Substantial knocks from skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will fill the remaining blank columns as India push for their first overseas Test series victory in three years during the second and final match against Sri Lanka, starting in Colombo on Sunday. India’s last Test rubber win abroad was against the West Indies in July 2023. Since then, India lost to Australia and shared the series with South Africa and England away from home. In this interim, the defeats at home against New Zealand and South Africa also dimmed the halo around this Indian Test outfit.

But Gill’s side regained some ground with a 165-run romp in the first Test at Galle, where Sri Lankan spinners often spun a web around visiting batters.

Despite the inexperience in the Sri Lankan ranks, the result might have come as a relief for the team and head coach Gautam Gambhir after two shattering home defeats against New Zealand and South Africa.

The Galle win has certainly released a pressure valve around the team.

Possible change in WTC points table

If India happen to complete a 2-0 clean sweep, they will have a chance to go up to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings with 57.58 percentage points.

There is a high possibility that Bangladesh, who are currently fourth in WTC table with 66.67 percentage points post Darwin victory, will lose the second Test against Australia at McKay and drop down to fifth spot with 55.56 percentage points.

Big innings round the corner?

Amidst the general elation, India will certainly welcome some runs from Gill and Jaiswal.

On the periphery, Gill appears in solid touch, having scored two hundreds in his last six innings.

But scratch the cover, there is a tinge of weakness, a pattern-setting dismissals against spin, particularly the left-arm orthodox variation.

True to that failure, Gill fell twice to Prabath Jayasuriya at Galle, and he will certainly like to set that unwanted record straight, a blemish on an otherwise impeccable run as team leader.

As the skipper, Gill has managed to score 1100 runs in 10 Tests at an average of over 73, a remarkable leap from 1893 runs from 32 Tests at 35 before taking over the team’s reins.

Then there is also this little matter of registering the first overseas Test series win under his watch, a matter of pride and yardstick of success for any captain.

If Gill can merge those two tasks, then India could be hard to stop at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Jaiswal offers a slightly deeper problem. After scoring a hundred against the West Indies at New Delhi last year, the opener has made just one fifty in his last eight innings.

Similar to Gill’s failings against spinners, Jaiswal has developed a worrying habit of getting dismissed while playing cut or chip against pace bowlers.

After getting run out in the first innings at Galle, Jaiswal got out in that fashion in the second essay.

The left-hander tried to cut Asitha Fernando’s short pitched delivery, only to feather it to stumper Niroshan Dickwella.

It offered little surprise when Jaiswal spent an extended time at nets on Friday at the SSC to rectify that part of his game.

India pacers and bowling coach Morne Morkel targeted that line outside the off-stump, trying to lure Jaiswal into that cut or chip over point.

But the 24-year-old was equal to the task, letting the balls go past the stumps harmlessly. Now, if he can filter that restraint to the real match atmosphere then another big score might be there for his taking.

Kuldeep or Saransh?

Kuldeep Yadav is the third member of the eleven that struggled to make an impact at Galle. He had a disappointing outing, taking a solitary wicket from 25 overs across two innings despite the pitch offering considerable assistance.

Kuldeep was also the most expensive among the bowlers, leaking over four runs an over in the opening Test.

The temptation will be to replace the left-arm wrist spinner with off-spinner Saransh Jain, a strategic move considering the influx of left-arm batters in the Lankan line-up.

But dropping a senior bowler after just one match might just give the wrong signals or will the management indeed take that harsh step? Kuldeep’s absence from the nets on Friday could be linked to his possible omission from the eleven here, but a final call depends a lot on the pitch here, which was watered in the last two days to retain the hold.

From a Sri Lankan perspective, their top-order needs to show a lot more nous to stay in the middle than just playing a plethora of shots and getting out.

They will hope that inclusion of in-form Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige will bring a positive turn here.

Otherwise, another lop-sided contest will be in the offing.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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“Winning World Cup Most Beautiful thing”: Golden Ball Winner Rodri

The ultimate consequence of a loss is often determined more by how a team reacts than by the loss itself.

A win after a loss shows resilience and the ability to keep an opponent from influencing a team’s season beyond a single game.

The table below shows the victories, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team favorite over the last 20 seasons.

Boise State leads the way, followed by Oregon, USC, Utah, and BYU.

