1 hr. ago
India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel revealed that the visitors had a clear plan to score quickly but sensibly on the rain-affected second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. India eventually ended the day at 460/9, with Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten on 12 and Prasidh Krishna on 1.
Jurel walked in after India had already lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but played an attacking knock to keep the momentum going. The right-hander struck 51 off 68 deliveries, including four fours and a six. He added a crucial 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, helping India cross the 400-run mark.
"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren't looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said during the post-match press conference.
The India batter also revealed that his previous experience of playing in Sri Lanka with India A helped him understand the conditions and approach the innings with confidence.
"I know conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure, it's a privilege to play for India," Jurel added.
Jurel was given a reprieve on 29 when Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at first slip. However, the captain later made amends by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jurel off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The standout performer for India was Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his sensational form from Day 1 to score a magnificent 167 off 230 ******* . Padikkal's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he became only the third Indian batter to score 150 or more against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 position, joining Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jurel was full of praise for his teammate and pointed out that Padikkal has consistently delivered whenever opportunities have come his way.
"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel said.
Padikkal's dismissal eventually triggered another phase of Sri Lankan pressure, with Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with 4/109 and Keshara Nuwantha taking 3/175.
Despite India's imposing total, Jurel knows the job is far from finished. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that India's bowlers will need to maintain discipline and be prepared for long spells when Sri Lanka begin their first innings.
"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.
The second day was heavily disrupted by rain, with the morning session completely washed out before play finally resumed at 2:35 PM local time. India began the day at 288/2 and lost seven wickets for 172 runs, but still managed to build a formidable first-innings total. KL Rahul scored 82 after returning to the crease following cramps on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant made 39 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 13.
#jurel #first #rahul
Jurel walked in after India had already lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but played an attacking knock to keep the momentum going. The right-hander struck 51 off 68 deliveries, including four fours and a six. He added a crucial 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, helping India cross the 400-run mark.
"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren't looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said during the post-match press conference.
The India batter also revealed that his previous experience of playing in Sri Lanka with India A helped him understand the conditions and approach the innings with confidence.
"I know conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure, it's a privilege to play for India," Jurel added.
Jurel was given a reprieve on 29 when Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at first slip. However, the captain later made amends by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jurel off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The standout performer for India was Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his sensational form from Day 1 to score a magnificent 167 off 230 ******* . Padikkal's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he became only the third Indian batter to score 150 or more against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 position, joining Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jurel was full of praise for his teammate and pointed out that Padikkal has consistently delivered whenever opportunities have come his way.
"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel said.
Padikkal's dismissal eventually triggered another phase of Sri Lankan pressure, with Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with 4/109 and Keshara Nuwantha taking 3/175.
Despite India's imposing total, Jurel knows the job is far from finished. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that India's bowlers will need to maintain discipline and be prepared for long spells when Sri Lanka begin their first innings.
"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.
The second day was heavily disrupted by rain, with the morning session completely washed out before play finally resumed at 2:35 PM local time. India began the day at 288/2 and lost seven wickets for 172 runs, but still managed to build a formidable first-innings total. KL Rahul scored 82 after returning to the crease following cramps on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant made 39 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 13.
#jurel #first #rahul
2 hours ago
TimesofIndia.com in Galle: The build-up to the second day of the Test focused on how many runs India needed before making Sri Lanka bat. Bat once and bat big had been the undertone of this fixture, and India's solid start on the opening day pointed in that direction. However, just like the weather, the mood changed at a frantic pace when Sri Lanka took the second new ball to dent India's hopes of batting the hosts out of the contest.
Three overnight batters, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (who retired hurt on Day 1) and centurion Devdutt Padikkal, were dismissed in the first ninety minutes of play after the weather kept both camps confined to the dressing room for over five hours. From 'how much is too much' to 'how long will they survive', the nature of the conversations changed after a period in which the Sri Lanka bowlers sustained pressure.
Debutant Keshara Nuwantha was the wrecker-in-chief, and his adjustment of length proved ideal for the Day 2 surface, which offered sharp turn and encouraging bounce. Day 3 is widely considered the moving day in a multi-day fixture, but it came earlier than usual as Pant couldn't convert his start, Rahul was undone by sharp turn and an even better catch, and Jadeja was trapped in front by a delivery that went on with the arm from the perfect length.
Amid all the first-session chaos, the most **** ured batter from the visitors' camp held fort for a while, continuing from where he had left off, and looked set for a double hundred before falling for 167. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took the prized wicket of Padikkal and later dismissed another set batter, Dhruv Jurel, who scored a breezy 51. Before being dismissed, Jurel looked very **** ured and added valuable runs with Manav Suthar, pushing India's total to a number that keeps them in a dominant position.
The right-hander remained busy, and there was a sense of urgency in his stand with Suthar as they negotiated the Sri Lanka attack during the closing hour of play. They got together when Jadeja was dismissed in the 99th over, with the scoreboard reading 377/6, and added 55 runs for the seventh wicket. Gill, in the pre-match press conference, had stressed the contributions from the lower order, and the partnership between Jurel and Suthar was the kind of effort he was looking for to keep the momentum on their side.
Galle was gloomy, the skies were angry, and the heavy downpour in the early hours meant the scheduled early start to make up for lost overs wasn't possible. To make matters worse, the constant hide-and-seek between clouds, sun and rain continued for over five hours, and even the groundstaff's best efforts were not enough as the rain refused to relent.
They kept removing the covers after seeing clear skies, but all the hard work was undone as the strong crosswinds kept bringing the dark clouds over the stadium. The moment clear skies ahead offered hope, the darkness in the rearview forced the over-100-member team to keep panning and cr
Three overnight batters, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (who retired hurt on Day 1) and centurion Devdutt Padikkal, were dismissed in the first ninety minutes of play after the weather kept both camps confined to the dressing room for over five hours. From 'how much is too much' to 'how long will they survive', the nature of the conversations changed after a period in which the Sri Lanka bowlers sustained pressure.
Debutant Keshara Nuwantha was the wrecker-in-chief, and his adjustment of length proved ideal for the Day 2 surface, which offered sharp turn and encouraging bounce. Day 3 is widely considered the moving day in a multi-day fixture, but it came earlier than usual as Pant couldn't convert his start, Rahul was undone by sharp turn and an even better catch, and Jadeja was trapped in front by a delivery that went on with the arm from the perfect length.
Amid all the first-session chaos, the most **** ured batter from the visitors' camp held fort for a while, continuing from where he had left off, and looked set for a double hundred before falling for 167. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took the prized wicket of Padikkal and later dismissed another set batter, Dhruv Jurel, who scored a breezy 51. Before being dismissed, Jurel looked very **** ured and added valuable runs with Manav Suthar, pushing India's total to a number that keeps them in a dominant position.
The right-hander remained busy, and there was a sense of urgency in his stand with Suthar as they negotiated the Sri Lanka attack during the closing hour of play. They got together when Jadeja was dismissed in the 99th over, with the scoreboard reading 377/6, and added 55 runs for the seventh wicket. Gill, in the pre-match press conference, had stressed the contributions from the lower order, and the partnership between Jurel and Suthar was the kind of effort he was looking for to keep the momentum on their side.
Galle was gloomy, the skies were angry, and the heavy downpour in the early hours meant the scheduled early start to make up for lost overs wasn't possible. To make matters worse, the constant hide-and-seek between clouds, sun and rain continued for over five hours, and even the groundstaff's best efforts were not enough as the rain refused to relent.
They kept removing the covers after seeing clear skies, but all the hard work was undone as the strong crosswinds kept bringing the dark clouds over the stadium. The moment clear skies ahead offered hope, the darkness in the rearview forced the over-100-member team to keep panning and cr
9 hours ago
Ravindra Jadeja has opened up about the struggles he faced during the early stages of his India career, admitting that being pushed down the batting order often affected his confidence and made him question the team's faith in his batting ability. As India look to continue their dominance after a commanding Day 1 against Sri Lanka, Jadeja reflected on his growth as a Test batter and revealed how he developed the temperament to play long innings.
"When I started, I used to bat at number 4. If you look at my entire Ranji Trophy career, my average is more than 60. Whatever Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy first-class cricket I have played domestically, my batting average is more than 60. So somewhere, I had that belief that I had that ability. But sometimes what happens is that you come into the Indian team and you don't get that batting number," Jadeja said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of day two's play, which has been delayed due to rain.
The all-rounder admitted that regularly batting at No. 8 or 9, and sometimes even below Ravichandran Ashwin, affected his confidence during the initial years of his international career.
