‘Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli की खलेगी कमी’, न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ अगली सीर…

Rahul Dravid on Team India WTC Final Scenario: टीम इंडिया ने श्रीलंका को पहले टेस्ट में हराकर अपने वर्ल्ड टेस्ट चैंपियनशिप के फाइनल में पहुंचने की उम्मीदों को जिंदा रखा है और दूसरे टेस्ट में भी अपनी स्थिति मजबूत कर ली है। इस सीरीज के बाद टीम इंडिया को न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ 2 और अपने घर पर ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ 5 टेस्ट मैचों की सीरीज खेलनी हैं। इन दोनों सीरीज में टीम इंडिया का प्रदर्शन तय करेगी कि वो फाइनल में पहुंचेगी या नहीं। हालांकि टीम इंडिया को पूर्व कोच राहुल द्रविड़ को पूरा भरोसा है कि शुभमन गिल की अगुवाई वाली टीम WTC के फाइनल में जगह बना सकती है। लेकिन उन्होंने न्यूजीलैंड दौरे पर रोहित शर्मा, विराट कोहली चेतेश्वर पुजारा और अजिंक्य रहाणे जैसे बल्लेबाजों की कमी खलने की भी बात कही।

Rising Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha struck a second successive century to anchor his team’s innings but could not prevent the follow on that India imposed on the hosts after bowling them out for 290 to grab a 213-run first-innings lead in the second Test here on Wednesday.

India lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the Galle Test by 165 runs. likesport.biz

Resuming the penultimate day at 265/8, Sri Lanka were steered by Dinusha, who added quick runs before the hosts were bundled out in 89.4 overs.

India had declared their first innings for 503/9.

The Lankan No.7, who was overnight on 85, attacked debutant off-spinner Saransh Jain with a six and a four in the spinner’s first over of the day to race into the nineties.

Dinusha then completed his second Test century in the next over with a boundary off Prasidh Krishna. The 25-year-old left-hander scored 100 and 84 in the opening Test at Galle.

For India, Saransh (1/45) provided the first breakthrough of the day, dismissing Lahiru Kumara for his maiden Test wicket, before taking the prized scalp of Dinusha who got out for 103 (162b; 8×4, 3×6).

Prasidh Krishna (3/52) and Manav Suthar (3/85) picked up three wickets each.

Brief Scores:

India: 503/9 declared.

Sri Lanka: 290 all out in 89.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3/52, Manav Suthar (3/85).

St. Louis (Missouri) [US], August 26 (ANI): Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa suffered a setback in the opening classical game of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals, losing to Fabiano Caruana as the American took a 6-0 lead in their title match on Tuesday (local time).

Praggnanandhaa had held his own through much of the game and navigated an unusual opening setup to reach a complex middlegame. However, a costly one-move error on the 28th move allowed Caruana to seize the advantage and convert it into victory, according to Chess.com.

The result handed Caruana six points under the scoring system being used in the final, putting the American in a strong position ahead of the second classical game. Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, will need to recover quickly with only a limited number of games remaining in the match.

The opening phase produced an unconventional version of the Italian Opening, with both players adopting setups that challenged traditional opening principles. Caruana reached a middlegame featuring a bishop against a knight, but the position did not offer him a clear advantage initially.

The American GM was required to play accurately to maintain stability before Praggnanandhaa’s 28…Rc8?? proved decisive. The move overlooked a tactical opportunity and resulted in the loss of material, after which Caruana was able to bring the game to a winning conclusion.

Caruana’s victory was particularly significant as it ended a long wait for him to win a classical game at the Grand Chess Tour Finals. The American had not won a classical game in the competition since the event was introduced in 2018, although he has only participated in the finals three times, in 2018, 2025 and 2026.

Despite the six-point deficit, Praggnanandhaa’s match is not beyond recovery. The scoring format awards four points for a win in a rapid game, while the remaining games can also provide opportunities to close the gap. The Indian will have to produce a strong response in the second classical encounter, where he is expected to have the advantage of the white pieces.

