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Suthar’s ten-wicket masterclass powers India to emphatic Galle triumph in 600th Test India marked their 600th Test match with a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after a performance that showcased both batting depth and bowling brilliance. The visitors posted a formidable 462 in their first innings, built around a fine century from Devdutt Padikkal. The young opener’s patient yet purposeful knock provided the platform, allowing the middle order to push the total well beyond 450. Sri Lanka replied with 284, but never fully recovered from early setbacks against India’s varied attack. In their second innings India declared or were bowled out for 193, setting the hosts a daunting target of 372. What followed was a display of controlled spin bowling that sealed the result. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar emerged as the clear man of the match, finishing with a remarkable ten-wicket haul across both innings. His ability to extract s...

India thrash Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle as young spinner takes centre stage India have seized a strong early lead in their two-Test series against Sri Lanka after sealing a convincing 165-run victory in the first Test at Galle. The result puts them 1-0 up and also marked a notable landmark – it was India’s 600th Test match. The standout performer was young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. On debut, he produced a superb display, finishing with a 10-wicket match haul. Those figures are the best by any Indian bowler on Sri Lankan soil and showed just how quickly he adapted to the slow, turning pitch in Galle. Suthar bowled with real control and clever variations that kept the Sri Lankan batsmen guessing throughout. India stayed patient on a surface that demanded hard work, and the spinners eventually broke through a stubborn middle order to wrap up the win. Vice-captain KL Rahul was full of praise afterwards. He singled out Devdutt Padikkal’s important century, saying it set the tone...

Rodri Set for Barcelona Move in €76.5m Blockbuster Deal Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Manchester City midfielder Rodri in a deal worth around €76.5 million. The Spanish star arrived in Barcelona on Monday evening to complete the final steps of the transfer. Clearly excited about the move, Rodri said: “It is a dream to be here.” The transfer ends weeks of speculation over the Spain captain’s future. Rodri has been one of Manchester City’s most important players in recent seasons, helping the club win major trophies with his calm passing, strong defending and ability to control the midfield. Barcelona have admired Rodri for a long time and believe he can bring experience, balance and leadership to their midfield. His impressive performances at the 2026 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball, only increased the club’s desire to sign him. For Manchester City, the deal provides a huge financial return on a player who has played a major role in the club’s recent success...

Arsenal Send Early Warning with 3-0 Community Shield Win Over City Arsenal made a strong statement ahead of the new Premier League season with a convincing 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield. Riccardo Calafiori gave the Gunners a dream start, scoring within seconds of kick-off. Kai Havertz added a second before captain Martin Ødegaard completed the scoring. It was Enzo Maresca’s first major game in charge of City, and the Italian will have plenty to think about after seeing his side comfortably outplayed at the Principality Stadium. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players for their hunger, determination and desire to win. The result will give the champions plenty of confidence as they prepare to defend their Premier League title, while City have work to do as they begin a new era under Maresca.

Djokovic Stunned by Tirante in Cincinnati Heat Novak Djokovic’s return to competitive tennis ended in disappointment as the 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a shock second-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open. The 39-year-old Serb was playing his first match since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals last month. But after making a strong start, he was beaten 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante on Saturday. Djokovic looked comfortable in the opening set, winning it 6-2. However, the hot and humid conditions soon began to affect him. During a marathon third game of the second set, which lasted 18 minutes and included nine deuces, Djokovic dropped to his hands and knees and appeared to be sick. He was given a medical timeout while a doctor and physiotherapist attended to him on court. Although Djokovic managed to hold serve, he clearly looked short of energy afterwards. Tirante took advantage, breaking his serve to win the second set and force a ...

Bangladesh Stun Australia to Seal Historic Test Victory Bangladesh have produced one of the biggest surprises in recent Test cricket, beating Australia by nine wickets in Darwin to claim their first Test victory on Australian soil. Chasing just 57 on the fourth morning at Marrara Oval, Bangladesh needed only 14 overs to complete a famous win. Mominul Haque hit the winning boundary off Beau Webster and finished unbeaten on 30, while Shadman Islam was 25 not out. The only moment of concern came when Josh Hazlewood dismissed first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan for a duck. But Bangladesh quickly settled down and reached their target with ease. The victory is only Bangladesh's second Test win over Australia, following their famous success in Dhaka in 2017. They are also just the third Asian team, after India and Pakistan, to win a Test in Australia. The result was even more remarkable given what happened only a week earlier. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 by a Cricket A...

