India spinner Varun Chakravarthy on Friday equated the standards of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to the IPL.
Varun Chakravarthy now holds the best figures by an Indian bowler on Champions Trophy debut. His five wicket haul in just his second ODI is the earliest by an Indian in 50 overs cricket.
KKR arrived in IPL 2026 with big signings and high expectations. But instead of another title push, the season unravelled into a frustrating mix of injuries and missed opportunities.
Mumbai Indians will begin their quest to end a five-year title drought in the Indian Premier League against a depleted Kolkata Knight Riders side.
A struggling Indian team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is desperate to secure a consolation victory against England in the fifth T20 International in Southampton to avoid a humiliating 0-4 series whitewash.
'The Asia Cup is coming up, and for the white-ball players, they have got a good break after the IPL. I did play TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League), but still I have got a one-month break right now.'
The Kolkata Knight Riders face significant challenges heading into IPL 2026, including key player injuries and the need to integrate new acquisitions into the squad.
India's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy believes the IPL presents a different challenge, stating that it's a "different beast".
Sanju Samson received a big vote of confidence as bowling coach Morne Morkel said the opener was just one knock away from breaking free from a lean run.
The Indian trio of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and aggressive opener Abhishek Sharma retained their respective top positions in the ICC T20 rankings.
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.
India edged England by seven runs to reach the T20 World Cup final for the second successive time after Jacob Bethell's brilliant century went in vain.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes defending champions India are the most dangerous team at the T20 World Cup, praising their depth and experience while warning that dew could play a decisive role.
Abhishek Sharma bats at nets; readies himself for Pakistan clash
Former players lauded Varun Chakravarthy's bowling display against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, with Ravi Shastri advocating for his inclusion in the semifinals.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got a taste of the fact that international cricket isn't always child's play as England pacers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue were fast and furious in clinically decimating India by a record 125 runs in the third T20 International in Nottingham on Tuesday.
'People said, 'Don't come to India. If you try, you won't be able to'.'
Together, Harshit Rana's early strikes, Sunil Narine's clinical dismantling, and Varun Chakravarthy's suffocating spell reduced CSK to just 103 for 9-their lowest-ever total at home.
'This is going to be my 14th year in the IPL. I've played with them outside of IPL as well. It's like a family-based team for me. Every time I play with the Knight Riders logo, it feels like this is where I belong.'
India and South Africa will face off in their opening Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup. The match will test India's batting line-up against South Africa's formidable bowling attack.
Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated India debut ends with 14 off 10 balls as Tilak Varma's explosive final over lifts India to 190/7 against England in the second T20I at Old Trafford.
Jacob Bethell guided England to an impressive four-wicket victory in the second T20 against England on Saturday as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his eagerly-awaited India debut at Old Trafford.
BCCI Data Analyst Hari Prasad Mohan is among the many whose quiet contributions in the background often lay the foundations for Team India's success.
Sunil Narine was the pick of the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers, snapping three wickets and conceding just 13 runs in his spell of four overs. He did well with the bat too, scoring 44 runs from 18 balls, which included five maximums and two boundaries.
Sanju Samson heads into the second T20I against England with his place under the spotlight, as teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi waits in the wings after another underwhelming outing from the India opener.
India face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad as Suryakumar Yadav's side aim to become the first team to successfully defend the title.
Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill are missing from the list of probables for the Asian Games, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been included in the 30-member squad submitted by the BCCI to the IOA.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has pointed out Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar's struggles with short balls in the ongoing IPL, suggesting he needs to work on his technique.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav would want the attacking batter in him to front up and bolster his leadership against New Zealand when the five-match T20I series gets underway in Nagpur on Wednesday, serving as a final dress rehearsal for India's World Cup title defence in less than three weeks' time.
'After I am done with cricket, my first goal is to direct a movie.'
Despite doing well in the IPL and domestic cricket over the past two seasons, Varun did not get a recall to the Indian team and that only made him hungrier.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the opening match against USA?
Former India spinner Sairaj Bahutule is likely to join Team India as spin bowling coach after senior management recommended his appointment to the BCCI.
Sanju Samson surprised fans with his fluent Hindi and revealed how growing up in Delhi and near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border helped him learn multiple languages and connect with Indian teammates.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has stressed the importance of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav reinventing his game to stay competitive amidst burgeoning talent. Despite decent overall numbers, Kuldeep's recent lean patch in the IPL and a solitary Test match has led to him losing his spot in the T20I squad for upcoming tours, prompting the coach's call for evolution.
Pant has scored 31 runs off 30 balls and has been dismissed three times by the leggie. Also, his strike rate against the KKR spinner is just 103.3.
Chakravarthy went wicketless in the two games that he played, and had the injury not cropped up, he was to be benched as neither Pakistan nor New Zealand did have any problem in facing him.
Chennai Super Kings will aim to build on their recent victory as they host a struggling Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026 match on Wednesday.
'He will be a vital cog in the wheel for the Asia Cup.'
Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants in a tense Super Over finish in Lucknow on Sunday, surviving a major batting collapse before holding their nerve in the decider to snatch a dramatic win in a clash between two struggling sides.
