WHY ZIMBABWE AND INDIA CRICKETERS ARE WEARING BLACK ARMBANDS FOR THE SECOND T20I

India and Zimbabwe players were seen wearing black armbands during the second T20I in Harare on Saturday - here’s why.

The two teams took on each other in the second game of the three-match T20I series on Saturday (July 25). At the toss, which was won by Zimbabwe, both skippers, Shreyas Iyer and Sikandar Raza, were seen wearing black armbands, the reason for which was later confirmed by the BCCI.

Why are India and Zimbabwe wearing black armbands for the 2nd T20I?

According to a statement by the Indian cricket board, both Team India and Zimbabwe players are paying their respects to the Zimbabwe Cricket vice-chairman Sylvester Matshaka, who passed away last night.

Zimbabwe Cricket mourned the loss of Matshaka, 76, who passed away following a short illness on Friday. He joined the ZC board in 2006 and served as the vice-chairman since 2015. He was also part of the leadership that oversaw Zimbabwe’s return to Test cricket in 2011, after a six-year absence.

Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, Tavengwa Mukuhlani, paid tribute to Matshaka: “Mr Matshaka was a steady hand during some of the most defining moments in our history and his wisdom, sound judgement and quiet strength helped shape the organisation we are today, while his passion for growing the game touched countless lives across Zimbabwe.”

India make one change, Ashok Sharma dropped

India made one change to their XI, bringing in debutant Yash Thakur for Ashok Sharma for the game. Ashok, who had also made his debut in the last game, conceded 0-29 in four overs on Thursday. Zimbabwe were unchanged, hoping to draw level in the series after India clinched the first game by seven wickets.

The third T20I will be played tomorrow, Sunday, July 26

- Wisden

PBKS IPL 2026 PLAYOFFS QUALIFICATION SCENARIO: HOW CAN PUNJAB QUALIFY AFTER 5 DEFEATS

PBKS Playoffs qualification scenario, IPL 2026: Punjab have suffered five consecutive losses. (CREIMAS)

PBKS IPL 2026 Playoffs qualfication scenario: Punjab were on a phenomenal run since the start of the season, bossing the park with an unbeaten run of seven consecutive matches before losing five matches.

IPL 2026 Playoffs qualification scenario: Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings have endured a terrible patch of bad form right in the middle of their IPL 2026 campaign. PBKS’ staggering freefall has now extended to five successive defeats after a loss to Mumbai Indians in Dharamsala on Thursday night.

After a wobbly batting effort that still ushered them to a 200-run total, Punjab floundered in defence as Mumbai snatched a rare win during their poor season. Already eliminated from the Playoffs race, Mumbai have put Punjab under great pressure now to pull themselves through to the Playoffs.

Punjab’s move to their second base in Dharamsala has coincided with two losses now, the previous one occurring by 33 runs during a steep 236-run chase against SunRisers Hyderabad a few nights ago.

PBKS IPL 2026 Playoffs qualification scenario

Punjab were on a phenomenal run since the start of the season, with Iyer and Co. bossing the park with an unbeaten run of seven consecutive matches. However, things changed drastically as they went on to drop the next five matches.

Having ceded the top spot over the last two weeks, Punjab are stranded on 13 points from 12 games, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of them.

Punjab’s next two matches are against RCB and Lucknow Super Giants, who are already eliminated from the Playoffs race.

If they manage to win both games, Punjab could finish at 17 points and be secured of a top-four finish as only two other teams can be in contention to surpass the mark then. If they slip-up in either of the two remaining matches and earn only one win, Punjab will be all but out of contention as they will finish on 15 points. RCB and Gujarat Titans have already reached 16 points with SRH, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals also in the race to reach 16 points.

Punjab will have their task cut out, but can still rest easy believing that their fate still lies in their own hands.

PBKS remaining matches

PBKS vs RCB, May 17, 3:30 PM IST – Dharamsala

LSG vs PBKS, May 23, 7:30 PM IST – Lucknow

- The Indian Express 

SACHIN TENDULKAR BREAKS DOWN SHREYAS LYER'S 'CATCH OF THE SEASON' TO DISMISS HARDIK PANDYA

 Sachin Tendulkar summed up Shreyas' acrobatic effort, saying that the PBKS captain got everything "spot on".

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer celebrates after relaying a stunning catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya. @BCCI

Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar was right on the money as he explained Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer's flying attempt, which many described as the "Catch of the Season", to get rid of Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya. Shreyas was at his acrobatic best as he ran in from long-on to reverse-cup Hardik's mistimed pull before relaying it to Xavier Bartlett despite being airborne. The attempt stunned fans and experts alike, including Tendulkar, who described it as "one of the best catches i've ever seen".

The MI dugout had the best view of Shreyas' audacious attempt, especially Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who were sitting just a few meters away from where the PBKS skipper landed after parrying the ball to the fielder charging in from long-off. In a viral video, Rohit and Surya were seen looking at each other with expressions of pure disbelief.

Taking to X, Tendulkar summed up Shreyas' acrobatic effort, saying that the PBKS captain got everything "spot on".

"What made Shreyas Iyer's catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it. He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect," Tendulkar wrote on X.

The legendary batter noted the key to the catch wasn't just Shreyas' athleticism, but his head position, balance and awareness.

"Then, while still in the air, he caught the ball and released it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a split second takes unbelievable awareness, timing, fitness, and composure.

