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Shubman Gill aims to craft own captaincy style for India’s Test team, not fazed by Bazball

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India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill has said he does not intend to follow any particular style of leadership, instead hoping to shape his own identity as he gains experience. Gill, however, stressed his focus on providing teammates with clarity and a secure environment to perform at their best. Gill was addressing the media for the first time since being appointed as India’s Test captain. He and head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters on the eve of the team’s departure to England for a five-match Test series. Named captain last month by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, Gill takes over following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket. He will lead a youthful and relatively inexperienced squad in England, with both Rohit and Virat Kohli stepping away from the longest format in June. “My style of captaincy will be my own; it will develop with experience. I will want to make the players feel safe, comfort them, and build strong bonds. Players need to feel secure… only then can they give 100 percent,” said Gill. At 25, Gill is among the youngest to lead the Indian Test side in recent years. While he lacks leadership experience in red-ball cricket, he captained India during a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in 2024 and led Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, embracing the pressure that comes with the role. However, in first-class cricket, Gill has captained Punjab in just five matches, winning only one. Gill admitted he was overwhelmed upon learning of his appointment, having been chosen ahead of experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, both former captains. “When I came to know about the Test captaincy, I was overwhelmed by the honour and the opportunity. It is a big responsibility, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. GILL NOT BOTHERED BY BAZBALL TALKS India’s campaign in England will mark the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The first Test begins on 20 June at Headingley, Leeds. England, under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, have reinvented their Test game with an ultra-aggressive style dubbed ‘Bazball’. While they were outplayed by India in their 2023 away series, they remain formidable at home, having won 15 of their 20 Tests since the duo took charge. Gill, however, remained unfazed by England’s aggressive approach. “They play a certain way. I think we saw that when they came to India as well,” he said. “It’s very exciting for us. It gives us an opportunity, a great challenge. If we are very proactive with our execution and with our plans, I think it would put them under immense pressure.” Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 5, 2025 Tune In

French Open: Iga Swiatek slams chair umpire after defeat to Aryna Sabalenka, says ‘I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t’ | Tennis News

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Poland’s Iga Swiatek (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Iga Swiatek’s remarkable 26-match winning streak at the French Open came to a dramatic end on Thursday, but it wasn’t just Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant third set that left the world No. 5 frustrated. A key moment in the second set of their semifinal clash sparked controversy when chair umpire Kader Nouni denied Swiatek’s request to inspect a mark on the clay. Leading 4-2 in the second set with Sabalenka serving, Swiatek paused after a first serve that landed out and pointed to a mark, asking Nouni to come down. “I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t,” Swiatek said post-match. “I don’t think that was fair, especially when he came down every time Aryna asked him to. I don’t get it, but I don’t really care.” Poland’s Iga Swiatek is reflected in a glass as she plays a shot against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Though she attempted to challenge the call, Swiatek ultimately returned to her position with a frustrated smile. “He was convincing me that I only came because I saw my return was out,” she added. Despite taking the second set, Swiatek couldn’t maintain momentum. Sabalenka roared back to take the match 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0, earning her first win over Swiatek at Roland Garros and ending the Pole’s bid for a fourth straight title in Paris. The match, played under a closed roof due to rain, showcased Sabalenka’s growing versatility, especially on clay. Her error-free final set contrasted sharply with Swiatek’s 12 unforced errors. Sabalenka now advances to her first French Open final, where she’ll face either Coco Gauff or French sensation Loïs Boisson. As Swiatek reflects on missed opportunities and a moment of officiating controversy, Sabalenka marches on, focused but cautious. “The job is not done yet,” she said, eyeing her fourth Grand Slam title—and possibly her first on clay.

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We have a perfect mix of experience and talent: Gill

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Shubman Gill during the press conference in Mumbai. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini As he gears up for his maiden Test series as the captain of the Indian team, Shubman Gill knows that he has big shoes to fill in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who retired from the format recently. But the youngster is looking forward to the challenge. “The pressure is there on every tour. These (Kohli and Rohit) were two big players who had won so many matches for India, so it is difficult to fill their shoes. But the pressure is no different, and we are all used to playing in pressure situations and are aware of how to win,” Gill said on Thursday. ‘‘The batting and bowling combination in our team is very good. We have a perfect mix of experience and talent.” Having led the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League over the last couple of seasons, Gill understands that a clear communication with the players is the key to success. “I wouldn’t say that there is a particular style that I would like to follow, but the more you play, the more experience you get. I like communicating with the players, making them feel secure and providing them that comfort. Building a bond with the players is very important, and if you are the captain of a team, you have to do this,” Gill said, adding: “If your players feel secure, then only they can give you their 100 per cent.” Leading up to the series, Gill practised with Dukes ball on the sidelines of the IPL. However, he has yet to decide his batting position. “We have a tour match in London, so we still have time to decide on the batting order,” he said. Coach Gautam Gambhir, however, admitted that the pressure always mounts up ahead of every series because the goal remains to win. The series will also see the return of Karun Nair, and Gambhir admitted that if one performs well in domestic cricket, the doors of the national team are never shut. Asked whether Shreyas Iyer could be called up, the coach said, “Anyone can be called if they are in good form.” Published – June 05, 2025 10:35 pm IST

