Even at 38. Djokovic feels young
Novak Djokovic is not going anywhere just yet, and proved he can still grind out a result when it really matters in a testing match against Cameron Norrie. The former British No. 1 pushed Djokovic to his limits in a gruelling fourth-round clash at the US Open, but the Serb pushed through the pain barrier to reach another milestone. A last 16 meeting with Jan-Lennard Struff awaits. If there were any doubts about Djokovic’s ability to move explosively at 38, he dispelled them in the seventh game. Norrie, serving at 3-3, 30-30, hit a ball short and came forward. He may not have thought that Djokovic would get to it in time to hit a topspin pass; if so, he was wrong. Djokovic burst forward the way he always has, and snapped a backhand pass to go up a break point. He closed the game with a deftly measured lob-smash combination. The speed was there, and so was the touch. Novak Djokovic says he feels as “young as ever” after overcoming Cameron Norrie in a bruising four-setter at the US Open and equalling Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record. Djokovic came out on top with a 6-4 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3 win to claim his place in the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the 69th time, replicating Federer’s feat. At 38 years old, he also became the oldest man to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors in 1991. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was visibly struggling with his back in the opening set and had an off-court time out, leading 5-4 in the opener. When asked about it, in his on-court interview, the Serb replied: “Yeah, it’s all right. You have some ups and downs. You don’t want to reveal too much to the rivals listening and watching this interview. “I’m good, man. I’m as young as ever, as strong as ever. Yes. It’s New York. Even if you’re feeling something body-wise, the energy that you’re feeling in this court just overrides it.” Djokovic returned after the medical timeout to serve out the first set and also received further treatment in the first changeover in the second, which Norrie secured after a tie-break. Despite a shaky start to the third set after being broken in the early game, Djokovic responded superbly after immediately breaking back and taking the double break at 3-1. The fourth and final set swayed Djokovic’s way after an early break in the second game, before wrapping it up 6-4 to take the match. The overall quality from both players was supremely impressive, with Norrie registering 44 winners, while Djokovic had 51 and claimed 18 aces – a personal best in New York. “Overall, it was probably the best serving performance of the tournament,” Djokovic explained. “Of course, I’m glad for that. It’s probably one of the most, if not, the most important shot in the game. So, I’m glad how I executed that shot.” Speaking about his general performance in more detail, the Serb believes this gives him further conviction of being able to challenge at the top of the sport. However, he admitted that managing his body has become all the more important in the latter stages of his career. “These kind of matches and performances always give me hope that I can go far, challenge the best players in the world. “In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest. It’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100% always like I have for 20-plus years. “But I guess the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that every match there’s something that might happen, as it has been the case this year in pretty much every slam.”
Kieron Pollard Creates History
Legendary West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard entered his name in the history books on Saturday (August 30) by becoming the second cricketer in the world to score 14,000 runs in T20s. The 38-year-old all-rounder needed 19 runs on Saturday to complete 14,000 runs in T20s and join Chris Gayle in the elite list, and he achieved the objective by remaining unbeaten on 19 runs from nine balls for Trinbago Knight Riders in the 16th league match of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 against Barbados Royals at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Gayle finished his T20 career with 14,562 runs in 463 matches, whereas Pollard has 14,000 runs to his name in 712 matches. Kieron Pollard created a world record and he became the first player in the world to score 14000 runs and scalp 300 wickets in T20 cricket. Only one batsman – Chris Gayle – has managed to score more than 14000 runs in the shortest format. There are many bowlers with more than 300 wickets, but only Pollard has 14000 runs as well. The former West Indies T20I captain has 14000 runs and 332 wickets in 712 T20s he has played so far. Pollard played 101 T20Is before giving up international cricket. Gayle, T20 cricket’s highest run-scorer, has 14562 runs in the format. His tally includes 22 centuries and 88 fifties. Pollard is only 563 runs away from overtaking him and he can become the T20 cricket’s highest run-scorer in the next couple of years. Rashid Khan tops the wicket-taking list in T20s. The Afghanistan leg-spinner has 661 wickets in 488 matches. He can become the first bowler in the world to scalp 1000 T20 wickets. He is followed by Dwayne Bravo, who has dismissed 631 wickets. With 590 wickets, Sunil Narine sits in the third position. Throughout his T20 career spanning from 2006 to 2025, Pollard has represented 19 different teams, including the West Indies national team. His impressive statistics include one century and 64 half-centuries in the format, along with 876 fours and 942 sixes. In international cricket, Pollard scored 1,569 runs in 101 T20Is for the West Indies. His Indian Premier League career with Mumbai Indians has been particularly noteworthy, amassing 3,412 runs in 189 matches. Pollard’s contribution to T20 cricket extends beyond batting, as he has claimed 332 wickets as a bowler, making him one of the most versatile players in the format. His all-round capabilities have been displayed across various T20 leagues worldwide, including the Big Bash League and The Hundred.
