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In a horrific incident, a car ploughed through the people part of the trophy parade of Liverpool's Premier League title celebration in Liverpool (UK) on Monday (May 26).The Merseyside Police in northwest England released a statement about the incident and said: "The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained."The statement also said that they were contacted about 6 PM local time "following reports a car been in collision with a number of pedestrians."“We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre," requested the police further.“We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision,” it added.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacted to the incident and called it ‘appalling’ and added thanked the police and emergency services for the response.“The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate,” the UK PM wrote on X.One of the eyewitness recalled the horrific moment and told local news outlet Skynews: “We were literally like sardines walking up the street, and then we heard beeping and screaming and when we looked up, there was a black, people carrier, driving straight towards us,” said Chelsea Yuen.“Me and my friend Francesca jumped out the way and pulled her little girl out the way.”

A car ploughed into the crowd celebrating the trophy parade of Liverpool's Premier League title celebration in Liverpool (UK) on Monday (May 26).

In a horrific incident, a car ploughed through the people part of the trophy parade of Liverpool's Premier League title celebration in Liverpool (UK) on Monday (May 26). The Merseyside Police in northwest England released a statement about the incident and said: "The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained." The statement also said that they were contacted about 6 PM local time "following reports a car been in collision with a number of pedestrians." “We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight’s incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre," requested the police further. “We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area. “Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision,” it added. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacted to the incident and called it ‘appalling’ and added thanked the police and emergency services for the response. “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate,” the UK PM wrote on X. One of the eyewitness recalled the horrific moment and told local news outlet Skynews: “We were literally like sardines walking up the street, and then we heard beeping and screaming and when we looked up, there was a black, people carrier, driving straight towards us,” said Chelsea Yuen. “Me and my friend Francesca jumped out the way and pulled her little girl out the way.”

A car ploughed into the crowd celebrating the trophy parade of Liverpool's Premier League title celebration in Liverpool (UK) on Monday (May 26).

Car ploughs into people celebrating Liverpool's title parade; police make arrest

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have sealed the Qualifier 1 spot in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025">IPL 2025</a> playoffs after a statement win over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mumbai-indians">Mumbai Indians (MI)</a> in Jaipur on Monday (May 26). Punjab beat Mumbai by seven wickets to finish among the top two on the points table with 19 points from 14 contested matches. Winning nine league games means they qualified for the tournament knockout for the first time since 2014.&nbsp;Brilliant fifties by opener Priyansh Arya and keeper-batter Josh Inglis helped Punjab complete the run chase within 19 overs and seal the Qualifier 1 spot.&nbsp;Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Backing their bowlers to deliver the first punch, PBKS found success inside the Powerplay with Ryan Rickelton’s wicket. Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma departed quickly later on before seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak accounted for dangerous-looking Will Jacks on 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;Captain Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav held the innings together by taking the attack to the opposition. The pair accelerated the scoring rate, and despite losing Pandya in the 17th over, they kept going about their business. An expensive penultimate over saw MI cross the 180-run-mark but failed to make it big in the last one, with Arshdeep Singh winning the battle and returning with two wickets.<h2>Punjab batters go big</h2>&nbsp;The dynamite batting pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh began with the onslaught from the word go, adding 34 for the first wicket. It was when the real action began; Inglis joined Arya in the middle, and the pair went bonkers. Both kept hammering fours and sixes for fun, sparing none. The left-right combination helped Punjab sit in the driver’s seat, making the most of the momentum.&nbsp;Though Arya lost his wicket soon after completing his impressive fifty, Inglis decided against slowing down and instead looked to hit all balls across the boundary line. However, before he could wrap up the run chase, Mitchell Santner dismissed him, trapped in the front on a well-made 73.&nbsp;Nehal Wadhera and Iyer completed the formalities and helped the team win this blockbuster contest by seven wickets. &nbsp;While Punjab will play the Qualifier 1 on Thursday (May 29), Mumbai will play the Eliminator the next day, with both games taking place in Mullanpur.

IPL 2025: Punjab Kings seal Qualifier 1 spot with statement win over Mumbai Indians

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have sealed the Qualifier 1 spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs after a statement win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Jaipur on Monday (May 26). Punjab beat Mumbai by seven wickets to finish among the top two on the points table with 19 points from 14 contested matches. Winning nine league games means they qualified for the tournament knockout for the first time since 2014. Brilliant fifties by opener Priyansh Arya and keeper-batter Josh Inglis helped Punjab complete the run chase within 19 overs and seal the Qualifier 1 spot. Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Backing their bowlers to deliver the first punch, PBKS found success inside the Powerplay with Ryan Rickelton’s wicket. Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma departed quickly later on before seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak accounted for dangerous-looking Will Jacks on 17. Captain Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav held the innings together by taking the attack to the opposition. The pair accelerated the scoring rate, and despite losing Pandya in the 17th over, they kept going about their business. An expensive penultimate over saw MI cross the 180-run-mark but failed to make it big in the last one, with Arshdeep Singh winning the battle and returning with two wickets. Punjab batters go big The dynamite batting pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh began with the onslaught from the word go, adding 34 for the first wicket. It was when the real action began; Inglis joined Arya in the middle, and the pair went bonkers. Both kept hammering fours and sixes for fun, sparing none. The left-right combination helped Punjab sit in the driver’s seat, making the most of the momentum. Though Arya lost his wicket soon after completing his impressive fifty, Inglis decided against slowing down and instead looked to hit all balls across the boundary line. However, before he could wrap up the run chase, Mitchell Santner dismissed him, trapped in the front on a well-made 73. Nehal Wadhera and Iyer completed the formalities and helped the team win this blockbuster contest by seven wickets. While Punjab will play the Qualifier 1 on Thursday (May 29), Mumbai will play the Eliminator the next day, with both games taking place in Mullanpur.

Brilliant fifties by opener Priyansh Arya and keeper-batter Josh Inglis helped Punjab complete the run chase within 19 overs and seal the Qualifier 1 spot.&nbsp;

Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Suryakumar Yadav has broken a 15-year-old long-standing IPL record held by cricket great and former franchise hero Sachin Tendulkar. Against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the side’s last league game in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025">IPL 2025</a> on Monday (May 26), Suryakumar completed his fifth fifty of the season (57); he also surpassed Sachin’s tally of 618 runs (619* runs) in a single edition, topping the list of MI batters with most runs in an edition.&nbsp;The batting maestro scored 618 runs in the 2010 edition, a record that remained untouched for over a decade. However, SKY, a Mumbai Indians veteran, broke this record and created a few more during his brief knock. Ahead of the game, the right-handed batter needed 36 runs to surpass Sachin’s tally, achieving this feat in the 15th over by pulling seamer Arshdeep Singh for a single.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Suryakumar had come close to breaching it earlier, during the 2023 edition, where he ended the season with 605 runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Here’s the list of MI batters with the most runs in a single IPL season -&nbsp; &nbsp;<ul><li>619* - Suryakumar Yadav (2025)</li><li>618 - Sachin Tendulkar (2010)</li><li>605 - Suryakumar Yadav (2023)</li><li>553 - Sachin Tendulkar (2011)</li><li>540 - Lendl Simmons (2015)</li><li>538 - Rohit Sharma (2013)</li></ul><h2>More records tumble in Jaipur &nbsp;</h2>Surya also created a couple more records to guide Mumbai to a fighting first-inning total of 184 for seven. Surya broke a T20 record and an all-time IPL record during his innings.&nbsp; &nbsp;Firstly, he broke South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma’s world record of most 25-plus scores in T20s by completing his 14th consecutive 25-plus score in this format, going past Bavuma’s tally.&nbsp; &nbsp;SKY also broke a record for the most consecutive 25-plus scores in a single edition. He completed 14 successive 25-plus scores this season, surpassing the joint record held by Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson of 13 such scores each. &nbsp;Most 25+ scores in an IPL season - &nbsp;<ul><li>14* - Suryakumar Yadav (14 innings) in 2025</li><li>13 - Shubman Gill (17 innings) in 2023</li><li>13 - Kane Williamson (17 innings) in 2018</li></ul>Meanwhile, Punjab won the toss and elected to field first, restricting Mumbai to under 200. Considering the winner of this match seals the top-two spot on the points table, the two teams have come all guns blazing in a crucial must-win tie. Both, however, have secured IPL 2025 playoff berths. &nbsp;

Surya touches sky in Jaipur! Ace MI batter breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s 15-year-old IPL record

Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Suryakumar Yadav has broken a 15-year-old long-standing IPL record held by cricket great and former franchise hero Sachin Tendulkar. Against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the side’s last league game in IPL 2025 on Monday (May 26), Suryakumar completed his fifth fifty of the season (57); he also surpassed Sachin’s tally of 618 runs (619* runs) in a single edition, topping the list of MI batters with most runs in an edition. The batting maestro scored 618 runs in the 2010 edition, a record that remained untouched for over a decade. However, SKY, a Mumbai Indians veteran, broke this record and created a few more during his brief knock. Ahead of the game, the right-handed batter needed 36 runs to surpass Sachin’s tally, achieving this feat in the 15th over by pulling seamer Arshdeep Singh for a single. Meanwhile, Suryakumar had come close to breaching it earlier, during the 2023 edition, where he ended the season with 605 runs. Here’s the list of MI batters with the most runs in a single IPL season - 619* - Suryakumar Yadav (2025) 618 - Sachin Tendulkar (2010) 605 - Suryakumar Yadav (2023) 553 - Sachin Tendulkar (2011) 540 - Lendl Simmons (2015) 538 - Rohit Sharma (2013) More records tumble in Jaipur Surya also created a couple more records to guide Mumbai to a fighting first-inning total of 184 for seven. Surya broke a T20 record and an all-time IPL record during his innings. Firstly, he broke South Africa’s Test captain Temba Bavuma’s world record of most 25-plus scores in T20s by completing his 14th consecutive 25-plus score in this format, going past Bavuma’s tally. SKY also broke a record for the most consecutive 25-plus scores in a single edition. He completed 14 successive 25-plus scores this season, surpassing the joint record held by Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson of 13 such scores each. Most 25+ scores in an IPL season - 14* - Suryakumar Yadav (14 innings) in 2025 13 - Shubman Gill (17 innings) in 2023 13 - Kane Williamson (17 innings) in 2018 Meanwhile, Punjab won the toss and elected to field first, restricting Mumbai to under 200. Considering the winner of this match seals the top-two spot on the points table, the two teams have come all guns blazing in a crucial must-win tie. Both, however, have secured IPL 2025 playoff berths.

Ahead of the game, the right-handed batter needed 36 runs to surpass Sachin’s tally, achieving this feat in the 15th over by pulling seamer Arshdeep Singh for a single.

