The fifth and final T20 International between India and the West Indies was abandoned due to persistent rain on Saturday, resulting in the series being drawn 2-2. India had scored 118 for five in 7.4 overs in the rain-shortened match before play was called off.
Abhishek Sharma, India's explosive opener, failed to deliver in a crucial series decider in Bengaluru, falling cheaply to Keemo Paul. Commentator Ian Bishop highlighted Sharma's recurring weakness against straight balls targeted at his body, a tactic West Indies bowlers have successfully exploited in recent matches.
The Indian trio of Ribhav Verma, Anshul Mishra, and Arkesh Bhatia faced a challenging opening day at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in New Zealand due to strong winds and a difficult course layout. While they struggled, defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand delivered an exceptional eight-under 63 to take a commanding lead. The Indians now need a significant improvement on Friday to make the halfway cut.
India beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.
Maestro Virat Kohli and skipper Shubman Gill displayed their mastery in 50-over format with virtuoso hundreds as India subdued the West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
The Indian golf trio of Anshul Mishra, Arkesh Bhatia, and Ribhav Verma failed to make the 36-hole cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur golf tournament in New Zealand. Defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand maintained his lead despite windy conditions, positioning himself well for the weekend.
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.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has offered a unique piece of advice to the Test specialists preparing to face the challenging wind conditions at Wellington's Basin Reserve: 'Stand near a powerful fan to counter the speedy wind.' This unconventional preparation aims to help players adapt to the 120 kmph winds prevalent in 'Windy Wellington,' which can significantly impact batting and bowling.
India opener Abhishek Sharma discusses his strategic approach to batting against West Indies bowlers, which led to his match-winning 69 runs in the third T20I. He explains how he adapted to their field placements and bowling plans, contributing to India's 14-run victory and a 2-1 series lead. Sharma also touched upon India's ruthless mindset, the performance of Naman Dhir, and his partnership with Ishan Kishan.
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.
Indian golfer Pranavi Urs experienced a difficult third round at the Wistron Ladies Open in Chinese Taipei, carding a 1-over 73. This performance caused her to slip to tied 23rd position at 5-under 211. Home favourite Ching Huang took a one-shot lead after an impressive 7-under 65, while Urs struggled with windy conditions but managed to limit damage with late birdies.
India captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on the drawn five-match T20I series against the West Indies, suggesting India could have performed better with the ball in their lost games. West Indies captain Shai Hope expressed satisfaction with his team's progress despite missing a series win. India is now set to tour New Zealand for another five-match series.
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, along with Prasidh Krishna, are set to gain valuable red-ball preparation in the third and final four-day game for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln, ahead of the upcoming two-Test series.
West Indies secured an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Mirpur, chasing down 170 on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs in-form West Indies skipper Shai Hope for an IPL contract, identifying defending champions RCB as a potential fit despite concerns over overseas combinations and batting position.
India's captain Shreyas Iyer attributed the team's 24-run defeat against the West Indies in the fourth T20I to poor bowling execution. The loss levelled the five-match series 2-2, setting up a decider on Saturday. West Indies skipper Shai Hope and bowler Keemo Paul also shared their perspectives on the match and pitch conditions.
The Indian cricket team is set to face New Zealand in the third T20 International on Tuesday, aiming for a series-clinching victory. The match, held in Wellington, will test India's bowling attack, particularly Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the team's ability to handle challenging conditions and a resilient New Zealand side.
Wasim Jaffer says India missed Rinku Singh's finishing prowess against West Indies, while cautioning against expecting Naman Dhir to bowl four overs and stressing his batting value.
India dropped teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite his impressive Asian Games run, preferring Sanju Samson as Gautam Gambhir backed experience and resisted pressure to alter the winning combination.
Hardik Pandya's return to cricket is contingent on him proving full fitness, specifically bowling his complete quota of 10 overs for India A, as selectors eye his potential role in the 2027 ODI World Cup amidst persistent injury concerns.
