Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta feels that India's T20I vice-captain Shubham Gill, who is currently struggling to get going in the shortest format, has to play a similar role what Virat Kohli did for so long by consistently holding on to one end.
Morne Morkel backs India's batting unit to improve against spin ahead of Super Eight clash vs South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup.
'Looking at this Asia Cup, there is a big game on the 14th, India versus Pakistan. With everything that has happened between the two countries over the last two months, how will you approach that game?', asked a reporter.
'The only thing is I said that make sure that be brave enough. At the most, what will happen, you know. But be brave enough to face it.'
Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul terms Hardik Pandya India's biggest threat ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo but tips Pakistan to edge the high-pressure contest.
Shreyas Iyer marked his return from injury in style, smashing a fluent 82 off 53 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day match in Jaipur on Tuesday.
The T20 WC champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
Following India's emphatic eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi said he focused on bowling in the right areas and worked extensively on his lengths after enduring a difficult Indian Premier League (IPL) season last year. Bishnoi delivered an impressive spell of 2/18 in four overs, playing a key role in restricting New Zealand to 153/9 in 20 overs. His disciplined bowling effort laid the foundation for India's dominant win in Guwahati. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Bishnoi said he worked closely with his coaches at home in Jodhpur after being left out of the Indian T20I side. The leg-spinner added that playing matches in the Vijay Hazare, Syed Mushtaq and Ranji Trophy tournaments has helped him to make a comeback. "It's always difficult when you are away from the side. You feel like you should be there, but you aren't. I had time to work on my own bowling. I worked a lot. I worked with my coaches at home in Jodhpur. Then I played domestic matches again. I played a few matches in the Vijay Hazare, Syed Mushtaq and Ranji Trophy tournaments. All those things helped me a lot to come back," Bishnoi said. The 24-year-old further stated that he consciously tried to bowl in the right areas and adapt his rhythm according to match conditions. "I was trying to bowl in the right areas. It depends on my rhythm on the given day. I have worked on my lengths. I didn't have a good IPL last season. I was a bit nervous and excited," he added. On Abhishek Sharma's blistering batting performance, Bishnoi said, "The way Abhishek is batting, India needs this. He practices a lot. Hope he continues this form for a long time." Sharma made an outstanding unbeaten 68 runs in just 20 balls, including seven fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 340. Abhishek Sharma's fifty, paired with Suryakumar Yadav's blistering unbeaten 57 off 26 balls, propelled India to a convincing eight-wicket win, chasing down 154 runs in just 10 overs. With this victory, India also took the five-match T20I series, winning all three T20Is.
India's World Cup winning captains -- Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepika T C and Rohit Sharma -- were honoured by the Reliance Foundation in Mumbai on Monday.
When players select themselves, the selectors' job becomes delightfully simple. But did the Indian selectors have that luxury while picking the T20 World Cup squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup? asks K R Nayar.
That is the level of trust we have in each other.'
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar hailed Sanju Samson after his match-winning knock powered India to a five-wicket victory in the must-win match against West Indies in the T20 World Cup.
'It wouldn't have happened if Salman Agha was playing on the 14th and the game is in the balance.'
India will be hoping that Abhishek Sharma returns to his destructive ways and the other batters up their game against spin when the side takes the field for its final T20 World Cup league fixture against the Netherlands.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate says adding Sanju Samson to the top order is under discussion after the SA loss, reveals Abhishek's food poisoning battle.
Earlier, warm-up routines had players darting through shuttle runs and high knees before bats were unsheathed.
The problem with Surya has been his limited range of strokes and always trying to play behind the square using the pace and bounce of the deliveries
Former batting coach Sanjay Bangar advises the Indian cricket team not to overanalyze their batting performance against the USA in the T20 World Cup, emphasizing that their aggressive approach has been largely successful.
BCCI shifts Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League games from Indore to Pune
Ahead of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel's meeting to pick India's Asia Cup squad, T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has cleared his fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
'It was just put the ball in the right areas, don't try too much and see what happens.'
To witness over 100,000 people sitting in stunned silence is not a sight one can forget easily.
The Bellerive Oval is one ground where the side boundaries are smaller in size, hence hitting the right lengths would be paramount considering anything short would be flying over cover, point, square leg or mid-wicket on either side of the fence.
India and West Indies clash in a high-stakes virtual quarter-final on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
The team's balance puzzle once again took centre stage on Tuesday night, even as individual performances from the ongoing series highlighted why leaving either out is a tough ask.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2026 after Game 48.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2026 after Game 52.
Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for runs recently in T20 Internationals, having tallied just 54 runs in his last eight innings without a single half-century.
Images from the second T20 International between India and South Africa, at the PCA's New Chandigarh Stadium, Mullanpur.
It's a special century for MI man Suryakumar Yadav.
When the script of the match was leading towards a sad ending for his team, Sanju Samson played that unhurried knock, exactly what was needed at that moment.
Opener Sanju Samson once again failed to get back among the runs, as he was dismissed for 24 from 15 balls in the fourth T20I against New Zealand.
The triumph at the Dubai International Stadium marked India's ninth Asia Cup title and showcased the team's grit, character, and ability to perform under pressure.
T20 WC: Mumbai-born USA pacer Netravalkar awaits emotional reconnect with Wankhede
Suryakumar Yadav is known for his cheerful personality and friendly nature and on Friday evening, the Indian T20 skipper lit up the faces of the Oman players with a simple act of generosity that went far beyond the outcome of the Asia Cup game.
He will feature in the second match for Mumbai CA XI against Tamil Nadu Cricket Association XI at Coimbatore, from August 27-30.
Netherlands will aim to combine strong batting and disciplined bowling to secure a win against the United States of America in a crucial Group A T20 World Cup match, essential for their Super Eights qualification hopes.
'He's the guy who can win you games with bat and ball. He can bowl in any situation, he can bat anywhere in the line up.'
Shivam Dube flickered brightly with a fifty of exceptional quality but it was insufficient to prevent India's 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20 International.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak supports Abhishek Sharma after recent failures in the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the importance of avoiding overanalysis and trusting the player's plans.
