns his first T20I call-up. The two sides last met at the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage, where India won by 72 runs in Chennai. This series doubles as a chance for India to test fringe players, while Zimbabwe will fancy home conditions to close the gap.
Anthony Taylor Retires After 831-Match Career Spanning Two World Cups
Anthony Taylor has retired from refereeing at the age of 47, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than two decades and 831 matches. The English official is one of the most established referees in the Premier League era, taking charge of 432 top-flight matches across 16 seasons. Taylor's final assignment came at the 2026 World Cup, where he took charge of the Round of 16 tie between Spain and Portugal. Spain won 1-0 after extra time on their way to lifting the trophy. He spent 14 years on the FIFA International List and officiated at two World Cups, in 2022 and 2026, alongside two European Championships in 2020 and 2024. Domestically, Taylor refereed every major English cup final. His honours include the FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2020, the 2015 League Cup final, the 2015 Community Shield, and the 2018 Championship play-off final. Reflecting on his decision, Taylor said officiating at the elite level had been an immense privilege, but that the pressure and scrutiny involved had become intense and constant. He said the time was now right to step aside and move on to the next chapter of his career. Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer at Pro Ref, paid tribute to Taylor's contribution to the game both domestically and on the international stage. Taylor had been trusted with some of the biggest fixtures in football for close to two decades, including high-profile European and World Cup assignments. His retirement comes as Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMOL, moves to merge its officials into a single group ahead of the 2026-27 season, marking a moment of transition for English refereeing as one of its most familiar faces steps away from the game.
Spain Reclaim No. 1 Spot as FIFA Releases Post-World Cup Rankings
FIFA released its first official rankings update since the World Cup ended, and the reshuffle at the top tells its own story. Spain jumped back to No. 1 after winning the tournament, moving one place above Argentina, who slip to second despite finishing as runners-up. It's the first time since the World Cup began in 1930 that the top four ranked teams are exactly the four semi-finalists. Spain, Argentina, France and England now occupy the same order in FIFA's list as they did on the pitch. The shakeup goes well beyond the podium. Brazil moved up one place to fifth, and Morocco climbed to sixth, both benefiting from strong tournament runs. Portugal had the opposite experience. Cristiano Ronaldo's side entered the World Cup ranked fifth, but a Round of 16 exit to eventual champions Spain dropped them two spots to seventh, passed by both Brazil and Morocco in the process. Host nations made the biggest ground. Mexico jumped four places into the top ten for the first time since March 2022, while co-hosts the United States rose one spot to 16th. Norway posted the single largest climb anywhere in the rankings, leaping 12 places to 19th after reaching the quarter-finals before losing to England. On the way down, Germany fell out of the top ten entirely, dropping from 10th to 12th. Here is the updated top 20 in the men's rankings, with movement from their pre-tournament position: Rank Team Change 1 Spain +1 2 Argentina -1 3 France — 4 England — 5 Brazil +1 6 Morocco +1 7 Portugal -2 8 Belgium +1 9 Netherlands -1 10 Mexico +4 11 Colombia +2 12 Germany -2 13 Croatia -2 14 Switzerland +5 16 USA +1 17 Japan +1 18 Senegal -3 19 Norway +12 20 Uruguay -4 FIFA's points system rewards results at major tournaments heavily, which explains why a single month of football can move teams so far in either direction. Elimination rounds carry more weight than routine friendlies, so deep tournament runs like Norway's or Mexico's translate directly into ranking jumps, while shock exits like Portugal's or Germany's get punished just as sharply. This is also the last ranking update for a while. FIFA's next official release lands on October 7, 2026 , once the new international window gets underway. Until then, this post-World Cup snapshot stands as the definitive pecking order in men's football, with Spain sitting on top for the first time since April.
Rohit Sharma Becomes First Indian to Score an ODI Century at Lord's
Rohit Sharma answered weeks of retirement talk with a special innings at Lord's. Chasing England's mammoth 387 in the series-deciding third ODI, he smashed 138 off 110 balls, becoming the first Indian man to score an ODI century at the historic ground. Rohit reached his hundred in just 84 balls. He struck 11 fours and 4 sixes along the way, including back-to-back maximums off Josh Tongue that took him into the 90s. He brought up three figures with a four off Adil Rashid. It was his 34th ODI century , and his eighth hundred in England across all formats, the most by any visiting batter in the country. At 39, he also became the oldest Indian batter to score an ODI hundred, and the oldest player of any nationality to reach three figures in an ODI at Lord's. The knock also took him past 1,000 ODI runs against England. Rohit added 147 for the first wicket with captain Shubman Gill , who made 77, before India lost momentum in the middle overs. Despite the century, India fell short, bowled out for 360 in a chase of 388, and lost the match by 27 runs as England sealed the series 2-1. The innings came with the pre-match narrative dominated by questions over his future in the format. For a day at least, Rohit's bat did the talking.
Emiliano Martinez Sets World Cup Final Saves Record Despite Argentina's Defeat
Emiliano Martinez put in a record-breaking display in a losing cause on Sunday. The Argentina goalkeeper made 11 saves in the World Cup final against Spain, the most ever recorded in a final, but it wasn't enough to stop his side losing 1-0 after extra time. Martinez broke the previous record of 8 saves, set in the 1994 final between Brazil and Italy, with his ninth stop late in regulation. Spain dominated possession and peppered his goal throughout, firing 11 shots on target, yet Argentina failed to register a single shot on target of their own in the match. He did it all while carrying a fractured finger on his right hand, an injury he had been managing without surgery through the tournament. His best moments came right at the end of normal time, denying a long-range effort from Nico Williams and then a stoppage-time free-kick from Lamine Yamal to force extra time. The dam finally broke in the 106th minute, when Ferran Torres struck to win it for Spain. Martinez was also the hero of Argentina's 2022 title win, saving a decisive penalty in that final against France. This time, his heroics were not enough to deliver back-to-back titles.
Pau Cubarsi Becomes First-Ever Defender to Win FIFA Young Player Award
Pau Cubarsi made history at the World Cup final whistle. The 19-year-old Spain defender won the FIFA Young Player Award, becoming the first defender to ever take home the prize. Cubarsi started every single one of Spain's eight matches at the back. He helped the team keep seven clean sheets and concede just once all tournament, the tightest defensive record by any champion in World Cup history. That reliability at the back, more than any single moment, is what won him the award. The FIFA Young Player Award goes to the best performer aged 21 or under. It has picked out future superstars before. Kylian Mbappe won it in 2018, Paul Pogba in 2014, and Thomas Muller back in 2010. Cubarsi now joins that list, along with Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, who won it in 2022. He also joins a much smaller club. Cubarsi is only the fifth teenager in World Cup history to win the tournament itself. Coming through Barcelona's academy and into the first team as a teenager, he has already made a habit of skipping steps most defenders take years to reach. For Spain, the award capped a tournament where their youngest players carried as much weight as their most experienced ones. Cubarsi's calm at the back gave the rest of the team room to attack, and FIFA's judges clearly noticed.
Lamine Yamal's Quiet World Cup Still Ends With a Winner's Medal at 19
Lamine Yamal lifted the World Cup on Sunday without ever quite dominating it the way he's dominated everything else in his young career. The Barcelona winger made his World Cup debut this summer as Spain's most hyped attacker, and leaves it as a champion at 19, even though the numbers were modest by his standards. Yamal made seven appearances at this World Cup and scored once, a strike against France in the semi-final that made him Spain's second-youngest ever World Cup scorer, behind only Pele's all-time record. He didn't register an assist all tournament, a quiet return for a player who set up four goals at Euro 2024 two years ago. He came into the tournament managing fitness. A hamstring injury before the World Cup put his opening matches in the group stage in doubt, and he was eased back gradually as Spain progressed. Despite the slow start, Spain didn't need him to carry the attack. They won all eight of their matches and conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, a defensive record that made individual scoring numbers almost secondary. This wasn't Yamal's first taste of major-tournament success. He became the youngest player ever to win a major international trophy when Spain won Euro 2024 the day after his 17th birthday. Now, still a teenager, he adds a World Cup winner's medal to that, becoming a two-time champion with Spain before he's played a single senior tournament where he was the headline scorer. For a player already being talked about as a future Ballon d'Or winner, a World Cup title at 19, even a quiet one statistically, only adds to a résumé that's moving faster than almost anyone in the game's history.
Who Is Ferran Torres? The Super-Sub Who Scored Spain's World Cup-Winning Goal
Ferran Torres came off the bench to become Spain's World Cup hero. The Barcelona forward scored the only goal of the final, a 106th-minute strike that beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Torres was born on February 29, 2000, in Foios, a small town near Valencia. He came through Valencia's academy before a big-money move to Manchester City, and later joined Barcelona, where he now plays. He was named Man of the Match for his winning goal in the final. His route to that moment wasn't smooth. Torres has spoken openly about a difficult stretch at Barcelona when he lost form and struggled with confidence, describing it as feeling like "a bottomless pit." He began seeing a psychologist to work through it, and credits that process with turning his career around. He came back to score 11 goals in 2023-24, then 19 the following season, form that helped him force his way back into the Spain squad. At this World Cup, Torres started the final on the bench behind Mikel Oyarzabal. Manager Luis de la Fuente brought him on in the 61st minute, with the game still goalless. Spain and Argentina remained level deep into extra time before Torres finally broke through, arriving at the far post to turn home the winner and send the Spanish bench into celebration. It was Torres's first goal of the tournament, but his third at World Cup level, adding to two he scored back in Qatar in 2022. He now has a Euro 2024 winner's medal and a World Cup winner's medal from Spain's golden run under de la Fuente.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money: Spain Bank Record $50 Million for Winning the Title
Spain's World Cup triumph came with a record payday. FIFA is handing the champions $50 million in prize money, the largest winner's cheque in the tournament's history. The total prize pool for World Cup 2026 stands at $655 million in performance-based money, part of a wider $727 million package once preparation funds are included. That's a jump of nearly 50% from the $440 million pool at Qatar 2022, driven largely by the expanded 48-team format across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Runners-up Argentina take home $33 million for reaching the final. England, who beat France in the third-place playoff, earn $29 million, with France picking up $27 million for finishing fourth. Every team eliminated at the group stage still walks away with $9 million, and even the earliest-exiting nations were guaranteed money before a ball was kicked. Finish Prize Money Champion (Spain) $50 million Runner-up (Argentina) $33 million Third place (England) $29 million Fourth place (France) $27 million Group stage exit $9 million The money is paid out to national federations rather than directly to players, though players typically receive a share negotiated separately with their federations. For Spain, the $50 million adds a financial exclamation point to a tournament in which they went unbeaten in all eight matches and conceded just once.
Mbappe Finishes as World Cup's All-Time Top Scorer With 22 Goals as Messi Falls Short in Final
Kylian Mbappe finishes the 2026 World Cup as the tournament's all-time top scorer. Lionel Messi went scoreless in Sunday's final, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain, which means Mbappe's tally stands unmatched once the trophy was decided. Mbappe reached the mark with a brace in France's 6-4 win over England in the third-place match, taking his tournament tally to 10 goals. Across this World Cup alone, he scored twice against Senegal, twice against Iraq, twice against Sweden, once against Paraguay, once against Morocco, and twice against England. Add that to 4 goals in 2018 and 8 in 2022, and Mbappe finishes with 22 career World Cup goals, one clear of Messi's 21. Messi had a chance to draw level or retake the record in the final itself. He came into the match on 21 career goals and needed just one more to tie Mbappe, or two to move back in front. Spain's defense, marshalled by a dominant midfield performance from Rodri, kept him quiet all game, and Messi's World Cup story ends on 21. The scoring race also settled the Golden Boot. Mbappe's 10 goals, with 4 assists, means he finishes as the tournament's top scorer outright, his second straight World Cup Golden Boot after also topping the charts in 2022. Between them, Messi and Mbappe have now defined World Cup goalscoring for the best part of a decade. Messi still holds the record for career World Cup assists and remains the only man with a hat-trick in a World Cup final. But for outright goals, the record now belongs to Mbappe, at just 27 years old and with more World Cups likely still ahead of him.
World Cup 2026 Awards: Rodri Wins Golden Ball, Mbappe Takes Golden Boot, Simon Claims Golden Glove
FIFA handed out its individual awards for World Cup 2026 right after Spain's final win over Argentina, and Spain's players swept most of them. Golden Ball (best player): Rodri. Spain's captain anchored the midfield all tournament and was the calm head behind their title run. He beat out Messi and Mbappe, who took silver and bronze respectively, to take the top individual honour. Golden Boot (top scorer): Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman finished with 10 goals and 4 assists, two clear of Messi's 8. He sealed it with a brace in France's third-place win over England, meaning Messi would have needed a hat-trick in the final to catch him. It's Mbappe's second straight Golden Boot, after also winning it in 2022. Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Unai Simon. The Spain keeper was central to their title, conceding just one goal in the entire tournament, in their group game against Belgium, and keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches. No side has ever won the World Cup while conceding so little. Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsi. The 19-year-old Spain defender was a rock at the back throughout the knockouts and picked up the award given to the standout player born on or after January 1, 2005. He joins past winners like Mbappe and Enzo Fernandez on that list. Fair Play Award: Netherlands. The team award for the tournament's best-behaved side went to the Dutch. Spain's clean sweep of the top individual awards, save for the Golden Boot, underlines just how complete their title run was. They didn't just win the trophy, they set the individual standard almost everywhere else too.
