Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all forms of the game, bringing an end to a distinguished career that spanned more than a decade at the highest level. The 38-year-old confirmed the decision through an emotional video message shared on social media, saying the time had come to step away from the sport that had shaped his life since childhood. Rahane represented India in all three formats between 2011 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the country’s most dependable batters. During his international career, he played 85 Test matches, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. His final appearance for India came in a Test match against the West Indies in July 2023. The right-handed batter enjoyed considerable success in Test cricket, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In the ODI format, he amassed 2,962 runs with three centuries and 24 fifties, while contributing 375 runs in T20 Internationals. Although Rahane’s batting achievements earned widespread recognition, he will be remembered most for his outstanding leadership during India’s historic Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21. The series began in disastrous fashion for India, who were dismissed for just 36 runs in Adelaide, their lowest Test total. Following the opening defeat, regular captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, leaving Rahane to take charge of a team plagued by injuries and missing several senior players. Under Rahane’s calm and composed captaincy, India staged one of the greatest comebacks in Test cricket history. He led the side to a memorable victory in Melbourne to level the series, followed by a hard-fought draw in Sydney despite several players battling injuries. The tour concluded with a remarkable win at Brisbane’s Gabba, where India successfully chased 328 on the final day to secure a famous 2-1 series triumph and end Australia’s long unbeaten run at the venue. Rahane captained India in six Test matches overall, winning four and drawing the remaining two, finishing his captaincy stint unbeaten. Speaking about his decision to retire, Rahane said timing had always been an important aspect of both his batting and his career, and he believed this was the right moment to say goodbye to professional cricket. “I’ve always relied on timing in my batting, and I’ve always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats,” he said. Reflecting on his journey, Rahane expressed gratitude for fulfilling his dream of representing India and said wearing the national cap had always been his greatest motivation. He added that he always believed in putting the team ahead of personal milestones and playing the game with honesty and commitment. The veteran batter also revealed that while his playing career has come to an end, he hopes to remain connected to cricket by mentoring and guiding young players. He said he looks forward to sharing the lessons and values the sport has taught him and giving back to the game that has given him so much. Rahane concluded his farewell by thanking the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Mumbai Cricket Association, his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. His final competitive appearance came for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, and his retirement leaves the franchise with the task of appointing a new captain ahead of the upcoming season.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. According to reports, the BCCI’s medical team advised him to take extra time to recover from a left knee issue. Bumrah will not travel with the squad for the series, which begins on August 15 in Galle. The decision reflects India’s cautious approach, as the team looks to avoid rushing its premier fast bowler back too soon. So far, the BCCI has not named a replacement for the 31-year-old. Bumrah last bowled during the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16. He was ruled out of the series finale at Lord’s shortly after, following an impact injury sustained while fielding. At the time, the BCCI cited that injury as the reason for his absence. Following the England series, Bumrah received an injection for his knee as part of a recovery plan designed by the BCCI medical staff. He then travelled to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for a round of fitness testing. Reports suggest the medical team feared that a premature return to bowling could risk a much longer setback, with concerns that the injury might worsen without proper rest. While the exact nature of Bumrah’s injury remains undisclosed, he has been closely monitored since recovering from a lengthy layoff last year. He had also visited the Centre of Excellence in March for conditioning work ahead of the IPL season. During that tournament, Bumrah featured in 13 matches for Mumbai Indians, sitting out only their final fixture. His workload has continued to be managed carefully, given his ongoing injury history. India’s bowling attack has faced several setbacks ahead of the tour. Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are both sidelined with hamstring and quadriceps injuries respectively. Washington Sundar has also been ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring issue, while Akash Deep remains unavailable as he continues recovering from stress reactions in his back. Speaking after India’s ODI series loss in England, captain Shubman Gill raised concerns over the team’s repeated injury troubles. He warned that these frequent absences could become a significant challenge as India heads toward the demanding 2027 World Cup cycle. Ahead of the Test series, India will play a three-day practice match in Colombo starting August 7. The tour marks India’s first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle, following a 2-0 home series defeat to South Africa last November.

LONDON: England all-rounder Will Jacks produced a moment of breathtaking athleticism during The Hundred 2026, pulling off an extraordinary catch that left spectators and commentators stunned at Lord’s. The remarkable effort came during the clash between London Spirit and MI London, when South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius launched a powerful shot towards long-off. Pretorius, who had just brought up his half-century, appeared to have found the boundary with the lofted strike. But Jacks had other plans. Standing close to the boundary, Jacks timed his jump perfectly and managed to prevent the ball from clearing the ropes. With incredible awareness, he knocked the ball back into play while making sure his feet did not touch the boundary line. What happened next turned an already impressive piece of fielding into something extraordinary. Jacks quickly returned into the field, threw himself into a full-length dive and completed the catch with one hand. The entire sequence happened in a matter of seconds, leaving both the crowd and commentators struggling to believe what they had witnessed. The stunning effort quickly became one of the talking points of the match, with video footage spreading rapidly across social media. Fans praised Jacks for combining athleticism, awareness and remarkable hand-eye coordination in a single piece of fielding. Boundary catches are often difficult enough because players must balance their movements while keeping their feet away from the rope. Jacks’ effort was even more impressive because he first had to save the ball from going for six before returning to complete the catch. Commentators hailed the effort as an unbelievable catch, while fans began sharing replays of the moment online. The spectacular dismissal provided another reminder of the increasingly athletic standard of modern short-format cricket, where a single moment of brilliance in the field can change the momentum of a game. For Jacks, however, the catch was more than just a highlight. It was a stunning display of awareness, agility and courage — and one that could easily go down as one of The Hundred’s standout fielding moments of the season.

