Shahid Afridi criticised India after the World Championship of Legends (WCL) cancelled the India vs Pakistan match, citing Indian players' withdrawals following the Pahalgam terror attack. Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan reportedly pulled out. Shikhar Dhawan confirmed his exit, citing "geopolitical" reasons. Afridi urged keeping politics separate from sport, saying, “One bad egg spoils everything.” WCL organisers awarded Pakistan Champions the points. Afridi dismissed suggestions his presence caused the issue, adding cricket must come first. WCL confirmed future matches remain as scheduled, with decisions on potential knockouts to be made later. (PC: HT)

India suffered fresh injury blows ahead of the 4th Test against England in Manchester. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out after suffering a knee ligament injury during a gym session. Seamer Arshdeep Singh has also been ruled out due to a hand injury sustained in training. Akash Deep, who starred in Birmingham, remains doubtful. The injuries further weaken India’s bowling depth, already strained with Rishabh Pant’s injury and workload concerns over Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Anshul Kamboj has been drafted into the squad as cover, though no official announcement has been made yet. (PC: India Today)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that England will host the next three World Test Championship (WTC) finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031. England has already staged all three previous finals, including the 2025 edition at Lord’s where South Africa defeated Australia. The ICC cited England’s “successful track record” despite India’s interest in hosting. England and Wales Cricket Board chief Richard Gould said hosting the finals highlights the country’s love for Test cricket. Nearly 110,000 fans attended the 2025 final. England finished fifth in the 2023-25 cycle, largely due to points deductions for slow over-rates. (PC: X)

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to play the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the upcoming match is a must-win. Akash Deep, who starred at Edgbaston, is nursing a recurring back issue and may sit out. Arshdeep Singh also sustained a hand injury during nets, prompting selectors to call up Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj as cover. Team sources confirm Bumrah will play only three Tests this series, meaning if he features in Manchester, he’ll miss the Oval Test. Akash may replace him there. India’s bowling lineup faces uncertainty, but Bumrah’s inclusion signals an aggressive push to level the series. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Indian long‑jump sensation Murali Sreeshankar secured gold at the Meeting Maia Cidade do Desporto in Maia, Portugal, on July 20, 2025. He soared to a winning distance of 7.75 m, outpacing rivals from Europe and beyond. This performance marks a significant comeback following his recent knee surgery, signaling his readiness ahead of the global season. Competing at a high‑calibre international meet, Sreeshankar demonstrated technical consistency and competitive sharpness. His winning leap not only earned him first place but also served as a morale booster as he eyes World Championships qualification later this year. (PC: The Hindu)

India ranked 7th among 110 countries at the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. The six-member team won three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, achieving a record national score of 193/252. This marks the second time India secured three golds (first in 1998) and the third time it placed 7th, matching results from 1998 and 2001. The team was trained and selected by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), TIFR. Members included Kanav Talwar, Aarav Gupta, Adhitya Mangudy (gold), Abel George Mathew, Aadish Jain (silver), and Archit Manas (bronze). India has now placed in the top 10 seven times since its IMO debut in 1989.(PC: The Indian Express)

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa stunned World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen for the second time in three days at the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. Playing with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa forced Carlsen to resign in 43 moves after a bold queen sacrifice by the Norwegian. Despite this, Carlsen bounced back, winning the reverse game and two blitz tiebreaks to advance. Earlier, Praggnanandhaa had defeated Carlsen in just 39 moves during the group stage. Carlsen later beat Arjun Erigaisi to reach the Lower Bracket final, where he will face Hikaru Nakamura. The final will feature Hans Niemann vs. Levon Aronian. Carlsen’s struggles against Indian prodigies continue to raise eyebrows.

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) has officially cancelled the India vs Pakistan legends cricket match scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, following the withdrawal of several Indian former cricketers, including Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan. The players cited discomfort due to rising geopolitical tensions and public backlash after the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Event sponsor EaseMyTrip also pulled out in protest against Pakistan’s inclusion. In response, the WCL issued a public apology, acknowledging it “unintentionally caused discomfort” and aimed only to promote goodwill through sport.  

India narrowly lost to England by 22 runs at Lord’s during the third Test of the series. Ravindra Jadeja and the bowlers put up a brave fight, but a middle‑order collapse derailed India’s 193‑run chase . Former England pacer Steve Harmison argued India “greatly missed the cutting edge provided by Kohli” and urged the team to “start believing,” noting that Kohli’s experience and calm in fourth‑innings chases could have secured the win . Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir were encouraged to embrace that winning mentality moving forward. (PC: AP)    

With India trailing 1–2 in the Anderson‑Tendulkar Trophy, Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the crucial 4th Test at Manchester (starting July 23) is uncertain, as he is scheduled to play only three of five matches . Veteran Ajinkya Rahane has endorsed left‑arm wrist‑medium Arshdeep Singh—a 26‑year‑old yet to make his Test debut—for the replacement role. Rahane praised Arshdeep's ability to swing the ball both ways, use his angle to roughen up the surface, and aid spinners . However, Arshdeep sustained a minor cut during net practice, with fitness expected to be confirmed in coming days. (PC: NDTV)