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)

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen hugging Eden Gardens curator Sujan Mukherjee during India’s optional practice in Kolkata. The moment came amid strong debate over the pitch used in the first Test, where India lost to South Africa by 30 runs. Many experts questioned the dry surface and uneven bounce. Gambhir said the team had asked for a spinning track and praised the curator for following instructions. The two were seen chatting calmly, showing no tension. India failed to chase 124 in the match, raising further questions. Shubman Gill’s injury has also added to India’s concerns. (PC: HT)

Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum sparked a major debate after he waved the Indian flag during a concert in Nepal. A fan threw the flag on stage, and Anjum caught it, waved it, and wrapped it around himself. The video went viral and brought strong criticism, while many others praised him for showing peace. With India-Pakistan cultural ties frozen since the May conflict, the act stood out even more. Anjum later said he did not care about the backlash and would do it again, adding that his art has “no borders”. 

Sunil Gavaskar backed Gautam Gambhir's defence of Eden Gardens pitch after India's embarrassing 30-run loss to South Africa, collapsing for 93 while chasing 124. Gavaskar blamed poor technique and temperament, not pitch conditions, stating the target was chaseable with five wickets remaining. He criticized batters for attempting big shots too early, playing like T20 instead of five-day Test cricket. Gavaskar praised South African captain Temba Bavuma's disciplined 55 off 136 balls as the example Indian batters ignored. The Test ended in two-and-a-half days, marking India's first sub-100 fourth-innings total. With four home Test losses in six matches, pressure mounts on Gambhir ahead of Guwahati's second Test. (PC: NDTV Sports) 

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana sparked controversy by referencing Harmanpreet Kaur while denying explosive abuse allegations from former pacer Jahanara Alam. Alam claimed junior players complained that Sultana physically hit and misbehaved with them. Responding sharply, Sultana asked, "Why would I get physical? Am I Harmanpreet?" referencing the Indian captain's infamous 2023 stump-smashing incident during India's Bangladesh tour after an LBW decision. Sultana questioned why players would call Alam in Australia instead of approaching team management if abuse occurred. She emphasized her personal space activities differ from professional conduct and challenged anyone to verify the allegations with other players or staff members.(PC: India TV News)