Category: Sports

Indian captain Shubman Gill enters the final Test against England at The Oval on July 31 on the brink of rewriting cricket history. The 25-year-old opener needs just 11 runs to eclipse Sunil Gavaskar’s mark of 732 runs made by an Indian captain in a single Test series (1978–79 West Indies) and 53 runs to surpass Gavaskar’s overall Indian record of 774 runs in a bilateral series (1971 West Indies). Gill has compiled 722 runs across eight innings in this five-match series at an exceptional average of 90.25, featuring four centuries, including a marathon 269 and a match-saving 103 in the second innings at Old Trafford. That knock rescued India from a first-innings deficit of 311 and helped secure a 114-run lead, keeping India’s hopes alive. India currently trail 1–2, making The Oval not only Gill’s chance to secure these landmark personal milestones but also India’s opportunity to salvage a series draw—something they last managed on English soil in 2007. A solid outing from India’s young skipper could swing momentum and deny England a series victory. Beyond Gavaskar’s dual records, Gill lies 89 runs shy of another almost 90-year-old benchmark: Sir Donald Bradman’s 810 runs as captain in the 1936–37 Ashes. Bradman’s tally came from nine innings at an average of 90.00, including a top score of 270. Surpassing Bradman would make Gill the highest-scoring captain ever in a single Test series. Moreover, if Gill converts at The Oval, he could become the first captain in history to notch five centuries in one bilateral series—a feat currently shared only by Gavaskar and Bradman. His four centuries so far already tie him with those legends. As India battles to level the series and end its 18-year drought of drawn or winning Test series in England, all eyes will be firmly on Gill. With history on the line and records within reach, the final Test promises to be a stage for one of cricket’s most prodigious talents to cement his legacy.

The highly anticipated World Championship of Legends semifinal between India and Pakistan, set for Thursday, July 31, in Birmingham, was abruptly called off after the Indian Legends side declined to take the field against their traditional rivals. Tournament promoters awarded the match—and Pakistan’s place in the final—to the Pakistani Legends squad. According to insiders, Indian players had already objected to facing Pakistan during the league stage, primarily over the inclusion of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi in the opposition lineup. With anti-Pakistan sentiment running high in India—amplified by recent military and diplomatic tensions—the team maintained its boycott stance for the semifinal. The decision drew further controversy when one of the event’s principal sponsors, EaseMyTrip, formally disassociated itself from any match involving Pakistan. In a statement, the travel company reaffirmed its five-year sponsorship of the WCL but declared it would “not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan,” emphasizing its loyalty to “Team India.” The Indian Champions squad—featuring legends such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and the Pathan brothers—had secured their semifinal berth by defeating West Indies on Tuesday. Dhawan himself had reiterated on social media earlier this week that he would not participate in fixtures against Pakistan. Meanwhile, the other semifinal between South Africa and Australia is still scheduled to proceed on Thursday as planned. With Pakistan now through to the final by default, organizers must navigate the fallout from what has become a flashpoint intersection of sport, politics, and national sentiment.

Nineteen-year-old Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh etched her name into history as India’s first Women’s World Cup chess champion on Monday, defeating legendary GM Koneru Humpy in a knife-edge rapid tie-break. Sitting beside her throughout the tension was an unlikely companion—a lone banana, untouched until the final move. Despite playing Black in the decisive game—traditionally a slight disadvantage—Deshmukh navigated a tense 69-move battle. Humpy’s 40.e4 and 41.d5 presses forced 42…cxd5 from Deshmukh, but both veterans then traded inaccuracies under severe time pressure. When Humpy’s position collapsed after 69.h7, she resigned six moves later, handing the teenager a stunning victory. The triumph crowned India’s 88th Grandmaster—and only the fourth Indian woman (after Humpy, D. Harika, and R. Vaishali) to earn the GM title. Remarkably, Deshmukh achieved this in one tournament, without the usual three-norm requirement. Throughout the final, a banana sat by her scoresheet. Asked why, Deshmukh quipped, “If I start eating it, you’ll know I’m relaxed”—yet she never did, as each opponent foiled her snack break. Like Rafael Nadal’s water-bottle rituals or MS Dhoni’s glove-taps, the banana became her talisman. As applause rang out in Batumi’s playing hall, Deshmukh—her eyes glistening—lifted the gold medal and the World Cup trophy. And while the banana remains unbitten, the victory proved far sweeter than any fruit could ever be.