  Bezos Joins Liverpool Investors as Football’s Summer Spending Spree Continues Football’s summer is always busy, but this week has brought major news both on and off the pitch. The biggest story comes from Liverpool, where owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have sold a 30 per cent stake in the club for around £1.65 billion. The buyers include a consortium linked to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. FSG remain the majority owners, so control of the club does not change, but the deal brings fresh investment and one of the world’s most famous businessmen into Liverpool’s ownership structure. Naturally, supporters are already wondering what this could mean for the future. Extra investment could strengthen the club’s finances and perhaps help with long-term plans, including improvements to the squad and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the transfer market remains as lively as ever. Defender Cristian Romero has completed his move to Atlético Madrid, giving Diego Simeone another experienced optio...

Shelton Sees Off Nakashima to Defend Canadian Open Crown Ben Shelton has successfully defended his Canadian Open title, beating fellow American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(4) in Montreal to land his second Masters 1000 trophy. The big-serving left-hander dominated the first set with some fierce serving and crisp groundstrokes, breaking Nakashima's serve at just the right moment to close it out 6-3. The second set was a far closer affair, with both men holding serve right through to a tie-break. There, Shelton's composure and big-match nous proved decisive, as he edged it 7-4 to wrap up victory and hold onto the title he first won a year ago. It's another big step forward for the young American, further cementing his place among the sport's elite on hard courts. Nakashima, for his part, enjoyed an impressive run to the final but couldn't quite stop Shelton's momentum on the Montreal courts.

  Świątek Books First Final of the Season, Sets Up Toronto Showdown with Rybakina Iga Świątek has reached her first WTA final of 2026, coming through a gruelling semi-final against Elina Svitolina at the Canadian Open in Toronto. It's been a stop-start season for the Polish former world number one, who has been through a coaching change and some unexpected early exits along the way, including a shock loss at Wimbledon. Battling back from a set down, she finally found her rhythm to see off Svitolina and book her place in Thursday's final — her first tour final in almost a year. Standing between her and the title is Elena Rybakina, who overcame Coco Gauff in a tough three-set semi-final to reach her own final. The Kazakh has been one of the form players on tour in recent months and won the pair's most recent meeting at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Toronto has traditionally been kind to Świątek, and a win here would give her a first trophy of the year as the hard-court season ...

PSG Edge Aston Villa to Retain UEFA Super Cup Paris Saint-Germain began the new European season with another piece of silverware after beating Aston Villa 2-1 in a hard-fought UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg. The French champions, who won the trophy last year, had to work hard for victory against a determined Villa side. In the end, PSG's quality made the difference, with Désiré Doué scoring the winning goal in the second half. PSG took the lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found the net, but Aston Villa refused to back down. Seventeen-year-old striker Brian Madjo brought the Premier League side level, making history in the process as the youngest player to score in a Super Cup final. The equaliser gave Villa renewed belief and raised hopes of a famous upset. However, PSG soon regained control and Doué produced the decisive moment with a well-taken finish. The victory sees PSG retain the Super Cup and join the select group of clubs to have won the trophy in consecutive seasons. F...

Rashid Khan Leads Afghanistan to World Cup as Their Remarkable Rise Continues Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket has reached another important milestone. They secured their place in the 2027 ODI World Cup on Monday with a tense three-wicket win over Ireland in Belfast. Chasing 207, Afghanistan did not have it all their own way. Their run chase became increasingly difficult in the middle overs, and Ireland looked capable of causing an upset. But Afghanistan kept their composure, with captain and star all-rounder Rashid Khan once again playing a crucial role. Rashid first made his mark with the ball, taking three wickets to help restrict Ireland to 206. He then produced another important performance with the bat when his team needed him most. Coming in with Afghanistan under pressure, Rashid remained calm and played sensibly. He finished unbeaten on 37, guiding his side across the line in the 45th over. The victory confirms Afghanistan’s direct qualification for n...

