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A great honour to captain Sri Lanka in 300th Test match: Dimuth Karunaratne

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 Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne said it is ‘a great honour’ for him to be captaining his team in their 300th Test match against India at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium on Friday.

Ironically, Sri Lanka’s 300th Test match, almost 40 years since entering the fold against England in Colombo, coincides with senior India batter Virat Kohli’s 100th Test as well as Rohit Sharma’s debut as the captain in the longest format of the game.

“That’s a great feeling for me in captaining the 300th Test match (of Sri Lanka). That’s what I did not expect before I played. I got to know about this two-three days ago. It is a great honour for me to be captain in the 300th match and will try my best to give the best result for Sri Lanka,” said Karunaratne in the pre-match virtual press conference.

Karunaratne further expressed happiness over 50% crowd being allowed to attend the first Test, reversed from the original plan of playing behind closed doors.

“That’s a fantastic thing. We have been playing with a crowd and it is a great feeling to be playing with the crowd behind you. I heard that the BCCI was not allowing spectators for the first match. But I think they realised now how important our 300th game and Virat’s 100th Test match is. That is something which is a good decision from BCCI in allowing the 50% spectators for the first Test match.”

Talking about the visitors’ plans to counter the Indian batters, Karunaratne, who scored 902 runs in Tests in 2021, didn’t divulge much into Sri Lanka’s game plan. “Our plans, those are secrets. We are not supposed to tell that to the press. But we do have some plans. We do know some youngsters are playing like (Shreyas) Iyer, Shubman Gill, those are the guys who are supposed to fill the places of (Ajinkya) Rahane and (Cheteshwar) Pujara. So, we have some plans and will try to execute in the Test match as well.”

Karunaratne confirmed that the playing eleven may comprise of three seamers, a left-arm spinner and seven batters. Lahiru Thirimanne may open alongside Karunaratne with Pathum Nissanka at three and Niroshan Dickwella as the wicket-keeper, marking his first Test since the bio-bubble breach ban. He signed off by expressing confidence in spinners to do well in India and hinted at pacer Dushmantha Chameera being rested for the first Test.

“Talking about Dushi (Chameera), he has played in the T20Is in the last few months. We are supposed to give him rest and were looking to play him in the second Test, the pink-ball Test. The spinners are young but they did really well in the past few Test matches if you take (Lasith) Embuldeniya, Praveen (Jayawickrama) and even Ramesh (Mendis, out injured). Those guys did an amazing job with the bowling part in the past few days. I am pretty confident that they can do the same thing in Indian conditions as well.”

International

₹136 Crore Per Year To Luxury Suite At Training Ground: All About Kylian Mbappe’s Bumper Deal At Real Madrid

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In a move that has captivated football enthusiasts worldwide, Kylian Mbappe has officially transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid as of Tuesday.

This long-anticipated switch concludes months of speculation and excitement among fans.

Real Madrid’s Exciting Acquisition

Real Madrid announced on Monday that they had secured a deal with the French superstar for the next five seasons, merging one of football’s brightest talents with its most illustrious club.

This deal follows years of interest from Madrid, eager to bring in the player seen as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne in the sport.

Financial Details of Mbappe’s Move

The 25-year-old Parisian will reportedly earn 15 million Euros net per season at Real Madrid, translating to over ₹136 crores annually. This figure breaks down to an impressive ₹2.6 crore per week.

While this is a significant reduction from the €75 million net per year he received at PSG, the shortfall will be offset by a massive signing bonus. The bonus, around €150 million, will be disbursed over the course of his contract.

Perks and Anticipated Debuts

Aside from his substantial salary, Mbappe will enjoy a private luxury suite at Real Madrid’s training facility and will sport the iconic No.9 jersey, previously worn by legendary striker Karim Benzema.

His anticipated debut for Real Madrid will occur during the preseason, with their first friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 31.

His competitive debut is expected in the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid will take on Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland, on August 14.

Mbappe’s Stellar PSG Legacy

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million and has since become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Throughout his seven-year tenure in Paris, he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting at least 30 goals in six of those seasons. His move to Real Madrid marks the next chapter in an already illustrious career, as he aims to further his legacy at one of the world’s most storied football clubs.

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International

ENG vs ESP, Euro 2024 Final: Spain Become The 1st Four-Time Champions Of Europe After Beating England 2-1 In Berlin

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Match Result:

Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final, held in Berlin, becoming the first team to win the championship four times.

The match saw a tense first half ending goalless, but Spain took the lead shortly after the break. Williams Jr. netted the opener in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by England.

England fought back, with Palmer leveling the score in the 73rd minute, igniting hopes for the Three Lions. However, Spain maintained their pressure, and in the 86th minute, Oyarzabal clinched the winner with a decisive strike.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

Preview of Euro 2024 Cup final:

A strong Spanish outfit will meet a pesky England side in the final of Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain battled France and defeated them by 2-1 in the semi-final, while England overcame the Netherlands by the same margin.

However, it wasn’t without a contentious penalty call that went in England’s favour. Despite not starting the contest as favourites, England’s ability to hang in there could work against Spain, who are seeking a 4th Euro title. By contrast, England are yet to lift the trophy.

A crucial stat which is in favour of England is the head to head battle, which the former lead by 13-10 against Spain in 27 outings.

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International

Violent Clash Erupts Between Rival Supporters During Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been marred in controversy as the match between Brazil and Argentina saw violent clashes between rival supporters before the start of it. The high-profile fixture had to be delayed by 30 minutes as the Marcana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro witnessed ugly scenes, with disturbing visuals emerging on social media.

With the Brazilian and Argentinian players lining up for national anthems, the camera turned towards the stands as a section of rival fans exchanged blows. The local police officials could be seen beating up a section of Argentinian fans with batons and it did not go well with the tourists. By pointing at the violent scenes, Messi and co. decided to walk off the pitch.

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