Washington Sundar has played a major role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's success so far this IPL season, with skipper Virat Kohli using him mostly in the Powerplay overs. He has taken five wickets in seven games, but at an astonishing economy rate of 4.90.
Kris Srikkanth questioned whether India's star-studded Afghanistan squad was picked out of fear after recent defeats, arguing the series offered an ideal chance to blood promising youngsters.
Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.
India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the T20 series against Afghanistan due to a fresh injury, casting significant doubt on his participation in the upcoming Asian Games. This comes shortly after his recovery from a previous hamstring injury, raising concerns about player injury management.
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.
India's T20I squad against England has been hit by a double injury blow, with pacer Harshit Rana and spinner Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out of the remaining two matches due to hamstring injuries sustained during the third T20I defeat. Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna have been named as replacements.
India all-rounder Washington Sundar suffered an injury scare and will undergo a scan after picking up a side strain during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday.
The BCCI has summoned Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar and V V S Laxman to Mumbai on Thursday to review India's disappointing performances in Ireland and England.
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were not picked in Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, while Ruturaj Gaikwad made a return to the one-day team.
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'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.
India defend the decision to drop Axar Patel for Washington Sundar against South Africa, calling it a tactical call based on powerplay match-ups.
India is set to face Afghanistan in the second T20I, aiming to clinch the series despite ongoing concerns about a reliable fifth bowling option in the absence of Hardik Pandya. The team delivered a dominant performance in the first match, securing a seven-wicket victory.
India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is expected to be announced next week, with fitness concerns surrounding pace leader Jasprit Bumrah.
Joe Root's patient, unbeaten 99 anchored England's chase of 234 against India, securing a four-wicket victory and levelling the three-match ODI series 1-1. India captain Shubman Gill attributed his side's defeat to a middle-order collapse, which saw them slump from 178 for 3 to 193 for 7.
Sony Sports Network has secured exclusive television broadcast rights for the upcoming three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan, scheduled from September 13 to 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series will feature India led by Shreyas Iyer and Afghanistan led by Ibrahim Zadran, with both teams showcasing aggressive T20 cricket. This acquisition strengthens Sony's sports portfolio and offers a platform for Afghanistan to demonstrate its talent against a top-tier team.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has surged into the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings for all-rounders, reaching ninth position following his impressive performance against England.
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.
VVS Laxman, BCCI's Centre of Excellence chief, will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be assisted by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. Gautam Gambhir, the regular head coach, will be with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach for the Indian women's team, who will also defend their title.
Former cricketers and experts are questioning India's decision to omit specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI, suggesting the team's focus on batting depth might be compromising its wicket-taking ability.
Ravichandran Ashwin stressed that Washington Sundar must be treated as a frontline bowling all-rounder and given a full quota of overs to build confidence with the bat as well.
A source at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has expressed significant concerns regarding players competing in the Indian Premier League while injured, attributing this to franchise and financial pressures, which subsequently complicates their rehabilitation and return to international cricket.
India's star-studded top order will be under pressure to make amends when they take on a buoyant Ireland in the second and final T20I in Belfast on Sunday.
India's ODI captain Shubman Gill has voiced strong concerns over the recurring injury issues plaguing his bowlers, questioning their fitness commitment ahead of next year's World Cup. Following a 1-2 series loss to England, Gill highlighted that multiple key players were sidelined due to injuries, impacting team combinations and raising doubts about their ability to sustain performance through a long tournament.
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.
Cricket giants India are set to play a historic one-off T20 International against Japan in Sano, a match seen as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth in the baseball-dominated country, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
India, having already secured the T20 series against Afghanistan, is likely to experiment with its playing XI in the third and final match in New Delhi. This provides an opportunity for players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and others on the bench to get game time before the Asian Games, while Afghanistan aims for an improved performance to boost morale.
'Coming over here and getting an opportunity to play in Australia is amazing, and to have contributed to the team's victory makes me definitely happy.'
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) are reportedly dissatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Concerns include inadequate dressing rooms, distant washrooms, and small hotel rooms. As a result, India might send a 'B' team instead of the previously announced full-strength squad, pending a report from a BCCI observer.
India comfortably chased down 259 to beat England by six wickets in the first ODI, with Shubman Gill scoring 80 before Axar Patel and Washington Sundar guided the visitors home with unbeaten fifties.
Tilak Varma is emerging as India's potential middle-order backup, offering left-handed batting variety and developing off-spin as selectors seek younger, flexible options ahead of the ODI World Cup.
India spin great R Ashwin shares his insights on the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, expressing keen interest in Harsh Dubey's potential debut. He also discusses the roles of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in the spin attack and backs captain Shubman Gill to replicate his overseas batting success at home, attributing it to improved technique and leadership.
Washington is learning about batting: Doeschate, as all-rounder focusses on big-hitting at nets
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the series-deciding third and final One-Day International against England at Lord's due to swelling in his left knee, sustained during the second ODI in Cardiff.
Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan was named as the replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI announced on Sunday.
VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, lauded Virat Kohli as an 'exemplary professional' and 'great role model' for his consistent high standards.
A significant communication breakdown between the Centre of Excellence's (CoE) sports science team and the senior national men's selection committee has been exposed by Jasprit Bumrah's unexpected absence from the Test series against Sri Lanka, alongside other player injury concerns.
Washington Sundar is ready to bowl 50 in an innings if that's what the side wants of him.
Age is just a number for uncapped off-spin allrounder Saransh Jain who at 33 years has earned his maiden Test call-up for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour on the back of consistent performances in the domestic circuit and India A.
Rohit Sharma faces intense scrutiny over his form and future as India prepares for the series-deciding third ODI against England. Despite BCCI assurances, his recent struggles have fuelled speculation, especially concerning his ability to last until the 2027 ODI World Cup. The match is crucial for both Rohit to regain form and for India to clinch the series.