India Turn Attention to Sri Lanka as Selection Headaches Continue India's red-ball attention now turns to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series that gets underway on 15 August in Galle, with the second match following in Colombo later in the month. Both fixtures form part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, so there's plenty riding on the points on offer. The tourists got some useful practice in before the series proper, beating a Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in a warm-up game. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in fine touch with a brisk 61, while captain Shubman Gill made 44 on his return to the middle. Mohammed Siraj chipped in with some late fireworks with the bat to help seal the chase. There's been some disruption in the batting ranks, though. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out with a toe injury and won't feature in the series. Sarfaraz Khan has been drafted in as his replacement after putting in the hard yards on his fitness and form. Jasprit Bumrah remains unava...

Liverpool Land Araujo as FIFA Continues to Feel the Heat On the transfer front, Liverpool have wrapped up a season-long loan deal for Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo, with an option to make the move permanent for around €55 million. The Uruguay international, who can also fill in at right-back, arrives at a time when Liverpool's defensive options have been stretched thin by injuries and Ibrahima Konaté's departure. Araujo called the switch the "ideal move" for him at this stage of his career. Liverpool will pick up his wages, and the player has taken a pay cut himself to help get the deal over the line. He's expected to link up with the squad shortly. Away from the pitch, FIFA remains firmly under pressure. President Gianni Infantino's recent proposal to sell stakes in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other competitions ran into fierce resistance from UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC and others, with critics accusing the organisation of a breach of trus...

Sinner and Alcaraz Both Sidelined as Canadian Open Rolls On The National Bank Open in Canada continues to serve up plenty of drama on court. Several big names have made it through, with Iga Świątek among those progressing, while Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic have also picked up wins along the way. As is so often the case at this level, there have been a handful of surprises too. But much of the talk has shifted to who's missing. World number one Jannik Sinner has pulled out of the Cincinnati Open with a right knee injury, having already decided to sit out the Canadian leg to manage the issue. Sinner hasn't played since lifting the Wimbledon title and says his focus now is squarely on being fit and ready for the US Open later this month. Carlos Alcaraz is also sitting out the American hard-court swing, still working his way back from a wrist injury that's kept him sidelined since April. With both stars missing, the Cincinnati field looks noticeably thinner at the top — a...

Osaka Books Rybakina Blockbuster After Seeing Off Fernandez in Toronto Naomi Osaka has booked her place in the Canadian Open quarter-finals, brushing aside home favourite Leylah Fernandez in straight sets in Toronto. The Japanese star got the better of the Canadian 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round, extending her fine run at the WTA 1000 event. It took Osaka just an hour and 22 minutes to get the job done, with her serve doing plenty of the heavy lifting — she fired down seven aces and won over 76 per cent of her first-serve points. Osaka keeps her cool Fernandez had the crowd firmly behind her, but Osaka never looked rattled. She took her chances when they came and gave her opponent little room to build any momentum. The win hands Osaka another shot at a deep run in one of the biggest events outside the Grand Slams — though the task ahead only gets harder from here. Up next is second seed Elena Rybakina in the last eight, a first-ever meeting between the two and one of the standout ties ...

Arsenal Make £75m Statement Signing: Bruno Guimarães Joins the Gunners Arsenal have made one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window by signing Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United for £75 million. The deal has been officially completed, with Guimarães signing a four-year contract with an option for another year.  The 28-year-old arrives at Arsenal with a reputation as one of the Premier League's most complete midfielders. He combines strong tackling and defensive work with excellent passing, creativity and the ability to control the pace of a game. A major boost for Arsenal's midfield Guimarães gives Arsenal another high-quality option in an already strong midfield. He can play a deeper role or move further forward, giving the team greater flexibility during matches. His arrival also adds competition alongside players such as Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Martin Zubimendi. For Arsenal, the signing is another clear sign of their ambition af...

Padikkal’s Unbeaten 142 Puts Him in Pole Position for India’s No. 3 Spot Devdutt Padikkal has made a strong statement in the race for a place in India’s Test team after scoring an unbeaten 142 on the second day of the three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI in Colombo. India ended the day on 357 for six, just a few runs short of Sri Lanka XI’s first-innings total. Padikkal was the mainstay of the Indian innings, showing patience and confidence as he built an impressive century. While several of India’s more experienced batsmen got starts but failed to turn them into big scores, Padikkal stayed at the crease and made his opportunity count. His ability to settle in, play patiently and build a long innings will certainly have caught the attention of the selectors. His timing could hardly be better. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from a toe injury. That has left an opening in India’s middle order, with th...

