NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer’s extraordinary run of luck at the toss finally came to an end on Saturday as Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to field first in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club, ending the India skipper’s record streak of eight consecutive toss wins in the shortest format.

The result marked the first time Iyer has lost a toss as India’s T20I captain, bringing to an end a sequence that had already seen him surpass former skipper MS Dhoni’s long-standing national record.

With India leading the three-match series 1-0 after a commanding victory in the opener, Iyer admitted he would have preferred to bat first on what he felt looked like a much-improved batting surface.

Iyer expects better batting conditions

Unlike the opening match, where the pitch offered uneven bounce and assistance to the bowlers, Iyer believed the surface for the second T20I looked significantly better.

“We were going to bat first. I feel it looks a bit different. It’s not as tacky as it was in the first game. I feel the bounce will be consistent, and that’s what I’m hoping. But let’s see how it plays,” the India captain said.

Rather than dwelling on the toss outcome, Iyer stressed the importance of maintaining the same mindset that helped India dominate the opening encounter.

“We just passed on the message to all the boys that it’s important to stay in the present and not be complacent because when you have such a comprehensive win, you tend to take things easily,” he said.

“I think it’s essential for us to enjoy the moment as well as make sure that we play to the best of our abilities. There is a lot of potential in the dressing room and if they turn up today with a solid approach, then definitely the results will take care of themselves,” he added.

Iyer also confirmed one change to the playing XI, with Yash Thakur making his India debut in place of Ashok Sharma.

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Raza backs Zimbabwe seamers

Having won the toss, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza wasted little time in opting to bowl first, convinced that Harare’s winter conditions would once again provide early assistance to his pace attack.

“We want to bowl first. First reason being the winter wicket as we know, it’s slightly spicier at the start, so hopefully we can make early inroads and then see what comes in the batting order later on,” Raza explained.

While acknowledging that the wicket appeared better than it had during the first T20I, Raza still expected enough movement for his fast bowlers.

“The surface is certainly a lot better today than it was in the first game, so it may not be as spicy, but we know that in Harare, especially during winter, there will be a bit of spice at the start and hopefully our seamers can make inroads. If they do, it’ll go a long way towards helping us stop them,” he said.

Zimbabwe retained the same playing XI that lost the series opener by seven wickets.

Historic streak finally comes to an end

Before Saturday’s contest, Iyer had rewritten India’s T20I captaincy record by winning eight successive tosses, overtaking MS Dhoni’s previous mark of seven set between 2010 and 2012.

The streak, which stretched from June to July 2026, had become one of the most remarkable toss runs by an Indian captain in the format. It finally ended in Harare, though India will hope the result at the toss has little bearing on the outcome of the match.

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Tour de France organisers have been praised for placing netting on the sheer verge of a mountain descent which caught race leader Sepp Kuss and “might have saved his life”.

Kuss was descending during the final throes of stage 20, the queen stage of the 2026 Tour de France, towards the finish on Alpe d’Huez when lost control at speed on a right-hand bend.

The American Visma-Lease a Bike rider crashed into a low wall on the side of the road and tipped over the edge in a terrifying incident, but was stopped from falling down the mountainside by netting strategically placed by racing organiser ASO.

“I don’t think we can exaggerate this,” said TNT Sport pundit Matt Stephens after the stage. “This could have been a life or death moment. The other side of that [netting] is a precipitous drop.

“The organisers have played a blinder. They knew that if anybody got it wrong, that’s where they’d maybe come off. I think that netting … it might have saved his life.”

Kuss was seen smiling at the finish despite a bloodied leg and elbow.

Fellow analyst Robbie McEwen also praised the safety measure, saying: “We’re not racing on a closed circuit. This is road racing. Everybody knows the inherent risks. The organisers have done everything they can.

“You’re racing at the limit. We’re at the back end of a three week tour. Concentration levels drop a little bit, just the pure intensity of the race – you make one tiny mistake and it’s very, very costly.”

It was Kuss’s second crash in the finale and he was ultimately denied what would have been a memorable victory on a chaotic day’s racing, won by Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz of EF Education-Easypost.