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the French Open second round on Monday with a resounding win to start his title defence, while three-time defending women's champion Iga Swiatek also eased through at Roland Garros.&nbsp;Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in round two.&nbsp;Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic.&nbsp;"The first round is never easy, and coming here as a champion is even more difficult," said the Spaniard, who has won both the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open titles on clay this year.&nbsp;"But I started well, found my rhythm, and I'm happy with my start."&nbsp;Alcaraz beat world number one Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the Rome final just over a week ago as the Italian returned from a three-month doping ban.&nbsp;Two-time reigning Australian Open champion Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros.&nbsp;"It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits him in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy.&nbsp;Taylor Fritz of the USA became the first high-profile casualty in the men's draw as the fourth seed lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to German Daniel Altmaier.&nbsp;Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up, got his bid for a first Grand Slam title underway with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.<h2>Swiatek cruises through</h2>&nbsp;Swiatek entered the tournament on a near year-long trophy drought but showed signs of form in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.&nbsp;Her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles have been well documented, but she broke her 42nd-ranked opponent four times in a strong display.&nbsp;The five-time Grand Slam champion's remarkable win-loss record in the tournament now stands at 36-2.&nbsp;"I knew I needed to stay proactive and try to use my weapons. I'm happy with my performance, and it was a solid match," said Swiatek, who also beat Sramkova in the second round of this year's Australian Open.&nbsp;&nbsp;Swiatek, who has dropped to fifth in the world rankings, will next face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu after the Briton defeated China's Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.&nbsp;Raducanu is playing at the French Open for the first time since a second-round exit on her debut in 2022.&nbsp;Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, was knocked out by Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in a tense three-set battle.&nbsp;Badosa, an Australian Open semi-finalist earlier this year, fought back from a set down to win 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4.&nbsp;Osaka has still never got past the third round at Roland Garros.&nbsp;Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina battled past Argentinian qualifier Julia Riera 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, two days after lifting her first WTA title since April 2024 in Strasbourg.&nbsp;American ninth seed Emma Navarro suffered an embarrassing 6-0, 6-1 loss to Spanish world number 68 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in just 57 minutes, only winning a game when her opponent double-faulted to gift her a break when serving for a double-bagel victory.&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.

Roland Garros Carlos Alcaraz powers into second round with resounding win Iga Swiatek eases through

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the French Open second round on Monday with a resounding win to start his title defence, while three-time defending women's champion Iga Swiatek also eased through at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. "The first round is never easy, and coming here as a champion is even more difficult," said the Spaniard, who has won both the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open titles on clay this year. "But I started well, found my rhythm, and I'm happy with my start." Alcaraz beat world number one Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the Rome final just over a week ago as the Italian returned from a three-month doping ban. Two-time reigning Australian Open champion Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros. "It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits him in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy. Taylor Fritz of the USA became the first high-profile casualty in the men's draw as the fourth seed lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to German Daniel Altmaier. Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up, got his bid for a first Grand Slam title underway with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Swiatek cruises through Swiatek entered the tournament on a near year-long trophy drought but showed signs of form in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles have been well documented, but she broke her 42nd-ranked opponent four times in a strong display. The five-time Grand Slam champion's remarkable win-loss record in the tournament now stands at 36-2. "I knew I needed to stay proactive and try to use my weapons. I'm happy with my performance, and it was a solid match," said Swiatek, who also beat Sramkova in the second round of this year's Australian Open. Swiatek, who has dropped to fifth in the world rankings, will next face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu after the Briton defeated China's Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Raducanu is playing at the French Open for the first time since a second-round exit on her debut in 2022. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, was knocked out by Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in a tense three-set battle. Badosa, an Australian Open semi-finalist earlier this year, fought back from a set down to win 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4. Osaka has still never got past the third round at Roland Garros. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina battled past Argentinian qualifier Julia Riera 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, two days after lifting her first WTA title since April 2024 in Strasbourg. American ninth seed Emma Navarro suffered an embarrassing 6-0, 6-1 loss to Spanish world number 68 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in just 57 minutes, only winning a game when her opponent double-faulted to gift her a break when serving for a double-bagel victory. 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.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in round two.

Roland Garros: Alcaraz powers into second round with resounding win, Swiatek eases through

Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked two uncapped players for the forthcoming England tour, including batter Sai Sudharsan and seamer Arshdeep Singh. While the cricket community welcomed their selection, some doubts have been raised lately over Sai’s inclusion in the 18-man squad for the five Tests starting June 20 in Leeds.&nbsp;Sai's former Tamil Nadu coach, Sulakshan Kulkarni, has expressed dissatisfaction over his technique in the challenging English conditions, ringing warning bells for Team India. Although the left-handed batter continues to make headlines in the ongoing IPL 2025, leading the run-scoring chart, hitting 679 runs in 14 contested matches thus far, Kulkarni feels his natural game could restrict him from scoring runs on seam-friendly pitches.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-cricket-no-sai-sudharsan-three-openers-and-captain-gill-in-cheteshwar-pujara-top-four-for-england-tests-1748257041166">No Sai Sudharsan, three openers and captain Gill in Pujara’s top four for England Tests</a> &nbsp;Sai’s IPL records in the past two years, alongside his first-class records, wherein he scored 1957 runs from 29 matches, make him a deserving candidate for the upcoming Test series, especially in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s absence. His former coach, however, warned the selectors of making a dicey call by picking an under-cooker, Sai Sudharsan, for the England tour. &nbsp;“His domestic record is not great. When I was the coach, I saw him play on a seaming track in at least two matches. And he didn’t play well there. His technique against the moving ball needs to improve,” Kulkarni said in an exclusive chat with Times of India (TOI).&nbsp; &nbsp;Detailing where he feels Sai could lag in England, his ex-coach said that the left-hander tends to play away from his body, contradicting the whole mantra of succeeding in those conditions. His ex-coach also warned him against playing across more, urging him to play straight and closer to his body.&nbsp; &nbsp;“He has a tendency of playing away from the body, while the secret of success in England is to play late and play the ball right under your nose. He has to curb some of his strokes and should play straight and close to the body. He has to work to get the technique right before the tour,” Kulkarni concluded. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sudharsan has spent some time with Surrey in the English county across two seasons (2023 and 2024), averaging close to 35. During his last stint with the County side, Sudharsan hit his maiden FC hundred in England while batting at number six.&nbsp; &nbsp;He, however, would likely bat inside the top four if given a chance on the UK tour.&nbsp;

Warning bells ring for Team India ahead of the ENG Tests as Sai Sudharsan’s ex-coach drops worrying concerns

Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked two uncapped players for the forthcoming England tour, including batter Sai Sudharsan and seamer Arshdeep Singh. While the cricket community welcomed their selection, some doubts have been raised lately over Sai’s inclusion in the 18-man squad for the five Tests starting June 20 in Leeds. Sai's former Tamil Nadu coach, Sulakshan Kulkarni, has expressed dissatisfaction over his technique in the challenging English conditions, ringing warning bells for Team India. Although the left-handed batter continues to make headlines in the ongoing IPL 2025, leading the run-scoring chart, hitting 679 runs in 14 contested matches thus far, Kulkarni feels his natural game could restrict him from scoring runs on seam-friendly pitches. Also read | No Sai Sudharsan, three openers and captain Gill in Pujara’s top four for England Tests Sai’s IPL records in the past two years, alongside his first-class records, wherein he scored 1957 runs from 29 matches, make him a deserving candidate for the upcoming Test series, especially in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s absence. His former coach, however, warned the selectors of making a dicey call by picking an under-cooker, Sai Sudharsan, for the England tour. “His domestic record is not great. When I was the coach, I saw him play on a seaming track in at least two matches. And he didn’t play well there. His technique against the moving ball needs to improve,” Kulkarni said in an exclusive chat with Times of India (TOI). Detailing where he feels Sai could lag in England, his ex-coach said that the left-hander tends to play away from his body, contradicting the whole mantra of succeeding in those conditions. His ex-coach also warned him against playing across more, urging him to play straight and closer to his body. “He has a tendency of playing away from the body, while the secret of success in England is to play late and play the ball right under your nose. He has to curb some of his strokes and should play straight and close to the body. He has to work to get the technique right before the tour,” Kulkarni concluded. Meanwhile, Sudharsan has spent some time with Surrey in the English county across two seasons (2023 and 2024), averaging close to 35. During his last stint with the County side, Sudharsan hit his maiden FC hundred in England while batting at number six. He, however, would likely bat inside the top four if given a chance on the UK tour.

Although the left-handed batter continues to make headlines in the ongoing IPL 2025, leading the run-scoring chart, Kulkarni feels his natural game could restrict him from scoring runs on seam-friendly pitches.

A Manchester United squad including Alejandro Garnacho were due to arrive in Malaysia on Monday for a friendly, less than 24 hours after finishing the club's worst season since 1974.&nbsp;United beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday at Old Trafford, but manager Ruben Amorim has a huge rebuilding task over the summer to revive the fortunes of one of the world's biggest football clubs.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-new-real-madrid-coach-xabi-alonso-says-he-has-energy-and-excitement-to-deliver-success-la-liga-carlo-ancelotti-1748268244585">New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says he has energy and excitement to deliver success</a>&nbsp;Amorim afterwards apologised to fans for the "disaster" of a campaign, which saw them finish 15th in the Premier League and beaten 1-0 by Spurs in last week's Europa League final.&nbsp;Hours after beating Villa, a 32-man squad including Argentine winger Garnacho jetted off for the red-eye flight to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and a match on Wednesday against a Southeast Asian XI.&nbsp;That is followed by a game on Friday in Hong Kong against the Chinese city's representative team.&nbsp;United hope the two post-season friendlies will bring in some much-needed revenue, although tickets were still available on Monday for both games.&nbsp;The BBC reported that the trip will generate about $10 million (£7.8m) for the club.&nbsp;The 20-year-old Garnacho was not involved against Villa, and his United career looks over after he and his brother publicly criticised Amorim's decision to drop him for the Europa League final.&nbsp;Goalkeeper Andre Onana and England defender Luke Shaw were similarly on the plane to Asia despite also not featuring against Villa.&nbsp;Defenders Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui did not travel, United said, but most of the rest of the first-team squad is expected to feature.&nbsp;Highs of 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) are forecast in Kuala Lumpur this week, and thunderstorms are predicted on the day of the game at the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil national stadium.&nbsp;Thunderstorms and showers are also forecast this week in Hong Kong, where humidity will be close to 100 per cent.&nbsp;Friday's match will take place at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.&nbsp;In July 2013, then Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio labelled the playing surface a "killer pitch" after heavy rain played havoc with the conditions.&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.

Manchester United start Asia trip hours after worst season since 1974

A Manchester United squad including Alejandro Garnacho were due to arrive in Malaysia on Monday for a friendly, less than 24 hours after finishing the club's worst season since 1974. United beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday at Old Trafford, but manager Ruben Amorim has a huge rebuilding task over the summer to revive the fortunes of one of the world's biggest football clubs. Also read | New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says he has energy and excitement to deliver success Amorim afterwards apologised to fans for the "disaster" of a campaign, which saw them finish 15th in the Premier League and beaten 1-0 by Spurs in last week's Europa League final. Hours after beating Villa, a 32-man squad including Argentine winger Garnacho jetted off for the red-eye flight to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and a match on Wednesday against a Southeast Asian XI. That is followed by a game on Friday in Hong Kong against the Chinese city's representative team. United hope the two post-season friendlies will bring in some much-needed revenue, although tickets were still available on Monday for both games. The BBC reported that the trip will generate about $10 million (£7.8m) for the club. The 20-year-old Garnacho was not involved against Villa, and his United career looks over after he and his brother publicly criticised Amorim's decision to drop him for the Europa League final. Goalkeeper Andre Onana and England defender Luke Shaw were similarly on the plane to Asia despite also not featuring against Villa. Defenders Leny Yoro and Noussair Mazraoui did not travel, United said, but most of the rest of the first-team squad is expected to feature. Highs of 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) are forecast in Kuala Lumpur this week, and thunderstorms are predicted on the day of the game at the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil national stadium. Thunderstorms and showers are also forecast this week in Hong Kong, where humidity will be close to 100 per cent. Friday's match will take place at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium. In July 2013, then Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio labelled the playing surface a "killer pitch" after heavy rain played havoc with the conditions. 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.

United beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday at Old Trafford, but manager Ruben Amorim has a huge rebuilding task over the summer to revive the fortunes of one of the world's biggest football clubs.

New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Monday he has the energy and excitement to deliver success worthy of the Spanish giants' rich history as he was presented as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement.&nbsp;Alonso will lead the team at the Club World Cup this summer and has signed a three-year deal until June 2028, after Ancelotti departed to take charge of the Brazil national team.&nbsp;Madrid failed to win a major trophy this season, losing their La Liga crown to rivals Barcelona, who also beat them in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals.&nbsp;Real were dealt a heavy Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal as their European trophy defence also fell short.&nbsp;"We have fantastic players, we have a team that has a lot of potential, (capable of) a very good present and a very good future," Alonso said at Real Madrid's training ground. "That gives me a lot of reason to come here with a lot of energy and a lot of hope that I can get the best out of all the players and build a great team...&nbsp;"(I have) the conviction that we can achieve big things, worthy of Real Madrid, worthy of all these European Cups, of all these accomplishments made over so many years."&nbsp;Alonso, a technically gifted central midfielder in his playing days, made 236 Madrid appearances between 2009-2014, winning six trophies including the Champions League in his final season at the club.&nbsp;That was Madrid's 10th European Cup - La Decima - and they have gone on to win five more in the past decade for a record 15 Champions League triumphs.&nbsp;The 43-year-old coach led Bayer Leverkusen to a superb unbeaten Bundesliga and German Cup double in the 2023-24 campaign, making him a target for Europe's top clubs.&nbsp;Alonso, who was coached by Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho among other managerial greats, said it was a "special day".&nbsp;"I have been away from here for a few years, but I think the link with Madrid and the fans has never ended, it's always been there," he said.&nbsp;<h2>'One of our own'</h2>&nbsp;Madrid chief Florentino Perez gave an introductory speech welcoming Alonso back to the Spanish capital.&nbsp;"This is a very special day for those who love Real Madrid, it will be the start of a new era filled with excitement and intense emotions," said Madrid president Perez. "A coach arrives who is one of the best in the world, and who knows what this badge and this shirt means...&nbsp;"Today we welcome one of our own -- Xabi Alonso. Welcome back to your home, Real Madrid."&nbsp;Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Alonso also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain before starting his coaching career.&nbsp;Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign starts against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18, which will be the first look at Alonso's project.&nbsp;One of the Spaniard's main jobs will be to help the team improve defensively while continuing to profit from the goals of star players Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.&nbsp;"It's lucky to have players of this level, not just Kylian or Vinicius, but so many," said Alonso. "They make the difference and we have to get everything we can out of them -- I have ideas."&nbsp;Ancelotti regularly complained Madrid could not find a balance between attacking and defending, losing 14 matches across all competitions.&nbsp;"I've seen the games and I have analysed them, now I am thinking about how to make a balanced team," said Alonso. "I want everyone to know how we want to do things, and that will give us a stability that will allow individual qualities to flourish."&nbsp;Alonso, who regularly used a 3-4-3 formation in Germany, said he knew how he wanted his team to play, even if the structure changes.&nbsp;"We want an ambitious and active game, knowing how to take the initiative, and we have the players for it," he explained. "I want a team that transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play and connects with the fans."&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.

New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso says he has energy and excitement to deliver success

New Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Monday he has the energy and excitement to deliver success worthy of the Spanish giants' rich history as he was presented as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement. Alonso will lead the team at the Club World Cup this summer and has signed a three-year deal until June 2028, after Ancelotti departed to take charge of the Brazil national team. Madrid failed to win a major trophy this season, losing their La Liga crown to rivals Barcelona, who also beat them in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals. Real were dealt a heavy Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal as their European trophy defence also fell short. "We have fantastic players, we have a team that has a lot of potential, (capable of) a very good present and a very good future," Alonso said at Real Madrid's training ground. "That gives me a lot of reason to come here with a lot of energy and a lot of hope that I can get the best out of all the players and build a great team... "(I have) the conviction that we can achieve big things, worthy of Real Madrid, worthy of all these European Cups, of all these accomplishments made over so many years." Alonso, a technically gifted central midfielder in his playing days, made 236 Madrid appearances between 2009-2014, winning six trophies including the Champions League in his final season at the club. That was Madrid's 10th European Cup - La Decima - and they have gone on to win five more in the past decade for a record 15 Champions League triumphs. The 43-year-old coach led Bayer Leverkusen to a superb unbeaten Bundesliga and German Cup double in the 2023-24 campaign, making him a target for Europe's top clubs. Alonso, who was coached by Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho among other managerial greats, said it was a "special day". "I have been away from here for a few years, but I think the link with Madrid and the fans has never ended, it's always been there," he said. 'One of our own' Madrid chief Florentino Perez gave an introductory speech welcoming Alonso back to the Spanish capital. "This is a very special day for those who love Real Madrid, it will be the start of a new era filled with excitement and intense emotions," said Madrid president Perez. "A coach arrives who is one of the best in the world, and who knows what this badge and this shirt means... "Today we welcome one of our own -- Xabi Alonso. Welcome back to your home, Real Madrid." Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Alonso also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain before starting his coaching career. Real Madrid's Club World Cup campaign starts against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18, which will be the first look at Alonso's project. One of the Spaniard's main jobs will be to help the team improve defensively while continuing to profit from the goals of star players Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. "It's lucky to have players of this level, not just Kylian or Vinicius, but so many," said Alonso. "They make the difference and we have to get everything we can out of them -- I have ideas." Ancelotti regularly complained Madrid could not find a balance between attacking and defending, losing 14 matches across all competitions. "I've seen the games and I have analysed them, now I am thinking about how to make a balanced team," said Alonso. "I want everyone to know how we want to do things, and that will give us a stability that will allow individual qualities to flourish." Alonso, who regularly used a 3-4-3 formation in Germany, said he knew how he wanted his team to play, even if the structure changes. "We want an ambitious and active game, knowing how to take the initiative, and we have the players for it," he explained. "I want a team that transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play and connects with the fans." 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.

Alonso will lead the team at the Club World Cup this summer and has signed a three-year deal until June 2028, after Ancelotti departed to take charge of the Brazil national team.

Pep Guardiola said he cannot guarantee Manchester City will be back challenging for the Premier League title next season.City will play in the Champions League for a 15th straight season after they salvaged a disappointing campaign with a final-day, 2-0 win away to Fulham on Sunday that saw them finish third in the Premier League and seal their place among European club football's elite.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-slot-machine-liverpool-already-getting-ready-for-next-season-1748263106935">Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season</a>But the club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.Asked if his side would be in a position to challenge Arne Slot's side next term, Guardiola replied: "I don't know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years."But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong."The Spaniard added: "Since I have arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and this season we have finished with 71 so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons."Sport and football gives you another chance and we will look to prove ourselves."But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don't know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season."We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer."With Kevin De Bruyne leaving City &nbsp;and doubts over the future of Jack Grealish, some believes Guardiola needs to oversee a major rebuild if the club are to mount a title challenge next season.But Guardiola, who has already said he wanted to trim his squad, does not envisage a significant overhaul at the Etihad this summer."I don't have that feeling," he said. "I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: 'Oh my gosh, how good are they?'"New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don't think we need a lot. We have a good squad and I don't want a lot of players."But we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realise they don't play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League and the rest belongs to the club."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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola said he cannot guarantee Manchester City will be back challenging for the Premier League title next season. City will play in the Champions League for a 15th straight season after they salvaged a disappointing campaign with a final-day, 2-0 win away to Fulham on Sunday that saw them finish third in the Premier League and seal their place among European club football's elite. Also Read - Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season But the club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool. Asked if his side would be in a position to challenge Arne Slot's side next term, Guardiola replied: "I don't know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years. "But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong." The Spaniard added: "Since I have arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and this season we have finished with 71 so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons. "Sport and football gives you another chance and we will look to prove ourselves. "But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better but I don't know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season. "We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try and we will be closer." With Kevin De Bruyne leaving City and doubts over the future of Jack Grealish, some believes Guardiola needs to oversee a major rebuild if the club are to mount a title challenge next season. But Guardiola, who has already said he wanted to trim his squad, does not envisage a significant overhaul at the Etihad this summer. "I don't have that feeling," he said. "I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: 'Oh my gosh, how good are they?' "New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don't think we need a lot. We have a good squad and I don't want a lot of players. "But we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realise they don't play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League and the rest belongs to the club." 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.

The club's first season without a trophy in eight years ended their unprecedented run of four successive English top-flight titles, with Guardiola's men finishing 13 points behind the Premier League champions Liverpool.

'You are wrong,' says Guardiola  when asked if Man City will win Premier League next season

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said he is already busy working on improving the team for next season despite romping to the Premier League title.The Reds will parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool city centre on Monday with tens of thousands expected to line the streets.But attention has already turned to defending the trophy with the 20-time English champions reportedly close to a triple swoop costing around £200 million ($271 million).Jeremie Frimpong is finalising his move from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/golden-glory-kylian-mbappe-wins-european-golden-shoe-in-debut-season-with-real-madrid-football-la-liga-spain-1748258464481">Golden glory: Kylian Mbappe wins European Golden Shoe in debut season with Real Madrid</a>Florian Wirtz has also chosen Anfield as his preferred destination, according to German media, should he move on from Leverkusen.Wirtz, 22, could smash the Premier League transfer record of £115 million set by Chelsea's capture of Moises Caicedo.Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also reportedly keen on a £50 million move to Liverpool."It's already busy," said Werner. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season."Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.Federico Chiesa, who struggled to make an impact in his few first-team opportunities, remains the club's only signing of the Slot era."It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," added Werner."I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader."He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them."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.

Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said he is already busy working on improving the team for next season despite romping to the Premier League title. The Reds will parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool city centre on Monday with tens of thousands expected to line the streets. But attention has already turned to defending the trophy with the 20-time English champions reportedly close to a triple swoop costing around £200 million ($271 million). Jeremie Frimpong is finalising his move from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Also Read - Golden glory: Kylian Mbappe wins European Golden Shoe in debut season with Real Madrid Florian Wirtz has also chosen Anfield as his preferred destination, according to German media, should he move on from Leverkusen. Wirtz, 22, could smash the Premier League transfer record of £115 million set by Chelsea's capture of Moises Caicedo. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also reportedly keen on a £50 million move to Liverpool. "It's already busy," said Werner. "We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season." Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago. Federico Chiesa, who struggled to make an impact in his few first-team opportunities, remains the club's only signing of the Slot era. "It's extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach," added Werner. "I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader. "He's authentic, he's not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them." 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.

Arne Slot's success in his first season as manager was even more remarkable as he was given little money to work with in the transfer market 12 months ago.