Is This the End? Messi Stays Silent on Argentina Future After World Cup Final Loss
Lionel Messi has not said whether Sunday's World Cup final was his last game for Argentina. At 39, he's stuck to his usual line about taking things one step at a time, and gave no clear answer either way after the 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain. Reports out of the Argentina camp suggest this isn't the end just yet. Journalist Gaston Edul of TyC Sports says Messi is expected to keep playing for the national team, at least through the 2026 Copa America. That would give him one more major tournament in Argentina colours, even though a seventh World Cup in 2030 looks unlikely. Messi would turn 43 partway through that tournament. This is not the first time Messi has stood at this exact crossroads. He announced his retirement from international football back in 2016 after a Copa America final loss to Chile, only to reverse the decision two months later. He also said in 2022 that Qatar would be his last World Cup, before changing his mind and returning for this tournament at 39. Whatever happens next, Messi leaves this World Cup with his numbers intact at the top of the game. He finished as Argentina's talisman once again, with 8 goals and 2 assists in the tournament, behind only Kylian Mbappe's 10 goals in the race for the Golden Boot. Across six World Cups now, Messi has scored 21 goals and set up 8 more for Argentina, numbers no other player in the game's history can match. His club future looks more settled. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season. Whether Sunday turns out to be his final World Cup appearance or not, the coming Copa America now carries some extra weight for Argentina fans hoping for one more chapter.
Argentina's Title Defense Ends: Defending Champions Fall to Spain in Final
Argentina's reign as world champions is over. The defending champions lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in Sunday's final, missing out on the chance to become only the second team ever to win back-to-back World Cups, after Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. It was a tough way to go out. Argentina held firm for most of the game and kept Spain to just one shot on target through 90 minutes, but a Ferran Torres strike in the 106th minute proved decisive. Things got worse late on when Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Argentina to see out the rest of the game a man short. The run to the final was anything but smooth. Argentina needed extra time twice in the knockouts, first to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, then again to see off Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-final. They also came from behind late to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and England 2-1 in the semi-final, showing the same fighting spirit that carried them to the title four years ago. Much of that fight came from Lionel Messi , who finished the tournament with 8 goals, second only to France's Kylian Mbappe on 10. Messi was involved in goals right through the campaign, from a hat-trick in the group stage against Algeria to the late strikes that turned games around against Egypt and Cape Verde. For a squad that has now won a World Cup, a Copa America, and reached back-to-back finals under coach Lionel Scaloni, this loss ends one era even as questions begin about what comes next for a team that has been the benchmark in world football for the best part of a decade.
Unbeaten Through Eight Games: How Spain Won the World Cup 2026
Spain went through the whole World Cup without losing a single game, and it showed from their very first match to their last. They opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, then put their attacking game on show with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win over Uruguay to win Group H. The knockouts followed the same pattern: efficient, controlled, and hard to break down. Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, then edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 clash. Belgium pushed them the closest in the quarter-final, but Spain still came through 2-1. In the semi-final, they beat France 2-0 to book their spot in the final, not conceding a single goal in that match either. Sunday's final against Argentina followed the same script. Spain barely let Argentina threaten all game, and it took extra time before Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute for a 1-0 win. Argentina finished the match with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late on. Across the tournament, Spain's defense was one of the standout stories. They didn't lose a match at any stage, going unbeaten in eight games from the group stage right through to the final. That run also folded into their bigger unbeaten streak across all competitions, which now stands at 38 games without a loss, a new all-time record for a men's national team, going past Italy's old mark. Young players carried a lot of this team's attacking spark all tournament, with Lamine Yamal a constant threat from wide areas, while more experienced hands like Mikel Oyarzabal chipped in with key goals at big moments, including two in the group stage win over Saudi Arabia. It all added up to Spain's second World Cup title, following their maiden win back in 2010.
Spain Beat Argentina 1-0 After Extra Time to Win World Cup 2026
Spain are World Cup champions once again. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, ending the defending champions' bid for back-to-back titles. The game stayed goalless through 90 tense minutes. Argentina defended deep and made life hard for Spain, who dominated the ball but couldn't find a breakthrough in normal time. The deadlock finally broke in the 106th minute, when substitute Ferran Torres struck to send the Spanish bench into wild celebration. It proved to be the only goal of the game. Argentina's night got worse in the closing stages. Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute and sent off, leaving Argentina to play the rest of extra time with ten men. It capped a card-heavy night for the South Americans, who picked up six yellow cards in total through Lisandro Martinez (41'), Leandro Paredes (52'), Fernandez (82' and again at 90'), Cristian Romero (90') and Alexis Mac Allister (111'), on top of the red card. The stats show just how one-sided this final was. Spain had 68% possession and fired 20 shots at goal, 11 of them on target. Argentina managed only 3 shots all game and failed to hit the target even once. Spain also completed 803 passes at 90% accuracy, well clear of Argentina's 445 passes at 78%. This is Spain's second World Cup title, adding to their 2010 win. It also extends their unbeaten run to 38 matches, a new all-time record for a men's national team, moving past Italy's old mark. For Argentina, the loss ends their reign as champions and denies them a shot at joining Brazil as the only side to win back-to-back World Cups. Spain's golden generation, built around young stars like Lamine Yamal, now have a World Cup title to show for their dominant run through the tournament.
Kohli and Rohit Become First Indian Pair to Play 400 Internationals Together
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have long been the backbone of India's batting, and fans have a nickname for the pair: "RoKo". Their combined numbers over the years are hard to believe. Between them, they have scored close to 50,000 international runs and hit over 130 centuries . In ODIs alone, Kohli has 14,867 runs from 314 matches with 54 hundreds. Rohit has 11,757 runs from 288 matches with 33 hundreds, heading into the Lord's decider. Across all formats, Kohli sits on 28,285 runs from 562 games, and Rohit on 20,289 runs from 514 games. The pair keeps adding milestones together. At Lord's in the third ODI against England, they walked out to bat in their 400th international match together . That makes them the first Indian pair ever to reach this number, moving past the old record of 391 matches held by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Only six pairs in cricket history, led by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene with 550 matches, have played more games together than Kohli and Rohit. Their partnership numbers are just as strong. The pair has put together over 21 century stands in ODIs , second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly's 26. Their biggest stand together remains 246 runs , scored against West Indies in Guwahati back in 2018. In that same Lord's ODI, they added another century stand, sharing a brisk 113 runs for the second wicket. Their partnership has powered India to major titles too, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and two Champions Trophy wins. Both have now retired from Tests and T20Is, with the ODI format their only remaining stage in international cricket. Every innings the two share from here counts as one of their last together in Indian colours.
England Beat India by 27 Runs at Lord's to Win ODI Series 2-1
England beat India by 27 runs in the third ODI at Lord's. The win gives England the series 2-1. It also caps a rough white-ball tour for India, who had already lost the T20I series earlier on this trip. Put in to bat, England posted a big total of 387 for 3 in their 50 overs. Ben Duckett led the charge with 141. Jacob Bethell backed him up with 91. Joe Root stayed not out on 74, and Jos Buttler smashed a quick 41 not out off just 13 balls at the end. India fought hard in the chase but fell short. Rohit Sharma hit a fine century, finishing with 138. Shubman Gill made 77 at the top, and Virat Kohli added 74. Despite these knocks, India lost too many wickets in the middle overs and ended on 360 for 7. Sam Curran was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 4 wickets. He got rid of Kohli late on, which all but ended India's chase. Jacob Bethell was named Player of the Match for his 91 with the bat and the key wicket of Rohit Sharma with the ball. Looking at the series as a whole, Joe Root was named Player of the Series. He was in fine form with the bat through all three matches, including an unbeaten 99 in the second ODI at Cardiff. This result adds to a tough few weeks for Indian cricket in white-ball formats. India also lost their earlier T20I series on this England tour, and before that, they suffered a shock T20I series defeat to Ireland. Captain Shreyas Iyer and the team will now have time to regroup before their next assignment.
Bukayo Saka's Hat-Trick Seals England's Best World Cup Finish Since 1966
Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick as England beat France 6-4 in the World Cup third-place match in Miami. It's only the second senior hat-trick of his career, and his first ever at a World Cup. His first came back in June 2023, for England against North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Old Trafford. That night he scored three times in a 13-minute spell in a 7-0 win, becoming the youngest England player to score a hat-trick since Theo Walcott in 2008. This time the goals came in different fashion. Saka struck in the 37th minute, then again right on half-time in first-half stoppage time, before completing his treble from the penalty spot in the 87th minute to put England back in front at 4-3. Jude Bellingham added a fourth soon after, and although Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for France in stoppage time, it wasn't enough to stop England finishing the tournament in third place, their best World Cup finish since they won the trophy in 1966. Saka has been one of England's most reliable performers for years now. He joined Arsenal's academy at just seven years old and has gone on to become the club's talisman, helping them win the Premier League for the first time in over two decades this season. For England, he made his senior debut back in October 2020 and has become a regular starter under Thomas Tuchel, playing a role in England's run to this World Cup semi-final before the defeat to Argentina. A hat-trick in a match that decided nothing but pride is still a rare feat. Very few players manage even one senior hat-trick in their career, and Saka has now done it twice, with this one coming on the biggest stage of all.
Washington Sundar Ruled Out of 3rd ODI Against England Due to Thigh Injury, Harsh Dubey Replaces Him
India have lost Washington Sundar for the series decider against England. He picked up a thigh injury during the second ODI in Cardiff and has now been officially ruled out of the third and final ODI at Lord's. The BCCI confirmed the setback. Sundar will undergo scans and see a specialist to get a clearer picture of the injury. There's no word yet on how long he could be out for. Harsh Dubey has been named as his replacement for the Lord's match. The left-arm spinner joins the squad as India look to cover the gap left by Sundar's all-round skills with both bat and ball. The series is level after two matches. India won the first ODI in Birmingham by 6 wickets, before England hit back in Cardiff, winning by 4 wickets to force a decider. This third ODI at Lord's on July 19 will settle the series. Losing Sundar is a blow for India's balance, since he offers both handy runs down the order and tidy off-spin. How the team management reshuffles the XI without him will be one of the bigger selection calls of the match.
England Beat France 6-4 in Wild Third-Place Thriller at World Cup 2026
England beat France 6-4 in Miami to finish third at the FIFA World Cup 2026. It was the highest-scoring match of the whole tournament, and the third-place game rarely gets talked about this much. Declan Rice put England ahead inside three minutes. Ezri Konsa made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. France looked shaky early, but they hit back fast. Kylian Mbappe pulled one back in the 48th minute. Bradley Barcola added another six minutes later. Mbappe then grabbed his second in the 66th minute to level the score at 3-3. England did not panic. Bukayo Saka put them back in front in the 87th minute from the penalty spot. That completed his hat-trick, after strikes in the 37th and 45+1st minutes. Jude Bellingham then made it 5-3 deep into stoppage time. France weren't done either. Ousmane Dembele scored in the 90+6th minute to keep the game alive, but Bellingham's earlier goal had already tipped it England's way, and the match finished 6-4. Saka's hat-trick was the standout individual moment of the match. It's a rare thing for any player to manage in a World Cup game, let alone one that doesn't decide the trophy, and it capped a strong tournament for the young forward. Both teams came into this game as disappointed sides. France had lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-final. England had led for most of their semi-final before Argentina scored twice late to win 2-1. Neither side got the final they wanted, but this match gave fans a proper send-off from the tournament. The stats tell their own story. England had 55% of the ball and 10 shots on target to France's 9. France actually matched England for total shots at 18 apiece, and won more corners, 4 to 3. But it was England's clinical finishing, especially from Saka and Bellingham late on, that won them third place. The World Cup now moves to its final act. Spain play Argentina in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the trophy on the line.
Minerva Academy's U-12 Boys Retain Gothia Cup Title With Win Over Brazil
Minerva Academy's Under-12 boys are Gothia Cup champions again. The Chandigarh-based side beat Brazil's RS Sports Yellow 2-1 in the World Youth Cup final on July 18, defending the title they won last year. Thangsanglen Kipgen put Minerva ahead first, before the Brazilian side hit back with an equaliser. Mekhamkhraw Nongrem then struck a free-kick winner to seal the match. Kipgen was named the final's best player. Kipgen was the standout performer of the whole campaign, not just the final. He once scored six goals in a single group-stage match. Minerva ran up huge scorelines throughout the tournament, including a 13-1 win and a 12-0 win, on their way to the final. The win caps off a huge few weeks for the academy. Minerva had already won the Helsinki Cup in Finland earlier this month, their first-ever title there. Winning both tournaments back to back gives them what's being called a European double. Gothia Cup is the world's biggest youth football tournament, drawing well over a thousand teams from across the globe every year. Minerva first won it in 2023, beating a Brazilian side in that final too, and have now added a second title on top of it. The result adds to a strong recent run for the academy, which also picked up the Sub Junior League title back home in 2024 and has produced players who've gone on to trials with clubs abroad.
