Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India spin great Harbhajan Singh believes there is only one way to tackle Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary strokeplay — attack the 15-year-old and go for his wicket rather than trying to contain him.Sooryavanshi has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young batters in the game, with Harbhajan admitting he has never seen a player dominate at such a young age.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is extraordinary. He is a unique player. I have not seen a player like him before, one who can dominate the world at 14-15 years of age,” Harbhajan told PTI in an interview.The Rajasthan Royals prodigy became the youngest player in IPL history when he debuted at 14 in 2025 before smashing a 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans to become the youngest batter to score a century in men’s T20 cricket.His rise continued this year when he became India’s youngest international debutant at 15 years and 99 days.

‘The only way to survive is to attack him’

Sooryavanshi’s fearlessness was on full display during the IPL when he hit the first deliveries from premier pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins for sixes.For Harbhajan, the fact that elite bowlers are forced to think about where to bowl to a teenager is itself a remarkable statement.“When the world’s top bowlers are bowling to him, they are actually thinking about where to bowl. That itself is a big, big statement,” he said.So how should a bowler approach Sooryavanshi?“The only way to survive is to attack him. You go at him and you take his wicket,” Harbhajan said. “It may not work all the time. Sometimes you might even get smashed. He would’ve hit sixes. But that is part of the game. You have to accept that he’s good.”Harbhajan said he would not allow Sooryavanshi’s batting to dictate his field settings in the powerplay.“I won’t set the field according to what he’s doing. I’ll set the field according to what I’m doing. If I bowl to escape, I won’t be able to get him out,” he said. “You go at him and you take his wicket. You might get success, you might not. That’s just a matter of time. You have to accept that he’s good.”

‘The next ball should be about how to get him out’

Harbhajan believes the challenge is as much mental as tactical, with Sooryavanshi capable of making experienced bowlers question themselves.“But still, the next ball should be about how to get him out,” he said.The former India spinner’s advice reflects the unusual challenge posed by Sooryavanshi, whose attacking approach means opponents cannot simply rely on defensive fields or containment.For Harbhajan, accepting that the teenager may score boundaries is part of the risk that comes with taking the aggressive route.

Iga Swiatek secured her first WTA title of the season with a straight-set victory over Elena Rybakina in the final of the Canadian Open on Thursday.

The six-time Grand Slam winner was cheered on by the crowd in Toronto as she beat world number two Rybakina 6-2 6-3.

Australian Open champion Rybakina struggled in the opening set and made 12 unforced errors, while Swiatek, 25, broke the Kazakhstan player’s serve twice – and saved two break points of her own.

In the second set, Rybakina, 27, was unable to break world number eight Swiatek, and the Polish player clinched her 26th career title in one hour and 15 minutes.

“It means so, so much to me because the past months were not easy,” said Swiatek, who will return to the top five in the rankings following her first Canadian final victory.

It has been a tough campaign for Swiatek, who will be looking to claim her first Grand Slam title since her dominant win in the Wimbledon final last year when the US Open starts later this month.

She advanced to the quarter-finals in Melbourne in January but was beaten by eventual champion Rybakina. In the French Open and this year’s Wimbledon, she only reached the fourth and third rounds respectively.

She appointed Spaniard Francisco Roig, who previously worked with Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu, to her coaching team in April.

Swiatek says it can be challenging to contend with external criticism while searching for her best form.

“I’m really happy that I kept focusing on growing, changing my game a little bit, improving despite all the opinions that many people have about me every day on the internet,” said Swiatek.

“It’s not easy to deal with all of that.”

Rybakina led 2-1 in the second set before Swiatek won five of the final six games to end the match as champion.

Runner-up Rybakina had one ace and four double faults, hitting just 13 winners and making 23 unforced errors in total.

“I tried my best but it wasn’t enough,” said Rybakina, whose previous three matches went to three sets.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter earned her first career win at the Cincinnati Open by defeating American Katie Volynets 7-5 0-6 6-4 in the first round.

After sealing her first victory since June, 30-year-old Boulter will face Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Linda Noskova in the second round.

Shubman Gill and Dhananjaya De Silva (Agency Image)

India will begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on Saturday, August 15, with the first match set to take place in Galle.The series comes at an important stage for India’s Test side. While Gautam Gambhir’s tenure has brought major success in white-ball cricket, including the Champions Trophy in 2025, the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, India’s recent Test record has been a concern.India suffered home Test series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa, which have dented their World Test Championship campaign. Their red-ball schedule has also been limited this year. The Test against Sri Lanka will be only India’s second Test match of 2026, after their clash against Afghanistan in June ended inside two-and-a-half days.India will be hoping for a stronger showing in Sri Lanka as they look to rebuild their Test momentum.

When will India vs Sri Lanka first Test start?

The first Test between India and Sri Lanka will begin on Saturday, August 15.The match is scheduled to start at 10 AM IST.

Where will India vs Sri Lanka first Test be played?

The opening Test will be played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Where to watch India vs Sri Lanka Tests on TV in India?

The two-match Test series will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India. Coverage will be available in multiple languages.The series will also be available on DD Sports for viewers who have access to DD Free Dish.

Where to watch India vs Sri Lanka Tests online?

Fans who prefer to stream the matches can watch the India vs Sri Lanka Test series live on SonyLIV.

India squad for Sri Lanka Tests

Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.

Sri Lanka squad for India Tests

Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.With India looking to revive their Test fortunes and Sri Lanka aiming to make the most of home conditions, the two-match series promises an important red-ball challenge for both sides.

The ongoing legal battle between Joe Gibbs Racing, Spire Motorsports, and Chris Gabehart has taken another turn, with a hearing now scheduled to address the counterclaims filed against JGR. Renowned NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass reported on X that the heading on whether to dismiss those counterclaims is set for August 26.

Earlier this year, JGR filed its $8 million lawsuit against its former competition director Chris Gabehart after he left the team to join Spire as its chief motorsports officer. The team accused Gabehart of taking confidential team information and violating his obligations to the organization after leaving for a leadership position with Spire. The case has since expanded to include claims and counterclaims from all sides.

Bob Pockrass on Thursday reported that a court date has been set to dismiss counterclaims filed by Spire and Gabehart and coach Joe Gibbs’ team.

One of the counterclaims at the center of the upcoming hearing comes from Gabehart, who alleges that JGR did not pay him everything he was owed. Spire Motorsports has also filed counterclaims against JGR, with the team alleging that Coach Joe Gibbs’ team failed to reciprocate an arrangement involving car chief Cheddar Smith.

“A hearing on whether to dismiss counterclaims Chris Gabehart and Spire filed against JGR is set for Aug. 26. Gabehart claims include JGR didn’t pay him everything he’s owed, Spire claims JGR never reciprocated what it promised when Spire let car chief Cheddar Smith to go to 54.” Pockrass wrote.

JGR previously withdrew one of the allegations against Spire and Chris Gabehart

JGR has withdrawn its explosive allegations that its former employee Chris Gabehart is running or deeply involved in Spire’s competition strategy and decisions.

Last month, JGR released a statement noting that JGR withdraws their claim and acknowledged in a court filing that it “does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations.”

In the filing, the JGR said:

“In discovery Spire Motorsports II, LLC (“Spire”) requested information supporting the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint. JGR responded to Spire’s request and concedes that it does not possess nonprivileged information sufficient to support the allegations contained in paragraph 129 of the Second Amended Complaint.”

The case is now moving toward a larger trial after legal teams have failed to reach an out-of-court settlement. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez has scheduled a 9-day jury trial for the lawsuit to begin on February 1, 2027, right before the Daytona 500.