Sports Bulletin, July 31: From Jasprit Bumrah missing Oval Test to Shubman Gill going past Sunil Gavaskar Record

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The sports world has seen a plethora of developments in the last 24 hours. India are up against England for the final Test match at the Oval, whereas in the WCL, the Indian team refused to play Pakistan again, this time in the semifinal.

When it comes to football, Man United secured a top-notch victory while Cristiano Ronaldo also found the net for Al Nassr. Check Out the unmissable stories here.

Jasprit Bumrah Misses Out 5th Test

Jasprit Bumrah will not play the fifth Test against England at The Oval, starting July 31, 2025, due to workload management. The BCCI medical team decided to rest him to protect his back, considering his history of injuries. Bumrah played three Tests, taking 14 wickets, but his pace dipped in Manchester.

Shubman Gill goes past Sunil Gavaskar record at the Oval

Shubman Gill has surpassed Sunil Gavaskar's 46-year-old record for the most runs scored by an Indian captain in a Test series. On Day 1 of the fifth Test against England at The Oval in 2025, Gill scored enough runs to take his series tally to 733, narrowly surpassing Gavaskar's mark of 732 runs set in the 1978-79 series against the West Indies. Gill, who is captaining India for the first time, has scored four centuries in the series, including a career-best 269. He is also close to breaking Don Bradman's record for the most runs in a Test series by a captain, needing 89 more runs to surpass Bradman's 810-run record from the 1936-37 Ashes series.

India Make 4 Changes for Oval Encounter

India announced four changes for the fifth Test against England at The Oval. Dhruv Jurel replaces Rishabh Pant, who is out with a fractured foot. Karun Nair comes in for Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna replaces Jasprit Bumrah, and Akash Deep takes Anshul Kamboj's spot. England have also made four changes with their captain Ben Stokes among the ruled out players.

India Champions Bow Out of WCL 2025, Pakistan Advance to Final

The India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 semifinal, scheduled for July 31 in Birmingham, was cancelled after the Indian team refused to play due to the "current geopolitical situation and prevailing tensions" between the two countries. Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh, boycotted the game, citing recent conflicts such as the Pahalgam terror attack as the reason. Consequently, the match was called off, and Pakistan was awarded a place in the final.

Phil Salt Replaces Jos Buttler as Manchester Originals Captain

Phil Salt has been named captain of Manchester Originals in The Hundred for 2025, replacing Jos Buttler. Buttler, who led the team since the tournament's inception, stepped down due to unspecified reasons. Salt, an aggressive wicketkeeper-batter, brings dynamism to the role. The Origianls were recently acquired by RPSG group and will be known as Manchester Super Giants this season.

Bharat Arun Joins LSG as Bowling Coach

Bharat Arun has been appointed as the bowling coach for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Arun, a former India bowling coach, brings extensive experience, having worked with the national team from 2017 to 2021. His expertise is expected to strengthen LSG's pace and spin departments. The move follows LSG's aim to bolster their coaching staff after a mixed performance in previous IPL seasons.

Man United Beat Bournemouth 4-1 in Friendly

Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 in a Premier League Summer Series friendly in Chicago on July 31, 2025. Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring in the 8th minute, followed by Patrick Dorgu's goal at 25 minutes. Amad Diallo made it 3-0 early in the second half, and Ethan Williams added a fourth in the 72nd minute. Bournemouth's only goal was a late own goal by Matthijs de Ligt in the 88th minute. United showed a dominant and cohesive performance despite rainy conditions

Cristiano Ronaldo Returns with a Goal for Al Nassr

Al Nassr defeated Toulouse 2-1 in a pre-season friendly match held at the Untersberg-Arena in Austria on July 30, 2025. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a crucial equalizer in the 33rd minute after Toulouse took an early lead due to a defensive error by Al Nassr. The winning goal came from Mohammed Maran in the 76th minute. Ronaldo was substituted at half-time but had a significant impact, showcasing his enduring skill at age 40

Rishabh Pant Ruled Out of DPL as Purani Dilli Name New Captain

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025 due to a fractured foot sustained during the fourth Test against England. Purani Dilli, his DPL team, named a new captain in Vansh Bedi. Pant's absence is a blow to the team, given his explosive batting and leadership. The DPL is a domestic T20 tournament in Delhi.

KKR Release Chandrakant Pandit as Head Coach

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) parted ways with head coach Chandrakant Pandit ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Pandit, who led KKR to the IPL 2024 title, was released due to strategic changes or internal decisions, though specific reasons are not provided. His departure follows a successful tenure. KKR is now searching for a new coach to guide the team in the upcoming IPL season.