Sports
‘This is a guy who is a T20 batter’: After Ireland debacle, Sanjay Manjrekar backs Shubman Gill’s comeback | Cricket News
India suffered a shocking 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland, marking the first time they have lost a bilateral T20I series against the Irish side. After dominating the IPL on batting-friendly surfaces, India’s young batting unit struggled to adapt to the seamer-friendly conditions in Ireland as the hosts outplayed them in both matches. The result also marked another series defeat for Gautam Gambhir in his tenure as head coach.Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes the defeat exposed a flaw in India’s team composition rather than just their execution. He argued that India have become overly reliant on batting all-rounders and now urgently need a specialist middle-order batter, also he cites why Shubman Gill should make a comeback in T20I setup. Taking to X, Manjrekar wrote: “It was too little earlier… under Gambhir, it is too many. The ‘all-rounders’. India need a PURE middle-order batter, pronto!”
Manjrekar wants Gill back in T20Is
During the broadcaster’s post-match discussion, Manjrekar further explained that Indian batters must develop the technique to succeed on pitches offering assistance to bowlers, instead of relying solely on the flat batting tracks they are accustomed to at home and in the IPL. He cited Shubman Gill as the ideal example of a batter capable of thriving in such conditions and backed the India ODI captain to eventually make a return to the T20I setup.“Shubman Gill… just for people to understand, this is a guy who is a T20 batter now and had a tremendous IPL as well. I’m not talking about captaincy, but these are the players you slowly want to introduce back into T20 cricket because they have a little more depth in conditions like these and are used to them as well, like we saw when he played in England and overseas,” Manjrekar said.“That is the path for Shubman Gill going forward. It won’t happen immediately, but I think you will slowly start seeing him back in India’s T20 plans,” he added.India will have an opportunity to bounce back quickly when they begin their five-match T20I series against England on July 1, with the team looking to put the disappointing Ireland tour behind them.
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | July 1, 2026 | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street | 10:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | July 4, 2026 | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 7:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | July 7, 2026 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 10:00 PM |
| 4th T20I | July 9, 2026 | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 10:00 PM |
| 5th T20I | July 11, 2026 | The Rose Bowl, Southampton | 7:00 PM |
| 1st ODI | July 14, 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 3:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | July 16, 2026 | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 5:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | July 19, 2026 | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM |
Sports
Serena Williams vs Maya Joint LIVE: Wimbledon 2026 scores and updates as tennis legend returns at age of 44
SECOND SET! Serena Williams 3-6 7-6 (8-6) Maya Joint
A 122mph ACE from Williams! Now she gets set point! Incredible. How does Joint respond!
She’s close to an ace, but out. A gripping rally… Joint is pushing but Williams holds on… JOINT GOES LONG AND WILLIAMS FORCES A THIRD!
WOW! Match point saved and the 44-year-old is still fighting!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:16
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (6-6) Maya Joint
Williams finds the first serve… Centre Court holds its breath… Williams powers the forehand winner! Match point saved!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:15
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (5-6) Maya Joint
Joint rattles out two quick points after drawing errors from Williams. Back on serve, she finds accuracy. An ace out wide and she moves ahead once more! If Joint loses either of the next two points, Williams will have set point on serve.
Joint gets Willams moving, switching the direction of her groundstrokes. Williams slices into the net. Then she blasts the backhand return wide. Instead, it will be match point to Joint!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:14
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (3-2) Maya Joint
An error from Williams on the first point, putting a short forehand into the net. But Joint then goes long on the return. Williams returns the favour: long on the forehand. First serves will be crucial for Williams here. She finds one, then powers the forehand winner down the line!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:10
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 Maya Joint
A hold from Joint sends us into a tiebreak. Williams stumbles a little chasing after the Joint winner, directed past her. After that epic last game, this is far simpler for the Australian. An ace out wide is followed by another. Love-hold. TIEBREAK!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:08
HOLD! Serena Williams 3-6 6-5 Maya Joint*
Williams, pushed slightly wide, nets on the forehand. Another break point, Williams is slo close to the line on the second serve, so is Joint on the return. This is gripping, but Joint fires long!
Another deuce…. How Williams would love a big first serve now, but Joint is generous enough to miss the return. On game point, Joint steadies and puts the forehand past a standing Williams.
Williams cracks the backhand winner – now she finds a first serve! Joint goes out, and Williams holds on! Four break points saved, and she’s still fighting! That was just pure grit.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:05
*Serena Williams 3-6 5-5 Maya Joint
Oh no. That’s a bad time to make a double fault from Williams! Joint then steps up and cracks the return, which Williams slumps into the net.
Three break points. Williams saves the first but may be tiring, she can’t find the first serve. Joint squirts a backhand return wide. Another saved.
Another return missed by Joint! Williams is hanging on and gets back to deuce.
Another miss from Joint – this coming while the room for the forehand winner was open.
