Millions play cricket in India; only a few reach the IPL teams or the Indian team. Sometimes, a player may not get selected not due to lack of skill, at other times it may be due to team balance. But what every youngster should remember is that talent is permanent; selection is temporary, notes K R Nayar.
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.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed immense satisfaction with his team's performance against India, stating that the 'swagger is back' after they held the T20 World Cup champions to a 2-2 series draw. He highlighted the team's renewed confidence and willingness to win as key factors.
The BCCI has postponed a crucial meeting with IPL stakeholders, originally set for October 15, 2026, in Mumbai, due to BCCI officials needing to attend a felicitation ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Asian Games gold medallists. The meeting, vital for the upcoming 20th IPL season, will be rescheduled.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
India trainer Ramji Srinivasan has issued a clear mandate to Hardik Pandya, stating that the all-rounder must regain full fitness and significantly increase his bowling workload to be considered for the 2027 ODI World Cup, following a prolonged absence due to multiple injuries.
Sri Lanka chased down England's 430-run target to script ODI history, with Pavan Rathnayake's 130, Avishka Fernando's 97 and Dasun Shanaka's explosive 97 overshadowing Harry Brook's record double century.
Indian para track and field athletes secured 14 medals, including five gold, at the Asian Para Games. Nishad Kumar became the third Indian to win two gold medals in a single edition, triumphing in high jump and long jump. Deepthi Jeevanji and Pranav Soorma also clinched gold, setting new Games and Asian records respectively, highlighting India's strong performance.
The third season of the World Championship of Legends will be held in the UAE from October 3 to 18, featuring cricketing legends like Yuvraj Singh, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and David Warner. This marks the tournament's first venture outside the UK, promising high-profile clashes and rekindled international rivalries across Dubai and Sharjah.
Over the years, the 54-year-old has held multiple leadership positions across the Delhi Capitals ecosystem, including Director of Cricket for both the men's and women's teams
Senior Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma expressed confidence ahead of India's Women's Asia Cup match against Pakistan, highlighting India's consistent performance against their rivals. She emphasised the team's balanced batting and bowling units and their focus on playing good cricket. Deepti also praised young spinners Shree Charani and Prema Rawat for their talent and contributions.
Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to win the Irani Cup, providing a perfect birthday gift for Captain Rishabh Pant. Despite Pant being sidelined with fever, the team's pacers, led by Mukesh Kumar, secured a sensational victory by adjusting their bowling strategy in the second innings. Young batter Ravichandran Smaran also played a crucial role with a superb century.
India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has indicated that Ravindra Jadeja's prospects for the 2027 ODI World Cup are strong, with his all-round skills being a crucial factor. The team is actively assessing various spin options, including Axar Patel, and using current series to experiment with combinations and fine-tune the squad for the upcoming showpiece event in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
India-Pakistan clashes in cricket and hockey drew big audiences at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, helping fuel stronger viewership and a 20% revenue rise.
Top-order batter Amir Jangoo has been added to the West Indies T20I squad for the five-match series against India, serving as cover for the injured Jewel Andrew, who sustained a finger injury during the third ODI.
Brydon Carse has been charged over an alleged ECB conduct breach following a Derby nightclub incident, with the case referred to an independent panel amid heightened scrutiny of England players.
Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc likens winning upcoming away Test series in South Africa, India, and England, plus retaining the ODI World Cup, to Rory McIlroy's golf Grand Slam, acknowledging the team's ageing profile and the immense challenge ahead.
India A faces Australia A in the second unofficial One-Day International, aiming to bounce back after a significant loss in the opener. Key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan are under pressure to perform, while Suryansh Shedge emerged as a promising all-rounder for India A.
Pacer Tess Flintoff's exceptional four-wicket haul dismantled India A's batting line-up, leading Australia A to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the opening match of the women's unofficial T20I series.
