Shubman Gill called India's drawn second Test against Sri Lanka frustrating but praised his players' effort, cleared Mohammad Siraj of injury concerns and backed India's WTC qualification hopes.
Heavy rain and bad light hit the second day of the historic Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Pakistan's first home Test since a deadly attack in 2009.
The Indian cricket team marked the nation's 80th Independence Day by hoisting the Tricolour in Galle, Sri Lanka, ahead of their opening Test match against the host nation.
India's top centrally-contracted cricketers, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, underwent mandatory fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. These assessments, featuring the Bronco Test, 2k run, and YoYo test, are crucial for the upcoming eight-month home season, which includes series against Afghanistan and West Indies, and the Asian Games.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
This is Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Australia in ODIs in terms of runs.
India Test captain Shubman Gill sustained two painful blows to his right hand during a training session in Colombo, just before a warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI. Despite initial concerns, assessments suggest no serious damage, allowing Gill to continue preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship series.
Gus Atkinson scored a superb maiden century as England's lower order collected quick runs against a ragged Sri Lanka bowling attack to post 427
Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna clarified that his aggression manifests through his intense and disciplined bowling, not his on-field behaviour, emphasising his adaptability to pitch conditions and team requirements.
Sarfaraz Khan has been recalled to India's Test squad for the two-match away series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15, following an injury to Sai Sudharsan. This recall comes after two years of consistent performance and a significant physical transformation, including shedding 17kg.
Spin twins Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon combined to dismantle Sri Lanka and bowl Australia to a crushing victory by an innings and 242 runs in the opening Test in Galle on Saturday.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a back injury.
India's vice-captain KL Rahul expressed his delight at the team's comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle, stating that the team 'ticked most of the boxes' they had discussed prior to the match and gained significant confidence for future spin-dominated assignments.
Sai Sudharsan scored his second consecutive century, and Devdutt Padikkal added an unbeaten 94, guiding India A to a strong 247 for one on Day 2 of the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A, trailing by 119 runs.
Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj have joined South Zone for the Duleep Trophy final, while Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan could feature before India's Afghanistan series.
A significant communication breakdown between the Centre of Excellence's (CoE) sports science team and the senior national men's selection committee has been exposed by Jasprit Bumrah's unexpected absence from the Test series against Sri Lanka, alongside other player injury concerns.
Sri Lankan players currently touring Pakistan for a three-match ODI series want to return home due to security concerns following a deadly suicide attack in Islamabad but PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi claimed that the rubber will continue, albeit with a rejigged schedule.
Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in Galle, becoming the second Indian, and first Test centurion, to achieve this feat on Independence Day, joining Virat Kohli in an elite list.
Shubman Gill showcased exceptional athleticism by taking a sensational one-handed catch against Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the first Test in Galle.
Rishabh Pant's dismissal for 39 against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle has once again brought his shot selection under intense scrutiny, with fans and former cricketers criticising his inability to convert starts into bigger scores.
Veteran Sri Lankan batter Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the ongoing first Test against India in Galle due to concussion, sustained while fielding on day four. Pasindu Sooriyabandara has been approved as his concussion substitute.
As India prepares for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, the team management faces critical decisions regarding their playing XI to bolster their World Test Championship 2027 final aspirations.
Keshav Maharaj hails Manav Suthar as a rare left-arm spin talent, praising his control and variations while backing him to carry India's Test spin legacy.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the ICC and BCCI over incidents involving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, warning that leniency could encourage repeat behaviour.
'It's a no-brainer that in the next Test in New Zealand, your first choice has to be Devdutt.'
Sri Lanka's debutant Milan Rathnayake broke a 41-year-old record -- registering the highest score by a No 9 on debut.
Former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath has underscored the critical role of Test cricket in developing depth within the game, despite the growing popularity of the T20 format. Speaking at an awards ceremony, Srinath advised young players to prioritise Test cricket, noting the difficulty for T20 specialists to transition to the longer format. He also stressed the responsibility of cricket associations, parents, and coaches in guiding emerging talent.
Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul performed well, but India captain Shubman Gill had a disappointing outing, getting dismissed for 16 runs. His dismissal, attempting a lofted shot against Prabath Jayasuriya on a flat pitch, led to significant criticism from fans on social media, who questioned his shot selection and recent form.
Indian spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has suggested introducing free-hits in Test cricket to curb the increasing problem of no-balls, a concern highlighted by Indian spinners overstepping 10 times in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka. He acknowledged the issue and the efforts being made to rectify it.
Team India batter KL Rahul hailed Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal's maiden Test century and backed the young left-hander to become a more consistent run-scorer for India.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel provided an update on Rishabh Pant's shoulder injury, stating the wicketkeeper-batter is "badly bruised" but expressed hope for his return on day four of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Pant did not keep wickets on day three after sustaining a blow while batting. Morkel also commented on Kuldeep Yadav's absence due to viral fever and India's strategy to secure the remaining Sri Lankan wickets.
Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain, 33, has been named in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Washington Sundar, marking a surprise call-up after impressive all-round performances for India A.
Auqib Nabi's Surrey stint will provide crucial first-class exposure in England as the J&K pacer seeks to strengthen his case for India's Test squad for New Zealand.
Sri Lankan batter Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from international cricket after playing his 100th Test -- the second and final Test against Australia, starting in Galle on Thursday.
Auqib Nabi proved unstoppable with the ball last season -- picking up 60 wickets in 10 matches at an incredible average of 12.56 last season to help J&K script history by winning its first Ranji Trophy title.
Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 231 in the hosts' second innings and then chased down the target of 75 losing the lone wicket of opener Travis Head.
Pakistan's cricket team has been fined 50 per cent of their match fee and docked 11 World Test Championship points due to a slow over-rate during their third Test against England in Birmingham, a match they lost by 8 wickets, contributing to a 0-3 series whitewash.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded the team's productive warm-up victory against Sri Lanka, highlighting strong performances from both batters and bowlers, including Shubman Gill's quick 44 and Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142, which set a positive tone for the upcoming two-match Test series.
The Indian players rest and rejuvenate in Galle before the first Test on Saturday.
Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test hundred against Sri Lanka, attributing his success to a clear strategy against spin and a strong desire to convert big scores. He focused on developing specific plans for bowlers and maintaining full commitment to every shot, while also emphasising the importance of staying focused after reaching a century.
