The former Indian off-spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has praised the country’s left-handed aggressive opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, for his temperament during the second T20I of the five-match series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). On his YouTube channel, Ashwin reflected on the southpaw’s natural flair. 

Abhishek Sharma has smashed 936 runs in 25 T20I innings at an average of 37.44 and a strike rate of 193.38 with the help of six fifties and two centuries at the best score of 135. In the first-class format, Sharma has clubbed 1071 runs in 37 innings with five fifties and one century.

See Also: BCCI issues massive injury update on Shreyas Iyer ahead of IND vs SA ODI series

“I truly believe, man, that the next batting superstar of India is Abhishek Sharma. See, he doesn’t have a problem exactly, not a problem, but a challenge. His challenge is to be able to control that downswing. I was reading somewhere that he still talks to Brian Lara because Lara had a huge backlit. His bat swing was magnificent too, so Abhishek spoke to Lara about controlling that bat swing to be able to play Test cricket.” Ashwin expressed on his YouTube channel.

Ravichandran Ashwin echoes voice for Abhishek Sharma’s Test selection in India 

In the MCG T20I against Australia, Abhishek slammed 68 runs in 37 balls at a strike rate of 183.78, smashing eight boundaries and two over boundaries. He was the biggest reason for the Blue Brigade to cross the 100-run mark despite losing five wickets inside the first eight overs.

“Even that day in Canberra, when the match was washed out, he was talking to Shubman Gill. From his gestures, it looked like he was talking about the bat swing and the pull shot. I even have a screenshot from the last game; he was a bit late on the pull shot then. But in this game, he made that correction. He found a way to get it over the top.” Ashwin addressed the video.

“He actually stepped out today, charged down the track, and Australia bowled really well too. They were bowling tight lines, fuller lengths, taking the pace off. But that full ball, especially when you charge at a fast bowler and they try to bowl a yorker, you don’t have the width to free your arms.” The former Tamil Nadu player concluded.

Legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara made a humble request to Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal after the young batter dominated the West Indies bowling attack at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi during the ongoing second Test. Jaiswal, 23, was in sensational form on the opening day, smashing 22 fours to score an unbeaten 173, setting the tone for India’s strong position in the match.

Jaiswal narrowly missed out on a well-deserved double century after being run out on Day 2, adding only two runs to his overnight total. In a video shared by the BCCI, Lara, who is currently in India, met the Indian youngster while he was preparing for an interview. The former West Indies captain congratulated Jaiswal and made a playful request. “Don’t beat our bowlers that bad,” Lara said. Jaiswal replied with a laugh, “No. I am just trying.”

Speaking about his batting approach, Jaiswal explained that he always played according to the situation and the team’s needs. “I always put the team first, how I can play for my team and what is important for my team at that moment in time,” he said in the video.

Jaiswal’s Mindset and West Indies Legends in India

“So I always think that, and that gives me the answer to how I can play, what shots I can play, how the wicket is, and if I’m there, I make sure that I take it as long as I can. So that is all my mindset that if I have a start, I make sure that I should make it big, just like that,” added the Indian opener.

Watch the video here

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam)

See Also: WATCH: Rahmat Shah leaves field in wheelchair after calf injury during AFG vs BAN ODI series

Lara, along with fellow West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards, is in India as part of the "Mission India" campaign to support the cash-strapped Cricket West Indies and help revive its structure in Tests. Lara also visited the West Indies dressing room after Day 2, chatting with players, head coach Daren Sammy, and captain Roston Chase for about 20 minutes.

In the second and third sessions on Day 1, Jaiswal added 193 runs for the second wicket with B Sai Sudharsan who made 87 from 165 balls. Jaiswal praised Sudharsan and also highlighted the strong performances of Shubman Gill, who made 129 runs not out, and the value of partnerships for India in a commanding position early in the Test. 

The CEAT Cricket Awards were held in Mumbai on October 7 as the 27th season of the show saw many big names present, including the former and current players of various countries. The veteran Indian batter, Rohit Sharma, under whom India won the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025, captured the headlines after he was presented with a special memento. 