"Sometimes the situation is such that I have batted at number 8 and 9 as well. So, when you are sitting in the dressing room with your pads on, next to you, a fast bowler is selecting a ball. Seeing all those things, my morale and confidence would go down. Sometimes you think to yourself, 'I have to go and score runs,'" he added.
Jadeja explained that watching bowlers prepare to bat ahead of him often made him feel that the team did not have complete confidence in his batting.
"And in that same dressing room, a fast bowler is selecting the ball, thinking, 'Come on, now bowling is coming.' So because of all those things, my confidence was literally disturbed. I would think, 'Oh man, what is this? The team doesn't even have confidence in me?' So I have seen that in my early days, that I didn't get that number. Very low, many times I even went in to bat below Ashwin. So somewhere, all those things disturbed me," Jadeja revealed.
Jadeja's reflections came after India produced a dominant batting display on the opening day of the Test against Sri Lanka. India finished Day 1 on 288/2, putting themselves in a strong position after the rain-affected day's play. Devdutt Padikkal was the star of the day, scoring a magnificent unbeaten 131 to register his maiden Test century. KL Rahul also played a crucial knock of 77, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27 at the close of play.
#jadeja #India #trophy #Career
"When I started, I used to bat at number 4. If you look at my entire Ranji Trophy career, my average is more than 60. Whatever Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy first-class cricket I have played domestically, my batting average is more than 60. So somewhere, I had that belief that I had that ability. But sometimes what happens is that you come into the Indian team and you don't get that batting number," Jadeja said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of day two's play, which has been delayed due to rain.
The all-rounder admitted that regularly batting at No. 8 or 9, and sometimes even below Ravichandran Ashwin, affected his confidence during the initial years of his international career.
"Sometimes the situation is such that I have batted at number 8 and 9 as well. So, when you are sitting in the dressing room with your pads on, next to you, a fast bowler is selecting a ball. Seeing all those things, my morale and confidence would go down. Sometimes you think to yourself, 'I have to go and score runs,'" he added.
Jadeja explained that watching bowlers prepare to bat ahead of him often made him feel that the team did not have complete confidence in his batting.
"And in that same dressing room, a fast bowler is selecting the ball, thinking, 'Come on, now bowling is coming.' So because of all those things, my confidence was literally disturbed. I would think, 'Oh man, what is this? The team doesn't even have confidence in me?' So I have seen that in my early days, that I didn't get that number. Very low, many times I even went in to bat below Ashwin. So somewhere, all those things disturbed me," Jadeja revealed.
Jadeja's reflections came after India produced a dominant batting display on the opening day of the Test against Sri Lanka. India finished Day 1 on 288/2, putting themselves in a strong position after the rain-affected day's play. Devdutt Padikkal was the star of the day, scoring a magnificent unbeaten 131 to register his maiden Test century. KL Rahul also played a crucial knock of 77, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27 at the close of play.
#jadeja #India #trophy #Career
10 hours ago
Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to Test cricket in style, scoring his maiden century in the format during India's first innings of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.
The Karnataka left-hander produced a composed yet attacking knock, handling the challenging conditions with maturity and putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Padikkal was particularly effective against spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, combining caution with well-timed aggression.
The 26-year-old came into the Test on the back of a century against SLC XI in the warm-up game and continued his strong run of form when it mattered most.
Padikkal may have found it difficult to break into India's playing XI had Sai Sudharsan been fit and available for the series. However, his century has strengthened his case for a continued run at No.3.
Speaking after the close of play on Day 1, Padikkal revealed that determination was key to getting through a physically demanding innings in Galle, where the heat and humidity took a toll.
"In this knock, determination for me was playing through that tiredness and fatigue that I was feeling, especially towards the third session. I think it was getting really hot, and we were losing a lot of fluid. We were sweating all the time. So it was really important that I was determined enough to keep going and keep pushing forward," Padikkal said in a video shared by BCCI.
The batter also stressed the importance of maintaining concentration on a surface that did not make batting easy.
"It wasn't the easiest of wickets to bat on. I think we had to make sure that we didn't play too many last shots. We had to make sure that we kept our minds in the game as long as possible because, like I said, again, when you get tired, it's easy to lose that discipline, and I think as a team we did that well today," he added.
Padikkal shared a 150-run partnership with KL Rahul before Rahul retired hurt on 77 after suffering from cramps. For Padikkal, the century was particularly significant as he had not played a Test for India since 2024 and had waited almost two years for another opportunity.
His return to the side came after a prolific run across domestic cricket and the IPL. Strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, along with his IPL form, helped him force his way back into the reckoning.
Padikkal admitted that the long wait had tested his patience but also gave him time to improve his game.
"Patience for me, I think it was more to do with what I've gone through before this game. I think my last Test was in 2024. So it's been a long time coming, and I've had to patiently wait, look on from the outside. It's never easy. But at the same time, it gave me time to really work on my game and perfect things that needed perfecting. And I'm really glad that all that hard work came to effect today. It feels great," said Padikkal.
The left-hander also revealed that he felt nervous as he approached the thr
The Karnataka left-hander produced a composed yet attacking knock, handling the challenging conditions with maturity and putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Padikkal was particularly effective against spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, combining caution with well-timed aggression.
The 26-year-old came into the Test on the back of a century against SLC XI in the warm-up game and continued his strong run of form when it mattered most.
Padikkal may have found it difficult to break into India's playing XI had Sai Sudharsan been fit and available for the series. However, his century has strengthened his case for a continued run at No.3.
Speaking after the close of play on Day 1, Padikkal revealed that determination was key to getting through a physically demanding innings in Galle, where the heat and humidity took a toll.
"In this knock, determination for me was playing through that tiredness and fatigue that I was feeling, especially towards the third session. I think it was getting really hot, and we were losing a lot of fluid. We were sweating all the time. So it was really important that I was determined enough to keep going and keep pushing forward," Padikkal said in a video shared by BCCI.
The batter also stressed the importance of maintaining concentration on a surface that did not make batting easy.
"It wasn't the easiest of wickets to bat on. I think we had to make sure that we didn't play too many last shots. We had to make sure that we kept our minds in the game as long as possible because, like I said, again, when you get tired, it's easy to lose that discipline, and I think as a team we did that well today," he added.
Padikkal shared a 150-run partnership with KL Rahul before Rahul retired hurt on 77 after suffering from cramps. For Padikkal, the century was particularly significant as he had not played a Test for India since 2024 and had waited almost two years for another opportunity.
His return to the side came after a prolific run across domestic cricket and the IPL. Strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, along with his IPL form, helped him force his way back into the reckoning.
Padikkal admitted that the long wait had tested his patience but also gave him time to improve his game.
"Patience for me, I think it was more to do with what I've gone through before this game. I think my last Test was in 2024. So it's been a long time coming, and I've had to patiently wait, look on from the outside. It's never easy. But at the same time, it gave me time to really work on my game and perfect things that needed perfecting. And I'm really glad that all that hard work came to effect today. It feels great," said Padikkal.
The left-hander also revealed that he felt nervous as he approached the thr
1 day ago
KL Rahul's condition after retiring hurt on the opening day of India's first Test against Sri Lanka is not a major concern, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak saying the senior batter is "fine now" after suffering cramps.
Rahul scored a patient 77 off 162 ******* before leaving the field during the final session. He had formed a crucial 150-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, helping India take control of the contest.
"KL batted really well, was getting cramps everywhere. fine now," Kotak told reporters after the day's play.
The biggest highlight of India's batting effort was Padikkal's unbeaten 131, his maiden international century. Returning to Test cricket after last playing against Australia in Perth in 2024, the Karnataka batter looked confident and composed throughout his innings.
Kotak praised the work Padikkal has put in over the past two years and also highlighted Sai Sudharsan's progress.
"Credit to Devdutt Padikkal for preparing & working hard in last 2 years. Both he, Sai are batting well. They are new ball batter," he added.
Padikkal reached his hundred from 134 ******* and struck a variety of shots against Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack. He was particularly effective against left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, using sweeps, punches and attacking shots to keep the bowlers under pressure.
"[To me] its important how they bat in different phases," Kotak said, underlining the importance of adapting to changing conditions during an innings.
India ended the day at 288 for two, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131 and Rishabh Pant on 27. Shubman Gill made a valuable contribution before being dismissed by Jayasuriya.
Rahul's departure was the only concern for India, although Kotak's update should ease worries about the batter's condition. Padikkal also battled dehydration late in the humid day but continued his innings.
