England pace bowling coach Steffan Jones reveals the training methods and tweaks to Nitish Kumar Reddy's action that led to a significant increase in his bowling speed and accuracy, making him a potential asset for the Indian cricket team.
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.
Shreyas Iyer, India's T20I captain, described his initial stint as skipper as a 'tough pill to swallow' after suffering away series defeats, but emphasised the importance of maintaining 'equilibrium' following a dominant 2-0 series win over Afghanistan.
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were not picked in Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, while Ruturaj Gaikwad made a return to the one-day team.
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.
Opening batter Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-shattering 30-ball century, powering India to a massive 221-7 and sparking a total bowling collapse that sealed a 127-run series sweep against Afghanistan.
Sanju Samson smashed a quick 57 as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
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.
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.
India T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer has highlighted the importance of regular game time and confidence for Jasprit Bumrah, who is returning from injury ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, the Asian Games, and the ODI World Cup.
All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to recover from their respective injuries and be available for selection for India's upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, providing a significant boost 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.
Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy attributes his improved bowling performance to a 'special person' who helped him overcome injury setbacks. He also discusses his match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders and the team's strategy.
Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan has shared his preferred batting lineup for India's first T20I against Afghanistan, advocating for Shreyas Iyer to retain his number four spot and Sanju Samson to open the innings. Razdan emphasized performance over the left-right batting combination, highlighting Samson's recent T20 form. The series opener will also see a selection dilemma with multiple openers available and marks Iyer's first home series as captain.
Hardik Pandya's return to cricket is contingent on him proving full fitness, specifically bowling his complete quota of 10 overs for India A, as selectors eye his potential role in the 2027 ODI World Cup amidst persistent injury concerns.
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.
India is grappling with significant selection dilemmas ahead of their opening T20I match against Afghanistan, particularly concerning the choice between Sanju Samson and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the potential impact of Ishan Kishan's injury scare. The series also serves as crucial preparation for the Asian Games, with India needing to finalise their bowling attack against a strong Afghan side.
Kris Srikkanth questioned whether India's star-studded Afghanistan squad was picked out of fear after recent defeats, arguing the series offered an ideal chance to blood promising youngsters.
Sony Sports Network has secured exclusive television broadcast rights for the upcoming three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan, scheduled from September 13 to 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series will feature India led by Shreyas Iyer and Afghanistan led by Ibrahim Zadran, with both teams showcasing aggressive T20 cricket. This acquisition strengthens Sony's sports portfolio and offers a platform for Afghanistan to demonstrate its talent against a top-tier team.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not yet fit to bowl a full 10-over quota in ODIs and will not be rushed back. Gambhir also hinted at the possibility of playing both Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy once Pandya achieves full bowling fitness, emphasizing his return depends on his all-round contribution.
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.
India, having already secured the T20 series against Afghanistan, is likely to experiment with its playing XI in the third and final match in New Delhi. This provides an opportunity for players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and others on the bench to get game time before the Asian Games, while Afghanistan aims for an improved performance to boost morale.
Abhishek Sharma etched his name in cricket history by smashing the fastest T20 International hundred by an Indian, a blistering 30-ball century against Afghanistan before the hosts won the match by 127 runs to sweep the series.
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.
VVS Laxman, BCCI's Centre of Excellence chief, will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be assisted by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. Gautam Gambhir, the regular head coach, will be with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach for the Indian women's team, who will also defend their title.
The BCCI has summoned Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar and V V S Laxman to Mumbai on Thursday to review India's disappointing performances in Ireland and England.
India's top centrally-contracted cricketers, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, underwent mandatory fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. These assessments, featuring the Bronco Test, 2k run, and YoYo test, are crucial for the upcoming eight-month home season, which includes series against Afghanistan and West Indies, and the Asian Games.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are reportedly dissatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Concerns include inadequate dressing rooms, distant washrooms, and small hotel rooms. As a result, India might send a 'B' team instead of the previously announced full-strength squad, pending a report from a BCCI observer.
Indian batter Dhruv Jurel scored an unbeaten 115, becoming only the second Indian to hit a Test century at No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka. His crucial partnerships, including a 112-run stand with Rishabh Pant, helped India declare at 503/9, putting them in a strong position against Sri Lanka in the second Test.
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.
The BCCI's fitness monitoring system is under scrutiny after pacer Harshit Rana was found overweight despite being cleared for selection for the England tour. This incident, coupled with other player injuries, has prompted the board to introduce stricter, uniform fitness benchmarks, including a fixed Bronco Test standard, to address inconsistencies and improve player fitness assessment.
Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan was named as the replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI announced on Sunday.
VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, lauded Virat Kohli as an 'exemplary professional' and 'great role model' for his consistent high standards.
A significant communication breakdown between the Centre of Excellence's (CoE) sports science team and the senior national men's selection committee has been exposed by Jasprit Bumrah's unexpected absence from the Test series against Sri Lanka, alongside other player injury concerns.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is set to meet Head Of Cricket VVS Laxman to review the rehabilitation management programme at the Centre of Excellence (COE) following a spate of injuries to key Indian players. The meeting aims to address concerns regarding player fitness and the effectiveness of the COE's injury management protocols.
Indian selectors face a selection dilemma for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with Washington Sundar unlikely to be fit for the first Test, while senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to return to white-ball cricket from August after recovering from injury.
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.
Premier Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah will miss the upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka due to a persistent knee injury.
Ashwin wants Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India's 2027 World Cup squad, saying the veteran seamer's swing bowling could be crucial in South African conditions.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
