Princess Margaret was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth. She earned a reputation as the rebellious, free-spirited counterpart of her more serious sibling.
Known for her wit, bold fashions, and star-studded social network, Margaret set the blueprint for future glamorous royals like Princess Diana.
Margaret died on February 9, 2002, at age 71, following a series of strokes.
Princess Margaret knew all her best angles.
With a fashion-photographer husband and a free-spirited approach to public life, the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth never shied away from the camera. One '60s snapshot shows her beaming as she shakes hands with The Beatles. Another, from the '70s, sees the royal casually stunning in a houndstooth plaid coat with a matching hood while watching the Badminton horse trials alongside husband Lord Snowdon.

#princess #spirited #sibling

The Premier League is back, with reigning champions **** nal beginning their **** le defence against last year's Championship winners Coventry City.
Frank Lampard's side have the toughest possible task to kick off their return to the top flight for the first time in over two decades, particularly as the Gunners looked so impressive as they cruised to a 3-0 Community Shield win over a dispirited Manchester City side in their last outing.
Both sides have strengthened in the transfer window, although Coventry have hardly spent big - particularly in comparison to Mikel Arteta's side, who have brought in ex-Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis as well as securing the services of Piero Hincapie permanently after a loan spell last year.
These two sides are expected to finish at opposite ends of the table but Coventry will relish the challenge against the hot favourites for the **** le, while after that long-awaited **** le the current iteration of **** nal will aim to prove they aren't one-hit wonders.
Here's everything you need to know.

#city #sides #league

Hayden Panettiere's death this week, just five days before her 37th birthday, marks the latest tragic end for a child star. In recent months, Panettiere had become more transparent about the trauma, including **** ual exploitation, she endured as a young actress. The timing of her death is tragic both in light of her age and how recently she appeared to have been winning her fight against addiction. Her efforts to reclaim her autonomy should be acknowledged for what she overcame — and for what fame does to child stars.
Panettiere began appearing in commercials at just 11 months old; by age 5, she'd been in 50. Her breakout role came at age 10, playing a coach's spirited daughter in "Remember the **** ans." Her multiseason portrayals of an indestructible cheerleader on the television series "Heroes" and a troubled country music star on ABC's "Nashville" made her a cultural fixture to millennials.
For decades, the autonomy, safety and happiness of child stars were not a priority for insatiable audiences nor the Hollywood industrial complex. If Panettiere's accounts are any guide, they still aren't.
Off set, however, Panettiere struggled at basically every turn: with an onerous mother, from whom Panettiere was estranged for much of her adult life; drug addiction; alcoholism; depression; and multiple rehab stints. She had relationships with men 10 or more years older than her. She was plied with pills at 15, she revealed this year. Her child custody battle was just one of many traumas dissected in tabloid headlines.
This spring, Panettiere published a memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," that is equal parts appalling and utterly sympathy-inducing. Panettiere bared all, describing her "shortcomings as a mother," her refusal to "blame" anyone else and her grief "for all the hours lost to addiction." The media campaign for the book pulled no punches. Panettiere gave audiences the one thing she refused to further compromise: truth.

#panettiere

When the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs took the field Monday at Wrigley Field, they both did so as World Series contenders, in the sense that any team that lands a spot in October has a shot at the Fall Classic.
Fans from both sides of the city arrived confident in their teams and energized by a rivalry they say has taken on new life this season. Monday's game went into a 10th inning, and the White Sox fell to the Cubs 5-7.
But White Sox won two of three games in the first Crosstown Classic series in May, and with both clubs in playoff contention, fans viewed the three-game set as especially meaningful.
Outside Wrigley Field, supporters described a spirited rivalry that remains competitive while bringing Chicago baseball fans together.
"It can get kind of intense, but this is, this is still a good time," Cubs fan Kellie Foster said. "It's a Chicago rivalry, so it's always going to be a good time."

#Chicago #Cubs #rivalry #classic

Rain and wind sent the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football training camp indoors for the first time on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
It's something that wouldn't have been possible had the troops been at Camp Higher Ground, their previous preseason location for 27 years. Under the lights in the morning, the Bearcats put some spirited work in with some big plays and a few scuffles.
UC Bearcats coaches Scott Satterfield Scott Satterfield, Luke Fickell on coaching hot seat, report says
Also during the practice, the Bearcats found out that starting left guard Evan Tengesdahl made the Wuerffel Award watch list. The Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.
This is in addition to Tengesdahl's appearance on the Bruce Feldman Freak List published by the New York Times. UC has recently had several players listed, including defensive lineman Dontay Corleone, linebacker Jake Golday and receiver Jeff Caldwell.