With India firmly in control after the opening day, attention will now turn to whether Rahul is fit to return and how Padikkal and Pant build on the strong platform.
133264997
#test
Rahul scored a patient 77 off 162 ******* before leaving the field during the final session. He had formed a crucial 150-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, helping India take control of the contest.
"KL batted really well, was getting cramps everywhere. fine now," Kotak told reporters after the day's play.
The biggest highlight of India's batting effort was Padikkal's unbeaten 131, his maiden international century. Returning to Test cricket after last playing against Australia in Perth in 2024, the Karnataka batter looked confident and composed throughout his innings.
Kotak praised the work Padikkal has put in over the past two years and also highlighted Sai Sudharsan's progress.
"Credit to Devdutt Padikkal for preparing & working hard in last 2 years. Both he, Sai are batting well. They are new ball batter," he added.
Padikkal reached his hundred from 134 ******* and struck a variety of shots against Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack. He was particularly effective against left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, using sweeps, punches and attacking shots to keep the bowlers under pressure.
"[To me] its important how they bat in different phases," Kotak said, underlining the importance of adapting to changing conditions during an innings.
India ended the day at 288 for two, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131 and Rishabh Pant on 27. Shubman Gill made a valuable contribution before being dismissed by Jayasuriya.
Rahul's departure was the only concern for India, although Kotak's update should ease worries about the batter's condition. Padikkal also battled dehydration late in the humid day but continued his innings.
With India firmly in control after the opening day, attention will now turn to whether Rahul is fit to return and how Padikkal and Pant build on the strong platform.
133264997
#test
1 day ago
Timesofindia.com in Galle: Quick single, a punch in the air followed by a jubilant jump before unleashing another punch. The helmet came off in a flash, and his arms spread wide to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room and the spectators braving the heat on the grass banks. It was a memorable moment for Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up his maiden Test hundred, and it couldn't have come at a better time, both for him and the country.
Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.
Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.
Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.
Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.
A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not
Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.
Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.
Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.
Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.
A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not
1 day ago
KL Rahul was forced to retire hurt on 77 during Day 1 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium after suffering severe cramps and discomfort in his right hand. Rahul, who had played a composed and anchoring innings of 77 off 162 ****** , including nine fours and a six, was forced to leave the field shortly after the tea break. He received medical attention before walking back to the dressing room alongside the team physio.
Rahul initially appeared to be struggling with cramps and physical exhaustion. He was later seen experiencing discomfort in a finger on his right hand, with the Indian medical team ****** sing the issue. The India vice-captain had played a key role in putting India in a strong position before his departure. He retired hurt with India at 138/1, having provided stability at the top of the order.
Rahul's departure did not slow India's progress as Devdutt Padikkal continued his impressive innings and brought up his maiden Test century. Padikkal took charge after Rahul's exit and helped India move beyond the 200-run mark with captain Shubman Gill on strike.
#test #hand
Rahul initially appeared to be struggling with cramps and physical exhaustion. He was later seen experiencing discomfort in a finger on his right hand, with the Indian medical team ****** sing the issue. The India vice-captain had played a key role in putting India in a strong position before his departure. He retired hurt with India at 138/1, having provided stability at the top of the order.
Rahul's departure did not slow India's progress as Devdutt Padikkal continued his impressive innings and brought up his maiden Test century. Padikkal took charge after Rahul's exit and helped India move beyond the 200-run mark with captain Shubman Gill on strike.
#test #hand
1 day ago
When Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat in Galle for the first Test against Sri Lanka, he was playing the 30th Test of his career. The milestone came with an unusual record - Jaiswal has played each of his first 30 Tests at a different venue.
The India opener has never played a Test at the same ground twice.
His journey began in Roseau in July 2023 and, after stops across the Caribbean, South Africa, India, England and Australia, he reached his 30th Test in Galle on Saturday.
Jaiswal has made a strong start to his Test career. In 30 matches, he has scored 2,567 runs in 55 innings, including seven centuries and 13 fifties. His highest score is an unbeaten 214, while his batting average stands at 48.43.
Jaiswal's unique record also puts him in the company of two former India batters.
Sanjay Manjrekar played his first 33 Tests at 33 different venues, while Sachin Tendulkar appeared at 32 different venues in his first 32 Tests.
However, the landmark Test ended on a disappointing note for Jaiswal as he was run out for 32.
Jaiswal had looked comfortable during his 37-ball stay and was helping India make a steady start in Galle. But an unfortunate mix-up with KL Rahul brought his innings to an early end.
Jaiswal lost his balance after a collision with the bowler, and confusion followed between the two batters. Both Jaiswal and Rahul ended up at the non-striker's end, leaving Jaiswal stranded and forcing him to walk back.
Test
#jaiswal #test #tests #played
The India opener has never played a Test at the same ground twice.
His journey began in Roseau in July 2023 and, after stops across the Caribbean, South Africa, India, England and Australia, he reached his 30th Test in Galle on Saturday.
Jaiswal has made a strong start to his Test career. In 30 matches, he has scored 2,567 runs in 55 innings, including seven centuries and 13 fifties. His highest score is an unbeaten 214, while his batting average stands at 48.43.
Jaiswal's unique record also puts him in the company of two former India batters.
Sanjay Manjrekar played his first 33 Tests at 33 different venues, while Sachin Tendulkar appeared at 32 different venues in his first 32 Tests.
However, the landmark Test ended on a disappointing note for Jaiswal as he was run out for 32.
Jaiswal had looked comfortable during his 37-ball stay and was helping India make a steady start in Galle. But an unfortunate mix-up with KL Rahul brought his innings to an early end.
Jaiswal lost his balance after a collision with the bowler, and confusion followed between the two batters. Both Jaiswal and Rahul ended up at the non-striker's end, leaving Jaiswal stranded and forcing him to walk back.
Test
#jaiswal #test #tests #played
2 days ago
TimesofIndia.com in Galle: India's road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final enters the home stretch from the historic city of Galle, and captain Shubman Gill has an uphill task over the next few months. The WTC final is mathematically still within India's reach but would need a performance for the ages in the next few months, starting with the series opener in Galle on August 15.
The scenario is simple: win seven out of the next nine Test matches to secure the final berth. Even though the immediate challenge involves Galle, crosswinds and frequent rain interruptions, Gill and Co. have their eyes locked on the target, the "main goal".
"The main goal is to play the WTC final, which is next year. And we have got about nine Tests and I think we have to win around six or seven to be able to have a good chance at qualifying. So in terms of that, I think it's a very important series for us," said Gill at the pre-match press conference.
Gill is taking giant strides forward as a leader, which is reflected in how the team has prepared for the series. The captain has vocally criticised the packed scheduling and how it has robbed the side of ideal preparation before an important series in the past. Sri Lanka, on that front, has come as a breath of fresh air, as the team has been camped in Colombo since August 4, where they trained hard at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground, played a warm-up fixture and squeezed in two quality sessions in Galle.
"If we do have an opportunity and if the scheduling allows us to have at least a week or 10 days before the Test match starts, it obviously helps with the preparation. Even last year we had quite a busy schedule in terms of, you know, travelling, playing in England and playing the Asia Cup, then playing the Test match in India, going to Australia.
"And then playing the Test match within four days after returning from Australia. So it's never easy for the players to be able to adapt. And most of the players in this team, I think, require a bit of time to be able to adjust to the conditions. And it's not like a lot of the players have a lot of matches or a lot of experience under their belts. So the extra time in preparation definitely helps," added Gill.
Every player in the squad relies on high-volume preparation. The optional nets remained busy on the eve of the match as the likes of Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and others applied the finishing touches hours before taking the field in very hot and humid conditions. India's squad, hit by injury concerns, is far from the first choice, but there is no dearth of quality in the 15 ***** embled by the men's senior selection committee.
Chairman Ajit Agarkar has been with the side in Galle, and there have been long chats involving the selector, coach and captain. For a team that has relied heavily on all-rounders to fill crucial slots, the first Test will be a rare occasion featuring
The scenario is simple: win seven out of the next nine Test matches to secure the final berth. Even though the immediate challenge involves Galle, crosswinds and frequent rain interruptions, Gill and Co. have their eyes locked on the target, the "main goal".
"The main goal is to play the WTC final, which is next year. And we have got about nine Tests and I think we have to win around six or seven to be able to have a good chance at qualifying. So in terms of that, I think it's a very important series for us," said Gill at the pre-match press conference.