Trainer Tony McEvoy, alongside his son Calvin, is fully aware of the progression a horse can make.

Last year, after a winter period spent in Queensland’s warmth, Half Yours emerged to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Half Yours is again headed for the Melbourne Cup, with the Cox Plate as a potential stepping stone, though the father-and-son training team nominated him for the Caulfield Cup earlier this week when entries closed.

Nearco Frod, also nominated for the Caulfield Cup from the McEvoy stable, will attempt to extend his winning streak to four in the McMahon’s Dairy Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.

Nearco Frod did not undertake the same ‘winter excursion’ to the Sunshine Coast; instead, he braved Melbourne’s cold, securing wins on heavy tracks at Sandown on July 1 and July 15, followed by a victory over 2520m at Flemington on August 1.

Tony McEvoy commented that a start in the Caulfield Cup was the ambition, but Nearco Frod had not yet qualified for the race.

The Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 could be a more realistic target, considering the plan is to aim for the Group 3 The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 12, following Saturday’s race.

The Archer provides the winner with ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.

“He’ll go to The Archer and then we’ll reassess where we are then,” McEvoy said.

“The Caulfield Cup, it is a big step, but we’ve put him in and he’s a handy little stayer.”

“We saw last year where they can come from, but at this stage we’re thinking Saturday and then into The Archer.”

Craig Williams returns to the saddle on Saturday, having won consecutive races aboard the stayer at Sandown.

Nearco Frod was the horse that gave Blake Shinn his first win back from injury when successful at Flemington in his most recent start. The betting markets for this upcoming Cox Plate contender will be closely watched.

Oleksandr Usyk was shockingly pushed to the brink by Rico Verhoeven in May, but whilst it seems a rematch will never take place, Usyk could find himself tasked with Verhoeven in a different way, with one heavyweight hoping the Ukrainian will train him to face the kickboxing legend.

The selection of Verhoeven as an opponent was deemed as disrespectful to the boxing world at first, with a near-novice being permitted to jump the queue and challenge a legendary heavyweight world champion for the coveted WBC title.

However, on fight night, Verhoeven provided Usyk with the ‘toughest fight of his career’ and found himself on the wrong side of a controversial round 11 stoppage after an impressive display up until that point.

Now, Verhoeven’s fellow Dutchman and kickboxing rival Alistair Overeem has been calling for boxing fight against his countryman. 

Speaking to All Out Fighting, the 46-year-old former UFC star explained why he would love to train under Usyk’s tutelage.

“I visited his training camp in Valencia and there was good chemistry, good energy, I was learning and studying and, to me, this fires me up and motivates me.

“If I could do my camp at Team Usyk, it would be my pleasure.

“Absolutely, [his experience against Verhoeven could help me] and the things that he has done, he is amazing. I look at him, maybe because I am a fighter and I look at fighters, and I have always learned from Usyk, always, on multiple facets.

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“When you are training this long, it is not only about what you are doing in the gym and punching the bag, punching the mitts and sparring. It is also about what you are doing outside of the gym, what is your life like?

“If we are going to explore the boxing route, to me it would be very interesting to check out their camp and see if there was something there for me.”

Overeem then went on to label the potential showdown as ‘the fight of the century’, believing that ‘the whole of the Netherlands would tune in’.

“This is going to be the fight of the century. The biggest fight in history, ever. That is also one of our talking points, you can sell out a stadium with this, the whole of the Netherlands will be watching.”

Overeem has not fought in any discipline since testing positive for a banned substance during the aftermath of his October 2022 win over Badr Hari in the GLORY Kickboxing franchise and the veteran has never taken part in a professional boxing bout.

Although, with established and ranked heavyweights seemingly reluctant to face Verhoeven and risk losing to a kickboxer, Overeem could represent Verhoeven’s best route back into the limelight.

The Freedom 250 isn’t the first race hosted in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. president in celebration of America’s birthday. 

On July 4th, 1801, 225 years ago, to celebrate America’s 25th birthday, President Thomas Jefferson helped put on festivities including horseback riding and cockfighting in Washington, D.C., according to the White House Historical Association. 

Jefferson, the third President of the United States, and the Washington Jockey Club “established a racecourse just blocks from the White House, with part of the course running across Pennsylvania Avenue and through what is now Lafayette Park.”

