National selectors are set to convene in New Delhi to finalise India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against West Indies, with Rishabh Pant's potential white-ball return and Hardik Pandya's fitness being the primary discussion points.
Pacer Gurnoor Brar's impressive 10-wicket match haul and Sai Sudharsan's century led India A to a resounding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test in Galle. This performance strengthens Brar's case for a Test debut in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, while other Test regulars also gained valuable game time.
Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana have been included in India's T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, pending fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar faced a challenging day in the second Test against Sri Lanka, conceding over five runs an over initially, but impressed spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule with his resilience and ability to bounce back with two crucial wickets.
Former Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas has called on cricket authorities to actively work towards preserving Test and 50-over formats, warning that they are 'dying' amidst the growing global preference for T20s and franchise leagues.
Manav Suthar's 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka showcased his skill, meticulous preparation and growing maturity, marking him as India's potential next spin leader.
India secured a comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test, improving their World Test Championship points percentage. However, despite the win, their path to the WTC final has become significantly more challenging, requiring them to win almost all their remaining matches due to a tightly packed table and other teams' results.
Indian spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has suggested introducing free-hits in Test cricket to curb the increasing problem of no-balls, a concern highlighted by Indian spinners overstepping 10 times in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka. He acknowledged the issue and the efforts being made to rectify it.
The Indian cricket team is preparing for its upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, with Jasprit Bumrah set to rejoin training after recovering from injury. The team's net session saw Washington Sundar working hard, while concerns over player injuries have led to the BCCI considering the removal of senior physio Kamlesh Jain. Pace bowling coach Morne Morkel was also absent due to visa issues.
Krunal Pandya kept his India comeback hopes alive after missing the Afghanistan T20I squad, following a strong IPL season where he impressed with bat and ball.
Ajeetesh Sandhu and Stepan Danek are joint leaders after the first round of the Chennai Open, both carding seven-under 65s. Sandhu, a former Asian Tour winner, made eight birdies, while Danek played a flawless round with seven birdies. Other notable players like Jairaj Singh Sandhu and Saptak Talwar are also in contention.
Sri Lanka's head coach Gary Kirsten expressed satisfaction with his team's developing approach to Test cricket despite a loss to India. He highlighted the team's fight and resilience, particularly after a poor start in their first innings, and praised young batter Sonal Dinusha. Kirsten also provided an update on key player injuries ahead of the next Test.
Political leaders and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, joined devotees across the country in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with traditional fervour, offering prayers and seeking blessings.
A heated exchange between India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando marred the opening session of the 2nd Test after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45, leading to a confrontation on the pitch.
India A, led by skipper Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 141, declared their first innings at 452 for six against Sri Lanka A. Early breakthroughs by Anshul Kamboj and Yash Thakur put Sri Lanka A in trouble, though Nuwanidu Fernando and Ashen Bandara mounted a recovery.
Nepal's Hindu groups have sought an all-party discussion on restoring Hindu-nation status within three months.
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has addressed concerns raised by leading cricketing nations regarding accommodation and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games. Miyaji clarified that hotel stays are offered, teams can make their own arrangements, and temporary yet comfortable facilities have been prepared for players, including washrooms and dressing rooms, despite tight timelines and resource limitations.
The Indian Coast Guard ship Varad successfully brought two Chinese survivors of a sunken Panama-flagged bulk carrier to Paradip, Odisha. The MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members, sank in the Bay of Bengal on August 22. Coordinated sea and air search operations are ongoing to locate the remaining missing crew members.
Anvay Dravid, son of legendary Rahul Dravid, displayed his potential with a 67-ball 87, but opener Dimantha Mahavithana made an unbeaten 155 to guide Sri Lanka U-19 to an eight-wicket win over India U-19 in the second Youth ODI.
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83, leading his team to 288 for 5 on the opening day of the second unofficial 'Test' against India 'A'. Indian bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain took two wickets each, but the hosts built strong partnerships on a slow Galle pitch.