Rohit, bumrah attend yo-yo test, kohli uncertain
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who now only play one format for India—ODIs—are anticipated to take part in the three-match series against Australia in October 2025. Their future in international cricket is still up in the air though. According to a recent report, Rohit and Virat may play their final series in Indian colors in October as the present team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, may overlook the duo for the 2027 World Cup. The same report added that the two stalwarts of the game might be asked to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they harbour the dream of winning the World Cup in South Africa. Amid all the chatter, Rohit and Virat have started preparing for their next big assignment. India’s ODI captain Rohit is one of seven players who will undergo a pre-fitness test at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. Rohit will be joined by Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammad Siraj, and Shardul Thakur, who will all undergo the Yo-Yo Test. These players will also undergo the Dexa Can to determine their bone density. These tests are a part of the pre-season tests. However, there is no clarity on Virat Kohli, who retired from Tests in May this year. It remains unclear when the former India captain will undergo the fitness Test. This is also the first time Rohit will undergo the fitness Test since announcing his retirement from Tests. A representative of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed to the Indian Express that all players under central contract are required to take a fitness test before to the season. According to the board’s rules, this is mandatory. “All players have to undergo a pre-season fitness Test, it’s mandatory as per the contract. These tests help the COE understand the areas the players have to work on or where they are lacking. As there was a big break (after the England Test series), the players were given sets of exercises to do at home,” the BCCI official stated. Prior to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England, both Virat and Rohit quit Test cricket. After India won the 2024 World Cup, the duo also stopped playing Twenty20 Internationals. Adrian le Roux, the current strength and conditioning coach for the Indian team, has already suggested including the rugby-focused Bronco Test in the fitness evaluations. The Indian Express claims that later in the season, the Bronco Test will be included in the regimen. Ahead of the Asia Cup, which starts on September 9, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have already shown up for the fitness test.
Amorim out? Southgate may receive offers to take over
Ruben Amorim admits he doesn’t know if he will remain as manager of Manchester United – but says he has no plans to quit. The under-fire Red Devils boss hinted he was ready to chuck in the towel following Wednesday’s humiliating defeat against Grimsby Town Carabao Cup. He will hold showdown talks with the hierarchy during the international break next week. Significantly, former England manager Gareth Southgate is one of the favorites to join as the manager if he is removed finally. Asked if he will be in charge after today’s crunch home clash with Burnley, Amorim said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen, that is my idea. After the Burnley clash at Old Trafford, Amorim’s United face a Manchester derby with City at the Etihad on September 14 followed by Chelsea. At his Carrington press conference yesterday, he conceded there were times he thought about quitting. Amorim was asked to explain comments he made after his flops crashed out to minnows Grimsby in midweek. He stated his players had ‘spoken loudly’ about what they wanted to happen. Amorim, whose side are winless after three games in all competitions this season, said he will hold more talks with director of football Jason Wilcox over the disappointing start to the season.
Satwik-Chirag’s ‘sweet revenge’ of Paris Olympics in BWF against the Malaysian pair on Friday
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured themselves a medal at the BWF World Championships in Paris after beating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh in the quarterfinal. This will be the Indian pair’s second world championship medal, following a bronze in the 2022 edition. The quarterfinal win also helped Satwik-Chirag avenge their defeat to the same Malaysian pair in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals at the same venue. “It was a rematch of sorts from the Olympics and I think we finally got some redemption. It was the same court, same arena, a year back exactly. It’s always a pleasure playing against them. We’ve always had some really tough battles at the biggest of events and really happy we could win today,” said Chirag after the win. Satwik-Chirag outclassed their opponents in straight games, a margin which took even them by a little surprise. “In the second game, when we were leading, I was thinking for sure we would not win this easily. I was telling myself, ‘Don’t hurry for the point’. I had a belief that we were under control, no need to panic, because we only gave [away] a few points there. “They were under pressure, I sensed that. As I said before, we just want to play our A game and see where we’ll end up. That’s what we are doing from the first match. We are just focusing on ourselves, not on the opponents. We are really happy the way we played today,” added Satwik. Satwik and Chirag will now take on World No. 11 Li Yiu and Bo Yang Chen of China in their semifinal on Saturday.
