What is the real meaning behind Pete Hegseth's tattoos?

Zohran Mamdani's Garba dance goes viral as he joins Indian community's Navratri celebrations | WATCH

Rafale Marine fighter begins flight trials in Goa ahead of Indian Navy induction

Explosions heard in Iran’s Hormozgan province near Strait of Hormuz: State media

Shock, anger and despair in Bangladesh over the executions 

India to develop first indigenous aviation gun for Prachand, Rudra attack helicopters, SSS Defence CEO confirms

Meta slapped with $25 billion fine in New Mexico over Facebook data practices, company plans appeal

Man marries off wife of 17 years to her lover in Uttar Pradesh

Russia to send first tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes diesel to US after Trump-Putin deal – What we know

WATCH | Mysterious haze grips Ohio city as toxic chemical leak forces mass evacuation – What is happening?

Kim Jong Un death rumors explode | China accused of secretly sending troops to Pyongyang

James Bond auction: Own Daniel Craig's Skyfall suit, Ana de Armas' dress and 300+ rare 007 collectibles

Trump says end to Ukraine war is 'closer than ever'; Witkoff's Putin remarks spark criticism

Trump waves at 'empty space' in viral video,' critics claim 'mental decline getting worse' | WATCH

US Midterms 2026: Sugar Land, Plano, Irving: How Texas’s Indian-American belt could shape poll outcomes

US midterms: Democrats sue Trump administration over alleged 'threats and intimidation' ahead of election, Musk issues warning to Dems

‘Her heart and mind in good shape’: What Helen Haines’ husband said after MP loses both legs in ‘targeted’ attack

Why websites around the world are suddenly going offline? What you need to know about PHP

Israel election 2026: Three possible scenarios after October 27 polls

US midterms 2026: What polls and prediction markets indicate about Congress

'You are a dummy, you are a stupid person': Trump loses temper with CNN, ABC reporters after questions about Russia sanctions

US Midterms 2026 and money: From Bloomberg to Musk, corporate donors, super PACs and lobbies, it's all about the cash

Are the US and Israel preparing for another major attack on Iran? Here's what report claims

US orders embassy staff, families to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks: Report

Ramayana promotion takes a funny turn after Ranbir Kapoor's verbal blunder, leaves fans in splits | Watch

Priyanka Chopra celebrates Dussehra 2026 with Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie | See pics

New OTT releases this week (October 19-25, 2026): Gajab Raat to Chaar Yaar-8 titles to watch during Dussehra week on Netflix, Prime Video and more

'I’m not saying it’s extraterrestrial' - 'Mutant' creature forces Mexicans to flee their homes

‘I caution the president...’: Trump’s ex-press secretary warns after Zacharia’s exit

Hunger makes alcohol more appealing, study finds

Finance influencer dies by suicide in Chennai; father accuses tech CEO, who denies charge

Kolkata airport: CISF detects ₹1.13 crore in US dollars hidden in bags of 2 Bangkok-bound passengers

Feds obtain DNA evidence that could prove Ilhan Omar married her brother: Report

US midterms 2026: Trump's approval rating hits record low as Democrats gain ground

Khawaja Asif flags ‘bureaucratic exodus’ from Pak amid Munir’s growing clout, loss of faith in govt

England completed a series win over the West Indies with a game to spare after chasing down a target of 197 in the second T20 international in Bristol on Sunday.&nbsp;Former captain Jos Buttler led the way with 47 and current skipper Harry Brook made 34 as the hosts reached 112-2 inside 13 overs. But the duo were dismissed in consecutive overs, with England still needing 85 more runs to win. But that was the cue for two of the newer team members to lay down a marker.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-2025-australia-batting-freak-steve-smith-admits-not-picking-up-willow-after-champions-trophy-exit-explains-how-it-clicked-into-place-1749395984799">Batting freak Smith admits not picking up willow after Champions Trophy exit, explains how it ‘clicked into place’</a>&nbsp;Jacob Bethell's rapid 26 off 10 balls, including three sixes, and Tom Banton's 30 not out helped complete a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining as England went 2-0 up ahead of Tuesday's series finale in Southampton.&nbsp;West Indies were struggling at 121-4 off 16 overs before adding 75 runs in the final four overs of their innings.&nbsp;Luke Wood gave England the ideal start when his swinging yorker had Evin Lewis lbw with the first ball of the match, but West Indies captain Shai Hope (49) and Johnson Charles (47) repaired some of the early damage in a stand of 90.&nbsp;Rovman Powell added late impetus with 34 off 15 balls, and former captain Jason Holder struck 29 off nine.&nbsp;Adil Rashid bowled the penultimate over as England again only selected two seamers, but the veteran leg-spinner conceded 31 runs and finished with figures of 1-59 -- his most-expensive T20 return.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

England complete massive run chase in 2nd T20I to pocket series against West Indies

England completed a series win over the West Indies with a game to spare after chasing down a target of 197 in the second T20 international in Bristol on Sunday. Former captain Jos Buttler led the way with 47 and current skipper Harry Brook made 34 as the hosts reached 112-2 inside 13 overs. But the duo were dismissed in consecutive overs, with England still needing 85 more runs to win. But that was the cue for two of the newer team members to lay down a marker. Also read | Batting freak Smith admits not picking up willow after Champions Trophy exit, explains how it ‘clicked into place’ Jacob Bethell's rapid 26 off 10 balls, including three sixes, and Tom Banton's 30 not out helped complete a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining as England went 2-0 up ahead of Tuesday's series finale in Southampton. West Indies were struggling at 121-4 off 16 overs before adding 75 runs in the final four overs of their innings. Luke Wood gave England the ideal start when his swinging yorker had Evin Lewis lbw with the first ball of the match, but West Indies captain Shai Hope (49) and Johnson Charles (47) repaired some of the early damage in a stand of 90. Rovman Powell added late impetus with 34 off 15 balls, and former captain Jason Holder struck 29 off nine. Adil Rashid bowled the penultimate over as England again only selected two seamers, but the veteran leg-spinner conceded 31 runs and finished with figures of 1-59 -- his most-expensive T20 return. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Jacob Bethell's rapid 26 off 10 balls, including three sixes, and Tom Banton's 30 not out helped complete a four-wicket win with nine balls remaining as England went 2-0 up ahead of Tuesday's series finale in Southampton.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has said that Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova would be his last. Spalletti had come in for criticism after the Italian side lost 3-0 to Norway in their opening World Cup qualifying match last week.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-kylian-mbappe-scores-and-assists-in-france-win-over-germany-for-nations-league-bronze-1749399594385">Mbappe scores and assists in France’s win over Germany for Nations League bronze</a>&nbsp;"We spoke with the president of the Italian federation on Saturday, and I was told that I would be relieved of my duties as coach of the national team," Spalletti told a press conference on Sunday. "I'm not happy about it. Given the relationship we have, I had absolutely no intention of leaving. Especially when things aren't going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job.&nbsp;"But this is a dismissal, and I have to accept it. I've always seen this role as a service to the country, and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it's right to strive for the best."&nbsp;Spalletti, 66, took over from Roberto Mancini as Italy coach in August 2023.&nbsp;In his time as head of the Nazionale, the team won 11 times, drew six and lost six.&nbsp;Spalletti's dismissal came only hours after he had been stoutly defended by the same man who then fired him, Federation president Gabriele Gravina.&nbsp;Gravina, who is not without his own critics,&nbsp; said earlier on Sunday Spalletti "was an extraordinary person," adding he "believed in the team and (Spalletti's) project", which he declared was "amazing."&nbsp;"He is a noble soul. The attacks on him are not merited," said Gravina.&nbsp;Gravina had conceded the manner of the defeat to Norway was "unacceptable", though he intimated Spalletti would be responsible for leading the recovery.&nbsp;"We have to face difficult times with our heads held high, and we have to get back up immediately."&nbsp;Two names have popped up on a regular basis as to who would replace him. AS Roma's experienced Claudio Ranieri, 73, most famous for guiding Leicester City to the unlikeliest of Premier League titles in 2016, is one of them.&nbsp;The other is Stefano Pioli, presently the coach of Saudi outfit Al-Nassr, but prior to that, the 59-year-old won the 2022 Serie A crown with AC Milan.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Luciano Spalletti to step down as Italy coach after Norway hammering, says Moldova game to be his last

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has said that Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova would be his last. Spalletti had come in for criticism after the Italian side lost 3-0 to Norway in their opening World Cup qualifying match last week. Also read | Mbappe scores and assists in France’s win over Germany for Nations League bronze "We spoke with the president of the Italian federation on Saturday, and I was told that I would be relieved of my duties as coach of the national team," Spalletti told a press conference on Sunday. "I'm not happy about it. Given the relationship we have, I had absolutely no intention of leaving. Especially when things aren't going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. "But this is a dismissal, and I have to accept it. I've always seen this role as a service to the country, and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it's right to strive for the best." Spalletti, 66, took over from Roberto Mancini as Italy coach in August 2023. In his time as head of the Nazionale, the team won 11 times, drew six and lost six. Spalletti's dismissal came only hours after he had been stoutly defended by the same man who then fired him, Federation president Gabriele Gravina. Gravina, who is not without his own critics, said earlier on Sunday Spalletti "was an extraordinary person," adding he "believed in the team and (Spalletti's) project", which he declared was "amazing." "He is a noble soul. The attacks on him are not merited," said Gravina. Gravina had conceded the manner of the defeat to Norway was "unacceptable", though he intimated Spalletti would be responsible for leading the recovery. "We have to face difficult times with our heads held high, and we have to get back up immediately." Two names have popped up on a regular basis as to who would replace him. AS Roma's experienced Claudio Ranieri, 73, most famous for guiding Leicester City to the unlikeliest of Premier League titles in 2016, is one of them. The other is Stefano Pioli, presently the coach of Saudi outfit Al-Nassr, but prior to that, the 59-year-old won the 2022 Serie A crown with AC Milan. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Spalletti, 66, took over from Roberto Mancini as Italy coach in August 2023.

Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday.&nbsp;Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-mauricio-pochettino-plays-down-spurs-return-rumours-after-tough-start-to-life-as-us-coach-1749369583451">Mauricio Pochettino plays down Spurs return rumours after tough start to life as US coach</a>&nbsp;Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the halfway line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise.&nbsp;&nbsp;The French showed their incredible depth, while Mbappe again demonstrated his finishing and pace.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann.&nbsp;In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes, including bringing striker Niclas Fuellkrug back into the starting XI.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty, but it was overturned by VAR for diving with. Florian Wirtz hit the post.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over the 1.77-metre tall Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends. Undav had the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up by Fuellkrug.&nbsp;Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe.&nbsp;&nbsp;Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minute. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France.&nbsp;&nbsp;The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the halfway line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining.&nbsp;&nbsp;Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Mbappe scores and assists in France’s win over Germany for Nations League bronze

Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Also read | Mauricio Pochettino plays down Spurs return rumours after tough start to life as US coach Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the halfway line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. The French showed their incredible depth, while Mbappe again demonstrated his finishing and pace. For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. In the lead-up to Sunday's encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany "isn't the most important game for us," with a clear focus on next year's World Cup. Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots. Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes, including bringing striker Niclas Fuellkrug back into the starting XI. The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty, but it was overturned by VAR for diving with. Florian Wirtz hit the post. Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over the 1.77-metre tall Joshua Kimmich's head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot. Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends. Undav had the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up by Fuellkrug. Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France's lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe. Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minute. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France. The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the halfway line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining. Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year's crown. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann.

Steve Smith has gained muscle ahead of his second World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa next week, but admitted doing something contrary to his nature of being a ‘cricket freak’. Smith loves batting and shadow batting more when he’s not batting, but he did neither of them in the lead-up to this showdown clash in London starting Wednesday (June 11).&nbsp;The Aussie batting giant confessed to not picking up the willow since missing that full-toss off India seamer Mohammed Shami during the 2025 Champions Trophy semis in Dubai. Smith got out bowled on 73 in that match, with India winning the contest and later claiming its record third CT title.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-india-is-10-years-behind-pakistan-shahid-afridi-bizarre-remark-sparks-outrage-is-he-on-drugs-ask-netizens-1749391523302">‘India is 10 years behind Pakistan,’ Afridi’s bizarre remark sparks outrage – ‘Is he on drugs? Ask netizens</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, having missed out on being picked for IPL 2025, Smith had plenty of time at hand to prepare for the next assignment; instead of trying to practice in his free time, he moved to America during this window to work on his fitness regime with a new personal trainer. Though that result is there for everyone to see, it took just one day for him to get ready for the 2025 WTC Final against the Proteas. &nbsp;"I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting and stuff," Smith said on the sidelines of Australia’s training session in Beckenham, UK.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while. It was good. &nbsp;"I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. Fortunately, everything sort of clicked into place immediately. I feel like I'm moving really well, I feel strong and just ready to get into it now. &nbsp;"Normally, how it works is my first hit's good, my second hit's awful, and then I'd get better from there. But both hits were just really good, and I was like, hopefully, it doesn't turn around now, and I don't have to spend hours in the nets the next couple of days,” Smith continued.<h2>On his form leading into the WTC Final &nbsp;</h2>Following his century at the Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes, Smith went 23 innings without scoring another one, his longest wait for a Test ton in his career. He, however, ended it with the one against India during the Gabba Test late last year before notching up another at the MCG. Even against Sri Lanka on Australia’s last away tour, Smith racked up two centuries in as many Tests, returning to his best. &nbsp;However, ahead of the crucial WTC Final against the Proteas, Smith hopes to continue from where he left off in Sri Lanka. &nbsp;"I feel like I've been in the team for a while, and I haven't felt under a great deal of pressure," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Maybe a little bit after Adelaide last year was the most I've felt. And maybe [that's] why I came out the next game and was really, really hungry to get a good score in Brisbane. But that was external talk, and things cross my desk all the time. People send me things that people are saying. So I don't know, maybe something clicked in me, and I wanted to get back to the position of being a bit more comfortable again,” he added.