Sir Garry Sobers, Cricket's Greatest All-Rounder, Dies at 89
Sir Garfield "Garry" Sobers , widely regarded as the greatest all-rounder cricket has ever seen, has passed away at his home in Barbados. He was 89, just weeks short of his 90th birthday. Sobers made his first-class debut for Barbados at just 16 in 1953. He earned his West Indies Test cap the following year. He went on to play 93 Tests between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 . With the ball, he picked up 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. He captained West Indies for seven years, from 1965 to 1972. His batting peak came in 1958, when he made an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park. It stood as the highest individual score in Test history until Brian Lara broke it in 1994, a moment Sobers witnessed and celebrated in person. A decade later, in 1968, Sobers became the first man to hit six sixes in a single over in first-class cricket. He did it playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, taking down bowler Malcolm Nash at St Helen's in Swansea. His first-class numbers were just as remarkable. Across 383 matches for West Indies, Barbados, Nottinghamshire, and South Australia, he scored over 28,000 runs and took more than 1,000 wickets . He could bowl left-arm pace, orthodox spin, and wrist-spin, and was an outstanding close-in fielder, a versatility that led Sir Donald Bradman to call him a "five-in-one cricketer." Sobers was knighted in 1975 for his services to the game. The ICC's award for the top overall performer in men's international cricket is named the Sir Garfield Sobers Award in his honour. Tributes have poured in from across the cricket world. Cricket West Indies said a great innings had come to an end. Nottinghamshire, where Sobers spent much of his county career, called it a deeply saddening loss. Rest in peace, Sir Garry Sobers.
Argentina Under FIFA Review Over Malvinas Banner After Reaching World Cup Final
Argentina's place in Sunday's World Cup final is secure, but their semi-final celebrations are now under FIFA scrutiny. The federation has opened a disciplinary review into a banner displayed by Argentina players after their 2-1 win over England. The banner read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," a reference to the disputed Falkland Islands. The display came moments after Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to complete Argentina's comeback over England in Atlanta. FIFA has strict rules against political messaging inside the stadium and during official celebrations. A ruling is expected before Argentina take the field against Spain on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, where the two sides meet for the first time ever in a World Cup final. Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles, something only Brazil have managed before. The team will be hoping the probe is resolved quickly so the build-up to the final stays focused on the football.
FIFA to Award Championship Rings for the First Time in World Cup History, Ahead of Spain vs Argentina Final
FIFA will hand out championship rings to the winning squad after Sunday's World Cup final. It's a first for the tournament in its 96-year history. The move borrows a tradition long associated with American sports leagues like the NFL and NBA, where winning teams receive custom rings as a lasting keepsake of the title. FIFA has not yet detailed the ring's design, but it marks a symbolic addition to the usual trophy and medal presentation on final day. The announcement lands right before one of the most anticipated finals in years. Spain and Argentina meet on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the first-ever World Cup final between the two nations. Argentina are defending champions chasing back-to-back titles, while Spain are unbeaten in 37 straight games and hunting their second World Cup crown. Whichever side lifts the trophy on Sunday, their players will now walk away with a piece of history beyond the medal around their neck.
Virat Kohli Hits Four Milestones in 2nd ODI Against England
Virat Kohli had a milestone-filled outing during his innings of 65 off 66 balls in the second ODI against England at Cardiff. The knock alone ticked off four separate career landmarks. 1. Most ODI half-centuries by an Indian in SENA countries. Kohli's fifty was his 30th in ODI cricket in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). That took him past Rahul Dravid to become the Indian batter with the most ODI half-centuries in these four countries, conditions traditionally considered the toughest for subcontinental batters to score runs in. The full list now reads: Virat Kohli - 30 Rahul Dravid - 29 Sachin Tendulkar - 25 MS Dhoni - 24 Mohammad Azharuddin - 17 2. Level with Viv Richards for most 50-plus ODI scores against England. The same innings was also Kohli's 14th score of 50 or more against England in ODI cricket specifically, matching the tally West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards built across 36 ODIs against England between 1976 and 1991. Kohli and Richards now sit joint-second on the all-time list. Only Kumar Sangakkara is ahead, with 15 fifty-plus scores against England in ODIs. Kohli's 14 includes 3 centuries and 11 half-centuries from 40 ODIs against England, and he could draw level with Sangakkara in the series decider at Lord's on July 19. 3. Most fifty-plus scores against England across formats for India. The knock was also Kohli's 33rd score of 50 or more against England when combined across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, taking him past Sachin Tendulkar's previous Indian record of 32 such scores against the same opposition. 4. Fifth-most capped player in international cricket history. Separately from his batting, Kohli went past Ricky Ponting during the match to move into fifth place on the all-time list of most capped players, playing his 561st international match. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sanath Jayasuriya have appeared in more international games. Despite the personal landmarks, India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs after being sent in to bat, with the middle order unable to fully capitalise on starts from the top three. England chased the total down with 4 wickets in hand, powered by an unbeaten 99 from Joe Root . The series is level at 1-1 heading into the third and final ODI at Lord's.
Root Falls One Short of Century as England Beat India by 4 Wickets to Level ODI Series
England beat India by 4 wickets in Cardiff to level the ODI series 1-1, with Joe Root left stranded one run short of a century. Chasing 234, England got home in 44.1 overs with 11 balls to spare. Joe Root anchored the chase from the top of the order, finishing unbeaten on 99 off 133 balls. He lost partners around him through the middle overs but stayed till the winning runs came, with Gus Atkinson finishing the job alongside him with an unbeaten 23 off just 16 balls. Earlier, India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs after being sent in to bat. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 66, and Virat Kohli made 65, but India lost wickets in clusters through the middle overs. A late cameo from Jasprit Bumrah , unbeaten on 20 off just 13 balls, added some late impetus to the total. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson shared six wickets between them for England. In the chase, Gurnoor Brar was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 2 for 67, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube picked up a wicket apiece to keep India in the contest before Root and Atkinson closed it out. The series is now level at 1-1, with the third and final ODI to be played at Lord's.
Messi Retakes Golden Boot Lead With Two Assists as Argentina Eye Historic Back-to-Back Title, Spain Chase Record Unbeaten Run
Lionel Messi moved back to the top of the Golden Boot race after setting up both Argentina goals in their semi-final win over England. Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe are level on eight goals each for the tournament, but assists are used as the first tiebreaker for the Golden Boot. Messi's two assists against England took his tally to four for the tournament, one more than Mbappe's three, putting him ahead heading into the final. Argentina now have a chance to make history of their own in the final. Only Brazil, in 1958 and 1962, have won back-to-back World Cups. A win over Spain on Sunday would put Argentina in that same company. Spain arrive at the final on a 37-match unbeaten run, matching Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten streak by a national team. Their last defeat came in a friendly against Colombia in March 2024. A win in the final would see Spain move past Italy and set a new all-time record.
ICC Confirms New ODI World Cup 2027 Format: Super Series and Super 7 Stages Added for 14-Team Event
The ICC has confirmed a new format for the Men's ODI World Cup 2027, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The changes were approved at the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh, the same meeting where the T20 World Cup format was also revamped. The tournament keeps its 14-team field, but the structure now has three stages before the knockouts. It starts with a new Super Series . The three lowest-ranked qualified teams, ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th, play a round-robin among themselves. Only the winner moves forward, joining the top 11 teams. That leaves 12 teams for the group stage, split into two groups of six , playing 30 round-robin matches. From there, the top three teams in each group qualify for a new Super 7 stage. The seventh and final spot goes to the next best-ranked team across both groups, regardless of which group it came from. The Super 7 is itself a round-robin stage. The top four teams from it advance to the semi-finals, with the 1st-placed side facing the 4th, and 2nd facing 3rd. The winners meet in the final. This replaces the format the ICC had previously approved for 2027, which was two groups of seven leading into a Super Six stage. The ICC said the change was made to avoid dead rubbers and empty stadiums in the early rounds, and to add more jeopardy earlier in the tournament. The exact fixture list will be confirmed at an ICC meeting in October. The 2027 World Cup will have 10 automatic qualifiers, including co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the eight highest-ranked teams as of September 2026. The remaining four spots will be decided through a global qualifier event.
ICC Confirms New T20 World Cup Format for 2028: Five Groups, Super 10, and New Eliminator Round
The ICC has approved a major shake-up of the T20 World Cup format, starting with the 2028 edition. The changes were confirmed at the ICC's Annual Conference in Edinburgh. The tournament will still have 20 teams, but the group stage now moves to five groups of four , up from four groups of five. That means 30 group games instead of 40. The top two from each group progress to a new Super 10 stage, replacing the old Super Eights. This round has two groups of five teams playing round-robin, a jump from 12 matches to 20. The biggest change is what happens after that. Only the team that finishes top of its Super 10 group goes straight to the semi-final. The teams that finish second and third now play each other in a new Eliminator round, with the second-placed side from one group facing the third-placed side from the other. The two Eliminator winners take the remaining semi-final spots. The ICC said the changes were shaped by how well emerging teams performed at the 2026 World Cup, and are meant to keep more teams in contention for longer while making the closing Super 10 matches count for more. Alongside the format change, the ICC also confirmed the qualification path to 2028. Twelve teams have already qualified based on their 2026 results and current rankings: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Scotland gets a direct spot in the Europe Regional Final because of the unusual circumstances around their 2026 entry, having come in as a late replacement for Bangladesh. The rest, including Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, UAE, and the USA, will go through the Global Qualifier along with teams coming through regional qualifying. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup also got a format overhaul at the same meeting, moving to a new three-stage structure for its 2027 edition.
France vs England World Cup Third-Place Preview: Mbappe and Kane Lead Two Fallen Contenders
France and England play for third place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 18 at Miami Stadium, after both were knocked out in the semi-finals. France lost 2-0 to Spain, while England lost 2-1 to Argentina after leading for most of the match. Both sides came into the tournament as genuine title contenders, which makes this an unusual third-place match. Before their semi-final loss, France had won all six games at this World Cup, scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2. England went five wins and a draw before falling to Argentina. Kylian Mbappe is the tournament's top scorer with eight goals, level with Messi. He'll lead a France side that has struggled to find its usual rhythm in midfield since the semi-final defeat. For England, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals this tournament, with a brace apiece along the way. Kane was left frustrated after the Argentina loss, saying England sat too deep after taking the lead. The third-place match has been part of the World Cup since 1934. Neither side will be lifting the trophy this year, but both will be looking to end their campaign on a high, just a day before the final is played in New York.
Spain vs Argentina World Cup Final Preview: Messi and Yamal Meet for the First Time, With the Trophy on the Line
Spain and Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. It is the first time the two nations have ever met in a World Cup final. In fact, Spain and Argentina have met just once before at a World Cup, all the way back in 1966. Away from the World Cup, their most recent clash came in a 2018 friendly, which Spain won 6-1. Lionel Scaloni was on Argentina's coaching staff that day. Neither current head coach had even been born the last time these two sides met at a World Cup. Argentina arrive as defending champions, chasing a second straight title. Their route to the final has been anything but smooth. They needed extra time to beat Cape Verde and Switzerland, and came from behind late to beat Egypt and now England. Lionel Messi leads the tournament with eight goals and 12 career World Cup assists, both all-time records, and has now scored 21 World Cup goals in total, also a record. Spain have been the tournament's most controlled side. After a goalless draw with Cape Verde in the group stage, they have won six straight, including a 2-0 win over France in the semi-final. Lamine Yamal , still only 19, has been central to their run and will now face Messi on the biggest stage of all. There is a personal story behind that meeting too. As a baby, Yamal appeared in a photo with Messi at a charity event, a picture that went viral after his father shared it years later. Spain are looking for their second World Cup title, having won it in 2010. Argentina want a third overall, and a second in a row under Scaloni.
Messi Sets Up Both Goals as Argentina Complete Comeback Against England to Reach Back-to-Back World Cup Finals
Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta and reach the World Cup final for the second tournament in a row. England led for most of the game through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal. Two late Argentina strikes turned the semi-final on its head. Lionel Messi was the architect of both Argentina goals. He set up Enzo Fernandez for the equaliser in the 85th minute. He then teed up Lautaro Martinez for the winner in second-half stoppage time. England had led since the 55th minute and looked to be closing out the game before the late collapse. England captain Harry Kane did not hide his disappointment after the match. He said the team played well for most of the game. But they sat too deep once they went ahead, and that wasn't enough at this level. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was emotional in his post-match reaction. He said he was proud of a squad that never knows when it is beaten. He called reaching back-to-back finals a historic achievement for the team. The match also had a disciplinary edge. England's Elliot Anderson was booked in the 37th minute. Argentina picked up three late bookings of their own: Lisandro Martinez (42'), Cristian Romero (51'), and Rodrigo De Paul in stoppage time. Argentina dominated possession with 64% of the ball and had 14 shots to England's 6. They will now face Spain in the final. England play France for third place.
Shubman Gill Closes in on World No. 1 ODI Batting Rank, Just 11 Points Behind Daryl Mitchell
Shubman Gill has moved a step closer to the top spot in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings. His unbeaten 80 in the series opener against England at Edgbaston has lifted him 12 rating points, from 793 to 803. He now sits just 11 points behind New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who holds the No. 1 rank with 814. Gill's knock came off 75 balls and included 11 fours and a six. He retired hurt during India's chase, but his innings kept India ahead of the required rate in a successful run chase of 259. The runs were enough to push him from third to a close second in the rankings table. This is not new territory for the Indian captain. Gill has already held the World No. 1 ODI ranking twice before, once in late 2023 and again in early 2025. He is now chasing a third stint at the top, with the race against Mitchell heating up as both batters have more matches coming up. Mitchell is currently on tour with New Zealand against the West Indies and has scored 65 and 28 in two ODIs so far, with three matches left to defend his spot. Gill has two more ODIs left in the series against England, at Cardiff and Lord's, to try to close the gap or move ahead. Elsewhere in the same rankings update, Axar Patel was the other big mover for India. His all-round show against England, 57 not out and 4 for 62, lifted him 18 places to 73rd among batters and into the top 10 of the all-rounders' list for the first time, at ninth. With two ODIs still to play in the series, the battle for the world's top-ranked ODI batter looks set to go down to the wire.
