The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is set to host its first-ever T20I against reigning world champions India, a landmark event expected to significantly elevate cricket's profile and drive its long-term growth in Japan, according to JCA COO Alan Curr.
Fresh from their record-extending Asia Cup triumph, defending champions India will begin their Asian Games title defence as overwhelming favourites against hosts Japan in the women's quarter-finals in Nagoya on Friday.
Indian cricket fans and former players questioned India's decision to leave Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the XI for the second T20I against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal remains optimistic about a white-ball series against India, despite the originally planned September window being missed. He confirmed that both boards are actively seeking a suitable time, highlighting positive intentions from both sides. Iqbal also reflected on past tensions, including Bangladesh's withdrawal from the 2025 ODI World Cup, acknowledging that negotiations could have been handled better.
Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 30-ball century, the fastest by a full member in T20Is, leading India to a massive 127-run victory over Afghanistan. Sharma's explosive innings and his comments on India's batting philosophy highlight the team's focus on dominance ahead of the T20 World Cup, despite recent setbacks. Captains Shreyas Iyer and Ibrahim Zadran also shared their perspectives on the match and team development.
Ambitious India out to match Hangzhou benchmark in Nagoya.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that India's roadmap for the 2027 World Cup, including discussions on senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is confidential and not for public consumption. He also clarified that the BCCI adheres strictly to the Government of India's policies regarding bilateral tours, such as the potential resumption of ties with Bangladesh, without concern for the political situation in other countries.
Shree Charani and Prema Rawat wreaked havoc with the ball as a dominant India trounced Pakistan by seven wickets in a one-sided match in the Women's Asia Cup in Dubai on Saturday.
What should have been a top-draw domestic red-ball clash to kick off the new season featuring some of India's Test stars has quickly turned into a lopsided contest, courtesy of a lifeless pitch heavily loaded in favour of the batters.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has identified key areas for improvement in the team's white-ball game following their T20I series loss to India. He stressed the need for better quality pitches at home to develop players and called for a significant increase in the team's strike rate and a reduction in dot balls, especially during the Powerplay.
Former Mumbai U-19 cricketer Anaya Bangar can play elite women's cricket in Australia from March 2027, subject to Cricket Australia's eligibility criteria.
Former India batter S Badrinath has expressed concerns regarding India's T20I squad for the upcoming Afghanistan series, particularly questioning the consistent inclusion of Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He suggested that some selections might be influenced by team management preferences. Badrinath also welcomed Jasprit Bumrah's potential return, calling it a significant boost for the team ahead of the Asian Games.
India women's team seamer Kranti Gaud has been fined 10 per cent of her match fee and received one demerit point by the ICC for breaching the Code of Conduct during the T20 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Gaud was penalised for an aggressive gesture after dismissing a batter. Separately, the Pakistan women's team was fined for a slow overrate in their semifinal match.
Legendary Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has provided crucial insights into India's preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, advocating for squad continuity and consistent game time for players. He stressed the importance of avoiding last-minute changes and building belief within the chosen squad, drawing lessons from past tournament performances. Yuvraj also highlighted the need for a balanced team with match-winners, adaptable to various conditions, echoing Australia's successful World Cup strategy.
India's T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed his excitement about participating in the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, highlighting the opportunity to interact with top athletes and understand their mindset, while also focusing on the team's immediate T20I challenges.
Abhishek Sharma's explosive 82-run innings led India to a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening T20 International in New Delhi, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Despite recent underwhelming performances, the Indian team showcased a strong collective effort, with key contributions from Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, while Afghanistan's skipper acknowledged their batting shortfall.
India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson admits that external criticism affects him, but he has developed the maturity and experience to manage it, while also supporting the team's leadership for making difficult selection decisions in the best interest of the squad.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has significantly increased its subsidy corpus for affiliated clubs to Rs 500 crore over the next decade, aiming to bolster grassroots cricket infrastructure. Additionally, the MCA decided to name lounges at the iconic Wankhede Stadium after cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane, and late Madhav Mantri.
Ishan Kishan explained how he switches from long-format cricket to T20s within days, stressing quick adaptation, a calm mindset and understanding his role during partnerships with teammates.
Former India captain Anjum Chopra praises Smriti Mandhana's evolved power game and dominance against spinners, calling it a blueprint for younger players in women's T20 cricket.
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.
Dhruv Jurel notched up an unbeaten 115 to propel India to a commanding 509 for 8 before they declared the first innings against Sri Lanka on day two of the second Test in Colombo.
Despite India's dominant Asia Cup victory, head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged fielding as an area for improvement, while dismissing concerns over the middle-order's performance.
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.
India's women's cricket team secured a spot in the Women's T20 Asia Cup final after a comprehensive 40-run victory over Bangladesh in the first semi-final, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur praising the team's all-round performance.
India have held a significant stranglehold on the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka at lunch on Day 4 in Colombo on Wednesday.
Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has joined the ownership group of Vancouver Anchors, a franchise in the Canada Super 60 league, reuniting with his former teammate Yuvraj Singh. Khan brings his extensive international cricket experience to the league, which features men's and women's competitions and aims to promote global cricket growth.
India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur view the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as crucial preparation and a 'teaser' for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where women's cricket will make its debut, aiming to carry their winning mindset into both global events.
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133, his second century of the match, to help the hosts salvage a draw against India in the second Test, denying them a series sweep.
Opener Shafali Verma's explosive 64-run innings powered the Indian women's cricket team into the final of the Women's T20 Asia Cup in Dubai. Her crucial knock on a spin-friendly pitch helped India set a competitive target of 149, which Bangladesh failed to chase, losing by 40 runs. Both captains acknowledged the dominance of spin bowling in the match.
Sonal Dinusha scored a brilliant century while the tail wagged around him as Sri Lanka earned a draw on the final day of the second Test in Colombo on Thursday but India claim the series 1-0.
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.
Mukesh Kumar, the Bengal pacer, has delivered an impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy, taking 11 wickets and expressing the critical importance of the ongoing domestic season for his potential India comeback. He detailed his strategic bowling approach on challenging pitches and the team's tactics for managing the hot conditions, while also providing an update on teammate Anukul Roy's injury.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed his belief that the growth of cricket in the United States has been slower than anticipated, but he remains optimistic about its potential, especially with the US national team's increasing competitiveness and the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India's Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a team in 150 T20 Internationals.
Pakistan fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram has voiced his disappointment over the state of the country's cricket, particularly in Test matches. He attributes the team's struggles to a significant lack of quality batting talent emerging in recent years, despite the Pakistan Super League's existence. Akram also highlighted the need to revive club cricket and maintain consistency in team selections.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma has downplayed concerns about India's fielding ahead of the Women's Asia Cup T20 final, stating that dropped catches are 'a part of the game' and the team remains focused on a strong all-round performance.
Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy emphasises the importance of focusing on the 'process' rather than 'results' to maintain consistency and mental fortitude in cricket, especially after a period of mixed performances.
However, Hardik Pandya's inclusion is once again subject to getting fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence.
Prasidh Krishna's hostile spell and Manav Suthar's two wickets helped India keep Sri Lanka under pressure on Day 3, despite 50's from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha in Colombo on Tuesday.
