India vs England, 3rd Test at Lord’s
- Cultural Shift: India’s coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized team ethos over individuals, asserting “Gautam Gambhir is not important” and urging focus on first-class cricket and collective pride.
- Historic Portrait Moment: The Home of Cricket honoured Sachin Tendulkar with a portrait unveiling and a symbolic bell strike to open Day 1, reaffirming his legendary status.
- On‑field Drama: England posted 251/4 at stumps, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99. Play was briefly halted when a swarm of ladybirds descended upon the pitch—a rare but light‑hearted interruption.
- Strategic Updates: England added fast bowler Jofra Archer back into their XI; India swapped Prasidh Krishna for Jasprit Bumrah, who returned to the attack.
- Backstage Realities: Gambhir also responded to Virat Kohli’s criticism of the BCCI’s family‑leave policy—emphasizing national priority over personal time
Wimbledon Semifinals & Final Insights
- Iga Swiatek’s Remarkable Run: The world No. 8 breezed past Belinda Bencic (6‑2, 6‑0) to reach her first Wimbledon final. Swiatek called her run “surprising,” hinting at youthful resurgence.
- In one of the biggest surprises of Wimbledon 2025, Amanda Anisimova delivered a stunning performance to defeat World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, securing her place in her first-ever Grand Slam final. The 23-year-old American displayed a fearless, aggressive style, dominating long rallies and converting crucial break points with clinical precision. Anisimova’s court coverage and consistency left Sabalenka frustrated, as the Belarusian struggled with unforced errors throughout the match. With this victory, Anisimova becomes the first unseeded woman in five years to reach the Wimbledon final, marking a new chapter in her career.
India Women’s T20I Series Win in England
The Indian women’s cricket team clinched their first-ever T20I series victory on English soil, registering a 3‑1 triumph—ironically, on July 9, exactly 26 years after their first men’s ODI series win in England. The spin‑dominated performances underlined India’s dominance and growth in women’s cricket.
Football Lows & New Leagues
- Men’s FIFA Ranking Alarm: India’s senior men’s football team slipped to their worst in nine years, dropping to 133rd after disappointing losses to Thailand and Hong Kong. Head coach Manolo Marquez has subsequently stepped down.
- Rugby Premier League Inauguration: India’s first franchise‑style rugby sevens tournament concluded its debut season with Chennai Bulls defeating Delhi Redz 41–0. The league featured six city‑based teams and global format experimentation.
- Bengal Super League Launch: West Bengal launched its new football league to develop district‑level talent and promote grassroots football across eight franchises.
- Durand Cup 2025 Preview: The 134th Durand Cup is set to start July 23, hosted in multiple cities under the IndianOil sponsorship—bringing India’s oldest football tournament to a new chapter
Esports: Free Fire Returns with Big Bucks
The Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025 opens registration (July 7–13) for gamers aged 16+, with a ₹1 crore prize pool. Renowned teams like GodLike Esports and K9 Esports are set to compete, marking the significant resurgence of the franchise’s presence in India
Tragic Loss of Promising Athlete
Radhika Yadav, a 25-year-old state-level tennis player, was shot dead by her father at their home in Gurugram’s Sector 57. Radhika’s father reportedly fired five bullets, three of which struck her. The incident is said to have taken place at around 10:30 am on the first floor of a house in Sushant Lok Phase 2, Gurugram. Her father, 49-year-old Deepak Yadav, has been arrested and his .32 bore licensed pistol recovered from his possession, they said.
Sandeep Kumar, PRO of Gurugram Police, confirmed the arrest of the accused and said that a case is being registered against him for murder. “Tennis player Radhika was shot dead with three bullets in Sector 57, Gurugram. The father has been accused of murder, and the bullets were fired from his licensed revolver. Gurugram Police has arrested the accused father, and a case is being registered,” Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Radhika’s father was reportedly upset with his daughter’s addiction to making reels on Instagram. Her mother was in the ground floor and Radhika, who played tennis for Haryana, was in the kitchen on the first floor when the crime took place, PTI reported.
Radhika was rushed to a private hospital in critical condition but succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
“We got information from the hospital that a 25-year-old woman had died. She suffered three bullet injuries. We met the woman’s uncle but he did not say anything. Then we went to the incident spot where we got to know that the woman’s father had fired at her,” an IndiaToday.in report said.
According to tenniskhelo.com, Radhika Yadav held an International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles ranking of 113.
Chess & Other Sports Updates
- India’s women’s players Humpy, Harika, Vaishali, and Divya have all advanced to Round 3 at the Chess World Cup—a testament to India’s rising prowess in elite global chess tournaments.
- Archery and athletics updates also featured in today’s national ensemble, although competitive summaries are still being tracked .
What to Watch Next
| Event | Why It Matters |
| Day 2–4 at Lord’s Test | Can India break England’s resistance and command the series? |
| Wimbledon Final | Will Swiatek or Anisimova lift the trophy in a first-time showdown? |
| Rugby & Football League Growth | Will new leagues attract national attention and foreign investment? |
| Durand Cup Build‑Up | Exciting early rounds ahead in July–August |
| Investigation in Tennis Tragedy | Ground for sports safety and social intervention discussions |
| Free Fire MAX Tournament Kick-off | Gaming and youth engagement on full display |