Premier League | 'Slot machine' Liverpool already getting ready for next season

Ace India quick Mohammed Shami had a below-par IPL 2025, returning with just six wickets from nine contested matches at an economy of over 11. Shami’s mediocre return to franchise cricket did no good to his team, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), either, which finished in the bottom half with seven wins and 13 points. However, SRH coach Daniel Vettori backed Shami, 34, to bounce back next season.&nbsp;Shami missed all cricket action since getting ruled out with an ankle injury in late 2023, only to return to the Indian side for the first showpiece event of the year – the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He picked a five-for against Bangladesh in the tournament opener, later helping his team win the title for the record third time.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, before all of this, SRH bought Shami at the November auction last year to bolster their pace attack.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-eng-vs-ind-2025-england-tour-preparation-would-help-shubman-gill-embrace-test-captaincy-and-redefine-his-batting-cheteshwar-pujara-1748260786659">England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting: Pujara</a> &nbsp;Though they assembled a fighting pace unit led by seamer Pat Cummins, SRH failed to make the best out of their bowling attack, failing to reach the IPL 2025 playoffs. Shedding light on their premier India pacer, Vettori said, "It is a long time ago that he played T20 cricket, so it always takes a little bit to acclimate back into it. The game has progressed very quickly over those 18 months since the last time he played for GT, he was a Purple Cap winner. I just think the challenge is remaining consistent for him." &nbsp;Vettori explains what led to Shami’s downfall this season.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I think that's where he's at his best when he hits that length, and probably just wasn't at that metronomical best that we've seen in the past. And that's partly a long layoff, that's partly the game. And I know that he worked exceptionally hard and he was desperate to do well, but it just wasn't quite his season. But there's no reason why he can't bounce back because of the quality of the bowler that he is," he added while speaking after his team’s last league game against KKR in IPL 2025.<h2>No Shami on England tour &nbsp;</h2>Shami’s absence from cricket hurt his chances of returning to the Indian Test side for the forthcoming England tour starting June 20 in Leeds. The BCCI men’s selection committee decided against picking Shami for the five-match Test series, citing his lack of Test cricket bowling fitness, having missed all red-ball action for nearly ten months.&nbsp; &nbsp;Shami, however, remains among the backups should India need his services on the forthcoming UK tour.

Mohammed Shami receives support from SRH coach over mediocre IPL 2025, England Tests snub

Ace India quick Mohammed Shami had a below-par IPL 2025, returning with just six wickets from nine contested matches at an economy of over 11. Shami’s mediocre return to franchise cricket did no good to his team, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), either, which finished in the bottom half with seven wins and 13 points. However, SRH coach Daniel Vettori backed Shami, 34, to bounce back next season. Shami missed all cricket action since getting ruled out with an ankle injury in late 2023, only to return to the Indian side for the first showpiece event of the year – the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He picked a five-for against Bangladesh in the tournament opener, later helping his team win the title for the record third time. However, before all of this, SRH bought Shami at the November auction last year to bolster their pace attack. Also read | England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting: Pujara Though they assembled a fighting pace unit led by seamer Pat Cummins, SRH failed to make the best out of their bowling attack, failing to reach the IPL 2025 playoffs. Shedding light on their premier India pacer, Vettori said, "It is a long time ago that he played T20 cricket, so it always takes a little bit to acclimate back into it. The game has progressed very quickly over those 18 months since the last time he played for GT, he was a Purple Cap winner. I just think the challenge is remaining consistent for him." Vettori explains what led to Shami’s downfall this season. "I think that's where he's at his best when he hits that length, and probably just wasn't at that metronomical best that we've seen in the past. And that's partly a long layoff, that's partly the game. And I know that he worked exceptionally hard and he was desperate to do well, but it just wasn't quite his season. But there's no reason why he can't bounce back because of the quality of the bowler that he is," he added while speaking after his team’s last league game against KKR in IPL 2025. No Shami on England tour Shami’s absence from cricket hurt his chances of returning to the Indian Test side for the forthcoming England tour starting June 20 in Leeds. The BCCI men’s selection committee decided against picking Shami for the five-match Test series, citing his lack of Test cricket bowling fitness, having missed all red-ball action for nearly ten months. Shami, however, remains among the backups should India need his services on the forthcoming UK tour.

Shami missed all cricket action since getting ruled out with an ankle injury in late 2023, only to return to the Indian side for the first showpiece event of the year – the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

After latest snubs, Shami receives support from SRH coach over mediocre IPL 2025

French Open 2025, Day 2 Updates: The second grand slam of the year is already under the way with many big names in action today including Carlos Alcaraz in men's singles and Naomi Oasaka &amp; Paula Badosa in women's singles.Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his French Open campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri on Monday.The Spaniard struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over world number 310 Zeppieri and will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in round two.Iga Swiatek launched her bid for a fourth straight Roland Garros title on Monday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.Swiatek extended her winning run at Roland Garros to 22 matches, but she has dropped to fifth in the world after a year-long trophy drought.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz has won the Round 1 in straight sets.Alcaraz: 6 6 6Zeppieri: 3 4 2

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Alcaraz wins in Round 1

No. 2 seed Alcaraz wins second set of his first round game as well.Alcaraz: 6 6Zeppieri: 3 4

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Alcaraz wins second set

Defending champion Iga Swiatek made small work of her first round game and won in straight sets against Rebecca Sramkova.Swiatek: 6 6Sramkova: 3 3

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Swiatek wins in straight sets

Seventh seed Casper Ruud advances to next round with win in Round 1.Ruud: 6 6 6Ramos: 3 4 2

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Ruud wins first round game

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the first set of first round game in French Open.Alcaraz: 6Zeppieri: 3

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Alcaraz wins first set

Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek has won the first set of her round 1 match against Rebecca SramkovaSwiatek: 6Sramkova: 3

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Swiatek takes first set

Casper Ruud has won the second set vs Albert Ramos as well after easily taking the first one.Ruud: 6 6Ramos: 3 4

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Casper Ruud takes second set

&nbsp;Jessica Bouzas Maneiro beats ninth seed Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-1.

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: J.Bouzas Maneiro beats ninth seed E.Navarro

Casper Ruud has won first set vs Albert Ramos and is leading in the second as well.Ruud: 6Ramos: 3

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Casper Ruud wins first set 

Three-time consecutive champion and overall four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek takes on Rebecca Sramkova in women's singles at 12 pm Paris time or 3:30 pm IST

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Iga Swiatek in first match of the day

Rafael Nadal, who ruled at the Roland Garros as a player, was honoured by the organisers for the stellar 14 French Open titles. Listen in what he had to say:&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;The King&amp;#39;s Speech.&lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RolandGarros?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;#RolandGarros&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://t.co/iGjF0H7Xy7"&gt;pic.twitter.com/iGjF0H7Xy7&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/1926709150257463787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;May 25, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: Rafa was honoured at his favourite court for the legend he was

Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump.Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alcaraz-sinner-launch-french-open-bids-as-swiatek-seeks-lift-1748230636108">Read More</a>

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates:: Alcaraz, Sinner launch French Open bids as Swiatek seeks lift

French Open 2025, Day 2 Live Updates: The second grand slam of the year is already under the way with many big names in action today including Carlos Alcaraz in men's singles and Naomi Oasaka & Paula Badosa in women's singles.

French Open 2025, Day 2 Updates: The second grand slam of the year is already under the way with many big names in action today including Carlos Alcaraz in men's singles and Naomi Oasaka & Paula Badosa in women's singles. Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his French Open campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri on Monday. The Spaniard struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over world number 310 Zeppieri and will face Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in round two. Iga Swiatek launched her bid for a fourth straight Roland Garros title on Monday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Swiatek extended her winning run at Roland Garros to 22 matches, but she has dropped to fifth in the world after a year-long trophy drought.

HIGHLIGHTS | French Open 2025, Day 2: The second grand slam of the year is already under the way with many big names in action today including Carlos Alcaraz in men's singles and Naomi Oasaka &amp; Paula Badosa in women's singles.

HIGHLIGHTS | French Open 2025, Day 2: Swiatek, Alcaraz start campaign with a win

Veteran India batter Chesteshwar Pujara called exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan from India squad for Test tour of England as 'unfortunate.' Sarfaraz, who was part of India's Test squad in Australia, could make the cut in the new look team led by Shubman Gill."The reason he is not in the squad, I feel, is he has been very successful in the Asian conditions or in India. The management feels that he may not be as successful in Australia or in England. And there were some fitness issues in the past. I don't know about his current fitness. But he has been working hard on his fitness also. So, at this stage, I feel it's a bit unfortunate. But at the same time, someone like Karun Nair, who has performed really well in domestic cricket, deserved an opportunity," Pujara told Hindustan Times.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-eng-vs-ind-2025-england-tour-preparation-would-help-shubman-gill-embrace-test-captaincy-and-redefine-his-batting-cheteshwar-pujara-1748260786659">England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting: Pujara</a>Sarfaraz, ironically, made his debut against England last year in Rajkot. He has played six Tests so far with 371 runs to his name at an average of 37 and a best of 150. He has not played since the third Test against New Zealand at home in Mumbai last year where scored 0 &amp; 1 across two innings.India selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar however, handed a comeback to Karun Nair who had last played a Test eight years ago. Nair is the only India batter apart from Virender Sehwag to score a triple ton in Tests which also came against England albeit at home.Nair, however, has been rewarded for the strong domestic performance and his experience could be useful in England given India would be touring without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Both the senior players had announced their retirement earlier this month within a week of each other, leaving India with a huge gaps to fill.

India selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar however, handed a comeback to Karun Nair who had last played a Test eight years ago. Nair is the only India batter apart from Virender Sehwag to score a triple ton in Tests.

Veteran India batter Chesteshwar Pujara called exclusion of Sarfaraz Khan from India squad for Test tour of England as 'unfortunate.' Sarfaraz, who was part of India's Test squad in Australia, could make the cut in the new look team led by Shubman Gill. "The reason he is not in the squad, I feel, is he has been very successful in the Asian conditions or in India. The management feels that he may not be as successful in Australia or in England. And there were some fitness issues in the past. I don't know about his current fitness. But he has been working hard on his fitness also. So, at this stage, I feel it's a bit unfortunate. But at the same time, someone like Karun Nair, who has performed really well in domestic cricket, deserved an opportunity," Pujara told Hindustan Times. Also Read - England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting: Pujara Sarfaraz, ironically, made his debut against England last year in Rajkot. He has played six Tests so far with 371 runs to his name at an average of 37 and a best of 150. He has not played since the third Test against New Zealand at home in Mumbai last year where scored 0 & 1 across two innings. India selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar however, handed a comeback to Karun Nair who had last played a Test eight years ago. Nair is the only India batter apart from Virender Sehwag to score a triple ton in Tests which also came against England albeit at home. Nair, however, has been rewarded for the strong domestic performance and his experience could be useful in England given India would be touring without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both the senior players had announced their retirement earlier this month within a week of each other, leaving India with a huge gaps to fill.

India selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar however, handed a comeback to Karun Nair who had last played a Test eight years ago. Nair is the only India batter apart from Virender Sehwag to score a triple ton in Tests.

IND vs ENG 2025: Pujara calls Sarfaraz Khan's Test snub 'unfortunate, but at the same time...'

