Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith is battling a neck injury, raising concerns about his ability to bat on the final day of the second Test against South Africa, as Australia fights to salvage a draw after being forced to follow on.
Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Indian batting unit for their lack of responsibility in chasing targets, specifically after their loss to West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Despite Sanju Samson's fifty, India failed to chase 247. Gavaskar also commented on individual performances and defended the inexperienced bowlers, while Cheteshwar Pujara praised West Indies skipper Shai Hope's balanced batting approach.
Australia's cricket coach Andrew McDonald indicated that selectors remain open to further changes in the batting order for the second Test against South Africa, depending on the pitch conditions in Gqeberha. This follows a successful, albeit surprising, lineup in the first Test where Nic Maddinson opened and Matt Renshaw excelled at number five. While former captain Steve Waugh urged consistency, McDonald emphasised the panel's flexible approach. The team is also monitoring the fitness of Cameron Green and Josh Inglis.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for their 'power, talent, intent' and exceptional mental control, highlighting their fearless approach despite social media pressure.
Priyansh Arya's 199 and captain Ayush Badoni's unbeaten 115 propelled Delhi to a commanding 381 for 4 against Gujarat on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. The duo forged a crucial 234-run partnership. Elsewhere in Group C, Bengal faced a tough challenge against Services, while other matches also saw early action.
India may turn to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav for the series-deciding T20I against West Indies as they look to strengthen their bowling attack.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed surprise and concern over Yashasvi Jaiswal's decision to take up wicket-keeping at 24, advising the Test opener to instead focus on his primary skill of batting, especially with India's New Zealand tour approaching.
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been appointed as the assistant and batting coach for Delhi Capitals for the 2027 Indian Premier League season. This marks his first formal coaching role, reuniting him with the franchise he previously played for. He expressed excitement about working with the team and former teammate Sourav Ganguly.
There was a time when a score close to 380 was a sure shot victory for that team, and the captain would be preparing his victory speech while fielding, points out K R Nayar.
The third T20 International between India and West Indies in Indore is anticipated to be another high-scoring affair, with the Holkar Stadium's flat pitch and short boundaries favouring batters, putting immense pressure on bowlers after a 501-run fest in the previous match.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for 120, allowing Madhya Pradesh to take a 135-run overall lead on day two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match. Meanwhile, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, and Vidarbha also established strong positions in their respective matches.
Tilak Varma discusses India's changing batting order, his preparation for the finisher's role and the positives from the West Indies T20I series ahead of New Zealand.
West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer has stressed the need for the middle order to show greater responsibility and regain consistency, especially as the team prepares for the ODI World Cup Qualifier. He acknowledged positives from the recent loss to India, including a strong opening partnership, and highlighted the potential of young batter Jewel Andrew.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter has revealed plans to utilise explosive batter Finn Allen in a middle-order role during the upcoming ODI series against India.
Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha, and Mohammad Suleman have received their maiden Test call-ups for Pakistan's upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, with former T20 captain Salman Ali Agha also returning to the squad.
Naman Dhir's batting flexibility and useful off-spin could address a missing role in India's ODI setup, with Irfan Pathan highlighting his potential following a standout domestic T20 campaign.
Indian opener Shafali Verma has risen to fourth in the ICC Women's T20I Batting Rankings following her maiden T20I century at the Asian Games. Other Indian players like Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma maintain top bowling positions, while Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma also achieved career-best rankings. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur hold positions in the top 10 batting rankings.
Tom Banton's maiden ODI century, backed by Harry Brook and Jordan Cox, powered England to 355-7 before their bowlers dismissed Sri Lanka for 132, sealing series.
Joe Root became only the eighth batter to cross 23,000 international runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and other cricket greats in an elite batting club.
Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 30-ball century, the fastest by a full member in T20Is, leading India to a massive 127-run victory over Afghanistan. Sharma's explosive innings and his comments on India's batting philosophy highlight the team's focus on dominance ahead of the T20 World Cup, despite recent setbacks. Captains Shreyas Iyer and Ibrahim Zadran also shared their perspectives on the match and team development.
Will Jacks delivered a career-best bowling performance with 5-22 and an unbeaten 46 runs, leading England to an 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first One Day International. England posted 265, with Harry Brook scoring 67, before bowling out Sri Lanka for 176. This win extends England's recent strong form in the ODI format.
Six Games, Big Impact: Naman Dhir Catches India's Eye.
Ishan Kishan's injury has left the door ajar for the 15 year old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was seen batting during India's optional practice session on Friday.
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.
Virat Kohli, after becoming the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs and scoring his 55th ton, stated that personal milestones are not his primary focus.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma expressed immense pride after his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, securing a 2-0 series lead. Varma credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak for their belief in his ability to finish the game.
India vice-captain Deepti Sharma expressed her readiness to support skipper Smriti Mandhana in her new role, ahead of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting Friday. Sharma also discussed the team's strategy to aim for high scores on a batting-friendly pitch and cautioned against underestimating the Zimbabwean side.
Former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls against Zimbabwe in the final T20, marking an emotional return to form after a lean patch.
India face a bowling test in the second T20I against New Zealand after conceding 226 in the opener, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expected to feature.
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.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips acknowledged India's successful chase of 226 in the first T20I, attributing their win to strong execution and adaptation. Phillips highlighted areas for improvement for his team, specifically the need to take more wickets in the middle overs and enhance fielding performance, despite defending their overall effort.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the exorbitant markup on cancer drugs by hospitals, calling it "carnage" and "broad daylight dacoity." The court highlighted a case where a cancer drug was marked up ten times its retail price and urged the Centre to implement a uniform 16% margin on all medicines. It also raised concerns about hospitals forcing patients to buy medicines from their in-house chemists.
Indian World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav led his New York Yankees team to victory in a unique three-on-three tournament in Mumbai, blending cricket and baseball with ex-Major League Baseball players.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer's inconsistent T20I batting form will be under the spotlight as Team India commences its five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Christchurch.
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's cricket team is facing significant selection challenges and tough decisions regarding their line-up for the series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, following a heavy innings defeat in the second match.
Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls, and Shafali Verma added 69, guiding India to a commanding 92-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I. This win secured a 3-0 series sweep for India, with Harmanpreet finding her form ahead of crucial assignments.
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.
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.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer lauded all-rounder Naman Dhir for his crucial role in India's record-breaking 226-run chase against New Zealand in the first T20I. Iyer highlighted Dhir's versatility and calm demeanour under pressure. Sanju Samson's explosive start and the team's adaptation to changing pitch conditions were also key factors in India's highest-ever T20 chase.