Gill is taking giant strides forward as a leader, which is reflected in how the team has prepared for the series. The captain has vocally criticised the packed scheduling and how it has robbed the side of ideal preparation before an important series in the past. Sri Lanka, on that front, has come as a breath of fresh air, as the team has been camped in Colombo since August 4, where they trained hard at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground, played a warm-up fixture and squeezed in two quality sessions in Galle.
"If we do have an opportunity and if the scheduling allows us to have at least a week or 10 days before the Test match starts, it obviously helps with the preparation. Even last year we had quite a busy schedule in terms of, you know, travelling, playing in England and playing the Asia Cup, then playing the Test match in India, going to Australia.
"And then playing the Test match within four days after returning from Australia. So it's never easy for the players to be able to adapt. And most of the players in this team, I think, require a bit of time to be able to adjust to the conditions. And it's not like a lot of the players have a lot of matches or a lot of experience under their belts. So the extra time in preparation definitely helps," added Gill.
Every player in the squad relies on high-volume preparation. The optional nets remained busy on the eve of the match as the likes of Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and others applied the finishing touches hours before taking the field in very hot and humid conditions. India's squad, hit by injury concerns, is far from the first choice, but there is no dearth of quality in the 15 ***** embled by the men's senior selection committee.
Chairman Ajit Agarkar has been with the side in Galle, and there have been long chats involving the selector, coach and captain. For a team that has relied heavily on all-rounders to fill crucial slots, the first Test will be a rare occasion featuring
8 days ago
CHENNAI: If Javagal Srinath had been the match referee when Sourav Ganguly famously kept Steve Waugh waiting for the toss at Eden Gardens in 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the former India captain might well have faced a suspension.
"I would have banned Sourav for a few games!" Srinath said at EEMAGINE event by recalling the incident, which has been regarded as an act of gamesmanship that disturbed Waugh and the Australian team during the course of the famous series that India won 2-1. Ganguly later said that he couldn't find his blazer which led to the delay, but that's highly debatable.
Srinath, however, praised Ganguly's leadership, particularly his ability to nurture youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag. He felt Indian cricket underwent a major transformation after the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s, with players developing a collective resolve to restore the game's image.
"There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean," Srinath said. He added that leadership came from the top four or five players being on the same page, which helped India not only start winning consistently at home but also turn the corner overseas.
Srinath recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India struggled to win abroad, but things began changing from 1999 onwards.
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed that he had wanted India to bat first after a discussion within the team. "I was one of the guys who said we should always bat first and then put them under pressure," he said. But Ganguly had a different view. And once the decision was made, Srinath said the team had to move on, but Australia were simply too strong.
He recalled recommending Zaheer to selector Chandu Borde after watching the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly asked what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was picked, his response was simple: "If he's good, he replaces me."
Srinath also revealed that Rahul Dravid was "not the best roommate," joking about the former India batter's habit of leaving things scattered, while describing Venkatesh Prasad as extremely "spick and span".
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Srinath cautioned against comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, stressing that different eras bring different challenges.
"When you judge a player it's just not the white ball, it is the red ball cricket as well. Sooryavanshi is a wonderful talent, I think he's still too young. I hope he develops the maturity like Sachin and has that strong head on his shoulders like Virat."
Srinath also called for a better balance between bat and ball, pointing to shorter boundaries, bigger bats and less ***** ounced seams. "Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game," he said.
#srinath #ganguly
"I would have banned Sourav for a few games!" Srinath said at EEMAGINE event by recalling the incident, which has been regarded as an act of gamesmanship that disturbed Waugh and the Australian team during the course of the famous series that India won 2-1. Ganguly later said that he couldn't find his blazer which led to the delay, but that's highly debatable.
Srinath, however, praised Ganguly's leadership, particularly his ability to nurture youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag. He felt Indian cricket underwent a major transformation after the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s, with players developing a collective resolve to restore the game's image.
"There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean," Srinath said. He added that leadership came from the top four or five players being on the same page, which helped India not only start winning consistently at home but also turn the corner overseas.
Srinath recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India struggled to win abroad, but things began changing from 1999 onwards.
Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed that he had wanted India to bat first after a discussion within the team. "I was one of the guys who said we should always bat first and then put them under pressure," he said. But Ganguly had a different view. And once the decision was made, Srinath said the team had to move on, but Australia were simply too strong.
He recalled recommending Zaheer to selector Chandu Borde after watching the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly asked what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was picked, his response was simple: "If he's good, he replaces me."
Srinath also revealed that Rahul Dravid was "not the best roommate," joking about the former India batter's habit of leaving things scattered, while describing Venkatesh Prasad as extremely "spick and span".
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Srinath cautioned against comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, stressing that different eras bring different challenges.
"When you judge a player it's just not the white ball, it is the red ball cricket as well. Sooryavanshi is a wonderful talent, I think he's still too young. I hope he develops the maturity like Sachin and has that strong head on his shoulders like Virat."
Srinath also called for a better balance between bat and ball, pointing to shorter boundaries, bigger bats and less ***** ounced seams. "Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game," he said.
#srinath #ganguly
8 days ago
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Big strides, ****** ured footwork, smart use of the crease, fluent shots and solid defence. These were the highlights of Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 off 164 ****** at the Nondescript Cricket Club in Colombo on Saturday. The classy left-hander was not a starter when the squad was picked for the series. Still, the moment team management received the update on Sai Sudharsan's niggle, all efforts focused on keeping Padikkal ready for the opportunity. When the chance came, he delivered. And how.
It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.
He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most ****** under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.
Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.
It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.
Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.
Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.
The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The oppos
It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.
He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most ****** under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.
Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.
It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.
Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.
Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.
The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The oppos
9 days ago
India's red-ball tour of Sri Lanka got underway with a three-day practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo on Friday.
It will give Shubman Gill's squad a valuable opportunity to acclimatise to local conditions ahead of the Test series.
Day 1 delivered plenty of drama. Sri Lanka XI made a strong start, with Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha putting India's pacers under early pressure before the visitors eventually found their footing.
Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav then turned things around as they picked up two wickets each to drag India back into contention. The hosts closed the day at 363 for 8, which already leaves India with a substantial workload once their innings begins.
Meanwhile, Gill missed the entire opening day after injuring his right ring finger during practice, with KL Rahul stepping in to lead the side. Whether Gill will be fit enough to bat once India's innings starts remains the key question heading into day two.
#practice
It will give Shubman Gill's squad a valuable opportunity to acclimatise to local conditions ahead of the Test series.
Day 1 delivered plenty of drama. Sri Lanka XI made a strong start, with Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha putting India's pacers under early pressure before the visitors eventually found their footing.
Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav then turned things around as they picked up two wickets each to drag India back into contention. The hosts closed the day at 363 for 8, which already leaves India with a substantial workload once their innings begins.
Meanwhile, Gill missed the entire opening day after injuring his right ring finger during practice, with KL Rahul stepping in to lead the side. Whether Gill will be fit enough to bat once India's innings starts remains the key question heading into day two.
#practice
10 days ago
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal looked back at a memorable moment involving former captain Rohit Sharma as the team prepared for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
Jaiswal shared a set of pictures from India's training session as preparations began for the two-Test series. However, it was his caption that caught the attention of fans.
The left-handed batter referred to one of Rohit's well-known on-field instructions from India's tour of Australia.
"Because once a legend said 'jab tak khelega nahi, tab tak uthneka nahi'," Jaiswal wrote on Instagram.
The caption was a reference to an incident during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jaiswal was fielding at forward silly point when he briefly stood up before Steve Smith had completed his shot.
Rohit, who was captaining India at the time, noticed it immediately and reminded Jaiswal to stay low until the ball had been played.
"Ae Jaisu, gully cricket khel raha hai kya? Neeche baith ke rah ("Are you playing gully cricket? Stay down. Don't get up until the ball has been played!)" Rohit was heard saying on the stump microphone.
The exchange quickly went viral and became one of the lighter moments of India's tour of Australia.
Jaiswal's Instagram post brought back memories of that moment as India prepare for the Sri Lanka series.
The Shubman Gill-led team has started training in Colombo ahead of the two-match Test series. Jaiswal is expected to open the batting with KL Rahul when India face Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on August 15.
#jaiswal #lanka #stay
Jaiswal shared a set of pictures from India's training session as preparations began for the two-Test series. However, it was his caption that caught the attention of fans.
The left-handed batter referred to one of Rohit's well-known on-field instructions from India's tour of Australia.