  TAROUBA: Pakistan’s batting line-up came under early pressure as the visitors slipped to 25-3 while chasing a target of 211 against the West Indies on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday. West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales made an immediate impact with the new ball, removing Pakistan’s top order during an impressive opening spell. His early breakthroughs left the tourists struggling before lunch and handed the hosts complete control of the contest. Pakistan’s chase began on a disappointing note when opener Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for just five runs. Azan Awais also failed to settle at the crease, contributing only three runs before returning to the pavilion. With both openers dismissed inside the first five overs, Pakistan found themselves under significant pressure at 21-2. Seales continued his destructive spell by trapping Salman Ali Agha leg before wicket without allowing him to score. The dismissal reduced Pakistan to 25-3, placing the visitors in a difficult position with a challenging target still well out of reach. Experienced batter Babar Azam then joined wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan in an attempt to stabilize the innings. The pair negotiated the remaining overs of the morning session without losing another wicket, providing Pakistan with some much-needed resistance after the early collapse. Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s bowlers wrapped up the West Indies’ second innings for 181, setting a victory target of 211. Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas starred with the ball, producing another outstanding spell to claim his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The West Indies resumed play at 126-7, hoping their lower order could stretch the lead and make Pakistan’s chase more difficult. Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach responded with an aggressive counterattack, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers with a valuable lower-order partnership. The pair added 28 runs during the morning session to extend their stand to 61 runs. Their attacking approach pushed the West Indies’ overall lead beyond 180 runs, strengthening the hosts’ position in the match. Shamar Joseph played an entertaining innings, scoring 38 runs from just 27 deliveries. His knock featured four towering sixes and one boundary, allowing the West Indies to score valuable quick runs before Pakistan finally broke the partnership. Mohammad Ali provided the breakthrough by deceiving Joseph with a slower delivery, bringing an end to the dangerous stand. Despite the dismissal, the West Indies tail continued to add useful runs as Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican frustrated Pakistan with another steady partnership. Roach contributed 18 runs before becoming Mohammad Abbas’ fourth victim of the innings. Warrican also added an important 14 runs, helping the West Indies move their lead closer to the 200-run mark. Abbas then completed the innings by dismissing Warrican, finishing with exceptional figures of 5 wickets for 22 runs in 15.5 overs. His disciplined pace bowling proved crucial in preventing the West Indies from posting an even bigger target. Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad also played important supporting roles with the ball. Ali picked up two wickets in his 14-over spell, while Khurram Shahzad claimed two scalps after bowling 15 overs. Although Pakistan succeeded in restricting the West Indies to 181 in the second innings, the visitors’ difficult start with the bat shifted the momentum back in favour of the home side. With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease, Pakistan will rely heavily on their experienced pair to steer the chase and keep hopes of victory alive as the first Test heads toward an exciting finish.

NEW YORK: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open after failing to recover fully from a right knee injury, dealing a major blow to the tournament just days before the final Grand Slam of the season. The five-time Grand Slam champion confirmed on Friday that he would not compete at Flushing Meadows despite making every effort to return to competitive tennis. “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner said in a statement. The 24-year-old Italian explained that he had recently returned to court in Monte Carlo with his team but realised that his knee still required additional recovery time. “I’m very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart,” Sinner said, adding that he had been eagerly anticipating the tournament and the atmosphere created by its fans. Sinner has not played competitively since lifting the Wimbledon trophy on July 12. His injury had already forced him to withdraw from the US Open preparation events in Cincinnati and Montreal, raising doubts about whether he would be fit enough to defend his position among the tournament favourites. His absence will be particularly significant given his remarkable 2026 campaign. Sinner has recorded 44 victories against just three defeats this season and has collected six titles, including his Wimbledon triumph. The Italian was also expected to arrive in New York with strong motivation after winning the US Open in 2024. However, his title defence will now have to wait. Sinner’s withdrawal also changes the dynamics of a tournament that had been building toward another chapter in his growing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, Sinner’s biggest contemporary rival, announced on Thursday that he would return to competition at the US Open after spending more than four months on the sidelines with a wrist injury. The Spaniard lost last year’s US Open final to Sinner, making his return one of the most anticipated storylines of this year’s tournament. With Sinner now absent, Alcaraz will have an opportunity to strengthen his position in the Grand Slam race. Sinner’s 2026 season has not been without setbacks. At the French Open, he arrived as the overwhelming favourite but suffered a surprise second-round exit while struggling in a severe heatwave. For now, the Italian will remain in Europe and concentrate on rehabilitation. His target is to return for the Asian swing, with tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai among his planned objectives. For the US Open, however, one thing is certain: the defending 2024 champion and current world No. 1 will be watching from afar, leaving the Grand Slam field wide open for a new champion.