#scott #satterfield #cincinnati

Rain and wind sent the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football training camp indoors for the first time on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
It's something that wouldn't have been possible had the troops been at Camp Higher Ground, their previous preseason location for 27 years. Under the lights in the morning, the Bearcats put some spirited work in with some big plays and a few scuffles.
UC Bearcats coaches Scott Satterfield Scott Satterfield, Luke Fickell on coaching hot seat, report says
Also during the practice, the Bearcats found out that starting left guard Evan Tengesdahl made the Wuerffel Award watch list. The Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field.
This is in addition to Tengesdahl's appearance on the Bruce Feldman Freak List published by the New York Times. UC has recently had several players listed, including defensive lineman Dontay Corleone, linebacker Jake Golday and receiver Jeff Caldwell.

#wuerffel #camp

The Tennessee ****** ans wrapped up their annual Blue & White scrimmage at Nissan Stadium on Friday night and will now turn their attention to the joint practice and preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
The ****** ans had a competitive and spirited scrimmage where the team went through over 100 plays that challenged both sides of the ball, leaving head coach Robert Saleh pleased with the efforts.
"It's not perfect, it's just being locked in for special teams, and the different transitions. It's not realistic, but it's as close as we can get in preparation for next week.
The ****** ans did not go "live" within the scrimmage, but it did provide a solid baseline with simulated game conditions before the ****** ans head west to meet up with the 49ers in the first of their joint training camp practices. The ****** ans are a young team, and all of the reps that they can get will be important to development, and Saleh liked the effort put on the field on Friday night.
This article originally appeared on ****** ans Wire: ****** ans training camp: Robert Saleh 'pleased' with teams preparation

#pleased

The Tennessee ****** ans finished off a spirited battle in the Blue & White scrimmage at Nissan Stadium on Friday night, and put on a show for the fans in attendance.
In a hard-fought battle, the defense stiffened on the deciding play, giving them a one point victory. While the performance was far from a finished product, the team put in over 100 plays of work, and both the offense and defense flashed the potential many anticipated.
Cam Ward and the first team offense was able to move the ball against the first team defense, but too often the offensive line failed to hold up against the ****** ans' defensive line.
With the scrimmage in the books, here are some of the players who broke out in the Blue & White scrimmage.
Ward looked in control of the offense and led them on multiple scoring drives, going 21-of-30 with one touchdown pass to tight end Gunnar Helm. Ward also flashed some athleticism with some nice gains as a runner. He definitely looks more in control than at any point in 2025.

#defense #white

A celebrity astrologer has claimed that Prince Louis could continue to test Kate Middleton's patience as he grows up. Describing Prince William and Middleton's youngest son as a "breath of fresh air" in the royal family's disciplined household, the astrologer suggested his playful personality sets him apart.
The eight-year-old has long delighted royal fans with his animated expressions and cheeky antics at public events, where Middleton has often been seen gently encouraging him to settle down.
Celebrity astrologer Debbie Frank, a close friend of the late Princess Diana, recently predicted Prince Louis' personality based on his birth chart. Speaking to ******* o! magazine, she suggested the young royal's spirited nature could occasionally make Kate Middleton "lose her cool."
She said, "Undoubtedly, Louis' determined Mars in Capricorn creates a fractious frisson with Kate's Sun in the same sign. Kate is very self-disciplined, and taming her little tiger cub is a challenge for her."
Prince Louis' playful antics are not unfamiliar, as he has won hearts with his cheeky behavior at several events. According to Frank, the child will definitely bring some "light relief from the stiff and staid royal line-up."

#frank

The Buffalo Bills are set to begin their sixth day of open practice at training camp at St. John Fisher University, and after Tuesday's salty drills, who knows what we can expect.
The sun was finally out at camp, temperatures were up, and the Bills were wearing their pads for the entire practice for the first time. All of those factors likely led to some spirited fights during the two-hour workout.
None were more talked about than the scrum that ensued after rookie linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr delivered a late hit on tight end Dalton Kincaid.
Will cooler heads prevail today? Did Joe Brady remind his players that they're teammates? Or is he a coach who likes mayhem at practice?
We'll see.