"Shreyas Iyer got everything spot on. One of the best catches I've ever seen live!"

- Vedant Yadav

IPL FINAL 2025, RCB' VS PBKS LIVE CRICKET SCORE STREAMING ONLINE: WHERE TO WATCH ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE BS PUNJAB KINGS MATCH LIVE?

IPL 2025 Final, RCB vs PBKS Live Cricket Score Streaming Online: The Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings Match Live Telecast can be watched on Star Sports Network and Live Streaming of RCB vs PBKS can be watched on the JioHotstar App and Website.

IPL Final 2025, RCB vs PBKS Live Cricket Streaming: Rajat Patidar's Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings in the final of the 2025 IPL. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

IPL Final 2025, RCB vs PBKS Live Cricket Score Streaming Online Today Match: Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) face Rajat Patidar’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday, June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It is a rematch of Qualifier 1, in which RCB had swatted PBKS aside. However, the latter come into this match on the back of a stunning victory over the Mumbai Indians and with a lot of momentum going for them.

PBKS’ batting lineup, who had been largely responsible for their success this season, collapsed in a heap to Josh Hazlewood and Co. in Qualifier 1. However, they followed that up by dominating the arguably more daunting attack of the Mumbai Indians consisting of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. RCB however would be looking to bank on everything they did right in the first qualifier as talisman Virat Kohli gets yet another chance to finally win his first IPL title. What is for sure is that the IPL will have a first-time title-winner at the end of the day, with both PBKS and RCB never having lifted the trophy before.

RCB vs MI IPL 2025 Final livestreaming

Which channel will broadcast the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final? 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final will be broadcasted live on Star Sports Network.

What time will the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final toss happen?

The toss for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final will take place at 07:00 PM IST.

What time will the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final start?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final will start at 07:30 PM IST.

The live streaming of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings IPL 2025 Final will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.

- Sports Desk, The Indian Express 

'HE HAS GIVEN A LOT OF YEARS TO RCB': CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR SAYS TEAM WILL PUT BEST FOOT FORWARD TO WIN IPL TROPHY FOR VIRAT KOHLI

Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru warming up during an IPL match vs Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. (Sportzpics)

Kohli has played in three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 with RCB but has ended up on the losing side in each of the summit clashes.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar said that Virat Kohli had given a lot to the franchise over the years and they’ll try to play their best cricket in Tuesday’s IPL final against the Punjab Kings to help Kohli get his hands on the coveted trophy.

“Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game,” Patidar told media on Monday during his pre-match press conference.

“We are not looking on the stage that we are in the finals. We will try to play our best cricket. We are not playing here for the stage. I always like to keep things simple,” he added.

Kohli has played in three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 with RCB but has ended up on the losing side in each of the summit clashes with his individual brilliance not being enough for them to end their title drought.

Patidar, meanwhile, will be captaining a franchise for the first time in an IPL final as opposed to his PBKS counterpart Shreyas Iyer who has led three different teams to the final of the cash rich league.

“Till now, I have enjoyed a lot to be honest. For me, I think it is a great opportunity to learn from the great leaders of the game, (some) great players, great foreign players of the game. It is a great opportunity for me to learn from them and their different ideas, which is helping me a lot in my leadership role,” he said.

“I have always tried to create a good environment off the field as much as I can so that every player, whether it is a domestic player or an international player, they both feel the same. They should feel relaxed and confident. I think this is my first point,” Patidar added.

- Sports Desk

BUMRAH'S STATUS CONFIRMED AS INDIA ANNOUNCE ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 SQUAD

Two-time winners India have named their 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's Champions Trophy.

India, who won the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2002 and 2013, will look for a third title under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed a portion of the Sydney Test due to injury, has been included in the squad, with chief Selector Ajit Agarkar stating that the team management will keep an eye on the pacer's fitness in the lead-up to the tournament.

Bumrah delivered for India at the highest stage in the 2024 Men's T20WC 2024

Keeping Bumrah's fitness in mind, Harshit Rana comes into India's squad for the England ODIs, preceding the Champions Trophy, as a cover.

Yashasvi Jaiswal joins regular names Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill at the top of the order, while experienced KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant comprise the middle order.

Hardik Pandya, whose last ODI came in the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup, features as the sole pace-bowling all-rounder. Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar are the three spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad, and left-arm tweaker Kuldeep Yadav also returns following an injury.

The pace attack will comprise of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Shami, alongside Bumrah and Hardik.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.

In the last edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, India reached the finals before losing to Pakistan.

India's Group Stage Fixtures:

20 February - India vs Bangladesh, Dubai

23 February - India vs Pakistan, Dubai

2 March - India vs New Zealand, Dubai"

 - ICC

INDIA BACK LYER AT FOUR DESPITE CHENNAI DUCK

Reuters 

Shreyas Iyer's number four slot is not under threat from in-form team mate KL Rahul, batting coach Vikram Rathour said on the eve of their World Cup match against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Iyer returned from a back injury recently to reclaim his number four position and scored a three-ball duck in Sunday's opener against Australia.

Chasing 200 for victory, India were in trouble after both openers -- Ishan Kishan and skipper Rohit Sharma -- had fallen before they could open their account.

Former India stalwart Yuvraj Singh was aghast at Iyer's casual drive that David Warner pouched at short cover.