The former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, was awarded the lifetime achievement, and the former Indian spinner, B.S. Chandrasekhar, was given the same award as well. The former England captain, Joe Root, won the international cricketer of the year award, while Sanju Samson topped Abhishek Sharma and Tilka Verma for T20I batter of the year.

See Also: [WATCH] Sana Mir analyzes Muneeba Ali's run-out from IND-W vs PAK-W clash during Women's World Cup 2025

Rohit has recently lost his ODI captaincy for the upcoming three-match 50-over series against Australia down under, which is going to begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Full list of CEAT Cricket Awards 2025 winners including Rohit Sharma

The BCCI announced Shubman Gill as the new leader of the ODI side after he also became the red-ball captain of the Blue Brigade during their previous Test trip against England in the United Kingdom. Temba Bavuma won the Exemplary Leadership for winning the WTC 2023-25.

Virat Kohli and Rohit will be back in competitive cricket since the end of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), while they will play for India for the first time since February this year.

CEAT Cricket Awards 2025 winners list-

During the emergency meeting, called by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), after their side rolled over for 27 runs during the third pink-ball Test against Australia in Jamaica, in the presence of Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Desmond Haynes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and current head coach, Darren Sammy, the future roadmap to success was discussed.

Since the end of the Test series, West Indies lost their five-match T20I series at home against Australia by 0-5 margin before losing the T20I series against Pakistan. However, they won the ODI series against the Mohammed Rizwan-led side by a margin of 2-1. Lara questioned whether the players still have the same motivation to play for the national side, apart from all the franchise T20 leagues.

See Also: Is Mohammed Rizwan's captaincy is the reason for Pakistan's downfall?

“It's been that case for years, where we are not on the same level-playing field as other playing countries. Back in the days when skill was the prominent factor, we excelled; we were the best team in the world. But the game has evolved, and technology and analytics, and we now have to see a new way of finding ourselves back to being very competitive.” The former West Indies captain expressed.

Brian Lara questions West Indies players’ motivation between franchise leagues and national side

It’s not a new issue among the modern-day West Indies players, who, on many occasions, have prioritized the T20 leagues around the world over the chance to represent their national side. That’s where they missed several key figures and suffered as a team.

“What motivates youngsters today? It might not be just representing the West Indies 365 days of the year. It might be playing in an IPL, a BBL, or something else. We have to find out those interests and see where West Indies cricket can still benefit from the youngsters. It's a long road; it's not going to happen tomorrow.” Brian Lara addressed.

“West Indies cricket is still very important in the minds of all youngsters, male and female, and when looking at cricket as a career. I think you have to understand that in different eras and decades, there are different motivational factors. In the '50s and early part of the '60s, we were thinking about independence; we can govern ourselves.” The Trinidad-born shed light.

Since Joe Root surpassed Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid in the ladder of the most Test runs of all-time to be in the back seat of Sachin Tendulkar, the talk of the town is only on the prediction of when and how he could break the record. But will they decide to pull him off the race and decide not to chase the record?

The discussion happened on the Star Sports studio as they reflected on the recent incident of Wiaan Mulder denying the chance to break Brian Lara’s 400-run record against Zimbabwe at the Queens Park Oval in Bulawayo. Will Joe take the same route and make the decision? The former Indian wicket-keeper, Parthiv Patel, certainly doesn’t think so.

See Also: [WATCH] Joe Root reflects on Sachin Tendulkar's greatness during ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

‘Not, he should not do it at all!! I mean, you are scoring runs, and the record belongs to you. I wasn’t convinced by what Mulder did. When Matthew Hayden broke the record for the first time, it was also against Zimbabwe in Perth. He didn’t deny that. So when you are in a situation like that, then why not? And Joe Root is quite near.’ Parthiv Patel expressed on Star Sports.

Watch: Parthiv Patel reflects on whether Joe Root will choose not to chase Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record

Patel made a valid point that Root stands at a position of being possibly the only person to break the record. With the amount of Tests played around the globe and the loss of attention to the oldest format of the game, it’s unlikely for anyone to get to the mark.

