The BCCI has dismissed rumours about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from ODIs this year. Reports had claimed they might end their ODI careers after the Australia tour in October. A BCCI source said, “Obviously, if they have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour.” The source added that the board is focused on the Asia Cup in September and the T20 World Cup in February. There are no talks about a farewell match. Both last played for India in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. (PC: PTI)

The highly anticipated javelin clash between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem at the Silesia Diamond League on August 16, 2025, will not take place. Both withdrew from the entry list: Nadeem is recovering from right calf surgery, while Chopra’s withdrawal reason is undisclosed. This cancellation dashes hopes for a rematch following their memorable Paris 2024 Olympic duel, where Nadeem won gold and Chopra took silver. Fans will now look to the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September for a possible renewed face-off between the two star throwers. (PC: PTI)

AIMIM President and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has announced he will not watch the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai, calling the notion of playing cricket amid the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack "painful" and "horrific". He questioned the logic of staging a match with Pakistan while cooperation has been severed—trade halted, airspace closed, and water-sharing suspended—and cited Prime Minister Modi’s stance that "blood and water cannot flow together". Owaisi also demanded accountability for the security failure that led to the attack and criticized the government's inconsistent approach toward national security and foreign policy. (PC: India Today)  

Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has declared Mohammed Siraj as the best Indian bowler currently, surpassing even Jasprit Bumrah. Akram praised Siraj’s fiery performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, where he bowled 185.3 overs across five Tests, took 23 wickets, and claimed two five-wicket hauls. On the final day of the fifth Test, Siraj’s relentless pace helped India clinch a dramatic six-run win by dismantling England’s lower order. Akram, rarely a viewer outside work, said he was “glued” to Siraj’s spell, calling it full of “hunger and passion.” He emphasized Siraj’s leadership, stamina, and mental strength, stating that Test cricket is “alive and kicking” because of such performances. (PC: India TV News)

India entered Day 5 of the fifth Test at The Oval under pressure—not only to secure a narrow win but also due to a warning from ICC match referee Jeff Crowe: if their over-rate wasn’t improved, they risked losing four World Test Championship (WTC) points for being six overs behind the required pace . Rather than altering strategy to avoid the penalty, coach Gautam Gambhir encouraged the team to go all out for victory . Pacers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj responded, taking the remaining four England wickets in under an hour—India won by just six runs and avoided any points deduction. (PC: NDTV)  

Divya Deshmukh, who triumphed over veteran Koneru Humpy to claim the FIDE Women’s World Cup title and the Grandmaster title—becoming India’s 88th GM—has set her sights even higher. Speaking to Dainik Jagran, the 19‑year‑old said, “If I get a chance to play, I have to play with world number one chess player Magnus Carlsen. He has been a world champion and I will learn a lot.” Reflecting on her victory, she noted that while everyone was tense, she focused on herself throughout the final. Her win also secures her a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. (PC: Hindustan Times)

India’s javelin ace Annu Rani delivered a stellar performance at the 8th International Wiesław Maniak Memorial in Szczecin, Poland, clinching gold with a season-best throw of 62.59 m on her second attempt, following a strong opener of 60.96 m and capped with another 60 m-plus throw (60.07 m) . Her winning effort places her among the top 15 women’s javelin throwers globally this season . Turkey’s Eda Tugsuz took silver (58.36 m) and Australia’s Lianna Davidson earned bronze (58.24 m) . Rani now eyes the 64 m qualification mark for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. (PC: Sportstar)

Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals’ most-capped player and current captain, has reportedly requested a release from the franchise due to serious differences with the management, according to Cricbuzz. The Kerala batter has played 149 IPL matches for RR, scoring 4027 runs and captaining the team in 67 games. Though RR retained him for ₹18 crore in 2025, close sources claim Samson’s relationship with the franchise has deteriorated. While RR denies plans to trade him, insiders suggest the standoff is significant. Samson’s exit could shake up the IPL landscape ahead of the next season’s auction. (PC: X)

During a Durand Cup match, East Bengal fans staged a poignant protest against the branding of Bengali as a “Bangladeshi language.” A poster reading, “Yesterday, we were hanged fighting for India’s freedom. Today, for speaking our mother’s tongue, we become Bangladeshi?” drew widespread attention. The protest follows West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s sharp criticism of Delhi Police, who, in an official letter, referred to Bengali as the “Bangladeshi national language” in a Foreigners Act case. Banerjee called the statement “anti-national and unconstitutional.” The incident has reignited cultural and linguistic tensions, with fans demanding respect for Bengali identity and heritage. (PC: X)

“I am back,” declared Asian Games champion Annu Rani after throwing a season-best 62.59m to win the women's javelin title at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial 2025 in Poland. The Indian star logged three 60m+ throws, with the winning effort her best since her 62.92m gold at Asian Games 2023. The 32-year-old now boosts her chances for World Championships qualification, where the entry mark stands at 64.00m. Türkiye’s Eda Tugsuz (58.36m) and Australia’s Lianna Davidson (58.24m) followed. Other Indians like Pooja (800m bronze), Jisna Mathew, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh also competed in Szczecin’s Continental Tour Bronze event.