Oyarzabal Ties Scoring Record, Porro's Second Goal Sends Spain Past France Into World Cup Final
Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas to reach the World Cup final. The match also had some big personal milestones. Mikel Oyarzabal scored a penalty in the 22nd minute after Yamal was fouled in the box. It was his fifth goal of the tournament. That ties him with David Villa (2010) and Emilio Butragueño (1986) for the most goals by a Spanish player at a single World Cup. Only Villa (13), Alvaro Morata (10), and Fernando Torres (9) have scored more goals for Spain across major tournaments overall. Pedro Porro made it 2-0 in the 58th minute with a neat one-two with Dani Olmo. It was his second goal of this World Cup. He also scored against Austria in the Round of 32. That makes him only the second Spanish defender to score twice at a single World Cup. Fernando Hierro is the other, doing it in both 1998 and 2002. Dani Olmo's assist was also special. He now shares the record for most Spain assists at major tournaments with Cesc Fabregas, both on eight. Olmo has scored or assisted in every one of his three major tournament semi-finals for Spain. Spain's defense had a big night too. This was their sixth clean sheet of the tournament. No team has ever kept six clean sheets at a single World Cup before. For France, Kylian Mbappe made history just by playing. It was his 21st World Cup game for France, the most by any French player. But it wasn't a good night for him on the pitch. He picked up a yellow card in the 86th minute, and in the first half he was caught offside twice while touching the ball inside Spain's box just once. France almost fell further behind when Lamine Yamal curled the ball in from a tight angle. But the goal was ruled out for offside. Spain are now in their second World Cup final ever. Their only other one came in 2010, when they won it. They've also gone 37 games without losing. That ties Italy's all-time record for the longest unbeaten run in men's international football. Spain will play the winner of England vs Argentina, who meet on July 16, in the final.
India Beat England by 6 Wickets in 1st ODI, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar See Off the Chase at Edgbaston
India began their ODI series against England with a comfortable 6-wicket win at Edgbaston, chasing down 259 with 28 balls to spare. It's a much-needed response after a T20I series they lost 4-0 on the same tour. Put in to bat, England were carried by Joe Root , who finished unbeaten on 76. Liam Dawson played the innings of his career alongside him, making 68, his first ODI half-century, in a 121-run stand for the seventh wicket. Ben Duckett got England off to a bright start with 43, but the middle order fell away quickly, and Axar Patel cleaned up the tail with 4 for 62 to restrict England to 258 all out. India's chase had its nervy moments early on. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli , both back in the ODI fold after some time away, fell inside the first nine overs. Shubman Gill kept India ahead of the rate with a fluent 80 before retiring hurt, and Shreyas Iyer added 35 before being run out. From there, it was Washington Sundar and Axar Patel who finished things off. The pair added an unbroken 102 for the fifth wicket, with Sundar unbeaten on 52 and Axar striking the winning six to remain unbeaten on 57. It capped an all-round performance from Axar, who also picked up 4 wickets with the ball earlier in the day. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Attention now turns to the second ODI in Cardiff on July 16, before the series wraps up at Lord's on July 19.
Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes 4th Indian Captain to Win a Test at Lord's, After Kapil Dev, Dhoni and Kohli
Harmanpreet Kaur has become only the fourth Indian captain, and the first woman, to lead a side to a Test win at Lord's, joining a list that includes some of the biggest names in Indian cricket history. India's win over England Women at the Home of Cricket puts Harmanpreet alongside Kapil Dev , who led India to their first-ever Test win at Lord's back in 1986, MS Dhoni , who did it in 2014, and Virat Kohli , who added to the list in 2021. Harmanpreet's name now joins theirs from 2026, making it four wins across 40 years for India at the historic ground. It's a fitting way to cap a tournament in which Harmanpreet also starred with the bat, having earlier become the first woman to register a half-century at Lord's across all three international formats, a feat only a handful of men's cricketers have managed. With this win, Harmanpreet cements her place not just as one of India's finest captains in the women's game, but as a name that now sits in the same breath as some of Indian cricket's most iconic leaders when it comes to conquering Lord's.
Sophie Ecclestone's Record-Breaking Lord's Test, Even in Defeat
India's win at Lord's was the headline, but Sophie Ecclestone still walked away from the historic Test with a fistful of personal milestones, even on the losing side. Her 5 for 118 in India's second innings made her the first Englishwoman to take a Test five-wicket haul at Lord's , a mark that had stood open through every previous men's and women's Test played at the ground. It was also her fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, underlining her standing as England's premier spinner across formats. The match also pushed her past a long-standing team record. Ecclestone now has two ten-wicket hauls in Women's Tests , the most by any England bowler, moving ahead of the previous mark held by Laura Greenwood. Perhaps the biggest of the three came when she removed Smriti Mandhana in India's second innings. That wicket took her to 338 international wickets , making her England's all-time leading wicket-taker across all three formats, men's or women's, surpassing the previous record held by Katherine Sciver-Brunt. Ecclestone wasn't the only England player to walk away with a milestone despite the defeat. Wicketkeeper Amy Jones became the first keeper to score fifty or more in both innings of a women's Test, finishing with 52 and an unbeaten 52 across the match. Individual landmarks aside, the result stands as a heavy defeat for England, but Ecclestone's numbers are a reminder of the quality still running through this England side, even in a game that will be remembered mainly for India's dominance and Yastika Bhatia's historic hundred.
India Women Complete Historic 270-Run Win Over England at Lord's
India Women completed a famous 270-run win over England Women on Day 4 at Lord's, wrapping up victory in the first-ever women's Test staged at the Home of Cricket. Chasing an out-of-reach 457, England were bowled out for 186 in their second innings, with Sneh Rana finishing the match off in style, taking her final wicket to seal the win. Rana was the standout with the ball across the innings, finishing with 4 for 42, while Deepti Sharma chipped in with 2 wickets as England's lower order was cleaned up on the final morning. Amy Jones fought hard for England, becoming the first wicketkeeper to score fifty-plus in both innings of a women's Test, but the target was always beyond reach once India had set it. The win capped a dominant all-round performance from India across the four days. Kranti Gaud became the first woman to have her name etched on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul in England's first innings, before Yastika Bhatia 's maiden Test century, the first-ever by a woman at Lord's, and a brisk unbeaten fifty from Richa Ghosh powered India's second-innings declaration at 341 for 7. The match also marked an emotional farewell for two England greats, with Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight both playing their final international games and receiving guards of honour from the India players as they walked off. The Test also drew a world-record single-day attendance for a women's Test, with over 15,000 fans packing Lord's. It is a landmark win for India Women, completing a first-ever Test win at Lord's in style and giving the team a huge confidence boost as red-ball cricket continues to grow around the world.
Chennai Super Kings and Stephen Fleming Part Ways After Nearly Two Decades
Chennai Super Kings and Stephen Fleming have parted ways, bringing an end to one of the longest coach-franchise partnerships in IPL history. The Super Kings confirmed the news through an official statement, saying both sides had mutually agreed to end their association. Fleming's journey with CSK goes all the way back to the very first edition of the IPL in 2008, when he turned out for the franchise as a player. He moved into the dugout the following year and stayed on as head coach right through to now, a stretch that different reports put at either 17 or 18 years depending on how the count is measured. Either way, it stands as one of the most stable coaching tenures anywhere in franchise cricket. Under Fleming, CSK became the most successful team in IPL history, lifting the trophy five times, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, along with two Champions League T20 titles. His calm, understated style and his long working relationship with MS Dhoni became closely tied to the identity CSK built for itself over the years, one built on consistency and a settled core group of players. The exit follows a rough patch on the field. CSK have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, finishing fifth in 2024, bottom of the table in 2025, and eighth in 2026. Talk of a coaching change had been doing the rounds for a while, though earlier reports through the season suggested the franchise was leaning towards keeping him on. That has now changed with this official announcement. Fleming continues to be involved with two other Super Kings franchises, coaching Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket and Joburg Super Kings in the SA20, so this isn't a complete exit from the wider Super Kings setup, just from the IPL side of it. CSK are yet to announce who will take over as head coach heading into the next season.
Yastika Bhatia's Historic Ton Sets Up Day 3 Declaration as India Close In on Landmark Lord's Win
India Women pushed home their advantage on Day 3 of the historic Lord's Test, declaring their second innings and leaving England needing 327 to win. Stumps came with England on 130 for 6, still 197 runs short with only four wickets in hand. Yastika Bhatia was the standout of India's innings, making a maiden Test century, 113 off 158 balls, becoming the first woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's in the process. Smriti Mandhana added 70, and Richa Ghosh chipped in with a quick unbeaten 50 down the order as India declared on 341 for 7. Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of England's bowlers, finishing with 5 wickets, while Lauren Bell took 2. Chasing an improbable target, England lost early wickets and never got settled. Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana took 2 wickets apiece, with Sayali Satghare also among the wickets, as England slipped to 130 for 6 by the close. Amy Jones was the one batter to resist, unbeaten on 52, while the rest of the top order fell cheaply. With England still needing 197 more runs and only 4 wickets standing, India go into the final day firmly in control and needing just 4 more wickets to wrap up a landmark win in the first-ever women's Test at Lord's.
Brendon McCullum Sacked as England Test Coach, Stays on in White-Ball Role
Brendon McCullum has been removed as England's Test head coach, bringing an end to the four-year "Bazball" era in red-ball cricket. He remains in charge of England's white-ball setup, covering both ODIs and T20Is. The call comes after a sharp dip in Test results, with England losing the Ashes 4-1 last winter and then falling 2-1 at home to New Zealand last month. Across his full four years in the Test job, McCullum's record reads 27 wins, 20 losses and 2 draws, with the recent slide including seven defeats in the last nine matches. Ben Stokes's shock retirement, announced mid-series against New Zealand, marked McCullum's final Test in the role. McCullum said he was gutted to be stepping away from the Test side but respected the board's decision, adding that his focus now shifts fully to the white-ball teams. The timing is notable, with the news breaking just a day after his white-ball side completed a 4-0 T20I series sweep over India. His white-ball tenure, which began in 2024, will continue through to the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup. England now return to a split-coaching setup, and the ECB has confirmed the hunt for a new Test coach is already underway ahead of next summer's Ashes, with former players including Andy Flower and Justin Langer among the names being discussed.
Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi Replace Injured Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy
India have made two enforced changes to their white-ball squads after hamstring injuries ruled out Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy . Prince Yadav comes in for Rana in the ODI squad for the England series, while Ravi Bishnoi replaces Chakaravarthy in the T20I squad for the tour of Zimbabwe. Both injuries were picked up in the same match, the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. Rana felt discomfort in his right hamstring, and scans confirmed a Grade 1 injury, ruling him out of the upcoming ODI series against England. Chakaravarthy had a similar issue in his left hamstring, but his scan showed a more serious Grade 2 injury, keeping him out of the T20I series in Zimbabwe. Both bowlers will now report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further assessment and recovery. Prince Yadav was already with the squad in England for the T20Is and now gets a shot at the 50-over format as well. Bishnoi comes in as spin cover for the Zimbabwe leg, having found limited opportunities during the England tour. India begin their three-match ODI series against England on July 14 in Birmingham, before the T20I series against Zimbabwe gets underway on July 23 in Harare, with Shreyas Iyer continuing as captain across both assignments.
Yastika Bhatia Becomes First Woman to Score a Test Century at Lord's
HISTORY AT THE HOME OF CRICKET! 🇮🇳💯 Indian wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has etched her name into cricket history with a sensational 113 off 158 deliveries , bringing up her maiden Test century in unforgettable fashion at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground . Playing with remarkable composure, elegant stroke play, and immense patience, Yastika anchored India's innings and showcased why she is regarded as one of the brightest stars in women's cricket. Her innings was a perfect blend of solid defence and fluent attacking cricket, helping India strengthen their position in the historic Test. This century is much more than just a personal milestone. With this incredible knock, Yastika Bhatia becomes the first woman ever to score a Test century at Lord's , ensuring her name will be permanently inscribed on the legendary Lord's Honours Board , an honour reserved for only the finest performers at the Home of Cricket. Every cricketer dreams of scoring a hundred at Lord's, and Yastika has turned that dream into reality while creating a record that will be remembered for generations. Her achievement marks another proud chapter for Indian women's cricket and serves as an inspiration for young girls aspiring to represent the country on the biggest stage. Congratulations, Yastika Bhatia, on a truly historic milestone! 👏💙 May this be the first of many Test centuries in an extraordinary career.
Heather Knight Retires From International Cricket After Farewell Test at Lord's
Heather Knight has announced her retirement from international cricket. The ongoing Test against India at Lord's is her final appearance in an England shirt. It's the first-ever women's Test played at the ground, the same venue where she lifted the 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as captain. Knight leads England Women in appearances. She has played 320 matches across all three formats, the most by anyone in the team's history. As captain, she led England in 199 internationals and won 134 of them, with the World Cup triumph on home soil in 2017 standing as her biggest moment in charge. She also became the first England cricketer, male or female, to score international centuries in all three formats. That milestone came with an unbeaten 108 at the 2020 T20 World Cup in Canberra. Her best Test knock arrived two years later, also in Canberra, when she made an unbeaten 168 to rescue England during the Women's Ashes. Her batting numbers stand at nearly 8,000 international runs, with six centuries and fifty half-centuries, figures compiled up to the start of this farewell Test. Her retirement carries extra weight because teammate Tammy Beaumont is also playing her final Test at Lord's in this same match. Two long-serving members of England's dressing room are bowing out together. Knight isn't stepping away from the game entirely. She will take up a new role as General Manager of London Spirit, moving from the field into a leadership position off it.
