Sanjay Bangar explains how Gujarat Titans can balance their XI for IPL 2026, backing Washington Sundar's batting role and suggesting key overseas combinations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, according to a presidential aide.
Former India U-19 and Punjab medium pacer Amanpreet Singh Gill passed away at the age of 36 in Chandigarh, prompting tributes from the cricket community.
Former Pakistan captain and coach Haroon Rasheed says India's cricket dominance stems from strong grassroots structures and long-term planning, while Pakistan continues to suffer from instability, poor domestic systems and lack of continuity.
The Pakistan women's cricket team is reportedly facing significant internal disagreements and a tense environment during the Women's T20 World Cup in England. Amidst a winless streak, reports highlight clashes between team mentor Wahab Riaz and captain Fatima Sana over selection and disciplinary matters, alongside broader issues of team groupings and coaching frustrations. This mirrors past problems in Pakistani cricket, exacerbated by frequent coaching changes.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak discussed the potential debut of 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the T20 series opener against Ireland. While acknowledging Sooryavanshi's talent, Kotak emphasised that a player scoring runs should not be benched to accommodate a new talent, highlighting the challenge of team selection with abundant talent in Indian cricket. He also touched upon captain Shreyas Iyer's leadership and the BCCI's system for nurturing young players.
Indian shuttlers Anmol Kharb and Ashmita Chaliha have successfully advanced to the women's singles quarterfinals at the Macau Open Super 300 badminton tournament. While Ashmita secured a straight-sets victory, Anmol progressed after her opponent retired. However, India's challenge in men's singles, women's singles (other players), and mixed doubles sections concluded in the earlier rounds.
Veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma's coach, Shravan Kumar, has criticised the national selectors for not including pace sensation Auqib Nabi in the Indian team's playing XI for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. Kumar highlighted Nabi's exceptional performance of 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, which was instrumental in Jammu & Kashmir's maiden title triumph, arguing that such achievements should not be overlooked by relegating him to a backup role.
Former India captain Anjum Chopra hailed Deepti Sharma as one of cricket's most influential all-rounders after her five-wicket haul against Pakistan, while also highlighting the importance of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can revive Test cricket if nurtured properly, urging patience and warning against excessive scrutiny of the young star.
For the foreseeable future, the most likely outcome remains continuation of the status quo. Taiwan will remain self-governing without formally declaring independence, while China continues to apply sustained pressure short of war, predict Krishnan Srinivasan and Manoj Mohanka.
Senior officials from India and China's foreign ministries met in Beijing to discuss bilateral ties following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi.
Suryakumar Yadav's future as India's T20 captain is uncertain, with his place in the team as a batter under scrutiny. Gautam Gambhir's support as head coach could be decisive, despite concerns from the selection committee about Suryakumar's recent form and suitability for the 2028 Olympics.
India's selectors have included Gurnoor Brar and Manav Suthar in the national squad for the upcoming Test and ODI series against Afghanistan, recognising their pace and spin capabilities.
The Beijing summit may have reduced immediate diplomatic uncertainty, but it did not resolve the deeper structural contest between the United States and China. That contest appears likely to define the coming decade, notes Varun Arya.
India wicketkeeper-batter Kona Srikar Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket after playing seven Tests for the country. The 32-year-old debuted in 2023 and played his last Test a year later, scoring 221 runs. He also holds the record for the first triple century by a wicketkeeper-batter in Ranji Trophy.
Ishan Kishan's recent good form makes him the ideal candidate to take over the crucial No 3 slot in Virat Kohli's absence.
For India, China's Indian Ocean power projection, maritime domain awareness, dual-use ports, underwater surveillance, antisubmarinewarfare, naval exercises with Pakistan, pose considerable pressure, depleted India's strategic depth and marginalises Indian role, points out Srikanth Kondapalli.
Chinese leaders, including its generals, will have to weigh whether they can win a war if they ever attack Taiwan and if at all, can they sustain the subsequent devastation, notes Rup Narayan Das.
India are entering a rebuilding phase in Test cricket, with Shubman Gill facing early challenges as captain amid concerns over form, selection stability, and recent home results.
Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim believes Suryakumar Yadav's inconsistent form might cost him a spot in India's T20 World Cup 2028 plans. Karim also suggested Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan as potential captaincy candidates, while expressing doubts about Hardik Pandya's leadership. He also advocated for the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the national squad.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, a rare occurrence for the exceptionally fit batsman. The news comes amidst uncertainty over Rohit Sharma's full availability for the series, also due to a hamstring issue, sparking discussions about the future of both senior players in the ODI format.
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth advises Royal Challengers Bengaluru to exclude Romario Shepherd from their playing XI for the IPL final against Gujarat Titans, citing concerns over his expensive bowling.
Lucknow Super Giants' IPL season was marked by inconsistent selections, questionable combinations, and a lack of clarity in their strongest XI, leading to a disappointing campaign.
Yastika Bhatia made a remarkable comeback from an ACL injury, scoring a match-winning half-century against England in the first women's T20I. Bhatia's resilience and partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues led India to a 38-run victory.
Temba Bavuma, who led South Africa to their maiden ICC World Test Championship title and a historic 2-0 series sweep in India, also made the cut, while four Australian players were included.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan downplayed the heated on-field exchange between Virat Kohli and Travis Head during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Indian stock markets saw a significant rebound, with the Sensex jumping nearly 790 points, primarily fuelled by strong buying interest in telecom, pharma, and private banking shares, despite a volatile trading session and a weakening rupee.
Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh pay tribute.to former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill, a member of India's 2008 U-19 World Cup-winning squad
South Africa defeated India by 23 runs in the fifth T20I to win the series 4-1, with Laura Wolvaardt's unbeaten 92 leading the charge. India's batting lineup struggled, failing to chase a modest target of 156.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on India and China to view each other as partners rather than rivals, emphasising the importance of cooperation for regional stability and development.
Indian shuttlers are set to compete at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 tournament, seeking to avenge their recent Thomas Cup semifinal defeat against France. Several Indian players will face French opponents in the singles and doubles categories.
Matheesha Pathirana's debut for Kolkata Knight Riders was short-lived as he suffered an injury during his first match against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, raising concerns about his fitness and KKR's playoff chances.
The US has seized an oil tanker, 'Skywave', linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean, as part of efforts to disrupt Iran's oil shipments and enforce sanctions. The vessel was part of a network transporting sanctioned Iranian crude oil, with the seizure occurring amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Rishabh Pant has been relieved of his captaincy duties with the Lucknow Super Giants after a disappointing 2026 IPL season. The decision comes after the team finished last and amidst reports of a disconnect between Pant and the team management.
Sunil Gavaskar revealed he was once 'pulled up' for writing to IPL captains seeking ideas to improve the league.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun in Bishkek to discuss maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and broader regional security concerns.
A senior Chinese Communist Party official stated that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping was fruitful, leading to a new consensus on developing bilateral relations. Both countries aim to enhance cooperation and manage differences.
Venkatesh Iyer smashed an unbeaten 73 off 40 balls in a pressure game against Punjab Kings, powering Royal Challengers Bengaluru into the IPL 2026 playoffs with a commanding victory.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower due to investor caution over rising bond yields, a weaker rupee, and fresh fuel price hikes, which have revived inflation concerns.