One of the least acknowledged aspects of Test cricket is its sheer physical toll. The Old Trafford Test served as a powerful reminder of this. Had this been a three-match series, the narrative might have offered India an honourable 2-1 defeat — one that could’ve swung their way with a touch more luck or ruthlessness. But the reality of a five-Test series exposed deeper truths, especially about physical resilience. By the fourth Test, India’s attack had started to show signs of wear. The pace of their strike bowlers had dipped, and their injury replacement failed to make an impact. Meanwhile, England — after early fortune — now looked fitter, sharper, and more durable. Their conditioning, while not significantly superior, was enough to start tipping the scales. India’s batters had one final opportunity to alter the script. Ben Stokes might believe pain is just an emotion, but India had a chance to make his teammates physically feel the weight of a long Test series played out on unyielding, flat pitches. However, things began badly. India lost two wickets in the first over of their second innings, including their best batter of the last five years, who was sidelined with a broken foot. Despite the shaky start, India had a rare ally — a pitch that was dying slowly, offering a glimmer of hope for survival. Batting out five sessions in modern cricket is an outdated art, especially with a deficit of 311 runs. It demanded mental discipline, patience, and an ability to slow the game down to a crawl — ball by ball, without urgency or counterattack. India needed only four batters to negotiate the 875 balls that separated them from a draw. KL Rahul was one of them. Long viewed as a talented but inconsistent player, Rahul had never scored 400 runs in a series or more than one hundred in a single campaign. Much of his previous success came early in tours, fading away as series progressed. Yet this time, he stood tall. His 230-ball effort didn’t hinge on milestones. He was so immersed in survival mode that he didn’t even notice a misfield late on Day 4. The highlight of his knock? Forcing Ben Stokes to risk a torn bicep and produce a near-unplayable delivery to dismiss him. At the other end, Shubman Gill — in the form of his life, but under the microscope as captain — silenced his critics with actions, not words. Amid questions about team selection, use of bowlers, and leadership decisions, he let his bat do the talking. Gill weathered 238 deliveries in his slowest Test hundred, calm and composed. When Liam Dawson targeted the rough against Washington Sundar, Gill shielded the young batter by taking on the left-arm spin himself — a small but significant leadership gesture. Washington, promoted due to Rishabh Pant’s injury, showed exactly why the management is so invested in his potential. His innings wasn’t built for highlight reels, but for endurance. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja — India’s premier allrounder — the pair defied England’s bowlers for more than two sessions, surviving 55.2 overs together. Jadeja, who crossed 1000 runs and 30 wickets in England, and Washington, who finally notched his maiden Test century after earlier heartbreaks, were relentless. By the end, the physicality had flipped. England — who once looked the fresher side — were now exhausted. They even seemed eager to leave the field with 15 overs left. India, conversely, had a full roster of fit pacers once again, and fortune turned their way with three dropped catches that proved critical. Now, India has a chance to level the series 2-2. Given how the pendulum has swung, that seems like a just result. And perhaps, most importantly, it’s a blessing this wasn’t a three-Test series. The real story — of resolve, pain, and physical courage — would have gone untold.

In a major move to boost youth empowerment and sports excellence, the Delhi government has increased the cash awards for Olympic and Paralympic medalists under the newly launched Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana. Announced after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the revised incentives are: Winners of Olympic gold and silver will also be eligible for Grade A government jobs. For the Asian and Para Asian Games, medal rewards have also been significantly raised: Additionally, Education Minister Ashish Sood announced the Mukhyamantri Digital Education Scheme, which includes: These initiatives are aimed at fostering sporting excellence and enhancing digital access for Delhi’s youth.