While the two-year contract of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff will expire after India’s ongoing England tour, fielding coach T Dilip is unlikely to get another extension.

Let us tell you that after this tour, the two-year tenure of fast bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is also ending. However, both have extension clauses in their contracts and from the BCCI’s point of view, there is a strong desire to retain both.

Dilip, who joined the Indian team as part of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff, has been one of the more popular members of the support group and will be remembered for his morale-boosting speeches and the introduction of the ‘Best Fielder Medal’ after every match.

T Dileep was sacked after BGT

He was the only member of Dravid’s coaching staff after Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathod and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey stepped down following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. However, after India’s disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia, Dilip was among the two Indian members of the support staff who were removed From their roles. He was later brought back in May 2025, just before India’s tour of England.

India’s fielding standards were scrutinized last year, especially during the Asia CupWhere the team dropped many important catches. Fielding was also one of the few flaws during India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. It is believed that BCCI has now decided to move in a different direction.

Morkel, Doschet likely to continue

Meanwhile, India are looking to retain Morne Morkel, who has earned praise for his work with the country’s fast bowlers across all formats. In particular, Jasprit Bumrah has reached another level under Morkel’s guidance, which was evident during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, where he finished as the standout bowler of the tournament.

India’s bowling attack has steadily improved over the last two years and with the ODI World Cup in South Africa followed by a crucial tour of New Zealand later this year, Gambhir is expected to push for an extension to Morkel’s contract.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate is also expected to remain with the team. The former Netherlands captain has become an integral part of Gambhir’s coaching group over the last two years, working closely on player development and tactical planning.

– ends

Sanju Samson returns to the playing eleven (Image: BCCI)

captain of india Shreyas Iyer Two changes were made in the playing eleven after winning the toss and electing to bowl first against England in the fifth and final T20I in Southampton on Sunday.Suryansh Shedge replaced Washington Sundar, while Sanju Samson returned to the team in place of Vaibhav Suryavanshi.Explaining the decision of the toss, Iyer said that the team opted to chase the target after assessing the conditions.“We are going to bowl first. Based on the bowling we have done in the last few matches, we have experienced almost everything. There is a bit of wind and we were told that the wicket will not change much, so we decided to bowl first,” Shreyas Iyer said during the toss. “I just want the boys to give 100 per cent effort, no matter what the result is,” he said. Be in the moment, relax and try to get your best,” Iyer said. captain of england harry brookWhose team leads the five-match series 3-1, said a win will take his team to the top of the ICC T20I rankings.Brook said, “If we win today, we’ll move up to No. 1 in the world, so it’s definitely a prize we have our eyes on. We’ve performed well throughout the series and want to finish strong.” Brook also praised the experienced leg spinner adil rashidWho is playing his 150th T20 match for England. There is one change in their team, Liam Dawson returns in place of Rehan Ahmed. “He has been here for a long time. He is a very valuable player for us. And his skill and guidance and ability to trick players is amazing. And it’s wonderful to have him in there. “Brooke asked for Adil Rashid.

playing eleven

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethel, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tong.

India captain Shubman Gill may be making waves on the cricket field, but the 26-year-old revealed that if he got a chance to trade his bat for a tennis racket, there is only one player he would want in his team, two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Gill was among the star guests of Wimbledon on Friday During the men’s singles semi-finals, as the tournament reached its conclusion, he shared the championship with legendary cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. The Indian batsman said that Alcaraz’s infectious energy and carefree attitude on the court make him his ideal doubles partner.

Speaking to GeoStar, Gill supported maintaining his hold on the tennis court.

Gil said, “Carlos Alcaraz is someone I want to play doubles with. He seems like someone who really enjoys being on the court. It would be fun to play with him. I don’t know the details, but I think I can hold my own in tennis, so it would be a fun match.”

Federer remains Gil’s sporting icon

While Alcaraz is Gill’s choice for a dream doubles partnership, the Indian skipper said his biggest tennis inspiration is Roger Federer. Gill drew parallels between the Swiss legend’s brilliant style and the perception that he too makes batting look effortless.

Gill said, “Roger Federer is my favourite. Growing up, many people said he made everything look effortless. But when you play a game yourself, you realize how much hard work goes into making it look like that. People have called me effortless in cricket too, but I know the effort behind it. The beauty and grace with which Federer played was special and that’s why I admire him.”