Batting freak Smith admits not picking up willow after Champions Trophy exit, explains how it ‘clicked into place’

Steve Smith has gained muscle ahead of his second World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa next week, but admitted doing something contrary to his nature of being a ‘cricket freak’. Smith loves batting and shadow batting more when he’s not batting, but he did neither of them in the lead-up to this showdown clash in London starting Wednesday (June 11). The Aussie batting giant confessed to not picking up the willow since missing that full-toss off India seamer Mohammed Shami during the 2025 Champions Trophy semis in Dubai. Smith got out bowled on 73 in that match, with India winning the contest and later claiming its record third CT title. Also read | ‘India is 10 years behind Pakistan,’ Afridi’s bizarre remark sparks outrage – ‘Is he on drugs? Ask netizens Meanwhile, having missed out on being picked for IPL 2025, Smith had plenty of time at hand to prepare for the next assignment; instead of trying to practice in his free time, he moved to America during this window to work on his fitness regime with a new personal trainer. Though that result is there for everyone to see, it took just one day for him to get ready for the 2025 WTC Final against the Proteas. "I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting and stuff," Smith said on the sidelines of Australia’s training session in Beckenham, UK. "But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while. It was good. "I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. Fortunately, everything sort of clicked into place immediately. I feel like I'm moving really well, I feel strong and just ready to get into it now. "Normally, how it works is my first hit's good, my second hit's awful, and then I'd get better from there. But both hits were just really good, and I was like, hopefully, it doesn't turn around now, and I don't have to spend hours in the nets the next couple of days,” Smith continued. On his form leading into the WTC Final Following his century at the Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes, Smith went 23 innings without scoring another one, his longest wait for a Test ton in his career. He, however, ended it with the one against India during the Gabba Test late last year before notching up another at the MCG. Even against Sri Lanka on Australia’s last away tour, Smith racked up two centuries in as many Tests, returning to his best. However, ahead of the crucial WTC Final against the Proteas, Smith hopes to continue from where he left off in Sri Lanka. "I feel like I've been in the team for a while, and I haven't felt under a great deal of pressure," he said. "Maybe a little bit after Adelaide last year was the most I've felt. And maybe [that's] why I came out the next game and was really, really hungry to get a good score in Brisbane. But that was external talk, and things cross my desk all the time. People send me things that people are saying. So I don't know, maybe something clicked in me, and I wanted to get back to the position of being a bit more comfortable again,” he added.

The Aussie batting giant confessed to not picking up the willow since missing that full-toss off India seamer Mohammed Shami during the 2025 Champions Trophy semis in Dubai.

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made headlines again for all the wrong reasons. Known for spitting venom against India with his over-the-top political and personal comments, Afridi's latest remarks made netizens question, ‘Is he on drugs?’&nbsp;Per several reports, Afridi has made a bizarre comment while speaking during an event in Pakistan, saying India is ten years behind Pakistan regarding growth and development and that they dream of competing with Pakistan but can never come up to par with them. The former team captain continued, saying calling India Pakistan’s enemy is an insult to his country.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-rcb-gavaskar-mourns-bengaluru-stampede-tragedy-that-killed-11-says-all-that-they-wanted-was-a-glimpse-1749389199514">Gavaskar mourns Bengaluru stampede tragedy that killed 11, says ‘all that they wanted was a glimpse…’</a> &nbsp;“India is 10 years behind Pakistan and dreams of defeating us and being our equal. Pakistan is the fastest-growing country in the world, with the most advanced technology. Even calling India our enemy is an insult to Pakistan,” Afridi said in his latest comment, as carried out by several publications. &nbsp;His remarks, however, haven’t sat too well among the netizens, who tore into him for being so delusional. Taking to their social media handles, countless users bashed Afridi for his latest comments.&nbsp; &nbsp;Check out some of the posts –

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A day without humiliation of Pakistan is a day wasted<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shahidafridi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shahidafridi</a> <a href="https://t.co/2rsXIdeokN">pic.twitter.com/2rsXIdeokN</a>&mdash; Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ComedycultureIn/status/1931354403279348114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Big impact of War, Shahid Afridi still on drugs🙄 <a href="https://t.co/sUMFjD3fdJ">pic.twitter.com/sUMFjD3fdJ</a>&mdash; Sandeep Phogat (@MrSandeepPhogat) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSandeepPhogat/status/1931375282801504301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yeah.... And Ambani is behind me in terms of Wealth... <a href="https://t.co/1wtqWnDAIA">pic.twitter.com/1wtqWnDAIA</a>&mdash; Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSinha_/status/1931391601009643963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Shahid Afridi on Drugs! Hahahah <a href="https://t.co/wMiAqXGrZY">pic.twitter.com/wMiAqXGrZY</a>&mdash; The Jaipur Dialogues (@JaipurDialogues) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaipurDialogues/status/1931383432736907344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India is 10 year behind Pakistan in cricket, courage &amp; tech. Calling them rival is insult&quot; : Shahid Afridi Mean While Pakistan&#39;s Technologia <a href="https://t.co/Eyl9brylFd">pic.twitter.com/Eyl9brylFd</a>&mdash; Pratik Singh (@Pratikbihar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pratikbihar/status/1931530215693697205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Shahid Afridi says India is 10 years behind Pakistan in cricket, courage, and technology. Coming from a guy who retired more times than he scored centuries — we’ll take it as stand-up comedy, not a serious statement. 😂 PS: Our tech sends satellites to Mars. Yours can’t even… <a href="https://t.co/nuhEFllkXt">pic.twitter.com/nuhEFllkXt</a>&mdash; bhaavna arora (@BhaavnaArora) <a href="https://twitter.com/BhaavnaArora/status/1931653437223243882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, it’s not the first time that Afridi has faced backlash for his anti-India comments. Recently, following the Pahalgam terror attack in India's Kashmir, where Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent lives in broad daylight, all tourists from India and abroad, Afridi pointed fingers at the Indian Army for their failure in stopping such a barbaric attack from happening on their soil.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If a firecracker were to burst in India, fingers will always be pointed at Pakistan,” Afridi said on a chat show on Pakistan’s Samaa TV. “You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir, and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you can't provide security to the people).” &nbsp;Not only this, but Afridi even criticised Indian media’s coverage of the incident, linking it to a Bollywood movie production. He also took a jibe at certain Indian cricketers for accusing Pakistan of its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. &nbsp;The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for this attack.

‘India is 10 years behind Pakistan,’ Afridi’s bizarre remark sparks outrage – ‘Is he on drugs? Ask netizens

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made headlines again for all the wrong reasons. Known for spitting venom against India with his over-the-top political and personal comments, Afridi's latest remarks made netizens question, ‘Is he on drugs?’ Per several reports, Afridi has made a bizarre comment while speaking during an event in Pakistan, saying India is ten years behind Pakistan regarding growth and development and that they dream of competing with Pakistan but can never come up to par with them. The former team captain continued, saying calling India Pakistan’s enemy is an insult to his country. Also read | Gavaskar mourns Bengaluru stampede tragedy that killed 11, says ‘all that they wanted was a glimpse…’ “India is 10 years behind Pakistan and dreams of defeating us and being our equal. Pakistan is the fastest-growing country in the world, with the most advanced technology. Even calling India our enemy is an insult to Pakistan,” Afridi said in his latest comment, as carried out by several publications. His remarks, however, haven’t sat too well among the netizens, who tore into him for being so delusional. Taking to their social media handles, countless users bashed Afridi for his latest comments. Check out some of the posts –

Known for spitting venom against India with his over-the-top political and personal comments, Afridi's latest remarks made netizens question, ‘Is he on drugs?’

Four days after the Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 people and injured 33 others, former India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar sent heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. Mourning the death of 11 cricket fans outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a day after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL title, Gavaskar condemned the whole episode, saying all those who tragically passed away were just there to have a glimpse of their superstars.&nbsp;After narrowly beating the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad, RCB and their fans celebrated this monumental victory loudly all across, with the franchise even pushing for an unauthorised roadshow and celebration at the team stadium in Karnataka’s capital city the next day. That, however, was the beginning of a disastrous turnaround for the team and their fans, as almost a dozen people were suffocated to death during the celebration, turning it into a tragedy.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-indian-test-team-prepares-for-life-without-kohli-rohit-as-training-resumes-in-uk-for-england-tests-watch-1749384546268">Indian Test team prepares for life without Kohli, Rohit as training resumes in UK for England Tests – WATCH</a> &nbsp;“What a tragedy! The loss of lives due to a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium is heartbreaking indeed. All that those people wanted was a glimpse of the players who had given them so much joy and happiness over the years, especially in the last two months. The IPL Trophy, which they kept hoping would be theirs every year but never did, was finally coming to them after a wait of 18 years," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid Day. &nbsp;“It was totally understandable for their joy to know no bounds, and they wanted to show it to their heroes. Maybe even see them up close, maybe even touch them, maybe even get a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before and perhaps still are and want to see them and have a brief hello and then perhaps a photo with them?” Gavaskar continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the franchise and its management came under scrutiny for continuing with the celebrations inside the stadium despite what was happening outside. Although neither the team, management, nor the fans were aware of the mishap at the venue gate at the time of the celebration, upon learning about it, they cut short the whole event, with only team captain Rajat Patidar and star batter Virat Kohli delivering winning speeches to the fans in attendance. &nbsp;For failing to stage an unplanned and impromptu victory celebration across the city, the RCB provided financial assistance of INR 10 lakh each for the families of the 11 supporters who died in the Bengaluru stampede.

Gavaskar mourns Bengaluru stampede tragedy that killed 11, says ‘all that they wanted was a glimpse…’

Four days after the Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 people and injured 33 others, former India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar sent heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. Mourning the death of 11 cricket fans outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a day after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their maiden IPL title, Gavaskar condemned the whole episode, saying all those who tragically passed away were just there to have a glimpse of their superstars. After narrowly beating the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad, RCB and their fans celebrated this monumental victory loudly all across, with the franchise even pushing for an unauthorised roadshow and celebration at the team stadium in Karnataka’s capital city the next day. That, however, was the beginning of a disastrous turnaround for the team and their fans, as almost a dozen people were suffocated to death during the celebration, turning it into a tragedy. Also read | Indian Test team prepares for life without Kohli, Rohit as training resumes in UK for England Tests – WATCH “What a tragedy! The loss of lives due to a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium is heartbreaking indeed. All that those people wanted was a glimpse of the players who had given them so much joy and happiness over the years, especially in the last two months. The IPL Trophy, which they kept hoping would be theirs every year but never did, was finally coming to them after a wait of 18 years," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid Day. “It was totally understandable for their joy to know no bounds, and they wanted to show it to their heroes. Maybe even see them up close, maybe even touch them, maybe even get a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before and perhaps still are and want to see them and have a brief hello and then perhaps a photo with them?” Gavaskar continued. Meanwhile, the franchise and its management came under scrutiny for continuing with the celebrations inside the stadium despite what was happening outside. Although neither the team, management, nor the fans were aware of the mishap at the venue gate at the time of the celebration, upon learning about it, they cut short the whole event, with only team captain Rajat Patidar and star batter Virat Kohli delivering winning speeches to the fans in attendance. For failing to stage an unplanned and impromptu victory celebration across the city, the RCB provided financial assistance of INR 10 lakh each for the families of the 11 supporters who died in the Bengaluru stampede.

Gavaskar condemned the whole episode, saying all those who tragically passed away were just there to have a glimpse of their superstars.

