Name: IPL 2023 points table: Kolkata end poor run to go 7th after easy win over RCB
Uploaded: 2023-04-27T00:08:02.000+05:30
Duration: T00M21S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Kolkata Knight Riders do the double over Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 21-run win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium which pushes them from 8th to 7th in the standings.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty rejoin BWF top 10. Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Unnati Hooda rise in rankings. Sindhu maintains top position for Indian women. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri stay solid in doubles.

Indian Badminton Stars Shine in BWF Rankings

Satwik-Chirag return to BWF top 10; Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy improve singles ranks. Unnati Hooda reaches career-best in women’s singles while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri hold at No. 11 in doubles. Indian shuttlers excel globally.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty return to BWF top 10 in men&rsquo;s doubles. Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy improve men&rsquo;s singles ranks.

Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty returned to top 10 in the BWF mens' doubles World Rankings released on Tuesday, climbing three spots following their semifinal finish at the China Open last week.
The former world No. 1 duo, now ranked 10th, lost to the Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 13-21, 17-21 in the semifinals.
This was their third semifinal appearance on the BWF Tour this season, having earlier reached the last four at the Singapore Open and India Open.
The Indian pair had reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking after the title win at the Thailand Open last year.
In men&rsquo;s singles, top-ranked Indian Lakshya Sen moved up two places to No. 17 with 54,442 points, just ahead of China&rsquo;s Zhenxiang Wang, who jumped five spots to 18.
HS Prannoy also climbed two places to reach world No. 33 with 40,336 points.
In women&rsquo;s singles, 17-year-old Unnati Hooda rose four spots to a career-best No. 31 after her landmark pre-quarterfinal win over double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu last week.
The Haryana shuttler stunned Sindhu 21-16, 19-21, 21-13 in a gruelling hour-and-13-minute battle to reach the quarterfinals, where she lost to third seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.
Sindhu, meanwhile, remained static at No. 15 and continues to be the highest-ranked Indian in women's singles.
In women&rsquo;s doubles, India&rsquo;s top pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand held steady at No. 11, while Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa moved up two spots to 45.

India coach Gautam Gambhir says the ongoing Test series in England has made every cricket lover proud as he urges one final push at The Oval to level the series.

Cricket on display during England series a matter of pride: Gambhir

India coach Gautam Gambhir says the ongoing Test series in England has made every cricket lover proud as he urges one final push at The Oval to level the series.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said touring England has always been a challenging assignment, but asserted that the quality of cricket in the ongoing series has made "every cricket lover proud.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Gambhir was addressing a gathering at the India House on Monday evening to express gratitude for the fans&rsquo; support during the course of the series, which saw the visitors pull off a dramatic draw in the fourth Test at Manchester.
&ldquo;Touring this part of the world has always been challenging because of the history between the two countries, which can never be forgotten,&rdquo; said Gambhir during his speech.
&ldquo;Whenever we have toured the UK, the kind of support we have got, we cherish every bit of it. We never take anything for granted.
&ldquo;Last five weeks have been really exciting for both countries with the kind of cricket that has been on display, which I&rsquo;m sure has made every cricket lover proud,&rdquo; he added.
The Indian cricket team received a rousing welcome from community leaders, parliamentarians and sports fans at a diaspora reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London, where the squad is set for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval from Thursday.
He went on to highlight the importance of the fifth and final Test, which India needed to win to level the series that now stands 2-1 in favour of England.
&ldquo;Both the teams have thrown a lot of punches and have fought for every inch. We have got one more week to go, one final push to make and one more opportunity to make our country and people out here proud,&rdquo; said Gambhir.
The players were cheered enthusiastically by the crowd as some of the highlights from their recent games were played out on screen.
Vikram Doraiswami, India&rsquo;s High Commissioner to the UK, said the fighting spirit the team showed during the series was a just reflection of the country&rsquo;s will to fight the odds.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a great series, played in the best of spirit. But the best bit of it all is the fact that we have a chance to see Test cricket played the way it is intended to be &ndash; contests for full five days, contests that have gone to the wire, contests in which the great sense of cricket as a game that is played with intensity for five days.
&ldquo;And to have our team here display what is truly the range of skills but also the fighting spirit that is now associated with Team India is also a great reflection of the fighting spirit that now stands for the new India that we are all privileged to represent here,&rdquo; said Doraiswami.
&ldquo;No matter what happens (in the final Test), we couldn&rsquo;t be more proud of who you (Team India) are, what you represent, where you came from and what you mean to all of us,&rdquo; he said.
Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), referenced the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed off during Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s UK visit last week as a sign of the immense scope of collaboration between the two nations, including sports.
&ldquo;In four Test matches so far, every one of them has gone deep into the fifth day&hellip;It&rsquo;s difficult to remember a Test series that has really resounded as deeply as this one has, both in England and back in India, and we are all really looking forward to seeing the battle recommence at The Oval on Thursday,&rdquo; said Gould.
The diaspora gathering concluded with a brief in-conversation session moderated by commentator and former head coach Ravi Shastri with a few players including captain Shubman Gill.
&ldquo;Before the start of the series, I felt I haven&rsquo;t really shown my best and I was working quite hard on my game before the series as I wanted to prove myself,&rdquo; said Gill, with reference to his over 700 runs notched up during the series so far.
&ldquo;It was a very hard-fought game of cricket over the past four days,&rdquo; he added.

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stuns Koneru Humpy in the all-Indian final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, becoming the youngest champion and India’s 88th Grandmaster.