FIDE bans Kiril Shevchenko for hiding phone in bathroom, cancels his Grandmaster title also
Kirill Shevchenko, once ranked 75th, has been banned by FIDE from participating in FIDE-rated tournaments for three years. The three-year ban has already been effective from 19th October 2024. His Grandmaster title has also been revoked after he was found guilty of cheating during the Spanish Team Championship in October 2024. The ruling issued by FIDE’s Ethics and Disciplinary Commission was made after Shevchenko admitted to hiding a phone in the bathroom during the tournament, making him the highest-ranked Grandmaster to receive such a ban. The 22-year Grandmaster was immediately expelled from the tournament after a cleaning staff member found the found in the bathroom, and he conveyed to the tournament authorities that he found a similar phone on the previous day in the bathroom.
Binny to quit; rajiv shukla likely to fill the post
Indian Cricket returns to making headlines once again, as this time it’s within the top management that a change has taken place. The latest reports coming out of BCCI are that they have a new interim president, Rajeev Shukla, after the serving one, Roger Binny, stepped aside from his position. Sources close to the information have revealed that Shukla will assume charge till the next BCCI elections, expected in September. While the BCCI unanimously appointed Shukla as the IPL chairman in 2015, he was elected unopposed as the BCCI’s vice-president in 2020. Meanwhile, upon being re-elected, Binny shall continue in his role as the board’s president; however, should he fail to get enough votes, a new face will lead the Indian Cricket Board. During the BCCI Apex Council meeting on Wednesday (Aug 27), Shukla took charge as the acting chief, a report in Dainik Jagran read. The meeting’s agenda was to finalise Team India’s lead sponsor following Dream11’s departure, with the 2025 Asia Cup also starting in ten days; however, fixing one before the T20 tournament gets underway in the UAE remains a massive challenge. “We don’t even have two weeks left. We are trying, but floating a new tender, completing legal processes, and handling technicalities will take time. As for a short-term sponsor only for the Asia Cup, we are not going that way. Our focus is on securing a sponsor for the next two-and-a-half years, until the 2027 ODI World Cup in October-November,” the report read. Although the new National Sports Governance Act was passed in the parliament earlier, the Indian Cricket Board shall continue to conduct its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections (in September) under the existing rule, as it will take close to five months for the new bill to come into effect. Despite BCCI operating under the constitution drafted after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Lodha Committee recommendations, the elections for the cricket board or any state association that are due shall be held under the existing rule. Regarding the age cap, with the Lodha Committee recommendations setting it at 70 for all office bearers, the revised act stretches it till 75 to contest elections, allowing Binny, who turned 70 recently, to fight for the post once again. The report also claims that BCCI office bearers would be forced to step down after the completion of nine years in total or six consecutive years in office. “If BCCI President Roger Binny had to step down, then state associations will also have to accept the same,” the report highlighted.
