FC Barcelona seeks redemption following their crushing defeat against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey while setting sights on extending defender Ronald Araujo's contract. Manager Xavi is ready to part ways with one of two midfielders to facilitate a strategic acquisition as Man City ceases its pursuit of Barcelona's young star, Alejandro Balde.
In a crucial third test match against England, New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra proved his worth as a cricketer by adapting his usual elegant style to a more disciplined approach. His 44 off 90 balls, along with a 107-run partnership with Kane Williamson, helped stabilize the New Zealand innings at a crucial point. Despite a tendency to flatter to deceive in the series so far, Ravindra's innings proved that his contribution to the team is not determined solely by big scores.
The India vs. Australia 3rd Test match has been delayed due to rain, with an inspection scheduled for 12:20 pm IST. Fans eagerly await the outcome as the teams gear up to continue their fierce battle at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Stay tuned for live updates and scores from this exciting match!
Barcelona's title hopes took a hit as they stumbled to a 1-0 loss at home against Leganes, while Atletico Madrid pulled level with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory against Getafe. Barcelona's poor form continued as they lost three of their last six league games, putting their lead at risk. Leganes' early goal from a corner set the tone for the game as Barcelona failed to make a comeback, while Atletico Madrid continue their impressive winning streak.
Despite rain reducing play to just 30.2 overs over the first two sessions, Australia's seamers were able to create trouble for India's batters due to their higher release points compared to the Indian quicks. India's shot selection also contributed to their downfall, with three wickets falling to loose drives. Meanwhile, Australia added 40 runs to their overnight score before India took the last three wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah achieving a feat only achieved by Kapil Dev for India - taking 50 Test wickets in Australia. At Tea, India are tottering at 48 for 4, trailing Australia by 397 runs.
After Virat Kohli's dismissal on yet another offside-off delivery, the question of who India's batting coach is has been brought up by former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. The Indian batters, still struggling since the nightmare of Adelaide, faced the heat of Mitchell Starc's fierce pace attack yet again in the ongoing Test series in Australia. Starc's impressive scalps included Indian youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, making it clear that Australia's bowling strategy has been well-researched and executed.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson showed his dominance on the third day of the third Test against England, scoring his 33rd Test century and seventh in Hamilton. Despite the rain disruption and a brief stumble with his partner Rachin Ravindra, Williamson's unbeaten 123 runs took New Zealand's lead to a commanding 478 runs at tea. Meanwhile, England's captain Ben Stokes also left the field early with a hamstring injury adding to their woes in the match. This makes Williamson's achievement even more impressive as he continues to excel in his most productive venue, Seddon Park.
La Liga leader Barcelona suffered a shocking 1-0 loss at home against Leganes, with defender Sergio Gonzalez's early header proving to be the winning goal. This was Barcelona's second consecutive loss in the league, highlighting their recent struggles in domestic competition. Despite a strong performance in the Champions League, the club has faced several setbacks in the league in the past month, winning only one game out of their last six.
Sharing a celebratory moment, Chelsea's Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson contributed a goal apiece to secure the team's fifth consecutive win in the Premier League, moving the team within two points of league leader Liverpool. Despite Brentford's strong defense, Chelsea dominated the game with 15 shots on goal in the first half, ultimately sealing the win with a goal from Cucurella, his first in the Premier League for Chelsea.
New Zealand captain and star batsman Kane Williamson was dismissed in a peculiar fashion during the ongoing third Test against England at Seddon Park in Hamilton. As he tried to save his wicket from a delivery bowled by pacer Matthew Potts, the ball ended up hitting the stumps after deflecting off his pads. This led to a heartbreaking reaction from Williamson, which is now making rounds on social media. Despite his dismissal, the Kiwis are in a decent position at 315 for 9 at the end of day one, thanks to a solid opening stand and a brilliant knock by all-rounder Mitchell Santner.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara shared how he used sledging to exploit the weaknesses of Australian opener David Warner. Pujara's tactics, particularly reminding Warner of his struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin, disrupted the former's concentration and helped grab his wicket. Pujara's revelation sheds light on the psychological aspect of the game and how it can be used to gain an advantage in a high-stakes series.