Divya Deshmukh Wins FIDE Women's World Cup, Becomes Grandmaster

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh stuns Koneru Humpy in the all-Indian final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, becoming the youngest champion and India&rsquo;s 88th Grandmaster.

Teenaged Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh became the youngest to win the Women's World Cup in Batumi (Georgia) on Monday as she outwitted the seasoned Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of an all-Indian final which left the youngster emotionally overwhelmed.
The victory not just earned the 19-year-old the prestigious title, but also made her a Grandmaster, something which looked improbable when she started the tournament.
The victory for the Nagpur player came after the two classical games played on Saturday and Sunday ended in draws.
After the drawn games, it was the first set of tiebreakers that proved decisive as Humpy lost the battle of nerves. Except the World Cup and the Women's World Championship, Humpy has won everything under the sun but, and as fate would have it the World Cup title eluded her again.
Deshmukh showed steely resolve on Monday, and the bonus for the determination was the Grandmaster title -- reserved for the champion of this event.
Deshmukh is now the fourth Indian woman player to achieve the GM feat after Humpy, Dronavalli Harika and R Vaishali.
Humpy, 38, became a Grandmaster in 2002 and Divya was born in 2005.
For the record, Deshmukh became the 88th Grandmaster of the country and if she continues to remain resolute in her endeavour, she has the ability to achieve great success.
Deshmukh was a bundle of energy as she kept piling pressure on Humpy in the opening tiebreaker, tiring out her illustrious opponent and then going for the kill in the return tiebreaker.
Out of a Petroff defense, Deshmukh got an isolated Queen pawn middle game and sacrificed a pawn to give Humpy better prospects in the opening tiebreaker. However, Humpy returned the favour with her clock ticking away, and soon enough she was staring at a position where she had a rook, bishop and a pawn against Deshmukh's Queen.
The position, however, remained close to being equal and Humpy drew quite easily in the end.
In the return game, Humpy employed the Catalan opening. Deshmukh was well prepared as she equalised without much ado. Humpy had sacrificed a pawn early but the ensuing queen-and-rook endgame was just a draw.
It was on the 40th move that Humpy lost her cool and tried to invade the opposition through a pawn sacrifice. Deshmukh could have done better but the rook-and-pawns endgame she reached was still a draw.
This was Deshmukh's day as Humpy again ran a bit short of time and blundered in the endgame again, leading to a theoretically win position for the younger Indian.
The fortunes in this game fluctuated between a draw and a win for Divya for a long time, till the Nagpur girl prevailed.
An emotional Deshmukh couldn't hold back her tears following the victory against an opponent twice her age.
"I need time to process it (win). I think it was fate, me getting the Grandmaster title this way because before this (tournament) I didn't even have one (GM) norm, and now I am the Grandmaster," said Divya.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who was keenly following the game, hailed the teenager's win and called it a "great celebration of Indian chess".
"Congratulations to @Divyadeshmukh05 on winning the World Cup. Becoming GM and a spot in the candidates. Amazing battle of nerves. @humpy_koneru played a very good event and showed a commendable fighting spirit. The great champion she is! It was a great celebration of Indian chess, particularly Women's chess," wrote Anand on 'X'.&nbsp;

England's skipper Ben Stokes, despite a bicep injury, plans to play the final Test against India. Focused on refreshing the fatigued bowling lineup, Stokes prioritizes team success.

Stokes Set for Fifth Test Against India Despite Injury

England captain Ben Stokes is set for the fifth Test against India despite a bicep injury. Focusing on bowling lineup refreshment and team success, Stokes remains a key player as the series finale approaches.

Despite a bicep tendon injury, England's Ben Stokes intends to play the final Test against India. He aims to refresh the bowling lineup due to their fatigue and focuses on team success over personal accolades.
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England's cricket captain Ben Stokes has signaled his intention to participate in the upcoming fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, despite nursing a bicep tendon injury.
In a recent statement, Stokes mentioned that while he doesn't want to reverse his words, the possibility of him missing the game is slim. "Pain is just an emotion," Stokes remarked, asserting his commitment to pushing limits for the team&rsquo;s sake. However, he acknowledged the necessity of refreshing their weary bowling lineup for the decisive Test.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford concluded in a draw following significant performances from India's Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, who collectively ensured the visitors dominated the final day's play.
Despite his evident discomfort during his 11-over spell on Sunday, Stokes confirmed the pain in his right bicep tendon had not intensified. He believes it will improve before the final Test at The Oval.
The possibility of incorporating "fresh legs" in the lineup was also on Stokes' agenda after their bowlers were pushed through 143 overs in India's second innings.
"Given our lengthy time on the field and the cumulative overs bowled, the bowling contingent is both sore and fatigued," Stokes said. "Assessments will be made during the rest period before strategizing for the game's final fixture begins in earnest."
England's fast bowling unit has seen consistent participation from Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes, who have featured in all four Tests. Jofra Archer has played two consecutive Tests after a lengthy absence. Stokes implied that future decisions might involve evaluating alternatives such as Gus Atkinson, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue to rejuvenate their attack.
Stokes, having recently earned his second consecutive Player of the Match award and 12th overall, ranks just behind fellow cricketer Joe Root's 13 accolades. Still, Stokes was measured about his individual performance, lamenting its failure to deliver an England victory this time, in contrast to their success at Lord's. He expressed a preference for meaningful contributions that propel the team towards triumph. "My focus has never been solely on statistics. I feel I've been steadily improving and last week&rsquo;s efforts at Lord's felt more satisfying in context," he reflected.
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(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Sanjay Manjrekar advises Gautam Gambhir to adopt a calmer approach amidst tactical critiques. Applauding Shubman Gill, he stresses on engaging with constructive criticism while questioning team selection rhetoric involving Karun Nair.