"Because once a legend said 'jab tak khelega nahi, tab tak uthneka nahi'," Jaiswal wrote on Instagram.
The caption was a reference to an incident during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jaiswal was fielding at forward silly point when he briefly stood up before Steve Smith had completed his shot.
Rohit, who was captaining India at the time, noticed it immediately and reminded Jaiswal to stay low until the ball had been played.
"Ae Jaisu, gully cricket khel raha hai kya? Neeche baith ke rah ("Are you playing gully cricket? Stay down. Don't get up until the ball has been played!)" Rohit was heard saying on the stump microphone.
The exchange quickly went viral and became one of the lighter moments of India's tour of Australia.
Jaiswal's Instagram post brought back memories of that moment as India prepare for the Sri Lanka series.
The Shubman Gill-led team has started training in Colombo ahead of the two-match Test series. Jaiswal is expected to open the batting with KL Rahul when India face Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on August 15.
#jaiswal #lanka #stay
13 days ago
Former India captain Rohit Sharma paid tribute to T Dilip after the former India fielding coach was replaced by Subhadeep Ghosh, thanking him for his work with the team over the last five years.
Taking to Instagram Stories, Rohit wrote: "You are a legend, Dilip garu. You created magic within the group and [you are] a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead."
Dilip worked as India's men's fielding coach under both Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. He first joined the support staff in 2021 and served until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India's Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it ended.
During his time with the Indian team, India won the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
One of Dilip's most recognised ideas was the 'Best Fielder of the Match' medal, introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The post-match fielding medal ceremony became popular among fans because of the creative ways in which the winner was announced.
The initiative was aimed at building a stronger fielding culture within the team and encouraging players to take more risks and improve their athleticism in the field. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the medal winners during the ceremony's run.
After his departure, Dilip shared a farewell message on Instagram, thanking the team and reflecting on his journey.
"Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey."
He also said the fielding medal ceremony would remain one of his favourite memories.
"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever."
#dilip
Taking to Instagram Stories, Rohit wrote: "You are a legend, Dilip garu. You created magic within the group and [you are] a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead."
Dilip worked as India's men's fielding coach under both Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. He first joined the support staff in 2021 and served until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India's Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it ended.
During his time with the Indian team, India won the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
One of Dilip's most recognised ideas was the 'Best Fielder of the Match' medal, introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The post-match fielding medal ceremony became popular among fans because of the creative ways in which the winner was announced.
The initiative was aimed at building a stronger fielding culture within the team and encouraging players to take more risks and improve their athleticism in the field. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the medal winners during the ceremony's run.
After his departure, Dilip shared a farewell message on Instagram, thanking the team and reflecting on his journey.
"Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team's journey."
He also said the fielding medal ceremony would remain one of his favourite memories.
"The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I'll carry with me forever."
#dilip
13 days ago
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi earned his maiden call-up to the Indian team after senior pacer Jasprit ******* rah was ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. TimesofIndia.com had earlier reported that the J & K pacer was the frontrunner to replace the 32-year-old in the squad, who has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England.
"The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as ******* rah's replacement. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team," A BCCI release said.
Nabi claimed 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 campaign, playing a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
He was also part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches.
The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15 to 19, while the second Test will be held in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
The series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
132822556
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi.
*Subject to fitness clearance
#nabi #test #jammu #maiden
"The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as ******* rah's replacement. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team," A BCCI release said.
Nabi claimed 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 campaign, playing a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
He was also part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches.
The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15 to 19, while the second Test will be held in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
The series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
132822556
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi.
*Subject to fitness clearance
#nabi #test #jammu #maiden
19 days ago
MUMBAI: Ryan ten Doeschate has stepped down as India's men's ***** istant coach, bringing an end to his two-year stint with the national team, while Subhadeep Ghosh will be India's new fielding coach after T Dilip's contract came to an end and was not renewed, TOI has learnt.
Ten Doeschate and Dilip's final ***** ignment was India's white-ball tour of England. Both will, thus, not travel with Team India for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, while it will be the first international ***** ignment for Subhadeep, who has been the fielding coach of India A teams in the past.
During India's England tour, Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI of his decision to leave, despite being offered an extension until 2027 by the board. Although the BCCI was keen to retain him, the former Netherlands all-rounder declined the offer, citing personal reasons. With a young family, Ten Doeschate opted to step away from the demands of international cricket and its relentless travel schedule.
Meanwhile, fielding coach T Dilip is parting ways with the national team following the completion of his tenure. He will not travel with the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024 after former India opener Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach following India's T20 World Cup triumph. Having worked closely with Gambhir during their successful stint at Kolkata Knight Riders, the former Netherlands all-rounder was brought into the national setup by Gambhir alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel.
During Ten Doeschate's stint, India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025 and successfully defended the 2026 T20 World Cup, although the Test side endured a difficult period, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia before suffering series defeats against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) at home.
#doeschate #India #Gambhir
Ten Doeschate and Dilip's final ***** ignment was India's white-ball tour of England. Both will, thus, not travel with Team India for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, while it will be the first international ***** ignment for Subhadeep, who has been the fielding coach of India A teams in the past.
During India's England tour, Ten Doeschate informed the BCCI of his decision to leave, despite being offered an extension until 2027 by the board. Although the BCCI was keen to retain him, the former Netherlands all-rounder declined the offer, citing personal reasons. With a young family, Ten Doeschate opted to step away from the demands of international cricket and its relentless travel schedule.
Meanwhile, fielding coach T Dilip is parting ways with the national team following the completion of his tenure. He will not travel with the squad for the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Ten Doeschate joined the Indian coaching setup in July 2024 after former India opener Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach following India's T20 World Cup triumph. Having worked closely with Gambhir during their successful stint at Kolkata Knight Riders, the former Netherlands all-rounder was brought into the national setup by Gambhir alongside bowling coach Morne Morkel.
During Ten Doeschate's stint, India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025 and successfully defended the 2026 T20 World Cup, although the Test side endured a difficult period, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia before suffering series defeats against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) at home.
#doeschate #India #Gambhir
20 days ago
India squad for Sri Lanka Test series 2026: Full team lists for IND vs SL red-ball series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India announced their Sri Lanka Test series 2026 squad on Tuesday.
Shubman Gill to continue as Test captain, with KL Rahul in the leadership group.
Jasprit ******* rah and Ravindra Jadeja returned for the two-match series.
Washington Sundar will miss the first Test.
#test #India #lanka
India announced their Sri Lanka Test series 2026 squad on Tuesday.
Shubman Gill to continue as Test captain, with KL Rahul in the leadership group.
Jasprit ******* rah and Ravindra Jadeja returned for the two-match series.
Washington Sundar will miss the first Test.
#test #India #lanka
22 days ago
BENGALURU: Rahul Dravid, once a hockey midfielder, famously put away the stick and stuck to weaving magic with the willow. Almost four decades later, with a stick in hand, he can still trap a ball with precision and position a pass well too. The former India captain and coach, who played in the same school team– St. Joseph's Boys High School– as former international hockey players Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh, counts hockey as one of his favourite sports. Speaking at the opening of the inter-college hockey tournament commemorating the platinum jubilee of his alma mater, St Joseph's College of Commerce (SJCC), here on Friday, Dravid reminisced about his days on the hockey field.
"I played a lot of hockey in school. I was fortunate to play with people like Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. Firstly, we were a strong team and won tournaments like Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz inter-school tournaments because of these two guys. Also, it was a good lesson for me because when I watched them play or played with them, I realised that I was better off playing cricket," Dravid joked.
Incidentally, Dravid and Somesh both played as midfielders, while 1996 Atlanta Olympian Aldrin was a defender. The 53-year-old Dravid said hockey had played an important role in his formative years. "I loved playing hockey. It was a great team sport. India has such an incredible history, legacy and tradition in hockey," he said.
Dravid also praised the resurgence of Indian hockey after the men's team secured back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in Paris and Tokyo. "We haven't been able to reach the heights and standards that we had in the past, but I'm glad we have been quite successful in recent times. There is a revival of hockey," he observed.
The two-day five-a-side inter-college hockey tournament, which has attracted 17 teams, has been organised by SJCC's Old Students' ****** ociation (OSA) and Yes For Hockey. The competition is timely for the revival of collegiate hockey, which has declined over the years.
Lauding the efforts of OSA, Dravid said, "They've been very passionate about trying to revive hockey and get more youngsters to play it, which is really important because it's such a phenomenal sport to be a part of. I think it's only going to keep getting better."