England vs Argentina Semi-Final Preview: History Locked at 3-3 in One of Football's Fiercest Rivalries
England and Argentina meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on July 16, reviving one of football's most storied rivalries on the game's biggest stage. The two nations have crossed paths at the World Cup four times before, and the history is even, with three wins apiece . England won the first meeting in 1962, then edged a bad-tempered 1966 quarter-final 1-0, a game remembered for Argentina captain Antonio Rattin being sent off. Argentina hit back in the 1986 quarter-final, winning 2-1 in a match forever defined by Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" handball and his stunning solo goal moments later, both scored in the same eight-minute spell. The two sides met again at the 1998 last-16 stage, a 2-2 thriller featuring Michael Owen's wonder goal and David Beckham's red card, with Argentina eventually winning on penalties. England had the last word at the 2002 World Cup, winning 1-0 in the group stage through a Beckham penalty that was widely seen as his redemption after 1998. Beyond World Cup meetings, England hold the wider edge in official fixtures between the sides, with six wins to Argentina's two and five draws across their full history. Their most recent meeting came in a 2005 friendly, which England won. Both teams arrive at this semi-final via extra time in the quarter-finals. England beat Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including a 93rd-minute winner, after Norway had led through Antonio Schjelderup. Argentina came from behind to beat a 10-man Switzerland 3-1, with Breel Embolo's second-half sending off proving decisive as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra time. With an even World Cup head-to-head and both sides in red-hot knockout form, this rematch of two of football's most iconic World Cup collisions could produce another classic.
France vs Spain Semi-Final Preview: A Century-Old Rivalry, But Only Their Second World Cup Meeting
France and Spain meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on July 15, a heavyweight European clash that is, remarkably, only the second time these two nations have ever faced each other at a World Cup. Their solitary previous meeting at the tournament came in the round of 16 back in 2006, when France ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, after David Villa had put Spain ahead. Spain have never beaten France at a World Cup, which makes this semi-final new territory for both sides in terms of World Cup history between them, even though they have plenty of history elsewhere. Away from World Cups, this is one of European football's fiercest rivalries, and Spain hold the overall bragging rights . Across 38 meetings in all competitions, Spain have won 18 to France's 13, with 7 draws. Spain have also won the two most recent competitive meetings between the sides, including a 2-1 win over France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, where a teenage Lamine Yamal announced himself on the big stage with a spectacular, record-breaking equaliser. Spain's edge extends across the bigger tournaments too, with wins over France at Euro 1984, Euro 2000, Euro 2012, Euro 2020, Euro 2024 and in the Nations League all forming part of a rivalry that has swung firmly in La Roja's favour in the competitive era. France did go decades without losing a competitive fixture to Spain, a streak that only ended when Spain won 2-0 in the Euro 2012 quarter-final. Both sides arrive in excellent form. France have been the tournament's most defensively solid side, not conceding a single goal across their last three matches, while Spain have shown they can grind out knockout football, beating Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 before Mikel Merino struck an 88th-minute winner to see off Belgium in the quarter-final. With history tilted toward Spain and both teams playing knockout football on merit, this looks set to be one of the ties of the round.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-Final Lineup Set as France, Spain, England and Argentina Battle for a Final Spot
The FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final picture is complete, with four heavyweight footballing nations left standing after a dramatic quarter-final round. France face Spain on July 15, before England take on Argentina on July 16, in what promises to be a mouth-watering final four. Notably, this is the first time the world's top four FIFA-ranked teams have all reached the World Cup semi-finals, with Argentina, Spain, France and England occupying the top four spots in the latest rankings. France vs Spain pits two of Europe's most in-form sides against each other. France have been ruthlessly efficient on their way here, beating Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edging out Paraguay 1-0 in the last 16, and dispatching Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal in any of those three games. Spain have matched that control in their own way, seeing off Austria 3-0, then needing just one goal to beat Portugal in the round of 16, before grinding past a stubborn Belgium 2-1 in the last eight. England vs Argentina is the standout tie of the round, and both teams have taken the hard road to get here. England needed extra time in the quarter-finals to see off Norway 2-1, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice, including a dramatic 93rd-minute winner, after Norway had led through Antonio Schjelderup. Argentina also required extra time in their quarter-final, coming from behind to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after Breel Embolo's second-half red card. Both sides have leaned on knockout-stage resilience throughout the tournament, England needed a 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, while Argentina survived a 3-2 last-16 win over Egypt and a 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in the round of 32. The standout individual story of the tournament remains Lionel Messi , who has been directly involved in goals throughout Argentina's campaign, from a hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage, to further goals against Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout rounds, taking his tournament tally to eight. He'll now face an England side built around the in-form Bellingham, fresh off his quarter-final brace. With both semi-finals promising goals, drama and knockout football at its highest level, fans have a blockbuster week ahead before a place in the World Cup final is decided.
Argentina Survive Ten-Man Switzerland Scare to Reach World Cup Semi-Finals
Argentina needed extra time to see off a determined 10-man Switzerland and book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, winning 3-1 in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early lead inside the first ten minutes, and it looked to be a comfortable afternoon until Dan Ndoye pulled Switzerland level midway through the second half. The game then turned five minutes later when Breel Embolo , already on a yellow card from the first half, picked up a second caution and was sent off, leaving Switzerland to defend their equaliser a man short. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Switzerland held firm through the remainder of normal time and forced the tie into extra time. Argentina's extra bodies eventually told, with Julian Alvarez restoring the lead just after the restart of extra time, before Lautaro Martinez added a third deep into stoppage time to put the result beyond doubt. It was a stretched, feisty finish overall, with Argentina picking up three second-half and extra-time bookings of their own through Thiago Almada , Martinez, and Jose Manuel Lopez as fatigue and frustration crept in late on. The win extends Argentina's dominant run through the tournament and sets up a heavyweight semi-final clash against England, who edged past Norway in their own extra-time thriller. For Switzerland, the exit ends an otherwise credible campaign, undone by the numerical disadvantage they were forced to play with for almost 50 minutes.
Bellingham Brace Sends England Past Norway Into World Cup Semi-Finals
Jude Bellingham was the difference as England battled past a stubborn Norway side 2-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Norway made the early running in Miami and were rewarded in the 36th minute when Antonio Schjelderup put them ahead, leaving England chasing the game heading into the closing stages of normal time. England found their response deep into first-half stoppage time when Bellingham levelled things up, and with the scores level at the end of 90 minutes, the tie went to extra time. Bellingham then popped up again in the 93rd minute to complete his brace and hand England the lead they would not relinquish. The game had little in the way of discipline issues, with Norway's Kristoffer Ajer picking up a yellow card late in extra time as the Scandinavian side pushed for a way back in. The win extends England's fine run in the tournament and sets up a last-four meeting with the winner of Argentina and Switzerland. For Norway, it brings a highly credible World Cup campaign to a close, having gone all the way to the quarter-finals on their return to the global stage.
England Reclaim No. 1 T20I Ranking, Ending India's 1,602-Day Reign at the Top
England have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings, effective July 11, ending India's 1,605-day reign at the top of the format. The milestone follows England's dominant 4-0 series whitewash of India at home, one of their most emphatic bilateral results in the format. In the latest rankings update, England move to the summit with 269 rating points , with India dropping to second on 268 points . Just a single point separates the two sides. It's also a landmark return for England, marking their first time back at No. 1 in the format since September 2012 , completing a long climb back to the top of T20I cricket.
India's T20I Slide Continues: Series Loss to Both Ireland and England
India have now lost back-to-back bilateral T20I series on this white-ball tour, first to Ireland and then to England, a run that has raised real questions about the side's form in the format. The tour opened in Belfast, where Ireland stunned India 2-0 . The Irish won the series opener by 34 runs, posting 182 for 9 and bowling India out for 148. They then held their nerve in a thriller in the second match, defending 154 for 8 to win by just 1 run as India fell short at 153 for 9. It was India's first-ever bilateral T20I series defeat to Ireland. The tour moved on to England, and the slide got worse. The series opener in Chester-le-Street was washed out by rain with India having posted 189 for 7. England then took control, winning in Manchester by 4 wickets, before handing India their biggest-ever T20I defeat by runs , a 125-run hammering in Nottingham where India were bowled out for just 76. A 9-wicket loss in Bristol sealed the series 3-0 with a match to spare, and England completed a 4-0 sweep with a 56-run win in the fifth T20I at Southampton, where Jos Buttler's 131 and an unbeaten 95 from Harry Brook powered England to 257 for 3, their highest-ever T20I total against India. Together, the two results mean India have now lost consecutive bilateral T20I series for the first time since 2019. Captain Shreyas Iyer remains without a series win since taking over, and head coach Gautam Gambhir has pointed to a young, transitioning side as the reason for the rough patch. Attention now turns to the 50-over leg of the England tour, with the three-match ODI series starting July 14 at Edgbaston, giving India a chance to arrest the slide before a packed white-ball year ahead.
England Complete 4-0 T20I Series Sweep of India With 56-Run Win in Southampton
England completed a 4-0 sweep of the T20I series against India, winning the fifth and final match at the Rose Bowl by 56 runs. It's England's biggest-ever margin of victory over India in a bilateral T20I series. Jos Buttler set up the win with 131 off 64 balls, and Harry Brook finished unbeaten on 95 as England posted 257 for 3, their highest T20I total against India. India fought back through Tilak Varma , who smashed a 24-ball fifty, and Ishan Kishan 's 56, but the chase always trailed the required rate and India were bowled out for 201 with three balls unused. The result caps a dominant tour for England. They won four of the five completed matches, with the series opener in Chester-le-Street washed out by rain. It's India's heaviest bilateral T20I series defeat by matches, and continues a difficult stretch for captain Shreyas Iyer , who remains without a T20I series win since taking charge. Attention now turns to the 50-over leg of the tour. The two sides meet in a three-match ODI series starting July 14 at Edgbaston, giving India a chance to reset before a busier white-ball year ahead.
Kranti Gaud's Five-For Puts India Women in Command on Day 2 of Historic Lord's Test
India Women closed Day 2 of the historic Lord's Test firmly on top. Kranti Gaud took 5 for 37, bowling out England for 170, and India then raced to 154 for 1 by stumps. India lead by 269 runs with 9 wickets in hand. Gaud's five-wicket haul was the standout performance of the day. It also made her the first woman to have her name inscribed on the Lord's Honours Board, coming in the first-ever women's Test played at the ground. England were bowled out in 59.1 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt top-scored with 44 off 85 balls before falling lbw to Gaud. Amy Jones made a fighting 52 down the order, while Maia Bouchier added 23. Sayali Satghare and Sneh Rana picked up two wickets apiece, and Deepti Sharma wrapped up the innings by trapping Lauren Filer lbw for a duck. India, batting again, were untroubled through the final session. Smriti Mandhana was unbeaten on 69 off 124 balls, continuing her strong form from Day 1. Shafali Verma made 33 before holing out off Sophie Ecclestone, and Yastika Bhatia finished the day unbeaten on 39, putting on a solid partnership with Mandhana. With Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma still to bat, India have plenty of depth left to extend the lead further on Day 3 and set England a stiff target in this landmark Test.
Merino strikes again as Spain edge Belgium 2-1 to reach World Cup semifinal
Spain reached their first World Cup semifinal since 2010, beating Belgium 2-1 in a tense quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Fabián Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute, but Charles De Ketelaere levelled for Belgium just before halftime. It stayed 1-1 until the 88th minute, when substitute Mikel Merino struck the winner off a rebound. Merino has now made a habit of this. He came off the bench in the Round of 16 too and scored the only goal to knock out Portugal. This time he needed just under two minutes after coming on to make the difference. Pau Cubarsí's shot was spilled by Belgium keeper Senne Lammens, and Merino was first to the loose ball to poke it in. Belgium went into the game already missing captain Youri Tielemans, who picked up an injury in the warmup. It got worse for them in the second half when first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois went off injured, bringing on Lammens. It was Lammens' error that ultimately cost Belgium the match. Spain dominated the numbers, with 18 shots to Belgium's 5 and 68% possession. Four yellow cards were shown late on, including bookings for Kevin De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, and Axel Witsel, as both sides pushed hard in the closing stages. Spain move on to face France in the semifinal on Tuesday, a repeat of their tense group meeting years ago and a fresh test for a Spanish defense that has been one of the stories of this tournament. For Belgium, the World Cup ends in the quarterfinals, their run undone by two separate goalkeeping mishaps in as many games.