Carapaz and Kuss were part of an early breakaway that formed on the first of four ⁠major climbs of the day. The pair, along with Australia’s Jai Hindley, emerged ​as ⁠the strongest riders from the group ‌before Kuss attacked with 17km remaining and opened up a small gap.

Kuss looked on course for victory but crashed in a ‌tunnel and then again on the descent, where he was caught by the netting, as Carapaz ‌reeled him in and surged past.

Carapaz crossed the line 31 seconds clear of Kuss, who was overtaken in the closing metres by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Evenepoel finished second, 26 seconds ⁠behind Carapaz, with Kuss taking third.

Race leader Tadej Pogacar safely negotiated the penultimate stage and is all but certain to claim a fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, holding a lead of more than seven minutes over Evenepoel.

Four riders have died in the long history of the Tour de France, but none since 1995, although three spectators have died since then after being hit by vehicles.

Manchester United have been credited with an interest in a host of potential new signings this summer

Former West Ham star Crysencio Summerville reportedly had a wish to join Manchester United, but one key reason held up the deal. The Reds were one of a number of clubs to be linked with signing the Netherlands international during the summer transfer window.

Summerville was part of the Netherlands squad that featured at the World Cup before being knocked out by Norway in the last-16 stage of the tournament in North America.

The 24-year-old’s future was the subject of intense speculation following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, with Mateus Fernandes already leaving the London Stadium to join Tottenham Hotspur in a £100million deal.

United were heavily linked with signing Summerville, but the forward has instead completed a permanent move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal.

The Saudi club confirmed the move on Friday, with West Ham reportedly agreeing on a £60million fee for the versatile forward.

A report in The Athletic has now claimed that United had expressed an interest in signing Summerville, but the forward opted against completing a move to Old Trafford.

The report claims that United were Summerville’s ‘preferred option’, but a deal never materialised due to Marcus Rashford’s future remaining unresolved.

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Tottenham had also expressed a desire to sign Summerville, but the forward turned down the opportunity out of respect to West Ham and their rivalry with the north London club, the report added.

It now remains to be seen what United’s plans for the rest of the summer transfer window will be, with three new signings already completed by the club.

Andrey Santos was signed by United in a £50million deal from Chelsea, while Youri Tielemans has arrived from Aston Villa after the Reds decided to activate the £35million release clause in his contract.

Free agent Karl Darlow has also been signed by United to strengthen their goalkeeper options, and now there continues to be uncertainty over whether or not the club will go into the market for further reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes.

During the offseason, the New Orleans Saints made a clear effort to add pieces to their defensive line. In doing so, the expectation is also on improving a run defense that has struggled the last three years. The Saints ranked 19th against the run and 6th in average per carry allowed in 2025. That was a vast improvement on 31st in each category the previous season and their 2023 ranking of 22nd in both categories. Still, it is clear that New Orleans wanted more muscle in the middle to go along with a couple already solid pieces up front. Our training camp previews at Saints Wire continues with a look at this important position.

• On the roster: Bryan Bresee, Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Christen Miller (rookie), Zxavian Harris (rookie), John Ridgeway III, Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, Myles Cole, Keeshawn Silver (rookie), Jay’Viar Suggs (rookie)

• Offseason additions: Miller, Harris, Silver, Suggs

Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, and Chase Young will of course see some snaps as a more traditional defensive end in some alignments or situations. They’ll be included when we break down the team’s edge rushers. This focuses more on the interior linemen, a position that needs far more production and disruption.

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Bryan Bresee entered 2025 with some concerns over how he’d fit in a Brandon Staley scheme that runs more 3-4 fronts. Bresee responded with a solid year. However, he recorded only 2.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss despite double-digit pressures. Bresee will again be a big part of the defense in 2026, but must become a more consistent finisher.Vernon Broughton is among the potential breakout candidates this year for the Saints. An early third round choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, Broughton was a disruptive presence with the Texas Longhorns. The Saints never got to see that because Broughton had his rookie season ended in Week 2 with a hip injury. Look for Broughton to push hard for a starting role opposite Bresee as a 3-4 end and also see some reps inside when the Saints use a four-man line.