The Indian Test team has begun preparing for a new life without their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who announced their Test retirement early last month, resuming training shortly after landing in the UK. As India faces England across five Tests, beginning June 20 in Leeds, they have started to get into the rhythm with their first indoor practice session.&nbsp;Several members of the 18-man squad had already arrived in the country to link with the India-A squad for their shadow tour (against England Lions); the remaining ones, however, led by the new leadership in captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, landed in the UK early on Saturday (June 7), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-empty-airport-no-hype-media-fans-as-team-india-lands-in-england-for-marquee-test-series-watch-1749319269251">experiencing no buzz (at the airport) around the marquee series</a>. &nbsp;Despite that, there was no loss of camaraderie and joy within the group that resumed training indoors ahead of the Test series. While the India-A squad, consisting of a few first-team players, including KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal, among others, are busy playing their second warm-up game in Northampton, those who joined later turned to light closed-door activities to get back to finding rhythm. &nbsp;In a video shared by the BCCI on its social media handles, titled ‘First sight of #TeamIndia getting into the groove in England 😎’, Rishabh Pant and the new skipper Gill are seen walking towards the gate of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London. Fast forward a few seconds, the players were doing light exercises, with ace quicks like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishan hogging all the limelight. Head coach Gambhir was also seen talking to the group, while the seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was recorded training with the team.&nbsp;Watch Video -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 ✅ First sight of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> getting into the groove in England 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/TZdhAil9wV">pic.twitter.com/TZdhAil9wV</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1931561828175228936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, India-A will play an intra-squad game with the senior team starting June 13 before the action gets underway at Headingley a week later.<h2>No Virat and Rohit &nbsp;</h2>Midway through IPL 2025, both star cricketers announced their Test retirements, shocking the cricket world. Although Rohit’s announcement did not come as a shocker as fans were expecting his departure sooner rather than later, Kohli hanging up his boots in Tests broke the internet.&nbsp; &nbsp;Their departure forced the selectors to name a new Test captain in Gill, alongside picking a relatively younger squad for the away England tour.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moreover, seamer Mohammed Shami’s absence added salt to the injury, with the selection committee naming uncapped quick Arshdeep Singh as his backup. They also brought back batter Karun Nair while handing a debut Test call-up to domestic and IPL sensation Sai Sudharsan.&nbsp; &nbsp;Here is India’s Test squad for the England series – &nbsp;Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav

Indian Test team prepares for life without Kohli, Rohit as training resumes in UK for England Tests – WATCH

The Indian Test team has begun preparing for a new life without their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who announced their Test retirement early last month, resuming training shortly after landing in the UK. As India faces England across five Tests, beginning June 20 in Leeds, they have started to get into the rhythm with their first indoor practice session. Several members of the 18-man squad had already arrived in the country to link with the India-A squad for their shadow tour (against England Lions); the remaining ones, however, led by the new leadership in captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, landed in the UK early on Saturday (June 7), experiencing no buzz (at the airport) around the marquee series. Despite that, there was no loss of camaraderie and joy within the group that resumed training indoors ahead of the Test series. While the India-A squad, consisting of a few first-team players, including KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal, among others, are busy playing their second warm-up game in Northampton, those who joined later turned to light closed-door activities to get back to finding rhythm. In a video shared by the BCCI on its social media handles, titled ‘First sight of #TeamIndia getting into the groove in England 😎’, Rishabh Pant and the new skipper Gill are seen walking towards the gate of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London. Fast forward a few seconds, the players were doing light exercises, with ace quicks like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishan hogging all the limelight. Head coach Gambhir was also seen talking to the group, while the seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was recorded training with the team. Watch Video -

India-A will play an intra-squad game with the senior team starting June 13 before the action gets underway at Headingley a week later.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh holds no grudge against his IPL team captain Shreyas Iyer, who scolded him for his casualness over a run out following his team’s Qualifier 2 win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, the video of which also went viral on social media; instead, Shashank praised Iyer for being the captain Punjab needed for the longest time, with the results are there for everyone to see.&nbsp;Shashank and Iyer were at the centre of the run chase against the mighty Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad when a runout, caused by Shashank’s casual approach between the wickets, broke Punjab’s momentum. Though thanks to Iyer’s unbeaten 87, they won the match and qualified for the IPL 2025 final, Shashank’s dismissal at that point could have turned the game in MI’s favour.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-eng-vs-ind-test-series-rishabh-pant-misses-rohit-sharma-s-company-on-england-tour-reminds-of-garden-ki-1749356139302">ENG vs IND, Test Series: Rishabh Pant misses Rohit Sharma's company on England tour, reminds of ‘garden ki...’</a> &nbsp;Chasing 204, Punjab lost two wickets inside the Powerplay and another one (in Jish Inglis) soon after. Iyer and Nehal Wadhera propelled them to a match-winning position with an 84-run stand for the fourth wicket before two quick scalps put their backs against the wall, one of which included that of Shashank Singh on two. &nbsp;Reflecting on the incident, Shashank said he deserved the bashing he received at the hands of his team captain, and not only this, but he also deserved to be slapped for being so casual about completing a run in a knockout match. The right-handed batter also confessed that his father was upset with him over the same and didn’t speak with him till the finals. &nbsp;“I deserve it, Iyer should have slapped me, my father didn’t speak to me till the finals. I was casual, I was walking on the beach, not even in the garden. It was a crucial time, Shreyas was clear that I didn’t expect this from you, but later he took me out for dinner,” Shashank said on the viral video of Iyer scolding him following the MI clash in Qualifier 2.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shashank finished as the second-highest run-getter for Punjab in IPL 2025 after skipper Iyer, scoring 341 runs and striking at 153.<h2>‘There’s no better captain than him’ &nbsp;</h2>Punjab splurged a whopping INR 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer at last year’s auction, with Iyer doing justice to it by leading the franchise to their second IPL final ever - the first under his captaincy. Although they failed to cross the winning line, with the RCB winning it for the first time, Punjab Kings impressed everyone and showed why they should be among the title contenders from the next season onwards. &nbsp;“Whatever I have spoken to others and seen, there is no better captain than him in current times in world cricket,” Shashank said of Iyer’s captaincy. &nbsp;“He gives us freedom, he treats everyone equally. No one will say Shreyas has an attitude. The youngsters in the dressing room find him to be a chill bandaa. Shreyas is the only captain, who has told us that if anyone has any suggestions during the game, he can come and convey it to him. If he feels it’s the right advice, he will take it. It’s rare,” he continued.&nbsp;

IPL 2025: ‘Should have slapped me,’ PBKS batter Shashank Singh on viral chat with captain Iyer

Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh holds no grudge against his IPL team captain Shreyas Iyer, who scolded him for his casualness over a run out following his team’s Qualifier 2 win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, the video of which also went viral on social media; instead, Shashank praised Iyer for being the captain Punjab needed for the longest time, with the results are there for everyone to see. Shashank and Iyer were at the centre of the run chase against the mighty Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad when a runout, caused by Shashank’s casual approach between the wickets, broke Punjab’s momentum. Though thanks to Iyer’s unbeaten 87, they won the match and qualified for the IPL 2025 final, Shashank’s dismissal at that point could have turned the game in MI’s favour. Also read | ENG vs IND, Test Series: Rishabh Pant misses Rohit Sharma's company on England tour, reminds of ‘garden ki...’ Chasing 204, Punjab lost two wickets inside the Powerplay and another one (in Jish Inglis) soon after. Iyer and Nehal Wadhera propelled them to a match-winning position with an 84-run stand for the fourth wicket before two quick scalps put their backs against the wall, one of which included that of Shashank Singh on two. Reflecting on the incident, Shashank said he deserved the bashing he received at the hands of his team captain, and not only this, but he also deserved to be slapped for being so casual about completing a run in a knockout match. The right-handed batter also confessed that his father was upset with him over the same and didn’t speak with him till the finals. “I deserve it, Iyer should have slapped me, my father didn’t speak to me till the finals. I was casual, I was walking on the beach, not even in the garden. It was a crucial time, Shreyas was clear that I didn’t expect this from you, but later he took me out for dinner,” Shashank said on the viral video of Iyer scolding him following the MI clash in Qualifier 2. Meanwhile, Shashank finished as the second-highest run-getter for Punjab in IPL 2025 after skipper Iyer, scoring 341 runs and striking at 153. ‘There’s no better captain than him’ Punjab splurged a whopping INR 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer at last year’s auction, with Iyer doing justice to it by leading the franchise to their second IPL final ever - the first under his captaincy. Although they failed to cross the winning line, with the RCB winning it for the first time, Punjab Kings impressed everyone and showed why they should be among the title contenders from the next season onwards. “Whatever I have spoken to others and seen, there is no better captain than him in current times in world cricket,” Shashank said of Iyer’s captaincy. “He gives us freedom, he treats everyone equally. No one will say Shreyas has an attitude. The youngsters in the dressing room find him to be a chill bandaa. Shreyas is the only captain, who has told us that if anyone has any suggestions during the game, he can come and convey it to him. If he feels it’s the right advice, he will take it. It’s rare,” he continued.

Shashank and Iyer were at the centre of the run chase against the mighty Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad when a runout, caused by Shashank’s casual approach between the wickets, broke Punjab’s momentum.

USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has played down rumors linking him with the vacant managerial position at his former club Tottenham Hotspur, following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou on Friday.&nbsp;Argentine Pochettino was in charge of Spurs for five years from 2014 and took the team to the Champions League final but never won a trophy with the North London club.&nbsp;Despite having signed a two year contract in September to lead the USA at the 2026 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, Pochettino's name has appeared in bookmakers' lists of favorites for the Spurs job and in several UK reports.&nbsp;But asked on Saturday about the links, in his post-match press conference following the USA's 2-1 home friendly defeat to Turkey, Pochettino played down the talk.&nbsp;"After I left in 2019, every time that I was free, and the place of the position of the manager or head coach in Tottenham Hotspur (was vacant), my name is appearing on the list," Pochettino said.&nbsp;"If you have seen the rumors, I think there are 100 coaches in the list. I think, don’t be worried about that," he added.&nbsp;Pochettino has talked in the past about his remaining affection for Spurs and has never ruled out the possibility of returning to the club at some &nbsp;point.&nbsp;But he suggested the timing was not right for a second chance with his old team."If something happened, you for sure you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing, because I think today, it’s not real. It's not realistic. And look at where I am, where we are," he said in the stadium press room in Hartford, Connecticut.&nbsp;"And the thing is, the answer is so clear, no? But we're talking about it because it’s my club, like Newells or Espanyol," he added.&nbsp;Postecoglou was fired just 16 days after the Australian ended Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.&nbsp;Postecoglou led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to clinch the north Londoners' first European prize in 41 years and secure a place in next season's Champions League.&nbsp;The former Celtic boss paid the price for Tottenham's worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77.&nbsp;The USA have now lost three games in a row, following losses to Panama and Canada in March's CONCACAF Nations League but Pochettino was upbeat about his team's encouraging display after question marks about the attitude of his team in recent games."This attitude I want to continue for the future until we arrive to the World Cup … that is the only way we can improve," he said.&nbsp;"If I decide in September (to have a) different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude, not to complain (about) this and that," he added.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Argentine Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of Spurs for five years from 2014 and took the team to the Champions League final but never won a trophy with the North London club.

USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has played down rumors linking him with the vacant managerial position at his former club Tottenham Hotspur, following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou on Friday. Argentine Pochettino was in charge of Spurs for five years from 2014 and took the team to the Champions League final but never won a trophy with the North London club. Despite having signed a two year contract in September to lead the USA at the 2026 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, Pochettino's name has appeared in bookmakers' lists of favorites for the Spurs job and in several UK reports. But asked on Saturday about the links, in his post-match press conference following the USA's 2-1 home friendly defeat to Turkey, Pochettino played down the talk. "After I left in 2019, every time that I was free, and the place of the position of the manager or head coach in Tottenham Hotspur (was vacant), my name is appearing on the list," Pochettino said. "If you have seen the rumors, I think there are 100 coaches in the list. I think, don’t be worried about that," he added. Pochettino has talked in the past about his remaining affection for Spurs and has never ruled out the possibility of returning to the club at some point. But he suggested the timing was not right for a second chance with his old team. "If something happened, you for sure you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing, because I think today, it’s not real. It's not realistic. And look at where I am, where we are," he said in the stadium press room in Hartford, Connecticut. "And the thing is, the answer is so clear, no? But we're talking about it because it’s my club, like Newells or Espanyol," he added. Postecoglou was fired just 16 days after the Australian ended Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Postecoglou led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to clinch the north Londoners' first European prize in 41 years and secure a place in next season's Champions League. The former Celtic boss paid the price for Tottenham's worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77. The USA have now lost three games in a row, following losses to Panama and Canada in March's CONCACAF Nations League but Pochettino was upbeat about his team's encouraging display after question marks about the attitude of his team in recent games. "This attitude I want to continue for the future until we arrive to the World Cup … that is the only way we can improve," he said. "If I decide in September (to have a) different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude, not to complain (about) this and that," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Argentine Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of Spurs for five years from 2014 and took the team to the Champions League final but never won a trophy with the North London club.

