India opener Shafali Verma acknowledged the team's batting unit needs to address its shortcomings on turning pitches, despite securing a 94-run victory against Thailand in the Women's Asia Cup opener. Verma, who scored a brisk 64, noted that while the new ball came on well, the older ball gripped and turned, causing difficulties for the middle order. She emphasised the need for adaptation and praised Thailand's improving performance.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a batter for East Zone, unexpectedly took two crucial wickets with his left-arm spin after failing with the bat, helping his team secure an innings victory over North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. He expressed his enjoyment in contributing to the team's win through his bowling.
India's women's cricket team will face Hong Kong in their second Women's T20 Asia Cup match, aiming to address batting collapses experienced in their opening game against Thailand. Despite a comfortable win, the team seeks a more complete performance, with key players like Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma in form, while others like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur look to regain form. Hong Kong, having lost to Thailand, will rely on players like Marina Lamplough and Kary Chan to challenge India.
England captain Joe Root expresses confidence in overcoming his recent batting slump, citing his extensive experience and over 14,000 Test runs as proof of his ability to navigate difficult periods. He also addressed the team's responsible celebration following their series win.
Australia secured an innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test, but the performance highlighted persistent issues with their top-order batting, particularly for Marnus Labuschagne, raising questions ahead of their South Africa tour.
Team India coach Gautam Gambhir lauded his team's character and mental toughness after securing a 1-0 Test series victory against Sri Lanka, while also singling out Sri Lankan batsman Sonal Dinusha for his 'exceptional performance' in forcing a draw in the second Test with an unbeaten 133.
Captain Pat Cummins praised Australia's emphatic Mackay response after their Darwin shock, while Cameron Green's gritty 67 and commanding series batting silenced doubts over his Test place.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak clarified Kuldeep Yadav missed the second Test due to genuine viral fever, rejecting speculation that the team had any reason to fake illness.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded Devdutt Padikkal for his maiden international century against Sri Lanka, highlighting his dedicated work on back foot play and shot selection. Kotak also provided an update on vice-captain KL Rahul, who retired hurt due to cramps but is expected to be fit for the next day's play. The coach further discussed the Galle pitch conditions, anticipating more turn as the Test progresses, and praised Rahul's versatility across formats.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded the team's productive warm-up victory against Sri Lanka, highlighting strong performances from both batters and bowlers, including Shubman Gill's quick 44 and Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142, which set a positive tone for the upcoming two-match Test series.
India all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed scored a career-best 167 and took three wickets, helping East Zone enforce a follow-on against North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final. East Zone posted 467, then bowled out North East for 111, with Abhijit Sarkar claiming five wickets.
Former Australian cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Kerry O'Keeffe praised Cameron Green for his fighting century against Bangladesh in the first Test in Darwin on Sunday, despite Australia suffering a nine-wicket defeat.
The reforms, undertaken by the Department of Defence Production, remove stakeholder consultation for exports of non-lethal defence items to most destinations, while retaining safeguards for sensitive countries.
Virat Kohli has paid a heartfelt tribute to his long-time India team-mate Ajinkya Rahane following Rahane's retirement from all forms of cricket, calling him his 'favourite Test batting partner' and praising his contributions to Indian cricket.
Pakistan faces a daunting chase in the opening Test against West Indies in Tarouba, grappling with a recurring batting collapse issue that has plagued them over the last 10 months. After being bowled out for 282, losing seven wickets for 38 runs, they now hope their pace attack can limit West Indies' lead.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has vehemently denied any communication breakdown between star batter Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, stating they speak frequently and dismissing reports of a rift as mere rumours. Kotak also elaborated on his coaching philosophy regarding advice for top players like Kohli.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the risks posed by the 'weaponisation' of resources and strategic sea routes, urging India to achieve greater self-reliance in energy to mitigate vulnerabilities to overseas supplies and geopolitical tensions.
Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar expressed his excitement about playing different roles across formats, highlighting his recent unbeaten 52 at number five in India's ODI victory over England. He credited coaches Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra for boosting his confidence as a batter.
