Sports

Jasprit Bumrah's fiery bowling performance was the highlight of Day 1 in the Perth Test, as he led India’s remarkable counterattack after they were bowled out for just 150. Despite a challenging day with the bat, Bumrah's unrelenting pace left Australia in a precarious position at 67 for 7 by the close of play. His four-wicket haul, including the key scalps of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, turned the tide in India's favor, putting them firmly in control of the match. With Australia still trailing by 83 runs, India will look to capitalize on their dominant position on Day 2.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has excluded Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 trophy tour, following objections from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision comes amid ongoing tensions over India's participation in the tournament, with India citing security concerns as the reason for not sending its team to Pakistan. The ICC has now formally requested a written explanation from the BCCI regarding its stance, and the future of India's involvement in the tournament remains uncertain. In the meantime, the Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed the trophy tour will proceed, but without the PoK regions.

As Virat Kohli bids farewell to his illustrious career, Australian media is hailing him as the 'King of Cricket', while also backing young Yashasvi Jaiswal to succeed him. Jaiswal, 22, has quickly become one of India’s brightest stars, with a stunning Test record that includes multiple double centuries. While Kohli defined the India-Australia rivalry for over a decade, some outlets now believe the future belongs to Jaiswal. With his rapid rise, Jaiswal is seen as ready to step into the void left by Kohli, carrying the torch for Indian cricket in the years to come.

India cruised to a dominant 61-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I of their tour, thanks to a brilliant 100 from Sanju Samson. Batting first in overcast conditions, India posted 202/8, with Samson's explosive knock of 100 off 47 balls leading the way. In response, South Africa were bowled out for 141 in 17.5 overs, with India’s spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, strangling the hosts’ middle-order. Samson’s historic back-to-back T20I centuries and a clinical all-round bowling performance secured India their fifth win in seven T20Is at Kingsmead, Durban.

Former India selector Sunil Joshi has criticized Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for not participating in domestic cricket, which he believes is key to addressing their recent poor performances. With both senior players struggling in recent series, Joshi argued that the blame should not fall on the BCCI or the selection committee, but rather on the players themselves for not taking the initiative to play in domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy. He emphasized that playing in competitions such as the Ranji Trophy is crucial for preparing for Test cricket, especially on spin-friendly wickets. Joshi concluded by reminding that no player is bigger than the game and that all players face ups and downs in their careers.