Mauricio Pochettino plays down Spurs return rumours after tough start to life as US coach

The landscape of Indian sports has changed remarkably in the last decade as players, coaches, and administrators have started making their mark in the field. While the success stories are written on the field by athletes, there comes a huge support system that helps them grow. Part of the support system is Vita Dani, the co-owner of Indian Super League (ISL) side Chennaiyin FC and the co-promoter of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). She spoke exclusively to WION and reflected on her journey which is now helping change the landscape of Indian sports away from the spotlight.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dani has been actively involved in promoting sports in India including table tennis and football and has played a crucial role in upgrading the ecosystem. With hundreds of national and international stars competing at the UTT, she has helped build a platform for table tennis. Under her assistance, national and international athletes are competing with advanced technology in use.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, speaking to WION, she underlined her patriotism while urging the athletes to make the nation proud and the tri-colours of the nation.&nbsp;<h2>Where did the journey with UTT begin?</h2>Table Tennis enjoyed glory in India many, many years and decades ago. Somewhere, we have to ensure that that glory, that popularity is restored and I think our TT players are really going places. They are proving themselves. The perception of the entire world is changing as far as the Indian Table Tennis players are concerned. I mean, this is verbatim.<h2>How has UTT helped in building infrastructure for Table Tennis?</h2>Not everybody is privileged to go and play as many games as they would like internationally. And it, of course, costs a lot of money. So we said, why don't we bring the players to India. This is where the concept of UTT came into the limelight.&nbsp;When international coaches come here, when different players come with different regimes, different routines, and different mindsets, there is so much to learn. That actually helps, you know, because you are in a better environment as well. Because you are in between some international stars as well.<h2>What are the challenges for you as an administrator in UTT?</h2>As an administrator, I don't see all these challenges, but I see them as opportunities. Because our country is so large we have plenty of opportunities. We have so many people, so we have so much more scope. And it only makes the task easier for us to really make this into a movement more than anything else. So, I think we've got to capitalise on this instead of taking it as a challenge.<h2>Where did the journey with Chennaiyin FC begin?</h2>With no idea of football, like a good student, I called up a school teacher and said, please teach me football. Because I don't know the game and if I don't know the game, there is no question of forming or having any strategy. So, that's how football started. Initially, me and my husband argued when he asked me to be with Chennaiyin FC, but now it is going fine.&nbsp;<h2>What is the one thing that makes you stand tall as an administrator in sports?</h2>My personal journey starts and ends with our Indian flag. And I feel that for any athlete, the only thing that you play for is a Tiranga. So, just like an athlete, if I can contribute and if I can have that big flag waving high, that's my biggest return, that's my biggest pride and my biggest joy in life.

The landscape of Indian sports has changed remarkably in the last decade as players, coaches, and administrators have started making their mark in the field.

The landscape of Indian sports has changed remarkably in the last decade as players, coaches, and administrators have started making their mark in the field. While the success stories are written on the field by athletes, there comes a huge support system that helps them grow. Part of the support system is Vita Dani, the co-owner of Indian Super League (ISL) side Chennaiyin FC and the co-promoter of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). She spoke exclusively to WION and reflected on her journey which is now helping change the landscape of Indian sports away from the spotlight. Dani has been actively involved in promoting sports in India including table tennis and football and has played a crucial role in upgrading the ecosystem. With hundreds of national and international stars competing at the UTT, she has helped build a platform for table tennis. Under her assistance, national and international athletes are competing with advanced technology in use. However, speaking to WION, she underlined her patriotism while urging the athletes to make the nation proud and the tri-colours of the nation. Where did the journey with UTT begin? Table Tennis enjoyed glory in India many, many years and decades ago. Somewhere, we have to ensure that that glory, that popularity is restored and I think our TT players are really going places. They are proving themselves. The perception of the entire world is changing as far as the Indian Table Tennis players are concerned. I mean, this is verbatim. How has UTT helped in building infrastructure for Table Tennis? Not everybody is privileged to go and play as many games as they would like internationally. And it, of course, costs a lot of money. So we said, why don't we bring the players to India. This is where the concept of UTT came into the limelight. When international coaches come here, when different players come with different regimes, different routines, and different mindsets, there is so much to learn. That actually helps, you know, because you are in a better environment as well. Because you are in between some international stars as well. What are the challenges for you as an administrator in UTT? As an administrator, I don't see all these challenges, but I see them as opportunities. Because our country is so large we have plenty of opportunities. We have so many people, so we have so much more scope. And it only makes the task easier for us to really make this into a movement more than anything else. So, I think we've got to capitalise on this instead of taking it as a challenge. Where did the journey with Chennaiyin FC begin? With no idea of football, like a good student, I called up a school teacher and said, please teach me football. Because I don't know the game and if I don't know the game, there is no question of forming or having any strategy. So, that's how football started. Initially, me and my husband argued when he asked me to be with Chennaiyin FC, but now it is going fine. What is the one thing that makes you stand tall as an administrator in sports? My personal journey starts and ends with our Indian flag. And I feel that for any athlete, the only thing that you play for is a Tiranga. So, just like an athlete, if I can contribute and if I can have that big flag waving high, that's my biggest return, that's my biggest pride and my biggest joy in life.

The landscape of Indian sports has changed remarkably in the last decade as players, coaches, and administrators have started making their mark in the field.

Exclusive: For any athlete, the only thing that you play for is the Indian tri-colour - Vita Dani

Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood is embracing the challenge as his side gets ready to defend their World Test Championship (WTC) title when they face South Africa in the final. Starting Wednesday (June 11), Australia and South Africa will lock horns at the Lord’s Cricket Ground with Hazlewood facing stern competition from Scott Boland. Both bowlers are in line for a place in the Playing XI with Boland also declaring himself fit.&nbsp;<h2>Hazlewood ready for WTC final</h2>"I was obviously quite close last time [in 2023]," Hazlewood said. "I just had more of an interrupted IPL leading into that, and then had a few little issues going on, so wasn't quite up to scratch, but I feel in a much better place this time around.&nbsp;"And I think in any format, my numbers over the last two years have been pretty good, so have got a lot to fall back on in terms of skill wise. I still feel like I'm bowling probably the best over my career and it's just a matter of the body holding up, which it has been in the last few months."&nbsp;Hazlewood has been a busy traveller for the last few days having returned to Australia midway during the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) due to a shoulder issue. He then returned to India for the final leg of the tournament where he eventually helped Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB) win their maiden IPL title.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hours after the final, he traveled to England to join the Aussie squad for the WTC final where he is likely to face a stern competition from Boland.&nbsp;Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc remain undroppable options in the squad, meaning only one of Boland or Hazlewood will play in the WTC final.&nbsp;&nbsp;Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.&nbsp;Traveling reserve: Brendan Doggett

Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood is embracing the challenge as his side gets ready to defend their World Test Championship (WTC) title when they face South Africa in the final.

Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood is embracing the challenge as his side gets ready to defend their World Test Championship (WTC) title when they face South Africa in the final. Starting Wednesday (June 11), Australia and South Africa will lock horns at the Lord’s Cricket Ground with Hazlewood facing stern competition from Scott Boland. Both bowlers are in line for a place in the Playing XI with Boland also declaring himself fit. Hazlewood ready for WTC final "I was obviously quite close last time [in 2023]," Hazlewood said. "I just had more of an interrupted IPL leading into that, and then had a few little issues going on, so wasn't quite up to scratch, but I feel in a much better place this time around. "And I think in any format, my numbers over the last two years have been pretty good, so have got a lot to fall back on in terms of skill wise. I still feel like I'm bowling probably the best over my career and it's just a matter of the body holding up, which it has been in the last few months." Hazlewood has been a busy traveller for the last few days having returned to Australia midway during the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) due to a shoulder issue. He then returned to India for the final leg of the tournament where he eventually helped Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB) win their maiden IPL title. Hours after the final, he traveled to England to join the Aussie squad for the WTC final where he is likely to face a stern competition from Boland. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc remain undroppable options in the squad, meaning only one of Boland or Hazlewood will play in the WTC final. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Traveling reserve: Brendan Doggett

Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood is embracing the challenge as his side gets ready to defend their World Test Championship (WTC) title when they face South Africa in the final.

WTC 2025 final: Josh Hazlewood pushes for Playing XI berth ahead of Scott Boland

Team India is all set for a new era in Test cricket as Shubman Gill-led side arrived in England for the five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7). Now in the post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli era, the Indian team will have a new set of challenges as they look to start on a winning note under new skipper Gill. However, it was Rohit who was fondly missed as the Indian team arrived in England with vice-captain Rishabh Pant giving a teaser.&nbsp;<h2>Pant misses Rohit on England tour</h2>As soon as the Indian team landed in England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video on its social handle. In the video, Rishabh was reminded of Rohit, who is no longer part of the Indian team having announced his Test retirement. Hilariously he said, “Garden ki toh yaad aayegi" translating to “we will remember the garden”.&nbsp;The comment related to Rohit’s famous on-field chat during England’s India tour in early 2024 when he said “no one will roam in the garden”.&nbsp;However, those conversations are now part of the past as Rohit recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. His retirement came at a surprising time in May despite him underlining his Test career is not over yet while in Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is Gill who will now lead the Indian team in the England series as they begin the next chapter in the World Test Championship (WTC). India missed out on a third consecutive final in 2025 but will be determined to start on a positive note in the 2025-27 cycle.<h2>India tour of England 2025</h2>1st Test: 20 June to 24 June, Headingley, Leeds2nd Test: 2 July to 6 July, Edgbaston, Birmingham3rd Test: 10 July to 14 July, Lord's, London4th Test: 23 July to 27 July, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester5th Test: 31 July to 4 August, Kennington Oval, London

Team India is all set for a new era in Test cricket as Shubman Gill-led side arrived in England for the five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7). 

Team India is all set for a new era in Test cricket as Shubman Gill-led side arrived in England for the five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7). Now in the post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli era, the Indian team will have a new set of challenges as they look to start on a winning note under new skipper Gill. However, it was Rohit who was fondly missed as the Indian team arrived in England with vice-captain Rishabh Pant giving a teaser. Pant misses Rohit on England tour As soon as the Indian team landed in England, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video on its social handle. In the video, Rishabh was reminded of Rohit, who is no longer part of the Indian team having announced his Test retirement. Hilariously he said, “Garden ki toh yaad aayegi" translating to “we will remember the garden”. The comment related to Rohit’s famous on-field chat during England’s India tour in early 2024 when he said “no one will roam in the garden”. However, those conversations are now part of the past as Rohit recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. His retirement came at a surprising time in May despite him underlining his Test career is not over yet while in Australia. It is Gill who will now lead the Indian team in the England series as they begin the next chapter in the World Test Championship (WTC). India missed out on a third consecutive final in 2025 but will be determined to start on a positive note in the 2025-27 cycle. India tour of England 2025 1st Test: 20 June to 24 June, Headingley, Leeds 2nd Test: 2 July to 6 July, Edgbaston, Birmingham 3rd Test: 10 July to 14 July, Lord's, London 4th Test: 23 July to 27 July, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 5th Test: 31 July to 4 August, Kennington Oval, London

Team India is all set for a new era in Test cricket as Shubman Gill-led side arrived in England for the five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7).&nbsp;

ENG vs IND, Test Series: Rishabh Pant misses Rohit Sharma's company on England tour, reminds of 'garden ki...'

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will lock horns at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday as the duo goes head-to-head in the Championship clash of the French Open men’s singles. In a mouth-watering prospect, it will be the top two seeds who will clash for the clay court Grand Slam as both players look to continue Grand Slam dominance. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the match including head-to-head, live streaming and others.&nbsp;<h2>When will Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final start?</h2>The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final will start at 6:30 PM IST (3:00 PM local time).<h2>Where will the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final contest take place?</h2>The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final will be played at the Court Philippe-Chatrier.<h2>What is the head-to-head record between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?</h2>This will be the 12th meeting between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a head-to-head contest. Alcaraz leads the overall head-to-head with seven wins when compared to Sinner’s four wins. This will be the fourth time Sinner and Alcaraz will go head-to-head in a Grand Slam with the latter leading 2-1 including wins in the last two meetings. This will be the second time both meet at the French Open with Alcaraz getting the better of Sinner in 2024 before winning the title.<h2>Which channel will broadcast the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India?</h2>The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network.<h2>Which channel will livestream the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India?</h2>The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India will be live-streamed on the Sony Sports Network.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will lock horns at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday as the duo goes head-to-head in the Championship clash of the French Open men’s singles.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will lock horns at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday as the duo goes head-to-head in the Championship clash of the French Open men’s singles. In a mouth-watering prospect, it will be the top two seeds who will clash for the clay court Grand Slam as both players look to continue Grand Slam dominance. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the match including head-to-head, live streaming and others. When will Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final start? The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final will start at 6:30 PM IST (3:00 PM local time). Where will the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final contest take place? The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final will be played at the Court Philippe-Chatrier. What is the head-to-head record between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner? This will be the 12th meeting between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a head-to-head contest. Alcaraz leads the overall head-to-head with seven wins when compared to Sinner’s four wins. This will be the fourth time Sinner and Alcaraz will go head-to-head in a Grand Slam with the latter leading 2-1 including wins in the last two meetings. This will be the second time both meet at the French Open with Alcaraz getting the better of Sinner in 2024 before winning the title. Which channel will broadcast the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India? The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India will be telecasted on Sony Sports Network. Which channel will livestream the Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India? The Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open 2025 final match in India will be live-streamed on the Sony Sports Network.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will lock horns at Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday as the duo goes head-to-head in the Championship clash of the French Open men’s singles.