The United States Capitol is seen along the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track outside of the National Gallery of Art on Thursday. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

According to the White House Historical Association, “the north grounds of the President’s Park came alive at daybreak with the raising of tents and booths, soon followed by crowds of people. A festival took place just for the day. Food and drink and cottage goods of all types were sold. There were horse races and parades of the Washington Militia, along with other military companies. 

After the festivities, Jefferson invited attendees into the White House. The tradition of an annual reception at the White House continued for much of the nineteenth century.

Not only did Jefferson host a horse race near the White House, but he was an avid supporter and participant in horse racing. He often attended meets at the National Race Course in Washington, D.C.

Now Donald J. Trump, the 47th president of the U.S., is helping to bring a 250-mile, 147-lap race to Washington, D.C. to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. 

“I’m thrilled to be here with some of the most extraordinary figures in the history of motorsports and any sport, if you think about it,” Trump said at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase on July 13. “As we count down to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, this will be like no other race, ever. I don’t think anything will ever be — will ever top what we’re going to be having.”

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., is the first NTT IndyCar Series race ever held in the nation’s capital. The FOX pre-race show will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23, with the green flag scheduled for 1:13 p.m. ET. The course does not reach the White House, but it runs along Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue and in front of the Washington Monument. 

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is the second event hosted in proximity to the White House this summer, along with UFC Freedom 250. 

With this being the initial IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., no drivers have course experience as an upper hand. But Alex Palou (542 points) enters Sunday’s race with a healthy lead in the standings, despite finishing fourth at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham last Sunday. 

The battle for second place is much closer, with Kyle Kirkwood (409), David Malukas (405) and Christian Lundgaard (403) separated by six points. So while the Freedom 250 will be a spectacle to watch, IndyCar’s top drivers can’t lose focus as the stakes are high.

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Here’s how the course was built for this weekend in Washington, D.C.

It’s the first game of this season, but a team can’t show why they’re the favorites to win the Premier League without coming out of the gates strong, and Arsenal did just that, defeating Coventry City 3-0. Getting out to a 2-0 lead by halftime thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. Martin Odegaard would add another goal in the second half to get to the final margin of victory, kicking off the season on the right foot.

It was a lineup that included Saka, Havertz, and Martin Odegaard, something that was rarely seen together last season. In fact, with Havertz starting the season with an injury and Saka ending the season with one, they only started together four times in all competitions, a number that Mikel Arteta will want to see rise in the new season, and the stats facing Coventry are a good reason why. 

Arsenal were still a strong defensive side, not allowing a shot on goal until the 86th minute of play when Jack Rudoni tested David Raya with a speculative effort, but they were dynamic in attack, playing on the front foot from the first minute straight through to the final whistle. A lot of that was the old guard of the Gunners, but new signing Christos Tzolis also continues to push to make the left wing his own. Starting over Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli after a two-assist showing in the Community Shield.

With two shots within the first 10 minutes of play, he showed his ability to get into space and was also credited with a fantasy assist on Saka’s goal after his cross was pushed into Saka’s path by the keeper. While it’s early, these are the kinds of things that he was added from Club Brugge for. Arsenal were interested in Vinicius Junior during the summer, and while Tzolis will not be confused with the Brazilian, they were looking for an upgrade at left wing in the worst way. If Tzolis adapts to life in England quickly it will be a huge boon for the Gunners’ title defense.

The Premier League is quite a step up from playing in Belgium for Club Brugge, but Tzolis was involved in 51 goals last season, including eight in Champions League play. Even if you factor in regression coming to a tougher league, this is a player who has something to bring to the squad. It’s always good to get off to a good start, and so far, so good for both Tzolis and Arsenal.

Despite not having Jurrien Timber and William Saliba in the XI as both deal with injuries, the Gunners picked up right where they left off last season, and it’s only going to get better as Bruno Guimaraes is coming to join a midfield that is already a strength for the club, and Ezri Konsa will also add to the defense once that deal is complete with Aston Villa. Manchester City and Liverpool, not to mention Manchester United and Chelsea, will likely have something to say about the title race before it’s all said and done, but winning games like this one comprehensively is what will make sure that the Gunners have some room for error.

