Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri has strongly criticised Jasprit Bumrah for his risky shot during the Lord’s Test, saying he “had no business” playing it. Bumrah, who supported Ravindra Jadeja with a 53-ball stay, threw his wicket away, hurting India’s chances in a close chase. Ghavri also slammed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal, calling it an “ugly shot.” However, he defended India captain Shubman Gill’s heated exchange with England’s Zak Crawley, saying such incidents happen in the “heat of the moment.” India eventually drew the five-Test series 2-2 after staging a strong comeback in the final matches. (PC: AFP)

Sunil Gavaskar has sharply criticized Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, warning that “nobody is indispensable.” He questioned the BCCI and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for resting Bumrah during key Tests in England, especially the must-win match at The Oval. Gavaskar emphasized that national duty should outweigh individual concerns and urged selectors to prioritize Test cricket over bilateral white-ball series. He advocated for Bumrah’s inclusion in upcoming Tests against West Indies and South Africa to boost India’s World Test Championship chances. Gavaskar praised bold squad selections but stressed that final XI decisions must align with Indian cricket’s long-term interests, not short-term fitness strategies. (PC: Mint)

Shubman Gill, India’s Test captain and top performer in the England series, is likely to miss the Asia Cup 2025 T20I squad, according to a Cricbuzz report. Despite scoring over 750 runs and excelling in IPL 2025, selectors may favor Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson for opening roles. Yashasvi Jaiswal is a strong contender for backup opener, while Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to feature. Mohammed Siraj, the top wicket-taker in the England series, may also be excluded. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, with Hardik Pandya as the sole pace all-rounder. The final squad will be decided on August 19. (PC: Zap Cricket)

Ajit Agarkar and the Indian selectors will meet on August 19 to pick the squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Reports suggest Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal may not be included, as the committee wants them fresh for upcoming Test matches against the West Indies. Instead, Shreyas Iyer and Jitesh Sharma are likely to be rewarded for their IPL 2025 performances. Iyer’s experience in UAE conditions is seen as a big advantage. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are also expected to keep their places. India will begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against hosts UAE. (PC: HT)

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)