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz: All you need to know about French Open men's singles final

Spain's Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won their first Grand Slam men's doubles title on Saturday after edging British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in three sets.&nbsp;Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win.&nbsp;Granollers had finished on the losing side in each of his previous five doubles finals, including at Roland Garros in 2014 with former partner Marc Lopez.&nbsp;Salisbury fell short in his bid for a fifth Grand Slam triumph in men's doubles after winning four times with Rajeev Ram. Skupski won at Wimbledon in 2023.<h2>Coco Gauff wins maiden French Open title</h2>Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time with a dramatic victory in the French Open.&nbsp;The second-ranked American dug deep to claim a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory and her second major title after also defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open.&nbsp;The 21-year-old more than made amends for her emotional 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, outlasting Sabalenka over two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;"I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago. A lot of dark thoughts, so it just means a lot to be here," said Gauff.&nbsp;"I didn't think honestly that I could do it."&nbsp;"I also felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that, when I was younger, that I felt I had the best shot of winning," added Gauff.&nbsp;"I just felt like if I went through my career and didn't get at least one of these, I would feel regrets and stuff."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win.

Spain's Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won their first Grand Slam men's doubles title on Saturday after edging British duo Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski in three sets. Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win. Granollers had finished on the losing side in each of his previous five doubles finals, including at Roland Garros in 2014 with former partner Marc Lopez. Salisbury fell short in his bid for a fifth Grand Slam triumph in men's doubles after winning four times with Rajeev Ram. Skupski won at Wimbledon in 2023. Coco Gauff wins maiden French Open title Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time with a dramatic victory in the French Open. The second-ranked American dug deep to claim a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory and her second major title after also defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open. The 21-year-old more than made amends for her emotional 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, outlasting Sabalenka over two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago. A lot of dark thoughts, so it just means a lot to be here," said Gauff. "I didn't think honestly that I could do it." "I also felt like this is one I really wanted, because I do think this was one of the tournaments that, when I was younger, that I felt I had the best shot of winning," added Gauff. "I just felt like if I went through my career and didn't get at least one of these, I would feel regrets and stuff." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, had lost three previous major finals together but finally secured their first victory with a 6-0, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win.

French Open: Marcel Granollers, Horacio Zeballos win first Grand Slam doubles title

England kept their World Cup qualifying on track with an ugly 1-0 win while Austria and the Netherlands made belated starts to their campaigns with victories on Saturday.&nbsp;Harry Kane's 72nd international goal ensured England avoided the ultimate embarrassment of failing to beat Andorra. Even so, Thomas Tuchel's side were booed off in Barcelona after struggling to impress against a team ranked 173rd in the world.&nbsp;Tuchel is the first England manager to win his first three competitive games without conceding a goal.&nbsp;But given the paucity of opposition provided by Andorra, Latvia and Albania in the Group K qualifiers, that achievement rings a little hollow after this miserable display."I'm not happy with the performance. We completely lost the momentum and couldn't get it back. We ended up in a place that was not good enough in terms of urgency," Tuchel said.&nbsp;"We can just admit it that it's not what we expect from us. I was most worried in the last 20 minutes because I didn't like the attitude we ended the game with.&nbsp;"I didn't like the lack of urgency. It did not match the occasion. It is still a World Cup qualifier."&nbsp;England pulled five points clear after three matches in Group K as second-placed Albania drew 0-0 at home with Serbia. Rey Manaj of Albania wasted a penalty in first-half added time.&nbsp;Serbia was one of three teams playing their first qualifying match Saturday after they had been involved in Nations League playoffs.&nbsp;Netherlands made their debut with a crisp 2-0 win over Finland in Helsinki.&nbsp;Memphis Depay scored after six minutes. Denzil Dumfries, one week after his unhappy experience playing for Inter Milan in the Champions League final, added the second after 23 &nbsp;minutes.&nbsp;Netherlands jumped to third in Group G, overtaking Lithuania and Malta who drew 0-0. The Dutch are one point behind Finland and three behind leaders Poland who did not play.&nbsp;&nbsp;Marcel Sabitzer and Michael Gregoritsch scored as Austria beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna. Florin Tanase headed an added-time reply for the visitors who had squandered several &nbsp;chances in the closing stages.&nbsp;Bosnia-Herzegovina lead Group H on nine points after Edin Dzeko scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory home over San Marino. Romania, Cyprus and Austria all have three points.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

England kept their World Cup qualifying on track with an ugly 1-0 win while Austria and the Netherlands made belated starts to their campaigns with victories on Saturday.

England kept their World Cup qualifying on track with an ugly 1-0 win while Austria and the Netherlands made belated starts to their campaigns with victories on Saturday. Harry Kane's 72nd international goal ensured England avoided the ultimate embarrassment of failing to beat Andorra. Even so, Thomas Tuchel's side were booed off in Barcelona after struggling to impress against a team ranked 173rd in the world. Tuchel is the first England manager to win his first three competitive games without conceding a goal. But given the paucity of opposition provided by Andorra, Latvia and Albania in the Group K qualifiers, that achievement rings a little hollow after this miserable display. "I'm not happy with the performance. We completely lost the momentum and couldn't get it back. We ended up in a place that was not good enough in terms of urgency," Tuchel said. "We can just admit it that it's not what we expect from us. I was most worried in the last 20 minutes because I didn't like the attitude we ended the game with. "I didn't like the lack of urgency. It did not match the occasion. It is still a World Cup qualifier." England pulled five points clear after three matches in Group K as second-placed Albania drew 0-0 at home with Serbia. Rey Manaj of Albania wasted a penalty in first-half added time. Serbia was one of three teams playing their first qualifying match Saturday after they had been involved in Nations League playoffs. Netherlands made their debut with a crisp 2-0 win over Finland in Helsinki. Memphis Depay scored after six minutes. Denzil Dumfries, one week after his unhappy experience playing for Inter Milan in the Champions League final, added the second after 23 minutes. Netherlands jumped to third in Group G, overtaking Lithuania and Malta who drew 0-0. The Dutch are one point behind Finland and three behind leaders Poland who did not play. Marcel Sabitzer and Michael Gregoritsch scored as Austria beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna. Florin Tanase headed an added-time reply for the visitors who had squandered several chances in the closing stages. Bosnia-Herzegovina lead Group H on nine points after Edin Dzeko scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory home over San Marino. Romania, Cyprus and Austria all have three points. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

England kept their World Cup qualifying on track with an ugly 1-0 win while Austria and the Netherlands made belated starts to their campaigns with victories on Saturday.

UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Harry Kane saves England as Netherlands, Austria open campaign with wins

Gone are the days when an Indian Team used to land in a foreign country to a sea of fans waiting for them at the airport, cheering them through to their team hotel or even practice venues, as the sight upon their arrival in England this time was contrasting - no fans, no hype and no media. A new-look Indian Team landed in the UK for the marquee five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7); however, the vibe and their welcome were different from how it was on their arrival in Adelaide on their previous away tour.&nbsp;With no two certain superstars in former India captain Rohit Sharma and batting giant Virat Kohli in the squad, as both hung up their boots from the traditional format earlier last month, there was a massive dip in the hype surrounding new leadership in Test captain Shubman Gill, alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-michael-clarke-ricky-ponting-differ-on-india-batting-conundrum-but-back-superstar-sai-sudharsan-to-debut-in-uk-1749302306404">ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back 'superstar' Sudharsan to debut in UK</a> &nbsp;Though a few players picked in the 18-man squad for the England series starting June 20 in Leeds had already arrived in the country to partake in the shadow tour (with India-A), including KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel, the remaining ones reached on Saturday. &nbsp;Meanwhile, when India toured Australia last year, which happened to be Virat and Rohit’s final series in the whites, countless fans assembled at the airport in Adelaide, accompanying them to the practice ground. Such was the craze of Virat Kohli that he made headlines even before the series began, with the BCCI later forced to stage the indoor training session to avoid crowding the venue. &nbsp;Kohli, however, also recently made headlines but for all the wrong reasons after his IPL franchise RCB were at the centre of a failed and unplanned roadshow and victory celebration in Bengaluru, following their maiden IPL title win the other night. With countless fans flocking to the M Chinnaswamy stadium to get a glimpse of their franchise heroes, jubilation turned into a disaster, killing 11 people and injuring 33 others in a stampede.<h2>No hype for India’s tour of England &nbsp;</h2>Although there is plenty to ponder on the new-look squad ahead of the five-match Test series, with the series holding significance on several grounds, the same energy, however, wasn’t felt outside.&nbsp; &nbsp;Besides, in a video doing the rounds on social media, Indian journalist Vimal Kumar said, "I did not get to see that hype. Not a single fan or media personnel was seen." &nbsp;Check out the Video –

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🚨 No fans were there on airport waiting ,no media as well No Kohli , No Hype - No fans Credit - Vimal kumar <a href="https://t.co/p6RV2grPie">pic.twitter.com/p6RV2grPie</a>&mdash; Salahotro🇵🇲 (@Salahotro) <a href="https://twitter.com/Salahotro/status/1931177554863616107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Team India's arrival to the UK - Video

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Touchdown UK 🛬<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> have arrived for the five-match Test series against England 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/QK5MMk9Liw">pic.twitter.com/QK5MMk9Liw</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1931198777093943296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Empty airport, no hype as Team India lands in England for marquee Test series – WATCH

Gone are the days when an Indian Team used to land in a foreign country to a sea of fans waiting for them at the airport, cheering them through to their team hotel or even practice venues, as the sight upon their arrival in England this time was contrasting - no fans, no hype and no media. A new-look Indian Team landed in the UK for the marquee five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7); however, the vibe and their welcome were different from how it was on their arrival in Adelaide on their previous away tour. With no two certain superstars in former India captain Rohit Sharma and batting giant Virat Kohli in the squad, as both hung up their boots from the traditional format earlier last month, there was a massive dip in the hype surrounding new leadership in Test captain Shubman Gill, alongside head coach Gautam Gambhir. Also read | ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back 'superstar' Sudharsan to debut in UK Though a few players picked in the 18-man squad for the England series starting June 20 in Leeds had already arrived in the country to partake in the shadow tour (with India-A), including KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel, the remaining ones reached on Saturday. Meanwhile, when India toured Australia last year, which happened to be Virat and Rohit’s final series in the whites, countless fans assembled at the airport in Adelaide, accompanying them to the practice ground. Such was the craze of Virat Kohli that he made headlines even before the series began, with the BCCI later forced to stage the indoor training session to avoid crowding the venue. Kohli, however, also recently made headlines but for all the wrong reasons after his IPL franchise RCB were at the centre of a failed and unplanned roadshow and victory celebration in Bengaluru, following their maiden IPL title win the other night. With countless fans flocking to the M Chinnaswamy stadium to get a glimpse of their franchise heroes, jubilation turned into a disaster, killing 11 people and injuring 33 others in a stampede. No hype for India’s tour of England Although there is plenty to ponder on the new-look squad ahead of the five-match Test series, with the series holding significance on several grounds, the same energy, however, wasn’t felt outside. Besides, in a video doing the rounds on social media, Indian journalist Vimal Kumar said, "I did not get to see that hype. Not a single fan or media personnel was seen." Check out the Video –

A new-look Indian Team landed in the UK for the marquee five-match Test series on Saturday (June 7); however, the vibe and their welcome were different from how it was on their arrival in Adelaide on their previous away tour.

