'All the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format.'
The Indian cricket team has fallen to sixth place in the latest World Test Championship (WTC) rankings after Bangladesh's series win against Pakistan.
Team India began preparations for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, with Shubman Gill leading the side and new spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule joining the support staff.
Former Australia Test stalwart Mike Hussey has indicated he would consider a batting coaching role with England for next year's Ashes series, following an 'off-the-cuff' approach from new England coach Stephen Fleming.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can revive Test cricket if nurtured properly, urging patience and warning against excessive scrutiny of the young star.
Afghanistan relying on seasoned spin trio to script first ever win over India
The India A squad is set to tour Sri Lanka for a two-match red-ball series, offering a crucial platform for emerging cricketers like Aquib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal to impress selectors and stake their claim for a spot in the senior national team. Dhruv Jurel will captain the side.
Standing at square leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal kept urging Niroshan Dickwella to play his shots, reminding him of the aggressive 80 he had scored in the first innings.
The India A men's team is set to host Australia A for a shadow tour in September-October, featuring two four-day 'Test' matches and three List A games, as announced by the BCCI. The board also released a comprehensive schedule for men's and women's age-group and pathways teams, including series for the senior women's side.
Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the men's national team, commencing with the Test against Afghanistan. He brings extensive coaching experience from domestic cricket and the IPL.
VVS Laxman is reportedly being considered to replace Ajit Agarkar as the chief selector for the BCCI, whose extended tenure ends next month.
Following India's commanding 270-run victory over England in the one-off Women's Test at Lord's, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her strong desire for more Test cricket opportunities for women, stating, "Hopefully, we will get 10 more Test matches and we can keep performing."
India begin their 2027 ODI World Cup preparations against Afghanistan with Rohit Sharma's fitness and Nitish Kumar Reddy's all-round abilities under scrutiny, while Shubman Gill continues to shape his leadership credentials.
'At least one year on the job is absolutely important to review someone's performance.'
Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the upcoming series against Afghanistan is under consideration as the selection committee assesses his workload.
KL Rahul's patient half-century in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka highlights his evolving role as a consistent and strategic anchor for the Indian team. Despite a slower strike rate, his ability to stonewall spinners and build partnerships has been crucial, earning praise from coaches and teammates. This performance underscores his growing importance, especially after the departure of senior batters, as he aims to make a significant impact in the current Test series.
Devdutt Padikkal scored a patient 67 as India A set Sri Lanka A a target of 312, but persistent rain forced the opening unofficial Test in Galle to end in a draw.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded Devdutt Padikkal for his maiden international century against Sri Lanka, highlighting his dedicated work on back foot play and shot selection. Kotak also provided an update on vice-captain KL Rahul, who retired hurt due to cramps but is expected to be fit for the next day's play. The coach further discussed the Galle pitch conditions, anticipating more turn as the Test progresses, and praised Rahul's versatility across formats.
Teen batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just eight runs on his Duleep Trophy debut for East Zone before Sudip Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed hit hundreds to power them to 355 for 6 against North East.
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara and Olympic medallist PV Sindhu congratulated Ajinkya Rahane after the veteran batter announced his retirement from international cricket.
According to former India coach Rahul Dravid, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's development must balance white-ball success with sustained red-ball exposure, giving the teenager time, patience and experience to eventually become a Test cricketer.
India captain Shubman Gill has publicly supported Devdutt Padikkal amidst discussions about the team's number three batting position, emphasising the need for young players to develop. Gill also addressed the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, viewing it as an opportunity for other bowlers to step up and create pressure, especially on subcontinent pitches. He also praised Galle as a picturesque and historic venue for the upcoming 50th Test match.
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.
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has commented on Rohit Sharma's future in international cricket, particularly concerning the 2027 World Cup. Hayden believes Sharma's decision will hinge on his continued hunger and energy, given his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and the demanding schedule of both IPL and ODI cricket. Despite age-related questions, Sharma has continued to deliver strong performances, notably a century against England.
The overhaul comes after a series of controversies surrounding the conduct of examinations administered by NTA, which has faced questions over examination security and its handling of irregularities.
India's new-look T20 squad, led by Shreyas Iyer and mentored by interim coach VVS Laxman, secured a dominant 3-0 series sweep against Zimbabwe. Both Iyer and Laxman praised each other's contributions, highlighting Iyer's leadership and Laxman's inspiring guidance in the team's success.
India's women's hockey team faces a challenging opening match against Olympic silver medallists China in the FIH Hockey World Cup. The crucial Pool D encounter in Amstelveen will set the tone for India's campaign, with both teams also set to meet at the upcoming Asian Games. India, buoyed by recent strong performances and an experienced squad, aims to improve on past World Cup finishes and secure a positive start against a formidable Chinese side.
Manav Suthar, a left-arm spinner, delivered an exceptional four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the first Test, attributing his success to a pre-series training stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His performance, including dismissing Dinesh Chandimal with his first ball, was crucial in keeping the Lankans in check despite a strong partnership. Suthar also highlighted the learning experience from bowling alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
The era of 'randomly' scheduling bilateral series is over, but the ODI format can continue to survive and thrive with its place 'inextricably' linked to the World Cup, said ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta in an interview to PTI.
Rishabh Pant loses India Test vice-captaincy and is dropped from the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, while K L Rahul returns as deputy and young players earn maiden call-ups.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has said Rohit Sharma should remain India's first-choice ODI opener until the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup as long as he is fit, available and continues to score runs.
The 22-year-old Layne, who hails from Barbados, is a seam bowling all-rounder.
Aamir Khan's upcoming film, aims to shed light on the 1952-1953 India-Pakistan series, which occurred just five years after Partition and marked Pakistan's first official Test series.
Saransh Jain's domestic success motivated by his cancer-affected dad's inspiring note. Saransh received his India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday.
National Games silver medallist K M Deeksha has failed a dope test, according to sources. India maintains top spot in AIU list of currently ineligible athletes.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will get a golden chance to improve upon his none too impressive first class numbers when East Zone take on the severely inexperienced North East Zone in the quarter-final of the Duleep Trophy.
India's Shubman Gill has ascended to the second position in the ICC ODI batting rankings, propelled by strong performances against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Matt Henry has joined India's Jasprit Bumrah as the world's top-ranked Test bowler, marking a significant achievement for both players in the latest ICC updates.
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83, leading his team to 288 for 5 on the opening day of the second unofficial 'Test' against India 'A'. Indian bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain took two wickets each, but the hosts built strong partnerships on a slow Galle pitch.
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.
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.