Manjrekar Urges Gambhir for Tactical Calm Amid Criticism

In a candid insight, Sanjay Manjrekar suggests Gautam Gambhir should embrace calmness amidst criticism. He emphasizes understanding in tactics and highlights Shubman Gill's capabilities while questioning team selection claims surrounding Karun Nair.

Sanjay Manjrekar advises Gautam Gambhir to relax amid critiques and praises Shubman Gill's performance. Criticizing Gambhir's tactical decisions, he emphasizes openness to constructive feedback and questions team selection claims about Karun Nair.

According to former cricketer-turned-analyst Sanjay Manjrekar, Gautam Gambhir might need to "loosen up and take a chill pill." Despite some questionable tactical calls by the head coach, Manjrekar believes India achieved a commendable draw against England in the fourth Test. Manjrekar didn't hold back in stating that the former left-hander hasn't always been tactically sound in red-ball cricket. Although India fought valiantly for a draw on Sunday, they are still trailing 1-2 in the series with one match left to play.
"I think India has performed well despite some tactical decisions by Gambhir," Manjrekar said, referring to India's home losses to New Zealand and defeat by Australia. "The fighting spirit? That's all due to the players. Tactically, some of Gambhir's decisions, especially his selections, haven't made it easy," Manjrekar commented.
He also urged Gambhir not to perceive every differing opinion as mere criticism. Gambhir had previously retaliated against those critiquing skipper Shubman Gill, labeling them as lacking in cricketing knowledge. "There was never any uncertainty about Shubman Gill's potential. Doubts were baseless and revealed a lack of understanding in cricket," Gambhir stated. He emphasized the dressing room's confidence in Gill despite public skepticism. "Even if Gill hadn't performed, our belief in his talent remains unwavering," he added.
Manjrekar praised Gill, noting his captaincy responsibilities do not seem to burden him when he's batting. The veteran of 37 Tests, Manjrekar is known to be candid, often presenting views that deviate from mainstream opinions, which he did again during an appearance on 'JioHotstar'.
"Some questions clearly bother Gambhir, especially those questioning Gill's role as captain. These concerns are legitimate," Manjrekar stated. He noted the frequent reference to "outside noise," a term used within cricket circles for criticism from outside the dressing room. "It shouldn't be about 'us versus them'. We're all part of the same cricket community. A little relaxation, a willingness to accept tough questions, could benefit Gambhir," he suggested.
Addressing Gambhir's dismissal of Karun Nair's situation, Manjrekar opposed the coach's reasoning behind the player's omission from the team the claim that Nair wasn&rsquo;t &lsquo;dropped&rsquo; but rather the best eleven was selected. "Let's be honest - when someone doesn't play, he's dropped, no matter the reasoning presented," he concluded.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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England defended their UEFA Women’s Euro title by defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot kick in a tense final.

England Triumphs at Euro 2025 with Dramatic Win Over Spain

England defended their UEFA Women&rsquo;s Euro title by defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot kick in a tense final.

More drama, another penalty shootout and never giving up.
England successfully defended its Women's European Championship title on Sunday in its own special way, thriving in high tension yet again to take down world champion Spain in a shootout in the final.
Chloe Kelly lashed in her spot kick to give England a 3-1 win on penalties after a 1-1 draw after extra time.
&ldquo;I was cool, I was composed, and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,&rdquo; said Kelly, whose goals decided a second straight Women's Euros final, and also the semifinal five days earlier.
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved spot kicks from Mariona Caldentey and Spain superstar Aitana Bonmat&iacute;, before substitute Salma Paralluelo dragged her shot wide of goal.
The defending champion won the only way it knew how at this thrilling Euro 2025.
&ldquo;It was the most chaotic tournament we played,&rdquo; said England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now won three straight Women's Euros titles.
Super subs England had fallen behind in the first half, fought back in the second and relied on its superb substitutes &mdash; including Kelly &ndash; just as it did against Italy and beating Sweden on penalties previously in the knockout rounds.
&ldquo;I actually can't believe it myself,&rdquo; Wiegman said. &ldquo;How can this happen? But it happens. We're just going to party tonight.&rdquo; England leveled the score in the 57th on Alessia Russo's header from a cross by Kelly after Caldentey had given Spain the lead in the 25th finishing Ona Batlle's cross.
Spain trailed for only four minutes in the entire tournament &mdash; and not for one second against England &mdash; yet could not seal its first European title against the team it beat in the World Cup final two years ago.
&ldquo;I think this team deserved more. At least not living with this bitter feeling,&rdquo; Spain coach Montse Tom&eacute; said in translated comments.
Kelly had scored an extra-time winning goal for England at Wembley three years ago to beat Germany 2-1.
Spain's missed chance In extra time Spain had good possession in the England penalty area so many times yet did not force a decisive goal.
&ldquo;It was cruel,&rdquo; Bonmat&iacute; told Spanish broadcaster La 1, after being named best player of the tournament. &ldquo;We played better, created more scoring chances, but in soccer sometimes that's not enough.&rdquo; Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll saved spot kicks from England captain Leah Williamson and the first by Beth Mead.
It was appropriate in England's memorable tournament that Mead's penalty had to be retaken under a new soccer rule that allows a second chance when a player scores by slipping and touching the ball twice. It did not matter after Hampton's saves.
Classic Arsenal goals Arsenal attackers like scoring with perfectly placed headers from inviting crosses sent to the ideal spot.
Spain took the lead Sunday with a very English goal &ndash; a full back's cross from the byline finding the head of an Arsenal player to score, on a rain-slicked field on an overcast, cloudy day.
The strong Spanish flavor leading to Caldentey's opener was in the neat passing to find Athenea del Castillo in the penalty area and her vision to see Ona Batlle's direct run into space.
Caldentey was in the Arsenal team that won the Women's Champions League final in May beating a Barcelona side with six starters who also lined up for Spain on Sunday. Spain used three more Barcelona players as substitutes.
The Arsenal forward line in that final, Russo and Kelly, combined to tie the Euro 2025 final. Kelly's right-foot cross from the left was floated toward the head of Russo who guided the ball back toward the top corner of the Spain net.
Wiegman's hat trick England coach Wiegman has still never before been eliminated from a Women's Euros tournament. Despite how close she came three times this month, she acknowledged after the final whistle Sunday.
The top female national-team coach of her generation has a Euros hat trick after leading England to victory in 2022 and her native Netherlands to the 2017 title.
Both those titles were won as the host nation team and no England senior team, men or women, had previously won a world or continental title abroad.
Wiegman also extended the run of title-winning women coaches to eight Women's Euros editions across 28 years. Women were outnumbered by male coaches each time.
Royal appointment There was royalty from both nations in the VIP box at St-Jakob Park including heirs to each throne.
Prince William, the first son of Britain's King Charles, was with his daughter Princess Charlotte. He is president of the English Football Association.
Also present were Princess Leonor of Spain and her younger sister, Infanta Sof&iacute;a. At the 2023 World Cup final Sofia was at the game with her mother Queen Letizia in Sydney, Australia.
After the game King Charles congratulated the Lionesses team on their &ldquo;sporting skill and awesome teamwork.&rdquo; &ldquo;For this," the king wrote, "you have my whole family's warmest appreciation and admiration.&rdquo;&nbsp;

