Star RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya shares cryptic message on social m…

Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya has made it clear that he is still hoping for another chance with India after being left out of the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

Soon after India’s squad was announced, Krunal shared an Instagram story with the words “Hope is still alive”, along with a fingers-crossed emoji and the Indian flag. The post came after there had been speculation that the all-rounder could return to the national team for the series in New Delhi.

Krunal has not played for India since 2021, but his recent performances have kept him in the discussion for a return. The 35-year-old enjoyed a strong IPL 2026 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won the title for the second straight year. somethingsdifferent.biz

Krunal scored 226 runs in nine innings during the 2026 season at a strike rate of 145.80. He also picked up 14 wickets, giving RCB an important option with both bat and ball.

His form with RCB had led to questions about whether he could get another opportunity in the Indian team. However, the selectors have gone with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the main spin-bowling all-rounder options for the Afghanistan series.

Krunal last played an international match for India in 2021. He has played 19 T20Is, scoring 124 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 130.52. With the ball, he has taken 15 wickets at an average of 36.93, with his best figures being 4/36.

He also has five ODI appearances to his name, scoring 130 runs and taking two wickets. His best score in the format is an unbeaten 58.

The upcoming Afghanistan series will be played entirely in New Delhi, with the three matches scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17. India will be led by Shreyas Iyer, while Jasprit Bumrah returns to the squad, subject to fitness clearance.

The squad also includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar and Washington provide the all-round options, while Arshdeep Singh, Bumrah and Harshit Rana form the pace group.

After the series against Afghanistan, Shreyas Iyer and co will fly to the Japanese cities of Aichi and Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games, where the Indians will be vying to defend the gold medal they won in the previous edition at Hangzhou three years ago.

Similarly for the women’s team, they will also be looking to win back-to-back Asian Games title following the conclusion of the on-going ACC Women’s Asia Cup in UAE.

Pakistan is set to take on England in the third Test match. The match is scheduled to begin from September 9 at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

Ahead of the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made major changes to the squad. Following the changes, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen jokingly remarked that the interview during the toss for Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam could be very long and the toss should be started a night before.

"When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team. Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar! Maybe the toss should start the night before??," he wrote on his official social media handle.

When a captain is interviewed before every game, the interviewer asks about changes in their team.
Could be a v v v v long interview for my buddy, Babar!
Maybe the toss should start the night before?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) September 1, 2026

The PCB has released seven players from the Test squad. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul were also snubbed from their roles as head coach and bowling coach, respectively.

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were among the players released from the squad.

In the ongoing three-match Test series, the hosts have already taken a lead by 2-0. They will look to continue on their winning momentum and register a whitewash against Pakistan. On the other hand, the visitors will be eager to secure a win and finish the series on a positive note, despite poor performances.

ENG vs PAK 3rd Test: Full squads

England: Joe Root (C), Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Dan Lawrence, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith (WK), Jordon Cox (WK), Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.

Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (WK), Razaullah, Saad Baig (WK), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Ubaid Shah.

(With ANI Inputs)

Viswanathan Anand is juggling two contrasting roles at this time. He is the interim FIDE President and also a competitive chess player. While handling increased responsibilities at world chess’s governing body, the Indian Grandmaster remains focused on the Global Chess League. Representing Alaskan Knights, Anand says his hunger to win remains strong, while his experience and routine help him balance administration, family commitments, and competitive chess.

Five years after appearing as Serena Williams’ younger self in the film King Richard, 17-year-old Thea Frodin made her Grand Slam debut in the first round of the on-going US Open at the Flushing Meadows. The American youngster has had an exceptional journey, transitioning from the big screen to the tennis court in just a few years’ time.

Frodin faced a huge challenge in her first match as she went up against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina at the Grandstand. The teenager might have lost 6-3, 6-2 but the occasion marked the beginning of her career at the highest level. Rybakina, who won the 2026 Australian Open, moved into the second round, while Frodin walked away from her first WTA Tour match with valuable experience.

Thea was only 12 when she was selected for King Richard, a 2021 film starring Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus Williams. The film depicts the Williams sisters’ early years and their rise in tennis.

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Thea Frodin did not play Serena herself in the film. She served as the tennis body double for actress Demi Singleton, who portrayed a young Serena. The 17-year-old’s job was to perform the tennis movements and shots that were shown on screen.

Her own tennis ability helped her land the opportunity after she had been competing successfully in junior tournaments in California.

Frodin spent about six months on the film set and worked alongside actors including Will Smith. She has said that copying Serena’s strokes was not difficult because she had watched the 23-time Grand Slam champion for years.

Thea Frodin’s background

Born and raised in Southern California, Thea Frodin started playing tennis at a young age. She was already highly rated as a junior when she was 12 and later moved through the American junior circuit. Her father, Mathias, is Swedish, while her mother was born in France and grew up in Gabon. Frodin also holds Swedish citizenship.

Her route to the 2026 US Open came through the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships. Frodin won the 18s singles title in San Diego in August, earning a wildcard into the US Open main draw.

Her debut came against one of the best players in the world and this year’s Australian Open champion and even though Frodin lost, she gained valuable experience. She will be hoping to build on this start and rise to become to a top tennis player, just like the character stunt double she played in the movie King Richards.