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.
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 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.
India announced their final squad for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup with the injured Axar Patel dropped from the final squad and Ravichandran Ashwin making his way into the 15-member team.
Axar Patel claimed 2/23 and 2/16 in India's identical six-wicket wins over Afghanistan in the first two T20Is.
IPL players' auction for the 2027 season is slated to be held in India, marking a return after three overseas editions, with league chairman Arun Dhumal expressing a strong desire for a domestic venue.
Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match, with Axar Patel praising the bowlers' performance. The win improves DC's playoff chances, while Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag criticised his team's performance.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list India's Most Valuable ODI Players in the India-Australia T20 series.
Axar Patel acknowledges added pressure in India-Pakistan clashes but says the team blocks out rivalry talk. He also hails Ishan Kishan's match-winning 77 in the T20 World Cup win.
Former cricketers and experts are questioning India's decision to omit specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI, suggesting the team's focus on batting depth might be compromising its wicket-taking ability.
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.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has advocated for Yashasvi Jaiswal to receive ample opportunities in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Pathan believes this exposure is crucial for Jaiswal to establish himself as a backup opener for the next year's ODI World Cup. He also highlighted the importance of testing India's bench strength, especially with several key players participating in the Asian Games, and backed Naman Dhir's inclusion for his all-round capabilities.
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.
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.
Ponting is hoping to "get a bit more out of Axar" when he turns up for Delhi Capitals in this IPL.
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.
'We lost the match between the 7th and 15th over. You used Bumrah's two overs early and kept the remaining two for the death. But Rohit Sharma never used Bumrah like this.'
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.
Virat Kohli was on Sunday named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against England next month, subject to fitness clearance.
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.
Rohit Sharma faces intense scrutiny over his form and future as India prepares for the series-deciding third ODI against England. Despite BCCI assurances, his recent struggles have fuelled speculation, especially concerning his ability to last until the 2027 ODI World Cup. The match is crucial for both Rohit to regain form and for India to clinch the series.
Cricket giants India are set to play a historic one-off T20 International against Japan in Sano, a match seen as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth in the baseball-dominated country, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
'My strength is to bowl wicket-to-wicket and not give batsmen room,' says the destroyer-in-chief of the England innings.
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.
Axar Patel's wife Meha Patel shared a heartwarming Instagram post featuring their newborn.
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.
India defend the decision to drop Axar Patel for Washington Sundar against South Africa, calling it a tactical call based on powerplay match-ups.
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.
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.
Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma visit Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple to seek blessings ahead of India's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England at Wankhede Stadium.
Sarfaraz Khan's sensational catch to dismiss Axar Patel was the highlight of Chennai Super Kings' emphatic victory against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 match in Chennai.
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.
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.
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.
Hemang Badani calls for collective improvement from Delhi Capitals after loss to Chennai Super Kings, backing Axar Patel as the team faces a must-win IPL run.
India's T20I team is facing significant challenges under its new leadership, with captain Shreyas Iyer and vice-captain Tilak Varma under scrutiny after consecutive series losses in the UK. The team's poor performance, especially after a recent T20 World Cup win, has led to questions about player selections and management decisions, particularly concerning Tilak Varma's form and role.
Delhi Capitals' Director of Cricket, Y Venugopala Rao, commended David Miller and Tristan Stubbs for their match-winning performances against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a recent IPL match. He also addressed concerns about Axar Patel's fitness and praised his all-round performance.
Mitchell Starc joins Delhi Capitals and is set to return from May 1 in IPL 2026, with Axar Patel confirming availability as DC eye a boost in the tournament's crucial phase.
Former chief selector Ajit Agarkar's departure from the BCCI was primarily driven by disagreements over Rohit Sharma's future in white-ball cricket and policy differences with Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman, culminating in his absence from a crucial review meeting.
Although fielding coach T Dilip said Patel looked "fine" after the match, the short turnaround between games poses a challenge for the all-rounder's recovery.