India had a proud moment in the recently held ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany as Adriyan Karmakar clinched a silver medal in the 50m rifle prone shooting. A moment that goes down in history saw the junior champion take another step towards fulfilling his father’s dream of winning an Olympic medal.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, with 50m rifle prone shooting no longer part of the Olympics, it has still not stopped young Adriyan from climbing new heights. He recently spoke to WION as he reflected on the epic journey towards glory and how his father has played a key role.<h2>Adriyan wins silver at Junior World Cup</h2>“It was a surreal experience. It was definitely, I could see how much I'd worked so hard for this and now, finally, the moment had come, right as my preparation and everything was going all right. I had new equipment, so I was taking some time to actually get settled into the new equipment,” Adriyan said while speaking to WION’s Aditya Pimpale.&nbsp;“Also, what happens with that equipment is, the weather from Delhi, we had a camp in Delhi, which averages around 30-40 degrees, and we went to Suhl, Germany, which had two in the morning, like two degrees in the morning. So, definitely, the material changes, it was difficult for the Indian team to, you know, use the equipment control too,” the star shooter added.&nbsp;India had a successful 2024 Paris Olympics where it won three medals in shooting including a brace from Manu Bhaker. Like Bhaker, Adriyan’s father also represented India at the Olympics, securing the fourth spot in men’s 50m rifle prone shooting. But with the event out of the Olympic calendar, he will hope to win the event at the senior level. He also reflected on his father’s role in helping him grow as a shooter.&nbsp;“He has been there since starting, obviously. And he has seen my journey more or less. And he has been my biggest supporter. Like, whenever I used to feel down about a match or anything, he used to guide me toward the perfect mindset. And I feel like I really got an edge over the shooting thing. And a lot of people, they need to, you know, hit roadblocks and everything to gain new information and everything.&nbsp;“But I really hit the jackpot at that because I grew up with him giving me advice and building my mindset for a perfect shooter,” Adriyan added.&nbsp;Adriyan was also thankful to the Reliance Foundation which helped set the platform for his success. RF provided Adriyan with all the required support and infrastructure to achieve his goal and stands firm as he aims big for the nation in the time to come.&nbsp;

India had a proud moment in the recently held ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany as Adriyan Karmakar clinched a silver medal in the 50m rifle prone shooting.

India had a proud moment in the recently held ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany as Adriyan Karmakar clinched a silver medal in the 50m rifle prone shooting. A moment that goes down in history saw the junior champion take another step towards fulfilling his father’s dream of winning an Olympic medal. However, with 50m rifle prone shooting no longer part of the Olympics, it has still not stopped young Adriyan from climbing new heights. He recently spoke to WION as he reflected on the epic journey towards glory and how his father has played a key role. Adriyan wins silver at Junior World Cup “It was a surreal experience. It was definitely, I could see how much I'd worked so hard for this and now, finally, the moment had come, right as my preparation and everything was going all right. I had new equipment, so I was taking some time to actually get settled into the new equipment,” Adriyan said while speaking to WION’s Aditya Pimpale. “Also, what happens with that equipment is, the weather from Delhi, we had a camp in Delhi, which averages around 30-40 degrees, and we went to Suhl, Germany, which had two in the morning, like two degrees in the morning. So, definitely, the material changes, it was difficult for the Indian team to, you know, use the equipment control too,” the star shooter added. India had a successful 2024 Paris Olympics where it won three medals in shooting including a brace from Manu Bhaker. Like Bhaker, Adriyan’s father also represented India at the Olympics, securing the fourth spot in men’s 50m rifle prone shooting. But with the event out of the Olympic calendar, he will hope to win the event at the senior level. He also reflected on his father’s role in helping him grow as a shooter. “He has been there since starting, obviously. And he has seen my journey more or less. And he has been my biggest supporter. Like, whenever I used to feel down about a match or anything, he used to guide me toward the perfect mindset. And I feel like I really got an edge over the shooting thing. And a lot of people, they need to, you know, hit roadblocks and everything to gain new information and everything. “But I really hit the jackpot at that because I grew up with him giving me advice and building my mindset for a perfect shooter,” Adriyan added. Adriyan was also thankful to the Reliance Foundation which helped set the platform for his success. RF provided Adriyan with all the required support and infrastructure to achieve his goal and stands firm as he aims big for the nation in the time to come.

India had a proud moment in the recently held ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany as Adriyan Karmakar clinched a silver medal in the 50m rifle prone shooting.

Exclusive: Adriyan Karmakar reflects on ISSF Jr World Cup silver medal, says 'it was a surreal experience'

Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time with a dramatic victory in the French Open showpiece on Saturday. The second-ranked American dug deep to claim a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory and her second major title after also defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open.&nbsp;The 21-year-old more than made amends for her emotional 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, outlasting Sabalenka over two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-ashi-chouksey-aiming-high-one-shot-at-a-time-1749279464833">Exclusive | Ashi Chouksey: Aiming high, one shot at a time</a>&nbsp;"I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here," said Gauff. "I didn't think, honestly, that I could do it... I think I was lying to myself that I definitely could do it."&nbsp;It was a second straight Grand Slam final loss for Sabalenka after her defeat by Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January.&nbsp;Gauff was rock solid after falling a set down, while Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors in windy conditions in a match which followed a very similar pattern to Gauff's victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago.&nbsp;"Obviously it hurts so much, especially after such a tough two weeks when I played such great tennis in these terrible conditions," said Sabalenka, whose unforced error tally in the final was the highest by any player in a women's match this tournament. "To show such terrible tennis in the final, it does really hurt."&nbsp;Belarusian Sabalenka was aiming to become the only current women's player to win three of the four Grand Slam events after her US Open triumph last year and back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;But Gauff instead moved 6-5 ahead in their head-to-head record, proving the more consistent player in the first women's Slam final between the world's top two since Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep in Melbourne in 2018.&nbsp;Only Gauff, Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Maria Sharapova have won multiple Slam titles before turning 22 in the last 20 years.<h2>Marathon first set</h2>&nbsp;The 27-year-old Sabalenka quickly asserted herself, racing ahead by taking four of the first five games.&nbsp;The top seed led 4-1 with a double-break in her semi-final win over Swiatek before being forced into a tie-break.&nbsp;She gifted Gauff a glimmer of hope too, throwing away the sixth game from 40-0 up with two double-faults and a tame backhand into the bottom of the net.&nbsp;Gauff made it 12 points in a row and levelled the set on her fifth break point of the eighth game when Sabalenka fired another groundstroke long.&nbsp;She could not build on that momentum and immediately gave the break straight back.&nbsp;But Sabalenka failed to serve out the set in a tense game, missing two set points -- the first with another double-fault -- as Gauff eventually extended the opener by taking her fifth break point.&nbsp;Both players continued to struggle on serve in the breeze, Sabalenka breaking for the fourth time in the set but again unable to close it out.&nbsp;The first tie-break in the opening set of a women's French Open final since 1998 saw Sabalenka finally clinch the set after 77 minutes with a run of four straight points.&nbsp;It was the longest set in a women's Grand Slam final since the Williams sisters faced off at Wimbledon in 2002 and longer than last year's final between Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini.&nbsp;Gauff started the second set on the front foot, though, moving into a 4-1 lead with a double-break.&nbsp;Unlike Sabalenka in the first set, Gauff saw it out with few problems, sending the match into a decider on her first set point with a confident smash at the net.&nbsp;The US star also struck first blood in the third, breaking in game three as Sabalenka sent down her fifth double-fault.&nbsp;Sabalenka managed to drag it back to 3-3, but was immediately broken to love as Gauff edged towards the title.&nbsp;Gauff was denied on her first match point by a booming Sabalenka return onto the baseline and then had to save a break point.&nbsp;But she got over the line at the second time of asking, falling to the clay in celebration.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Coco Gauff stuns world no 1 Sabalenka to win maiden French Open crown

Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time with a dramatic victory in the French Open showpiece on Saturday. The second-ranked American dug deep to claim a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory and her second major title after also defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open. The 21-year-old more than made amends for her emotional 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, outlasting Sabalenka over two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. Also read | Exclusive | Ashi Chouksey: Aiming high, one shot at a time "I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here," said Gauff. "I didn't think, honestly, that I could do it... I think I was lying to myself that I definitely could do it." It was a second straight Grand Slam final loss for Sabalenka after her defeat by Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January. Gauff was rock solid after falling a set down, while Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors in windy conditions in a match which followed a very similar pattern to Gauff's victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago. "Obviously it hurts so much, especially after such a tough two weeks when I played such great tennis in these terrible conditions," said Sabalenka, whose unforced error tally in the final was the highest by any player in a women's match this tournament. "To show such terrible tennis in the final, it does really hurt." Belarusian Sabalenka was aiming to become the only current women's player to win three of the four Grand Slam events after her US Open triumph last year and back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024. But Gauff instead moved 6-5 ahead in their head-to-head record, proving the more consistent player in the first women's Slam final between the world's top two since Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep in Melbourne in 2018. Only Gauff, Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Maria Sharapova have won multiple Slam titles before turning 22 in the last 20 years. Marathon first set The 27-year-old Sabalenka quickly asserted herself, racing ahead by taking four of the first five games. The top seed led 4-1 with a double-break in her semi-final win over Swiatek before being forced into a tie-break. She gifted Gauff a glimmer of hope too, throwing away the sixth game from 40-0 up with two double-faults and a tame backhand into the bottom of the net. Gauff made it 12 points in a row and levelled the set on her fifth break point of the eighth game when Sabalenka fired another groundstroke long. She could not build on that momentum and immediately gave the break straight back. But Sabalenka failed to serve out the set in a tense game, missing two set points -- the first with another double-fault -- as Gauff eventually extended the opener by taking her fifth break point. Both players continued to struggle on serve in the breeze, Sabalenka breaking for the fourth time in the set but again unable to close it out. The first tie-break in the opening set of a women's French Open final since 1998 saw Sabalenka finally clinch the set after 77 minutes with a run of four straight points. It was the longest set in a women's Grand Slam final since the Williams sisters faced off at Wimbledon in 2002 and longer than last year's final between Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini. Gauff started the second set on the front foot, though, moving into a 4-1 lead with a double-break. Unlike Sabalenka in the first set, Gauff saw it out with few problems, sending the match into a decider on her first set point with a confident smash at the net. The US star also struck first blood in the third, breaking in game three as Sabalenka sent down her fifth double-fault. Sabalenka managed to drag it back to 3-3, but was immediately broken to love as Gauff edged towards the title. Gauff was denied on her first match point by a booming Sabalenka return onto the baseline and then had to save a break point. But she got over the line at the second time of asking, falling to the clay in celebration. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Gauff beat Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to win her first clay Slam of her career.&nbsp;

Part of the 1999 World Cup semi-final botch against Australia, former Proteas keeper and national coach Mark Boucher is the latest to back South Africa to beat the mighty Aussies in the upcoming WTC Final 2025. Boucher backed his national team to trigger their Test turnaround with their maiden WTC crown against Australia at Lord’s in London.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Proteas were widely criticised for a relatively easier route to the WTC Final compared to other contenders, with Boucher dismissing such talks, saying calling out South Africa for this is unfair. One of the best keepers of his time maintained his stance on the same, adding that they played well against every team they were scheduled against, and with all due respect to them, all were fighting for the same title.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-2025-australia-south-africa-tom-moody-explains-how-winning-mentality-gives-this-team-an-edge-in-face-off-1749298043012">WTC Final 2025: Tom Moody explains how ‘winning mentality’ gives THIS team an edge in Australia-South Africa face-off</a> &nbsp;However, he continued saying that the whole country is backing them to upset the Australians and win their maiden WTC title, their first ICC trophy since 1998.&nbsp; &nbsp;"A lot of people have criticised South Africa, which is not really fair," Boucher said in a chat on ESPNcricinfo during IPL 2025.&nbsp; &nbsp;"You play what's in front of you, and with all due respect, the sides that we've played against, we probably should have beaten, and we've done that. So we find ourselves in a final. But I wouldn't say that it has got the crowds going in our country. Everyone's very excited about it now, as the opportunity arises, a lot of people are going to travel over to London, spend all their Rands and go watch what should be a good match. If we win it, I think then that could be the turnaround for Test cricket in our country,” he added.<h2>Trump cards for South Africa &nbsp;</h2>With the Proteas chasing the ultimate dream of undoing history, Boucher handpicked two players who could turn out to be the trump cards for their team.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Ryan Rickelton has been playing nicely for Mumbai Indians (MI), and he was actually on the tour that we went to England [in 2022] as well," Boucher said. “He's actually played quite a few games in England as well, so he'll know the conditions. And Tristan Stubbs has come back and played a lot of domestic cricket and basically forced his way into the Test side because of the runs that he's got. On paper, Australia will probably feel that they've got a better batting line-up than what we have, but have we got the attitude to go out there and, in a one-off game, just leave it all out there? Absolutely.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the mecca of cricket, the Lord’s, will stage the third WTC Final between South Africa and Australia starting June 11.&nbsp;

Part of 99’ WC botch, Boucher backs South Africa to trigger Test cricket turnaround with WTC Final crown

Part of the 1999 World Cup semi-final botch against Australia, former Proteas keeper and national coach Mark Boucher is the latest to back South Africa to beat the mighty Aussies in the upcoming WTC Final 2025. Boucher backed his national team to trigger their Test turnaround with their maiden WTC crown against Australia at Lord’s in London. Meanwhile, the Proteas were widely criticised for a relatively easier route to the WTC Final compared to other contenders, with Boucher dismissing such talks, saying calling out South Africa for this is unfair. One of the best keepers of his time maintained his stance on the same, adding that they played well against every team they were scheduled against, and with all due respect to them, all were fighting for the same title. Also read | WTC Final 2025: Tom Moody explains how ‘winning mentality’ gives THIS team an edge in Australia-South Africa face-off However, he continued saying that the whole country is backing them to upset the Australians and win their maiden WTC title, their first ICC trophy since 1998. "A lot of people have criticised South Africa, which is not really fair," Boucher said in a chat on ESPNcricinfo during IPL 2025. "You play what's in front of you, and with all due respect, the sides that we've played against, we probably should have beaten, and we've done that. So we find ourselves in a final. But I wouldn't say that it has got the crowds going in our country. Everyone's very excited about it now, as the opportunity arises, a lot of people are going to travel over to London, spend all their Rands and go watch what should be a good match. If we win it, I think then that could be the turnaround for Test cricket in our country,” he added. Trump cards for South Africa With the Proteas chasing the ultimate dream of undoing history, Boucher handpicked two players who could turn out to be the trump cards for their team. "Ryan Rickelton has been playing nicely for Mumbai Indians (MI), and he was actually on the tour that we went to England [in 2022] as well," Boucher said. “He's actually played quite a few games in England as well, so he'll know the conditions. And Tristan Stubbs has come back and played a lot of domestic cricket and basically forced his way into the Test side because of the runs that he's got. On paper, Australia will probably feel that they've got a better batting line-up than what we have, but have we got the attitude to go out there and, in a one-off game, just leave it all out there? Absolutely.” Meanwhile, the mecca of cricket, the Lord’s, will stage the third WTC Final between South Africa and Australia starting June 11.