Winning the games you’re supposed to and then not being overpowered in other games when you face top opposition is a route to the title, and facing a newly promoted side, Arsenal did what you would expect. It shows how tough the jump to the Premier League is going to be for the Sky Blues, but after getting this win, it’s now all attention to Aston Villa next week in what will be a much tougher match, but for now, Arteta’s machine keeps rolling.

The Nigeria National League (NNL) has released the proposed groupings for the 2026/2027 league season.

The teams have been divided into four conferences, with nine clubs in Conferences A and B, while Conferences C and D have eight clubs each.

Conference A features Remo Stars FC, Edel FC, Godswill Akpabio United FC, Ikorodu City FA, Stormers SC, Heartland FC, Crown FC, Sunshine Stars FC and OYC FC.

Conference B has Beyond Limits FA, Solution FC, Akwa United FC, Smart City FC, Abakaliki FC, Right2Win FC, Dokkall Khairu FC, Ekiti United FC and Bayelsa United FC.

Conference C consists of El-Kanemi Warriors FC, DMD FC, FC Basira, NeuroSpark FC, Kebbi United FC, Adamawa United FC, Jigawa Golden Stars FC and Junior Danburam FC.

Conference D includes Yobe Desert Stars FC, Wikki Tourists FC, Lobi Stars FC, ABS FC, Sokoto United FC, Bichi First FC, Kada Warriors FC and Mighty Jets Feeder.

The groupings are part of the preparations for the new NNL season, with further details expected to be announced by the league organisers.

NNL to Present Audited Accounts at 17th AGM

Meanwhile, the NNL Board will present its 2025/2026 audited accounts and financial statements at its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Owerri on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The move is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the running of the second-tier Nigerian league.

The audited accounts will cover the league’s income, donations, sponsorships, expenses, liabilities and assets. The audit was carried out by Gokay & Co., a firm of Chartered Accountants.

NNL Chairman George Aluo said the league engages an audit firm every season to review its financial records and provide a clear picture of its performance.

“With each passing season, the League Board engages an audit firm to go through our books and present the true picture of the Board’s performance,” Aluo said.

He added that the auditors also identify weaknesses in the league’s control systems and recommend ways to improve them.

NNL Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Attah said yearly audits and continuous advice from auditors would help strengthen the league’s accounting system and keep it in line with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The presentation of the audited accounts is one of the key items on the agenda for the 17th AGM.

Football stakeholders, including the 34 NNL clubs, will also be officially welcomed ahead of the 2026/2027 season.

The AGM will take place at Rockview Hotel, near Government House, Owerri, Imo State.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Reuters)

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs a carefully managed pathway as the 15-year-old begins to make his mark across formats, stressing the importance of giving him enough opportunities in red-ball cricket alongside his white-ball commitments.Sooryavanshi, who enjoyed a breakthrough IPL season before making his T20I debut in England in June, is now set to return to the longer format with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy.While the teenager has already attracted significant attention in white-ball cricket, his first-class record remains modest. He averages 17.25 from 12 innings across three stints in the Ranji Trophy Plate League, with his domestic campaigns interrupted by India U19 commitments.Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, said the youngster’s exposure to both formats is a positive development.“I think you always have to find that balance. And I think it is a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India, but he is also having the time to go back and play red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic system and grow his red-ball career,” Dravid said while speaking to Cricinfo.The former India batter also highlighted the wider importance of developing players capable of succeeding in Test cricket.“All of us also want to see Tests survive, all of us want to see Tests grow and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game,” Dravid added.For Sooryavanshi, the Duleep Trophy provides another opportunity to build experience in red-ball cricket. Dravid feels the teenager needs sustained exposure to the format, particularly because he has not played it as regularly as white-ball cricket.“The good thing is he is going to take some time, he is going to need some experience, he is going to get an opportunity to play a lot of red-ball cricket. He hasn’t played as much red-ball cricket as probably white-ball cricket,” Dravid said.The 15-year-old’s rapid rise has naturally brought expectations, but Dravid urged everyone to allow him time to develop rather than judge him solely on his early success.“He is only 15 and I think you have got to just give him some time and you have got to be patient with him. He has obviously been such a success straightaway, right, but he is going to go through his ups and downs and I think people are going to have to be patient with him,” Dravid added.