Known throughout his playing career for exemplifying sportsmanship, Dravid urged young players to uphold the spirit of the game. "Play in the right spirit, competitively but also with the right sense of camaraderie," he stated, adding, "Not everyone is going to play for the country, but there is so much that sport can give you. The lessons that you learn from sport will carry you for the rest of your life."
#hockey #play #played #school
"I played a lot of hockey in school. I was fortunate to play with people like Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. Firstly, we were a strong team and won tournaments like Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz inter-school tournaments because of these two guys. Also, it was a good lesson for me because when I watched them play or played with them, I realised that I was better off playing cricket," Dravid joked.
Incidentally, Dravid and Somesh both played as midfielders, while 1996 Atlanta Olympian Aldrin was a defender. The 53-year-old Dravid said hockey had played an important role in his formative years. "I loved playing hockey. It was a great team sport. India has such an incredible history, legacy and tradition in hockey," he said.
Dravid also praised the resurgence of Indian hockey after the men's team secured back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in Paris and Tokyo. "We haven't been able to reach the heights and standards that we had in the past, but I'm glad we have been quite successful in recent times. There is a revival of hockey," he observed.
The two-day five-a-side inter-college hockey tournament, which has attracted 17 teams, has been organised by SJCC's Old Students' ****** ociation (OSA) and Yes For Hockey. The competition is timely for the revival of collegiate hockey, which has declined over the years.
Lauding the efforts of OSA, Dravid said, "They've been very passionate about trying to revive hockey and get more youngsters to play it, which is really important because it's such a phenomenal sport to be a part of. I think it's only going to keep getting better."
Known throughout his playing career for exemplifying sportsmanship, Dravid urged young players to uphold the spirit of the game. "Play in the right spirit, competitively but also with the right sense of camaraderie," he stated, adding, "Not everyone is going to play for the country, but there is so much that sport can give you. The lessons that you learn from sport will carry you for the rest of your life."
#hockey #play #played #school
23 days ago
Bengaluru: Rahul Dravid, once a hockey midfielder, famously put away the stick and stuck to weaving magic with the willow. Almost four decades later, with a stick in hand, he can still trap a ball with precision and position a pass well too.
The former India captain and coach, who played in the same school team– St. Joseph's Boys High School– as former international hockey players Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh, counts hockey as one of his favourite sports. Speaking at the opening of the inter-college hockey tournament commemorating the platinum jubilee of his alma mater, St Joseph's College of Commerce (SJCC), here on Friday, Dravid reminisced about his days on the hockey field.
"I played a lot of hockey in school. I was fortunate to play with people like Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. Firstly, we were a strong team and won tournaments like Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz inter-school tournaments because of these two guys. Also, it was a good lesson for me because when I watched them play or played with them, I realised that I was better off playing cricket," Dravid joked.
Incidentally, Dravid and Somesh both played as midfielders, while 1996 Atlanta Olympian Aldrin was a defender. The 53-year-old Dravid said hockey had played an important role in his formative years. "I loved playing hockey. It was a great team sport. India has such an incredible history, legacy and tradition in hockey," he said.
Dravid also praised the resurgence of Indian hockey after the men's team secured back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in Paris and Tokyo. "We haven't been able to reach the heights and standards that we had in the past, but I'm glad we have been quite successful in recent times. There is a revival of hockey," he observed.
The two-day five-a-side inter-college hockey tournament, which has attracted 17 teams, has been organised by SJCC's Old Students' **** ociation (OSA) and Yes For Hockey. The competition is timely for the revival of collegiate hockey, which has declined over the years.
Lauding the efforts of OSA, Dravid said, "They've been very passionate about trying to revive hockey and get more youngsters to play it, which is really important because it's such a phenomenal sport to be a part of. I think it's only going to keep getting better."
#school #play
The former India captain and coach, who played in the same school team– St. Joseph's Boys High School– as former international hockey players Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh, counts hockey as one of his favourite sports. Speaking at the opening of the inter-college hockey tournament commemorating the platinum jubilee of his alma mater, St Joseph's College of Commerce (SJCC), here on Friday, Dravid reminisced about his days on the hockey field.
"I played a lot of hockey in school. I was fortunate to play with people like Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. Firstly, we were a strong team and won tournaments like Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz inter-school tournaments because of these two guys. Also, it was a good lesson for me because when I watched them play or played with them, I realised that I was better off playing cricket," Dravid joked.
Incidentally, Dravid and Somesh both played as midfielders, while 1996 Atlanta Olympian Aldrin was a defender. The 53-year-old Dravid said hockey had played an important role in his formative years. "I loved playing hockey. It was a great team sport. India has such an incredible history, legacy and tradition in hockey," he said.
Dravid also praised the resurgence of Indian hockey after the men's team secured back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in Paris and Tokyo. "We haven't been able to reach the heights and standards that we had in the past, but I'm glad we have been quite successful in recent times. There is a revival of hockey," he observed.
The two-day five-a-side inter-college hockey tournament, which has attracted 17 teams, has been organised by SJCC's Old Students' **** ociation (OSA) and Yes For Hockey. The competition is timely for the revival of collegiate hockey, which has declined over the years.
Lauding the efforts of OSA, Dravid said, "They've been very passionate about trying to revive hockey and get more youngsters to play it, which is really important because it's such a phenomenal sport to be a part of. I think it's only going to keep getting better."
#school #play
24 days ago
When India begin their three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, the spotlight will not only be on the result but also on the fresh faces hoping to begin their international journeys.
Over the years, tours of Zimbabwe have evolved into India's preferred platform for testing emerging talent in the shortest format. Rather than fielding full-strength squads, the BCCI has consistently used these bilateral series to reward standout domestic and IPL performers with their maiden T20I caps.
The numbers underline that trend. A total of 22 Indian men's cricketers have made their T20I debuts against Zimbabwe, making the African nation one of India's most frequent proving grounds for future stars.
India's tradition of handing out debuts in Zimbabwe dates back to 2010. During the two-match T20I series, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Naman Ojha all made their debuts in the opening game as India secured a comfortable six-wicket win. Kohli remained unbeaten on 26, Ashwin impressed with figures of 1/22, while Ojha managed two runs. In the following match, Amit Mishra became the fourth debutant of the series and returned figures of 1/21.
That tour also marked another milestone, with Suresh Raina captaining India in T20Is for the first time.
Five years later, India again arrived in Zimbabwe with a youthful squad. The 2015 series featured first T20I caps for Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma in the opening game, while Sanju Samson debuted in the second T20I.
Although several batters endured modest starts, Axar Patel stood out with an impressive spell of 3/17. Manish Pandey scored 19, Kedar Jadhav made 9, Stuart Binny contributed 11 and Sandeep Sharma went wicketless. Samson scored 19 off 24 ****** in his maiden appearance.
The same tour also witnessed Ajinkya Rahane making his captaincy debut in both ODIs and T20Is.
India continued the trend in 2016, handing opportunities to another crop of newcomers. KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Rishi Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal all made their T20I debuts in the opening match. It proved a difficult initiation for several players as Zimbabwe posted 170/6. Unadkat, Dhawan and Chahal all endured expensive spells, while Rahul was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Mandeep Singh provided one of the few positives with 31 off 27 ****** , although India lost the match by two runs.
The second T20I brought more debutants. Barinder Sran enjoyed a dream start to his international career, producing figures of 4/10, which remain the best bowling figures by an Indian on T20I debut. Dhawal Kulkarni also debuted in that match and claimed 1/32.
India once again used the Zimbabwe tour in 2024 to blood a fresh batch of youngsters. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel made their T20I debuts in the opening match of the five-game series. Sai Sudharsan was handed his maiden cap in the second T20I, while Tushar Deshpande made his de
Over the years, tours of Zimbabwe have evolved into India's preferred platform for testing emerging talent in the shortest format. Rather than fielding full-strength squads, the BCCI has consistently used these bilateral series to reward standout domestic and IPL performers with their maiden T20I caps.
The numbers underline that trend. A total of 22 Indian men's cricketers have made their T20I debuts against Zimbabwe, making the African nation one of India's most frequent proving grounds for future stars.
India's tradition of handing out debuts in Zimbabwe dates back to 2010. During the two-match T20I series, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Naman Ojha all made their debuts in the opening game as India secured a comfortable six-wicket win. Kohli remained unbeaten on 26, Ashwin impressed with figures of 1/22, while Ojha managed two runs. In the following match, Amit Mishra became the fourth debutant of the series and returned figures of 1/21.
That tour also marked another milestone, with Suresh Raina captaining India in T20Is for the first time.
