Magnus Carlsen, after the first day of the SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz 2025, acknowledged Gukesh's improvement but stated he's yet to be truly impressed by the young Indian chess players. He praised Praggnanandhaa's recent classical tournament wins, highlighting his consistent performance.
India's scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August faces a potential postponement due to pending government clearance amidst diplomatic tensions. While cancellation is not an option as the series is part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme, both cricket boards are expected to discuss rescheduling to find mutually convenient dates. The series includes three ODIs and three T20Is.
Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for appointing Azhar Mahmood as the interim Test team coach. Akmal questioned the logic behind this decision, drawing parallels to Mickey Arthur's controversial role.
Ravi Shastri urges India to respond strongly in the second Test against England at Edgbaston after their narrow defeat in the first Test. Shastri emphasised the importance of resilience and immediate action, hoping for Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion. He also reflected on Shubman Gill's captaincy debut, highlighting the need for proactive leadership and team support to level the series.
Anish Giri, the Dutch Grandmaster, supports Hans Niemann amidst cheating claims. Giri expresses his frustration over the lack of evidence against Niemann. He feels Niemann's treatment was unjust. Giri highlights the complex relationships among top chess players. He describes it as a mix of rivalry, friendship, respect, and a desire to win.
Kavya Maran, CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has addressed her viral reactions during IPL matches, attributing them to her deep personal investment in the team's performance. Under her leadership, SRH has experienced fluctuating success, including a bottom finish in 2023 and a second-place finish in 2024. Maran also oversees the successful Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20.
India's Test match against England at Headingley in July 2025 has shattered streaming records on JioHotstar, attracting 89.1 million viewers. The match, which marks the beginning of India's five-match Test series under Shubman Gill, accumulated 13.7 billion minutes of watch time.