A renewed debate surrounds the possibility of MS Dhoni stepping into India’s head coach role, fueled by Team India’s inconsistent performance under Gautam Gambhir. While Gambhir’s coaching has yielded uneven results—raising questions about his effectiveness—Aakash Chopra highlighted Dhoni’s calm demeanor and strategic acumen as strengths. However, Chopra noted Dhoni may decline such a demanding, full-time national assignment due to his preference for privacy and varied personal commitments post-retirement. The discussion underscores broader curiosity over leadership direction, balancing Gambhir’s shortcomings with the appeal of Dhoni’s experience—despite doubts about his willingness to take up the mantle. (PC: The Times of India)  

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has broken his silence on being dropped from the IPL 2025 commentary panel. Speaking to The Lallantop, he suggested his “constructive criticism”—particularly of Hardik Pandya during his early tenure as Mumbai Indians captain—may have played a role in the decision. Pathan emphasized that his critiques stem from professionalism, not personal bias, noting, “If I’m criticising you in 7 matches out of 14, I’m still being lenient.” He also highlighted his longstanding support for Baroda players, including Pandya, and recalled having championed him early in his career. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, 10, from London, has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster. She achieved the feat at the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, beating 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells. The International Chess Federation (ICF) confirmed she broke the previous record held by American Carissa Yip by over six months. Sivanandan’s victory earned her the title of Woman International Master, the second-highest ranking for women. Last year, she was the youngest person to represent England in any sport at the Chess Olympiad. England chess team manager Malcolm Pein called her “one of the most remarkable prodigies.” (PC: NDTV)

Cristiano Ronaldo may visit India later this year as his club Al Nassr faces FC Goa in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2, beginning September 16. Though Al Nassr missed qualification for the elite tier, they’ll compete alongside FC Goa, Al Zawraa SC (Iraq), and FC Istiklol (Tajikistan). FC Goa earned their spot by defeating Al Seeb Club of Oman 2–1. It’s unclear if Ronaldo will play in India, echoing Neymar’s absence in Mumbai last year. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s confirmed “GOAT Tour of India” begins December 12 in Kolkata, with stops in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, featuring meet-and-greets and youth masterclasses to inspire future Indian footballers. (PC: Mint)

In the aftermath of India's 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir implemented significant changes to the team's approach. Departing from the aggressive "intent-first" philosophy of the Rahul Dravid era, Gambhir emphasized patience and discipline at the crease, particularly in challenging English conditions. This strategic shift led to improved performances from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, who adapted well to the new approach. Consequently, both players were included in the squad for the England tour, while veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were notably absent. (PC: X)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar in the 2021 murder case of junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra set aside the Delhi High Court’s March 4 order granting him bail, directing Kumar to surrender within a week. Kumar, along with others, is accused of assaulting Dhankar and two friends at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium, leading to Dhankar’s death from blunt force trauma. The wrestler was earlier granted interim bail for knee surgery in 2023. He continues to face trial in the case. (PC: News18)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina for questioning on Wednesday in connection with the 1xBet illegal betting app case. The summons is part of a larger crackdown on betting platforms promoted by celebrities. Recently, actor Rana Daggubati appeared before the ED, while others, including Prakash Raj, Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, and Srimukhi, are also under investigation. In May, Telangana Police booked 25 actors over alleged promotion of such platforms. The ED is examining financial trails of multiple celebrities and politicians, recalling similarities with the Mahdev online betting case involving former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, who denies allegations. (PC: India Today)

The BCCI has dismissed rumours about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from ODIs this year. Reports had claimed they might end their ODI careers after the Australia tour in October. A BCCI source said, “Obviously, if they have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour.” The source added that the board is focused on the Asia Cup in September and the T20 World Cup in February. There are no talks about a farewell match. Both last played for India in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. (PC: PTI)

The highly anticipated javelin clash between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem at the Silesia Diamond League on August 16, 2025, will not take place. Both withdrew from the entry list: Nadeem is recovering from right calf surgery, while Chopra’s withdrawal reason is undisclosed. This cancellation dashes hopes for a rematch following their memorable Paris 2024 Olympic duel, where Nadeem won gold and Chopra took silver. Fans will now look to the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September for a possible renewed face-off between the two star throwers. (PC: PTI)

AIMIM President and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has announced he will not watch the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai, calling the notion of playing cricket amid the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack "painful" and "horrific". He questioned the logic of staging a match with Pakistan while cooperation has been severed—trade halted, airspace closed, and water-sharing suspended—and cited Prime Minister Modi’s stance that "blood and water cannot flow together". Owaisi also demanded accountability for the security failure that led to the attack and criticized the government's inconsistent approach toward national security and foreign policy. (PC: India Today)