Magnus Carlsen’s transition into fatherhood has reshaped how he approaches chess, work and time. Despite unprecedented success, he still sees himself as a provider, balancing the joy of raising his son with the demands of a global career. Fatherhood helped cement his decision to abandon the classical World Championship, revealing a man reallocating ambition around family, responsibility and purpose. More

East Zone’s Duleep Trophy triumph on Thursday, their first since 2012, offered perhaps the clearest indication yet of the strength of Jharkhand’s emerging batting core. Captain Ishan Kishan led from the front, aggregating 350 runs in the final, while Shikhar Mohan, Kumar Kushagra, Md Kounain Quraishi and Anukul Roy were among the Jharkhand players who made significant contributions during the campaign. More

Magnus Carlsen says Gukesh should not view his upcoming World Championship match against Javokhir Sindarov as a title defence, but as an opportunity to gain. Carlsen believes Gukesh’s peak level matches or exceeds Sindarov’s, though early momentum will be crucial. He also highlights chess’s psychological nature, suggesting confidence and pressure could significantly influence the short match More

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After two decades in legal turmoil, former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin has finally been acquitted of all charges related to a 2004 case of forgery and cheating. The court's ruling highlighted the absence of credible evidence against Martin, allowing him to close this challenging chapter of his life and career. He can now look forward to a brighter future, free from the shadows of this protracted legal battle. More

Elon Musk believes chess will eventually be fully solved by AI, drawing comparisons with checkers. Magnus Carlsen was less certain, saying he isn't a computer expert but noting chess is already “semi-solved” as a likely draw. Carlsen also praised AI for making chess more accessible, while backing the Global Chess League’s exciting team format and enjoying his visits to India. More

Michael Smith, the batting coach for Pakistan, emphasizes that young talent requires time and opportunities to flourish. As the team undergoes a transformative period on this tour, he highlights the encouraging developments seen in players such as Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood. Smith believes consistent performances over extended innings are crucial, and future tours will provide essential insights into the evolving batting capabilities of the team. More

Saim Ayub’s return to the Pakistan Test team ended in a nightmare as he was dismissed for a duck in both innings of the third Test against England at Edgbaston. The young opener faced only 11 balls across the two innings, with England pacer Ollie Robinson dismissing him on both occasions. More

The AI-generated pictures have given MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer vintage hairstyles, colourful outfits and classic 1980s settings. The trend has now spread across the cricket world, with IPL teams and several cricketers joining in and sharing their own 1980s avatars. More

Sourav Ganguly stated Mohammed Shami is not overlooked by selectors and remains a champion. Shami's domestic cricket performances are encouraging, and he has achieved much. Ganguly believes it is too early to predict Shami's 2027 World Cup inclusion. He also praised Ishan Kishan's Duleep Trophy efforts for a potential Test return. Ganguly stressed the importance of Test cricket for young players like Kishan. More

After months of rehab at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy were declared fit to join the team which will fly to Japan for the Asian Games two days after the series. Also on Thursday morning, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced that Harshit Rana had suffered another injury during his match simulation test at the CoE on Tuesday. Pacer Yash Thakur was named as his replacement. More

The Delhi High Court has denied Vinesh Phogat an interim exemption to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships. The court emphasised the need for uniform eligibility criteria applicable to all athletes. Although Phogat's maternity challenges will be assessed in terms of policy validity, the court has ruled against granting interim relief, thus barring her participation in the trials. More

Mohammed Siraj shared that a two-month hiatus disrupted his bowling flow and pace. However, he managed to find his lost rhythm during the Duleep Trophy final. His run-up appeared uncoordinated in Sri Lanka, which hampered his momentum and speed. Siraj is convinced that extended bowling sessions are vital for his body’s optimal function. To help, Mohammed Shami provided guidance, reminding him of his fundamental bowling strengths. More

Sunil Gavaskar highlights the need to reassess India's congested cricket calendar, warning that relentless competition and travel may lead to player fatigue. He underscores the importance of nurturing domestic cricket as the foundation for the national team, advocating for improvements in this area to ensure sustained success in the future. This commentary aligns with the ICC's forthcoming discussions on scheduling. More

Defending champions APL Pipers bounced back from a 4-12 loss to Ganges Grandmasters to beat Alaskan Knights 11-6 and move top of the GCL standings on game points. Mumba Masters kept their playoff hopes alive with a 14-5 win over Triveni Continental Kings. Pipers, American Gambits and Ganges are level on 15 match points. More