As Shubman Gill embarks on a new journey as Team India’s Test captain, his former teammate and red-ball veteran Cheteshwar Pujara throws his weight behind him to succeed. Gill, 25, replaced Rohit Sharma as the Test captain, with the men’s selection committee appointing gloveman Rishabh Pant as his deputy. With the forthcoming England Test series being Gill’s first assignment as the new skipper, Pujara reminded him of opening his batting horizon to succeed in those challenging conditions.&nbsp;Gill is not new to the English conditions, having played both WTC Finals (2021 and 2023) and the rescheduled fifth Test against England from the 2021 tour, held in Birmingham in 2022. Besides, he had a brief stint with the County side Glamorgan. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Pujara feels that while preparing for the challenging UK tour, Gill would embrace his new captaincy role and understand how, by knowing when and where to score runs, he would expand his scoring shots, helping his white-ball game too. &nbsp;“When he goes to England, and when he starts his preparation, he will understand that these are the shots, which he can play while the ball is new. Plus, there are some shots which you need to avoid when the ball is new, and it's swinging or seaming around a bit. I would say it's very similar to what you get in Australia, where the ball does a bit more for the first 25-30 overs, and then it settles down a bit,” Pujara said during a chat show on Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for India’s tour of England 2025. &nbsp;Pujara suggested he increase his scoring rate once the shine is away and the ball is older, which makes it easier to score runs. However, he warned Gill against scoring runs right when the ball is new. &nbsp;“So, once the ball gets old, you, as a batter, you can play a few more shots. But if he is batting at number 3 or 4 and India loses one or two wickets early on, then he might have to change his game a bit. He is capable enough to do that, and once he goes there, I am sure he will understand what he has to do,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, what keeps everyone interested is how Team India’s top four would shape up in the five-match series. Commenting on the same, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-cricket-no-sai-sudharsan-three-openers-and-captain-gill-in-cheteshwar-pujara-top-four-for-england-tests-1748257041166">Pujara feels Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul should continue playing at the top</a> while backing Gill to stick to his number three position. For the fourth slot, he picked Karun Nair.&nbsp;

England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting Pujara

As Shubman Gill embarks on a new journey as Team India’s Test captain, his former teammate and red-ball veteran Cheteshwar Pujara throws his weight behind him to succeed. Gill, 25, replaced Rohit Sharma as the Test captain, with the men’s selection committee appointing gloveman Rishabh Pant as his deputy. With the forthcoming England Test series being Gill’s first assignment as the new skipper, Pujara reminded him of opening his batting horizon to succeed in those challenging conditions. Gill is not new to the English conditions, having played both WTC Finals (2021 and 2023) and the rescheduled fifth Test against England from the 2021 tour, held in Birmingham in 2022. Besides, he had a brief stint with the County side Glamorgan. Meanwhile, Pujara feels that while preparing for the challenging UK tour, Gill would embrace his new captaincy role and understand how, by knowing when and where to score runs, he would expand his scoring shots, helping his white-ball game too. “When he goes to England, and when he starts his preparation, he will understand that these are the shots, which he can play while the ball is new. Plus, there are some shots which you need to avoid when the ball is new, and it's swinging or seaming around a bit. I would say it's very similar to what you get in Australia, where the ball does a bit more for the first 25-30 overs, and then it settles down a bit,” Pujara said during a chat show on Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for India’s tour of England 2025. Pujara suggested he increase his scoring rate once the shine is away and the ball is older, which makes it easier to score runs. However, he warned Gill against scoring runs right when the ball is new. “So, once the ball gets old, you, as a batter, you can play a few more shots. But if he is batting at number 3 or 4 and India loses one or two wickets early on, then he might have to change his game a bit. He is capable enough to do that, and once he goes there, I am sure he will understand what he has to do,” he added. Meanwhile, what keeps everyone interested is how Team India’s top four would shape up in the five-match series. Commenting on the same, Pujara feels Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul should continue playing at the top while backing Gill to stick to his number three position. For the fourth slot, he picked Karun Nair.

Gill is not new to the English conditions, having played both WTC Finals (2021 and 2023) and the rescheduled fifth Test against England from the 2021 tour, held in Birmingham in 2022.&nbsp;

England tour preparation would help Gill embrace Test captaincy and redefine his batting: Pujara

In a small village in central <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ukraine">Ukraine</a>, a young athlete’s passion for strength and fitness was born without the existence of fancy gyms and high-tech equipment. Using bricks, wood, and old tractor parts, he built his own training space and began his workout journey.&nbsp;Today, that determined athlete is Vladimir Shmondenko, better known as Anatoly Powerlifter, a 24-year-old sensation famous for his jaw-dropping lifts and viral gym prank videos. Growing up on a cattle farm in Krishtopovka in central Ukraine, Vladimir got his first glimpse of internet at the young 14, which paved its way towards his fitness journey. By 15, he was following a strict diet of cottage cheese, eggs, and oats, fueling intense training sessions.&nbsp;He competed in weightlifting events as a teenager, lifting astonishing numbers like a 331-pound squat and a 457-pound deadlift. Vladimir started sharing his lifts on<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/instagram"> Instagram</a> in 2017, but his breakthrough period came with prank videos on YouTube, where he dressed as a janitor and surprised people in the gym.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7EiCdmvlC-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by VLADIMIR1 &amp; mr ANATOLY (@vladimirshmondenko)</a></div></blockquote>
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&nbsp;His unique style and humour quickly gained him a massive following. After moving to Moscow in 2019, he faced tough times in gaining tractions however, he turned the tide by learning English and expanding his target audience in 2023.&nbsp;Now based in Dubai, Vladimir boasts a net worth of 2 to 3 million dollars, thanks to his social media success and fitness brand, Aribba Nutrition.&nbsp; His insane lifts, including a 639-pound sumo deadlift and a 463-pound squat, continue to amaze fans worldwide.&nbsp;Anatoly Powerlifter’s journey from a rural village to global fame proves how passion and dedication can turn dreams into reality.&nbsp;Bio-data about Vladimir Shmondenko Birthplace: Cherkasy, Ukraine. Current residence: Dubai, UAE. Date of birth, Age:&nbsp;August 10, 1999, currently 24. Weight: 78 kilograms. Height: &nbsp;5'11 inches Net Worth:&nbsp;According to The Barbell, the 24-year-old's net worth is around 2 to 3 million dollars.&nbsp;

Today, the determined athlete is Vladimir Shmondenko, better known as Anatoly Powerlifter, a 24-year-old sensation famous for his jaw-dropping lifts and viral gym prank videos.

In a small village in central Ukraine, a young athlete’s passion for strength and fitness was born without the existence of fancy gyms and high-tech equipment. Using bricks, wood, and old tractor parts, he built his own training space and began his workout journey. Today, that determined athlete is Vladimir Shmondenko, better known as Anatoly Powerlifter, a 24-year-old sensation famous for his jaw-dropping lifts and viral gym prank videos. Growing up on a cattle farm in Krishtopovka in central Ukraine, Vladimir got his first glimpse of internet at the young 14, which paved its way towards his fitness journey. By 15, he was following a strict diet of cottage cheese, eggs, and oats, fueling intense training sessions. He competed in weightlifting events as a teenager, lifting astonishing numbers like a 331-pound squat and a 457-pound deadlift. Vladimir started sharing his lifts on Instagram in 2017, but his breakthrough period came with prank videos on YouTube, where he dressed as a janitor and surprised people in the gym.

Today, the determined athlete is Vladimir Shmondenko, better known as Anatoly Powerlifter, a 24-year-old sensation famous for his jaw-dropping lifts and viral gym prank videos.

From village weights to viral fame: Anatoly Powerlifter's $3 million journey

French striker<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kylian-mbappe"> Kylian Mbappe </a>has claimed the European Golden Shoe for the very first time in his career and that too in some fashion. The 25-year-old forward, hit a brace in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/real-madrid">Real Madrid’s</a> 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday (24 May), in their final <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/la-liga">La Liga </a>match of the season.&nbsp;The match was played at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian. With those two goals, Mbappe finished the season with 31 goals in La Liga, making him the top scorer not only in Spain but also across the five major leagues in Europe.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">👟🥇👏 ¡<a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KMbappe</a>, Bota de Oro 2024-25! <a href="https://t.co/k8iZZpCpdy">pic.twitter.com/k8iZZpCpdy</a>&mdash; Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadrid/status/1926760316706095445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The European Golden Shoe is given to the player who scores the most goals in league matches across Europe, but it’s based on a certain points system.&nbsp;Goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues: La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 &nbsp;are worth two points each. Conversely, goals from lower-ranked leagues like Portugal’s Primeira Liga are worth 1.5 points.&nbsp;Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-psg-beat-reims-to-win-french-cup-ahead-of-champions-league-final-1748147593773"> PSG beat Reims to win French Cup ahead of Champions League final</a>&nbsp;Even though Sporting CP’s Victor Gyokeres scored 39 league goals in the Portuguese league, he earned 58.5 points (39 goals × 1.5 points per goal) compared to Mbappe’s 62 points (31 goals × 2 points per goal).&nbsp;Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came close as well. He needed a hat-trick in Liverpool’s final match against Crystal Palace to equal Mbappe’s score. However, Salah only managed one goal in a 1-1 draw, ending with 58 points.&nbsp;Mbappe's Golden Shoe win is historic as he became the only third Real Madrid player ever to win this title, after Hugo Sanchez in 1989-90 and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who won it thrice with Los Blancos.&nbsp;Kylian's performance at Anoeta Stadium sealed not just a win for Real Madrid, but a personal milestone that places him among Europe's elite forwards. With this, the French star has added another feather to his growing list of achievements.

French striker Kylian Mbappe has claimed the European Golden Shoe for the very first time in his career and that too in some fashion.

French striker Kylian Mbappe has claimed the European Golden Shoe for the very first time in his career and that too in some fashion. The 25-year-old forward, hit a brace in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday (24 May), in their final La Liga match of the season. The match was played at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian. With those two goals, Mbappe finished the season with 31 goals in La Liga, making him the top scorer not only in Spain but also across the five major leagues in Europe.

French striker Kylian Mbappe has claimed the European Golden Shoe for the very first time in his career and that too in some fashion.

Golden glory: Kylian Mbappe wins European Golden Shoe in debut season with Real Madrid

The BCCI men’s selection committee picked a new-look 18-man squad for the England Tests starting June 20 in Leeds. In Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s absence owing to their Test retirement, the selectors picked ace batter Shubman Gill as the new Test skipper, with gloveman Rishabh Pant as his deputy. Meanwhile, Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara voiced his opinion on Team India’s possible top four for the five-match Test series, including three openers and captain Gill.&nbsp;India’s top order shuffled a bit during their previous tour Down Under. Although KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the most successful pair of all, having stitched a match-winning partnership in the series opener in Perth, Rohit’s return to the side forced selectors to make a change for a game later in the series. Now that Rohit has retired, Rahul and Jaiswal might continue at the top in England, even in Pujara’s top four.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-2025-shubman-gill-reacts-to-india-test-captaincy-role-urges-to-bring-best-out-of-players-1748179884038">Shubman Gill reacts to India’s Test captaincy role, urges to bring best out of players</a> &nbsp;Speaking of the number third and fourth slots, Pujara said the question remains around Gill’s batting position, and unless it's cleared, it’s hard to pick the best number three for those seaming conditions. Although Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair’s selection suggested that selectors are keen on having a technically sound batter playing inside the top four, Pujara differs here, throwing a new name for the position he excelled in during his playing days. &nbsp;"The openers who batted in Australia in the BGT series - KL Rahul and Yashasvi should continue. Now talking about no.3, at this stage, we don't know whether Shubman will bat there or drop down to No.4," Pujara said during a chat show on Sony Sports Network.&nbsp; &nbsp;Pujara said if Gill bats at number four, one of Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Karun Nair could play at three. He, however, expressed his preference on where Gill should bat in the Test team. &nbsp;"If Shubman bats at No.4, then someone like Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Karun Nair could be a good fit at that position, but I would still like to see Shubman batting at No.3," he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Someone like Karun who has done very well in domestic cricket, I think the ideal position for Karun would be No.4. If Shubman bats at No.3, then Karun Nair comes at No.4. If Shubman bats at No.4, then at No.3 it would be a choice between Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Sai Sudharsan.”<h3>India’s Test squad for England series – &nbsp;</h3>Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), 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

No Sai Sudharsan, three openers and captain Gill in Pujara’s top four for England Tests