Currently holding the spot opposite Bresee is Nathan Shepherd, who has been a steady veteran. Shepherd had 14 pressures in 2025, but just 3 sacks and 4 stops for loss. Like Bresee, he’s a very good tackle in four-man fronts but New Orleans needs more finishes from him from their three down linemen fronts.

Shepherd, Bresee, and Broughton make up a good rotation with nice versatility. Where the Saints have had a major deficiency is at nose tackle, where they lack a traditional big-bodied run-stopper. Godchaux, Ridgeway, and Boyd have not turned heads in that role. Ridgeway is perhaps the most consistent of the three, but each seem perched on the roster bubble as training camp begins.

Outlining that is the fact that four rookie defensive tackles were brought in by the Saints during the offseason. Second round pick Christen Miller is expected to start in the middle and has formidable strength to go along with underrated quickness. Zxavian Harris brings a combination of power, size, and athleticism that should make him a factor if off field problems are behind. Silver and Suggs, also undrafted, could still push Godchaux, Ridgeway, and Boyd for their spots on the roster.

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In Brandon Staley’s system, the Saints don’t necessarily need a double-digit sack performance from a down lineman. The edge rushers are featured in their pass rush scheme. However, the defense needs Bresee, Broughton, and Shepherd to finish plays on a more consistent basis. Additionally, this group must tie up double-teams and push the line of scrimmage backwards more effectively, setting up one-on-one chances for the outside playmakers. This is something that the interior has failed to do for three seasons and why the Saints spent a second round draft choice on Miller. The improvement of the interior defensive line won’t necessarily fill up a stat sheet, but will be key for the 2026 New Orleans defense.

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Checking in on 10 New Orleans Saints players returning from injuries

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Ranking the NFC South’s top running backs heading into the 2026 season

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NFL head coach rankings: Where does Kellen Moore rank going into 2026?

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Which New Orleans Saints players are locks to make the 2026 roster?

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Breakout candidates to watch for the New Orleans Saints in 2026

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One player to watch at every position group at Saints training camp

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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2026 training camp preview: Taking stock of the defensive line

Sunday’s final stage of the Tour de France will be shorter than planned because security forces have been redirected to help fight wildfires near Bordeaux, organizers and police said Saturday.

“In a spirit of national solidarity with the areas and communities affected, it was decided to adapt the route for the final stage from Thoiry to Paris,” the Paris police and the event’s organizers said in a joint statement.

Slovenian four-time champion Tadej Pogacar has all but sealed victory in the world-famous cycling race and only needs to finish Saturday’s stage to secure a fifth Tour title in seven years.

Final stage shortened to 89 kilometers

The route for Stage 21 has been shortened to 89 kilometers (55 miles), down from the 133 kilometers originally planned.

It was set to begin east of Paris in Thoiry but will now start with two laps on the Champs-Elysees.

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Riders will then race the circuit before finishing on the Champs-Elysees as usual.

The team presentation will still be held in Thoiry before riders are taken to Paris by bus.

“The Paris police prefect and the Tour de France director salute the commitment of all the actors mobilized in the fight against the fires and express their full solidarity with the affected populations,” the statement said.

Wildfires near Arcachon Bay, near Bordeaux in Gironde, and around Biscarrosse in Landes have destroyed more than 36,000 hectares of forest and forced nearly 200,000 people to evacuate.

Edited by: Rana Taha

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Already, people are looking ahead to what could take place in 2027, especially those with a penchant for the NFL Draft. Do the Vikings get frisky in April of 2027? A rumor has already begun.

Jordan Reid, ESPN, is among the foremost draft nerds out there. His opinion is one that I value, taking it not as gospel but as a thoughtful, well-informed perspective. He recently offered a piece about the growing enthusiasm for the talent out there in the 2027 NFL Draft. At the very end, Mr. Reid shoehorned the Vikings into the mix.

