'You want him to be fit...': Murali Kartik expresses concern over Gil…

Team India is set to clash with Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort.

Ahead of the match, former Team India cricketer Murali Kartik feels that skipper Shubman Gill's fitness would be crucial for the visitors. amunra.qpon

"I'm not worried about Shubman Gill's batting at all, because he's a class act, and he'll find a way to get runs. The most important thing is, you want him to be fit, because he's been plagued by lots of injuries, lots of niggles. He starts a series, and then he misses a few games, and you just don't want that. Even in the warm-up game, he didn't start," he said.

He then said that a sportsperson will never be able to give his 100 per cent if he is struggling with niggles or other injuries.

"As a sportsman, I can say that you want to feel 100% with your body. Otherwise, if you have niggles and some part of you is aching, you're never able to give your 100%. So, from that point of view, I would want him to be fit and hale and hearty," said Kartik.

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The former cricketer feels that there is a lot of pressure on Gill as the series against Sri Lanka is crucial for Team India's chances in the World Test Championship (WTC).

"From a point of view of a skipper, you're as good as your last game, you're as good as your last series, and with you having that crown on your head. I think heavy is the head which wears the crown, especially in Indian cricket. So, for that, Shubman Gil will always be questioned, whatever he do, whatever he does, whatever he's gonna do, and the most important thing is, there are so many people who'll dissect his every move, so it's never easy. There's a lot of pressure on him, and there's a lot of pressure on this series as well, because it's crucial for India's chances in the WTC," said the 49-year-old former cricketer.

IND vs SL 1st Test: Full squads

India: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dilshan Madushanka, Keshara Nuwantha.

(With ANI Inputs)

Paris [France], August 14 (ANI): S8UL Esports’ Nihal Sarin and Gen.G Esports’ Arjun Erigaisi have advanced to the quarterfinals of Chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after progressing through the lower bracket (LB) on the final day of the group stage.

Both Grandmasters, who also reached the playoffs at last year’s edition, will now lead India’s challenge in the quarter-finals on August 14 as they vie for the title and a share of the $1.5 million (Rs 14.3 crore) prize pool, according to a release.

Nihal began his day with a closely contested LB matchup against Team Nemesis’ Wei Yi. After the opening two games ended in draws, the Indian Grandmaster held his nerve in the Armageddon tiebreaker to secure victory and advance to the LB decider.

He then faced Weibo Gaming’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda, drawing the first game before winning the second to book his place in the playoffs. The qualification marks another strong EWC showing for Nihal, who also reached the quarterfinals at last year’s edition before being eliminated by eventual champion Magnus Carlsen of Team Liquid.

Speaking after his qualification, Nihal Sarin said, “Firstly, I am just extremely happy to make the top eight again and to have managed to play some good chess in some really tough matches. The format is very short, and you need to be sharp from the start. Getting just one win can make a huge difference psychologically. I am relieved to pull through and hope to do well tomorrow."

His S8UL teammate Pranesh M also kept his playoff hopes alive with a hard-fought victory over Team MGD1’s Benjamin Bok. After winning the opening game, Pranesh came close to sealing the match in the second before Bok mounted a late comeback to force an Armageddon. The tiebreaker ended in a draw, with Pranesh, playing with the Black pieces, progressing to the next round.

That set up an all-Indian LB decider against Arjun, who ultimately prevailed 2-0 to join Nihal in the quarterfinals, ending Pranesh’s campaign and completing Group A’s playoff lineup. Arjun, who finished fourth at last year’s edition, will now look to build on that performance and go further this time around.

“I am happy I got the job done. It is not going to be easy (to lift the trophy) with strong players like Alireza, Magnus and others, but I’ll just focus on giving my best," said Arjun Erigaisi after his victory, as quoted by the release.

In Group B, Aurora Gaming’s Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Virtus.pro’s Andrey Esipenko 1.5-0.5 to set up a Lower Bracket decider against AG.AL’s Denis Lazavik. Meanwhile, Team Stallions’ Sina Movahed defeated Fnatic’s Alexey Sarana in an Armageddon tiebreaker to advance to a decider against GodLike Esports’ Hans Moke Niemann.

The winners of those two matchups will join Nihal and Arjun in the playoffs, alongside defending champion Magnus, Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura, and Natus Vincere’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, completing the eight-player quarterfinal lineup.