Smriti Mandhana's explosive 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in the Women's T20 Asia Cup saw her surpass Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning to become the leading run-scorer and century-maker in women's international cricket, drawing widespread praise from the cricket community.
Musheer Khan delivered a century with the bat and two crucial wickets with the ball, helping Mumbai establish a strong position against Haryana in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash.
India opener Shafali Verma acknowledged the team's batting unit needs to address its shortcomings on turning pitches, despite securing a 94-run victory against Thailand in the Women's Asia Cup opener. Verma, who scored a brisk 64, noted that while the new ball came on well, the older ball gripped and turned, causing difficulties for the middle order. She emphasised the need for adaptation and praised Thailand's improving performance.
Former India Women's cricketer Reema Malhotra has hailed the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side's historic Test victory over England at Lord's, drawing parallels between their win and Sourav Ganguly's iconic balcony celebration in 2002, stating, 'July 13 has become a memorable date in Indian cricket history.'
Top-order batter Kevin Wickham has received his first Test call-up for the West Indies' two-match series against Bangladesh. The squad sees changes with Shai Hope rested and Alzarri Joseph withdrawn due to workload management, replaced by Keemo Paul. John Campbell returns from injury, as West Indies aim to improve their ICC World Test Championship ranking.
India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games, with skeet shooters and rowers adding to the medal tally, and wushu player Roshibina Devi securing a silver. While kabaddi and hockey teams continued their winning streaks, boxing, gymnastics, and fencing saw disappointments. The overall medal count reached 15, with only one gold so far.
Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final was a 'gem' on a difficult, cracked pitch, securing India's spot in the gold medal match against Pakistan.
Keemo Paul's exceptional five-wicket haul led the West Indies to a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20 International in Hyderabad. This win, built on Shai Hope's unbeaten century, levels the five-match series at 2-2, setting up a decider in Bengaluru. India's chase, despite a strong start from Sanju Samson, faltered against Paul's decisive bowling.
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.
Rohit Sharma has spoken about his long-standing bond with Virat Kohli, highlighting their strong relationship since their early international careers. He revealed they constantly help each other improve their game and share a deep camaraderie, despite changes in roles and less frequent meetings.
Abhishek Sharma etched his name in cricket history by smashing the fastest T20 International hundred by an Indian, a blistering 30-ball century against Afghanistan before the hosts won the match by 127 runs to sweep the series.
Harmanpreet Kaur, former India captain, has rediscovered her batting form through intense training, including three sessions a day. Her dedication led to an unbeaten 91 in a T20I and a match-winning 126 in an ODI against Zimbabwe, helping India secure a series lead.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan set a new record for the most runs in a bilateral three-match men's T20I series with 238 runs, despite his side suffering an eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the final match in Rawalpindi. Farhan scored his third consecutive half-century, surpassing India's Abhishek Sharma's previous record.
India's T20 captain Shreyas Iyer stated that young batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cannot immediately join the playing XI due to the consistent performance of current openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who were instrumental in India's T20I World Cup win.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar lauded Shreyas Iyer's maiden T20I century against the West Indies, stating it came at an 'important time' and signalled the Indian skipper's return to his best form after a challenging period with the bat.
Sir Garfield Sobers, widely considered the greatest all-rounder in cricket history, passed away just days before his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy that included a significant connection with India both on and off the field.
Rohit Sharma said India's heartbreaking 2023 World Cup final defeat fuelled the desperation and hunger behind their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought.
Indian opener Shafali Verma, after her aggressive fifty against Zimbabwe, revealed she studied Australian batters to improve her consistency. Her 25-ball 55 helped India secure a series-clinching nine-wicket win in the second T20I. Skipper Smriti Mandhana praised Shafali's performance and the team's improved bowling effort, while Zimbabwe's captain Josephine Nkomo acknowledged learning from India's batting masterclass.
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)'.
India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.
'We have just scratched the surface because cricket has been around for the longest time.'