The Vikings Could Get Frisky in ’27 Draft

Consider the final paragraph in full to get a sense of what Reid considers a possibility.

“One more team to watch is the Minnesota Vikings,” Reid writes. “New general manager Nolan Teasley is looking to replenish a roster that lacks high-end talent and depth, but their biggest issue is the uncertainty at QB. But the Vikings have an extra third-round pick thanks to the Jonathan Greenard trade. If neither J.J. McCarthy nor Kyler Murray present as the Vikings’ long-term quarterback, Minnesota could take advantage of the extra draft capital to secure one of the many top-flight QBs who should be available on Days 1 and 2.”

Keep in mind, folks, that the insight gets shared in the section titled “Which NFL teams are best set up to capitalize?”

Obviously, there’s a lot that would need to go wrong before the Vikings seek to orchestrate a rim-rattling trade. Reid’s thinking, though, isn’t totally without basis or merit.

J.J. McCarthy has mostly struggled since being chosen at No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Talent isn’t lacking. What has been a major issue, though, has been his health. Proving unable to stay on the field within the NFL is the primary concern. If he can stay healthy, can McCarthy turn into at least a good passer?

And then there’s Kyler Murray.

He, too, has worked through injury concerns. He, too, got chosen high — No. 1 by the Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft — before encountering some turbulence. He appears to be a clunky fit with the Vikings but has a pile of talent. Putting in the work to prove doubters wrong could lead to Minnesota having a new QB1 for the next five-to-ten seasons.

What’s not entirely clear is whether Kevin O’Connell can survive a season of QB turmoil.

So far, Coach O’Connell has been given a free pass since his pair of bad seasons coincided with brutal injury luck. The former Rams OC had to work with all of Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, and Josh Dobbs in 2023. There was then McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer in 2025. Not easy, that’s for sure.

But then there’s another clear reality: O’Connell’s two good seasons led to getting dismantled early in the playoffs. Boasting an 0-2 record in the final tournament is nothing to boast about.

Quite possibly, the Vikings do make a move for a young arm in the 2027 NFL Draft. Ample talent exists and there’s a path forward where the current passers struggle.

Do note, though, that there’s so much that needs to take place before these possibilities get close to becoming a reality. Reid’s status as among the top draft analysts out there is what gives the rumor credence.

McCarthy, Murray, and the rest of the Minnesota Vikings begin training camp this week.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Teofimo Lopez is looking to regain his world champion status when he challenges WBA (Super) welterweight champion Rolando Romero in August, but ‘The Takeover’ already knows the fight that he wants to come after that outing.

Lopez dethroned lineal champions in Vasyl Lomachenko and Josh Taylor when he claimed world honours at lightweight and super-lightweight respectively, but he was outclassed by Shakur Stevenson back in January – losing his WBO 140lb title by a wide unanimous decision.

The Brooklyn-based 28-year-old has wasted no time in thrusting himself back into the mix though, accepting a shot at Romero’s WBA world title upon his 147lb debut, seeking to become a three-division world champion.

In an interview with Ring Magazine, Lopez looked ahead to the fight and admitted that Romero’s awkwardness is what makes him a difficult obstacle, and highlighted it as the reason why he was able to trump Ryan Garcia last year.

“A true champion can adapt to anything and I think, with Rolly, he has definitely improved and he is awkward at times. He throws his punches in weird ways and I think that is what makes for an exciting fight and an exciting return for me.

“I think, just with the Ryan Garcia fight, him having that as his last win and his last fight, I think that he has great momentum.”

Lopez then went on to reveal plans for the victor of his fight with Romero to accept a unification showdown with the winner of Ryan Garcia’s September dust-up with Conor Benn, where Garcia hopes he can make a first defence of his WBC welterweight world title.

“On my end, as well, I think that this possibly leads to the winner taking on the winner out of Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia, that is what we are looking forward to.

“But, as of right now, at 147lbs, I am looking to take over and become the undisputed and three-time lineal world champion.”

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Romero vs. Lopez takes place on Saturday, August 22, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.