India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
India's men's cricket team, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, has secured direct entry into the knockout stage of the 2026 Asian Games, with preliminary rounds set for other nations.
The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the conflict with Iran, representing a quarter of its fleet and a significant financial blow. These losses, some due to communication failures, raise questions as India recently signed an agreement to procure 31 of these drones.
'All the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format.'
Reports indicate Pakistan targeted Bagram airbase in Afghanistan as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, following alleged Afghan Taliban attacks. The operation aims to address the failure to stop terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil.
A close aide to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claims that Pakistan has achieved its targets in the recent military operation against Afghanistan, following attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along the border.
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, currently recovering from injury, visited the revered Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala with his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma, sporting a tonsured head that has sparked speculation among fans.
India has provided Afghanistan with 2.5 tons of medical supplies to assist those injured in a recent airstrike by Pakistan, which resulted in numerous casualties. This act underscores India's commitment to supporting the Afghan people during a difficult time.
Rishabh Pant loses India Test vice-captaincy and is dropped from the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, while K L Rahul returns as deputy and young players earn maiden call-ups.
'There needs to be a monitoring of glaciers in high altitude areas and one needs to check regularly how geological changes are taking place.' 'We can mitigate that by regular monitoring but unfortunately, hardly any monitoring is happening.' 'And without monitoring those higher altitudes of Himalayas, people are suffering.'
Batting great Cheteshwar Pujara believes veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja's recent shift to a more aggressive, wicket-taking mindset in red-ball cricket will make him a vital player for India during the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
China has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to engage in direct talks to resolve their ongoing conflict, offering to mediate and calling for a ceasefire.
Auqib Nabi proved unstoppable with the ball last season -- picking up 60 wickets in 10 matches at an incredible average of 12.56 last season to help J&K script history by winning its first Ranji Trophy title.
India vice-captain KL Rahul said Manav Suthar's impressive ability to vary his speed without noticeable change in action, and unerring accuracy make the young left-arm spinner a massive threat across the conditions.
'The unexpected turn of events and assertion of sovereignty by the Taliban has baffled the Pakistan security establishment.'
Manav Suthar, a left-arm spinner, delivered an exceptional four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the first Test, attributing his success to a pre-series training stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His performance, including dismissing Dinesh Chandimal with his first ball, was crucial in keeping the Lankans in check despite a strong partnership. Suthar also highlighted the learning experience from bowling alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
Gambhir strongly advocates three-Test series, arguing they give teams that lose the opening match a genuine opportunity to recover, compete harder and still win the series.
In many ways, 17th century India occupied a position in the global economy comparable to that of the United States today. Just as millions of people now look towards America because of its economic opportunities, merchants, adventurers and trading companies once looked towards India.
Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on February 22, 2026, targeting areas in Bihsud district.
Former India leg-spinner L Sivaramakrishnan believes that advising Kuldeep Yadav to bowl faster in Test cricket is 'the worst piece of advice' he could receive, advocating instead for focus on alignment and natural speeds to maximise spin.
Manav Suthar delivered a standout performance in just his second Test, taking 10 wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening match of the series.
Rishabh Pant's dismissal for 39 against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle has once again brought his shot selection under intense scrutiny, with fans and former cricketers criticising his inability to convert starts into bigger scores.
We are back to the 1971 moment with both China and the US supporting Pakistan, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Shubman Gill, India's Test captain, expresses comfort with his leadership role and highlights the team's progress. He acknowledges the challenge of qualifying for the World Test Championship final, requiring significant wins in upcoming matches. Gill also discusses the honour of leading India in its 600th Test and shares insights on playing conditions in Sri Lanka.
Afghans have deep self-respect and are the last people to put up with humiliation. Is it any surprise that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched an all-time low and the two countries are now at war? asks M R Narayan Swamy.
India has strongly condemned Pakistan's air strikes within Afghan territory, emphasising the need to respect Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity following civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Pakistan has announced a temporary pause in its ongoing operation against the Afghan Taliban in response to requests from Islamic countries and in view of the upcoming Eid festival, following accusations from Afghanistan regarding an attack on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.
Afghanistan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar urged the international community, including India, to intervene after a Pakistani military airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul on Monday killed nearly 400 people.
Pakistan confirms its armed forces targeted terrorist hideouts and military installations in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, claiming the action was in response to attacks by the Afghan Taliban. The strikes, part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeted technical support infrastructure and equipment storage used by terrorists, according to Pakistani officials.
The strikes targeted the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the 12th Brigade base in Quetta, Balochistan, and the Khoizai camp in the Mohmand Agency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with other military sites housing key facilities and centres.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes the exploding popularity of T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, poses a significant threat to the future of bilateral international cricket, stating that '70 per cent (people are watching club cricket instead of international cricket)'.
'Islamabad feels it has no alternative, but to address the challenges from the Afghan-Taliban through an open war.'
A source at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has expressed significant concerns regarding players competing in the Indian Premier League while injured, attributing this to franchise and financial pressures, which subsequently complicates their rehabilitation and return to international cricket.
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey has been named as the replacement for the injured Washington Sundar in India's squad for the third and final One Day International against England. Sundar sustained a right hamstring injury during the second ODI and will undergo recuperation. The series is currently level at 1-1, with India aiming for a victory.
Former India fielding coach T Dilip reveals that Virat Kohli's unwavering intensity on the field and in practice sessions has a profound impact, compelling at least five other players to 'stretch their limits' and significantly elevating India's fielding standards.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make his return to Test cricket against Sri Lanka, a team he has historically performed well against, bringing significant experience in both batting and bowling to the Indian squad.
Afghanistan players withdrew from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) auction following backlash over the direct signing of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, reflecting strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Kuldeep Yadav will look towards the Sri Lanka series as his big opportunity to finally seal his place as India's No 1 spinner in Tests.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik has emphasised the need for consistency and a clearly defined role for Kuldeep Yadav in the Test side, especially as Ravindra Jadeja approaches the end of his career. Kartik believes Kuldeep, despite being a match-winner, has not received the sustained backing needed to flourish in Test cricket under previous regimes.
Young Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to participate in the Tour de France Femmes. The 19-year-old led a pack of international cyclists during a ceremonial start at Stage 2 of the prestigious race, an opportunity provided by the UCI World Cycling Talent programme. Jakhar, who aims for medals in future Asian Games, expressed her gratitude for the chance to ride in her dream event.