Five years later, India again arrived in Zimbabwe with a youthful squad. The 2015 series featured first T20I caps for Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma in the opening game, while Sanju Samson debuted in the second T20I.
Although several batters endured modest starts, Axar Patel stood out with an impressive spell of 3/17. Manish Pandey scored 19, Kedar Jadhav made 9, Stuart Binny contributed 11 and Sandeep Sharma went wicketless. Samson scored 19 off 24 ****** in his maiden appearance.
The same tour also witnessed Ajinkya Rahane making his captaincy debut in both ODIs and T20Is.
India continued the trend in 2016, handing opportunities to another crop of newcomers. KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Rishi Dhawan and Yuzvendra Chahal all made their T20I debuts in the opening match. It proved a difficult initiation for several players as Zimbabwe posted 170/6. Unadkat, Dhawan and Chahal all endured expensive spells, while Rahul was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Mandeep Singh provided one of the few positives with 31 off 27 ****** , although India lost the match by two runs.
The second T20I brought more debutants. Barinder Sran enjoyed a dream start to his international career, producing figures of 4/10, which remain the best bowling figures by an Indian on T20I debut. Dhawal Kulkarni also debuted in that match and claimed 1/32.
India once again used the Zimbabwe tour in 2024 to blood a fresh batch of youngsters. Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel made their T20I debuts in the opening match of the five-game series. Sai Sudharsan was handed his maiden cap in the second T20I, while Tushar Deshpande made his de
25 days ago
NEW DELHI: India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill expressed concern over his team’s fitness standards after the ODI series defeat in England. A string of players breaking down before or during series has repeatedly left the team hamstrung over the past year. Gill suggested that India might be missing a trick in managing players’ fitness.
His comments have brought into focus the breakdown of a system built on coordination between the Indian team management and the Centre of Excellence (CoE). Not long ago, India had all their key players fit and available for three ICC events in 2023, 2024 and 2025. TOI understands that some senior players are struggling to adapt to a new system following a change in personnel last year. The most worrying aspect has been the recurrence of hamstring injuries.
“The flurry of recent hamstring injuries suggests that the players may not have been absolutely fit before taking the field. There seems to be a gap in communication about a player’s fitness status and workload between the CoE and the team management,” a BCCI source said. The CoE has not appointed a head of medical staff since Nitin Patel left. “There has been no update to the SOPs drawn up in 2023. Data collection has become more robust, but acting on it has become slower,” the source added.
During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach, the BCCI medical team, the CoE and the team management had charted out year-long roadmaps for individual players around major ICC events. The objective was to get each player to the required fitness level in time for the next ICC tournament or marquee Test series.
The recurring injuries suffered by Harshit Rana and Nitish **** ar Reddy have not gone down well with the BCCI. Sources said Reddy was being pushed to bowl close to 140kmph to compensate for the injury-prone Hardik Pandya.
“Reddy worked with English bowling coach Stefan Jones to increase his pace. But that needs to be a gradual process when he is with the team leading up to a big event. Instead, he is pushing himself to bowl faster whenever he is with the team,” the source said.
“It’s a bit concerning how Harshit was cleared by the CoE at the insistence of the team management when he had not attained his pre-knee-injury weight. These things need more care,” the source added.
TOI also understands that Washington Sundar too may have been rushed to join the T20 World Cup squad in Feb this year. “Washington required a good 10 days to be fit to play a match after joining the squad. He was pushed by the team management to get ready during a tournament. It may have taken its toll. Team can ask for players but the medical team needs to present a clear picture,” the source claimed.
Jasprit **** rah, for instance, is a special case for BCCI. Even with his history, he is barely pushed to hit high speeds months away from a marquee **** ignment. His loads are gradually increased to reach the desired level when the **** ignment arrives.
Akash Deep, who
His comments have brought into focus the breakdown of a system built on coordination between the Indian team management and the Centre of Excellence (CoE). Not long ago, India had all their key players fit and available for three ICC events in 2023, 2024 and 2025. TOI understands that some senior players are struggling to adapt to a new system following a change in personnel last year. The most worrying aspect has been the recurrence of hamstring injuries.
“The flurry of recent hamstring injuries suggests that the players may not have been absolutely fit before taking the field. There seems to be a gap in communication about a player’s fitness status and workload between the CoE and the team management,” a BCCI source said. The CoE has not appointed a head of medical staff since Nitin Patel left. “There has been no update to the SOPs drawn up in 2023. Data collection has become more robust, but acting on it has become slower,” the source added.
During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach, the BCCI medical team, the CoE and the team management had charted out year-long roadmaps for individual players around major ICC events. The objective was to get each player to the required fitness level in time for the next ICC tournament or marquee Test series.
The recurring injuries suffered by Harshit Rana and Nitish **** ar Reddy have not gone down well with the BCCI. Sources said Reddy was being pushed to bowl close to 140kmph to compensate for the injury-prone Hardik Pandya.
“Reddy worked with English bowling coach Stefan Jones to increase his pace. But that needs to be a gradual process when he is with the team leading up to a big event. Instead, he is pushing himself to bowl faster whenever he is with the team,” the source said.
“It’s a bit concerning how Harshit was cleared by the CoE at the insistence of the team management when he had not attained his pre-knee-injury weight. These things need more care,” the source added.
TOI also understands that Washington Sundar too may have been rushed to join the T20 World Cup squad in Feb this year. “Washington required a good 10 days to be fit to play a match after joining the squad. He was pushed by the team management to get ready during a tournament. It may have taken its toll. Team can ask for players but the medical team needs to present a clear picture,” the source claimed.
Jasprit **** rah, for instance, is a special case for BCCI. Even with his history, he is barely pushed to hit high speeds months away from a marquee **** ignment. His loads are gradually increased to reach the desired level when the **** ignment arrives.
Akash Deep, who
1 month ago
TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: All-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar successfully guided Team India to a 259-run chase in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. The six-wicket victory ended India's three-week winless streak in the UK, where they had suffered a 0-2 defeat to Ireland and a 0-4 whitewash against England in the T20I series. The win also extended India's unbeaten run against England in ODIs to six consecutive victories while ending England's seven-match winning streak at Edgbaston.
The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory. In a matter of 20 minutes, India lost skipper Shubman Gill to cramps, Shreyas Iyer to a run-out, and KL Rahul, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps. India went from 149/2 to 160/4 in a jiffy, with the trio back in the hut. England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 ****** ) and Iyer (35 off 53 ****** ), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance. 'Wonderwall', 'It's Coming Home' and 'Hey Jude' echoed around the ground as the FIFA World Cup fever, fuelled by Harry Kane & Co.'s run to the semi-finals, blended with England's surge at Edgbaston.
With 99 runs still required, the challenge was less about the required run rate of 4.5 an over and more about handling the sudden pressure after the loss of three quick wickets. Both Axar and Washington had just arrived at the crease and faced a daunting task. Instead of being bogged down, the southpaws, the first left-handers in India's XI after the quartet of right-handers, tackled the situation with aplomb.
The duo saw off Will Jacks and Sam Curran, with the four overs yielding just nine runs. Adil Rashid's reintroduction allowed Washington to free his arms with a boundary and a nine-run over. The next two overs, as Curran and Jacks continued, yielded 18 runs, with the duo's confidence evidently growing.
Axar was the main man at this stage. A slog sweep off Jacks and consecutive boundaries off Jofra Archer meant the runs were starting to flow comfortably. At the other end, Washington enjoyed watching his teammate bat.
"The way he batted was magical and it was a treat for me to watch from the other end," he said at the post-match press conference.
The next four overs reflected the same level-headed approach. As the fifty-run partnership came and went, the duo collected nine runs in three overs while seeing off Archer's full quota of 10 overs. The following two overs produced another 19 runs, allowing Axar and Washington to slow things down again over the next three overs.
Having navigated the chase to perfection, the duo grew in confidence and momentum, fittingly capped by Washington's cracking shot in the 45th over that sealed the match. A floated delivery from Adil Rashid was too full and in the slot for
The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory. In a matter of 20 minutes, India lost skipper Shubman Gill to cramps, Shreyas Iyer to a run-out, and KL Rahul, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps. India went from 149/2 to 160/4 in a jiffy, with the trio back in the hut. England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 ****** ) and Iyer (35 off 53 ****** ), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance. 'Wonderwall', 'It's Coming Home' and 'Hey Jude' echoed around the ground as the FIFA World Cup fever, fuelled by Harry Kane & Co.'s run to the semi-finals, blended with England's surge at Edgbaston.