Should #JoeRoot pull a #WiaanMulder move and choose not to chase down #SachinTendulkar’s iconic record for most runs in Tests? 👀

🗣 #ParthivPatel shares his thoughts! #ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/xkvCs073fI pic.twitter.com/TNWaUUgZRl

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 26, 2025

‘A few years ago, people used to say that the record is there; you know, records are made to be broken. But realistically, if there is anyone who can break the record, then it’s Joe Root. If he can’t break it, then I don’t think anyone can. You know, you don’t play that amount of Test matches. So, if someone can break the record of 15921 runs, then it’s not Root.’ Patel addressed.

Currently, Root has 13409 runs in 286 innings at an average of 51.17 and a strike rate of 57.40, having scored 38 centuries and 66 half-centuries at the best score of 262. He is around 2500 runs behind Tendulkar’s 15921 runs in 329 innings.

The West Indies' catastrophic downfall in the Sabina Park Test has raised alarm bells within the Caribbean cricketing fraternity. A team that was once feared by many for its aggressive style of play has now completely lost its competitive edge. During day three of the Sabina Test, the West Indies were dismissed for a shocking 27, marking their lowest-ever score in Test cricket. 

In a bid to arrest this rapid decline in form, Cricket West Indies (CWI) have chaired an urgent meeting and have called upon the Windies legends to address this pressing matter. The governing body has invited three former players - Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, and Viv Richards, who will be a part of the emergency meeting, followed by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes, and Ian Bradshaw, who will carefully dissect the team's dismal performance in the day/night Test match.

See also: [WATCH] Mitchell Starc sledges back Jayden Seales during WI vs AUS 3rd Test in Jamaica

West Indies cricket in shock as national team sinks to a new low

In a series where the ball dominated the bat for the most part, the Windies batters were all at sea against the likes of Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins. Across three tests, the Men in Marron struggled to survive even a couple of sessions with the bat. But there is clearly no place to hide when the team only manages 27 runs before getting bundled out. Boland's record-breaking hat-trick got the Windies down on their knees, reeling at 26-9. Much to their relief, Alzarri was able to muster a single in the next over to take West Indies above New Zealand's lowest Test score record of 26 all-out against England. 

West Indies' 27/10 is the second-lowest total achieved by any team in test cricket. On the back of a brutal 0-3 whitewash at home, the West Indies have also gone past their previous worst test total of 47 against England. In a recent statement, the president of CWI, Dr Kishore Shallow, expressed his disappointment following his side's shocking defeat in Kingston and acknowledged that the fans and the players will have "sleepless nights". 

"Like every West Indian cricket fan, I felt the pain of our recent Test defeat to Australia. There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. But while disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey. We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world." 

Shallow insists that the Test team is currently undergoing a rebuilding phase and looks forward to drawing inspiration from the legendary Lara Richards and Lloyd, who helped redefine the legacy of West Indies cricket during its prime years. 

The former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, has made a shocking revelation on how breaking the world record twice in his career took a lot out of him and gave him several stress periods. During his recent interaction on ‘The Overlap cricket,’ the southpaw spoke on the night when Matthew Hayden broke his record of 375

‘I wasn’t annoyed. I was asleep in Jamaica. And my agent called me, and he was in London. He said you need to have a number for you to call. I said why because I think he did a lot on that day. So, he might have gone to sleep at 1:00 something, and then he scored a couple of hundreds on that day.’ Lara talked on the show.

See Also: WATCH: Relive when fans argued with Virat Kohli for not clicking photos

Hayden smashed 380 runs at the WACA against Zimbabwe in 2003, which came nine years after Lara built the record of the highest individual Test score of 375 against England at St John's. Before that, the previous highest score by an individual batter was unbeaten 365 runs by Garry Sobers in 1958 against Pakistan at the Sabina Park.

Watch: Brian Lara reveals how breaking records put stress on him

Lara looked back at the night when he called Hayden and congratulated him on the record. ‘So, he had a number to call the Perth dressing room. But I said Why? He said that someone broke your record. I called the dressing room, and it was very noisy. I went to Matthew and congratulated him. But funny enough, I felt that for those 10 years, I had a lot of stress because of those two records.’

"The records caused me stress" 😰

Brian Lara on the pressure of being cricket’s record-breaker 📚 pic.twitter.com/CbLnqT596S

— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 15, 2025

‘And one of my main things was actually to be a good captain and not to have strangled myself with the double world record. I wasn’t perturbed and didn’t worry much about it, but here came England 10 years later.’ The 56-year-old added during the same session.