The playoffs will take place on August 14 and 15 and will feature a single-elimination bracket. The quarterfinals will be played over four games, followed by six-game semifinals, while the grand final will be decided through a best-of-three-sets format. The first two sets will consist of four games each, with a potential third and final set comprising two games. (ANI)

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Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten lavished praise on India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was part of the Indian team when the South African was in charge from 2008 to 2011. “He [Gambhir] is a fantastic coach. He has had incredible success, won two World Cups [2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup]. He’s also had success in the IPL, so his record speaks for itself. I really enjoyed working with him. I knew he’d have success as a coach as well,” said Kirsten.

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], August 14 (ANI): Shillong Lajong FC booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 135th Durand Cup as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Langsning FC in a Group E fixture, played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday.

The result was enough to see Shillong Lajong finish top of the group with seven points, despite a spirited performance from Langsning FC, who ended their campaign second in Group E on five points, according to a release.

Joao Vitor de Paula Morais (Jota) struck twice for Shillong Lajong, on either side of the half-hour mark, before Everbrighton Sana added a third late on. Langsning FC, who fought back valiantly, found the net through Kyrmenskhem Mukhim, Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem and Syed Ahmed, the last of those arriving deep into second-half stoppage time.

The result also confirmed East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC’s place in the quarter-finals as the two best second-placed teams across the tournament, courtesy of a superior goal difference record.

Shillong Lajong signalled their intent inside the opening thirty seconds, winning an early free kick that Phrangki Buam whipped dangerously into the box, only for Langsning to scramble the danger clear, the release said.

The chances continued to arrive at both ends. Jota tested Langsning goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh from outside the box in the fifth minute, the effort straight enough for Lyngdoh to hold after an initial spill. Langsning responded through a goalmouth scramble in the eighth minute, Chusrang Sangma’s long throw cannoning off the crossbar before Shillong Lajong cleared their lines.

There was real tempo to proceedings from the outset, both sides committed to open, transitional football despite the significant stakes on offer. Shillong Lajong came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute, Sana squaring the ball across an unguarded goal for Abhay Gurung, who could not quite make the contact required.

Langsning had opportunities of their own. Sangma’s low strike was well blocked by Joedson Dos Santos in the 18th minute, and a second effort from distance five minutes later was comfortably held by Shillong Lajong goalkeeper Ranit Sarkar, the release said.

The deadlock broke in the 26th minute, born of a defensive mix-up. Joedson’s attempted line-breaking pass towards Jota was intercepted by Langsning captain Atlanson Kharmaw, only for the ball to squirm loose and fall straight into Jota’s path. With space opening up ahead of him, Jota drove into the box and slotted home calmly.

Shillong Lajong doubled their advantage four minutes later, and the second goal carried real quality. Sana produced an inventive backheel under pressure to release Jota, who danced past his marker with a couple of stepovers before finding the far corner.

To their credit, Langsning did not retreat. Their approach remained committed even at two goals down, understanding that only victory would secure their own passage to the quarter-finals. Syed Ahmed forced a smart save from Sarkar in the 37th minute, and Mukhim headed over from close range four minutes later after Sangma’s long throw had picked him out unmarked.

Shillong Lajong nearly extended their lead early in the second half, but Buam’s low effort was saved by Lyngdoh before Tremiki Lamurong’s follow-up lacked the conviction to trouble the goalkeeper further.

Langsning’s response arrived within two minutes. Sangma’s delivery from the left found Mukhim unmarked, and the forward headed home from close range to halve the deficit in the 49th minute.

The goal visibly unsettled the momentum of the contest, Langsning surging forward in search of an equaliser while Shillong Lajong found themselves increasingly camped in their own half. That pressure told in the 63rd minute, Mukhim showing composure to leave a crossfield pass for Denelson Pyngrope, whose cross was met by Wadajied’s towering header to level the scores.

Shillong Lajong searched for a response of their own, Buam beating his marker to work an opening in the box in the 69th minute, only for Lyngdoh to block his attempted cutback. Both sides continued to trade chances through an increasingly open contest, each committed to finding a winner rather than settling for the point that would, in Shillong Lajong’s case, have been enough regardless.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 83rd minute, and it was a fine team goal. Captain Kenstar Kharshong’s cross from the left found Sana unmarked at the far post, his header beating Lyngdoh at the near post to restore Shillong Lajong’s lead.

Langsning refused to yield. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, a short corner routine led to a cross from the right that Shillong Lajong failed to clear, and Ahmed rose at the back post to head home the equaliser and complete a memorable fightback.

There was no further twist to come. Shillong Lajong held firm through the closing stages to see out the point that confirmed their place at the top of Group E, while Langsning’s brave pursuit of a winning goal ultimately went unrewarded. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)