Lalit Modi reveals secret video on Sreesanth-Harbhajan slapgate
After 17 years in the IPL archives, former commissioner of the league Lalit Modi finally released the video footage of Harbhajan Singh slapping S Sreesanth. For almost 18 years, the video footage of the infamous IPL slapgate incident between Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth stayed hidden. It was archived. All these years, no one quite knew what had happened, except the fact that Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth after Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) defeated the Mumbai Indians in a match from the first-ever edition of the Indian Premier League. When the incident took place, the coverage had cut to commercials, and when the live streaming came back on, the visuals of Sreesanth crying sent absolute shockwaves through the cricketing world. These were Indian teammates, playing for the same team. What could have happened that senior pro Harbhajan was forced to raise his hand on his younger teammate? Of course, a lot of water has flown under the bridge since. Harbhajan and Sreesanth have since buried the hatchet and gone on to become good friends. However, after 17 long years, the clip that sent ripples through the tournament is finally released when former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi aired it on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 podcast. The year 2008 was unforgettable in Indian cricket. It saw the birth of the Indian Premier League which has, since then, went on to become the world’s biggest T20 cricket tournament. But, beyond the novelty of the format and tournament, what stayed in the minds of the viewers was an infamous incident on the field after a match between the Punjab Kings XI and Mumbai Indians in Mohali. KXIP pacer S. Sreesanth, reportedly, got under the MI spinner’s skin to such an extent during the match, that after the game, when the players were shaking hands, Harbhajan allegedly slapped Sreesanth. The incident was not caught on camera then, but footage minutes later showed Sreesanth in tears and other players consoling him. Harbhajan was suspended for the remainder of the season, banned for 11 games and his match fees forfeited. In a podcast with Australian World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke, Lalit Modi shared the video, saying, “The game was over, cameras were shut off. One of my security cameras was on. It caught the incident between Sreesanth and Bhajji (Harbhajan), and Bhajji just gives him a back-hander. “I hadn’t put it out for so long. We have 18 years behind us for this,” said Lalit Modi, on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. Interestingly, Harbhajan had recently expressed regret over the slapgate, in an interaction with Ravichandran Ashwin on the latter’s YouTube channel. Admitting what he did was wrong, he said he wished he could remove the incident from his career and life. He added that he had apologised over “200 times” for the incident. “What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father’,” Harbhajan told Ashwin. “My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what is the impression I have left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? She sees me as the guy who hit her father. I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter.”
AFC seeks clarity on the resumption of ISL from AIFF; Answer likely to be given on Friday
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed worry and seeks clarity on the ongoing impasse of Indian Super League. AIFF is expected to reply to the AFC after today’s Supreme Court verdicts. Datuk Seri Windsor John, the AFC general secretary, wrote to AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan demanding clarity on the matter following ‘absence of official communication’ from the AIFF and having to follow the case through media reports. In the letter to the AIFF, the continental body described the halt as “deeply concerning” and warned of the wider risks it poses to Indian football. ‘The indefinite suspension of India’s top-tier league is deeply concerning, given its disruption to clubs’ operations, delayed salaries, and the wider threat it poses to the stability of domestic and continental football. This also leads to the question of whether the AIFF will lose the authority to issue club licences under the current circumstances.” the letter stated. The AFC has asked the AIFF to submit a factual report on several key areas. This includes the progress of commercial negotiations with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the timeline of the pending Supreme Court ruling, and the direct impact on clubs, players, and officials. The governing body also requested concrete details on measures being taken to resume the league and safeguard stability. AIFF, however, has sought more time and promised to respond after the next Supreme Court hearing on Thursday. At the centre of the crisis lies the unresolved renewal of the 15-year Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with FSDL, which expires on December 8. Due to the deadlock, FSDL has kept the ISL season on hold “until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure.”
Eswaran misses Duleep Trophy due to fever; Shami performs, but without a wicket
Central Zone captain Dhruv Jurel and East Zone skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran were absent as the Duleep Trophy quarter-finals got underway in Bengaluru on Thursday, dealing a blow to their respective sides. The North Zone also entered the match with a leadership change. Original skipper Shubman Gill was sidelined after failing to recover from a fever in time. Vice-captain Ankit Kumar stepped up to lead the team, while Shubham Goel was added as Gill’s replacement. The Central Zone faced a similar challenge when Jurel missed the clash against the NorthEast Zone due to a groin niggle that flared up on the eve of the match. Although the Test specialist was present for pre-match proceedings, team management advised him to sit out to avoid further aggravating the injury. In his absence, Rajat Patidar, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their IPL title earlier this year and was Central Zone’s vice-captain, took over the leadership role in the high-stakes knockout game. East Zone faced an even bigger crisis. Abhimanyu Easwaran fell ill with a fever on the morning of their quarter-final against North Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His absence left a void in the top order, compounded by the unavailability of pacer Akash Deep and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag was handed the captaincy, stepping into the leadership void to guide a weakened side in a tough encounter. North Zone, however, asked to bat by East Zone, have scored 207 for the loss of four wickets. Manishi has been the most impressive performer with the ball, scalping three wickets at the cost of 60 runs in his nine overs. Former India pacer Mohammed Shami, although he has shown his skill, giving away only 29 runs in 12 overs, has been wicketless so far. Current India bowler Mukesh Kumar also has not been able to pick up a wicket so far.
