Indian cricketers have dominated the Wisden Almanack 2026 awards, securing seven of the nine honours.
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.
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.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the Indian women's cricket team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. Shah praised their "bedazzling" performance and "unmatched cricketing prowess" after they defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final held in Japan.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed enthusiasm for India's historic bilateral T20 match against Japan, marking cricket's expansion into new territories and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Iyer highlighted the unique cultural experience and the importance of such fixtures for global cricket growth, despite initial weather challenges.
Japan's cricket captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and all-rounder Charlie Hara-Hinze believe the upcoming historic T20 match against India on September 22 can serve as a crucial springboard for the sustained growth of cricket in Japan, a country traditionally dominated by baseball.
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.
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.
Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting expresses concern over the diminishing role of One Day International (ODI) cricket due to the rapid expansion of T20 Internationals and franchise leagues worldwide. While he believes Test cricket will remain strong with support from major cricketing nations, Ponting fears the 50-over format will be played less frequently. David Warner also weighs in on the challenges and opportunities presented by the crowded T20 calendar.
Kris Srikkanth backs 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become a world cricket superstar, citing his fearless batting, Duleep Trophy heroics, IPL dominance and potential across all three formats.
Indian left-arm spinner B Sai Kishore delivered a match-winning five-wicket haul for Gloucestershire, leading them to a dominant 213-run victory over Derbyshire in the County Championships.
The Indian women's cricket team secured a gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Opener Shafali Verma played a crucial all-round role, scoring 48 runs and taking two wickets. Verma expressed immense pride in representing the nation and celebrating the victory.
Shubman Gill hailed Sri Lanka's gritty resistance after Sonal Dinusha's second century forced India to settle for a draw in the second Test.
The Indian women's cricket team secured their eighth Women's Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, a triumph that has garnered widespread congratulations from top Indian leaders.
Defending champions India's women's cricket team is set to face Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal. With a dominant head-to-head record, India aims to continue their winning streak, while Bangladesh will rely on their spinners to challenge the strong Indian batting lineup for a spot in the final.
Ravindra Jadeja is a captain's delight and has delivered with the bat when needed most, destroyed batting line-ups, taken breathtaking catches and pulled off brilliant run-outs. His feats are an inspiration.
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 as England's bowlers tore through their batting lineup in the third Test at Edgbaston.
Former Australian hockey legend Jamie Dwyer believes the Indian team possesses the talent and infrastructure to become a dominant force in world hockey but stresses that 'they need to maintain consistency as a team' to realise their true potential.
India's women's cricket team is set to face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games final, aiming to secure a gold medal and extend their continental dominance. While India enters as favourites with strong performances, Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, will look to challenge their supremacy in what promises to be an exciting clash.
Mithali Raj expresses her joy at seeing Indian cricket teams, including men's, women's, and junior sides, achieve significant global success, marking a period of dominance.
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten century put East Zone firmly in control as they ended Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final on 385/4.
Pretorius struck 94 off 51 balls and Jansen took three wickets as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 43 runs, strengthening their final prospects.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes the exploding popularity of T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, poses a significant threat to the future of bilateral international cricket, stating that '70 per cent (people are watching club cricket instead of international cricket)'.
Bangladesh secured a historic nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test win on Australian soil, powered by Tanzid Hasan's century and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul.
Shafali Verma produced a stunning 15-ball blitz as India crushed Japan by eight wickets with 15 overs to spare and stormed into the Asian Games semi-finals.
Harmanpreet Kaur says a winning culture is taking shape in the Indian women's cricket team as they prepare for the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
Shafali Verma smashed a stunning unbeaten century as India beat Bangladesh by 114 runs to enter the women's cricket final at the Asian Games.
Sanju Samson has been appointed Brand Ambassador of Jan Kaushal Kendra, Moti Nagar, with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta highlighting his connection with the capital and role inspiring youth.
India delivered a commanding performance in the Asian Games women's cricket final, crushing Sri Lanka by 147 runs to retain their gold medal and open their 2026 campaign with India's first gold of the Games.
Goa's Abhinav Tejrana has been named in the South Zone squad for the prestigious Duleep Trophy, making him the only cricketer from Goa to achieve this distinction this year, a selection attributed to his consistent high-scoring performances in recent seasons.
Jos Buttler's unbeaten half-century led England to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, completing a 3-0 T20 series whitewash and elevating England to the top of the T20 world rankings.
England captain Joe Root has surpassed Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket, achieving his 69th fifty during England's eight-wicket victory over Pakistan.
The Indian women's cricket team secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Women's Asia Cup, bowling them out for just 55 runs. This one-sided win prompted former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan to revive his viral "Sunday" joke on social media, referencing past India-Pakistan clashes.
The trophy is supposed to be the full stop to a tournament, not another comma in an India-Pakistan controversy, points out K R Nayar.
Devdutt Padikkal on Tuesday asserted that Test cricket remains his "ultimate goal", and subtle technical adjustments to his batting has helped him make an instant impact in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Seven-time champions India are strong favourites against Bangladesh in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final. The match carries an underlying political subtext, adding to the intensity. India's dominant form, led by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in batting and Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh in bowling, contrasts with Bangladesh's more resilient path to the semi-finals.
Ajinkya Rahane, known as 'Jinx', has retired from international cricket at 38, leaving behind a legacy of quiet resolve, exceptional captaincy, and crucial innings that often came when India needed them most.
India U-19 defeated Australia U-19 by 103 runs in the second Youth ODI, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Yashbardhan Chauhan scored 122 and VK Vineeth added 87, helping India post 341/7. Australia were bowled out for 238, with Chigurupati Venkata taking three wickets.
'And now since Lakshmi Mittal owns Rajasthan Royals, he will never let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi go anywhere. And if it ever happens, not just me... the entire IPL world of owners are waiting.'
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.
