The Indian team, which looked invincible under Suryakumar Yadav, has suddenly hit rock bottom a few months after winning the T20 World Cup.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has moved the start times of the upcoming five T20 Internationals against India an hour earlier to 10:00 pm IST, aiming to maximise television viewership in the subcontinent. This decision, made after consulting broadcasters, highlights English cricket's financial reliance on high-value series featuring India. The tour also includes a sold-out ODI series, with uncertainty surrounding Virat Kohli's participation due to injury.
Cricket legend Kapil Dev has urged fans to celebrate Rohit Sharma's illustrious career and the joy he has brought to the sport, rather than feel sad about his eventual retirement. Dev's comments come amidst speculation about Sharma's future in international cricket.
At 31, it would be too early and unwise to phase out a special talent like Sanju Samson, who despite the odd blip appears to be enjoying the best phase of his India career.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that Sanju Samson has received full clarity regarding his role after being dropped from the playing XI for the ongoing T20I series against England.
Nepal turmoil: Kathmandu dropped as neutral venue for Blind T20 CWC for women
Fan dressed up as Queen Elizabeth was spotted with a replica trophy on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test
'If I was with the team, I would pick bowlers who I feel can pick wickets and win matches for me with the ball.'
Preeti shocks world champion Huang; Arundhati, Parveen shine on international return
After yet another failure for Sanju Samson -- his third in a row -- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his India debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday.
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has claimed that several Indian cricket stars initially dismissed T20 cricket as a "stupid game" and were unwilling to play the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup, highlighting how dramatically perceptions of the format have changed since then.
The national selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, in all likelihood, will select identical squads for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and the marquee ICC T20 World Cup, a BCCI source said on Friday.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Malhotra said India will be strong contenders to land the title in the showpiece, citing the right blend of youth and experience in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad.
Jofra Archer was England's leading wicket taker in their victorious World Cup campaign with 20 wickets and he made his Test debut against Australia, picking up 22 wickets in four Ashes Tests.
Alice Capsey's explosive 82 and Heather Knight's unbeaten 70 guided England to a six-wicket win over India in Taunton, sealing the Women's T20I series 2-1 ahead of the T20 World Cup.
FIH Men's World Cup: India beat Switzerland 5-0 to qualify for quarterfinals
'I'm sure we'll come out of that with a bunch of information and ... we'll be well-prepped and well-versed by the time we get together. I'm sure we'll be full of confidence and back ourselves to beat any team.'
It remains to be seen if India will fall back on Sanju Samson to revive their sagging fortunes with a revamped batting order in the must-win fourth T20 International in Bristol on Thursday.
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson drew parallels between cricket and tennis legends, comparing MS Dhoni to Roger Federer and Virat Kohli to Carlos Alcaraz. He also reflected on India's recent T20 World Cup victory, crediting the women's team for inspiring the men, and discussed the challenge posed by Australia. Former tennis player Rohan Bopanna shared his Wimbledon predictions and memories.
The article delves into the growing friction between Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma and the selection committee head Ajit Agarkar, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir. It highlights a lack of mutual trust and differing visions for the team's future, particularly concerning Rohit's role and the integration of new talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal. The piece draws parallels to past cricketing controversies and suggests a potential end to Rohit's captaincy.
Women's cricket is no longer a career option, it would be a calling for the millions of girls, whose parents have remained sceptical about their daughters dreaming about wearing India Blues.
Former skipper Meg Lanning feels Australia's "incredible depth" which has been in full display throughout the tournament gives the seven-time champions an edge over India.
'He is great to have as a captain -- he just keeps everything simple and doesn't change his emotions too much, which in the heat of the battle, (helps) to keep your mind clear'
Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the ongoing speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma's future, asserting that players like Rohit and Virat Kohli are "untouchable" due to their immense body of work and massive fan following. Ashwin highlighted that dropping such star batters would cause a significant uproar, unlike the reaction to bowlers being left out. This comes as Rohit recently silenced critics with a century at Lord's amidst retirement rumours.
Defending champions India will open their campaign against USA in Mumbai on February 7 before facing Namibia in Delhi on February 12.
England captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the third Test against New Zealand, saying the demands of captaincy had burned him out after a remarkable career featuring World Cup glory and Ashes heroics.
Before Diego Maradona's famous blue shirt became a $9.28 million auction item, it may have had a humbler beginning in Tepito, Mexico City's market district.
India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign ended in another group-stage exit, putting Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy under scrutiny and exposing issues with team selection, batting approach, bowling balance and fielding that could trigger a major reset.
Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated India debut ends with 14 off 10 balls as Tilak Varma's explosive final over lifts India to 190/7 against England in the second T20I at Old Trafford.
The ICC Player Protection Programme, in partnership with AI moderator Freedom2hear, is actively shielding women cricketers from social media abuse. Over 100 players, including India's Radha Yadav and England's Amy Jones, have joined the initiative, which has already removed nearly 60,000 harmful comments during the ongoing T20 World Cup, ensuring player well-being and confident fan engagement.
If Rohit Sharma's ODI exit is coming, it should be announced with dignity and not through rumours and leaks. You don't whisper exits for great players -- you announce them with respect, asserts K R Nayar.
India is set to face England in the second ODI, aiming for a series victory, but concerns over Shubman Gill's fitness after he walked off injured in the first match, and Rohit Sharma's inconsistent batting form, are prominent. The team will also consider potential changes to the playing eleven.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt said she "couldn't be prouder" of her team's campaign in the ICC Women's World Cup and promised to get stronger in the coming times after they lost to India in the title clash in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has publicly addressed the alleged death threats received by him and his family over the past six months, stating that the matter has been reported to the police and expressing confidence in their action.
India T20 vice-captain Tilak Varma stated that his batting approach is dictated by conditions and match situations, especially after the team's struggles with early wickets in the UK and Ireland. He emphasised the responsibility of playing for the country and adapting to overseas conditions after extensive play in Asia.
Jos Buttler concedes 'incredibly difficult' for England to progress to semi-final
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.
Already, the knives are out for Gautam Gambhir because of his poor record as coach in Test matches, and a potential defeat in Sri Lanka could prove to be the killer blow.
India women will be keen to internalise the conditions and character of venues in England ahead of next year's World Cup during the five-match T20I series against the hosts, beginning with the opening game on Saturday.