India yet to take a call on which three Tests Bumrah will play

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The England tour marks the first challenge for the Gill-Gambhir combination. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini The Indian team management is yet to decide which three Tests Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the upcoming five-match series in England, but head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly-appointed captain Shubman Gill made it clear that there’s enough depth in its pace attack. “We haven’t taken that call, which three games is he going to play,” Gambhir said on Thursday. “We are going to have a discussion with him and (it will) depend on the series as well. A lot will depend on the results of the series, where the series is heading. That is something which I am sure he is very well aware of as well and that is important.” Fitness worry While announcing the squad last month, the chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, said that Bumrah had been advised by medical staff not to risk playing back-to-back Tests as part of his workload management in the wake of him breaking down during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney in January. But Gambhir believes that this will also be an opportunity for the rest of the pace attack, comprising Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh and Shardul Thakur to stand up and deliver. “I have said it before during the Champions Trophy (which Bumrah missed) as well, it will give someone the opportunity to put his hand up and we have got enough talent there. I know that he is quality but we have got enough quality apart from him as well in the squad.” New WTC cycle Under the leadership of Gill, the five Tests against England will be India’s first in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, and the young captain believes that there’s enough firepower in the bowling department. “We have picked enough bowlers and we have a good enough pace battery and a lot of fast bowlers are in a great space to be able to win us Test matches from any situation or any position,” Gill said. Published – June 05, 2025 10:30 pm IST

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India vs England: Ben Stokes handed massive Jofra Archer injury boost ahead of Test series; England’s selector shares update | Cricket News

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Jofra Archer of England bowls (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB) NEW DELHI: England’s chief selector Luke Wright announced on Thursday that fast bowler Jofra Archer might return in the second Test against India, following a four-year absence from the longer format.The five-match series’ second Test is set to begin from July 2 at Edgbaston, running until July 6. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Since 2021, Archer, aged 30, has been away from first-class cricket due to various injuries. He wasn’t available for the first Test at Headingley whilst recovering from a thumb fracture sustained during the recent Indian Premier League.“Joff’s trucking on really well, actually. The plans for him, he’s playing a few second-team games,” Wright said.“The plan is for him to play a few second team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test.“So, he’ll play for Sussex if all things go well, and then if all things go well fingers crossed he should be available for the second Test,” added Wright, who previously played alongside Archer at Sussex.“Like anything with all these bowlers, he’s got to keep ticking things off everyday with no setbacks but if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game then he’s available potentially for selection for that second Test.”The thumb injury resulted in Archer’s absence from England’s ODI series against the West Indies between May 29 and June 3. Virat Kohli’s love for ‘dhaba’ food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories The Test series schedule against India comprises: first Test at Headingley (from June 20), second at Edgbaston (from July 2), third at Lord’s (from July 10), fourth at Old Trafford (from July 23), and fifth at The Oval (from July 31).England’s pace attack currently lacks depth and experience without Archer and Mark Wood.Wood has been sidelined since March due to a knee injury with a four-month recovery period. Why no Shreyas Iyer for England tour? Coach Gautam Gambhir opens up Wright indicated that Wood could potentially return for the final Tests of the India series.“I think Woody’s now started bowling just lightly, to be honest. He’s just off a few paces, but that’s been a great sign,” Wright said.“So, he’s on the road to recovery. I think he’s more long-term, if we can get him back, he might have an option for the fourth or fifth Test. But again, each day it’s ticking off each box and making sure he’s okay,” the former England batter stated.

