KL Rahul reached his 50th fifty-plus score in the IPL and his eighth 500-run season, contributing significantly to Delhi Capitals' win against Rajasthan Royals and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Ishan Kishan's wicket-keeping drills ahead of the series opener suggested India could be considering a revised role for KL Rahul in the ODI setup.
Delhi Capitals' batting mainstay KL Rahul has praised RCB's experienced pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for showing that discipline and consistency can still succeed in modern T20 cricket, even without relying on extreme variations or unorthodox bowling styles.
Ambati Rayudu praises KL Rahul's aggressive mindset and improved strike rate in IPL 2026 as Delhi Capitals complete a record 226-run chase against Rajasthan Royals.
KL Rahul prioritises team success and IPL titles over personal milestones, aiming to emulate MS Dhoni's trophy haul. He also acknowledges the fearless approach of India's new-generation batters in T20 cricket.
KL Rahul reveals how he revamped his T20 approach after smashing an unbeaten 152, but Delhi Capitals lost to Punjab Kings in a record IPL run-fest.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill struck centuries as India dominated Afghanistan on a sweltering opening day in Mullanpur, finishing at 368/3 in the one-off Test after Rahul's third consecutive Test ton.
Harshit Rana returns to the Indian after regaining fitness even as Yashasvi Jaiswal will have to prove his ODI credibility as India look to sweep series against Afghanistan.
Rahul to continue to bat down the order, Arshdeep could be rested, hints Ten Doeschate
Pacer Harshit Rana has joined the Indian ODI squad for the final match against Afghanistan in Chennai after recovering from a knee injury. Rana, who underwent surgery in February, missed the T20 World Cup and IPL due to the ligament strain. India has already secured the series with a 2-0 lead.
Young Indian batsman Sai Sudharsan discusses how head coach Gautam Gambhir's confidence has given him the freedom to perform, leading to an impressive 81 in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. He also shared insights on batting with KL Rahul and strategies for playing spin on the evolving Mullanpur pitch, which he expects to offer more turn and become slower.
Team India began preparations for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, with Shubman Gill leading the side and new spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule joining the support staff.
Sunil Gavaskar praised India's team-first approach and clinical chase against Afghanistan in the opening ODI, highlighting KL Rahul's selfless batting and the contributions of Nitish Kumar Reddy and debutant Gurnoor Brar. Former England spinner Graeme Swann warned of a tougher challenge in the second ODI in Lucknow due to Afghanistan's strong spin attack.
Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel has said the team plans to use star batter K L Rahul as an opener in the 2026 Indian Premier League, bringing him back to a role where he has performed strongly in the past.
India's Shubman Gill has ascended to the second position in the ICC ODI batting rankings, propelled by strong performances against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Matt Henry has joined India's Jasprit Bumrah as the world's top-ranked Test bowler, marking a significant achievement for both players in the latest ICC updates.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the decision to replace Rishabh Pant with KL Rahul as Test vice-captain, emphasising the importance of game awareness and reassuring that Pant remains a key figure despite the leadership change.
India will look to seal the ODI series against Afghanistan while continuing to test combinations for the 2027 World Cup, with Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal among those pushing for opportunities in the second match.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus admitted his team's "rusty" performance in making correct DRS calls, citing a lack of conviction and poor decision-making during matches against India, which cost them crucial wickets. He also offered insights into the rigorous review process for on-field umpires.
Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the men's national team, commencing with the Test against Afghanistan. He brings extensive coaching experience from domestic cricket and the IPL.
Centuries from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul powered India to a commanding 368/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.
Indian cricketers, including Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, underwent an intense practice session in Mullanpur ahead of their one-off Test against Afghanistan. The session focused on bowler fitness, emerging talent, and assessing all-round capabilities, with key players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill also participating.
KL Rahul's half-century helped Karnataka gain an advantage over Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match. Karnataka is chasing a target of 325 runs.
Former India cricketer Syed Kirmani says wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant needs to check his flamboyance, work on his physical fitness and "vulnerable" temperament if he wishes to play all formats for the country again.
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has defended Rishabh Pant after he was removed as India's Test vice-captain following a disappointing IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants. Kaif said Pant should not be judged on his IPL performances alone and insisted he remains India's biggest match-winner in Test cricket.
KL Rahul has admitted that the thought of retirement did cross his mind but the India batter says it is still "some time away" and he will not drag on when the time comes.
Delhi Capitals assistant coach Ian Bell has identified batting inconsistency as the main reason for the team's struggles in IPL 2026, urging the batters to support KL Rahul.
Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match, with Axar Patel praising the bowlers' performance. The win improves DC's playoff chances, while Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag criticised his team's performance.
Mitchell Starc's four-wicket haul helped Delhi Capitals restrict Rajasthan Royals to 193 for eight after a blazing start in their IPL match, keeping Delhi's playoff hopes alive.
Captain Shubman Gill became only the 11th Indian to complete 1000 Test runs as skipper, attaining the landmark during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur on Saturday.
India has significantly reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for international airlines by 27% due to easing global fuel benchmarks, while simultaneously increasing commercial LPG and 5-kg cylinder prices to record highs.
India begin their 2026 Test season against Afghanistan with several selection questions to answer, including the No. 3 spot and Ravindra Jadeja's long-term successor, as they build towards key World Test Championship assignments.
Akeal Hosein explains his strategy to dismiss KL Rahul and highlights powerplay discipline as Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
India begin their 2027 ODI World Cup preparations against Afghanistan with Rohit Sharma's fitness and Nitish Kumar Reddy's all-round abilities under scrutiny, while Shubman Gill continues to shape his leadership credentials.
Shubman Gill became the second-fastest Indian to complete 6,000 T20 runs while Sai Sudharsan continued his record-breaking IPL season as Gujarat Titans' prolific opening pair scripted more history against Chennai Super Kings.
The father of young fast bowler Prince Yadav has described his son's maiden ODI call-up to the Indian team as a proud and emotional moment for the entire family.
KL Rahul says fatherhood has transformed his mindset, bringing calm and clarity to his cricket while helping him manage pressure and rediscover joy in the game.
India will take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test from June 6 onwards at New Chandigarh. This comes after the Men in Blue suffered a 0-2 clean sweep loss to South Africa at home last year, marking back-to-back series whitewashes in two years in a row, after a 0-3 whitewash loss to New Zealand in 2024, which marked the end of India's 12-year unbeaten streak at home.
Assistant coach Ian Bell acknowledges Delhi Capitals' inconsistency in IPL 2024, emphasising the need to capitalise on crucial moments and improve consistency in their remaining matches.
Rishabh Pant loses India Test vice-captaincy and is dropped from the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, while K L Rahul returns as deputy and young players earn maiden call-ups.
During India's training session ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Rishabh Pant appeared more measured, both in body language and intent, seemingly heeding the advice of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