Rishabh Pant has surpassed Adam Gilchrist to become the third-highest six-hitter in Test cricket, achieving the feat during India's second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Ajeetesh Sandhu has established a two-shot lead after the second round of the Chennai Open, firing a six-under 66 to reach 13-under 131. The Chandigarh golfer is ahead of Stepan Danek and Rashid Khan, with two more rounds to play.
India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka bowler Asitha Fernando have been fined 25 per cent of their match fees and received one demerit point each for 'inappropriate physical contact' during the second Test in Colombo.
Sri Lanka A's Vishen Halambage and senior wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella have been sanctioned on separate counts by the Sri Lanka Cricket-appointed match referee Pradeep Jeyapragash.
'If you don't know what he said then please don't make your judgment. If anyone crosses the line, we need to let them know this India will fight and reply.'
Shubman Gill has become the fourth-youngest Indian cricketer to reach 3,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, further solidifying his impressive record, especially as captain.
India's men's and women's cricket teams are set to begin their Asian Games campaigns in Japan, both seeded directly into the quarterfinals. The teams, led by Shreyas Iyer and Harmanpreet Kaur respectively, are strong contenders for gold, having dominated the previous edition. The women's final is on September 22, and the men's on October 3.
In Rajasthan's urban local body polls, 77 candidates, including 37 women, have been elected unopposed. The ruling BJP secured 44 of these victories, while the Congress won 16, and independents accounted for 17. Jaipur notably had no unopposed candidates, while Deeg recorded the highest number of uncontested winners.
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is under scrutiny for a potential ICC Code of Conduct breach following a heated altercation with Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando during the second Test. The incident involved physical contact, with Jaiswal's helmet touching Fernando's forehead after Jaiswal's dismissal. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged the 'heat of the moment' but stated Jaiswal should not have made body contact. Match referee Andy Pycroft may invoke Article 2.12, which could lead to a reprimand, fine, or demerit points for Jaiswal.
Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja advised debutant Saransh Jain to treat his maiden Test match as another First-Class game, urging him to enjoy the moment without pressure. Saransh, the 320th player to represent India in Tests, expressed his happiness at receiving his cap from an all-rounder like Jadeja and dedicated his cricketing journey to his father.
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc dethroned Jasprit Bumrah to reach a career-high No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, after a stellar 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) stated that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) "is distributed only amongst the UPI ecosystem, to further invest into infrastructure resilience, innovation, cybersecurity (protecting the UPI infrastructure with banks and non-banks) and customer service."
The government is introducing a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant payments above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends the zero-MDR regime, aiming to fund UPI infrastructure and sustainability, as the previous government subsidy was insufficient to cover operational costs. Payments between individuals and most everyday merchant transactions will remain free.
Former head coach Rahul Dravid believes India have 'fallen behind' in the World Test Championship final qualification race, highlighting the upcoming New Zealand series as a significant challenge for the young team.
Kolkata's Viraj Madappa overcame a three-shot deficit with a bogey-free 64 in the final round to win the Rs 1 crore Chennai Open golf tournament. This marks his fourth professional title, earning him Rs 15 lakh and significantly improving his standing on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit. Ajeetesh Sandhu finished runner-up, while Amardeep Malik and Rashid Khan also secured top positions.
Joe Root's unbeaten 62 guided England to a dominant eight-wicket victory in the third Test against Pakistan, securing a 3-0 series whitewash despite early batting jitters. This marks England's first series win in 19 months.
The Telangana Golconda Masters, featuring top Indian and international golf professionals, is set to commence in Hyderabad with a prize purse of Rs 1 crore. The tournament is crucial for players aiming to qualify for the season-ending DP World India Championship.
Veteran Sri Lankan batter Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the ongoing first Test against India in Galle due to concussion, sustained while fielding on day four. Pasindu Sooriyabandara has been approved as his concussion substitute.
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.
Kris Srikkanth has questioned Washington Sundar's inclusion for India's Afghanistan T20Is, saying the all-rounder must prove match fitness through competitive cricket after recurring injuries.