#buffalo #fisher #university #kaleb

Drake Maye Makes Feelings Clear About Patriots Trash Talk originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Drake Maye does not want the New England Patriots taking it easy on each other during training camp.
The Patriots quarterback addressed the spirited competition between wide receiver A.J. Brown and cornerback Christian Gonzalez after another intense practice in Foxborough. The two stars have repeatedly matched up during camp, creating the kind of physical, competitive battles that occasionally include a few words after the play.
Maye is enjoying every second of it.
"You like to see a little trash talk," Maye said in a video shared by the Patriots.

#trash #makes #feelings #clear

Social media users are calling out the privacy request made by the family of Perez Hilton after the celebrity blogger's concerning TikTok livestream.
The 48-year-old — who rose to fame by doodling over photos of celebrities on his once popular gossip blog — was hospitalized after authorities were alerted to the disturbing behavior on Tuesday, August 4.
Hilton's team and family have since issued a statement saying that he is currently "receiving medical care."
The statement added, "We kindly ask that you respect Perez's privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time. If and when we are able to share any updates, we will do so with everyone as soon as we can."
Some X users took issue with the family's request for privacy given Hilton's somewhat mean-spirited behavior towards celebrities in the past.

#family #request #Social #hilton

The Tennessee ****** ans took to the field on Tuesday, and tempers boiled over and a punch was thrown, leading to Jeffery Simmons being ejected from practice.
The offense and defense had some spirited competition, but the defense won the day, as the uneven offense sputtered throughout the morning. Even though Cam Ward hit the highlights with a long touchdown to Carnell Tate, his inaccuracies early set the tone.
The intensity was up, and so was the competition, and a few players stood out. Here is a breakdown of some of the players who made an impact today.
Not only did Williams pull in a one-handed interception off Mitch Trubisky, but he also broke up another pass attempt and was all over the field. Williams is clearly battling with Elic Ayomanor for having the best camp, and has to maintain that consistency.
Taylor did give up the big completion to Tate, but other than that was physical and outstanding. The ****** ans are counting on Taylor to help solidify the secondary, and he and Cor'Dale Flott are both showing up.

#williams #field #Competition

In business, strategies evolve. Approaches change. Successful models mature, adapt and often take organizations in a new direction. ESPN is no different. The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" has consistently reshaped its talent roster, programming philosophy and distribution strategy to attract each new generation of sports fans. The network's next evolution could involve moving away from its long-standing "embrace debate" philosophy on studio programming. If that's the case, what does it mean for First Take, a show built on spirited arguments and larger-than-life personalities?
Let's start at the beginning.
It's well documented why ESPN embraced debate-driven programming in the first place. At the time, it made far more business sense to produce opinion-based programming that generated conversation than to rely solely on highlights and news. Audiences were drawn to watching two personalities clash in a public arena, hearing opposing viewpoints before deciding which side they agreed with.
That was 2011. Fifteen years later, the viewership figures still suggest the formula still works.
In June, First Take averaged 505,000 viewers per episode. That's a 26% increase over the program's figures from a year earlier. When Skip Bayless returned for a one-day reunion with Stephen A. Smith in May, the episode averaged 647,000 viewers, a 24% increase over the show's average audience from January through May.

#espn

The Tennessee ******* ans wrapped their first week of training camp with a spirited open practice for the fans to enjoy.
Afterward, veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley met with the media and broke down his illness, his evaluation of Carnell Tate, and a reason why he took a pay cut to return to the ******* ans. He even offered up his thoughts on the receiving room after the additions of Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson, and it sounds like he is impressed.
Calvin Ridley said this is one of the deepest WR rooms he’s ever been in. Titans pic.twitter.com/Mn1E7jbOxc
"This is one of the deepest rooms I've been in. Like three, four, five, six, or seven guys." Ridley said, "Thing is, we're really deep. If we do what we've got to get on the same page as our quarterback, push."
Tennessee made some significant changes in their receiver room during the offseason to add some weaponry around Cam Ward. Couple that with some impressive growth from second-year receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor, and the receiving corps looks completely different than it did in 2025.