Gil also enjoyed a memorable moment during his trip to Wimbledon after meeting Federer. Indian captain Sachin became the fourth Indian male cricket captain after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to receive an invitation to the prestigious Royal Box at Center Court.

Wimbledon has long been a meeting place for sporting icons from all disciplines, and this year’s championships were no different, with Gill, Tendulkar and Lara joining a host of global stars and former champions at the All England Club.

– ends

australian giants nathan lyon He says he is on track to return for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin next month after making significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The veteran off-spinner has not played a match since suffering an injury during the third Ashes Test in December. Lyon underwent surgery to reconstruct a damaged hamstring and has since focused on regaining full fitness ahead of a tough tour of Australia, with 20-21 Tests scheduled over the next 13 months. The first Test against Bangladesh begins in Darwin on August 13 and the 38-year-old is optimistic of regaining his place in the playing eleven. “I’m pretty confident I’ll be here next month,” Lyon told reporters in Darwin. “I’m feeling great. Rehab has been really good. It’s been about 26 weeks now since I had surgery and I’m back to doing everything. Running fast, doing everything like that. I’m looking forward to it.” Lyon, who has played 141 Tests for Australia, is the country’s fifth most capped male Test cricketer. He is now just four matches away from being level with the legendary leg spinner shane warneWho finished his career with 145 test matches. The off-spinner was left out of Australia’s two most recent pink-ball Tests in Kingston and Brisbane, where the selectors opted for a pace attack. However, with both the Darwin and Mackay Tests against Bangladesh scheduled as day matches, Lyon is expected to return to his familiar role. Australia’s busy Test calendar also includes challenging series against South Africa, India and England and Lyon believes he still has a lot to offer despite reaching the final stages of his career. “I’m still trying to get better,” he said. “I still feel there is a lot for me to learn there, and I still feel I have a big role to play in Cricket Australia. “You’re always feeling pressure; no one deserves to be selected for Australia… It’s not just my position that people are going for; people are trying to knock down steve smith Too. This is the challenge that will keep us older friends alert. “It’s a big training program now to make sure we go out here ready on August 13, and then after we get that done we’ll worry about the next series.” Lyon’s recovery following the severity of his injury has attracted considerable attention. Cricket Australia’s physical performance coach Ross Herridge described the hamstring injury as “pretty painful”, while national selector george bailey Admitted that there was uncertainty over whether the veteran could return to his previous level. The inclusion of Todd Murphy in Cricket Australia’s central contract list also fueled speculation about Lyon’s long-term future in the Test team. Reflecting on the injury earlier this year, Bailey said: “A hamstring tendon injury for a 38-year-old is quite significant, perhaps it’s a high level injury, or a sense of realism that it may never get back to the upper level where you need it to be. “So what does that look like? It might mean that the ability to play big blocks of games isn’t necessarily important, and you have to look at that. “But having said all that … with a really good block to make it as strong as possible and get back to bowling as well as he can, he’s got a great opportunity for that and it’s tracking well at the moment.” Lyon’s return will be a big boost for Australia as they begin a crucial phase of Test cricket starting with the two-match home series against Bangladesh.

England captain Harry Kane has confirmed he played a round of golf with US President Donald Trump almost 18 months ago, describing the experience as “surreal” and saying the president played “very well” golf.

Trump, who earlier this week revealed he and the Bayern Munich striker played together, praised Kane as both a footballer and golfer after England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16.

Speaking in Miami on Friday before England FIFA World Cup In the quarter-final against Norway, Kane confirmed that the pair met in Palm Beach, Florida, when Trump invited him for a round of golf.

“To be honest, I played absolutely fine,” Kane told reporters. “When I was in Palm Beach they invited me to play. So yeah, when the president invites you somewhere…

“Meeting him and obviously playing golf with him was a pretty surreal experience. His golf is pretty good, honestly. I hope when I’m his age I can play as good as him. So yeah, it was a unique experience and I’m just grateful he invited me to play.”

Trump was the first to praise Kane on his social platform Truth after the England captain’s win over Mexico.

“England’s Harry Kane is a great player!!!” Trump wrote.

The following day, the US President told reporters that the two had previously shared a round of golf.