This would be some escape… Williams thinks the ball from Joint landed long… some of the crowd did too. But no, she nets and Joint hangs on.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:01
*Serena Williams 3-6 5-5 Maya Joint
Joint takes a deep breath, steps up to the baseline, and fires a series of first serves which Williams can’t return. Back level.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 20:55
Serena Williams 3-6 5-4 Maya Joint*
For the first time in the second set, Williams LEADS. Joint cracks a backhand into the net and Williams has won back-to-back games to edge in front. Huge pressure now on Joint, who must hold serve to stay in this decider.
Oooh this is electric now.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 20:52
BREAK! *Serena Williams 3-6 4-4 Maya Joint
I wonder how the match would have gone had Williams been this aggressive in the first set. She starts by cracking a backhand return, then following in to put away the volley.
Two errors follow from Williams and she shrieks in frustration, but then she produces another crisp backhand return. It’s followed by an error from Joint and Williams will get another break point chance.
Joint knifes the backhand down the line…. but there’s Williams to put away the volley!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 20:48
Nov 09, 2010; Milwaukee, WI, USA; NBA logo on the basket during the game between the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. The Bucks defeated the Knicks 107-80. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Bids for all 12 planned future franchises of the soon-to-launch NBA Europe reached $500 million with some as high as $1 billion, Sportico reported Tuesday.
The NBA intends to launch NBA Europe by 2017, with 12 of the league’s 16 teams to be built from the ground up. Bids to own franchises in a dozen previously selected cities were due Monday.
The 12 predetermined cities are Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Berlin; Istanbul; London; Lyon, France; Madrid; Manchester, England; Milan; Munich; Paris; and Rome.
Reports have indicated that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is a potential investor in the Rome franchise.
“We’re extremely encouraged by the final bids we received for permanent franchises,” Mark Tatum, NBA deputy commissioner, said in a statement. “This will be the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, and we have clear front-runners in each of our 12 target cities, including many existing basketball and football clubs. We will now work with the NBA and FIBA Boards to finalize the long-form agreements.”
The report indicated that as many as 20 existing basketball and soccer clubs in Europe submitted ownership bids. NBA owners are not allowed to own teams in the new league.
The 16-team NBA Europe will be filled out with four existing FIBA franchises from various overseas leagues that will earn their way into the new league.
The reported bids for franchises met initial projections. Sports Business Journal reported earlier this year that potential owners would pay between $500 million and $1 billion for a franchise. Sportico reported earlier this week that the NBA will fund financial losses as NBA Europe tries to establish itself. The 12 new permanent franchises are projected to at least break even in three years.
All future league equity will be split evenly between current NBA owners and ownership groups of the 12 new franchises.
–Field Level Media
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scores a late winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to book their place in the last 16 in the 2026 World Cup.
 "RCB, IPL")
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Photo:PTI)
Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday cleared the acquisition of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore by a consortium of Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone in a Rs 16,660 crore all-cash deal.
In March this year, United Spirits Ltd (USL) announced the sale of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a Rs 16,660 crore all-cash deal to the consortium.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved the proposed deal.
“CCI approves acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding of Royal Challengers Sports by a consortium comprising Big Banyan Holdings, Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet, Times Cricket, ICQ Opportunities, Asia Investment Topco II and others,” the regulator said in a post on X.
Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices as well as promotes fair competition in the marketplace.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Jun 30 2026 | 7:51 PM IST
Chelsea evaded more serious UEFA sanctions Tuesday for overspending, while its sister club Strasbourg got the heaviest fine of 13 million euros ($14.8 million) among 14 clubs that broke financial monitoring rules.
Aston Villa was ordered to pay 7.5 million euros ($8.6 million), which was a one-third cut from its UEFA financial sanction last year.
One year ago, Chelsea was fined 31 million euros ($35.5 million) and set stricter financial targets which the club just missed by spending more than 70% of its revenue on wages and transfers in 2025, UEFA said.
Chelsea was fined just 1 million euros ($1.14 million) Tuesday, with a further 2 million euros deferred, after a season in which it won the Club World Cup and got almost $115 million from FIFA.
Villa was fined 7.5 million euros with twice that sum deferred in order to meet targets next year, when the new Europa League title holder will play in the Champions League.
UEFA praised Chelsea and Villa for making financial progress while urging both clubs toward “continuing to significantly decrease their squad cost ratio in 2026.”
Chelsea, however, should see a big revenue drop because the team will not play in the Champions League or any European competition next season after a 10th-place finish in the Premier League.
Chelsea did earn about $90 million in June in compensation from Manchester City for hiring its former coach Enzo Maresca and the sale of Spain defender Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.
Other fines ordered Tuesday include 7 million euros ($8 million) for Fenerbahce, and 6 million euros ($6.85 million) for each of Newcastle, Juventus and Fiorentina.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Jun 30 2026 | 11:51 PM IST
Serena Williams receives a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd as she walks out to play at Wimbledon for the first time in four years.
Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua during their women’s singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala scored a breakthrough victory at the Wimbledon Championships, racing past Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the second round early Wednesday (Manila time).
It was Eala’s first victory in the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, improving on her first-round exit in her main-draw debut last year.
Seeded for the first time at No. 29, Eala survived a few lengthy exchanges and won five straight games to close out the opening set, 6-1, against her former doubles partner and the world No. 75.