#Titans #receiver #deepest

Julie Andrews smiles alongside her beloved poodle, Shy, in the 1950s.
Singing along with Julie Andrews while she rehearsed for "My Fair Lady" was one of her dog Shy's favorite things. Andrews was performing eight shows a week in London in the late 1950s, so every day she'd play her piano to run scales and vocalize — and the grey poodle felt it should be a duet.
"It was adorable," Andrews said. "She'd lift her little chin and nose and just really gargle away in a real proper note. Eventually — it was adorable but very distracting — she could actually come down the scale as I came down the scale."
If Andrews tried putting her dog in another room of their apartment, she'd spy Shy's little nose poking under the door until she relented and let the spirited dog rejoin rehearsal.
Her constant companion also frequently accompanied Andrews to the theater when it was showtime.

#down #scale

When Ted Lasso concluded with Season 3, it was written and marketed as the end of the story. Three years later, the Apple TV+ series is back with a new chapter as Ted returns to England to coach AFC Richmond Women's Team. The fresh premise reunites familiar faces including Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein and Jeremy Swift alongside Jason Sudeikis, while introducing a host of new characters.
Juno Temple is usually sends me down an archival fashion rabbit hole, and more often than not it leads to Versace. This time, only the archival part remained true.
Her Roberto Cavalli Spring 2001 printed cowl-neck gown felt perfectly suited to her free-spirited style. Roberto Cavalli's collections from this era were defined by fluid silhouettes, exotic, psychedelic prints and unapologetically bold colour combinations that celebrated glamour. The turquoise, pink and lime palette captures everything that made early-2000s Cavalli so distinctive.
Roberto Cavalli Spring 2001
The football-shaped bag was exactly the playful finishing touch I expect from Juno.

#juno #temple #lasso #three

WASHINGTON — This time, there was little argument when Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider came to the mound to take the ball from Max Scherzer.
This time, as Scherzer departed the mound for the dugout and a small but spirited Nationals Park crowd of 17,618 offered a standing ovation, Scherzer didn't stare daggers and skulk into the dugout.
Instead, he turned and wearily offered a wave of his right hand to a crowd that still reveres him for his work in Washington.
On Monday, July 27, Scherzer celebrated his 42nd birthday by returning to a major league mound for the first time since June 10 and just the ninth time this season. Back spasms shelved him most recently for six weeks, just one start after he returned from another six-week absence due to right forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation.
Yet the details are almost irrelevant. Simply, Scherzer is old.

#mound #dugout

New Hamburg attacking addition Patson Daka bid the Bundesliga a spirited ****** o on Friday. Following his arrival at HSV's Austrian training camp, new striker Patson Daka has spoken about his decision to join the Bundesliga club and his determination to escape the difficult period that stalled his career at Leicester City.
The 27-year-old joined HSV on a free transfer after Leicester's relegation to the English third tier. Daka, for whom the former Premier League club paid approximately €30m five years ago, initially signed a one-year contract containing an extension option. The Zambian international is expected to make his unofficial debut in Saturday's friendly against 1. FC Heidenheim.
Daka's fellow new Hamburg signing – Moroccan U23 international Bilal Nadir – also saw his arrival on a free transfer confirmed Friday. Like Daka, Nadir is also hoping to put a recent rough patch behind him. Last October, whilst playing for Olympique Marseille, Nadir made unpleasant headlines when he collapsed on the field during a Ligue 1 match against Angers.
In their second season back in the Bundesliga, Hamburg are rapidly becoming the club of "second chances"; an apt categorization in the year that Mario Vuskovic is once again eligible to play following his long suspension. Daka optimistically led the group of new arrivals at his introductory press event.
The striker began researching HSV shortly after the club established contact. Daka also consulted former Salzburg teammates Hee-Chan Hwang (whom many will recall from his RB Leipzig days) and Masaya Okugawa (who mostly featured for Arminia Bielefeld), both of whom previously played in Hamburg.

#daka #year #patson

We have been on Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze wedding watch since Wimbledon ended. A big hint that the wedding is imminent is a recent social media post featuring Paul and a few familiar faces, namely his tennis peers Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Reilly Opelka playing a game on grass.
Some of those same faces were just playing on the Wimbledon grass. Though we cannot recognize everyone in the video, it looks like a fun start to the festivities.
Paul did not share any wedding details when asked at Wimbledon. All he would say was that Lorenze was not traveling to England this year, regardless of how far he got in the tournament.
MORE: Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo blasts ESPN for overhyping Serena Williams at Wimbledon
It is a spirited game of bottle roulette played with tennis racquets, of course. Somehow Fritz lands on the ground. Paul hits left-handed. Everyone looks to be having a good time.