However, Hayden’s 380 didn’t last long. Just six months later in 2004, at the same ground, St John’s Park, Lara became the first and the only batter as of now to celebrate 400 runs individually. That 400* is still the highest score by a batter in the longest format, coincidentally, along with the ground, it also came against England. The only difference was the opposition captains.

South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has revealed that West Indies legend Brian Lara urged him to chase down the world record for the highest individual Test score, after Mulder came tantalisingly close during the recent match against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Mulder stunned the cricketing world by finishing unbeaten on 367 at lunch on day two of the one-off Test, before making the surprise call to declare South Africa’s innings at 626/5 just 33 runs short of Lara’s iconic 400 not out against England in 2004. Mulder was the stand-in captain for the match, with both Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj unavailable.

The decision to declare early helped South Africa dominate the game and wrap up victory inside three days. However, the move sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits, with many wondering if Mulder had passed up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

ALSO SEE: Can Dhruv Jurel bat If Rishabh Pant doesn't keep wickets in ENG vs IND 3rd Test 2025?

Lara urged me to break his record, says Mulder

At the time, Mulder said he was at peace with his call. “You never know what is destined for me, but Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he remarked after the match. “He got 400 against England for someone of that stature, to keep that record is pretty special.” Now, Mulder has revealed that he recently spoke to Lara, who had an entirely different take on the matter.

“Now that things have settled a little bit, I've chatted a little bit to Brian Lara,” Mulder told SuperSport. “He said to me I'm creating my own legacy and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes if I'm ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had.” Despite Lara’s encouragement, Mulder still stands by his original call, saying, “That was an interesting point of view from his side, but I still believe I did the right thing, and respecting the game is the most important part for me.”

The Round of 16 clash between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon 2025 was nothing short of a spectacle, drawing a host of celebrities from film and sports to the prestigious Centre Court. The match saw a surprising start as Djokovic dropped the opening set 1-6, sending shockwaves through the crowd. However, the Serbian maestro quickly found his rhythm and staged a brilliant comeback. Displaying his trademark composure and skill, Djokovic clinched the next three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a tightly contested battle that lasted over three hours.

This hard-fought victory marked Djokovic's 101st career win at Wimbledon, underscoring his legendary status at the All England Club. More importantly, the win propelled him into the quarterfinals, putting him just three matches away from a historic 25th Grand Slam title. With each passing round, Djokovic continues to etch his name deeper into tennis history, and the packed stadium of fans and stars alike were witness to yet another chapter of his remarkable journey. The match served as a reminder of Djokovic’s ability to absorb pressure and turn games around even when faced with early setbacks.

Virat Kohli 

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, made a high-profile appearance at Wimbledon 2025 on Monday to watch Novak Djokovic’s Round of 16 match against Alex de Minaur. From the Centre Court stands, Kohli witnessed Djokovic bounce back from a set down to win in four sets. After the match, Kohli took to Instagram, calling it "business as usual for the gladiator." Djokovic reshared the story with gratitude, writing, "Thank you for supporting," acknowledging Kohli’s appreciation.

Following the match, Kohli expressed his support for Djokovic to lift the Wimbledon title and shared his wish for a Djokovic-Alcaraz final. He also hailed the Serbian as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Djokovic, in turn, praised Kohli and revealed that the two have exchanged messages in the past. The tennis star mentioned his interest in improving his cricket skills before possibly visiting India, showing mutual admiration between two global sporting icons.

10-years since his last #Wimbledon outing, #ViratKohli shares his thoughts on coming back to enjoy the action on Centre Court! 🎾#Wimbledon2025 👉 Watch all the action LIVE on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/dEUFVamMlH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 8, 2025

Joe Root

During the same Wimbledon fixture, England cricket star Joe Root was spotted at Centre Court, where he had a memorable meeting with tennis legend Roger Federer. Root, who is currently involved in the ongoing five-match Test series against India, attended the prestigious Grand Slam event alongside his wife, Carrie. The couple was seated in the Royal Box, enjoying the high-stakes tennis action.