“I think Ken is a great player,” Trump said. “I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer. He’s really great.”

Kane has enjoyed a stellar World Cup campaign, scoring six goals and pipping Erling Haaland to one in the race for the Golden Boot, as England prepare to face Norway for a place in the semi-finals.

Trump dominates World Cup headlines this week After speaking to FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the suspension given to American forward Folarin Balogun after being shown a red card in the group stage.

FIFA later converted Balogun’s one-match ban to a suspended sentence, making him eligible for the round of 16 tie against Belgium. Infantino said Trump’s intervention had no impact on the disciplinary decision. Balogun participated in the match, but the United States were eliminated after a 4–1 loss to Belgium.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

– ends

TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: Over 200 kilometers away from Southampton, where India’s T20I team will be looking to avoid a crushing defeat in the fifth and final match against England, preparations for the ODI team will begin. Seven members of India’s ODI squad are likely to take to the nets at Edgbaston ahead of the start of the series on July 14.Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli And Shubman Gill is in London ahead of the three-match series. As reported by TimesofIndia.com, Rohit did a few sessions at local clubs in and around London, using the support of young bowlers.This is an important task for 39-year-old Rohit and 37-year-old Virat. Rohit was affected by a hamstring injury during the IPL, but returned in time for the series against Afghanistan where he scored 16, 48 and 79 respectively.Meanwhile, Kohli will be playing for the first time since the IPL 2026 final, where he picked up a hamstring problem. This caused him to miss three ODIs against Afghanistan and was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Now that Kohli is fit and available, Jaiswal is not being counted out despite scoring a century against Afghanistan.Kohli has also come into the field after getting everything clear in the CoE at the end of June. He is undergoing a semi-regular session at Lord’s, the venue of the third ODI.Captain Gill has also been in the UK for the past week and has done several training sessions at the local grounds. He also attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone and graced the Wimbledon Royal Box for the semi-final between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Gurnoor Brar and KL Rahul reached Birmingham on Friday. The quartet are also expected to play a part in one of the three practice sessions for India before the series begins.The ODI series begins in Birmingham on July 14 before moving to Cardiff (July 16) and London (July 19).

Lamine Yamal believes Spain have nothing to fear in their blockbuster FIFA World Cup semi-final against France, insisting Didier Deschamps’ team must look over their shoulders. The teenage sensation made the bold statement as Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals as Kylian Mbappe prepares for a heavyweight clash with France in Dallas on July 14.

Another player of the match performance, Yamal admitted that this was what everyone expected when the tournament started.

spain vs belgium, FIFA World Cup: : highlighted

“We are really excited. When the World Cup started, we were all looking forward to this match. I think we are the two best teams in the tournament,” Yamal said after Spain secured their place in the last four.

The Barcelona winger also made it clear that Spain have no intention of changing their identity against one of the tournament’s favourites.

“I expect a team that will come at us, but not for the whole match. We will play the way we know how,” he said.

Then came the row that would add even more spice to Tuesday’s semi-final.

“I think if France has anyone to fear it is us, because we are the ones who have beaten them before.”

The comment refers to Spain’s memorable 2-1 win over France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals, where 16-year-old Yamal announced himself on the biggest stage with a superb long-range strike before Dani Olmo returned the favor. Spain won the European title, and Yamal believes recent history gives his team every reason to approach another meeting with confidence.

Yamal wants France again

Spain’s confidence has increased further during this World Cup. Luis de la Fuente’s side have swept past Austria, Portugal and now Belgium, with Mikel Merino proving the hero once again after coming off the bench to score a dramatic late winner in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yamal may have scored only one goal this tournament, but his overall impact has been huge. The teenager leads the World Cup with 17 chances and has registered nine shots in Spain’s last two matches, underlining how central a part he has become to La Roja’s attack.

However, personal numbers are the last thing on his mind.

“It doesn’t make me disappointed. I won the Euros by scoring just one goal. As long as we keep moving forward, I’ll be very happy. The team is what matters,” he said.

Asked if he would like to have another iconic moment against France, Yamal smiled and said: “Hopefully I can do it again. I really want to do that.”

MBAPE vs Yamal: Big semi-final clash

Tuesday’s clash will also pit two of world football’s biggest stars against each other.