Backed by a partisan Filipino crowd, Eala carried the momentum into the second set, breaking early before consolidating the break for a 2-0 lead. Zarazua responded with a hold, but Eala remained in control.
Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua during their women’s singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)
Eala then reeled off three straight games for a commanding 5-1 advantage in the second set. Although Zarazua held to love to halt the run, the Filipino tennis ace served out the match.
A tough test awaits Eala in the next round, where she will face the winner between the comebacking Serena Williams and last year’s Eastbourne Open tormentor Maya Joint.
Williams and Joint are scheduled to play their first-round match as of posting.
Eala is also scheduled to compete in the doubles tournament with Nikola Bartunkova against Jeļena Ostapenko and Sofia Kenin.
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The Toronto pitcher cleared waivers and was assigned to triple-A Buffalo, the team announced Tuesday.
Woods Richardson was designated for assignment on Friday after the Blue Jays needed to make room on the roster to recall Adam Macko.
Toronto re-acquired Woods Richardson in a trade with the Minnesota Twins on June 3. In 10 innings across three appearances for the Blue Jays, all in relief, he struck out five, walked seven and didn’t give up an earned run.
Woods Richardson was originally in the team’s minor-league system before he was traded to the Twins in 2021 as part of a package for Jose Berríos. The 25-year-old made his major-league debut with Minnesota in 2022.
Sports
Ivory Coast v Norway LIVE: Score and World Cup updates as Haaland and Diomande face off in last 32
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
66 mins: Another Norway goal could kill off this game.
Odegaard stands over a corner and whips in a curling cross.
The ball is flicked on and Torbjorn Heggem arrives late before firing a low effort at goal!
Amad blocks the shot on the line and Ivory Coast clear. Huge moment!
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:27
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
63 mins: Amad Diallo is on for Ivory Coast to try and spark more creativity and a goal threat.
A cross from the right is won in the Norway back by Haaland who heads the ball away and then sprints high up the pitch to pressure Fofana as he comes out of his box to clear the danger.
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:25
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
63 mins: Amad Diallo is on for Ivory Coast to try and spark more creativity and a goal threat.
A cross from the right is won in the Norway back by Haaland who heads the ball away and then sprints high up the pitch to pressure Fofana as he comes out of his box to clear the danger.
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:24
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
Norway almost bite back against Ivory’s Coast’s dominance with a free kick into the box.
Odegaard swings it into a good area and the ball hits Berge before bouncing down for Fofana to smother.
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:20
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
57 mins: Another chance for Ivory Coast.
It’s Franck Kessie this time. He’s fed the ball by Pepe but touches a soft effort towards goal.
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:17
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
54 mins: Haaland looks a little dejected. He’s not really got into the game and a cross from the left flies over his head.
There’s a long way to go in this game yet…
Ivory Coast sweep up the pitch and sweep into the box. Pepe takes shot and fires one towards the near post but Orjan Nyland drops and palms it away!
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:15
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
51 mins: Ajer turns the ball out for a throw in as Ivory Coast attack down the left wing this time.
The African team have come out from the break with more focus and desire.
Norway need to shore up their defence.
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:11
Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway
48 mins: Pepe dribbles into the box from the right before slipping the ball back to Doue.
He fizzes a shot/cross into the six-yard area but there are none of his teammates on the end of the pass!
Mike Jones30 June 2026 19:09
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced the official calendar for the 2026/2027 season, with the new campaign set to begin between August 28 and 30, 2026.
According to the schedule released by the league, preparations for the new season will start in June with a series of activities aimed at ensuring clubs meet all operational and licensing requirements.
The pre-season programme will include club licensing, settlement of outstanding salaries owed to players and coaches, inspection of stadiums and facilities, and compliance checks for all participating clubs.
The NPFL will also organise its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the official fixtures draw, and the traditional Super 4/6 pre-season tournament in Lagos before the start of the new season.
Player registration and licensing exercises will take place in July and August, while the first transfer window will run from July 15 to September 14, 2026. Clubs have been given until August 22 to complete the registration of their players ahead of the opening fixtures.
The 2026/2027 NPFL season will feature 38 matchdays and will run from late August 2026 until May 30, 2027. The first half of the season will end after Matchday 19 in December, followed by a mid-season break from December 23, 2026, to January 6, 2027.
The second transfer window will remain open throughout January 2027 before league matches resume after the break.
The calendar also makes provision for the President Federation Cup. State qualifying matches are scheduled to begin in early February 2027, with the competition progressing through the Round of 64, Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals before the end of the domestic season.
The NPFL further revealed its long-term scheduling plans, noting that the current 2025/2026 season will conclude on May 24, 2026, while the 2026/2027 campaign is expected to end on May 30, 2027.
In addition, the league disclosed that the 2027/2028 season is tentatively scheduled to kick off between August 27 and 29, 2027, as part of efforts to maintain a stable and consistent football calendar.
The calendar also includes orientation programmes for newly promoted clubs as the NPFL continues preparations for another competitive season.
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