First, Julian Ryerson and his Norwegian teammates battled England for a spot in the semifinals. The Scandinavians, with former BVB player Erling Haaland in the starting lineup as usual, took the lead in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup. Just before halftime, former BVB player Jude Bellingham equalized with a left-footed shot following a solo run, making it 1-1.
In the second half, Norway conceded a second goal following a foul by Erling Haaland. Shortly afterward, Julian Ryerson was substituted early due to injury. The fullback had put in a spirited performance on the right flank for 60 minutes but had to be replaced by Fredrik Aursnes.
Norway initially managed to force the game into extra time. But in the 93rd minute, Jude Bellingham struck for the second time with a follow-up goal, securing the Three Lions' spot in the semifinals.
For Gregor Kobel, too, the World Cup adventure came to an end on Saturday night. After another highly intense 120 minutes, the goalkeeper and his Swiss teammates lost 1-3 in extra time to defending champions Argentina.
The Swiss had managed to equalize after falling behind 0–1 to a goal by Dan Ndoye, but were down a man from the 72nd minute onward following a second yellow card for Breel Embolo and still fought their way into extra time.

India Women moved to the brink of a historic maiden Test victory at Lord's after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.

With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.
Resuming Day 3 with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.

However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 ***** also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly and completed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.
Following Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 ***** , taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.
India's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest.

Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a touching guard of honour from the Indian team as she walked off.

England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.
Just when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive.

The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four w

Ireland boss Andy Farrell admitted he was "more relieved than anything" after his side battled through a scrappy performance to beat a spirited ****** an in the Nations Championship.
Tries from Nick Timoney, Tom O'Toole, Robbie Henshaw, debutant Sean Jansen and Tom Stewart helped Ireland win 36-20 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
Taira Main and Hayate Era crossed for ****** an but Ireland finished with a flourish to deny the Brave Blossoms just a second win in 12 meetings between the sides.
"If you look at it, the scoreline is the scoreline but it flattered us a little bit, especially with stop-start nature of the game, the errors and stuff like that," said Farrell.
"But I was just saying to the lads that that happens in sport when you tinker a lot. We put them under a lot of pressure this week as coaches with the changes, the different combinations, lads not playing for a long time.

In less than two weeks, rookies will report to the Tennessee ***** ans training camp, and the countdown to the regular season can officially begin.
The ***** ans definitely have some position battles to watch, but appear to have upgraded their roster in many different positions and should have some spirited competition. While there is excitement, they are counting on a ton of veterans to step up and have a big year. Unfortunately, it's unlikely that all of them will.
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton looked at all 32 teams and picked a potential bust on each team, and for the ***** ans, his choice was a bit of a surprise.
Tennessee ***** ans: RB Tyjae Spears
Tennessee ***** ans head coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are the "bell cows" of the team, specifically on offense. Yet the latter hasn't shown he can handle that type of workload.

Detroit – It doesn’t have to be a big swing that changes a game. The Tigers, when they are playing at their best, prove this time after time.
And they did so again Tuesday night in a spirited, 6-2 win over the Athletics in the first of three at Comerica Park. Sometimes a simple walk can turn the tide.
It was a tight, 2-1 game when lefty-swinging Zach McKinstry stepped in with two outs and ***** ody on against lefty reliever Jacob Lopez in the sixth inning.
McKinstry battled his way to a walk, which set up a run of three straight right-handed hitters who broke the game open.
Spencer Torkelson singled. Rookie Ben Malgeri, pinch-hitting for James Outman, dropped a run-scoring double into shallow right field. Athletics’ second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and right fielder Lawrence Butler both converged on the ball and both backed off at the last minute.

At altitude, England dug so deep. They came out of an absolute battle to seize a quarter-final place against Erling Haaland’s Norway.
An epic game worthy of the Azteca had almost everything, and especially excellence at both ends from Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford, as Thomas Tuchel’s side had to give their all.
A flailing, if spirited Mexico were dispatched 3-2, the tension ratcheting up with all of the refereeing decisions and the ghosts of 1986 swirling around.
There were also echoes of 1998 and 2006, after Jarrel Quansah had been sent off for a VAR review. That was one of many, to go with multiple moments of doubt.
England, for their part, showed an admirable belief through all of that. They instead ensured 2026 is a different story, for now, after a game that was arguably the country’s most dramatic ever World Cup win. It certainly tested emotions, especially amid those last 11 minutes of stoppage time that felt as long England’s 60-year wait.