India held their nerve to draw the 4th Test against England at Old Trafford, with centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar keeping the series alive heading into The Oval finale.

4th Test: Jadeja, Washington pull off dramatic draw to keep series alive

India held their nerve to draw the 4th Test against England at Old Trafford, with centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar keeping the series alive heading into The Oval finale.

Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja batted out more than two sessions to bring back India from the brink of a decisive defeat and pull off a draw for the ages at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday, keeping the intensely fought series well and truly alive heading into the finale at The Oval.
Having conceded a 311-run lead and lost their openers for duck in the second innings, India displayed a steely resolve to get a favourable result largely due to the efforts of captain Shubman Gill (103 off 238), K L Rahul (90 off 230), Jadeja (107 not out off 185) and Washington (101 not out off 206).
With inspirational England skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer removing a well set Gill and Rahul in the morning, England sensed a series sealing victory but Jadeja and Washington hung in there before milking the bowlers towards the end of the day.
Just before the start of last hour of play, Ben Stokes expressed his desire to end the game but India decided to carry on with Washington and Jadeja closing in on deserving hundreds. Stokes was clearly not amused.
Harry Brook started to offer freebies to Jadeja and Washington as a sign of disapproval for India&rsquo;s decision to carry on playing. Players finally shook hands after the milestones of Jadeja and Washington were achieved with the latter scoring his maiden Test hundred.
The day five track did not have many demons with prominent movement and a bit of variable bounce was visible in the morning session when Gill and Rahul got out after a 188-run stand.
Considering the match situation, the dogged resistance from the two India left-handers in the second and final session was reminiscent of R Ashwin and Hamuna Vihari&rsquo;s match saving stand in the Sydney Test of 2021.
Nursing a broken foot, Rishabh Pant was available to bat in the second innings but he did not need to come to the middle and risk aggravation of his injury.
Strikingly, it was England&rsquo;s only second draw in the 40 Tests played in the Bazball era with the last one coming also at Old Trafford during the 2023 Ashes (weather was the main factor behind the draw).
The surface here has been on the drier side through the domestic season with four games producing as many draws.
With both sides struggling to keep their fast bowlers fit in a long and gruelling series, it would be interesting how many of the first choice pacers take part in the fifth Test beginning in London from July 31.
At tea, India were 322 for four after collecting 99 runs from a wicketless afternoon session.
Stokes, who looked lethal in his eight over spell in the morning, could not keep up the intensity in the three overs he bowled in the second session.
In a 15-run over from Stokes, Washington pulled the England captain for a six and four to bring up his fifty before Jadeja employed the cut to complete his fifth half-century in six innings.
What made England&rsquo;s life difficult is that left-arm spinner Liam Dawson was not able to challenge the Indian left-handers enough while Archer too get could not get a breakthrough post lunch. Dawson failed to use the rough created outside the left-hander's off-stump.
In the morning session, Gill completed a gutsy hundred after Stokes battled through pain to dismiss a well set K L Rahul, leaving India at 223 for four at lunch.
Resuming the day at 174 for two with a deficit of 137, India remained on course to draw the game courtesy a fighting effort from Gill, who brought up his fourth century of the series. The Indian captain fell at the stroke of lunch with the visitors still trailing England by 88 runs.
Considering India&rsquo;s backs against the walls and series on the line, this could be Gill&rsquo;s most defining century if India managed to save the match and keep the series alive.
Expecting the ball to come back in, Gill felt for the one from Jofra Archer that shaped away, getting a faint outside edge.
The 188-run marathon stand between Gill and Rahul (90 off 230) was finally broken when the latter was trapped in front by Stokes with a ball that kept a tad low from length.
Soon after, Stokes got one jump to sharply from a similar length that foxed Rahul, leaving the Indian skipper in a lot of pain.
The rising ball first crashed into Gill&rsquo;s right thumb before taking a piece of his helmet.
It was remarkable that Stokes, who was not fit enough to bowl on day four, managed an eight-over spell on day five despite discomfort in his right shoulder and hamstring. Like at Lord&rsquo;s, he did not care much about his injury prone body to help the team&rsquo;s cause.
The new ball was taken after the 80th over and resulted in the wicket of Gill. Jadeja too would have be gone first ball but Joe Root could not hold on to a tough chance at first slip off Archer.&nbsp;
Brief scores: India: 358 and 425/4 in 143 overs (KL Rahul 90, Shubman Gill 103, Ravindra Jadeja 107, Washington Sundar 101; Chris Woakes 2/67)&nbsp;
England 1st innings: 669 all out in 157.1 overs (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141, Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 4/143).

