South Africa have now won six successive Tests, starting with success in the West Indies in August and following it with two-Test series wins in Bangladesh and then home to Sri Lanka last month.
India's large contingent of 501 athletes is set to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming to showcase the nation's growing sporting depth and its ambition to become a global top-10 sporting power by 2036. Despite initial accommodation challenges, the focus is on building on the momentum from the record 2022 Hangzhou Games, with strong medal hopes in shooting, athletics, cricket, badminton, and hockey.
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.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has expressed profound satisfaction with his decision to retire from international cricket, stating he has 'no regrets at all' after giving his '200 per cent' on the field. Rahane also revealed his openness to venturing into coaching or mentorship roles in the future, aiming to share his extensive experience globally.
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.
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.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes a victory in the historic Lord's Test against England would be a 'very big moment' for her side, helping them regain confidence after their T20 World Cup exit and marking a landmark achievement in women's cricket.
England are on the verge of defeat in Ben Stokes' final international match, needing 270 runs with only six wickets remaining against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Despite Stokes' aggressive opening knock, England lost four quick wickets in their chase of 373, leaving New Zealand in a dominant position on day four. Daryl Mitchell's resilient century was a highlight for New Zealand.
West Indies captain Roston Chase admitted that his side likely made an error in team selection for the second Test against Pakistan, underestimating the pitch's early assistance for spin and regretting the decision to field only one frontline spinner.
England exploited to the full a Lord's pitch once again offering erratic bounce and lateral movement on Sunday to win the rain-interrupted first Test against New Zealand by 115 runs with a day and two sessions to spare.
Team India has brought in four young Indian spinners - Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian, and Vipraj Nigam - to assist in net practice ahead of their two-Test series against Sri Lanka, despite already having four spinners in their main squad.
Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who lost his spot in the national team after struggles with form and an inconsistent IPL season, has stated he is working hard for a comeback. The 35-year-old, a key player for Mumbai Indians, last played for India in Tests and ODIs in 2023.
Nathan Lyon, Australia's second-highest Test wicket-taker, faces increasing pressure on his automatic selection in the Test squad.
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has offered insights into Shubman Gill's captaincy style, comparing him to Hardik Pandya and noting Gill's reserved yet keen approach to leadership. Nehra also discussed the uncertain future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 ODI World Cup, stating it's too early to predict. He also touched upon his own coaching ambitions and reflected on past World Cup losses.
Auqib Nabi made a notable debut for Surrey, taking Kuldeep Yadav's wicket.
Virat Kohli has acknowledged the positive influence of Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour in helping him rediscover his passion for cricket after a difficult period following his departure from the India captaincy.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed recent speculations regarding Rohit Sharma's future, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's contract extension, and VVS Laxman's potential appointment as director of cricket, dismissing all rumours after a review meeting.
England batter Ollie Pope, recalled to the Test squad for the Pakistan series after a challenging Ashes tour, describes the call-up as feeling like a 'debut' and is determined to prove himself, particularly with an eye on the next home Ashes series.
Kohli remained unfazed through the whole monologue and while some photographers requested for a photo, he seemingly gestured that he was in a hurry and joined his wife in the car before driving off.
'If he had got the support, he would have finished in that legendary group of cricketers who have played 100 Tests for the country.' 'He never complained, but that might have gone against him because sometimes you have to be open and make your point clearly otherwise people take you for granted.'
A recent policy decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to demand a $25,000 fee for players' No Objection Certificates (NOCs) left Haris Rauf -- signed by the San Francisco Unicorns -- as the country's sole representative in the USA's Major League Cricket (MLC) this year.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her disbelief and happiness after surpassing legendary batter Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in Women's Internationals, a feat she 'never imagined' achieving.
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.
Senior PCB selector Aaqib Javed has revealed that Shan Masood's leadership and game management issues led to Babar Azam's reinstatement as Pakistan's Test captain. The PCB plans to give Babar a long-term run, backing him for two to three years to bring stability ahead of challenging tours to the West Indies and England.
India U-19 defeated Sri Lanka U-19 by 211 runs in the second Youth Test in Colombo, securing the two-match series 1-0, with leg-spinner Rohit Yadav and pacer C Venkata sharing seven wickets.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has established the Ajinkya Rahane Scholarship Fund, backed by Sharad Pawar, to support grassroots cricketers and develop Mumbai's Maidans.
Australia is under pressure to secure a decisive victory in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay to level the two-match series, following an embarrassing nine-wicket loss in Darwin. The team has made personnel changes, including recalling Matt Renshaw, and is looking for a strong bounce-back performance. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, buoyed by their historic win and a successful shift to a pace-centred bowling attack, is confident of continuing their strong form and potentially sweeping the series.
Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil has been appointed as the mentor for Mumbai cricket teams across all levels by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa against Australia, with Gerald Coetzee recalled, Kagiso Rabada injured, and Dewald Brevis omitted as the Proteas strengthen World Cup preparations.
K L Rahul is likely to be named India's vice-captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting on September 27.
As Bengaluru prepare to host Tom Latham and his troops ahead of India's long Test journey, the BCCI released a prelude to the Tests, narrated by veteran Ravichandran Ashwin.
Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has voiced concerns over the current Indian cricket team selections, particularly questioning Shubman Gill's exclusion from T20Is and the non-selection of domestic stalwarts Sarfaraz Khan and Auqib Nabi for the Test squad. Azharuddin stressed the importance of consistent performance and the need for more Test cricket, while also commenting on captaincy roles and player retirements.
Gurnoor Brar has joined North Zone for the Duleep Trophy semifinal, with selectors using the opportunity to boost the India pacer's red-ball exposure ahead of New Zealand Tests.
Hampshire withdrew former csk all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn after protests over his signing revived controversy surrounding the New Zealander despite his 2017 acquittal following a rape charge.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
India T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer has highlighted the importance of regular game time and confidence for Jasprit Bumrah, who is returning from injury ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, the Asian Games, and the ODI World Cup.
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons has cautioned his team to expect a strong comeback from Australia in the second Test after their surprising nine-wicket victory in the series opener. Simmons emphasised the need for continued high performance, while Australia's captain Pat Cummins acknowledged their poor performance in the first match and confirmed team changes for the upcoming game in Mackay.
Former Pakistan Test spinner and chief selector Iqbal Qasim has criticised the current generation of Pakistani cricketers for prioritising financial gain, particularly through leagues like the PSL, over dedicated skill development and game awareness, attributing this to a lack of vision among selectors and a general disinterest among young players.
Virat Kohli, who debuted 18 years ago, has amassed over 28,000 international runs and 85 centuries, establishing himself as one of cricket's all-time greats with numerous unmatched records across all formats.
Deep Dasgupta said Sourav Ganguly's "I am the king" mindset transformed India's response to sledging, encouraging teammates to openly give back instead of silently channelling their anger.