Mbappe has been in sensational form, with eight goals and three assists in five games to lead Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Yamal’s figures tell a different story. Although he has only found the net once, he has consistently been Spain’s creative heartbeat, troubling defenders with his dribbling, movement and vision.

However, for Yamal, reputation will no longer matter once the whistle blows.

“We have no fear. We have beaten France in the last two matches,” he said.

“We are very happy to reach the semi-finals. We have been much better. All the other teams are behind us. We are here to win and that is what matters.”

“They should be afraid of us. We’ve beaten them twice. We’re not afraid of them. I think we’re the two best teams.”

With Spain chasing its second World Cup final and France aiming for a third consecutive title appearance, Dallas is primed for a contest worthy of the final. And if Yamal’s words are to be believed, Spain are assuming that the pressure is entirely from their opponents.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

– ends

In the historic Lord’s Test, India’s score is 285, England’s score is 21/1 (PTI Photo)

India and England shared the honors on an entertaining opening day of the historic first women’s Test at Lord’s, with the visitors scoring 285 before restricting England to 21/1 at stumps on Friday.England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and decided to bowl first, after which India looked in a good position towards a big score thanks to brilliant half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma. However, a late collapse ensured England regained control before the end of the game.The hosts then battled on for 11 overs in low light, but lost the wicket of opener Tammy Beaumont cheaply, leaving the match balanced for the second day.

Mandhana created the atmosphere

India had a bad start after losing the wickets of Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia early, but Smriti Mandhana once again showed her class by scoring 83 runs in 108 balls. The left-handed batsman was positive from the start, driving brilliantly through the covers and punishing any overpitched ball. He made important partnerships and hit 11 fours and one six, which helped India recover from the initial setbacks.Jemimah Rodrigues looked comfortable during her brief stay, adding a valuable stand with Mandhana before ruining a promising start.

Harmanpreet and Deepti saved India

After this, captain Harmanpreet Kaur along with Mandhana took the inning forward by making an important partnership of 89 runs. While Mandhana played the attacking role, Harmanpreet led the innings with 58 off 121 balls, ensuring India remained in a commanding position during the afternoon session.At 190/3, India looked set to cross the 350-run mark. But the momentum changed dramatically with Mandhana’s dismissal.England’s spinners, led by Sophie Ecclestone, took advantage of the old ball brilliantly. Ecclestone took advantage of sharp turn and bounce to finish with 3/68, while debutant Mady Villiers made an immediate impact as India slipped from a position of strength.Despite the continuous fall of wickets, Deepti Sharma played a composed innings under pressure. The experienced all-rounder played a crucial inning of 57 runs off 87 balls with the help of seven fours, taking India to a competitive 285 before becoming the last batsman to fall in the 75th over.

England lost early wickets

England had only 11 overs to negotiate before stumps and suffered an early blow when Kranthi Goud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for just two runs. Maia Boucher looked assured during her unbeaten 17, while captain Heather Knight remained unbeaten on one run as England ended the day at 21/1 with India trailing by 264 runs.

Brief Score:

India: All out for 285 runs in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3/68, Issie Wong 2/41)England: 21/1 in 11 overs (Maya Boucher 17*, Heather Knight 1*; Kranti Gaur 1/8)

Alexander Zverev’s Wimbledon hoodoo is officially over. After finally ending his Grand Slam drought at Roland Garros, the German continued his remarkable run by ending Arthur Ferry’s dream run with a ruthless straight sets win to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time.

The French Open champion needed just over two hours to defeat British wildcard Arthur Ferry 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-4 on Center Court, booking a clash with defending champion Jannik Sinner or seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic while chasing a second consecutive Grand Slam title.

Wimbledon 2026, semi-finals: Update

When Zverev was asked about his potential final opponent, he joked, “It’s always tough, whether it’s the champion or someone who has won here 48 times.”

“But I have to believe in myself and I have to believe that I can win and that’s what I’m going to do.”

After finally getting his first Grand Slam win at Roland Garros after years of near-misses, Zverev has looked like a changed player throughout the grass-court season. That confidence was on full display at Wimbledon, where he reached the final for the first time in his career.

Zverev ends Ferry’s fairytale run

For a while, Arthur Ferry threatened to lead one of this year’s championship stories.

