Temba Bavuma's career-best 179 powered South Africa to 425 for nine declared, with record partnerships alongside Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer before Kagiso Rabada struck early against Australia.
Skipper Siddhesh Lad's unbeaten 80 and Musheer Khan's 65 guided Mumbai to 249 for five against Chandigarh. Karan Lamba's unbeaten 103 and Rohan Rajbar's 95 propelled Rajasthan to 286 for 4 against Tamil Nadu. Elsewhere, Anshul Kamboj took four wickets for Haryana, and Devendra Singh Bora claimed five wickets for Uttarakhand.
Fast bowler Tushar Deshpande's impressive five-wicket haul led Mumbai to bowl out Chandigarh for a mere 78 runs in their first innings, forcing a follow-on on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group D match.
Kaverappa's four-wicket haul gave South Zone control before they stumbled, while Mukesh and Sarkar struck three each to bowl Central Zone out, giving East Zone a strong start.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
Former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes the Indian team is well-prepared for the slowish tracks expected in the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, particularly the first match in Lucknow, thanks to their recent experience on challenging pitches at the Asian Games in Japan.
South Africa's Anrich Nortje, returning to first-class cricket after nearly four years, took two quick wickets to leave Australia struggling at 149-6 at tea on the opening day of the first Test. Nortje's fiery spell after lunch justified his recall, as he dismissed Alex Carey and Beau Webster in quick succession.
South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada is in contention to play in the first Test against Australia, starting Friday, despite a recent hamstring injury, with a final decision expected at the last minute.
Sunil Gavaskar has questioned men's T20I records involving Associate nations, proposing separate categories to account for differences in playing standards.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has praised young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, comparing his aggressive style to his own. Sehwag emphasised that age is not a barrier in top-flight cricket if performance is consistent. He also lauded Shubman Gill for his recent double century and record-breaking performance, and expressed confidence in India's bowling attack for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
South African batsman Tony de Zorzi has been ruled out of the first Test against Australia due to a hamstring strain, adding to the team's growing injury concerns, with key paceman Kagiso Rabada also doubtful.
India's spin-bowling all-rounder Naman Dhir discusses how his experience as a batter enhances his ability to read opponents while bowling. He elaborates on his strategy for dismissing Kamil Pooran in the recent T20I match against West Indies and outlines his role as a batting all-rounder in the Indian team, emphasising his reliance on line, length, and pace variations.
Captain Aryan Juyal's unbeaten 60 helped Uttar Pradesh recover against Goa, while Rajat Patidar's 107* put Madhya Pradesh in control against Puducherry, and Ravikumar Samarth's 133 kept Vidarbha in contention against Jammu & Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy lauded skipper Shai Hope's 'amazing innings' of 162 not out, which led the team to a record chase of 352 against India, denying them a series sweep and providing valuable learnings for the Windies.
Australia's assistant coach Matthew Wade has warned his team to expect a more dangerous and aggressive South African attack with pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada poised to return for the second Test in Gqeberha, following his absence from the first match due to a hamstring injury.
South Africa, reeling from a 214-run defeat in the first Test against Australia, is determined to level the series in the second Test starting Sunday in Gqeberha. The hosts are expected to make several team changes, including the return of paceman Kagiso Rabada, as they look to overcome batting fragilities exposed in the previous match. Australia, despite their dominant win, might consider workload management for their fast bowlers amidst forecasts of persistent rain.
Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to win the Irani Cup, providing a perfect birthday gift for Captain Rishabh Pant. Despite Pant being sidelined with fever, the team's pacers, led by Mukesh Kumar, secured a sensational victory by adjusting their bowling strategy in the second innings. Young batter Ravichandran Smaran also played a crucial role with a superb century.
Former chief selector M S K Prasad wants Mohammed Shami considered for the New Zealand series and the 2027 ODI World Cup while former bowling coach Bharat Arun says the pacer has nothing left to prove.
Arshdeep Singh is making the most of the rain-affected Asian Games in Nagoya, enjoying a romantic time with girlfriend Samreen Kaur and sharing a charming post from Nagoya Castle.
West Indies all-rounder Shamar Springer discussed his team's "Plan B" to contain India's Abhishek Sharma, who scored a rapid 69 runs, leading India to a 14-run victory in the third T20I. Springer acknowledged Sharma's world-class performance and the difficulty of bowling on good wickets. He also reflected on the West Indies' chase, noting missed opportunities and the impact of the pitch conditions, while praising Roston Chase's underrated bowling.
