Abhishek Sharma roared back to form with a blistering 84 off 32 balls, while Arshdeep Singh's superb 3 for 19 helped India cruise to a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the opening T20I in Delhi on Sunday.
Abhishek Sharma's explosive 82-run innings led India to a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening T20 International in New Delhi, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Despite recent underwhelming performances, the Indian team showcased a strong collective effort, with key contributions from Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, while Afghanistan's skipper acknowledged their batting shortfall.
Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan lead the ICC T20I player rankings, while Connor Esterhuizen makes a significant jump after a strong series against New Zealand.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has criticised India's bowling strategy in the second T20I against the West Indies, particularly the decision to give Kuldeep Yadav the crucial 17th over instead of pacers Mayank Yadav or Arshdeep Singh, a move he believes cost India the match.
Australia Women 'A' defeated India 'A' by 30 runs in Mullanpur, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match unofficial T20I series, largely thanks to Katie Mack's unbeaten 83.
BCCI secretary Devaijit Saikia announced that Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman will now attend all senior selection panel meetings to prevent miscommunication between the selectors and the COE, particularly regarding player fitness and rehabilitation. This decision follows past speculations of friction between Laxman and former chief selector Ajit Agarkar over player recovery timelines.
Abhishek Sharma's record 30-ball century against Afghanistan had a little help from mentor Yuvraj Singh.
India captain Shreyas Iyer described his team's 125-run defeat against England in the third T20 International as 'atrocious,' criticising the bowling unit and the team's overall performance.
India's star-studded top order will be under pressure to make amends when they take on a buoyant Ireland in the second and final T20I in Belfast on Sunday.
Ishan Kishan explained how he switches from long-format cricket to T20s within days, stressing quick adaptation, a calm mindset and understanding his role during partnerships with teammates.
Former India batter S Badrinath has expressed concerns regarding India's T20I squad for the upcoming Afghanistan series, particularly questioning the consistent inclusion of Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He suggested that some selections might be influenced by team management preferences. Badrinath also welcomed Jasprit Bumrah's potential return, calling it a significant boost for the team ahead of the Asian Games.
'I think the more time he spends in this environment with the quality players, the more time he trains at this standard, will only be great for his cricket.'
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.
Yash Thakur replaces injured Harshit Rana in India's T20I squad for the Afghanistan series and Asian Games. Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Reddy, and Washington Sundar have been cleared for both assignments after recovering from injuries. India's T20I series against Afghanistan begins September 13, followed by the Asian Games campaign starting September 28.
Leg-spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam has been named as the replacement for senior spinner Varun Chakravarthy in India's Asian Games cricket squad. Chakravarthy was ruled out due to a side strain, marking a setback after his recent return from injury. Nigam, a Delhi Capitals player, brings IPL experience to the team.
Indian cricketers were surprised with AI-generated 1980s avatars of themselves during a photo session before the Afghanistan T20I series, leading to humorous reactions from players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Axar Patel, and Ishan Kishan.
Bihar-born Abhishek Anand's journey from tennis-ball cricket and IIT Kanpur to Japan's national team has culminated in a historic opportunity to face India on Tuesday.
The Indian men's cricket team is facing kit sizing issues and accommodation concerns ahead of their departure for the Asian Games. While most kit problems are being resolved, the BCCI has proactively arranged its own hotel for the team in Nagoya, Japan, due to reported delays and inadequate facilities for other athletes.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha met the Indian men's cricket team in Nagoya, expressing her pride and wishing them well for their Asian Games campaign.
Brazil's Laura Cardoso has etched her name in cricket history by becoming the first player to take nine wickets in a T20I innings, achieving the feat against Lesotho at the BCA Kalahari Women's T20I Tournament.
A struggling Indian team, yet to secure a win on their UK tour, is set to make a crucial change for the third T20 International against England, likely replacing out-of-form leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi with an additional pace bowler to strengthen their attack.
Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad has stated that he respects the selectors' decision to exclude Suryakumar Yadav from the Ranji Trophy season opener, emphasising that players who have prepared well will always be considered.
India's cricket captain Shreyas Iyer addresses the challenges posed by torrential rain and limited practice ahead of their Asian Games quarterfinal against Afghanistan.
India internationals KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been named in Karnataka's squad for their Ranji Trophy season opener against Andhra. Rahul is expected to play to prepare for the New Zealand Test tour, while Prasidh's participation is uncertain due to injury. The squad, led by Ravichandran Smaran, also sees a new coaching staff and a new sponsorship deal for Karnataka teams.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, despite being written off in 2022, is set to make a national comeback in 2026, showcasing his enduring swing bowling prowess and strong work ethic, particularly after stellar performances in the IPL.
Smriti Mandhana retains her second spot in the ICC Women's T20I rankings, while Harmanpreet Kaur moves up to 14th. Deepti Sharma also climbs to third in the all-rounders' rankings.
India is set to face Afghanistan in the second T20I, aiming to clinch the series despite ongoing concerns about a reliable fifth bowling option in the absence of Hardik Pandya. The team delivered a dominant performance in the first match, securing a seven-wicket victory.
Ravichandran Ashwin backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a return to India's T20I side after the RCB pacer's match-winning spell and late heroics against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.
Washington Sundar and Sanju Samson were seen enjoying a rainy evening stroll in Tokyo, ahead of India's historic first-ever T20 International against Japan in Sano on Tuesday.
India's Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a team in 150 T20 Internationals.
Bangladesh Captain Litton Das celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his wife and daughter.
Newly-appointed Karnataka head coach R Vinay Kumar believes his primary challenge will be understanding and adapting to the mindset of current generation players, who he feels 'need more freedom' to perform effectively.
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 vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has become the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs, achieving the milestone during the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka.
Hardik Pandya is reportedly nearing a return to competitive white-ball cricket, subject to medical clearance.
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya has lauded Indian teen cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a 'different kind of talent' and the 'future for India', despite his recent exclusion from the playing XI against Afghanistan.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir met with the National selection committee in Guwahati to discuss the squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, which includes T20Is, ODIs, and Tests, as well as an India A tour. The meeting highlights the importance of early preparations for the extensive series.
A security delegation from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has arrived in Pakistan to review arrangements for England's upcoming ODI tri-nation series tour. The delegation will inspect venues and meet officials to ensure security plans are robust for the series, which also involves Sri Lanka and runs from October 18 to 31.
Indian cricketers Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan discuss the challenges of transitioning directly from the Duleep Trophy final to the T20I series against Afghanistan. Both players emphasise the importance of adaptability and professionalism in managing the demanding schedule and format changes, while also highlighting key player additions to their respective Duleep Trophy teams.
Ishan Kishan's impressive performance in the T20 World Cup has propelled him to a career-high second position in the ICC T20I batting rankings, while Rashid Khan overtakes Varun Chakravarthy to become the top-ranked bowler.