Root and Carrie were seen posing for photos in the Royal Box ahead of the men’s Singles fourth-round clash between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic. A viral photo captured the moment Root warmly greeted eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer with a handshake, sparking excitement among fans. The cricketer’s presence added to the star-studded atmosphere, highlighting the crossover between elite athletes across different sports.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Brendon McCullum reveals pitch preferences ahead of 3rd Test at Lord’s

Rishabh Pant

India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant turned heads with his stylish appearance at Wimbledon 2025, arriving in a sleek black striped suit and tie. His visit came just a day after playing a key role in India’s historic Test win at Edgbaston. Pant, currently the vice-captain in the ongoing five-match series against England, made the most of his break between matches.

Pant enjoyed the world-class tennis action from Centre Court, taking in the atmosphere of the All England Club. Wimbledon’s official Instagram page even gave him a warm welcome, posting, “Welcome to #Wimbledon, @rishabpant.” With his stellar form on the cricket field and his charm off it, Pant continues to capture the spotlight both on and off the pitch.

James Anderson

Legendary English pacer James Anderson graced Wimbledon 2025 with a dapper appearance, joining Joe Root in the prestigious Royal Box. The recently retired fast bowler looked sharp in a suit as he attended the high-profile tennis event at Centre Court, drawing plenty of attention from fans and media alike.

Anderson shared a warm handshake with tennis icon Roger Federer, adding to the star-studded atmosphere of the day. Alongside fellow cricketer Root and other elite guests, the former pace spearhead enjoyed the thrilling action on court, marking a delightful crossover moment between cricket and tennis royalty.

Brain Lara

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara was spotted at Wimbledon 2025, joining several cricketing greats in the prestigious Royal Box. The former cricketer appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the tennis action on Centre Court, drawing attention from fans and cameras alike.

Images shared by Wimbledon’s official social media showed Lara warmly waving and acknowledging the crowd. His presence added to the star-studded lineup of guests, blending the worlds of cricket and tennis in a truly grand setting.

South Africa’s stand-in Test skipper for the second Zimbabwe Test, Wiaan Mulder, declared on 367 not out at lunch on the second day of the fixture, despite being so close to Brian Lara’s world record of 400*. It was already the highest individual red-ball score by a Protea batter, going past Hashim Amla’s 311, which he got against England in 2012 at the Kennington Oval.

Mulder decided against chasing Brian Lara's record and opted to declare the first innings at 626/5. At the end of the day’s play, he disclosed that the decision came after a small meeting with the head coach, Shukri Conrad, as he was happy to let the legendary West Indies southpaw keep the big score in history. Mulder finished with the fifth-highest individual Test score in the history of the game.

SEE ALSO: WATCH: Ravi Shastri recalls first time watching Shubman Gill bat in the nets

“You never know what is destined for me, but Brian Lara keeping that record (of the highest score in Tests) is exactly the way it should be. I thought we got enough from the new ball, and secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. He got 400 against England - for someone of that stature, to keep that record is pretty special.” The 27-year-old addressed Shaun Pollock. 

Watch: Wiaan Mulder declared a decision to avoid Brian Lara’s record

Given the amount of time left in the encounter, Mulder could have easily planned the record. However, more than that, it’s a great relief for the Proteas, who displayed trust in the batter to shoulder the responsibility at number three. After a couple of failures in the opening Test of the series and the WTC 2023-25 final against Australia at Lord’s, his return has impressed their coach.

“Wiaan’s innings was nothing short of extraordinary. Being the captain, then batting at No.3 where he had to absorb early pressure and face the new-ball, which he did with immense composure and control - it was unbelievable. It’s the kind of performance that anchors a team and sets the tone for the entire match. We’re incredibly proud of what he’s achieved today.” Conrad expressed at the end of the day's play.

"Let the legends keep the really big scores." ❤️

🇿🇦 Wiaan Mulder speaks to Shaun Pollock after his historic knock 👏#ZIMvSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/VqySlzOzHY

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 7, 2025

Zimbabwe were average in their first innings with the bat, getting bundled out for just 170, making the follow-on after the captain of the Rainbow Nations set the platform. The current WTC champions lead the series by 1-0 and could seal the deal by the end of the third day’s play.