Boucher backed his national team to trigger their Test turnaround with their maiden WTC crown against Australia at Lord’s in London.

India’s southern state, Kerala, is set to welcome the defending world champions, Argentina, late this year for a friendly football game, with global superstar and record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi also visiting the country. In massive news for all football enthusiasts, Messi will come to India for the one-off match, confirms the state’s Sports Minister V Abdurahiman.&nbsp;As reported by several publications, Messi’s Argentina will arrive sometime around October or November later this year, receiving the state guest status. The Kerala government will manage their security, accommodation and other necessary arrangements. Meanwhile, Abdurahiman’s statement came after reports of Argentina cancelling their Kerala visit due to alleged contract breaches by sponsors began surfacing.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-portuguese-great-cristiano-ronaldo-drops-bombshell-on-his-fifa-club-world-cup-availability-transfer-rumour-1749299920806">Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo drops bombshell on his Club World Cup availability</a> &nbsp;Both the sports minister and the Reporter Broadcasting Company dismissed such reports, maintaining their earlier stance that world champions will indeed be visiting India for a one-off friendly game. Abdurahiman, however, confirmed the developments via a social media post on Facebook, writing, ‘Messi will come.’ &nbsp;Addressing the media on Saturday (June 7), Kerala’s sports minister revealed that all sponsor-related payments are clear and there are no hindrances.&nbsp; &nbsp;"The sponsor has completed the payment. No other hindrances exist. FIFA's window for world teams to participate in such events falls in October-November. We expect to be allocated the same timeframe," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, as per an agreement between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the team will arrive in the country upon receiving the match fee, with the date and further details to be announced via a joint statement.&nbsp; &nbsp;Speaking more on this, Abdurahiman confirmed that the sponsors had informed the government of the fee payment, now only awaiting confirmation from Argentina’s team management. &nbsp;"The sponsors have confirmed settling the pre-match contract amount. The government isn't involved in any financial transactions. The contract exists between the sponsor and team management," he clarified.&nbsp; &nbsp;Moreover, the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the only one that meets international standards, will stage the friendly match.

Lionel Messi to India, HERE WE GO! Kerala Sports Minister confirms Argentina match back on track

India’s southern state, Kerala, is set to welcome the defending world champions, Argentina, late this year for a friendly football game, with global superstar and record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi also visiting the country. In massive news for all football enthusiasts, Messi will come to India for the one-off match, confirms the state’s Sports Minister V Abdurahiman. As reported by several publications, Messi’s Argentina will arrive sometime around October or November later this year, receiving the state guest status. The Kerala government will manage their security, accommodation and other necessary arrangements. Meanwhile, Abdurahiman’s statement came after reports of Argentina cancelling their Kerala visit due to alleged contract breaches by sponsors began surfacing. Also read | Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo drops bombshell on his Club World Cup availability Both the sports minister and the Reporter Broadcasting Company dismissed such reports, maintaining their earlier stance that world champions will indeed be visiting India for a one-off friendly game. Abdurahiman, however, confirmed the developments via a social media post on Facebook, writing, ‘Messi will come.’ Addressing the media on Saturday (June 7), Kerala’s sports minister revealed that all sponsor-related payments are clear and there are no hindrances. "The sponsor has completed the payment. No other hindrances exist. FIFA's window for world teams to participate in such events falls in October-November. We expect to be allocated the same timeframe," he said. Meanwhile, as per an agreement between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the team will arrive in the country upon receiving the match fee, with the date and further details to be announced via a joint statement. Speaking more on this, Abdurahiman confirmed that the sponsors had informed the government of the fee payment, now only awaiting confirmation from Argentina’s team management. "The sponsors have confirmed settling the pre-match contract amount. The government isn't involved in any financial transactions. The contract exists between the sponsor and team management," he clarified. Moreover, the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the only one that meets international standards, will stage the friendly match.

In massive news for all football enthusiasts in the country, Messi will come to India for the one-off match, confirms the state’s Sports Minister V Abdurahiman.

Former Australia captains Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hold different opinions on Team India’s batting conundrum ahead of the England Tests, but have thrown their weight behind uncapped superstar ‘Sai Sudharsan’ to debut and rock in the UK. As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions.&nbsp;Besides expecting Sai to make his Test debut in the series opener in Leeds itself, Ponting wants him to open the innings with fellow leftie Yashasvi Jaiswal, with newly-appointed Test skipper Gill filling the number four slot, left behind by veteran Virat Kohli.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-if-any-country-can-do-it-quickly-india-can-cricket-great-ricky-ponting-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-be-replaced-in-tests-1749294747247">Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's…</a> &nbsp;Backing IPL 2025 highest run-getter Sudharsan, Ponting believes that Sai has the technique to be successful in England and already looks like a class player. He, however, pointed out that either KL Rahul or Karun Nair should take up the number three slot, with Gill batting in his new position. &nbsp;"I think (Sai) Sudarshan and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal will open the batting (in England) as Sudarshan just looks like a class player to me, and technically, I think he could do well at Test level," Ponting said on the ICC Review. "They'll have two pretty young opening batters, so they might look to go for someone that's got a bit more experience at No.3. &nbsp;"Whether that's KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) at No.3, and then Shubman might end up being that No.4 player, which will probably make life for him a little bit easier as a captain as well,” he added.<h2>Clarke’s take on Sai’s upcoming UK tour &nbsp;</h2>On the other hand, Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke calls Sai a superstar, urging the decision-makers to draft him into the playing XI for the Headingley Test starting June 20. Not only this, but Clarke even cleared what position the touted next-generation star must bat at.&nbsp; &nbsp;“To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI teams. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast. &nbsp;“I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think, technically, he’s very good, he’s got all the shots, and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me, and he’s a good-looking player as well,” Clarke continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sai was part of the main squad that landed in the UK on Saturday.&nbsp;

ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back superstar Sudharsan to debut in UK

Former Australia captains Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting hold different opinions on Team India’s batting conundrum ahead of the England Tests, but have thrown their weight behind uncapped superstar ‘Sai Sudharsan’ to debut and rock in the UK. As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions. Besides expecting Sai to make his Test debut in the series opener in Leeds itself, Ponting wants him to open the innings with fellow leftie Yashasvi Jaiswal, with newly-appointed Test skipper Gill filling the number four slot, left behind by veteran Virat Kohli. Also read | Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's… Backing IPL 2025 highest run-getter Sudharsan, Ponting believes that Sai has the technique to be successful in England and already looks like a class player. He, however, pointed out that either KL Rahul or Karun Nair should take up the number three slot, with Gill batting in his new position. "I think (Sai) Sudarshan and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal will open the batting (in England) as Sudarshan just looks like a class player to me, and technically, I think he could do well at Test level," Ponting said on the ICC Review. "They'll have two pretty young opening batters, so they might look to go for someone that's got a bit more experience at No.3. "Whether that's KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) at No.3, and then Shubman might end up being that No.4 player, which will probably make life for him a little bit easier as a captain as well,” he added. Clarke’s take on Sai’s upcoming UK tour On the other hand, Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke calls Sai a superstar, urging the decision-makers to draft him into the playing XI for the Headingley Test starting June 20. Not only this, but Clarke even cleared what position the touted next-generation star must bat at. “To me, this kid is a superstar, Sai Sudharsan. I think he is a number three in Test cricket. I think he is probably going to open the batting in time in India’s T20I and ODI teams. He is in their Test squad. He gets his first opportunity in England,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast. “I think he can walk in straight to bat at number three. I think, technically, he’s very good, he’s got all the shots, and mentally, he’s ready. He really impressed me, and he’s a good-looking player as well,” Clarke continued. Meanwhile, Sai was part of the main squad that landed in the UK on Saturday.

As the touring side prepares to begin a new life in Tests without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and under new captain Shubman Gill, all focus is on left-handed batter Sudharsan and his potential exploits in challenging conditions.

ENG vs IND 2025: Clarke, Ponting differ on India’s batting conundrum but back 'superstar' Sudharsan to debut in UK

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he would not play in the upcoming Club World Cup on Saturday, dismissing rumours he was set to transfer to one of the participating clubs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final against Spain in Munich, the Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-cristiano-ronaldo-backs-champions-league-winner-to-bag-coveted-ballon-d-or-award-psg-inter-milan-ousmane-dembele-1749299192325">Ronaldo backs Champions League winner to bag coveted Ballon d’Or</a>&nbsp;"I will not be at the Club World Cup," the Portugal veteran said, but added he had "been contacted" by several participating teams.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ronaldo came into the Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level, with the veteran's contract at Saudi side Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June.&nbsp;In May, the Portuguese posted on social media "the chapter is over" as reports emerged he could switch to another club, potentially Saudi side Al Hilal, one of the teams who will be at the tournament in the United States in June.&nbsp;Ronaldo said he was not interested in making a short-term decision which would allow him to play in the competition.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-ange-postecoglou-waves-goodbye-to-tottenham-fans-pens-my-overriding-emotion-is-one-of-pride-1749273417387">Ange Postecoglou waves goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur fans, pens ‘my overriding emotion is one of pride</a>&nbsp;"Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything, you can't catch every ball."&nbsp;The forward said the decision on his future was "almost final".&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo drops bombshell on his Club World Cup availability

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he would not play in the upcoming Club World Cup on Saturday, dismissing rumours he was set to transfer to one of the participating clubs. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final against Spain in Munich, the Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark. Also read | Ronaldo backs Champions League winner to bag coveted Ballon d’Or "I will not be at the Club World Cup," the Portugal veteran said, but added he had "been contacted" by several participating teams. Ronaldo came into the Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level, with the veteran's contract at Saudi side Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June. In May, the Portuguese posted on social media "the chapter is over" as reports emerged he could switch to another club, potentially Saudi side Al Hilal, one of the teams who will be at the tournament in the United States in June. Ronaldo said he was not interested in making a short-term decision which would allow him to play in the competition. Also read | Ange Postecoglou waves goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur fans, pens ‘my overriding emotion is one of pride "Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything, you can't catch every ball." The forward said the decision on his future was "almost final". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Ronaldo came into the Nations League in Germany amid swirling doubts about his future at club level, with the veteran's contract at Saudi side Al-Nassr set to expire at the end of June.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League.&nbsp;Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-2026-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-norway-thrash-italy-belgium-held-by-north-macedonia-1749262913402">2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Norway thrash Italy; Belgium held by North Macedonia</a>&nbsp;"In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," the 40-year-old forward told reporters.&nbsp;&nbsp;First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season's gong.&nbsp;Spain starlet Lamine Yamal's superb display in Thursday's 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, however, had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d'Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history.&nbsp;France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying, "Considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him".&nbsp;At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I'm voting for Dembele."&nbsp;Ronaldo said he "cannot tell you who deserves it" this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ronaldo's five wins are bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times.&nbsp;The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to his last in 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Ronaldo backs Champions League winner to bag coveted Ballon d’Or