The British wildcard dealt Zverev blow after blow early on, exchanging breaks before turning the opening set into a tie-break. The Center Court felt that a disturbance was being created.

Zverev had other ideas.

The world number two produced a flawless tie-break, winning all seven points before changing gears without reply.

The second set went by quickly as Zverev’s fast serve and heavy forehand began to dictate every rally. Although the 23-year-old continued to fight and the home crowd cheered him on, the German’s experience gradually took over.

By the third set, Zverev regained complete control and calmly won, becoming only the 13th man in the Open era to reach all four Grand Slam finals.

Despite the Briton’s dream ending, Zverev praised his opponent.

He said, “It was amazing… Arthur, what an incredible player he was.”

“He’s going to be a senior on our tour because I think he’s going to be playing for 15-plus years and he’s going to have good results. It’s early in his career and I really think he’s going to do amazing things.”

He also acknowledged the partisan atmosphere of the Center Court.

Zverev said, “I know that 99.99% of the people in the stadium wanted Arthur to win, but still the atmosphere was incredible.”

“It was a great crowd. I enjoyed every second of it. A lot of stadiums and crowds in the world can emulate this crowd.”

Roland Garros success changed everything

For years, Wimbledon remained a Grand Slam where Zverev struggled to make deep runs.

That is no longer the case.

Since winning the French Open trophy to end years of misery, the German has carried himself with a new level of confidence and authority. The hesitation that often defined his biggest matches is gone, replaced by the confidence of a player who knows he is on tennis’s biggest stage.

Her victory over Ferry not only secured her first Wimbledon final appearance but also kept her one win away from consecutive Grand Slam titles, something few players have been able to do in the modern era.

“This Grand Slam has always been the one I’ve struggled with the most and now suddenly I’m in the Wimbledon final, so I’m incredibly happy and incredibly proud,” Zverev said.

“But we have another game to play on Sunday and that will be the focus.”

Whether it’s reigning champion Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic standing across the net, Zverev will head into Sunday’s final confident that another major trophy is within reach.

– ends

Jordyn Cox feels sorry for Virat Kohli (Image: X)

England batsman Jordan Cox has expressed disappointment at the lack of privacy Virat KohliRevealing that the former India captain was secretly photographed during a quiet meeting in London. Cox, who met his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate and mentor ahead of his England Test debut at The Oval last month, said neither of them realized they had been photographed until photos of the meeting surfaced online hours later.According to Cox, the couple enjoyed a peaceful meeting in a café where hundreds of people were walking by without interruption. However, the privacy he believed in was short-lived.

‘People are following him without knowing him’

“The thing that’s upsetting to him is that people are following him without him even knowing. Hundreds of people passed us, no one stopped, no one did anything. But then about two hours later he’s texting me, ‘Have you seen all these pictures?’ I was like, ‘What the fuck?'” Cox told The Guardian.The England batsman admitted that he felt sorry for Kohli, adding that the Indian superstar rarely gets the opportunity to enjoy a normal life away from the cricket field.He added, “It’s a shame how many people want a part of him. He just wants to go under the radar, have fun, and live a normal life. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible.”

‘He always wants to help others’

While Kohli is known for his aggression on the field, Cox said he is a completely different person behind the scenes. The young batsman praised Kohli for the time he put in helping him during his stint at Royal Challengers Bangalore and described the Indian great as one of the most selfless senior players he has faced.Cox concluded, “The thing that stood out to me most during the IPL was how much time he gave me as a player and that’s a lot of the time he usually gives to someone who has achieved so much. Some people focus on their own game, but he’s someone who always wants to help others before helping himself. That’s very rare.”

Virat will return for the ODI series against England

Virat Kohli is set to make a comeback to international cricket when India begin a three-match ODI series against England on July 14, following the conclusion of the ongoing T20I series. However, before turning the focus to the ODI series, India have one last opportunity to end a disappointing T20I campaign on a positive note. Shreyas Iyer’s side are trailing 3-0 in the five-match series after suffering consecutive defeats and will be aiming to avoid a series whitewash in the fifth and final T20I in Southampton.England, on the other hand, have a lot to play for despite having already won the series. Harry Brook’s team is trying to win the series 4-0 and with a win in the final match, it can overtake India and become the number 1 T20 team in the ICC rankings.