The BCCI men’s selection committee picked a new-look 18-man squad for the England Tests starting June 20 in Leeds. In Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s absence owing to their Test retirement, the selectors picked ace batter Shubman Gill as the new Test skipper, with gloveman Rishabh Pant as his deputy. Meanwhile, Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara voiced his opinion on Team India’s possible top four for the five-match Test series, including three openers and captain Gill. India’s top order shuffled a bit during their previous tour Down Under. Although KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the most successful pair of all, having stitched a match-winning partnership in the series opener in Perth, Rohit’s return to the side forced selectors to make a change for a game later in the series. Now that Rohit has retired, Rahul and Jaiswal might continue at the top in England, even in Pujara’s top four. Also read | Shubman Gill reacts to India’s Test captaincy role, urges to bring best out of players Speaking of the number third and fourth slots, Pujara said the question remains around Gill’s batting position, and unless it's cleared, it’s hard to pick the best number three for those seaming conditions. Although Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair’s selection suggested that selectors are keen on having a technically sound batter playing inside the top four, Pujara differs here, throwing a new name for the position he excelled in during his playing days. "The openers who batted in Australia in the BGT series - KL Rahul and Yashasvi should continue. Now talking about no.3, at this stage, we don't know whether Shubman will bat there or drop down to No.4," Pujara said during a chat show on Sony Sports Network. Pujara said if Gill bats at number four, one of Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Karun Nair could play at three. He, however, expressed his preference on where Gill should bat in the Test team. "If Shubman bats at No.4, then someone like Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Karun Nair could be a good fit at that position, but I would still like to see Shubman batting at No.3," he added. "Someone like Karun who has done very well in domestic cricket, I think the ideal position for Karun would be No.4. If Shubman bats at No.3, then Karun Nair comes at No.4. If Shubman bats at No.4, then at No.3 it would be a choice between Abhimanyu Eshwaran or Sai Sudharsan.” India’s Test squad for England series – Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), 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

Speaking of the number third and fourth slots, Pujara said the question remains around Gill’s batting position, and unless it's cleared, it’s hard to pick the best number three for those seaming conditions.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up Real Betis midfielder Isco on Monday for the Nations League final four, six years after his last appearance for La Roja. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Betis, helping them reach the Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday.&nbsp;Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-xabi-alonso-returns-to-real-madrid-as-new-manager-carlo-ancelotti-1748175618991">Xabi Alonso returns to Real Madrid as new manager</a>&nbsp;Real Madrid's new defensive signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, who impressed in the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, returns to the squad, while Barcelona midfielders Gavi and Fermin Lopez also make the cut.&nbsp;Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and playmaker Pedri are the key figures, along with Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams.&nbsp;Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri was not included despite his recent return to fitness, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi set to start at the base of midfield.<h3>Full Spain squad for Nations League final four:</h3>&nbsp;Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)&nbsp;Defenders: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)&nbsp;Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo (all Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal)&nbsp;Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray)&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.

Forgotten hero Isco returns to Spain squad for Nations League last four

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up Real Betis midfielder Isco on Monday for the Nations League final four, six years after his last appearance for La Roja. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Betis, helping them reach the Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday. Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal. Also read | Xabi Alonso returns to Real Madrid as new manager Real Madrid's new defensive signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, who impressed in the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, returns to the squad, while Barcelona midfielders Gavi and Fermin Lopez also make the cut. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and playmaker Pedri are the key figures, along with Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams. Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri was not included despite his recent return to fitness, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi set to start at the base of midfield. Full Spain squad for Nations League final four: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad) Defenders: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo (all Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal) Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray) 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.

Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal.

Former India Test skipper Anil Kumble believes SunRisers Hyderabad spinner Harsh Dubey has the potential to play red-ball cricket for India. The assessment comes after Dubey took 3/34 in SRH's last match of the season on Sunday (May 25) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)."He certainly has the potential, and we've seen him bowl today in the white-ball format. The consistency is what matters. And that's something he has shown in domestic cricket, of getting wickets. And this is a great opportunity to be part of the India A squad," Kumble said after the match while talking to ESPNCricinfo.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/gt-bowlers-give-away-664-runs-in-60-overs-in-last-three-games-ex-srh-coach-says-worrying-signs-1748246514429">IPL 2025 | 664 in 60 overs - GT bowlers losing form at wrong time, says ex-SRH coach</a>Kumble, India's most successful Test bowler with 619 wickets, also explained Dubey's bowling style and why he has been effective."He's giving it a tweak, that's the start. And when you do that, you certainly get a bit of drift. And, more importantly, it goes off the surface that much quicker. And that's something that we see in Harsh Dubey," Kumble said. "It's not just about tossing the ball up. People think that when you're looking to spin the ball... he gives it a proper tweak. And even when you're pushing it - you're looking to bowl faster - you still need to give it a bit of a rip."The trajectory needs to be flatter, but you're still giving it a rip, that's what gives you the dip. Today, when he got Ramandeep [Singh] out, and also Andre Russell, he beat them with pace, not just the turn or with... with Russell, it just came back with the arm. He beat them with pace, and that's what you want from a spinner," he added.Dubey was signed by SRH as a temporary replacement and played only after IPL resumed on May 17 following a hiatus. He impressed everyone with his skills - taking five wickets in three games played. He will next be seen playing for India A later this week on the shadow tour before India senior team reaches the UK for the five-Test series.

Dubey was signed by SRH as a temporary replacement and played only after IPL resumed on May 17 following a hiatus. He impressed everyone with his skills - taking five wickets in three games played.

Former India Test skipper Anil Kumble believes SunRisers Hyderabad spinner Harsh Dubey has the potential to play red-ball cricket for India. The assessment comes after Dubey took 3/34 in SRH's last match of the season on Sunday (May 25) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). "He certainly has the potential, and we've seen him bowl today in the white-ball format. The consistency is what matters. And that's something he has shown in domestic cricket, of getting wickets. And this is a great opportunity to be part of the India A squad," Kumble said after the match while talking to ESPNCricinfo. Also Read - IPL 2025 | 664 in 60 overs - GT bowlers losing form at wrong time, says ex-SRH coach Kumble, India's most successful Test bowler with 619 wickets, also explained Dubey's bowling style and why he has been effective. "He's giving it a tweak, that's the start. And when you do that, you certainly get a bit of drift. And, more importantly, it goes off the surface that much quicker. And that's something that we see in Harsh Dubey," Kumble said. "It's not just about tossing the ball up. People think that when you're looking to spin the ball... he gives it a proper tweak. And even when you're pushing it - you're looking to bowl faster - you still need to give it a bit of a rip. "The trajectory needs to be flatter, but you're still giving it a rip, that's what gives you the dip. Today, when he got Ramandeep [Singh] out, and also Andre Russell, he beat them with pace, not just the turn or with... with Russell, it just came back with the arm. He beat them with pace, and that's what you want from a spinner," he added. Dubey was signed by SRH as a temporary replacement and played only after IPL resumed on May 17 following a hiatus. He impressed everyone with his skills - taking five wickets in three games played. He will next be seen playing for India A later this week on the shadow tour before India senior team reaches the UK for the five-Test series.

Dubey was signed by SRH as a temporary replacement and played only after IPL resumed on May 17 following a hiatus. He impressed everyone with his skills - taking five wickets in three games played.

IPL 2025 | Kumble impressed with India A-bound SRH spinner Harsh Dubey, says 'has potential, and...'

Former SRH coach Tom Moody thinks Gujarat Titans bowlers are losing form at the wrong time. The comments come after GT conceded 278 runs against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday (May 25) in their last league game of the season."It is a concern that a number of their bowlers are losing form at the wrong time," Moody said while talking to ESPNcricinfo. "Coming into the finals, one area of your game you want to be absolutely confident with is your bowling attack and everyone not looking over their shoulder but looking to take the responsibility themselves. And I look at their attack and really there's only one bowler that's bowling well and the rest are trying to find form.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/where-i-went-wrong-reveals-klaasen-after-ending-ipl-2025-for-srh-with-a-ton-1748238872304">'That's where I went wrong,' reveals Klaasen after ending IPL 2025 for SRH with a ton</a>"And that's probably being a little bit harsh on Sai Kishore because I think he's been quite consistent, but it's nearly like his bowling has been swept away along with many other bowlers purely because they haven't been able to build the most important thing, and that's those partnerships with the ball."GT, in their last three games, have conceded a total of 664 runs including 230+ twice - against CSK and LSG before that.The result of the match vs CSK, however, didn't have any bearing on GT's playoff standings as they have already qualified for it but it does affect the chances of their two two finish. GT finished the league stage with 18 points from nine wins and five losses in 14 games.The Shubman Gill-led team will finish second at max as one of Mumbai Indians or Punjab Kings will surpass them in points after MI vs PBKS game. One of MI or PBKS, each at 17 points in 13 games, will finish at 19 points barring rain interruption and will go past GT.&nbsp;

GT, in their last three games, have conceded a total of 664 runs including 230+ twice - against CSK and LSG before that. The Shubman Gill-led team will finish second at max now.

Former SRH coach Tom Moody thinks Gujarat Titans bowlers are losing form at the wrong time. The comments come after GT conceded 278 runs against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday (May 25) in their last league game of the season. "It is a concern that a number of their bowlers are losing form at the wrong time," Moody said while talking to ESPNcricinfo. "Coming into the finals, one area of your game you want to be absolutely confident with is your bowling attack and everyone not looking over their shoulder but looking to take the responsibility themselves. And I look at their attack and really there's only one bowler that's bowling well and the rest are trying to find form. Also Read - 'That's where I went wrong,' reveals Klaasen after ending IPL 2025 for SRH with a ton "And that's probably being a little bit harsh on Sai Kishore because I think he's been quite consistent, but it's nearly like his bowling has been swept away along with many other bowlers purely because they haven't been able to build the most important thing, and that's those partnerships with the ball." GT, in their last three games, have conceded a total of 664 runs including 230+ twice - against CSK and LSG before that. The result of the match vs CSK, however, didn't have any bearing on GT's playoff standings as they have already qualified for it but it does affect the chances of their two two finish. GT finished the league stage with 18 points from nine wins and five losses in 14 games. The Shubman Gill-led team will finish second at max as one of Mumbai Indians or Punjab Kings will surpass them in points after MI vs PBKS game. One of MI or PBKS, each at 17 points in 13 games, will finish at 19 points barring rain interruption and will go past GT.

GT, in their last three games, have conceded a total of 664 runs including 230+ twice - against CSK and LSG before that. The Shubman Gill-led team will finish second at max now.

IPL 2025 | 664 in 60 overs - GT bowlers losing form at wrong time, says ex-SRH coach

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowed out of the IPL 2025 with a bang as they scored 278/3 in their last league match vs KKR and won the game by 110 runs on Sunday (May 25). It was Heinrich Klaasen who played the innings of the season - hitting 105 not out off 39 balls. The Protea batter had many starts this season but could not get going mostly apart from this hundred and a fifty."Not trying to hit every ball for six," Klaasen said after the match when asked what was different about this innings. "I think that's where I went wrong this season. Hitting the hard length. [Sunil] Narine had a spell there that it was quite difficult to get away and I had to improvise a little bit. So, sticking to your hard length, mix it up and just play with his length is quite important.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-yuzvendra-chahal-under-injury-cloud-for-blockbuster-mumbai-clash-but-punjab-hopeful-of-his-playoff-chances-1748196827739">IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances</a>"It's been a long season of disappointment and sometimes against your processes. Luckily, I stuck to it and finally I've got a little bit of reward tonight," he added.The Protea still ended up as SRH's highest scorer of the season - 487 in 13 innings - at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 172. He thanked the franchise for putting the trust him as well."The franchise puts a lot of money into this. They've been around for 13, 14 years. And for us, we had a bad start to middle end of the competition and it just didn't look well on the field. For us to turn it around and we've played brilliant cricket over the last three and a half games. And to just give back to them as well," he said.SRH finished the season with 13 points from six wins, one no result and seven losses in 14 games but failed to make it to the playoffs.

