India captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati due to a neck injury sustained during the Kolkata Test. Initially thought to be minor, the injury required hospitalisation and observation, leaving Gill unfit despite his efforts to recover. Left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan, Gill’s Gujarat Titans teammate, will replace him in the XI, while vice-captain Rishabh Pant will lead India for the first time in Tests. Sudharsan, who has shown flashes of promise, adds to India’s left-hander-heavy lineup, posing a tactical challenge against South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer. Gill continues to be monitored by the BCCI medical team.(PC: Facebook)

Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup sparked jubilant scenes in Hampden Park and rare celebrations in the House of Commons. Steve Clarke’s side defeated Denmark 4-2 to top their group, ending a 28-year wait since 1998. Arsenal fan and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised former Gunners left-back Kieran Tierney, who scored a stoppage-time goal to put Scotland ahead, while Kenny McLean sealed victory with a spectacular strike from his own half. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle joked about “Scottish MPs” amid chamber cheers. MP Torchuil Crichton humorously asked Starmer to seek affordable hotels near MetLife Stadium and urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to ease whisky excise duties.

India’s sport climbers face daunting financial and institutional challenges as they strive for Olympic recognition. With no government-recognised body to support them, athletes rely largely on the Armed Forces for livelihood opportunities. The Olympic movement has embraced sport climbing, a modern spin-off from traditional rock climbing, yet in India the path remains steep. Many athletes dream of wearing the India jersey, but reality often forces them to improvise. Nagaland’s Kehihyulo Khing, for instance, was asked to create his own competition t-shirt and attach the logo of an unofficial governing body to compete internationally. For India’s climbers, scaling walls is easier than scaling systemic barriers. (PC: The Indian Express & YourStory.com)

India head coach Gautam Gambhir responded to criticism over the surface at Eden Gardens after India’s 30-run loss to South Africa national cricket team in Kolkata. He stated the wicket “was what we asked for” and rejected ideas it was unplayable, saying there were “no demons” in it. Former India great Sunil Gavaskar backed Gambhir, arguing India’s batting technique—not the pitch—was to blame. Meanwhile, curator Sujan Mukherjee defended his work, saying he prepared the track as instructed despite widespread criticism of its sharp turn and variable bounce. (PC: HT)

Sourav Ganguly said BCCI curators, not CAB, prepared the Eden Gardens pitch for the India–South Africa Test. The match ended in three days and drew criticism for sharp turn and uneven bounce. Ganguly said the CAB had no role after the BCCI took charge four days before the Test. He admitted the pitch was “not the greatest” and said India should play on better surfaces. He added that the pitch was made as per team management requests. Ganguly also backed head coach Gautam Gambhir and said there was no question of removing him. He praised Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill for their work in England. (PC: HT)

Scotland qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park, sealed by stoppage-time goals from substitutes Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean. Scott McTominay's spectacular third-minute overhead kick opened scoring before intense back-and-forth action. Rasmus Hojlund equalized from the penalty spot in the 57th minute, but Rasmus Kristensen's second yellow card reduced Denmark to 10 men. Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland's lead before Patrick Dorgu leveled again. In six added minutes, Tierney fired from 25 yards with McLean scoring from halfway line, topping Group C. Denmark's shocking 2-2 Belarus draw had given Scotland the automatic qualification lifeline. (PC: X) 

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo attended President Donald Trump's White House dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seated near officials and business leaders including Tim Cook and Elon Musk. Trump introduced the 40-year-old Portuguese star to his teenage son Barron, joking the meeting made his son "respect his father a little bit more." Ronaldo has been the Saudi league's face since joining Al-Nassr in 2022 on a reported $200 million-yearly contract, extending through 2026. The club is majority-owned by Saudi's sovereign wealth fund chaired by MBS. Ronaldo promoted Saudi Arabia's successful 2034 World Cup bid and qualified for his record sixth World Cup despite facing a potential ban.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India's archery team for their best-ever performance at the Asian Archery Championships 2025, securing an unprecedented 10 medals including six golds. Modi highlighted the historic Recurve Men's Gold medal, won after an 18-year gap, as particularly significant. The Prime Minister praised strong individual event performances and successful Compound title defenses in his social media post. He emphasized that this remarkable achievement will inspire numerous aspiring athletes across the country. The stellar haul marks a watershed moment for Indian archery, demonstrating the nation's growing dominance in the sport at the continental level and showcasing the dedication and skill of India's archers on the international stage.

India's 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi dominates Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, leading batting charts with 189 runs in two matches. He smashed India's joint second-fastest T20 century in 32 balls against UAE U19, reaching fifty in just 17 deliveries before accelerating to 100 in 15 more. Following up with a 28-ball 45 against Pakistan U19, Suryavanshi became the first player with two sub-35-ball T20 centuries. Oman cricketers Aryan Bisht and Samay Shrivastava expressed amazement at his power-hitting, with Aryan asking "14 saal ke ho, kaise maarte ho ye chakke?" (At 14, how are you smashing those sixes?). His century equals Rishabh Pant as joint third-fastest Indian. (PC: The Indian Express)

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been recalled early to India's Test squad after captain Shubman Gill's neck injury likely sidelines him from the second South Africa Test in Guwahati. The 22-year-old, initially released to represent India A in Rajkot's unofficial ODI series, scored 37 runs and took 1/18 in the first match. Gill, suffering acute neck pain from the Kolkata Test, has been advised against flying and requires three-four days' rest while wearing a neck collar. Since his Australia debut last year, Nitish has played nine Tests, averaging 29.69 with 386 runs including one century and eight wickets. India trails 0-1 after losing the Eden Gardens Test by 30 runs. (PC: BBC)