July 26, 05:05

Anahita Singh wins junior squash world championship title, ending Egyptian dominance

Indian athlete Anahita Singh set a new record by winning the Women's Singles title at the World Junior Squash Championship 2026, held in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.

Final and victory over opponent

In the final, held on July 25th (Saturday), the top-seeded Anahita defeated Ruki Salem from Egypt, who was the second seed. The victory was achieved in three games with scores of 11-3, 11-7, and 11-9.

Historic achievement in Indian squash

This success is particularly significant as no Indian player had previously won the junior squash world championship. Anahita surpassed Josh Chinppu, who had reached the final in 2005, to claim the trophy.

Tournament progression and dominance

In the title match, Anahita demonstrated complete superiority from the start. In the first game, she allowed Salem to score only three points, and in the second game, despite the Egyptian athlete's attempt to come back into the game, the Indian star maintained her composure and held the advantage. The third game was also tense, but Anahita closed out the match in three games with brilliant shots at crucial moments.

Indian bowlers started the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe convincingly. Mayank Yadav took a wicket on the very first ball, demonstrating his intentions. In this match, Ashok Sharma, who previously showed outstanding results for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, debuted for the Indian team. Many experienced bowlers were rested in this series, which allowed Ashok to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

Recognition due to pace

Besides Mayank Yadav, known for his speed, Ashok Sharma attracted the attention of experts with his play. After making a splash in the IPL, demonstrating deliveries over 150 km/h and aggressive bowling, he finally got the opportunity to play for India. Ashok's path to the Indian team was not easy.

Family and dreams

Ashok Sharma, hailing from the village of Rampur near Rajpura in Rajasthan state, came from a family with an unstable financial situation. Both Ashok and his elder brother liked cricket, but their father's salary was insufficient to cover the expenses of sports for two children. In this situation, Ashok's elder brother, Akshay Sharma, made an important decision by sacrificing his own dream for his younger brother. Ashok noted that his elder brother sacrificed his career, and without this, he would never have reached his current level.

Record delivery in IPL 2026

At the IPL 2026 auction, Gujarat Titans acquired Ashok for 90 million rupees. He attracted everyone's attention with his speed. Against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ashok bowled a ball at a speed of 154.2 km/h, which was the fastest delivery of the season.

Performances in domestic cricket

He also showed strong results in domestic cricket. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2025-26), Ashok Sharma became the most successful bowler, taking 22 wickets in 10 matches. During a Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai, when the team was in trouble, Ashok changed the course of the game by dismissing stars like Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, and Siddhesh Lad.

www.aajtak.inJuly 23, 07:55

Harbhajan Singh highly praises the talent of 15-year-old Vaivava Suryavanshi

Despite Vaivava Suryavanshi not achieving a major batting breakthrough during the T20 series against England, the team management remains confident in him. During the series against England, 15-year-old Vaivava scored runs in matches on 14, 13, and 15 points. It is anticipated that he will be given another opportunity to play in the T20 series against Zimbabwe.

Praise from Harbhajan Singh

Former Indian national spinner Harbhajan Singh highly praised the batsman, considering Vaivava Suryavanshi one of the rarest talents in Indian cricket. In an interview with JioStar, Harbhajan noted that the pressure from social media and the media on young players today is much higher than before. Nevertheless, Vaivava's fearless style of play sets him apart from others.

Generational Comparison and IPL

Harbhajan Singh emphasized that the main difference between the current young generation and players of his time lies in the influence of social media. He added that what Vaivava Suryavanshi is doing now, no one did before, calling it incredible. He stated that throughout his career, he had never seen or played against such talent.

Harbhajan Singh also recalled an interesting episode related to Vaivava's debut in the IPL (Indian Premier League). When Rahul Dravid was the coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), he asked Vaivava what he would do with the first ball of his IPL career. Vaivava replied without hesitation that if the first ball came into his reach zone, he would hit a six. This prediction proved true: Vaivava indeed hit an impressive six off the very first ball against Shardul Thakur in his first IPL game.

Prospects and Management Confidence

Although Vaivava Suryavanshi did not perform a major innings against England, the team has maintained faith in his aggressive attitude and confidence. He has established himself as an uncompromising player against star bowlers both in domestic cricket and in the IPL. This is why, despite initial setbacks, selectors and management see him as a future big star. Now, Vaivava Suryavanshi has a chance to prove himself during the tour of Zimbabwe. If he can translate his natural aggressive style into big scores, his place in the Indian team may strengthen. The statement from a veteran like Harbhajan Singh clearly indicates the high hopes placed on this 15-year-old batsman by Indian cricket in the coming years.

www.khaleejtimes.comJuly 13, 14:28

India drops Vaibhav Suryavanshi from T20I match against England, sparking reaction from cricket legends

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a fifteen-year-old player, attracted the attention of the entire cricketing world as the Indian team decided not to include him in the final T20I match against England.

Young Player's Achievements

This young batting talent broke Sachin Tendulkar's record, becoming the youngest player selected for the Indian national team and the youngest Indian representative across all formats. He is also a debutant for the country in Tests and the youngest in T20Is history.

Previously, Suryavanshi demonstrated impressive form for the Rajasthan Royals, scoring a total of 776 runs, including a century and a fifty, and becoming the tournament's top scorer by hitting a record 72 sixes.

Performance in Matches Against England

However, this successful form did not translate to the international level. In the first three matches against England, he managed to score only 14 runs at Manchester, 13 in Nottingham, and 15 in Bristol.

In the final T20I match against England, India decided to drop Suryavanshi, which was a controversial move and drew dissatisfaction among cricket legends. Nevertheless, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer defended the decision during the post-match press conference.

Team Management's Explanations

Iyer stated that Suryavanshi had to give way to Sanju Samson, who, according to him, 'has won us so many series in the past.' He clarified that the management wanted to form a combination of left-handers and right-handers in the top order batting, leading to the pairing of Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

Reaction from Cricket Stars

Great Indian cricket personality Sunil Gavaskar noted that the young player deserved another chance and mentioned that Suryavanshi appeared dejected, according to Indian media. Gavaskar added, 'I just hope someone puts a hand on his shoulder, some senior player, and says: 'Look, this is not the end'.' He also emphasized that if there was a chance to win the series, he would understand the need to give a chance to another player, but given the current scoreline (3-0), making an Indian victory impossible, Suryavanshi should have been kept in the squad.

Meanwhile, former player Mohammad Kaif, considered one of India's greatest fielders, expressed his bewilderment, stating that he 'has never seen such confusing Indian cricket management.' He addressed the team, noting that both Suryavanshi and Samson 'should receive confidence, not doubts in their minds.'

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu criticized the poor communication. He advised the team to 'take a little more care of him,' pointing out that Suryavanshi is a young player 'who will serve Indian cricket for 20–25 years.' Rayudu also noted that it is 'very important for the management to absorb all the negativity, soak up all the pressure, and keep such young people in a bubble of positivity,' according to Indian media reports.