A government adviser has called for India to reintroduce a petrol variant with a lower ethanol blend, such as E10, alongside the current E20 fuel. This move aims to protect millions of older vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, which may experience performance issues and damage from the higher 20 per cent ethanol blend.
Kris Srikkanth backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become a world cricket superstar, citing his fearless batting, Duleep Trophy heroics, IPL dominance and potential across all three formats.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel attributed his match-winning half-century against England in the opening ODI to a renewed focus on timing the ball, a strategic shift from his previous T20 approach of hitting too hard.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has expressed strong support for veteran opener Rohit Sharma, dismissing concerns over his recent lean run in the ongoing ODI series against England. Despite Sharma's low scores in the first two matches and a challenging year with the bat, Kotak believes a player of his calibre does not feel pressure and expects him to return to form soon. England won the second ODI, levelling the series 1-1, with the decider set for Lord's.
Rohit Sharma answered the retirement rumours in the best possible way - by smashing a record-breaking century at Lord's.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam attributed his team's 194-run defeat against England in the second Test at Lord's primarily to their batting failures in both innings, despite winning the toss and opting to bowl first.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her disbelief and happiness after surpassing legendary batter Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in Women's Internationals, a feat she 'never imagined' achieving.
Ravindra Jadeja's rare ability to influence matches with bat, ball and outstanding fielding has earned him Geoffrey Boycott's admiration, placing the Indian veteran above several modern batting greats.
India women's bowling coach Avishkar Salvi detailed the team's comprehensive workload management plans for all bowlers, ensuring optimal performance through various phases of training and rest. He also addressed the recent batting collapse against Thailand, acknowledging occasional shortfalls but highlighting the team's resilience and lower-order contributions.
India, already qualified for the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup, are set to face traditional rivals Pakistan in their final league game. While India is considered the overwhelming favourite, the match offers both teams an opportunity to fine-tune their strategies. India aims to strengthen its power-hitting and fast bowling, while Pakistan needs significant improvement in its batting to challenge stronger opponents.
Muhammad Yousuf branded Pakistan's coaches "poison for the game", blaming their lack of vision for neglected batting flaws that worsened over years and contributed to the team's decline.
Nandni Sharma surged 38 places after her three-wicket haul against Thailand, while Chamari Athapaththu reached career-best ratings in batting, bowling and all-round performance.
North Zone's Sanat Sangwan scored a resilient 76, putting aside earlier controversies, as his team fought back against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final. Despite Sangwan's efforts and a partnership with Ayush Doseja, North Zone suffered a batting collapse, leaving South Zone poised for victory. South Zone holds a significant lead, needing only a draw to advance to the final.
Pakistan's axed players were summoned to attend a meeting with King Charles amid PCB fears over a low turnout.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina's son, Rio, has started his cricketing journey, with Raina expressing his excitement to relive the game through his son's experiences.
South African batter Quinton de Kock has reached a significant milestone in T20 cricket, scoring his 10th century and joining an elite group of players including Virat Kohli and David Warner. This achievement places him among the top century-getters in the format, further solidifying his status as a prolific T20 batter.
Can AI transform grassroots 'If technology can help develop players a little quicker and make coaching more informed, then it has done its job.'
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly informed Subramaniam Badrinath that he will not play as an Impact Player in the IPL, preferring to continue as a full-time wicketkeeper if he plays.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from the men's national selection committee and as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy.
Tilak Varma is emerging as India's potential middle-order backup, offering left-handed batting variety and developing off-spin as selectors seek younger, flexible options ahead of the ODI World Cup.
Senior Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma expressed confidence ahead of India's Women's Asia Cup match against Pakistan, highlighting India's consistent performance against their rivals. She emphasised the team's balanced batting and bowling units and their focus on playing good cricket. Deepti also praised young spinners Shree Charani and Prema Rawat for their talent and contributions.
Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma revealed that a conversation with KL Rahul during his Lucknow Super Giants stint profoundly influenced his cricketing philosophy, with Rahul's advice to prioritise the process over results helping him navigate challenging phases and slumps.