In the third-place match, Vincent Keymer and Wesley So played out a draw in an absorbing opening game, leaving the contest level at 3-3.

The Keymer-So encounter featured another unusual approach to opening principles, with neither player castling during the game. Keymer adopted a London System structure and moved his king to e2, while the position developed into a highly tactical battle before settling into a rook endgame.

Both players produced a high level of accuracy, with neither able to create a decisive advantage. The draw ensured that the third-place match remains completely open heading into the second classical game.

The second classical games in both matches are scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, with play beginning at 10:30 p.m. IST. If the scores remain level after the classical games, bonus blitz tiebreaks could determine the outcome.

The 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals are being held from August 22 to 27 in St. Louis, Missouri. The $450,000 season-ending event features Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, Keymer and So in a single-elimination knockout format.

Each match consists of two classical, two rapid and four blitz games. Classical victories are worth six points, rapid wins four and blitz wins two, with draws earning half the respective winning points. The overall winner will take home the Grand Chess Tour title and the $200,000 first prize.

With only two days remaining in the competition, Praggnanandhaa faces a crucial second game against Caruana as he looks to overturn the early deficit and keep his hopes of reaching the final alive. (ANI)

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Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 25 (ANI): Meerut Mavericks continued their invincible run in the UP T20 League 2026, securing their seventh consecutive victory by defeating the Kanpur Superstars by 19 runs.

The Match 19 fixture at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium was reduced to a five-overs-a-side sprint due to heavy rain, according to a press release from the UPT20 League.

The evening was marked by an emotional farewell for veteran leg-spinner Karn Sharma, who played his final competitive match. Sharma was presented with a special memento by Governing Council Chairman Sanjay Kapoor for his immense contributions to the sport and was given a guard of honour by the players as he took the field.

Kanpur Superstars skipper Sameer Rizvi won the toss and elected to bowl first in the shortened contest. Knowing they had only 30 deliveries to set a total, the Meerut Mavericks’ batters went on the offensive immediately.

Good contributions from the top order set a rapid pace, but it was skipper & India international Rinku Singh who stole the show. He unleashed a devastating blitz, smashing 30 runs off just 10 deliveries to propel the Mavericks to a mammoth 96/3 in their five overs.

In a fitting end to his illustrious bowling career, Karn Sharma claimed the prized wicket of Rinku Singh to bow out on a high note.

Faced with a daunting target of 97 in five overs, the Kanpur Superstars started brightly. Openers Adarsh Singh (28 off 8 balls) and Sameer Rizvi (22 off 13 balls) provided an explosive start, keeping Kanpur in the hunt early on.

However, Meerut spinner Zeeshan Ansari turned the game on its head with a spectacular bowling display. Ansari delivered a brilliant spell, returning exceptional figures of 3/12 to completely derail the run chase. Unable to recover from his strikes, the Kanpur Superstars could only manage 77/3 in their five overs, suffering their fifth defeat in six matches.

For his game-changing spell, Zeeshan Ansari was adjudged the Player of the Match. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he shed light on his tactical approach in the high-pressure chase.

“Nothing much; the preparation has been to stay ready according to the team’s situation," Ansari explained regarding his consistent performances. “I have been bowling with the red ball, and that has been beneficial to me as well. I have been using my brain quite a bit while bowling and having fun doing it."

Addressing his ability to restrict runs in such a volatile format, he added, “I think that as long as I do not take wickets, my economy will increase. I try to get the set batters out. Once I do that, my economy goes down, and that was the case today. I was determined to get Sameer Rizvi out because I knew if he kept batting, the match would end with two or three balls to spare. I tried to get him out, and the over went well."

Ansari also acknowledged the intense pressure of defending a total in a five-over shootout.

“I was under pressure after the first over of the chase, given the circumstances. I try to back my strengths, bowling slower, trying variations, and bowling the googly, and I just focused on them," he concluded. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)