The Protea still ended up as SRH's highest scorer of the season - 487 in 13 innings - at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 172. He thanked the franchise for putting the trust him as well.

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowed out of the IPL 2025 with a bang as they scored 278/3 in their last league match vs KKR and won the game by 110 runs on Sunday (May 25). It was Heinrich Klaasen who played the innings of the season - hitting 105 not out off 39 balls. The Protea batter had many starts this season but could not get going mostly apart from this hundred and a fifty. "Not trying to hit every ball for six," Klaasen said after the match when asked what was different about this innings. "I think that's where I went wrong this season. Hitting the hard length. [Sunil] Narine had a spell there that it was quite difficult to get away and I had to improvise a little bit. So, sticking to your hard length, mix it up and just play with his length is quite important. Also Read - IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances "It's been a long season of disappointment and sometimes against your processes. Luckily, I stuck to it and finally I've got a little bit of reward tonight," he added. The Protea still ended up as SRH's highest scorer of the season - 487 in 13 innings - at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 172. He thanked the franchise for putting the trust him as well. "The franchise puts a lot of money into this. They've been around for 13, 14 years. And for us, we had a bad start to middle end of the competition and it just didn't look well on the field. For us to turn it around and we've played brilliant cricket over the last three and a half games. And to just give back to them as well," he said. SRH finished the season with 13 points from six wins, one no result and seven losses in 14 games but failed to make it to the playoffs.

The Protea still ended up as SRH's highest scorer of the season - 487 in 13 innings - at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 172. He thanked the franchise for putting the trust him as well.

'That's where I went wrong,' reveals Klaasen after ending IPL 2025 for SRH with a ton

Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England.&nbsp;The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday.&nbsp;Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare.&nbsp;"Had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch, took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan," said Raza, who scored a half-century in his country's heavy defeat to England.&nbsp;"I guess this is the life of a professional cricketer, and I'm truly humbled and blessed to have that life."Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title.&nbsp;Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand.&nbsp;Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final.&nbsp;Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted. Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22).&nbsp;Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza.&nbsp;The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. The league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries.&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.

Sikandar Raza has breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi and PSL title in Lahore

Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England. The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday. Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare. "Had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch, took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan," said Raza, who scored a half-century in his country's heavy defeat to England. "I guess this is the life of a professional cricketer, and I'm truly humbled and blessed to have that life." Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title. Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand. Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final. Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted. Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22). Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza. The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. The league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries. 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.

Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare

Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz&nbsp;and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump.&nbsp;Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban.&nbsp;The Spaniard edged Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and believes the two-time reigning Australian Open champion will pose an even greater threat to his crown in Paris after brushing off the cobwebs in Rome.&nbsp;"The level he has played in (Rome) is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament," said Alcaraz. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be better and better.&nbsp;"If he's winning in Roland Garros and he's going farther, I think much better he's going to feel. He's going to be a really dangerous player in Paris."&nbsp;First up for Alcaraz though is Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced the injured Kei Nishikori in the draw.&nbsp;Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.&nbsp;It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros.&nbsp;"It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy.&nbsp;"It was great after three months coming back making the final. It was my first big final on clay, which is not to underrate, because we worked a lot for that."&nbsp;But he warned against expecting too much at the French Open. "There are no miracles. I need some time. Matches are different than practice sessions," said Sinner.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There is a lot of room to improve.” Sinner served a suspension for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Doping authorities accepted that it was the result of an accidental contamination involving his physio.<h2>Swiatek reign under threat</h2>Swiatek, like her idol Rafael Nadal, has proved almost untouchable at Roland Garros, where she holds a 35-2 win-loss record in six trips.&nbsp;But her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles is well documented and the Pole has gone almost a year without a trophy.&nbsp;She has dropped to fifth in the world ranking and has lost her aura of invincibility on the red dirt. However, her early exit from the Italian Open earlier this month has provided Swiatek more time to prepare for Paris and she said she has used that time well.&nbsp;"You know, right now, I felt like I had the most peaceful time to practice since the beginning of the season," Swiatek told AFP last week.&nbsp;"It has been going great. And on a practice court, I feel really good. We were working on some details in my serve and my forehand. But overall, you know, it looks great. I just need to implement that during the matches."&nbsp;Swiatek kicks off her title defence against Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, has a tough opening match against 10th seed Paula Badosa.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys plays Australian qualifier Daria Saville in round one. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina also plays a qualifier in Argentina's Julia Riera.&nbsp;Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion, is drawn against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud faces Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.&nbsp;Holger Rune, the only man to beat Alcaraz on clay this year, goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz and 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in action.&nbsp;Emma Raducanu is set for her first Roland Garros appearance since her 2022 debut, taking on China's Wang Xinyu.

Alcaraz, Sinner launch French Open bids as Swiatek seeks lift

Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump. Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban. The Spaniard edged Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and believes the two-time reigning Australian Open champion will pose an even greater threat to his crown in Paris after brushing off the cobwebs in Rome. "The level he has played in (Rome) is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament," said Alcaraz. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be better and better. "If he's winning in Roland Garros and he's going farther, I think much better he's going to feel. He's going to be a really dangerous player in Paris." First up for Alcaraz though is Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced the injured Kei Nishikori in the draw. Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros. "It's definitely going to be different," Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy. "It was great after three months coming back making the final. It was my first big final on clay, which is not to underrate, because we worked a lot for that." But he warned against expecting too much at the French Open. "There are no miracles. I need some time. Matches are different than practice sessions," said Sinner. “There is a lot of room to improve.” Sinner served a suspension for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Doping authorities accepted that it was the result of an accidental contamination involving his physio. Swiatek reign under threat Swiatek, like her idol Rafael Nadal, has proved almost untouchable at Roland Garros, where she holds a 35-2 win-loss record in six trips. But her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles is well documented and the Pole has gone almost a year without a trophy. She has dropped to fifth in the world ranking and has lost her aura of invincibility on the red dirt. However, her early exit from the Italian Open earlier this month has provided Swiatek more time to prepare for Paris and she said she has used that time well. "You know, right now, I felt like I had the most peaceful time to practice since the beginning of the season," Swiatek told AFP last week. "It has been going great. And on a practice court, I feel really good. We were working on some details in my serve and my forehand. But overall, you know, it looks great. I just need to implement that during the matches." Swiatek kicks off her title defence against Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, has a tough opening match against 10th seed Paula Badosa. Australian Open champion Madison Keys plays Australian qualifier Daria Saville in round one. Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina also plays a qualifier in Argentina's Julia Riera. Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 French Open champion, is drawn against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, while two-time runner-up Casper Ruud faces Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Holger Rune, the only man to beat Alcaraz on clay this year, goes up against Roberto Bautista Agut. Fourth seed Taylor Fritz and 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in action. Emma Raducanu is set for her first Roland Garros appearance since her 2022 debut, taking on China's Wang Xinyu.

Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen struck his second IPL century on Sunday as he powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth 278-3, and a 110-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders.&nbsp;With both teams already out of the play-off race, Hyderabad elected to bat first and registered the third-highest total of the T20 tournament, with Klaasen hitting an unbeaten 105 off 39 balls in Delhi.&nbsp;Klaasen, who was promoted to number three, stole the limelight with seven fours and nine sixes in a complete show of domination by Hyderabad after opener Travis Head hit a 40-ball 76.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-yuzvendra-chahal-under-injury-cloud-for-blockbuster-mumbai-clash-but-punjab-hopeful-of-his-playoff-chances-1748196827739">IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances</a>&nbsp;Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams.&nbsp;Hyderabad finished with 6 wins and seven losses.&nbsp;"Very pleased, it's been a long season of disappointment," Klaasen said after his knock.&nbsp;"Luckily, I stuck to my processes and found my form now. The franchise spent a lot of time and money to play this brand of cricket, and it was up to us to step up to the mantle."&nbsp;Hyderabad, who won their only IPL title in 2016 under Australia's David Warner, have the top four totals in IPL to their credit.&nbsp;Hyderabad amassed IPL's highest ever total of 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year. They fell one short of that score -- 286-6 -- against the Rajasthan Royals this year.&nbsp;Hyderabad scored 277 versus the Mumbai Indians in 2024.&nbsp;Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma, and the two handed the team a blazing start of 92 in 6.4 overs.&nbsp;Klaasen reached his ton in 37 balls for the joint third-highest IPL ton. West Indies' Chris Gayle hit a hundred in 30 balls in 2013, and Rajasthan's 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 35 balls this edition.&nbsp;Abhishek fell for 32 before Head put on 83 runs with Klaasen as it rained sixes at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.&nbsp;Head fell to West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, but Klaasen kept up the charge with Ishan Kishan and carried his bat through.&nbsp;Kolkata were never in the chase, with Manish Pandey top-scoring with 37.&nbsp;Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said "no regrets" as they take positives from a disappointing season and hope to come back strong next year.&nbsp;Hyderabad bowlers Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga and impact substitute Harsh Dubey took three wickets each.&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.

IPL 2025 Heinrich Klaasen record breaking hundred helps Hyderabad floor Kolkata

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen struck his second IPL century on Sunday as he powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth 278-3, and a 110-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders. With both teams already out of the play-off race, Hyderabad elected to bat first and registered the third-highest total of the T20 tournament, with Klaasen hitting an unbeaten 105 off 39 balls in Delhi. Klaasen, who was promoted to number three, stole the limelight with seven fours and nine sixes in a complete show of domination by Hyderabad after opener Travis Head hit a 40-ball 76. Also read | IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams. Hyderabad finished with 6 wins and seven losses. "Very pleased, it's been a long season of disappointment," Klaasen said after his knock. "Luckily, I stuck to my processes and found my form now. The franchise spent a lot of time and money to play this brand of cricket, and it was up to us to step up to the mantle." Hyderabad, who won their only IPL title in 2016 under Australia's David Warner, have the top four totals in IPL to their credit. Hyderabad amassed IPL's highest ever total of 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year. They fell one short of that score -- 286-6 -- against the Rajasthan Royals this year. Hyderabad scored 277 versus the Mumbai Indians in 2024. Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma, and the two handed the team a blazing start of 92 in 6.4 overs. Klaasen reached his ton in 37 balls for the joint third-highest IPL ton. West Indies' Chris Gayle hit a hundred in 30 balls in 2013, and Rajasthan's 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 35 balls this edition. Abhishek fell for 32 before Head put on 83 runs with Klaasen as it rained sixes at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground. Head fell to West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, but Klaasen kept up the charge with Ishan Kishan and carried his bat through. Kolkata were never in the chase, with Manish Pandey top-scoring with 37. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said "no regrets" as they take positives from a disappointing season and hope to come back strong next year. Hyderabad bowlers Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga and impact substitute Harsh Dubey took three wickets each. 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.

Three-time champions Kolkata, who won the IPL last year, were bowled out for 168 in 18.4 overs to end this edition placed eighth out of 10 teams.

