Team India T20 Squad Announcement Live: Shreyas Iyer to be named CAPT…

Team India T20 Squad Announcement Live: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors are set to meet in Mumbai on Saturday morning to pick T20I squads for the tour of Ireland and England followed by Asian Games 2026 in Japan in September. The biggest talking point in the selection meeting will be the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as India’s newest T20I captain replacing T20 World Cup 2026-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav at the helm.

Suryakumar Yadav is not only set to be sacked as captain but he is also likely to be dropped altogether from the T20I squad due to poor form with the bat in the T20 World Cup 2026 and the IPL 2026 season with Mumbai Indians. Iyer is likely to find his place in the T20 squad in place of Suryakumar Yadav after being ignored for T20 World Cup 2026.

The other major debate will be weather 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally get his maiden call-up to the senior men’s team for a potential international debut. Sooryavanshi has become eligible to play for Team India after turning 15 years of age in March this year. sportbet.reviews

The Rajasthan Royals opener set the IPL 2026 season on fire and became the youngest-ever winner of the Orange Cap with 776 runs at an incredible strike-rate of 237.3. The selectors will be picking T20I squads for two-match series vs Ireland starting on June 26, five-match series against England in July followed by Asian Games 2026 in Japan in September.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will be addressing the media at the BCCI HQ in Mumbai from 1pm IST onwards on Saturday.

Check out Team India T20 Squad Announcement Live updates HERE –

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa etched his name in the history books as he became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title with a final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer here, capping off a brilliant campaign in style.

Praggnanandhaa, who began the final day in third place with 15 points, delivered when it mattered the most, securing a classical win worth three full points to finish on 18 points and clinch one of the most coveted trophies in elite chess.

In doing so, the 20-year-old Chennai player achieved a feat that had eluded even Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh among others, since the tournament’s inception in 2013.

Competing in Norway Chess for only the second time, Praggnanandhaa endured a slow start in the elite six-player field before gathering momentum in the second half of the event to secure four wins on the trot.

His campaign was highlighted by a remarkable achievement — defeating seven-time Norway Chess champion and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess — a rare accomplishment that underlined his determination to bounce back from the disappointment of an underwhelming Candidates Tournament in Paphos earlier this year.

As reigning world champion Gukesh fell out of contention in the closing stages, Praggnanandhaa ensured that India’s challenge remained alive, ultimately carrying it all the way to the title.

The result was made possible after American Grandmaster Wesley So, who led the standings with 15.5 points heading into the final round, was held to a draw in his classical game against Alireza Firouzja, sending their contest into an Armageddon tie-break.

That outcome opened the door for Praggnanandhaa, who knew that a classical victory over Keymer would propel him to the top of the standings and secure a landmark title.

Although Wesley So went on to win the Armageddon tie-break, the victory was worth only 1.5 points, taking his tally to 17 points — one short of Praggnanandhaa’s winning total of 18.

Alireza, who had also entered the final round with title hopes, finished third with 15.5 points.

Meanwhile, Gukesh’s disappointing campaign continued as his third appearance in the tournament ended without the breakthrough he had hoped for in a year when he is set to defend his world title against challenger Javokhir Sindarov.

In the final round, Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, defeated the 20-year-old Indian in a classical game to collect three full points. However, the victory was not enough to propel the Norwegian great into title contention, as he finished fifth in the standings with 13 points.

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India made a sensational start to the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026, clinching five of the first six gold medals on offer and establishing an early lead in the medal tally in Ahmedabad. The hosts delivered a commanding performance across multiple categories, underlining their status as one of the favourites in the global event.

Golden Beginning for the Hosts

The Indian contingent showcased its strength and depth on the opening day, collecting five gold medals while maintaining a firm grip on the top spot in the standings. The impressive haul reflected the country’s growing dominance in Yogasana as a competitive sport.

Among the standout performances, India’s Sub-Junior Boys Traditional Group team secured gold after defeating Nepal, while the Junior Girls Traditional Group team also emerged victorious against the same opponents to claim top honours.

Ahmedabad Hosts Historic Event

The championship, being staged in Ahmedabad from June 4 to 8, marks the first-ever edition of the World Yogasana Championships. Athletes from more than 60 countries are competing in the landmark event, highlighting the sport’s expanding international appeal.

India Sets Early Pace

Backed by enthusiastic home support, Indian athletes demonstrated exceptional flexibility, balance and technical precision to dominate the early contests. Their strong showing has given the hosts significant momentum as the championship enters its crucial stages.

Growing Global Recognition for Yogasana

The championship represents another milestone in the effort to establish Yogasana as a globally recognised competitive discipline. With participation from dozens of nations, the tournament is being viewed as a major step towards expanding the sport’s international footprint.

Eyes on More Success

Having opened their campaign with five gold medals, India will now look to extend their dominance in the remaining events. With the hosts already setting the benchmark, expectations are high for an even bigger medal haul as the World Yogasana Championships progress.

The post India Open World Yogasana Championships Campaign with Five Gold Medals appeared first on SSI FANZINE.

Hardik Pandya is all set to play the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan as he has been declared fit by the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE). On the morning of June 6, when Team India is up against Afghanistan for the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, the fitness update of Hardik Pandya has arrived.

Pandya is among the players who are uncertain to take part in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India named the pace bowling all-rounder in the squad, but his participation was subject to his fitness status.

Hardik Pandya is fit and fine to face Afghanistan.