Former West Indies skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul believes the team's strong performance against India in white-ball cricket will significantly boost their confidence. He hopes this momentum translates into success in Test cricket, acknowledging their recent struggles but seeing a spark. Chanderpaul praised Shai Hope's leadership and batting, and discussed the balance between T20 freelancing and the enduring challenge of Test cricket.
Shai Hope's explosive 45-ball century led the West Indies to a six-wicket win over India after they chased down 250 in 18.3 overs to level the five-match T20I series 1-1.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has lauded Tilak Varma's transformation into an accomplished finisher, a role he showcased with an unbeaten 51 to secure India's victory in the second T20I. Santner, who has played alongside Varma at Mumbai Indians, noted the left-hander's adaptability from a No. 3 batter to a crucial middle-order and death-phase performer.
Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 75 runs on Day 4 to level their two-Test series against West Indies 1-1, with captain Babar Azam sealing the victory with two sixes despite an injury scare.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has made an emotional appeal for financial support for Caribbean cricket, hoping that a competitive series against India will attract sponsors and alleviate the financial struggles faced by the team under the current ICC revenue-sharing model.
Daryl Mitchell's blistering 52-ball-89 anchored New Zealand's innings, helping them post a formidable 198 for 3 against India in the third T20 International in Wellington. Despite a strong start from India's bowlers, Mitchell and Finn Allen built a crucial partnership, with Bevon Jacobs providing a late surge.
India internationals KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna have been named in Karnataka's squad for their Ranji Trophy season opener against Andhra. Rahul is expected to play to prepare for the New Zealand Test tour, while Prasidh's participation is uncertain due to injury. The squad, led by Ravichandran Smaran, also sees a new coaching staff and a new sponsorship deal for Karnataka teams.
Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Indian batting unit for their lack of responsibility in chasing targets, specifically after their loss to West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Despite Sanju Samson's fifty, India failed to chase 247. Gavaskar also commented on individual performances and defended the inexperienced bowlers, while Cheteshwar Pujara praised West Indies skipper Shai Hope's balanced batting approach.
National selectors are set to convene in New Delhi to finalise India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against West Indies, with Rishabh Pant's potential white-ball return and Hardik Pandya's fitness being the primary discussion points.
Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 and Keemo Paul's five-wicket haul led West Indies to a 24-run victory over India, levelling the five-match T20I series at 2-2.
Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw led Australia's fightback against South Africa, adding an unbeaten 63-run stand before bad light ended the opening day at 187/6.
The Indian women's recurve archery team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating 10-time Olympic champions South Korea. The team, comprising Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, and Kumkum Mohod, displayed exceptional nerve in challenging conditions.
West Indies batter Shai Hope credited former India captain MS Dhoni's advice for helping him stay patient and break down a massive 352-run chase against India, leading to his unbeaten 162 and a stunning five-wicket victory.
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
Former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes the Indian team is well-prepared for the slowish tracks expected in the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, particularly the first match in Lucknow, thanks to their recent experience on challenging pitches at the Asian Games in Japan.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy lauded skipper Shai Hope's 'amazing innings' of 162 not out, which led the team to a record chase of 352 against India, denying them a series sweep and providing valuable learnings for the Windies.
West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein acknowledges India as a "very dangerous" side ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series. He discusses the challenges of bowling in the powerplay against India's strong batting lineup and emphasizes the importance of planning, execution, and sticking to effective strategies, aided by data. Hosein asserts that the West Indies team is ready for the challenge and will not back down.
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves made history by becoming the first bowler in Test cricket to take wickets in five consecutive maiden overs during the opening Test against Pakistan in Tarouba.
West Indies captain Shai Hope attributed his team's eight-wicket loss to India in the first T20I to a "chaotic" batting approach and a failure to properly assess conditions. Hope highlighted the need for ruthlessness against a quality side like India and acknowledged India's superior spin bowling and Shreyas Iyer's match-winning century.
Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis secured India's first-ever Asian Games silver medal in men's skiff sailing. Hailing from Kochi, their journey is deeply connected to the sea, with Noble overcoming personal tragedy after losing his fisherman father in the 2018 Kerala floods. Their decade-long partnership and debut Asian Games performance mark a significant achievement for Indian sailing.