Pakistan announces cricket squads for West Indies series: Shaheen Afridi returns for T20s; Rizwan leads ODI team.

Pakistan Cricket: Major Squad Changes for West Indies Tour

Pakistan cricket selectors reveal squads for upcoming West Indies tour with returning players Shaheen Afridi and consistent leadership by Rizwan.

Notable changes in Pakistan's squad for West Indies tour: Shaheen Afridi returns for T20s; Rizwan leads ODI team.

The Pakistani cricket selectors have made notable changes for the upcoming tour of the West Indies. In a key move, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been recalled for the T20 series after being absent for several past series in this format. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan retains his role as the captain of the One-Day International squad in the Caribbean.
Shaheen's inclusion bolsters the pace attack along with fellow fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf, who return to the side after missing the recent series in Bangladesh.
The selection panel has chosen to maintain stability in the batting lineup by retaining leading batsman Babar Azam for the ODI series. The T20 matches are set to take place from July 31 to August 3 in Florida, with the ODIs scheduled to follow in Trinidad.
There are some changes from the Bangladesh T20 series, as the youthful pacers Abbas Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, and Salman Mirza did not make the cut for the West Indies tour.
The squads for the respective formats were announced as follows:
Pakistan T20 Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Haris, Muhammad Nawaz, Sahabzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufyan Muqim.
Pakistan ODI Squad: Muhammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Haris, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Muqim.

Emma Raducanu secured a decisive win over Naomi Osaka at the D.C. Open, showcasing her improved serve and strategy. She will now face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals.

Emma Raducanu beats Naomi Osaka at the DC Open to win their first matchup

Emma Raducanu dominated Naomi Osaka with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at the D.C. Open. Raducanu's improved serve made a significant impact in the match, which was highly anticipated between two former U.S. Open champions.

Emma Raducanu defeated Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 at the D.C. Open, demonstrating strong serving and strategic play. Up next, Raducanu will face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals.

Washington, Jul 25 (AP) - In a highly anticipated clash at the D.C. Open, Emma Raducanu took control of her first career meeting with Naomi Osaka, securing a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win. This match brought together two former U.S. Open champions, showcasing Raducanu's impressive skill and composure.
"I did feel it had a bit of extra," Raducanu commented on Thursday. "It's a match that many people were discussing beforehand. Knowing that going into the match, I found myself enjoying the challenge of facing a strong opponent with all the attention on the match. I'm very satisfied with how I managed to perform against a four-time Grand Slam champion." Raducanu, who made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the U.S. Open in 2021, demonstrated resilience by saving the only two break points she faced and successfully breaking Osaka's serve three times.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
That was some performance 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/EmmaRaducanu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmaRaducanu</a> defeats Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to secure her place in the quarterfinals once again in DC!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MubadalaCitiDCOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MubadalaCitiDCOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/kTzKAXM0zg">pic.twitter.com/kTzKAXM0zg</a>
&mdash; Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mubadalacitidc/status/1948451419599655220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"I'm serving better, which makes a significant difference. My returns have always been decent, but a strong serve adds another dimension to my game," Raducanu explained. "It allows me to start points more effectively, utilize my forehand, and take control of the play." Osaka struggled with seven double-faults, which affected her rhythm.
"I feel like I was playing quite well from the baseline," said Osaka, who has won the U.S. Open and Australian Open twice each. "However, there were instances where she managed to return one more shot than I expected, leaving me waiting." Currently ranked 46th, Raducanu is set to face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals. Sakkari triumphed over No. 2 seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday.
Veteran Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles winner, was scheduled to play against Magdalena Frech in a night match. In men's play on Thursday at the Washington hard-court tournament, notable winners included No. 4 seed Ben Shelton, No. 7 Alex de Minaur, No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, No. 12 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and No. 14 Brandon Nakashima. (AP) PDS PDS
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(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Venus Williams' triumphant return to the D.C. Open was highlighted by a significant singles win, though her journey ended with a loss to Magdalena Frech. Her participation was key for personal achievements.

Venus Williams Returns with Enthusiasm at D.C. Open

Venus Williams returned triumphantly in the D.C. Open, marking a win as the oldest woman at tour level since 2004 despite falling to Magdalena Frech. Engaging positivity and perseverance, she's set for Cincinnati Open.

