Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh successfully tested his four-day cricket fitness in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final, delivering a strong performance for North Zone. He expressed satisfaction at the rare opportunity to play red-ball cricket, focusing on building rhythm and assessing his endurance, which he believes will benefit his overall game.
Sri Lanka fought back with seven wickets from Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha on rain-hit Day 2 of the first Test, but Devdutt Padikkal's superb 167 powered India to 460-9.
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.
India's Women's T20 Asia Cup campaign begins against Thailand, with the team facing questions about their recent form and consistency. Despite a strong historical record in the tournament, recent losses and individual player form, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, raise concerns. The team aims to overcome fielding issues and batting inconsistencies, relying on key players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma, as they prepare for both the Asia Cup and upcoming Asian Games.
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten praised Sonal Dinusha's twin centuries and pressure-handling ability, while calling India's Dhruv Jurel a world-class player with superb technique and short-ball skills.
Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja led India's bowling attack on Day 3 in Galle.
With Kuldeep Yadav looking ineffective, India could look towards including off-spinner Saransh Jain in the playing XI in the second Test in Colombo, especially looking at three left-handers in the Sri Lankan top seven.
'Every batter has a shortcoming somewhere. You need to find where the shortcoming is.'
North Zone coaches Ajay Sharma and Sarandeep Singh are under scrutiny for controversially dropping Sanat Sangwan, the Ranji Trophy's third-highest run-scorer, for the Duleep Trophy quarter-final against West Zone, opting instead for Yash Dhull, who had a significantly poorer Ranji season.
The Duleep Trophy reaches its semifinal stage with defending champions Central Zone and last year's runners-up South Zone receiving direct entry. They will face East Zone and North Zone, respectively, who advanced after winning their quarterfinal matches. The upcoming clashes promise intense competition as teams battle for a spot in the final.
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.
Teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and skipper Ishan Kishan had disappointing performances for East Zone in their Duleep Trophy campaign opener against North East Zone, both falling for single-digit scores.
India finished Day 2 on 460/9 after rain restricted play to just two sessions in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Sunday.
Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his concern over Rishabh Pant's shot selection, stating that while his attacking style brings unforgettable moments, the wicketkeeper-batter needs to learn when to rein himself in and prioritise the team's needs over his natural instinct to attack.
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.
India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel provided an update on Rishabh Pant's right shoulder injury, which led to Jurel taking over wicketkeeping duties during the second Test against Sri Lanka. Jurel also highlighted Pant's significant influence on his own game and their effective batting partnership.
Former Sri Lankan batter and veteran coach Roy Dias asserts that Test and ODI formats retain their relevance despite the rise of T20 cricket, advising young players to develop proper technique for success across all three versions.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will get a golden chance to improve upon his none too impressive first class numbers when East Zone take on the severely inexperienced North East Zone in the quarter-final of the Duleep Trophy.
India all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed scored a career-best 167 and took three wickets, helping East Zone enforce a follow-on against North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final. East Zone posted 467, then bowled out North East for 111, with Abhijit Sarkar claiming five wickets.
Team India batter KL Rahul hailed Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal's maiden Test century and backed the young left-hander to become a more consistent run-scorer for India.
North Zone secured their spot in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals by defeating West Zone by 52 runs in a thrilling quarter-final match in Bengaluru. Left-arm spinners Abid Mushtaq and Nishant Sindhu were instrumental in polishing off the West Zone tail on the final day.
Shubman Gill hailed Sri Lanka's gritty resistance after Sonal Dinusha's second century forced India to settle for a draw in the second Test.
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, dismisses criticism over recent poor results, stating his sole focus is on winning trophies for the country.
Shubman Gill called India's drawn second Test against Sri Lanka frustrating but praised his players' effort, cleared Mohammad Siraj of injury concerns and backed India's WTC qualification hopes.
India vice-captain KL Rahul revealed that the team's aggressive approach in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka was driven by the knowledge of an impending heavy shower, which arrived just five minutes after their 165-run victory.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel provided an update on Rishabh Pant's shoulder injury, stating the wicketkeeper-batter is "badly bruised" but expressed hope for his return on day four of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Pant did not keep wickets on day three after sustaining a blow while batting. Morkel also commented on Kuldeep Yadav's absence due to viral fever and India's strategy to secure the remaining Sri Lankan wickets.
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.
Harmanpreet Kaur said India will not single out Pakistan or any opponent at the Women's T20 Asia Cup, focusing instead on consistent cricket and handling pressure.
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.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.
VVS Laxman is reportedly being considered to replace Ajit Agarkar as the chief selector for the BCCI, whose extended tenure ends next month.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's standing in red-ball cricket faces a crucial test as the team embarks on a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted both the Indian and Sri Lankan men's cricket teams at the India House in Colombo, emphasising cricket's role in strengthening bilateral ties ahead of their second Test match.
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.
Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna clarified that his aggression manifests through his intense and disciplined bowling, not his on-field behaviour, emphasising his adaptability to pitch conditions and team requirements.
Former India spinner Neetu David, now head of scouting for UP Warriorz, highlights the need for focused power-hitting training in women's domestic cricket to strengthen both WPL teams and the national side, despite promising spin talent at junior levels.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.
The Bombay High Court humorously questioned the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) if cricketers were aware they were consuming 'non-vegetarian tea' due to unhygienic conditions, while ordering the MCA to clean its eateries for a fresh FDA inspection.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.
Ravindra Jadeja is a captain's delight and has delivered with the bat when needed most, destroyed batting line-ups, taken breathtaking catches and pulled off brilliant run-outs. His feats are an inspiration.
