Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has strongly criticized former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his recent comments regarding the Indian Army following the Pahalgam attack. Afridi had urged the United Nations to intervene in Kashmir, describing the situation as "appalling." In response, Dhawan took to Twitter, advising Afridi to focus on his own country's issues and stating, "Pehle khudke desh ki haalat sudharo... Zyaada dimaag mat lagao." Other Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Kapil Dev, and Ishant Sharma, also expressed their disapproval of Afridi's remarks. Kohli emphasized his commitment to India's interests, while Kapil Dev questioned Afridi's relevance. The incident has sparked widespread criticism from Indian sports personalities. (PC: AFP & NDTV)

In an extraordinary IPL 2025 match, Rajasthan Royals' 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi stunned the cricket world by smashing his first IPL century in just 35 balls — the fastest ever by an Indian in IPL history. Facing Gujarat Titans, Suryavanshi scored 101 off 38 balls, also recording the season’s quickest half-century in just 17 balls. His explosive innings powered RR to 174/2 in just 13 overs, chasing GT’s 210-run target. Teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal supported with a fifty, while GT’s Shubman Gill scored 84 earlier before being substituted by Rashid Khan. This match is crucial for RR's playoff qualification hopes. (PC: BCCI)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) facilitated the safe return of 23 Indian nationals involved in the production and broadcast of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches. The move follows heightened diplomatic tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 tourists were killed. Responding to a government directive asking Indian citizens to leave Pakistan by April 30, the PCB ensured their exit via the Wagah border. The Indian technicians were employed by a company handling PSL broadcasts. To maintain production quality, the company has now replaced them with local and other foreign professionals. (PC: India Today)

Liverpool secured their second Premier League title in 35 years after defeating Tottenham at Anfield, with four games still remaining. Although they are champions, the official Premier League trophy lift will take place on Sunday, May 25, after their final home game against Crystal Palace. Unlike 2020's closed-door celebrations due to Covid-19, fans will now witness the ceremony. A city parade is highly probable but not officially confirmed yet. If held, it may occur on Monday, May 26, coinciding with a bank holiday. Liverpool last paraded in 2022 after FA Cup and League Cup wins, with their 2019 Champions League celebration attracting around 750,000 fans. (PC: Liverpool FC)

Liverpool clinched their 20th English league title, equalling Manchester United's record, with a 5–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Despite an early goal from Dominic Solanke, Liverpool responded with goals from Luis Díaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and an own goal by Destiny Udogie. Under new manager Arne Slot, who succeeded Jürgen Klopp, the Reds secured the title with four games remaining, leading Arsenal by 15 points. Slot became the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League and only the fifth to do so in his debut season. It was party time at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool sealed the Premier League title in style. Fans had turned up long before kickoff, lining the streets around the stadium in anticipation of a title celebration. And despite going behind to an early goal from Dominic Solanke, Liverpool didn't let them down  racing to a 3-1 lead by halftime to effectively ensure there would be no further delay to a title victory that has looked likely for much of the season. (PC: Liverpool FC)

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were involved in a heated exchange during the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday. The altercation occurred while Kohli was batting and Rahul was keeping wickets, though the cause remains unclear. Both players quickly returned focus to the game. RCB defeated DC by six wickets, climbing to the top of the points table. Krunal Pandya starred with an unbeaten 73, alongside Kohli’s composed 51, sharing a match-winning 119-run stand. RCB successfully chased 163 in 18.3 overs, continuing their impressive unbeaten streak away from home.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched the top spot in IPL 2025 with a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chasing 163, Krunal Pandya hammered an unbeaten 73 off 47 balls, while Virat Kohli scored a steady 51 off 47 deliveries, briefly reclaiming the Orange Cap. Earlier, DC posted 162/8, with KL Rahul top-scoring with 41 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3/33, and Josh Hazlewood bagged 2/36 to restrict DC. Despite Tristan Stubbs’ late cameo, RCB chased down the target with nine balls to spare, reinforcing their dominance as the playoffs approach. (PC: BCCI)

The IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens was called off after a fierce thunderstorm caused chaos. Former cricketer Matthew Hayden described the scene as "absolute chaos," witnessing six ground staff members being lifted into the air while trying to secure covers against 60-70 km/h winds. With no proper weights to anchor them, the covers blew into the stands. The game had barely started, with KKR at 7/0 after one over, before heavy rain and dust storms halted play. The dramatic scenes were broadcast live, adding to a wild night in Kolkata. (PC: The Indian Express)

Cricket legend Steve Waugh believes China could become a major force in world cricket as the sport moves towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Speaking at an exclusive event at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, hosted by Manish Tiwari, Waugh said, "As soon as cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics was announced, China started building a team. They are serious about winning gold."   Waugh, who was interviewed by Manish Tiwari during the evening, explained how T20 cricket is changing the game. "T20 is massive now. It’s billions of dollars, and it’s growing every day," he said. "Test cricket will survive, but T20 will dominate. Players will soon be contracted mainly to franchises. Test matches might even need special permissions."   He also shared his thoughts on how countries like Saudi Arabia and the USA are investing heavily in cricket. "It’s exciting," Waugh said. "The game is reaching new parts of the world, and the Olympics will take it even further."   While the future of cricket was the highlight of the start of the evening, the conversation soon turned to Waugh’s deep connection with India. Manish Tiwari introduced him warmly as "Steve Da," a name given by the children at Udayan Home in Kolkata.   "When Manish called me Steve Da, it felt special," Waugh said, smiling. "India is like a second home. The people, the culture, the passion — it stays with you forever."   Waugh spoke fondly about his many trips to India, not only as a cricketer but also as a photographer and humanitarian. He described India as "the best place in the world for photography," and recalled how one of his photos from Rajasthan won a World Photography Award. "In India, you really can't take a bad photo," he joked.   The evening then moved to Waugh’s charity work, both in India and Australia. Speaking about the Steve Waugh Foundation, he shared a powerful story of a young boy who could not walk or talk but, after receiving therapy supported by the foundation, went on to win two Paralympic gold medals.   "It’s great when you see lives being changed," Waugh said. "You realize how much impact you can have by simply getting involved and giving people a chance."   Waugh also reflected on how he helped inspire other cricketers to take up charity work in India. "Back then, not many sportspeople were doing it," he said. "But I think seeing someone take the first step made others realize they could too."   The event was supported by State Bank of India (UK), Rainforest Water, Aaj Tak, and NDTV 24x7. The sponsors were later thanked by the organizers for making the special evening possible.   Manish Tiwari closed the session by saying, "Steve Waugh’s story is not just about cricket. It’s about leadership, humility, and using your fame to make a real difference."

India’s Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will not travel to South Korea for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships. The Athletics Federation of India announced a 59-member squad, but Chopra has chosen to skip the continental event to focus on preparing for the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships later this year. This strategic move is aimed at managing his training load and peaking at major global competitions. Despite his absence, India is fielding a strong squad in South Korea, hoping to maintain its presence and success at the Asian level. (PC: PTI)