Venus Williams returned to action at the D.C. Open, achieving a win as the oldest tour-level singles match victor since 2004, despite ending her run against Magdalena Frech.

Washington, Jul 25 (AP) &mdash; When Venus Williams concluded her quest for a first winning streak since 2019 with a forehand that landed just long, attendees at the D.C. Open's main stadium stood to applaud her. She greeted the ovation with a smile and a signature pirouette and wave, usually reserved for victories.
Williams had not played competitively for over a year. Although her journey in the tournament ended with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat to 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech in the second round on Thursday night, the return to action was significant for the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and her fans.
&ldquo;Oh, I had so much fun. Not the result I wanted, but a learning experience nonetheless. The essence of sports and life is that the learning never stops,&rdquo; said the 45-year-old Williams.
&ldquo;I got to play numerous matches here, which was definitely a plus. D.C. fans are just epic. I couldn't be happier with my comeback week.&rdquo; Her triumph in the first round against 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns made Williams the oldest woman to win a singles match at the tour level since Martina Navratilova achieved the feat at age 47 in 2004.
This victory marked Williams' first in singles since 2023. She humorously noted that her drive to triumph was partly fueled by the desire to renew her eligibility for the WTA's health insurance plan after being absent for so long.
This hard-court tournament was Williams' first event since March 2024, following a hiatus due to surgery for uterine fibroids.
&ldquo;Access to health care is crucial &mdash; being able to see the best doctors for whatever you&rsquo;re facing is essential,&rdquo; Williams commented. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a humorous moment, but it touches on a serious issue many face.&rdquo;
Williams also claimed a doubles victory in Washington. Playing a total of four matches &mdash; two in singles and two in doubles &mdash; over four days finally took its toll on her.
&ldquo;I felt like I ran out of gas today, unfortunately,&rdquo; Williams remarked. &ldquo;I tried to muster the energy, but couldn't.&rdquo;
The last time Williams secured at least two consecutive wins was August 2019 at the Cincinnati Open, where she achieved three victories before being defeated by Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
In the match against Frech, Williams initially led 2-1. However, Frech captured seven games in a row, seizing the first set and leading 2-0 in the second.
Frech, a 27-year-old from Poland, achieved her best Grand Slam result by reaching the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open before losing to Coco Gauff.
&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t even imagine how she pushes herself,&rdquo; Frech said regarding Williams. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s truly remarkable.&rdquo;
The spotlight under the lights was squarely on Williams, whose arrival on the court with a green exercise band was met with loud cheers. Each of Williams' powerful groundstrokes prompted roars from the stadium crowd.
The challenge for Williams was consistently calibrating her shots. On one occasion, she rushed forward to a short ball from Frech only to send her forehand long, handing Frech a 3-2 lead.
Williams would occasionally hang her head or slump her shoulders after mistakes, accumulating 14 unforced errors in the first set, more than double Frech's count. Fans responded with an &ldquo;Awwww&rdquo; before rallying to cheer her on.
Chants of &ldquo;Venus!&rdquo; with rhythmic clapping sounded as Williams broke to close in at 4-2, but she couldn&rsquo;t capture another game.
&ldquo;There are so many lessons to glean from this,&rdquo; Williams noted. &ldquo;I know exactly what I need to improve. The good news is I control the point; I just need to ensure the ball lands in.&rdquo;
Williams has accepted a wild-card invitation to participate in the Cincinnati Open next month.
On Thursday, top-seeded Jessica Pegula was defeated by 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. Additionally, Emma Raducanu triumphed over Naomi Osaka in their first encounter, winning 6-4, 6-2 in a clash of former U.S. Open champions.
In the men's draw, top seeds who advanced include No. 1 Taylor Fritz, No. 4 Ben Shelton, No. 6 Frances Tiafoe, No. 7 Alex de Minaur, No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, No. 12 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and No. 14 Brandon Nakashima. (AP)
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(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Kolkata Knight Riders do the double over Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 21-run win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium which pushes them from 8th to 7th in the standings.

IPL 2023 points table: Kolkata end poor run to go 7th after easy win over RCB

Kolkata Knight Riders finally moved up on the points table after their comfortable win against RCB

Tap to see the current IPL 2023 standings..

RCB remain 5th after the defeat with other teams around them yet to play their 8th match.

Kolkata Knight Riders do the double over Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 21-run win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium which pushes them from 8th to 7th in the standings.
Mumbai Indians slipped from 7th to 8th in the table but have a game in hand as well.
RCB remain 5th after the defeat with other teams around them yet to play their 8th match.
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Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun joins LSG after parting ways with KKR. Official announcement awaited as franchise overhauls staff post IPL 2025.

Bharat Arun joins LSG as bowling coach

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun joins LSG after parting ways with KKR. Official announcement awaited as franchise overhauls staff post IPL 2025.

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun, who recently ended his ties with Kolkata Knight Riders, has been roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the same capacity even as the official announcement is awaited.
"Yes, Arun has joined LSG and a formal announcement is expected soon," a source close to the franchise told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Arun for the past few years was associated with KKR but after a poor eighth place finish in 2025, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise is in the process of rejigging its coaching staff with Abhishek Nayar and Dwayne Bravo all set to call the shots.
Hence Chandrakant Pandit and Arun, the two veterans parted ways.
Similarly, after a seventh place finish in the last edition, LSG are also making changes to their support staff.
The LSG bowling wasn't top notch during last season and much of it could be attributed to the absence of India's fastest bowler Mayank Yadav from all but two games.
Arun, one of the finest bowling coaches the national team has ever had, is respected for his strategic acumen as well as grooming talented pacers.
Details are also awaited as to whether LSG will be renewing contract with their mentor Zaheer Khan. The former India great had a contract of one year and it will be interesting to see if it is renewed. Ditto for head coach Justin Langer, who has been around for a couple of seasons.&nbsp;

Ravindra Jadeja remains the No. 1 Test all-rounder with 422 points, while Abhishek Sharma rises to the top of the ICC T20 rankings, ending Travis Head’s reign.