India Dominate Day 1 of Historic Lord's Test, Mandhana's 83 Sets Up 285 Before England Slip to 21-1
India ended Day 1 of the historic women's Test at Lord's firmly on top. They were bowled out for 285 in 74.5 overs, then had England reeling to 21 for 1 at stumps. England trail by 264 runs with 9 wickets in hand. Smriti Mandhana led the way with 83 off 108 balls. It's the highest score by any batter on Day 1 of this historic occasion, the first-ever women's Test played at Lord's. She fell to Issy Wong, caught behind by Amy Jones, but not before setting the tone for India's innings. India lost Shafali Verma cheaply, out for a duck in the very first over. But the middle order took over from there. Jemimah Rodrigues struck 35 off just 38 balls, and Harmanpreet Kaur anchored a key stand with a patient 58. Deepti Sharma chipped in with 57, and Richa Ghosh was unbeaten on 13 when the innings folded. England's bowling was led by Sophie Ecclestone , who picked up 3 for 68 in 21.5 overs. Issy Wong and Mady Villiers took 2 wickets apiece, while Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer shared the rest between them. In reply, England lost Tammy Beaumont early, trapped lbw by Kranti Gaud for just 2. Maia Bouchier and captain Heather Knight saw out the rest of the day, with Bouchier unbeaten on 17 and Knight on 1 at the close. With a big first-innings total already on the board and early wickets in hand, India will look to press home the advantage on Day 2.
Big Bash League to Open 2026-27 Season in Chennai, First-Ever Game Outside Australia
Australia's Big Bash League will start its 2026-27 season in India. The opening match will be played at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium in December. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement in Melbourne, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi . This will be the first-ever BBL match played outside Australia. Cricket Australia has confirmed the fixture will be between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers . The Renegades will be the designated home side. The match kicks off BBL 16 on December 12 . Chennai is known for one of the most passionate cricket crowds in India, thanks to years of IPL nights at Chepauk. That reputation is a big reason the venue was picked to host cricket's newest visitor to Indian shores. The announcement is part of a wider Sports Cooperation Roadmap signed between Australia and India. The two countries have agreed to work together on sports training, technology, and industry investment. The deal also touches the Olympic calendar, with Australia preparing to host the 2032 Games in Brisbane and India building its case for the 2036 edition. For Indian fans, it means a taste of Australia's franchise league without leaving home. For the BBL, it's a direct shot at growing its reach in the world's biggest cricket market.
Spain Face Belgium in Quarterfinal Rematch of Their 1986 World Cup Classic
Spain and Belgium meet in the quarterfinals on Friday, renewing a rivalry that hasn't played out in a World Cup knockout round in almost four decades. It's only the third World Cup meeting between the two, and the first since a group-stage clash back in 1990. Spain's campaign has been close to perfect. They opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, then found their rhythm, thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and edging Uruguay 1-0 to top Group H. In the knockouts, they beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 before needing a stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino to see off Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16. Spain haven't conceded a single goal all tournament, a defensive record built around goalkeeper Unai Simón and anchored in midfield by Rodri, with Pedri, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal driving the attack. Belgium's route has been livelier. They drew both Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0, playing much of the second half a man down after a red card) before beating New Zealand 5-1 to close out their group. The knockouts have been dramatic: a 3-2 extra-time win over Senegal, then a 4-1 demolition of the USA in the Round of 16, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and Romelu Lukaku sealing it off the bench. Kevin De Bruyne remains their creative heartbeat when fit, while Thibaut Courtois, who plays his club football in Spain with Real Madrid, gives Belgium a world-class presence between the posts. History heavily favors Spain, who have won 6 of the 7 meetings between the sides, with the solitary exception being Belgium's penalty-shootout win in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, the last time these two met at this stage of the tournament. Spain haven't lost to Belgium since, winning the last five encounters by an aggregate of 13-1, most recently a 2-0 friendly win in 2016. With both sides unbeaten through six matches so far, this quarterfinal looks set to be one of the tightest tests either team has faced at this World Cup.
India's Winless T20I Run Hits Six as First-Ever Series Loss to England Confirmed
India's slide in T20I cricket has now stretched to a historic low. After going down 3-0 to England in Bristol, India are winless in six straight men's T20Is , their longest such streak ever, easily surpassing the previous worst run of four defeats in a row, which had happened twice before, in 2009 and again in 2021. The streak began with a shock 2-0 series loss in Ireland last month, India's first defeat to the Irish in international cricket. It has carried straight into England, where the tourists lost the second and third T20Is before Thursday's 9-wicket defeat in the fourth, sealing the series with a game still to play. Only the series opener in Chester-le-Street was spared, washed out by rain without a result. This is India's first-ever bilateral T20I series defeat to England in a series of two or more matches. In every previous meeting across formats, India had managed at least a share of the spoils. England's 3-0 sweep in this series flips that record entirely, and it comes on the back of a similarly chastening 125-run loss in Nottingham, India's heaviest T20I defeat by runs. It also marks India's second consecutive bilateral T20I series defeat, the first time that's happened since 2019, when they lost back-to-back series to New Zealand and Australia. Captain Shreyas Iyer remains winless through his opening matches in charge, a tough start to a new leadership era that was supposed to build on India's T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has called the phase a rebuild, pointing to a young side featuring a 15-year-old opener in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and several fringe bowlers getting their first taste of international cricket against a strong England attack. India will get a chance to end the streak in the dead-rubber fifth T20I in Southampton on Saturday, before a three-match ODI series starting July 14 in Birmingham.
France Down Morocco 2-0, Book Third Straight World Cup Semifinal
France beat Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to reach the World Cup semifinal. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 60th minute, and Ousmane Dembélé added a second in the 66th. It was a rematch of the 2022 semifinal in Qatar, where France also beat Morocco 2-0 on their way to the final. This time Morocco couldn't find the same magic that took them all the way to the last four four years ago. France controlled the game from the start and didn't let Morocco settle into any rhythm. Mbappé was involved in both goals. He set up Dembélé for the second after combining well with him in the build-up to the first. Morocco's Issa Diop picked up a yellow card in the 63rd minute, his second of the knockout rounds, but it won't matter for his side now since their tournament ends here. The shot count summed up how one-sided the game was. France had 22 shots to Morocco's 5, and 9 were on target compared to Morocco's 1. Morocco actually had more of the ball, with 52% possession to France's 48%, but couldn't turn it into anything dangerous. With this win, France become just the third team in World Cup history to reach the semifinal in three straight tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026), joining Germany and Brazil in that exclusive club. They now wait to face the winner of Spain vs Belgium in the semifinal, still chasing a third World Cup title.
India Slump to Another T20I Series Defeat, This Time 3-0 Against England
India have suffered another T20I series defeat, this time losing 3-0 to England with a game still to play. Half-centuries from Phil Salt and Harry Brook guided the hosts to a comfortable chase in Bristol, sealing the series with a match to spare in the fourth T20I. The result completes a miserable run for India in the format. After a rain-abandoned opener in Chester-le-Street, England took control with a four-wicket win in Manchester, then delivered India's biggest-ever T20I defeat , a 125-run hammering in Nottingham where the visitors were bowled out for just 76. That collapse was their second-lowest T20I total in history, and the fastest they have ever been dismissed in the format. Captain Shreyas Iyer has now gone winless through his opening matches in charge, continuing a difficult start to his tenure. This marks India's second consecutive bilateral T20I series defeat, following a 2-0 whitewash in Ireland earlier on this tour, raising fresh questions about the team's transition since their T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. England, under Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum, have now won 18 of their last 21 completed T20Is, and this series victory marks their first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue have been especially destructive with the ball throughout, repeatedly exposing gaps in India's middle order with pace and bounce that the batting unit has struggled to counter. The two sides will play a dead-rubber fifth T20I in Southampton on Saturday before moving into a three-match ODI series starting July 14 in Birmingham, giving India a chance to arrest the slide before the 50-over leg of the tour begins.
Haaland's 7 World Cup Goals Outscore Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo's Debut Campaigns Combined
Erling Haaland has scored 7 goals in his debut FIFA World Cup, the best tournament tally by a debutant since Poland's Grzegorz Lato managed the same in 1974. His run has been built on a hat-trick of multi-goal games, including two braces, most recently in Norway's stunning 2-1 win over Brazil that sent them into their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal. What makes the number even more striking is the comparison it invites. In their own debut World Cups, Lionel Messi scored just 1 goal, Kylian Mbappe scored 4, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored 1 — a combined total of 6. Haaland's 7 goals this tournament alone have already outscored all three of their debut campaigns put together. Haaland now sits level at the top of the Golden Boot race alongside Messi and Mbappe heading into the quarterfinals, with Norway dreaming of a first-ever run deep into the tournament, 28 years after their last World Cup appearance.
Historic Women's Test at Lord's Set to Begin With Record Ticket Sales
England and India will play the first-ever women's Test at Lord's, starting Friday, July 10. More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold. That makes it one of the biggest women's Test matches ever staged. The match carries several milestones. It is the first women's Test to be played at Lord's. It also arrives exactly 50 years after the first-ever women's international was held at the venue. An opening ceremony will honour both former and current England women's cricketers before play begins. The Test doubles as an international farewell for Tammy Beaumont . She recently announced her retirement from international cricket, and this will be her final appearance in an England shirt. It's a fitting stage for her to sign off on, given the occasion and the history riding on this match.
Tammy Beaumont to Retire From International Cricket After Lord's Test
England opener Tammy Beaumont is retiring from international cricket. Her final appearance will be the ongoing Test against India at Lord's. It is the first-ever women's Test played at the historic ground. It also marks the 261st international of her career. Beaumont made her England debut in 2009. She went on to play 260 matches across formats before this farewell Test. She leaves as England's leading century-maker in ODIs with 12 hundreds , the most by any England woman. She was Player of the Tournament at the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup on home soil. She finished that tournament as the leading run-scorer with 410 runs, as England lifted the trophy. Her Test record stands out too. In 2023, she became the first Englishwoman to score a Test double-century, with an unbeaten 208 against Australia at Trent Bridge. That knock put her among a small group of players, 2 from England and 5 in the world, to have scored an international century in all 3 formats of the game. Across all formats for England, she has scored 7,325 runs. Beaumont was part of the first group of 18 players to receive an England Women's Central Contract, back in 2015. That was a milestone in the sport's move toward professionalism. She said playing for England for nearly 17 years had been the greatest honour of her career. She is not done with the game entirely, and will continue playing domestic cricket for The Blaze and Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. England Women's managing director Clare Connor called her contribution remarkable. She pointed out that Beaumont started her England career in the amateur era and went on to become one of the most complete batters the women's game has produced.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Lineup Confirmed
The World Cup 2026 quarterfinal lineup is confirmed, with all 8 teams now known after Switzerland's penalty win over Colombia in the last Round of 16 tie sealed the final spot alongside defending champions Argentina. The last 8 line up as: France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England, and Argentina vs Switzerland. It's a genuine mix of usual heavyweights and first-time deep runners — Morocco and Norway have been two of the standout stories of the tournament, while Switzerland's run already matches their best World Cup showing since the 1950s. Quarterfinal action gets underway on July 10 and runs through July 12, with the 4 winners advancing to the semifinal stage.
AIFF and ISL Clubs Sign Four-Year Deal to Run the League
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League clubs have signed a 4-year agreement to jointly run the league, ending months of uncertainty over its future. The deal was formalised on July 8, and sets September 4 as the start date for the 2026-27 season. Under the new structure, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be set up as a private limited company to handle ISL operations. The clubs will run the commercial side of the league, while the AIFF continues to look after regulatory duties like referees, anti-doping and integrity. Clubs get a unilateral option to exit the model after 2 years, though AIFF officials say that is unlikely given how talks have progressed. All 14 clubs, including IFL champions Diamond Harbour FC who earn direct promotion, are expected to take part. Each club will pay an annual fee of Rs 1.1 crore, split into 2 instalments, generating close to Rs 15.4 crore a year for the AIFF. Profits from the league will be split 90-10 in favour of the clubs, overseen by an independent auditor. On player rules, there is no mandatory Indian striker policy, and no change to the existing rule of 6 foreign players per squad. The AIFF has encouraged clubs to sign Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) players if they choose to, but this remains optional rather than mandatory. AIFF general secretary Satyanarayan said strengthening the ISL is central to building a stronger Indian national team over the next 5 to 7 years, though he was clear that World Cup qualification is not an immediate target.
Sourav Ganguly to Be Inducted Into ICC Hall of Fame
Sourav Ganguly is set to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. The formal ceremony takes place on July 11, at the conclusion of the ICC's annual conference in Edinburgh. The announcement came on his 54th birthday. It makes him the 12th Indian overall, and the 10th Indian men's cricketer, to receive the honour. Ganguly joins a list of Indian greats already in the Hall of Fame: Sunil Gavaskar , Kapil Dev , Anil Kumble , Rahul Dravid , Sachin Tendulkar , Vinoo Mankad , Bishan Singh Bedi , Virender Sehwag , Diana Edulji , Neetu David and MS Dhoni . He thanked the ICC and chairman Jay Shah on social media soon after the news broke. He called it a huge honour to be part of such a list. Across a career spanning 3 formats, Ganguly scored 18,575 international runs with 38 centuries . In Tests, he made 7,212 runs from 113 matches at an average of 42.17, with 16 hundreds. In ODIs, he piled up 11,363 runs in 311 games at an average of 41.02, including 22 centuries. His opening partnership with Tendulkar remains the most productive in ODI history. It's his captaincy, though, that changed the course of Indian cricket the most. He took over in 2000, in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal. Ganguly led India in 196 matches and won 97 of them . Under him, India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home in 2001. India also reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup, and the final of the inaugural ICC KnockOut Trophy in 2000. He backed a generation of young players too, including MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag. Many of them went on to become key figures in India's later ICC title wins. Ganguly retired from international cricket in 2008. He now serves as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. He is also head coach of the Pretoria Capitals in SA20.