IPL 2025: Heinrich Klaasen’s record-breaking hundred helps Hyderabad floor Kolkata

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuzvendra-chahal">Yuzvendra Chahal</a> is under the injury cloud for his side’s last league game, and perhaps the most significant clash thus far this season, against Mumbai Indians on Monday (May 26) in Jaipur. What makes this blockbuster clash interesting is the winner’s position on the points table heading into the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025">IPL 2025</a> playoffs, which will seal the top-two finish and play Qualifier 1 on Thursday (May 29) in Mullanpur.&nbsp;Chahal missed his side’s previous game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday (May 24) with a niggle injury, as described by PBKS’ spin coach Sunil Joshi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-cricket-retirement-i-am-done-ms-dhoni-addresses-future-after-csk-last-ipl-game-this-season-1748192319673">‘I am done’: MS Dhoni addresses future after CSK’s last IPL game this season</a> &nbsp;However, per the latest reports, he will miss Punjab’s last league game against Mumbai with a wrist injury in a blow to his franchise’s bid for a top-two finish. Considering the winner seals the spot at the top, Chahal’s absence could hurt Punjab. But PBKS remain hopeful of him regaining full fitness for the IPL 2025 playoffs, starting next week. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Punjab reached the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, having last made it in 2014, when they reached the final but lost it to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).<h2>PBKS in IPL 2025 &nbsp;</h2>Punjab boosted their confidence at the auction only, and even before that, by appointing Ricky Ponting as the head coach and later Shreyas Iyer, appointing him as the captain. Thanks to the over-the-top budget heading into the auction, PBKS could splurge INR 27 crore on Iyer, making him the most expensive purchase in the tournament's history. &nbsp;That move did wonders for the franchise, which maintained a winning run in IPL 2025 and made it to the playoffs. Under Ponting and Iyer’s guidance, Punjab found success against almost all teams, stamping their authority this season. &nbsp;As things stand, they sit in second place on the points table with 17 points from 13 contested matches.<h3>Here is PBKS’ predicted playing XI for the DC match – &nbsp;</h3>Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh

Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances

Yuzvendra Chahal is under the injury cloud for his side’s last league game, and perhaps the most significant clash thus far this season, against Mumbai Indians on Monday (May 26) in Jaipur. What makes this blockbuster clash interesting is the winner’s position on the points table heading into the IPL 2025 playoffs, which will seal the top-two finish and play Qualifier 1 on Thursday (May 29) in Mullanpur. Chahal missed his side’s previous game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday (May 24) with a niggle injury, as described by PBKS’ spin coach Sunil Joshi. Also read | ‘I am done’: MS Dhoni addresses future after CSK’s last IPL game this season However, per the latest reports, he will miss Punjab’s last league game against Mumbai with a wrist injury in a blow to his franchise’s bid for a top-two finish. Considering the winner seals the spot at the top, Chahal’s absence could hurt Punjab. But PBKS remain hopeful of him regaining full fitness for the IPL 2025 playoffs, starting next week. Meanwhile, Punjab reached the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, having last made it in 2014, when they reached the final but lost it to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). PBKS in IPL 2025 Punjab boosted their confidence at the auction only, and even before that, by appointing Ricky Ponting as the head coach and later Shreyas Iyer, appointing him as the captain. Thanks to the over-the-top budget heading into the auction, PBKS could splurge INR 27 crore on Iyer, making him the most expensive purchase in the tournament's history. That move did wonders for the franchise, which maintained a winning run in IPL 2025 and made it to the playoffs. Under Ponting and Iyer’s guidance, Punjab found success against almost all teams, stamping their authority this season. As things stand, they sit in second place on the points table with 17 points from 13 contested matches. Here is PBKS’ predicted playing XI for the DC match – Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh

Chahal missed his side’s previous game against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday (May 24) with a niggle injury, as described by PBKS’ spin coach Sunil Joshi.&nbsp;

IPL 2025: Chahal under injury cloud for blockbuster Mumbai clash but Punjab hopeful of his playoff chances

CSK stand-in captain MS Dhoni addressed his future after CSK’s last IPL 2025 game on Sunday (May 25). <a href="Gujarat suffer its biggest IPL defeat by runs in final league game against Chennai">Beating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 83 runs</a> in Ahmedabad, CSK finished their already-shallow season with four wins and eight points from 14 contested matches, sitting in the tenth position. However, like every season for a long time, Dhoni answered questions about his cricket career, which is now in the twilight stage.&nbsp;The 43-year-old cricket veteran endured a challenging time with the bat this season, scoring just 195 runs from 13 outings at a strike rate of 135.17. Although his team hit its highest total this season, whacking a magnificent 230 for five in its last league match, Dhoni did not bat, with the contribution coming from the top order. &nbsp;When asked about his IPL future, Dhoni said, as always, it depends on several factors, including his fitness, his hunger and his contribution to his team’s success. Dhoni said he would not hurry to decide his future, adding he has plenty of time on his hands to conclude. &nbsp;"It depends. Again, I would say would say the same thing: I have four-five months to decide, there's no hurry to decide what needs to be done," Dhoni said at the post-match presser.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Every year, it's 15% more effort to keep the body fit, not to forget this is top-level cricket. It's professional cricket - you have to be at your best - and it's not always performance that you can count, because if cricketers start retiring because of performance, then a few of them will retire when they're 22. &nbsp;"What is important to see if how much hunger you have, what kind of fitness you have, and how much you can contribute to the team, and whether the team needs you or not. So I have enough time. I will go back to Ranchi - haven't been home for a long time - enjoy a few bike rides, [take a] couple of months and then decide,” Dhoni continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, keeping everyone hanging around for a clear answer, he said, "I'm not saying I'm done, I'm not saying I'm coming back. As I said, I have&nbsp;the luxury of time. When you have the luxury, then why not think about it and then decide?"<h2>‘Good to finish on a good note’ &nbsp;</h2>CSK began this season with a thumping win over Mumbai Indians, but how life and cricket had it, they failed to win beyond four matches, while MI qualified for IPL 2025 playoffs, even fighting for a top-two finish now. Despite the results, including CSK’s last game, Dhoni said, “We didn't have a very good season, but good to finish on a good note,” Dhoni said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I think this was one of the perfect performances - from the bowling department, batting department, not to forget, the fielding and catching. Throughout the season, I don't think we have caught very well, so this was one game where the catching was also good," he added.

‘I am done’: MS Dhoni addresses future after CSK’s last IPL game this season

CSK stand-in captain MS Dhoni addressed his future after CSK’s last IPL 2025 game on Sunday (May 25). Beating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 83 runs in Ahmedabad, CSK finished their already-shallow season with four wins and eight points from 14 contested matches, sitting in the tenth position. However, like every season for a long time, Dhoni answered questions about his cricket career, which is now in the twilight stage. The 43-year-old cricket veteran endured a challenging time with the bat this season, scoring just 195 runs from 13 outings at a strike rate of 135.17. Although his team hit its highest total this season, whacking a magnificent 230 for five in its last league match, Dhoni did not bat, with the contribution coming from the top order. When asked about his IPL future, Dhoni said, as always, it depends on several factors, including his fitness, his hunger and his contribution to his team’s success. Dhoni said he would not hurry to decide his future, adding he has plenty of time on his hands to conclude. "It depends. Again, I would say would say the same thing: I have four-five months to decide, there's no hurry to decide what needs to be done," Dhoni said at the post-match presser. "Every year, it's 15% more effort to keep the body fit, not to forget this is top-level cricket. It's professional cricket - you have to be at your best - and it's not always performance that you can count, because if cricketers start retiring because of performance, then a few of them will retire when they're 22. "What is important to see if how much hunger you have, what kind of fitness you have, and how much you can contribute to the team, and whether the team needs you or not. So I have enough time. I will go back to Ranchi - haven't been home for a long time - enjoy a few bike rides, [take a] couple of months and then decide,” Dhoni continued. Meanwhile, keeping everyone hanging around for a clear answer, he said, "I'm not saying I'm done, I'm not saying I'm coming back. As I said, I have the luxury of time. When you have the luxury, then why not think about it and then decide?" ‘Good to finish on a good note’ CSK began this season with a thumping win over Mumbai Indians, but how life and cricket had it, they failed to win beyond four matches, while MI qualified for IPL 2025 playoffs, even fighting for a top-two finish now. Despite the results, including CSK’s last game, Dhoni said, “We didn't have a very good season, but good to finish on a good note,” Dhoni said. "I think this was one of the perfect performances - from the bowling department, batting department, not to forget, the fielding and catching. Throughout the season, I don't think we have caught very well, so this was one game where the catching was also good," he added.

Like every season for a long time, Dhoni answered questions about his cricket career, which is now in the twilight stage.

Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered its biggest defeat by runs in IPL history, losing to Chennai Super Kings by 83 runs on Sunday (May 25) in Ahmedabad. This loss dents their chances of confirming a top-two finish, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could finish above GT should they win their last league games, respectively. For CSK, they just won their fourth match this season, finishing tenth on the points table.&nbsp;Chennai won the toss and elected to bat first. With nothing yet everything to play for, CSK openers – Ayush Mhatre and David Conway went berserk from the ball one. The Mumbai opener took on Arshad Khan in his first over, hitting him for 28 runs in six balls.&nbsp; &nbsp;Although Mhatre departed soon after on 34 off 17 balls, hitting three sixes and as many fours, Conway and Urvil Patel added 63 for the second wicket, helping the side cross 100-run-mark inside ten overs. &nbsp;Shivam Dube and Conway got out in the next five overs, only for Dewald Brevis to come and make the evening about him. He smoked a 19-ball fifty, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 23, including five sixes and four boundaries, helping Chennai post a massive 230 for five.&nbsp;<h2>All fail for GT &nbsp;</h2>Unlike how their top three performed in most of the previous contested league matches this season, GT’s top order failed in their final league game. Barring Sai Sudharsan, who scored 41, Shubman Gill (13), Jos Buttler (5), and even Sherfane Rutherford (0) departed early, denting GT’s momentum. &nbsp;The middle and lower order tried their bits but failed, with everyone falling cheaply, putting GT on the backfoot.&nbsp;&nbsp;For CSK, seamer Anshul Kamboj and Noor Ahmed picked three wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja returned with two. A combined bowling effort saw CSK taste success in their last league game, winning by 83 runs.&nbsp;

Gujarat suffer its biggest IPL defeat by runs in final league game against Chennai

Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered its biggest defeat by runs in IPL history, losing to Chennai Super Kings by 83 runs on Sunday (May 25) in Ahmedabad. This loss dents their chances of confirming a top-two finish, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could finish above GT should they win their last league games, respectively. For CSK, they just won their fourth match this season, finishing tenth on the points table. Chennai won the toss and elected to bat first. With nothing yet everything to play for, CSK openers – Ayush Mhatre and David Conway went berserk from the ball one. The Mumbai opener took on Arshad Khan in his first over, hitting him for 28 runs in six balls. Although Mhatre departed soon after on 34 off 17 balls, hitting three sixes and as many fours, Conway and Urvil Patel added 63 for the second wicket, helping the side cross 100-run-mark inside ten overs. Shivam Dube and Conway got out in the next five overs, only for Dewald Brevis to come and make the evening about him. He smoked a 19-ball fifty, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 23, including five sixes and four boundaries, helping Chennai post a massive 230 for five. All fail for GT Unlike how their top three performed in most of the previous contested league matches this season, GT’s top order failed in their final league game. Barring Sai Sudharsan, who scored 41, Shubman Gill (13), Jos Buttler (5), and even Sherfane Rutherford (0) departed early, denting GT’s momentum. The middle and lower order tried their bits but failed, with everyone falling cheaply, putting GT on the backfoot. For CSK, seamer Anshul Kamboj and Noor Ahmed picked three wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja returned with two. A combined bowling effort saw CSK taste success in their last league game, winning by 83 runs.

For CSK, they just won their fourth match this season, finishing tenth on the points table.

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