Ahead of India’s crucial 4th Test against England, Irfan Pathan has urged selectors to rethink team choices. He suggested Sai Sudharsan should replace Karun Nair, highlighting Nair’s poor run of form despite batting well. Pathan pointed out that England have struggled against left-handers and Sai’s return could offer India a tactical edge. On the bowling front, Pathan backed Prasidh Krishna over newcomer Anshul Kamboj, citing experience in key matches. India trail 1-2 in the five-match series, making the Manchester Test a must-win. Shubman Gill leads the side under scrutiny after India’s 22-run defeat at Lord’s. (PC: BCCI)

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has criticised Test captain Shubman Gill, claiming he is trying to imitate Virat Kohli’s aggressive on-field behaviour. Tiwary said Gill’s confrontations during the Lord’s Test against England, including verbal spats with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, affected his batting as India slipped to a 2-1 series deficit. He argued Gill’s aggression was unnecessary and detracted from his performance, citing similar behaviour in the IPL. Tiwary urged Gill to focus on winning matches rather than verbal exchanges. India faces England in the crucial Manchester Test from July 23 as the series continues. (PC: India Today)

Koneru Humpy created history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup in Batumi. A draw against China's IM Song Yuxin in the second game sealed her progress after winning the first. Humpy now faces top seed Lei Tingjie in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Harika Dronavalli and Divya Deshmukh drew their first quarterfinal match, while Vaishali Rameshbabu’s impressive run ended against China’s Tan Zhongyi. The tournament’s top three will qualify for the Candidates. With Humpy’s feat, India is assured of representation in the upcoming Candidates. (PC: X)

India’s star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will play the fourth Test against England, starting July 23 at Old Trafford. The confirmation came from fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj during a press meet in Manchester. Bumrah had played the first and third Tests, and his spot in the fourth was uncertain. With India trailing 2-1 in the series, his return is a big boost. Siraj said, “Jassi bhai to khelege.” Both Bumrah and Siraj are leading wicket-takers in the series. India will hope to bounce back after a close loss at Lord’s and aim for a win at Old Trafford, where they’ve never won. (PC: X/@BCCI)

Lancashire cricket club will honour West Indies legend Clive Lloyd and former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer by naming stands after them at Old Trafford during the India-England fourth Test starting July 23. Engineer, who played for Lancashire between 1968-1976, scored 5942 runs and took 429 catches, while Lloyd, a two-time World Cup-winning captain, spent two decades transforming the club’s fortunes. Both legends are celebrated for their immense contributions. Engineer, now settled in Manchester, expressed gratitude for the recognition. The ceremony is expected on Day 1 of the Test, with former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar attending. (PC: India Today)

India faces a double blow ahead of the fourth Test against England in Manchester. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is ruled out of the remaining two Tests due to a left knee injury sustained during a gym session. Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh also misses the fourth Test after injuring his left thumb in training. The BCCI has added Anshul Kamboj to the squad as cover. India trails 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and must win in Manchester to stay alive. Akash Deep’s fitness remains uncertain, while calls for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion grow. The fourth Test begins July 23 at Old Trafford. (PC: NDTV & KreedOn)

Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathoner, was cremated with full state honours in his native Bias village, Punjab. At 114, Singh was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident on July 14. Dignitaries including Punjab Governor Kataria, CM Bhagwant Mann, and PM Modi paid tribute. Modi’s condolence letter praised Singh’s fitness legacy. The state will rename the village school and erect statues in his honor. Singh began running at 89, completing marathons globally. His resilience inspired millions. The accused, a Canada-based NRI, was arrested. Leaders urged stricter laws against hit-and-run cases. Singh’s legacy will live on through proposed memorials and youth sports initiatives.

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)