Ravindra Jadeja Tops ICC Test Rankings; Abhishek Sharma Leads T20

Ravindra Jadeja remains the No. 1 Test all-rounder with 422 points, while Abhishek Sharma rises to the top of the ICC T20 rankings, ending Travis Head&rsquo;s reign.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday stretched his lead to consolidate as the world No 1 all-rounder in Test cricket, while Abhishek Sharma rose to the top spot in the T20 format for the first time.
In the latest ICC Men's Test Player Rankings, Jadeja stretched his lead by 117 rating points from the second-placed Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh, getting to a total of 422 points.
On the other hand, Travis Head's year-long reign at the top ended after he missed the five-match series in the Caribbean which Australia won 5-0, following which India opener Sharma moved up to the No 1 spot in T20s.
The left-handed Sharma now has 829 rating points while Head is now second with 814 points.
"Jadeja has inflated his lead at the top of the rankings for all-rounders after grabbing four wickets and scoring a fighting 107 not out," the ICC said in statement on its website.
"He has added 13 rating points and is now on an aggregate of 422, 117 rating points clear of Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan. He has also moved up five places to 29th among batters and up one place to 14th among bowlers," it added.
Washington Sundar also moved up eight places to get to 65th after his maiden Test century and a 203-run defiant stand with Jadeja for the fifth wicket, which ensured a remarkable draw in the fourth Test at Manchester.
"Sundar has also moved up eight positions to joint-13th among all-rounders, having also taken two wickets in the match," the ICC said.
While Joe Root also extended his lead by 37 points as the top ranked batter in Tests from the second placed Kane Williamson, England captain Ben Stokes moved up three places to get to the third spot among all-rounders which is also his highest ranking since December 2022.
Root struck a fine 150 in England's only innings at Manchester while Stokes recorded a five-for and also made a valuable 141.
England bowlers Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes also made gains in the latest rankings. "The Test bowling rankings see fast bowler Jofra Archer continue his impressive return after four years, his haul of three for 73 lifting him 38 places to 63rd position," the ICC said.
"Chris Woakes is up one place to 23rd after finishing with three wickets in the match, which included a double-strike early in the Indian second innings," it added.
England's Ben Duckett moved up five places to get to 10th, Zak Crawley reached 43rd and Ollie Pope got to the 24th, the ICC informed.
The conclusion of the T20I series between Australia and the West Indies saw wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis breaking into top 10.
"Josh Inglis's 172 runs in the five-match series, including two half-centuries, has helped him up six places to ninth position, while Tim David (up 12 places to 18th) and Cameron Green (up 64 places to 24th) have attained career-bests," the ICC said.
"For the West Indies, Brandon King is up nine places to joint-21st," it added.

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India vs England: High-Stakes Test Finale at The Oval

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India and England players will push their tired bodies on the line with everything to play for in the fifth and final Test starting at The Oval on Thursday, promising a fitting end to what has been a fiercely fought and highly watchable series.
The series, playing in front of packed crowds, has also been a perfect advert for Test cricket with all four games stretching to the final session on day five.
Not to forget the skirmishes along the way that has spiced it up enough for all the Test loving fans.
Whether it Shubman Gill's tirade against Zak Crawley deliberately wasting time at the Lord's to Ravindra Jadeja refusing to call off proceedings on the final day much to the chagrin of Ben Stokes, things couldn't have gotten hotter than what it already is in London, experiencing a heat wave for the better part.
And Gautam Gambhir, the man always ready for a scrap has only intensified it with altercation with Oval curator Lee Fortis.
And in this backdrop with no Jasprit Bumrah to stand as that leafy banyan tree, it is boom or bust time for Gambhir's men. Expect the series finale to go down to the wire as well with England under an inspirational leader in Ben Stokes, enjoying a 2-1 advantage over a young and free spirited India, who have surpassed all expectations under new skipper Shubman Gill.
In first series as captain of a team undergoing major transition, Gill has led from the front and with 722 runs and is only 52 shy from Sunil Gavaskar&rsquo;s record of most runs by an Indian in a series.
He needs another 11 runs to surpass Gavaskar's record of most runs (732) by an Indian captain in a Test series (1978079 vs West Indies).
The 25-year-old has come of age with four hundreds thus far including a double century and a match saving 103 in the previous Test at Old Trafford. After low returns in three innings, Gill played the most defining knock of his career in Manchester to enhance his reputation not just as a batter but also as captain.
Having played a massive role in earning a famous draw from an almost hopeless situation, Gill and his team go into the finale with momentum on their side but gaps to fill.
Like Gill, Stokes too have led by example and despite battling multiple niggles, the England leader would be pushing his injure prone body to the limit. With their fast bowlers also jaded, England have added Jamie Overton to the squad.
With 511 runs, K L Rahul has been a model of consistency at the top of the order but more will be expected from Yashasvi Jaiswal and number three Sai Sudharsan on what is generally a decent batting surface at The Oval.
In injured Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s absence, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to round up the top six following unbeaten hundreds that denied England a victory in the fourth Test.
The Indian management firmly believes in having a batting option till number eight and that could possibly lead to Kuldeep Yadav being once again left out of the playing eleven despite constant calls for his inclusion over the course of a long and gruelling series.
Dhruv Jurel will keep the wickets and could bat at seven in Pant&rsquo;s absence and Shardul Thakur might retain his place at eight despite not exactly enjoying the confidence of his skipper.
Going by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak&rsquo;s comments ahead of the fifth Test, India will retain the template that has been followed thus far.
"See you have to see the balance of both batting and bowling to win the match. Because, like you're saying, you have to take 20 wickets. Similarly, it's equally important that you score 550-600 runs," said Kotak.
"Overall, if you play with 6 bowlers, then some bowlers will under-bowl. So, if that 6th bowler is an all-rounder, then you know that he will contribute in batting and in bowling as well.
"If he is a pure bowler, and has under-bowled then after the match, when you look back, you will think that rather an extra bowler a batter would have made a difference," Kotal all but made clear head coach Gambhir's thought process.
On the bowling front, Akash Deep is expected to replace Jasprit Bumrah in the playing eleven with the latter advised to not risky his body.
Mohammed Siraj will be the leader of the attack and third pacer&rsquo;s spot will go to either Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh, who has patiently waiting for his Test debut.
Surrey amassed more than 800 runs in the last County game played here but it remains to be seen how the pitch behaves for the high stakes clash.
Considering the short turnaround, England cancelled their opening training session on Tuesday with head coach Brendon McCullum only turning up in casual clothes to have a look at the pitch.
Squads:
England: Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK).
Match Starts: 3:30 pm IST.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah will sit out the fifth Test vs England at The Oval due to workload management. Akash Deep likely to replace him in the playing XI.

