It was a rather quite day for Indian cricket fans, who recently saw their batting get stranglehold by a top-class spin bowling of Sri Lanka. Jeffrey Vandersay was top notch and took six wickets, single-handedly taking the Lankan Lions home. Now, Team India stand on a brink of breaking their own dominance. This is a golden chance for Sri Lanka to end their 27-year-long wait of beating India in an ODI series. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli were amongst the news as well, with Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra saying that the two stalwarts were not ideally needed by Gautam Gambhir.
Rohit-Kohli shouldn’t be in IND vs SL series?
Ashish Nehra subtly criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir’s strategy in the ongoing IND vs SL ODI series. Nehra argued that Gambhir should have given opportunities to new players instead of relying on veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Following India’s loss in the second ODI, Nehra suggested that Gambhir didn’t need to spend time with experienced players he already knew well. He pointed out that Gambhir isn’t a foreign coach unfamiliar with Kohli and Rohit. Regardless, despite Rohit-Kohli in the team, India are still trailing 1-0 in the IND vs SL series.
Dinesh Karthik now in SA20?
Dinesh Karthik former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player and head coach for IPL 2025, has been announced as a brand ambassador for the SA20 league in South Africa. He joined former RCB teammate AB de Villiers in this role. Karthik, known for his extensive experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL), aims to expand the league’s global fan base. Karthik’s involvement is expected to boost the league’s profile and viewership.
Graham Thorpe no more…!
Former England cricket legend Graham Thorpe died at 55. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced his passing on social media, expressing condolences to his family. Thorpe, a left-handed batsman, played 100 Tests for England, scoring over 6,000 runs. He was also awarded an MBE for his services to cricket. After his playing career, Thorpe transitioned into coaching, serving as part of the England coaching staff.
IND = PAK x 5?
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a salary increase for men’s domestic players. Category 1 players are set to receive the highest amount, approximately 20 lakh Indian Rupees annually. However, this was still five times less than what Indian domestic players could earn, with top Indian players making up to 1 crore rupees per year. Previously, Pakistani players’ salaries ranged from PKR 50,000 to PKR 300,000 monthly. The new structure increased this to PKR 250,000 to PKR 550,000 per month.
What happened to Vinod Kambli?
Once a flamboyant batter renowned for his record-breaking partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli has faced a heartbreaking decline. Recent footage revealed the 52-year-old’s severe health struggles. The once-graceful left-hander was seen struggling to even walk.
Heartbreak for India at Paris Olympics
India’s Olympic hopes were dashed within an hour on August 5. Lakshya Sen, in the badminton bronze medal match, faced Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia. Despite a favorable head-to-head record, Sen was unable to secure a podium finish, losing in three sets.
Concurrently, the skeet mixed team of Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka contended for bronze. In a heart-wrenching finish, the Indian duo missed out on the medal by a single point, finishing fourth with a score of 43. China claimed bronze with 44.