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or. Also read | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Norway thrash Italy; Belgium held by North Macedonia "In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d'Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League," the 40-year-old forward told reporters. First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season. Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season's gong. Spain starlet Lamine Yamal's superb display in Thursday's 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, however, had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d'Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history. France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying, "Considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that's all I wish for him". At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele. "Does anyone really need me to explain? Right now we're talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I'm voting for Dembele." Ronaldo said he "cannot tell you who deserves it" this season. Ronaldo's five wins are bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo's first win in 2008 to his last in 2017. The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said "trophies" should determine who wins the Ballon d'Or.&nbsp;

Winning is a habit, and former Australia all-rounder and World Cup winner Tom Moody feels only one of the two teams (Australia and South Africa) playing the WTC Final 2025 has a pedigree to do well on a grand stage, giving them an edge over the other. While Australia are the defending WTC champions, having won the last time against India, South Africa reached their maiden WTC final this time, chasing their first ICC trophy since 1998.&nbsp;Moody has backed his home team, Australia, to hit the winning punch in their successive WTC final and claim their second trophy to become the first team to win it back-to-back. Explaining his reasons behind going all out for Australia, Moody said it’s only because of the winning mentality that is ingrained in them that they stand out in every ICC event.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-if-any-country-can-do-it-quickly-india-can-cricket-great-ricky-ponting-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-be-replaced-in-tests-1749294747247">Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's…</a> &nbsp;The lanky all-rounder further said that because most of the selected players have themselves won ICC titles and grew up watching their heroes do the same, the hunger to win is injected into them, making them the favourites. &nbsp;“Historically, many of their players have won multiple ICC tournaments, and they’ve grown up watching previous generations achieve the same success. That winning mentality is ingrained in them,” Moody said while speaking to Star Sports. &nbsp;“The Australians have built that reputation through consistent success in major tournaments. When it comes to ICC events, Australia somehow elevates its game to another level as a team. They genuinely embrace the challenges of tournament cricket and thrive under the pressure of these high-stakes matches,” he added. &nbsp;While both teams are gearing up for this showpiece event scheduled to start June 11 at the Lord’s in London, Moody feels that both are coming into the red-ball cricket mode after a long time could make it challenging for them to adapt and deploy the best form. &nbsp;“It can be difficult, but it’s like any big occasion, it’s like any final, it’s bringing the best version of yourself to the stage at that very moment. So, you need to trust your instincts and make sure that you sort of cut out the negativity of the fact that you haven’t played Test cricket for several months, or you’re suddenly turning up in England and you’ve got completely different conditions,” Moody continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;He, however, concluded by saying that the beauty of Test cricket is to adapt, evolve and march forward, with both teams being aware of it. He added that because Australia has played more big matches than their opponents, they stand a better chance of coming on top. &nbsp;“That’s the nature of Test cricket, and that’s the beauty of Test cricket, being able to adapt and evolve on the move to be able to respond when you need to. So, I think both teams will be very aware of that. I think Australia has got a slight advantage purely because they’ve played more big matches than South Africa have over recent years,” he concluded.

WTC Final 2025: Tom Moody explains how ‘winning mentality’ gives THIS team an edge in Australia-South Africa face-off

Winning is a habit, and former Australia all-rounder and World Cup winner Tom Moody feels only one of the two teams (Australia and South Africa) playing the WTC Final 2025 has a pedigree to do well on a grand stage, giving them an edge over the other. While Australia are the defending WTC champions, having won the last time against India, South Africa reached their maiden WTC final this time, chasing their first ICC trophy since 1998. Moody has backed his home team, Australia, to hit the winning punch in their successive WTC final and claim their second trophy to become the first team to win it back-to-back. Explaining his reasons behind going all out for Australia, Moody said it’s only because of the winning mentality that is ingrained in them that they stand out in every ICC event. Also read | Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's… The lanky all-rounder further said that because most of the selected players have themselves won ICC titles and grew up watching their heroes do the same, the hunger to win is injected into them, making them the favourites. “Historically, many of their players have won multiple ICC tournaments, and they’ve grown up watching previous generations achieve the same success. That winning mentality is ingrained in them,” Moody said while speaking to Star Sports. “The Australians have built that reputation through consistent success in major tournaments. When it comes to ICC events, Australia somehow elevates its game to another level as a team. They genuinely embrace the challenges of tournament cricket and thrive under the pressure of these high-stakes matches,” he added. While both teams are gearing up for this showpiece event scheduled to start June 11 at the Lord’s in London, Moody feels that both are coming into the red-ball cricket mode after a long time could make it challenging for them to adapt and deploy the best form. “It can be difficult, but it’s like any big occasion, it’s like any final, it’s bringing the best version of yourself to the stage at that very moment. So, you need to trust your instincts and make sure that you sort of cut out the negativity of the fact that you haven’t played Test cricket for several months, or you’re suddenly turning up in England and you’ve got completely different conditions,” Moody continued. He, however, concluded by saying that the beauty of Test cricket is to adapt, evolve and march forward, with both teams being aware of it. He added that because Australia has played more big matches than their opponents, they stand a better chance of coming on top. “That’s the nature of Test cricket, and that’s the beauty of Test cricket, being able to adapt and evolve on the move to be able to respond when you need to. So, I think both teams will be very aware of that. I think Australia has got a slight advantage purely because they’ve played more big matches than South Africa have over recent years,” he concluded.

Moody said that because most of the selected players have themselves won ICC titles and grew up watching their heroes do the same, the hunger to win is injected into them, making them the favourites.

It’s never easy to replace great players in a team, regardless of the sport, and former Australia captain and cricket giant Ricky Ponting feels the same. Speaking on whether India can replace their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, in the Test side following their shock retirements, Ponting said even the best of the teams have struggled during a transition period; however, if one cricket team can do it quickly, it’s only India, further explaining how.&nbsp;India’s talent depth is enormous; even the outsiders believe so. Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings. However, he stays true to his words on how challenging it is for any cricket side to fill the voids left by the players of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s magnitude.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-i-think-leadership-sits-well-with-him-ricky-ponting-reviews-shubman-gill-appointment-as-india-test-captain-1749291686559">‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain</a> &nbsp;"It's always very hard to replace players like that that have been around for so long, that have played that much Test cricket. But if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can because of the amount of young talent that they have," Ponting said while speaking on the ICC Review. &nbsp;"I've seen it first hand for 10 years now around the IPL, and we've seen the emergence of Jaiswal and these sort of guys that have come into international cricket with India and done really well pretty much straight away,” he continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;Although he points out that India can replace skill with skill in that playing XI, compensating for the loss of experience with their departure would be challenging for them. He, however, also noted that should any team do it quickly, it’s the Indian Cricket Team. &nbsp;"The skill side of it's one thing to replace, and I think India will replace the skill side of it easily enough, but the experience is the big thing that's going to be missing for them. So now, even with a young captain with Shubman Gill, they'll still have some experience around with KL, Rahul and Bumrah and these sorts of guys. &nbsp;"But, I think if you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, I think India can cope with it better than most other teams,” Ponting continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shubman Gill-led Indian Team will begin their away tour of England with the first of the five Tests at Leeds starting June 20.&nbsp;

‘If any country can do it quickly, India can,’ cricket great on if Rohit and Kohli be replaced in Tests

It’s never easy to replace great players in a team, regardless of the sport, and former Australia captain and cricket giant Ricky Ponting feels the same. Speaking on whether India can replace their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, in the Test side following their shock retirements, Ponting said even the best of the teams have struggled during a transition period; however, if one cricket team can do it quickly, it’s only India, further explaining how. India’s talent depth is enormous; even the outsiders believe so. Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings. However, he stays true to his words on how challenging it is for any cricket side to fill the voids left by the players of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s magnitude. Also read | ‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain "It's always very hard to replace players like that that have been around for so long, that have played that much Test cricket. But if any country can do it and do it quickly, India can because of the amount of young talent that they have," Ponting said while speaking on the ICC Review. "I've seen it first hand for 10 years now around the IPL, and we've seen the emergence of Jaiswal and these sort of guys that have come into international cricket with India and done really well pretty much straight away,” he continued. Although he points out that India can replace skill with skill in that playing XI, compensating for the loss of experience with their departure would be challenging for them. He, however, also noted that should any team do it quickly, it’s the Indian Cricket Team. "The skill side of it's one thing to replace, and I think India will replace the skill side of it easily enough, but the experience is the big thing that's going to be missing for them. So now, even with a young captain with Shubman Gill, they'll still have some experience around with KL, Rahul and Bumrah and these sorts of guys. "But, I think if you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, I think India can cope with it better than most other teams,” Ponting continued. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill-led Indian Team will begin their away tour of England with the first of the five Tests at Leeds starting June 20.

Having been associated with the country’s cash-rich IPL since its inception in different capacities, Ponting explains how quickly they can replace talent with a better one waiting in the wings.

Are Rohit and Kohli replaceable in Tests? Cricket great feels if only one team can do it quickly, it's...

Former Australia great Ricky Ponting reviews BCCI’s appointment of Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, replacing now-retired opener Rohit Sharma. Ponting, perhaps the most successful skipper of his time, having won two World Cups and as many Champions Trophy titles besides winning countless crucial tournaments all over, feels Gill has shown enough leadership skills during his time as the Gujarat Titans skipper in IPL to deserve his promotion in the Test side.&nbsp;Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting said it’s the right move to hand over the baton to Gill instead of Bumrah, as a team cannot have a captain coming in and missing games for whatever reason.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-bengaluru-stampede-top-kca-officials-take-moral-responsibility-submit-resignations-1749281713761">Bengaluru stampede: Top KSCA officials take moral responsibility, submit resignations</a> &nbsp;"I actually think it's the right move," Ponting said while speaking on The ICC Review. "I know there's a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can't understand why it wasn't Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it's pretty simple.” &nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah has missed plenty of cricket action this year, including the first showpiece event in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to his persistent back injury. His injury woes forced the selectors to look beyond him as the captaincy option, despite him leading India to its only win on their past away tour Down Under. Even considering his game awareness, the selectors had to let go of this option in picking Rohit’s successor in Tests. &nbsp;"Bumrah's injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years, and you don't want that with a captain. You can't have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it's I think it's the right decision,” Ponting continued. "Now that they've made it, it's one they've got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for, for a long period of time.”<h2>Ponting pinpoints captain’s role in the team &nbsp;</h2>Having led by example during his time, Ponting understands what the primary roles of a team captain are, and for a batter, scoring runs all the time leads the chart.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Even just looking back at the way he's handled this current GT (Gujarat Titans) team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him. &nbsp;"And the important thing for me with leadership, as well as if you're a batter and you're a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL, and I think the timing is right, and I think you'll have a good captain who’ll make a lot of Test runs going forward,” Ponting noted.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will lead the new-look Indian Team in the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds.&nbsp;

‘I think leadership sits well with him,’ Ponting reviews Shubman Gill’s appointment as India Test captain

Former Australia great Ricky Ponting reviews BCCI’s appointment of Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, replacing now-retired opener Rohit Sharma. Ponting, perhaps the most successful skipper of his time, having won two World Cups and as many Champions Trophy titles besides winning countless crucial tournaments all over, feels Gill has shown enough leadership skills during his time as the Gujarat Titans skipper in IPL to deserve his promotion in the Test side. Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management. Speaking on the same lines, Ponting said it’s the right move to hand over the baton to Gill instead of Bumrah, as a team cannot have a captain coming in and missing games for whatever reason. Also read | Bengaluru stampede: Top KSCA officials take moral responsibility, submit resignations "I actually think it's the right move," Ponting said while speaking on The ICC Review. "I know there's a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can't understand why it wasn't Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it's pretty simple.” Jasprit Bumrah has missed plenty of cricket action this year, including the first showpiece event in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to his persistent back injury. His injury woes forced the selectors to look beyond him as the captaincy option, despite him leading India to its only win on their past away tour Down Under. Even considering his game awareness, the selectors had to let go of this option in picking Rohit’s successor in Tests. "Bumrah's injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years, and you don't want that with a captain. You can't have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it's I think it's the right decision,” Ponting continued. "Now that they've made it, it's one they've got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for, for a long period of time.” Ponting pinpoints captain’s role in the team Having led by example during his time, Ponting understands what the primary roles of a team captain are, and for a batter, scoring runs all the time leads the chart. "Even just looking back at the way he's handled this current GT (Gujarat Titans) team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him. "And the important thing for me with leadership, as well as if you're a batter and you're a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL, and I think the timing is right, and I think you'll have a good captain who’ll make a lot of Test runs going forward,” Ponting noted. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will lead the new-look Indian Team in the five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 in Leeds.

Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee handpicked Gill to lead India’s new Test side ahead of ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who doesn’t remain a sure starter in all Tests due to his workload management.

sports

Sports, News on Sports, stories on Sports, articles on Sports, Sports stories at Wion, Sports news, Sports latest news