schimschacks.com – Opinion & Topical Discussions

Sanjay Bangar lauded Rishabh Pant's fearless batting and natural wicket-keeping talent, recalling Ashish Nehra's early prediction of his success. Pant's aggressive play during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy saw him amass 479 runs, including two centuries.

Shreyas Iyer will captain the 15-member India A squad against Australia A in Lucknow, with Dhruv Jurel as vice-captain. The series starts September 16. KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj will join the squad for the second match beginning September 23.

Pakistan's women's cricket team will not attend the ICC Women's World Cup opening ceremony in India, aligning with a recent agreement between the two nations to avoid cross-border travel for ICC tournaments. Political tensions continue to impact sporting relations, as evidenced by India's previous decision to skip the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, was recently seen offering prayers to Lord Ganesha in Mumbai amidst a large crowd. Videos circulating online show the cricketer performing rituals and acknowledging fans, causing a chaotic scene around his car. He is expected to return to action in October for an ODI series in Australia, with a preparatory series planned beforehand.

Litton Das's impressive half-century against the Netherlands in the third T20I at Sylhet propelled him past Shakib Al Hasan to set a new national record with 14 fifty-plus scores. Despite the match being abandoned due to rain, Bangladesh had already secured the series 2-0. Das's innings of 73 off 46 balls highlighted his consistent performance in the T20I format.

After an old video of an Irfan Pathan interview resurfaced on social media and resulted in a massive speculation and debate on the way MS Dhoni managed the dressing room, Pathan himself has come forward to address the same. The former India all-rounder explained that his comments are being twisted and taken in a different context than intended, that too, half-a-decade after it came out.

Rivaba Jadeja, BJP MLA and wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, enlivened G.D. Shah High School's Sports Day in Jamnagar. She actively participated in traditional games like kabaddi and tug-of-war alongside students, creating an energetic atmosphere. Clips of the same were shared on her social media handle and have gone viral.

Shreyas Iyer's Asia Cup snub puts him in the spotlight as he aims to prove his worth in the Duleep Trophy semifinal. West Zone boasts a star-studded lineup, while Central Zone relies on Patidar's form. Injury concerns plague both zones, while South and North Zone face off in the other semifinal, each grappling with squad changes and player unavailability.

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling seven-run victory against Zimbabwe in Harare, highlighted by Dilshan Madushanka's remarkable hat-trick in the final over. Zimbabwe, needing 10 runs with five wickets in hand, saw Sikandar Raza dismissed on 92 by Madushanka, who then secured the win with two more wickets. Sri Lanka posted 298-6, with key contributions from Pathum Nissanka and Janith Liyanage.

Shubman Gill, recovering from a viral flu, is expected to arrive in Bengaluru to begin Asia Cup preparations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will undergo assessment and training due to unsuitable facilities near his home, and is likely to depart for Dubai from Bengaluru, joining other squad members.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, expresses his desire to hit every bowler for six. He retired from T20Is in 2024 and Tests in May 2025. He remains a key player in ODIs, with over 11,000 runs. Sharma recently celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his family in Mumbai. He is expected to play in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in October.

James Anderson, playing for Manchester Originals, took two wickets against Northern Superchargers. Jos Buttler's brilliant 70 helped Manchester chase down the target easily. Thomas Aspinwall also contributed with three wickets. Despite the victory, Manchester didn't qualify for the play-offs. Northern Superchargers secured a play-off spot and will face Trent Rockets. The winner will play Oval Invincibles in the final.

England's fast bowler Mark Wood is set to return to county cricket next month, aiming to play for Durham in September after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him since February. Wood is cautiously preparing for the Ashes series in Australia later this year, with England's management prioritizing his long-term fitness.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, has announced his retirement from the IPL after a stellar 17-year career. Ashwin expressed gratitude to the franchises and the BCCI. He hinted at exploring opportunities in other global leagues like The Hundred and SA T20. The veteran spinner ended his IPL career with the Chennai Super Kings.

Mark Wood, the England fast bowler, finds Rohit Sharma the toughest batter. Wood says Sharma's mastery over short balls makes him hard to get out. Wood played in England's 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup wins. He balances county cricket with franchise cricket. Wood is known for his express pace, often exceeding 145 kmph.

England's Mark Wood has opened up about how to bowl to India's aggressive batter Rishabh Pant, emphasizing the need for precision against him. Wood also humorously noted Virat Kohli's vulnerability around the off-stump, but that he never managed to use it to his advantage. He named Rohit as the toughest batter he's faced.

The Royal Premier League kicked off in Pulwama as Royal Goodwill defeated Sultan Springs Baramulla in a thrilling opener, with thousands of fans celebrating the start of Kashmir's biggest local cricketing platform.

Aryavir Sehwag recalls a light-hearted incident from his childhood. He missed watching his father, Virender Sehwag, bat in an IPL match in Delhi. Traffic caused the delay. Virender got out before they reached the stadium. Aryavir named this as his earliest childhood memory of his father playing. Aryavir now plays professional cricket. He said that he understands his father's greatness after he started playing professionally.

Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized overseas cricketers for commenting on India's team selection, particularly Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad. The legend questioned the need for foreign voices to judge decisions made by Indian selectors, emphasizing that Indian cricket is strictly an Indian affair. He also argued that such foreign players hardly comment when it pertains to matters of their own country.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has urged the government to curb gambling ads in sport, warning of their impact on young fans. His call comes after India banned real-money gaming under the Online Gaming Bill 2025.