South Africa's fast bowler Anrich Nortje is on the verge of a surprising return to Test cricket after nearly four years, potentially bolstering an injury-hit Proteas attack against Australia in the first Test starting Friday in Durban.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer wants Mohammed Shami back in India's ODI team, backing a Bumrah-Shami-Siraj pace attack ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy acknowledged the financial challenges leading to player pay cuts, stating it's "not what you want to hear before a series." He also highlighted the team's need for greater bowling discipline, especially after failing to defend a 405-run target against India, and reflected on missed opportunities to score higher in the second ODI.
Smriti Mandhana will lead the Indian women's T20 team in a three-match series against Zimbabwe in Raipur, marking the start of a new era. The series is crucial for India to address their T20 weaknesses in batting, fielding, and bowling, especially after recent World Cup exits, while Zimbabwe looks to build on their recent success.
After India's 2-1 ODI series win over West Indies, Shubman Gill says it is time to settle the team's World Cup combination and reduce experiments.
Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz expressed his disappointment over losing the Asian Games gold medal match against India, citing "small mistakes" as the reason for their defeat. Despite scoring 96 runs in the final, Nawaz felt the team could have won and highlighted the challenge of playing against India. He also spoke about his personal comeback and future aspirations in cricket.
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna discusses the factors behind his impressive performance, including team clarity, effective communication, and the healthy competition for World Cup spots. He highlights his rapport with fellow bowlers and the positive impact of pushing each other to improve.
Ahead of the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi, local player Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased their attacking batting in India's practice session. Kishan, returning to the national setup after a disciplinary issue, impressed assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak with his maturity. Sooryavanshi, a young talent, also drew significant attention with his powerful hitting. The team, having won the first T20I, plans to maintain its fearless approach for the upcoming match.
Pat Cummins has played down concerns Usman Khawaja's autobiography could reopen Sandpapergate, saying the 2018 scandal was dealt with.
Pacers Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj have been included in India's Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team in the final two ODIs, while Shubman Gill focuses on red-ball cricket. The article also lists the full ODI and Test squads, with the Test series starting on November 19.
India's vice-captain Tilak Varma emphasised the need for an aggressive, wicket-taking approach against the West Indies' powerful batting lineup in the upcoming fourth T20I. With India leading 2-1, Varma highlighted the visitors' deep hitting prowess and the team's adjusted strategy after a defensive lapse in the second match. He also discussed his adaptable batting role and the team's approach to the re-laid pitch in Hyderabad.
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.
Ravichandran Smaran's unbeaten 126 propelled the Rest of India to a commanding 265-run lead against Jammu and Kashmir on Day 3 of their Irani Cup match in Srinagar, despite early setbacks for India batters Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan.
Shai Hope's explosive 45-ball century led the West Indies to a six-wicket win over India after they chased down 250 in 18.3 overs to level the five-match T20I series 1-1.
India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has indicated that Ravindra Jadeja's prospects for the 2027 ODI World Cup are strong, with his all-round skills being a crucial factor. The team is actively assessing various spin options, including Axar Patel, and using current series to experiment with combinations and fine-tune the squad for the upcoming showpiece event in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Fast bowler Akash Deep is expected to be recalled to India's Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour, following a successful return to domestic cricket after a seven-month injury layoff. The selection committee is also set to pick squads for T20Is, ODIs, and India A's shadow tour.
Suresh Raina said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the national squad the reward of hard work, discipline and consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden T20 International hundred after a crucial two-hour troubleshooting session with former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar. Nayar revealed they worked on Iyer's grip, initial movements, and tactical nuances to help him generate more force and clear boundaries, addressing issues Iyer felt during the Asian Games. Iyer's 43-ball 102 not out led India to an eight-wicket win against West Indies on Tuesday.
India's new captain Smriti Mandhana is set to lead the women's team in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, marking a new era. She aims to elevate the team's professionalism, power-hitting, and fielding, while fostering a strong team culture. Mandhana also highlighted the importance of Harmanpreet Kaur's experience and praised deputy Shafali Verma's growth, as the team prepares for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy 2027.
The second round of the Ranji Trophy will see India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill return to action for Punjab, while Mumbai will be without key players Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ayush Mhatre due to India A duties and injury, respectively, setting the stage for crucial encounters across the country.