There was a familiar sight at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Wednesday. As Samit Dravid made his way to the crease for Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026, it took only a few deliveries for social media to draw comparisons with one of Indian cricket's greatest batters.

The trigger movement, upright stance, high left elbow and compact backlift instantly evoked memories of his father, Rahul Dravid. For many fans watching, it was as if "The Wall" had returned to the crease.
Samit arrived under difficult circumstances after the Blasters lost two wickets inside the opening eight deliveries. Rather than panic, the young batter played with composure, scoring 32 from 23 ******* to steady the innings before departing.

His contribution proved crucial as Rohan Patil struck 64 and Praveen Dubey added 51 to guide Bengaluru Blasters to 203/7. Hubli Tigers mounted a spirited chase led by Manvanth ******* ar's explosive 60 but eventually fell short by just two runs.

Although Samit's innings featured six boundaries, it was his technique that became the biggest talking point. His crisp square cuts, fluent cover drives, controlled pull shots and balanced footwork bore an uncanny resemblance to Rahul Dravid's trademark style, prompting fans online to describe him as a "photocopy" of the former India captain.

Given his upbringing, those comparisons are hardly unexpected. Having grown up in Karnataka's cricketing system under the guidance of one of the game's finest technicians, Samit naturally developed many of the batting fundamentals that made his father a legend.

Despite the similarities, however, the youngster is shaping a career with a different skill set.

Where Rahul built his legacy as one of the greatest specialist batters in cricket history, Samit has emerged as a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder. Alongside his middle-order batting, he offers medium pace and has already made a strong impression in age-group cricket.

He played a pivotal role in Karnataka's victorious 2023-24 Cooch Behar Trophy campaign, accumulating 362 runs while also claiming 16 wickets. One of the standout performances of that tournament came in the form of a crucial 98 against Jammu and Kashmir.

Those performances earned him selection for India's Under-19 squad for the home series against Australia in 2024. However, a knee injury cut short that opportunity. Since recovering, Samit has resumed his progress and continues to strengthen his credentials through consistent domestic performances with both bat and ball.

The Dravid family's next generation does not end there.

Rahul Dravid's younger son, Anvay Dravid, is also beginning to establish himself on the national stage. Unlike Samit, Anvay is a wicketkeeper-batter, following a role similar to the one his father performed during much of his international career.

The 17-year-old was recently named in India's Under-19 squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on July 14.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner produced another gritty victory to reach the Wimbledon third round, while women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka battled through as Novak Djokovic prepared for action on Centre Court.
Sinner wasn't at his best again but the world number one did just enough to beat Portugual's Nuno Borges 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in Wednesday's second-round clash at the All England Club.
The 24-year-old Italian had narrowly avoided an embarrassing first-round exit when he fought back from two sets to one down to beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
Sinner was left bloodied against Kecmanovic by an awkward fall that injured his right foot.
The four-time Grand Slam champion did not appear impeded by that blow on his return to action in the second round, but he struggled to impose himself against the spirited world number 48.

Harry Kane scored one of the great England goals to set up a grand World Cup occasion at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, but only after a general performance entirely unworthy of such descriptions.
Thomas Tuchel's side got away with one against a defiant and spirited Democratic Republic of Congo, but only after Kane let fly to remind everyone exactly why this entire team is built around him.
He is central to hopes that seem to dwindle with every display that actually moves England closer to the trophy.
It takes a bit to get your head around, sure, but then Tuchel really had to get thinking about this most arduous of challenges for England.
A manager specifically appointed for his knockout record came close to losing his very first one, in a game that for 68 minutes looked set to be a humiliation worse than Iceland, arguably the country's worst ever.

England survived a major World Cup scare after Harry Kane scored twice in the closing stages to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo and send the Three Lions into the last 16.
Thomas Tuchel's side looked to be heading for a shock exit after falling behind early in Atlanta before their captain once again delivered when it mattered most.
England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the next round after eventually finding a way past a disciplined and spirited DR Congo side.
The underdogs stunned England inside the opening 10 minutes when Brian Cipenga collected Chancel Mbemba's cross-field pass before firing a powerful effort past Jordan Pickford at his near post.
England struggled to respond during a nervous first half despite enjoying the majority of possession.