Devdutt Padikkal stroked an unbeaten half-century to rescue India A on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln, on Sunday.
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.
Saransh Jain, India's Test cap No. 320, prioritised red-ball cricket over an IPL contract, a decision lauded by his coach Chandrakant Pandit, which ultimately led to his Test debut against Sri Lanka.
India pacer Prasidh Krishna discusses his renewed determination after an injury lay-off, focusing on the upcoming five-Test series against Australia and its significance in the World Test Championship cycle. He also shares insights into the mental and physical demands of rehabilitation and the challenges of playing in New Zealand.
Abhishek Sharma, India's explosive opener, failed to deliver in a crucial series decider in Bengaluru, falling cheaply to Keemo Paul. Commentator Ian Bishop highlighted Sharma's recurring weakness against straight balls targeted at his body, a tactic West Indies bowlers have successfully exploited in recent matches.
Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana discusses the team's future aspirations after securing a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. She emphasises the need for continuous improvement over the next two years to prepare for the tougher competition expected at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, highlighting the unique pride of contributing to India's overall medal tally.
Australia were bowled out for 99 in their first innings, trailing South Africa by 326 runs.
Abhishek Sharma's 61 and Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 powered India to 211/6 before Hasan Nawaz's 96 fell short as Pakistan lost by 19 runs.
'There is nothing for the bowlers and it's killing the game.'
India secured a 14-run victory over West Indies in the third T20I, taking a 2-1 series lead. Captain Shreyas Iyer praised his bowlers for their confidence and execution, and also highlighted strong performances from openers Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged their bowling shortcomings and the need for a stable opening partnership.
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.
Harmanpreet Kaur smashed a scintillating 126, while all-rounder Deepti Sharma struck an unbeaten 106 as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 121 runs in the second women's ODI in Vadodara.
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy emphasised the critical importance of winning both powerplays (batting and bowling) to defeat India in the ongoing T20I series. He highlighted the team's struggle to contain India in the initial overs while bowling and stressed the need for improvement. Sammy also defended all-rounder Roston Chase, praising his discipline and tactical understanding amidst criticism of his selection.
India's team management is considering pairing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Abhishek Sharma for the second T20I against West Indies due to Sanju Samson's poor form. While the middle-order has performed well, Samson's consistent low scores are a concern. The article also discusses potential changes in the pace bowling combination and the West Indies' need for a higher total.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has issued a stern warning to the Indian team ahead of their crucial Test series against Sri Lanka.
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.
India all-rounder Naman Dhir discusses his bowling development, crediting veteran Ravindra Jadeja's advice and training at the Mumbai Indians camp. Despite not yet taking a wicket in his two ODIs, Dhir maintains a good economy rate and is working on his all-round game, including his batting, ahead of the third ODI.
Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls, and Shafali Verma added 69, guiding India to a commanding 92-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I. This win secured a 3-0 series sweep for India, with Harmanpreet finding her form ahead of crucial assignments.
Sri Lanka's head coach Gary Kirsten expressed satisfaction with his team's developing approach to Test cricket despite a loss to India. He highlighted the team's fight and resilience, particularly after a poor start in their first innings, and praised young batter Sonal Dinusha. Kirsten also provided an update on key player injuries ahead of the next Test.
India may turn to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav for the series-deciding T20I against West Indies as they look to strengthen their bowling attack.
A dominant India Women's team is set to face Zimbabwe in the second ODI in Vadodara, aiming to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the first match.
Australia's veteran bowling attack, featuring Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, delivered a decisive performance in the first Test against South Africa in Durban. Their combined effort led Australia to a 214-run victory, with Hazlewood taking career-best figures. Captain Cummins lauded the bowlers' rigorous preparation and team-first approach, highlighting their continued effectiveness despite their age.
Pacer Keemo Paul discusses how West Indies bowlers effectively used slow balls on a gripping pitch and the absence of dew to secure a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20I on Wednesday. He also highlighted captain Shai Hope's crucial century and strong team planning as key factors in their success.
Captain Shreyas Iyer believes the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar will significantly address the Indian T20 team's lack of experience in its bowling attack, especially after recent series where new bowlers struggled.
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.
Pat Cummins has played down concerns Usman Khawaja's autobiography could reopen Sandpapergate, saying the 2018 scandal was dealt with.
Millions play cricket in India; only a few reach the IPL teams or the Indian team. Sometimes, a player may not get selected not due to lack of skill, at other times it may be due to team balance. But what every youngster should remember is that talent is permanent; selection is temporary, notes K R Nayar.
Josh Hazlewood claimed 6-49 as Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs at Kingsmead, dismissing the hosts for 206 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Young Indian fast bowlers Gurjapneet Singh, Arshad Khan, and Yash Thakur are set to feature in the India A vs Australia A one-day series, aiming to showcase their talent and address the senior national team's current scarcity in the pace department. The series, initially anticipated for Hardik Pandya's return, now serves as a crucial platform for these emerging pacers to catch the attention of national selectors amidst injuries and inconsistent form among established bowlers.
Tilak Varma starred with a match-winning fifty to power India to a thrilling victory in the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
Indian batter K L Rahul is actively working on improving his game against the old ball to ensure the middle overs generate more runs, aiming for India to consistently score in excess of 370 in ODIs amidst the growing trend of high targets being chased down.
Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis lauded his team's 'character and belief' after their historic 430-run chase against England, the second-highest in ODI history, highlighting the team's confidence in achieving any target.
India face West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad, needing one more win to seal the series as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan lead the batting charge.
Hyderabad secured an innings and 40-run victory over Tripura on the third day of their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Elite Group B match. Pacers Tanay Thyagarajan and Mohammad Siraj led the bowling attack, bundling out Tripura for 120 in their second innings. Hyderabad earned seven points from the match, including a bonus point.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has identified key areas for improvement in the team's white-ball game following their T20I series loss to India. He stressed the need for better quality pitches at home to develop players and called for a significant increase in the team's strike rate and a reduction in dot balls, especially during the Powerplay.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated that top batters might be rested from white-ball cricket to prepare for Tests during the upcoming New Zealand tour. He emphasised the importance of Test cricket, the challenge of multi-format players, and discussed preparations for the 2027 World Cup, highlighting the crucial roles of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, and praising Shubman Gill's captaincy.
India skipper Shubman Gill has shed light on the team's meticulous approach to player fitness, explaining that while constant monitoring is in place, risk-avoiding decisions are sometimes necessary, especially in the demanding format of Test cricket, to protect both the player and the team's long-term interests.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs in-form West Indies skipper Shai Hope for an IPL contract, identifying defending champions RCB as a potential fit despite concerns over overseas combinations and batting position.
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.
'Credit to the Japan team for taking on the challenge and putting up a fight.'