Bumrah set to miss fifth Test at The Oval, Akash Deep likely replacement: Report

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah will sit out the fifth Test vs England at The Oval due to workload management. Akash Deep likely to replace him in the playing XI.

India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the series-deciding fifth Test against England, starting Thursday at The Oval, as part of workload management, with Akash Deep likely to replace him, according to a report.
The 31-year-old world No 1 pacer appeared off-colour during the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, where he struggled with his pace and failed to make breakthroughs.
"The BCCI medical team has told Bumrah that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind," reported ESPNCricinfo.
The report added that Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test due to a groin niggle, is likely to replace Bumrah in the XI.
Earlier, head coach Gautam Gambhir had stated that no decision had been taken regarding team composition and that all bowlers, including Bumrah, were fit.
"We haven&rsquo;t had any conversation around the combination for the last Test," Gambhir had said after the fourth Test in Manchester. "No decision has been made on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Ultimately, whoever plays, they will try and do the job for the country." England piled up a massive 669 in response to India's 358, taking a 311-run first-innings lead at the fourth Test.
However, India mounted a remarkable fightback from 0 for 2, batting 143 overs in the second innings with centuries from captain Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja to earn a dramatic draw and stay alive in the five-match series, trailing 1-2.
Bumrah bowled 33 overs in the first innings of the fourth Test -- the most he has bowled in a single innings -- but returned figures of 2 for 103, the first time he conceded over 100 runs in a Test innings.
The number of deliveries he bowled over 140kph dropped significantly over the series -- from 42.7% at Headingley, to 22.3% at Lord&rsquo;s, and just 0.5% at Old Trafford.
Despite his dip in effectiveness, Bumrah remains the joint highest wicket-taker for India in the series alongside Mohammed Siraj, with 14 wickets to his credit.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with Oval curator Lee Fortis over practice pitch conditions ahead of the final Test against England.

Gautam Gambhir and Oval curator involve in heated exchange of words

India head coach Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with Oval curator Lee Fortis over practice pitch conditions ahead of the final Test against England.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was on Tuesday involved in a heated exchange of words with the Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis and was heard telling him "you don't tell us what we need to do" while pointing fingers at the groundstaff.
The Oval will host the fifth and final Test between India and England from Thursday, and the Indian team has hit the ground running two days after staging a remarkable comeback to draw the fourth match in Manchester.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A heated conversation between Gautam Gambhir and the Oval curator. <a href="https://t.co/EN4m1qJKH2">pic.twitter.com/EN4m1qJKH2</a>
&mdash; Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1950128357347143798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
During the training session, videos that have now gone viral on social media clearly showed an upset Gambhir getting into a verbal altercation with the curator, prompting India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak to intervene and douse the situation.
The tiff started when Fortis told Gambhir: "I will have to report this" and to that the Indian head coach replied rather tersely: "You go and report whatever you want to report." Kotak stepped in at this point, took the Englishman to a different corner and said: "We won't damage anything." Other Indian support staff such as bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate were seen listening keenly to the argument.
While it was not clear why the two got into an argument, Gambhir and Fortis appeared to be arguing over the conditions of the pitches for practice.
However, Gambhir turned back again to tell Fortis that he should not be telling his side "what to do." "You can't tell us what to do. You are just one of the groundsmen, nothing beyond," Gambhir was seen telling in the video.
Fortis and Gambhir then went their separate ways, with the India coach returning to oversee the net session.
Later while walking from the field to his room, Fortis said: "It's a big game, and he (Gambhir) is a bit touchy." Meanwhile Sai Sudharsan, who registered a half-century and a duck in the Manchester Test, was the first one to arrive at the venue for practice, where left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was also seen putting in some hard yards.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh too was seen bowling under the watchful eyes of Morkel.

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