India surged ahead in the 2nd Test at Edgbaston as Mohammed Siraj claimed 6 wickets to bowl England out for 407, giving India a commanding 180-run first-innings lead. Siraj struck early on Day 3, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes in successive balls. Akash Deep supported with 4 wickets. Despite England’s collapse to 84/5, Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) rescued the innings with a 303-run stand. Their effort helped England avoid the follow-on, but India remain in control. The match now heads into a crucial fourth day, with India eyeing a 2-0 lead in the series. (PC: BCCI)

On Day 3 of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, India pacer Akash Deep finally ended England’s massive 303-run stand by dismissing Harry Brook for 158. Jamie Smith, however, remains unbeaten and is closing in on a double century as England reached 395/6 in 85 overs. Earlier in the day, Mohammed Siraj rattled England with two back-to-back wickets, removing Joe Root and Ben Stokes when they were just 84/5. But Smith and Brook rebuilt the innings with resilience. Smith also notched the joint third-fastest Test century by an Englishman. India’s Shubman Gill earlier stunned with a record 269-run knock. (PC: BCCI)

Day five at Wimbledon 2025 showcases pivotal third‑round clashes under warm, sunny skies. Naomi Osaka finds her grass‑court groove, comfortably advancing early. Centre Court headlines feature former champions: Carlos Alcaraz aims for a hat‑trick against Jan‑Lennard Struff, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka meets British hope Emma Raducanu, seeking redemption after outlasting Marie Bouzkova earlier. Britain’s singles contenders remain thin: Cam Norrie and Sonay Kartal follow Draper’s exit to Marin Cilic, with Norrie facing Mattia Bellucci and Kartal up against Diane Parry. Naomi Osaka battles Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys also strive for deeper runs. A mix of emerging talent and seasoned stars fuels steady drama at SW19. (PC: The Guardian & BBC)

On Day 3 of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, England resumed at 77/3, trailing India’s mammoth 587 declared, powered by Shubman Gill’s majestic 269 off 387 balls. India’s highest individual Test score in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 and breaking a 46‑year record. Gill’s innings included partnerships of 203 with Ravindra Jadeja (89) and 144 with Washington Sundar (42), rescuing India from 211/5. Indian bowlers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj reduced England to 77/3, with Root and Brook mounting a minor recovery at stumps. England’s Bazball strategy yielded mixed returns on a flat pitch, while clear skies and a fired‑up crowd set the tone for a pivotal Day 3. (PC: BCCI, X & NDTV Sports)

Wimbledon has moved into the digital age. From June 30 to July 13, 2025, the All England Club has replaced human line judges after 147 years with Hawk‑Eye Live electronic line calling on all 18 match courts. The system uses pre‑recorded voices to announce “Out” and “Fault,” promises near‑instant and consistent decisions, and aligns Wimbledon with other Grand Slam events. Fans and players including John McEnroe, Aryna Sabalenka, and Cam Norrie commend its precision and black‑and‑white clarity. Some traditionalists lament the loss of human presence and worry about officials’ career paths. CEO Sally Bolton says it’s not cost‑cutting but evolution. The French Open remains the only Slam retaining judges. (PC: BBC, The Guardian & CNN)

Liverpool and Portugal striker Diogo Jota (28) and his brother André Silva were killed in a Lamborghini crash in Zamora, Spain, on July 3. The car reportedly suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, veered off the A‑52 motorway, and caught fire. Jota had married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso on June 22 and had three children. Having failed to arrive in Benavente, a relative alerted authorities, prompting discovery of the crash. Due to unidentifiable license‑plates and charred remains, Rute was called to identify the bodies and personal effects. She has since been given psychological counselling. The Civil Guard is probing the accident; initial reports indicate no other cars were involved. (PC: Liverpool FC)

Indian prodigy D. Gukesh stunned World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen with a rapid win at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia in Zagreb, extending his lead to 10 points and reinforcing his supremacy in the tournament . Former world champion Garry Kasparov, commentating, stated this “isn’t just his second loss…it’s a convincing loss,” adding that Carlsen’s dominance is now questionable . Gukesh’s strategic resilience, especially under time pressure, showcased his evolution as a top-tier threat. Carlsen had earlier labeled Gukesh as “presumably weaker” in rapid/blitz—a notion now refuted on the board. (PC: X)

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has criticized India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah and omit Kuldeep Yadav for the Edgbaston Test, calling it “baffling” and urging the return of attacking options . Finch tweeted, “If Bumrah was fit… at least Kuldeep has to be in the XI,” . Meanwhile, former India all‑rounder Irfan Pathan echoed the sentiment, saying players shouldn’t “pick and choose” matches . India countered that the squad change aimed to manage bowling workload and bolster batting depth. India finished Day 1 strongly with captain Shubman Gill scoring a century amid the selection storm. (PC: NDTV)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reportedly advised the BCCI to call off or reschedule the White-ball cricket tour to Bangladesh set for mid-August, citing strained bilateral relations and recent political sensitivities . While cancellation is under consideration, the Bangladesh Cricket Board maintains the ICC Future Tours Programme requires the series, prompting discussions on alternate windows, possibly in August–September . Media rights sales have been paused by Bangladesh, reflecting the uncertainty . A final decision is expected within days as both boards await governmental clearance. (PC: AP)

Indian chess prodigy D. Gukesh, delivered a commanding performance at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament in Zagreb. Following an earlier jibe from Magnus Carlsen who downplayed him as “one of the presumably weaker players”Gukesh avenged with back-to-back wins against Carlsen in Round 6 rapid, taking outright lead with 10/12. Earlier, he showcased dominance over Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Fabiano Caruana, marking five consecutive victories and master Garry Kasparov noted this as a “convincing loss” for Carlsen, signalling a potential shift in elite chess . Gukesh now stands two points clear heading into blitz, poised to challenge the legend’s rapid‑blitz reign. (PC: English Bombay Samachar)