India's path to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals has become more challenging following a defeat to South Africa.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kuldeep was instrumental to India's success at the Asia Cup, topping the wicket-taking chart with 17 wickets. Chopra explained the rationale behind dropping the left-arm wrist spinner, attributing it to batting depth.
The Bloomberg report suggests that this backchannel communication from President Xi has laid the groundwork for a broader thaw in relations. This overture has since translated into a series of tangible diplomatic actions leading up to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Ishan Kishan's recent good form makes him the ideal candidate to take over the crucial No 3 slot in Virat Kohli's absence.
The collective brilliance of the Indian XI in the 2023 World Cup makes a compelling case for each player to be considered for inclusion in every World XI.
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.
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.
India will be keen to get the job done against Bangladesh and seal their place in Sunday's final before considering resting their players.
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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India and China should approach their relations from a "strategic" and "long-term perspective" during their talks in Tianjin. Xi also emphasized upholding multilateralism and working towards a multipolar world.
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.
Dropped Australia opener Sam Konstas will face England in a two-day tour match between the first and second Ashes Tests as part of the Prime Minister's XI squad.
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.
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.
As India gears up to face Oman on Friday, September 19, at the Dubai international stadium, the focus returns to cricket.
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.
'Jitesh Sharma has shown he is quite a capable player. He can bat lower down the order and look to hit the big shots even with a slightly older ball.'
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.
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.
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
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.
The India U20 women's football team secured a 5-2 victory against Swedish club Alvsjo AIK in a friendly match held in Sweden, with Lhingdeikim scoring a hat-trick.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks focusing on rebuilding bilateral relations, emphasizing border peace and addressing cross-border terrorism.
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.