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French Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka ends Iga Swiatek’s winning streak, reaches first Roland Garros final | Tennis News

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Winner Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, right, and Poland’s Iga Swiatek hug after their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: In a remarkable semifinal match at the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, halted Iga Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros with a commanding 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 victory on Thursday.This victory not only prevented Swiatek from achieving a historic fourth consecutive French Open title in the professional era but also positioned Sabalenka for her fourth major championship, potentially her first on clay courts.“It feels incredible, but I also understand that the job is not done yet,” said Sabalenka, the 27-year-old Belarusian who claimed the top WTA ranking from Swiatek last October. “She’s the toughest opponent, especially on the clay, especially at Roland Garros. I’m proud that I was able to get this win. It was a tough match. … but I managed it, somehow.” Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates as she won the quarterfinal match of the French Tennis Open against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Sabalenka’s next challenge awaits in Saturday’s final against either No. 2 Coco Gauff or French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, ranked 361st. She playfully addressed the crowd: “I’m pretty sure you’re going to be cheering for one person like crazy, and I’m not sure if I really want her to win.”The match, played under Court Philippe-Chatrier’s closed roof due to rain, showcased exceptional tennis from both players. However, Sabalenka’s decisive third-set performance, marked by zero unforced errors compared to Swiatek’s twelve, proved decisive.For Swiatek, this defeat extends a challenging period since her last French Open victory 12 months ago. The 24-year-old Polish player, now ranked fifth, has struggled to reach finals, faced an unexpected Olympics semifinal exit, and experienced a one-month ban following a contaminated medicine incident. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates as she won the semifinal match of the French Tennis Open against Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Sabalenka’s dominance in women’s tennis is evident, with her six title match appearances this year setting a benchmark not seen since Serena Williams in 2013. Her powerful game, traditionally suited to faster courts, proved equally effective on clay, as demonstrated by her commanding performance.The match dynamics shifted throughout, with Sabalenka initially leading 4-1 before Swiatek fought back to 5-4 in the first set. After winning the tiebreaker, Swiatek briefly regained momentum in the second set, but Sabalenka ultimately prevailed with an impressive display of power tennis.The atmosphere was notably pro-Swiatek, with the 15,000-strong crowd frequently chanting “I-ga!” Sabalenka responded to this partial support by actively encouraging crowd engagement after her successful points.

England name squad for first Test against India

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New Delhi: As India ready themselves to take on England in the five-match Test series starting on June 20, there will be a certain reassurance in knowing that while Shubman Gill-led India is undergoing a transition, England too have several challenges to overcome. England’s Jamie Overton was on Thursday handed a surprise recall to the England squad for the first Test against India. (AFP) With several returnees and the rest missing due to injuries, England too seem to be testing the waters based on their announcement of a 14-player squad for the first Test match at Headingley. In what was a rather surprising call-up, bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton, will return to the red-ball setup for the first time since earning his sole cap against New Zealand at Headingley in June 2022. The 31-year-old sustained a broken little finger in the right hand during the ODI against the West Indies last week but continues to be assessed and reviewed daily by the England medical team. Oveton’s call-up can be attributed to England’s growing list of injury concerns in their pace potential. Gus Atkinson was another absentee in the squad as he remained unavailable for selection due to the right hamstring injury sustained during the recent Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Atkinson’s absence will particularly sting as he has been a consistent red-ball threat with the red-ball 55 wickets in his first 12 matches. Additionally, they are missing out on experience with Mark Wood and Olly Stone both out of the series with knee injuries and Jofra Archer unlikely to attain match fitness until the second Test at the earliest after a thumb issue. Seamer Brydon Carse, who has played five Tests and picked up 27 wickets, has been included in the squad. Chris Woakes is their most-capped seamer, having played 57 Tests and picked up 181 wickets. Carse and Woakes last featured during England’s Test tour of New Zealand in December. There could also be a direct fight for the same spot between Woakes and Josh Tongue and it will be interesting to see if Woakes’ experience will be prioritised over Tongue’s form. On the batting front, Jacob Bethell’s inclusion is a significant one. He missed the Zimbabwe Test due to IPL duties but finding a place for him in the Playing XI will give England a headache. Bethell, who has the backing of captain Ben Stokes, scored three half-centuries at No. 3 on his debut series in New Zealand but Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope – his immediate competition – both scored centuries against Zimbabwe. Jamie Smith, who was set to get a break before the India series will now have to step in for Phil Salt, who is on a paternity leave for the West Indies T20Is. However, their batting line-up will look to largely harness the experience of the in-form Joe Root and Ben Duckett. Harry Brook, who scored 58 against Zimbabwe, will be hoping to do more against India. Both the squads have changed significantly since England’s 1-4 series defeat in India 18 months ago. Shubman Gill will take over India’s Test captaincy for the first time as he leads a squad without the towering presence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. England, meanwhile, will be without James Anderson, who retired shortly after that tour, while having moved on from Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson. Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.