Messi Becomes World Cup's All-Time Leader in Assists as Well as Goals
Lionel Messi added two more milestones to his World Cup legacy in Argentina's round of 16 win over Egypt. His assist for Cristian Romero's equaliser in the 79th minute was his ninth of the tournament, taking him past Diego Maradona's mark of eight and making him the all-time leader in World Cup assists. Messi then scored the equaliser himself four minutes later, his 21st World Cup goal, which keeps him as the outright top scorer in the competition's history. That strike also gave him eight goals for this edition alone, putting him clear at the top of the Golden Boot race ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. He has now scored in nine straight World Cup matches, a run going back to Argentina's title-winning campaign in 2022. Not everything went his way, though. Messi missed a penalty in the first half, his second missed spot kick of this tournament and the fourth of his World Cup career from just eight attempts — a record no other player has matched.
World Cup 2026: All Eight Quarterfinalists Confirmed
The World Cup 2026 quarterfinal lineup is now complete, with all eight teams confirmed after Switzerland's penalty win over Colombia sealed the final spot alongside defending champions Argentina. Here's how the last eight shapes up: France vs Morocco Spain vs Belgium Norway vs England Argentina vs Switzerland Between them, the group blends World Cup heavyweights with sides enjoying rare deep runs — Morocco and Norway in particular have been among the standout stories of the tournament so far, while Switzerland's run has already matched their best showing since the 1950s. The quarterfinals get underway on July 10 and continue through July 12, with all four winners advancing to the semifinal stage.
Switzerland Reach World Cup Quarterfinals for First Time Since 1954
Switzerland are into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, after knocking out Colombia on penalties in the round of 16. It also marks the first time the Swiss have won multiple knockout matches in a single World Cup edition. Manager Murat Yakin called it a release of an old "curse" — Switzerland had never won a World Cup shootout before, having lost their only previous one against Ukraine back in 2006, and had managed just a single shootout win in their last six across all competitions. The win came at a cost, with breakout star Johan Manzambi already missing through injury before kickoff. He'd been one of the team's standout performers so far, contributing three goals and two assists in Switzerland's first four games. Vargas himself trained only partially the day before the match but was fit enough to come off the bench and net the winning penalty. Switzerland now turn their attention to defending champions Argentina in the last eight.
Switzerland Edge Out Colombia on Penalties After Goalless 120 Minutes
Switzerland edged past Colombia 4-3 on penalties at BC Place in Vancouver after neither side could break the deadlock across 120 goalless minutes. Colombia actually had the better of the extra-time chances, with Jhon Lucumí striking the crossbar and Jáminton Campaz blazing over an open goal after a slip from Granit Xhaka, but they couldn't turn possession and shots into a breakthrough. The shootout came down to missed kicks from Davinson Sánchez and Cucho Hernández, with the latter saved by Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel. Manuel Akanji also missed for the Swiss, but it didn't matter in the end — substitute Rubén Vargas, who had only just come on in stoppage time, stepped up and slotted home the winner to send Switzerland through. It's a cruel repeat for Colombia, who now exit on penalties in back-to-back World Cup appearances, having also lost a shootout to England in the 2018 round of 16.
India Suffer Their Biggest-Ever T20I Defeat by Runs, Crushed by England in Nottingham
India's T20I side hit a new low at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, going down to England by 125 runs — the largest margin by runs the team has ever lost by in the format. Put in to bat, England piled up 201 for 7, then bundled India out for a mere 76 in just 11.4 overs to seal the third T20I of the five-match series and move 2-0 up. This beats the earlier mark of an 80-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington, which had stood as India's heaviest T20I defeat by runs. India's innings fell apart inside the powerplay itself, with five wickets down inside the first six overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the top scorer with just 13, while four other batters were dismissed without reaching double figures. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue did the damage for England, taking three wickets apiece. Captain Shreyas Iyer's start to life as India's T20I skipper continues to be a struggle — he is now winless in his first four matches in charge. India will look to respond quickly, with the fourth T20I coming up on July 9 in Bristol, as they try to keep the series alive.
Egypt see four yellow cards in tense finish to World Cup exit against Argentina
Egypt's Round of 16 exit ended on a heated note, with four yellow cards shown to their players in the space of just a few minutes as the final whistle approached against Argentina. Goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir and midfielder Hamdy Fathy were both booked in the 90+5th minute, followed by Marawan Attia in the 90+8th minute, and finally head coach Hossam Hassan, who picked up a card of his own after the match had already ended. The bookings came right after Argentina completed a dramatic comeback, scoring three goals in the final fifteen minutes to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win. With the result slipping away in the closing stages, frustration clearly boiled over on the Egypt side, leading referee Francois Letexier to reach for his cards repeatedly in quick succession. None of the cards changed the outcome of the match, but the timing made them stand out, coming as the final whistle drew a hard-fought World Cup run to a close. Egypt had already made history earlier in the tournament by beating Australia on penalties for their first-ever World Cup knockout win, and they pushed the defending champions all the way in this one before falling just short. For Egypt, the tournament ends at the Round of 16 stage, but the run itself, capped by a spirited, if bad-tempered, finish against Argentina, will be remembered as one of the country's best World Cup showings.
Messi's late double sinks Egypt as Argentina survive 3-2 scare
Lionel Messi turned this game on its head in the space of fifteen minutes, dragging Argentina back from the brink to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16. For most of the match it looked like Egypt might pull off the shock of the tournament, but the champions found a way through when it mattered most. Egypt led twice through Youssef Ibrahim and Mahmoud Ziko, and looked composed and organised for long stretches, frustrating an Argentina side that never quite got going in open play. Cristian Romero got Argentina back on level terms in the 79th minute with a header, but it was Messi who produced the moment of the match four minutes later, firing home a deflected effort that cannoned in off the crossbar to make it 2-2. Enzo Fernandez then sealed the win deep into stoppage time, capping a wild finish that saw Argentina score three times in the last quarter of an hour. The goal put Messi back on top of the race for the tournament's Golden Boot, and keeps alive the idea that this could be one of his last World Cup appearances for Argentina, a thought that's been following him through the whole tournament. It also stretches Argentina's unbeaten run to twelve matches, though back-to-back knockout games that needed a late twist, first extra time against Cape Verde and now this comeback, suggest the champions still have work to do if they want to go all the way again. For Egypt, there's no shame in this one. Reaching the Round of 16 was already a big step for a squad that arrived with modest expectations, and pushing the defending champions this close will only add to a tournament that's already been a success back home. The game also ended on a sour note, with four late yellow cards shown to Egypt players in stoppage time and just after the final whistle, as frustration boiled over in the closing moments. Argentina now move on to face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia in the quarterfinals, while Egypt's World Cup journey comes to an end at the Round of 16 stage.
Spain make World Cup history with sixth straight clean sheet, Simon sets shutout record
Spain have made World Cup history with their defense. The 1-0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16 was their sixth straight clean sheet at the World Cup, the most any team has ever managed in a row. The old record of five was shared by Italy in 1990 and Switzerland across 2006-2010. The streak did not start this tournament. It goes back to a 0-0 draw against Morocco in the 2022 Round of 16, and has continued through this year's group stage draw with Cape Verde, wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, a 3-0 win over Austria in the Round of 32, and now the Portugal game. Goalkeeper Unai Simon deserves a lot of credit. He has now gone 609 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup, breaking the old record of 517 minutes held by Italy's Walter Zenga since 1990. Against Portugal, Simon had to make two real saves, both off Cristiano Ronaldo, including a strong diving stop in the first half. With this defense behind them, Spain look like one of the strongest teams left as they head into the quarterfinals against Belgium.
Australia dominate ICC's Team of the Tournament after record 7th T20 World Cup title
The ICC has picked its Team of the Tournament for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, and champions Australia (AUS) lead the way with four players in the XI. Sophie Molineux (AUS) was named captain after leading Australia to their seventh title, going unbeaten through the whole tournament including a comfortable seven-wicket win over England in the final at Lord's. Beth Mooney (AUS) takes the keeper's spot and was also named Player of the Tournament, thanks to match-winning fifties in both the semifinal and the final. England (ENG), who lost the final, still get two players in. Danni Wyatt-Hodge (ENG) was the standout, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 302 runs, the most ever by anyone at a single Women's T20 World Cup. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG) also made the cut despite missing games with a calf injury. The rest of the team comes from six different countries. Ellyse Perry (AUS) rounds out Australia's strong showing with steady all-round performances through the tournament. India's Shree Charani (IND) was the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, the most ever by an Indian bowler at this tournament, despite India going out before the semifinals. Ireland's Orla Prendergast (IRE), Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu (SL), South Africa's Marizanne Kapp (SA) and Pakistan's Fatima Sana (PAK) round out the XI, with Scotland's Darcey Carter (SCO) picked as the 12th player, the first time a Scotland player has ever made this list. Full XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge (ENG), Sophie Molineux (AUS) (C), Beth Mooney (AUS) (WK), Ellyse Perry (AUS), Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG), Orla Prendergast (IRE), Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Ashleigh Gardner (AUS), Shree Charani (IND), Fatima Sana (PAK). 12th player: Darcey Carter (SCO).
Belgium thrash co-hosts USA 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals
Belgium ended the USA's home World Cup dream in style, beating the co-hosts 4-1 in a one-sided Round of 16 clash. It is a big result because USA are one of the three countries hosting this World Cup, and going out this early, and by this scoreline, will hurt. Charles De Ketelaere was the star of the night. He scored twice, once inside the first ten minutes and again just before the half-hour mark, giving Belgium a firm grip on the game early on. Malik Tillman pulled one back for USA in the 31st minute to keep hope alive, but Belgium never really looked worried after that. Hans Vanaken added a third in the second half, and Romelu Lukaku wrapped things up with a goal in stoppage time to make the final score 4-1. The numbers back up how comfortable Belgium were. They had 15 shots to USA's 6, more shots on target, and did not concede a single yellow card while USA picked up two, to Weston McKennie in the first half and Tillman later on. USA had more of the ball and passed it well, but could not turn that control into real chances. For USA, this is a tough way to bow out of a tournament played on home soil. For Belgium, it is a strong statement going into the quarterfinals, where they will now face Spain, fresh off their own win over Portugal.
No trophy, no regrets: Ronaldo's sixth World Cup ends in Dallas
There was no trophy at the end of it, just a 41-year-old man clapping alone toward a stand full of people who had crossed an ocean to watch him one last time. That was how Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup finished — beaten, eliminated, and unmistakably at peace with it. He had already said the quiet part out loud before a ball was kicked. Sat in front of the cameras the day before facing Spain, Ronaldo dropped the hedging he'd offered for years whenever the retirement question came up. This one was it. No more World Cups after this, whatever the scoreline said at the final whistle. It's a strange thing to announce your own ending in advance and then have to go play the match anyway, knowing every touch might be your last on this particular stage. He took it in stride, by his own admission enjoying this tournament more freely than the five that came before, unshackled from the weight of chasing the one trophy that was always going to be the hardest to reach. The numbers that walk away with him are staggering on their own: 233 caps, 146 international goals, and a place as the only man to find the net across six separate World Cups. None of it bought him the trophy his rivals and countrymen believed he deserved. Portugal's deepest run stayed frozen at the 2006 semifinal, a teenager's tournament, and everything since has ended earlier than the story demanded. Monday's exit follows the same script — a narrow game decided by fine margins, a Portugal side that competed without quite breaking through, and a captain who gave what he had until the substitute whistle blew for the last time in this competition. What happens next for Ronaldo at international level is genuinely open. He stopped short of confirming a full international retirement, leaving the door ajar for a Nations League evening or a friendly send-off somewhere down the line. But the World Cup chapter, the one that mattered most to the way his career gets remembered, is closed. He leaves it the way he said he would going in — without the medal, but by his own account, without regret either.
Merino's late strike ends Ronaldo's World Cup dream as Spain edge Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo's international story closed the way few expected: not with a trophy, but with a quiet substitute doing the damage in the dying seconds. Mikel Merino, on for barely a few minutes, poked home the only goal in first-half-injury-time-plus-one of stoppage in the second half, sending Spain past Portugal and out of the Iberian derby that had promised fireworks but delivered a tense, cagey affair instead. For long stretches the match refused to open up. Spain controlled territory and the ball, finishing with well over half the possession and more than fifty extra passes, but their final ball lacked sharpness until deep into the night. Portugal, leaning on structure rather than tempo, absorbed patiently and looked content to take their chances late through set pieces and moments of individual quality from their captain. It nearly worked. Ronaldo had two efforts on target, more than anyone else wearing red, but a well-organized Spanish backline and a goalkeeper in inspired form kept the sheet clean until that Merino intervention turned the game on its head. The closing minutes turned feisty, with three bookings shown in a span of barely ten minutes as fatigue and frustration set in — Bernardo Silva first, then Renato Veiga for the hosts, and Ferran Torres for the visitors as Spain tried to see out the win. When the whistle finally blew, it was Ronaldo who drew every camera in the stadium, applauding supporters who had made the trip from across the Atlantic, visibly moved by what he had already confirmed before kickoff would be his farewell appearance on this stage. Twenty-seven caps at World Cups, a joint-record for goals scored in the tournament across six different editions, and still no trophy to show for it — his exit line will be remembered for the emotion of the moment rather than the scoreline. Spain move on to face either the USA or Belgium in the quarterfinals, buoyed by a defense that has now gone well over 600 minutes without conceding at this World Cup. For Portugal, the tournament ends in the last 16 once again, and with it, barring a stunning reversal, the international career of one of the sport's most decorated forwards.