Saudi Arabia's Big Tennis Bet: Qiddiya Set to Serve Up a New Global Hub Saudi Arabia is doubling down on its sporting ambitions, and this time it's tennis in the spotlight. A huge new National Tennis Centre is taking shape at Qiddiya City, just outside Riyadh, and it's designed to put the Kingdom firmly on the world tennis map. The project aims to bring top-level international tennis to Saudi Arabia while giving homegrown talent somewhere proper to train, compete and build a career. Building work is already underway, with the venue being constructed to ATP, WTA and ITF standards. A world-class venue in the making The centre will boast 30 courts in total — 28 hard courts and two clay courts — alongside elite training facilities and public spaces. The showpiece Centre Court is set to hold 15,000 spectators, with the whole complex able to accommodate around 33,000 people. Two multi-purpose arenas with retractable roofs are also part of the plans, meaning the venue won't be...

India Face Sri Lanka Tests with Gill Injury Adding to Bumrah Blow India have arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of their upcoming Test series, but the team are already dealing with injury concerns before the first ball is bowled. Captain Shubman Gill picked up a finger injury during a practice session and has been ruled out of India’s warm-up match. In his absence, KL Rahul has been given the responsibility of leading the side in the three-day game against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. The latest setback comes after India had already lost their leading fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, who will miss the Test series. Bumrah’s absence leaves India without one of their most experienced and reliable match-winners. The team management will now be looking closely at the other fast bowlers and spinners to see who can step up when the Tests begin. The warm-up match is particularly important for India’s batters. Sri Lankan pitches can offer plenty of turn, and the visitors will need to adapt qu...

History Made: Alex Eala Becomes First Filipino to Win a WTA Singles Title Alex Eala has written her name into the history books by becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour singles title . The 21-year-old left-hander produced the biggest victory of her career by defeating top seed Jessica Pegula in the final of the Washington Open . The championship match was interrupted by bad weather, but Eala stayed composed after the delay and battled her way to a memorable win. The triumph marks a major breakthrough not only for Eala but also for Philippine tennis. No player from the country had previously won a WTA Tour singles title, making her success a proud moment for Filipino sport. Eala has long been regarded as one of Asia's brightest young talents. Her fearless style, powerful left-handed groundstrokes and calm attitude under pressure have earned her growing recognition on the international stage. Winning a WTA title is the clearest sign yet that she is rea...

Pakistan End Away-Day Misery with Dominant Test Win Over West Indies Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to beat the West Indies by eight wickets in the second Test, drawing the two-match series 1-1 and ending a miserable run of away defeats. After losing the opening Test, Pakistan bounced back impressively to finish the tour on a high. The visitors were asked to chase only a modest target after bowling the West Indies out cheaply in their second innings, and they completed the task with ease, reaching 77 for 2. The West Indies made a promising start to the match by posting 344 in their first innings. However, Pakistan responded strongly with the bat, piling up 387 to secure a valuable first-innings lead. The turning point came in the West Indies' second innings. Pakistan's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout, dismissing the home side for just 117. The collapse left the hosts with little chance of defending the small target. News Pakistan's batters th...

Samba Fever Set to Hit Kolkata as Brazil Eye Historic India Friendly Kolkata's love affair with Brazilian football is about to reach fever pitch – and this time, it's official. The All India Football Federation and the Brazilian Football Confederation have confirmed that Brazil's senior men's team will play India in an international friendly at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, better known as Salt Lake Stadium, on 3 October 2026. It'll be the first time the Seleção have ever set foot on Indian soil for a senior men's fixture, and easily the toughest test India have faced since FIFA rankings began back in 1992. Brazil currently sit fifth in the world and arrive in India straight off a pair of friendlies against Australia, having already wrapped up their World Cup campaign this year. The CBF broke the news themselves on social media, framing the trip as a new chapter after their Australia dates. Kick-off time is still to be confirmed, with organisers, broa...