Despite limited opportunities in the playing XI, India skipper Shreyas Iyer has expressed strong confidence in young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stating that the 15-year-old's time to dominate Indian cricket will come.
Sanju Samson has been dropped from the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, making way for Punjab Kings' wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh.
Sanju Samson's biggest opponent isn't the opposition, it's the selection committee. Samson has never been given a long rope; all he receives is a thin thread.
India defeated West Indies by 14 runs in Indore to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International series. Chasing 224, West Indies fell short despite efforts from Shimron Hetmyer, with Arshdeep Singh being India's top bowler. India's innings was powered by Abhishek Sharma's explosive 69.
Delhi Police arrested Sanju Mishra alias Tuntun Mishra from Ranchi, Jharkhand, in connection with a financial cheating case. Mishra, who runs a power tools business, is accused of fraud involving his business partner, Anup Garg. An FIR was registered in Delhi, and his bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court. Police are investigating his bank accounts and the fraud's modus operandi.
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.
'He played himself in and he started hammering the balls only later. If he keeps on doing that, I don't think he'll ever fail.'
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.
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.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed surprise and concern over Yashasvi Jaiswal's decision to take up wicket-keeping at 24, advising the Test opener to instead focus on his primary skill of batting, especially with India's New Zealand tour approaching.
India defeated West Indies by eight wickets in the first T20I, powered by Shreyas Iyer's maiden T20I century and a dream debut performance from all-rounder Naman Dhir, who took three wickets. India successfully chased down the target of 172 with ease.
India's women's kabaddi team secured their record-extending fourth Asian Games gold medal by defeating Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the surprise inclusion in the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand starting later this month.
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.
Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan has shared his preferred batting lineup for India's first T20I against Afghanistan, advocating for Shreyas Iyer to retain his number four spot and Sanju Samson to open the innings. Razdan emphasized performance over the left-right batting combination, highlighting Samson's recent T20 form. The series opener will also see a selection dilemma with multiple openers available and marks Iyer's first home series as captain.
World champions India, featuring a strong line-up of T20 stars, are set to face Pakistan in the men's gold-medal cricket clash at the Asian Games, a match where a silver medal would be considered a 'royal embarrassment' for India.
Opening batter Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-shattering 30-ball century, powering India to a massive 221-7 and sparking a total bowling collapse that sealed a 127-run series sweep against Afghanistan.
India beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha met the Indian men's cricket team in Nagoya, expressing her pride and wishing them well for their Asian Games campaign.
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.
Abhishek Sharma etched his name in cricket history by smashing the fastest T20 International hundred by an Indian, a blistering 30-ball century against Afghanistan before the hosts won the match by 127 runs to sweep the series.
Anshul Kamboj replaced injured Prasidh Krishna for India's third ODI against West Indies after Prasidh suffered a left hamstring injury during the second match at Guwahati
India is grappling with significant selection dilemmas ahead of their opening T20I match against Afghanistan, particularly concerning the choice between Sanju Samson and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the potential impact of Ishan Kishan's injury scare. The series also serves as crucial preparation for the Asian Games, with India needing to finalise their bowling attack against a strong Afghan side.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will need to wait for his T20I debut, prioritising consistent performers like Sanju Samson. Gambhir also addressed the impact of the Asian Games on the ODI squad selection for the upcoming West Indies series, highlighting opportunities for new talent.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, despite being written off in 2022, is set to make a national comeback in 2026, showcasing his enduring swing bowling prowess and strong work ethic, particularly after stellar performances in the IPL.
Sanju Samson smashed a quick 57 as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Roston Chase calls Shai Hope underrated after his 45-ball T20I century powered the West Indies to a record chase, strengthening the skipper's case ahead of the IPL mini-auction.
After India's defeat despite scoring 249, Gautam Gambhir says only the openers are permanent in T20 cricket and backs a flexible batting order.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Seasoned spinner Axar Patel delivered a crucial final over, helping India clinch a narrow two-run victory against Japan in a rain-curtailed one-off T20 International in Sano, despite a challenging pitch and a low-scoring affair.
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya has lauded Indian teen cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a 'different kind of talent' and the 'future for India', despite his recent exclusion from the playing XI against Afghanistan.
India's men's cricket team, despite being full strength, faces a rusty start and weather challenges in their Asian Games semifinal against a second-string Sri Lanka. Heavy rain has hampered their practice, and while the forecast for the semifinal is clear, the final could be affected. India, as top-ranked, will progress if the match is washed out, highlighting the impact of weather on the tournament.
Sanju is proving that sometimes the quietest minds produce the loudest impact.
Cricket legends Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have praised Sanju Samson's century against Mumbai Indians, highlighting his game awareness and impact on Chennai Super Kings' IPL campaign.
Indian cricket fans and former players questioned India's decision to leave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan.
'A warm meeting with Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShahji. Grateful for his time and guidance. Wishing him continued good health and well-being.'
India's men's cricket team is set to begin its Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan, but heavy rain is forecast, potentially leading to a washout. If the match is abandoned, India would advance to the semifinals due to higher seeding. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, features a strong contingent of international players aiming for a gold medal, following the women's team's recent victory.
'While she was particularly attached to Sanju, she'd spew expletives at him, and hit him with chappals when he misbehaved.' 'She'd even beat me when I was rude to my elder sister Namrata.' 'Today you can't whack your child, but we have grown up with two-three whacks a day.'
Yash Thakur replaces injured Harshit Rana in India's T20I squad for the Afghanistan series and Asian Games. Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Reddy, and Washington Sundar have been cleared for both assignments after recovering from injuries. India's T20I series against Afghanistan begins September 13, followed by the Asian Games campaign starting September 28.