Shivam Dube replaces injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India's ODI squad
Shivam Dube has been added to India's ODI squad for the England series, replacing the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy is out with a quadriceps injury picked up during the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, and there's no fixed timeline yet for his return. Dube, who is already in England with the T20I squad, will now stay back for the 50-over leg. It marks his first ODI recall since August 2024. The three-match series against England starts July 14 at Edgbaston, with games in Cardiff and Lord's to follow.
India name 15-man T20I squad for Zimbabwe tour
India have named a 15-man squad for their three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe, starting July 23 at the Harare Sports Club. Shreyas Iyer leads the side, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain, as India take a fairly young group into a short tour that doubles as an audition for fringe players ahead of the busier white-ball season later in the year. The batting group has a mix of experience and youth, with Iyer joined by Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh and uncapped teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Ishan Kishan and Prabhsimran Singh will compete for the wicketkeeping spot. Shivam Dube headlines the all-rounder options alongside Suryansh Shedge and Harsh Dubey, giving the middle order some depth and flexibility. The bowling attack leans on a fresh pace group of Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma and Mayank Yadav, with Varun Chakaravarathy the lone frontline spinner in the squad. All three T20Is will be played at the same venue, on July 23, 25 and 26. Full squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Ishan Kishan, Prabhsimran Singh, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakaravarathy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav.
Neymar announces international retirement after Brazil's World Cup exit to Norway
Neymar has announced his retirement from international football, closing out his Brazil career moments after the Seleção's 2-1 Round of 16 exit to Norway at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. "I tried, I tried. Now, it's over," an emotional Neymar told Globo. "I started here; I finished here." The 34-year-old made his senior Brazil debut at the same venue in August 2010, against the United States, and leaves the national team as its all-time leading scorer with 80 goals in 129 appearances, three ahead of Pelé. He played across four World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), but a nagging calf/hamstring injury restricted him to just two substitute appearances in this tournament, against Scotland and Norway. His final touch in a Brazil shirt was a stoppage-time penalty against Norway, a consolation goal in a defeat that marked Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990. Neymar collapsed in tears at the final whistle before being consoled by teammates Raphinha and Vinicius Junior. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti said Brazil now enters a transition period built around a new generation of players.
Norway reach first-ever World Cup quarterfinal after stunning Brazil
Norway beat Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in their history. Erling Haaland scored twice in the final ten minutes to turn the game, after Brazil had held firm for long periods and looked the more likely winners for most of the night. Brazil actually started the stronger side and had a first-half penalty saved by Norway keeper Ørjan Nyland, who was excellent all night. But Norway grew into the game, controlled long spells of possession, and made their pressure count exactly when it mattered, with Haaland finishing clinically both times. Neymar pulled one back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, but it was already too late, and he picked up a yellow card for his frustration soon after. For the five-time champions, it's their earliest World Cup exit since 1990 — the first time in 36 years Brazil have missed the quarterfinal stage. For Norway, this is uncharted territory. In four World Cup appearances stretching back to 1938, their best previous finish was the Round of 16, reached in 1998 and matched again this year before Sunday's win against Brazil finally broke new ground. Haaland, playing in his first major tournament, has now been directly involved in the difference in almost every one of Norway's knockout games, and this result puts him firmly in the conversation for the tournament's Golden Boot. Norway's reward is a quarterfinal against the winner of Mexico vs England, a tie still being played out. Whichever side comes through, Norway will go in as the form team of the round, and after a performance like this, few will be writing them off as underdogs anymore.
Australia beat England to win a seventh Women's T20 World Cup title
Australia beat England by 7 wickets at Lord's on Sunday to win the Women's T20 World Cup, chasing down 150 with 17 balls to spare and extending their record as the most successful side in the tournament's history to seven titles. It's the first title as captain for Sophie Molineux, who takes her place alongside Belinda Clark, Alex Blackwell, Meg Lanning and the rest of Australia's list of World Cup-winning captains across formats. History heavily favoured Australia coming into the final, and they didn't let this one slip — a fourth win over England in as many meetings at global tournament finals. England were given a platform by Nat Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 58 and a late assault of 44 not out from Freya Kemp, dragging England to 150/4 after a slow start from the top order. Sophie Ecclestone then equalled Katherine Sciver-Brunt's all-time record for England women's wickets during the Australian chase, though it wasn't enough to stop the run flow. In reply, Beth Mooney (64 off 49) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 off 35) put on 100 for the second wicket to put the chase firmly in Australia's control, and Ellyse Perry finished the job unbeaten to seal it with more than three overs to spare. For England, it means a 17-year wait for another Women's T20 World Cup title goes on.
England face Australia's history at Lord's in Women's T20 World Cup final
England and Australia meet at Lord's on Sunday for the Women's T20 World Cup final, and both sides arrive unbeaten. England topped their group before beating South Africa by 40 runs in the semi-final, while Australia won their group and then swept aside the West Indies in theirs. It's a repeat of the venue where England won the very first Women's T20 World Cup back in 2009, and England will be hoping the ground brings them luck again. History, though, heavily favours Australia. This will be the fourth time these two have met in a World Cup final, and Australia have won all three previous meetings, in 2012, 2014 and 2018, each time by a comfortable margin. Australia are also chasing a seventh title overall, which would extend their record as by far the most successful side in the competition's history. England's only World Cup win over Australia in this format came in the 2009 semi-final, on the way to that maiden title. Individually, England have been carried by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the tournament's leading run-scorer with 294 runs, while Sophie Ecclestone has picked up nine wickets with the ball. Australia's threat is more spread out: Ellyse Perry has been their key batter, captain Sophie Molineux has led the bowling attack with ten wickets, and Georgia Wareham has quietly been one of the most effective all-round performers of the tournament. Perry has been managing a minor injury but is expected to play. With a home crowd fully behind them and a chance to end a 17-year wait for another World Cup title, England have plenty of reasons for belief. But Australia's record in these exact finals, against this exact opponent, is hard to ignore. Whichever way it goes, this is cricket's oldest rivalry writing another chapter at the sport's most famous ground.
Paraguay's underdog run continues against France today
Paraguay's surprise World Cup run continues today in Philadelphia, where they face France in the Round of 16 on a day that also carries extra weight as part of the tournament's Independence Day schedule in the United States. Paraguay have already gone further than almost anyone predicted before the tournament, and they got here the hard way — needing penalties to see off Germany 4-3 in the Round of 32 after normal time finished 1-1. That result alone said a lot about this team: they're not the most talented side left in the competition, but they've shown they can grind out results even when they're not playing their best football, and that they don't panic under pressure. France, by contrast, arrive here as one of the most dangerous attacking teams left in the tournament and go into this game as heavy favourites, with players capable of deciding a match in a moment of individual brilliance. On paper, this looks like a straightforward night for France. But football at this stage of a World Cup rarely goes exactly to plan, and a Paraguay side with nothing to lose can be a genuinely awkward opponent for a team that's expected to win comfortably. There's very little pressure on Paraguay here — reaching the Round of 16 was already beyond most expectations, so anything from this game is a bonus rather than a target they need to hit. That kind of freedom can sometimes bring out a team's best performance, especially against opposition that might be tempted to take the game for granted. For neutrals, it's exactly the kind of fixture that makes World Cup knockout football compelling: a heavy favourite against an underdog who has already shown they can handle high-pressure moments when it matters. Whatever happens tonight, Paraguay's run so far has already given their fans and neutrals around the world a story worth following, and a good performance against France — win or lose — would only add to that.
Switzerland's first World Cup knockout win since 1938
Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32, and in doing so recorded their first World Cup knockout-stage win since 1938 — an 88-year gap that finally came to an end. It wasn't a flashy performance, but it was an efficient one: Switzerland controlled long stretches of the game, limited Algeria's attacking threats, and made the most of the chances that came their way. Algeria pushed for a way back into the game in the second half but couldn't break down a Swiss defence that, once it settled into the match, gave almost nothing away. For a team that's often flown under the radar at major tournaments, this result is a real statement. Switzerland have now gone through the group stage and into the knockout rounds without a loss, a run that few people outside their own camp were predicting before the tournament started. There's a quiet, disciplined quality to how this Swiss side plays that doesn't always draw headlines, but results like this one are starting to make people take notice. Switzerland now face Colombia in the Round of 16 on July 7, and this is likely to be a much tougher test of whether their run has real staying power. Colombia have played with more pace and flair through the tournament so far, and it's a different kind of challenge to the more containable games Switzerland have faced up to this point. If Switzerland can bring the same discipline and game management that got them past Algeria, they'll give themselves a real chance. If Colombia are allowed to play at their preferred tempo, though, this could be the game where Switzerland's run finally meets its match.
USA cruise past Bosnia and Herzegovina, set up Belgium clash
The USMNT beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32, one of the more convincing performances from the hosts so far in a tournament where they've had to earn some tougher results than expected. The win eased some of the pressure that had built up after a shakier group stage, and it was exactly the kind of performance a home crowd wants to see heading into the knockout rounds. Bosnia and Herzegovina never really found a foothold in the game and struggled to create clear chances of their own, while the USMNT looked comfortable in possession and clinical when the openings came. The USA now turn to Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 7, a fixture that carries some unfinished business of its own. Belgium have looked dangerous in patches throughout the tournament without ever fully clicking as a team, and this is the kind of game where a well-organised opponent can cause real problems if the USA aren't at their sharpest. A strong performance here would also go some way to settling the ongoing conversation about who's actually been the USA's most important attacking player this tournament. Playing at home adds another layer to this one. Expect a big, loud crowd behind the USMNT, and for a team that's shown it can raise its level under pressure, that support could matter. Getting past Belgium and into the quarterfinals would already be one of the better World Cup runs in the program's history, given how the bracket has opened up elsewhere.
Messi extends World Cup scoring record past Cape Verde
Lionel Messi and Argentina came within a whisker of a genuine World Cup upset against Cape Verde, needing extra time to get past them 3-2 in the Round of 32. Cape Verde, playing in their first-ever World Cup, matched Argentina for long stretches and twice came back to level the score, only for Argentina to eventually find a way through once the game went to extra time. Messi got the goal that mattered and, in doing so, took his career World Cup tally to 20 — now just one behind Kylian Mbappé, who closed the gap himself with a brace in France's group game against Sweden. The two of them chasing the tournament's all-time scoring record has quietly become one of the more interesting subplots of this World Cup, and every round either of them survives keeps that race alive. For Cape Verde, there's no shame in how this one went. A team from a nation of roughly half a million people took the reigning champions to extra time and were unlucky not to force penalties, and it's the kind of run that will be remembered back home for a long time regardless of how the rest of the tournament goes for Argentina. Argentina now move on to face Egypt in the Round of 16 on July 7. It's a game that looked like it would be routine when the draw was made, but Egypt's own run to this stage — including a penalty shootout win over Australia — means it's no longer the formality it might once have seemed. If Argentina want to go all the way again, they'll likely need a cleaner, more controlled performance than the one they just produced.
Ronaldo, Ramos send Portugal past Croatia in stoppage-time drama
Cristiano Ronaldo was on the scoresheet as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32, but it was Gonçalo Ramos who settled it with a goal deep into stoppage time. Croatia thought they'd found a way back into the game in the thirteenth minute of added time, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review using the tournament's new sensor-based offside system — one of the most closely watched calls anywhere in the competition so far. It capped off a tie that was far closer than most people expected given how comfortably Portugal had played through the group stage. Croatia pushed hard in the second half and created enough chances that a different result wouldn't have been a surprise, and Portugal's defence had to work harder than it has all tournament to hold on. Ronaldo's goal kept his record intact as one of the most reliable finishers this World Cup has seen, and at this stage of his career it's another reminder of just how long he's been doing this at the highest level. Ramos, meanwhile, continues to look like exactly the kind of player Portugal need alongside him — direct, confident in front of goal, and unafraid of the big moment. Portugal now move on to face Spain on July 6, which is shaping up to be one of the standout fixtures of the Round of 16. Ronaldo has been open about this likely being his final World Cup, and every round Portugal survive adds another chapter to what's already one of the most decorated careers the sport has seen.
Egypt's first-ever World Cup knockout win
Egypt beat Australia 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 32, after normal time in Dallas ended 1-1. It's the first time in the country's history that Egypt have won a knockout-stage match at a World Cup. Mohamed Salah was involved in most of Egypt's better moments and looked sharp throughout the ninety minutes, even though neither side managed a second goal in open play. The shootout went all the way to sudden death before Egypt finally converted the winning kick, and celebrations back home reflected just how long fans had waited for a moment like this. Australia will feel they let this one slip, having matched Egypt for large parts of the game before missing two of their five spot kicks. For Egypt, reaching the Round of 16 already puts this campaign ahead of the expectations most people had before the tournament started, when they were seen as one of the weaker sides in an expanded 48-team field. The shootout also showed a level of composure under pressure that hasn't always been associated with this Egypt squad at big tournaments. Now they face a much sterner test: Argentina in the Round of 16 on July 7. On paper it's a huge step up, but Egypt have already shown they don't fold under pressure, and a penalty shootout win against a well-organised Australia side is not nothing. If Egypt can keep things tight defensively and get anything at all from Salah in the final third, this has the makings of one of the more interesting ties of the round.