During the IPL 2026 campaign, Hardik Pandya missed a few matches for the Mumbai Indians because of a back spasm. Because of the injury setback, he missed multiple matches during the latter half of the tournament. Although he made his return during the Mumbai Indians’ last match of the campaign, his fitness was under concern.

As per the latest updates, the CoE has declared Hardik Pandya fit, and the board has received his clearance certificate as well. Which means, the star all-rounder has no issue to take fields for the national side for the 3-match home One Day International series. Ahead of the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, Hardik Pandya will be desperate to prove himself after enduring an underwhelming Indian Premier League season in 2026.

Rohit Sharma's fitness update is yet to come.

Like Pandya, Rohit Sharma’s fitness is also under the scanner. The experienced opener injured his hamstring during the IPL 2026 season and missed a few matches as well. He made his comeback during the campaign, but played mostly as an impact player for the Mumbai Indians.

“The Centre of Excellence has declared Hardik Pandya fit. The team management has received their report. He will play in the ODI series against Afghanistan. He will prove to be an important player for next year's ODI World Cup. Now, only Rohit Sharma's fitness report is pending,” Abhishek Tripathi, a Dainik Jagran reporter, informed on today on ‘X’.

सेंट्रल आफ एक्सीलेंस ने हार्दिक पांड्या को फिट घोषित किया। टीम प्रबंधन को उनकी रिपोर्ट मिल गई है। वह अफगानिस्तान के विरुद्ध वनडे सीरीज खेलेंगे। अगले साल होने वाले वन दे विश्व कप के लिए वह महत्वपूर्ण खिलाड़ी साबित होंगे। अब सिर्फ रोहित शर्मा की फिटनेस रिपोर्ट आना बाकी है।…

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) June 6, 2026

Virat Kohli ruled out of the ODI series

Meanwhile, because of a hamstring tear, Virat Kohli, who was about to play in the ODI series, has been ruled out of the contest entirely. As per the latest updates, the batter may require six weeks to recover his fitness. During these six weeks, he will have to do recovery sessions as well.

It is learnt that Virat Kohli picked up the injury during the IPL 2026 final. He might have played the match with an injury. It is reported that he has consulted with a renowned orthopedic regarding his injury issue, and came to know that it would take a substantial amount of time to recover fully. However, no surgery will be needed to heal the injury.

As of now, Virat Kohli is injured, final reports on Rohit Sharma’s fitness are yet to come, and Hardik Pandya is declared fit to play. The three-match ODI series between India and Afghanistan will start on Saturday, June 13.

Like Rohit Sharma, two other star players of India, Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana, are also recovering from separate injury issues. Rana missed the IPL 2026 season entirely because of a ligament strain. He is expected to receive clearance by June 17.

Varun Chakravarthy is also uncertain for the three-match ODI series, as he had a hairline fracture during his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.

Read More: India field Test XI without Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin after 16 years, 69 Tests

Throughout Norway Chess 2026, Praggnanandhaa showed a fearless approach against the world’s best players and went on to win the title. One of the biggest patterns in his tournament was that he never seemed content with playing safely. Even against elite opponents, he looked for winning chances. This was evident in his victories over Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh D and Vincent Keymer, where he continued to press even when the positions were complicated and required precise play. Rather than settling for draws, he repeatedly pushed for full points.

Another clear feature of his tournament was his flexibility. Pragg did not depend on one opening system or one type of position. Against Carlsen with the white pieces, he entered a sharp Sicilian battle and created practical chances from the middlegame onwards. Against Firouzja, he was happy to play a slower and more positional game before gradually taking over. Against Gukesh with the black pieces, he accepted a complex strategic battle and patiently waited for the right moment to strike. This ability to adjust his style according to the opponent made him very difficult to prepare for.

Patience was perhaps one of his greatest strengths throughout the event. His win against Firouzja in the second half of the tournament is a good example. The game remained balanced for a long period, but Pragg slowly improved his position and kept creating small problems. As the pressure increased and time became a factor, Firouzja’s position became harder to defend.

Similarly, against Keymer in the final round, he did not rush for tactical opportunities. Instead, he steadily built pressure and converted his advantage in a controlled manner.
His confidence with the black pieces played a huge role in his title run.

Many players are satisfied with drawing against opponents like Carlsen or Gukesh when they have black pieces. Pragg did the opposite. He defeated Carlsen in a French Defence, showing excellent preparation and confidence from the opening. He also beat Gukesh with black in a highly tense encounter where he gradually took over the initiative before launching a decisive attack. These victories were particularly important because winning with black against elite opposition is often what separates tournament winners from the rest of the field.

Another recurring theme was his ability to recover after setbacks. He lost to Firouzja early in the tournament and later suffered a defeat against Gukesh. However, neither loss affected his overall campaign. After losing to Gukesh, he responded by defeating Carlsen and then Gukesh himself later in the event. This showed remarkable resilience and mental toughness. Many players become cautious after a painful defeat, but Pragg continued playing ambitious chess.

The tournament also highlighted his calmness under pressure. His second victory over Carlsen is perhaps the best example. Playing against the hometown favourite and former world champion is difficult in itself, but Pragg remained composed in a tense struggle. As the game progressed, he steadily increased the pressure and eventually outplayed Carlsen. The same composure was visible in his win over Keymer, where he handled a critical final-round game without allowing the stakes to affect his decision-making.

Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Chess 2026 triumph was built on consistency, resilience, patience, and fearless play, as he repeatedly outplayed the world’s best players in different kinds of positions.

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The post The Resilience Behind Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Chess 2026 Title appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.