With 99 runs still required, the challenge was less about the required run rate of 4.5 an over and more about handling the sudden pressure after the loss of three quick wickets. Both Axar and Washington had just arrived at the crease and faced a daunting task. Instead of being bogged down, the southpaws, the first left-handers in India's XI after the quartet of right-handers, tackled the situation with aplomb.
The duo saw off Will Jacks and Sam Curran, with the four overs yielding just nine runs. Adil Rashid's reintroduction allowed Washington to free his arms with a boundary and a nine-run over. The next two overs, as Curran and Jacks continued, yielded 18 runs, with the duo's confidence evidently growing.
Axar was the main man at this stage. A slog sweep off Jacks and consecutive boundaries off Jofra Archer meant the runs were starting to flow comfortably. At the other end, Washington enjoyed watching his teammate bat.
"The way he batted was magical and it was a treat for me to watch from the other end," he said at the post-match press conference.
The next four overs reflected the same level-headed approach. As the fifty-run partnership came and went, the duo collected nine runs in three overs while seeing off Archer's full quota of 10 overs. The following two overs produced another 19 runs, allowing Axar and Washington to slow things down again over the next three overs.
Having navigated the chase to perfection, the duo grew in confidence and momentum, fittingly capped by Washington's cracking shot in the 45th over that sealed the match. A floated delivery from Adil Rashid was too full and in the slot for
1 month ago
Former India coach Rahul Dravid says he is still open to coaching roles despite making a foray into franchise ownership.
Dravid is co-owner of the Dublin Guardians in the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) which is taking place later this summer.
The 53-year-old played 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals for India and coached their national team from 2021 to 2024.
Dravid told BBC Sport he would "certainly" be keen continue to be involved in coaching if some "good opportunities come up".
"This league is only a month in the year so I think that was the exciting part of it, to try and do something different for a month," Dravid said.
Dravid is co-owner of the Dublin Guardians in the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) which is taking place later this summer.
The 53-year-old played 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals for India and coached their national team from 2021 to 2024.
Dravid told BBC Sport he would "certainly" be keen continue to be involved in coaching if some "good opportunities come up".
"This league is only a month in the year so I think that was the exciting part of it, to try and do something different for a month," Dravid said.
1 month ago
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced two changes to India's squads for the upcoming series of England and Zimbabwe after injuries to Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.
Fast bowler Prince Yadav has replaced Harshit Rana in India's squad for the ODI series against England. Harshit has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, meanwhile, has been drafted into India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month, replacing Varun Chakravarthy.
Bishnoi was not part of the original squad but has now been included after it was confirmed that Varun will need more time to recover from the hamstring injury that also ruled him out of the final two T20Is against England.
Bishnoi featured in the first two matches of India's five-match T20I series in England. India did not bowl in the opening game after rain washed it out. In the second T20I at Old Trafford, Bishnoi conceded 60 runs in his four overs. He also bowled three back-foot no-balls and gave away two sixes and a four from the resulting free-hits.
Varun will now report to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further ****** sment and rehabilitation. Harshit Rana will also join him there after suffering a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the three-match ODI series against England.
Varun had only recently returned to action during the T20I series in Ireland before playing the first two T20Is against England. The latest injury is another setback after he fractured his left toe during the latter stages of IPL 2026. He played through the injury before missing the T20I series against Afghanistan and Ireland while recovering at the CoE.
Chakravarthy also struggled for form in England, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.28.
India's updated squad for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit ****** rah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
India's updated squad for Zimbabwe T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi
Fast bowler Prince Yadav has replaced Harshit Rana in India's squad for the ODI series against England. Harshit has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, meanwhile, has been drafted into India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe later this month, replacing Varun Chakravarthy.
Bishnoi was not part of the original squad but has now been included after it was confirmed that Varun will need more time to recover from the hamstring injury that also ruled him out of the final two T20Is against England.
Bishnoi featured in the first two matches of India's five-match T20I series in England. India did not bowl in the opening game after rain washed it out. In the second T20I at Old Trafford, Bishnoi conceded 60 runs in his four overs. He also bowled three back-foot no-balls and gave away two sixes and a four from the resulting free-hits.
Varun will now report to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for further ****** sment and rehabilitation. Harshit Rana will also join him there after suffering a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the three-match ODI series against England.
Varun had only recently returned to action during the T20I series in Ireland before playing the first two T20Is against England. The latest injury is another setback after he fractured his left toe during the latter stages of IPL 2026. He played through the injury before missing the T20I series against Afghanistan and Ireland while recovering at the CoE.
Chakravarthy also struggled for form in England, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.28.
India's updated squad for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit ****** rah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
India's updated squad for Zimbabwe T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi
1 month ago
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 schedule: Fixtures, score, format, squads and result for season 5 matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 (Season 5) runs from June 20 to July 12, 2026, across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru.
Six teams compete across 34 matches, with two rebranded franchises entering as Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas.
Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, and Smaran R headline a star-studded auction, with KL Rahul unavailable due to international commitments.
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 returns for its fifth edition in 2026, taking Karnataka's premier franchise T20 league to three cities for the first time. Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru will all host matches, with the playoffs and final at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Two franchises enter under rebranded identities, and no team has retained the trophy across the first four seasons.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 (Season 5) runs from June 20 to July 12, 2026, across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru.
Six teams compete across 34 matches, with two rebranded franchises entering as Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas.
Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, and Smaran R headline a star-studded auction, with KL Rahul unavailable due to international commitments.
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 returns for its fifth edition in 2026, taking Karnataka's premier franchise T20 league to three cities for the first time. Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru will all host matches, with the playoffs and final at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Two franchises enter under rebranded identities, and no team has retained the trophy across the first four seasons.
1 month ago
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 schedule: Fixtures, score, format, squads and result for season 5 matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 (Season 5) runs from June 20 to July 12, 2026, across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru.
Six teams compete across 34 matches, with two rebranded franchises entering as Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas.
Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, and Smaran R headline a star-studded auction, with KL Rahul unavailable due to international commitments.
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 returns for its fifth edition in 2026, taking Karnataka's premier franchise T20 league to three cities for the first time. Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru will all host matches, with the playoffs and final at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Two franchises enter under rebranded identities, and no team has retained the trophy across the first four seasons.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 (Season 5) runs from June 20 to July 12, 2026, across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru.
Six teams compete across 34 matches, with two rebranded franchises entering as Coastal Kings Mangaluru and Shivamogga Yodhas.
Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, and Smaran R headline a star-studded auction, with KL Rahul unavailable due to international commitments.
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 returns for its fifth edition in 2026, taking Karnataka's premier franchise T20 league to three cities for the first time. Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru will all host matches, with the playoffs and final at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Two franchises enter under rebranded identities, and no team has retained the trophy across the first four seasons.
1 month ago
MUMBAI: Anvay Dravid, the younger son of former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, top-scored with a whirlwind 87 (67b, 9x4, 1x6), while Arjun Rajput made 76 (81b, 9x4, 1x6) to help the India Under-19 team put up a formidable total of 285 in 47.2 overs against Sri Lanka A in the second Youth ODI in Hambantota on Monday.
After electing to bat first, the India Under-19 team had slipped to 81 for four in the 19th over, before Anvay, a 17-year-old talented 'keeper-batter, rescued the visitors with a mammoth 145-run partnership in just 126 **** for the fifth wicket with Rajput. India Under 19s lost both their openers- skipper Yashbardhan Chauhan (6) and Sagar Virk (4) - with the score reading 11 in the fourth over, following which Kushagra Ojha (38, 45b, 6x4) and VK Vineeth (24 off 45 **** ) added 67 for the third wicket to put the innings back on track.
Batting at No 5, Anvay, walking in with India U-19s at 78 for three in the 17th over, gave India Under-19's some much needed impetus, batting at a strike rate of 129.85, and reaching his half-century off 47 **** .
For the Sri Lanka Under-19s, left-arm seamer Gimhan Mendis took five for 41 in 8.2 overs.
Anvay was out for a 19-ball 14 in the first Youth ODI at the same venue, as the India Under-19s chased down 321 against the hosts to register a four-wicket win.
Incidentally, on Sunday, Anvay's elder brother Samit Dravid did well with bat and ball in a Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match on Sunday. Samit took two for 23 & scored 40 not out off 28 **** to fashion Bengaluru Blasters' eight-wicket win over Mysore Warriors.
Anvay recently led Karnataka's Under-19 side to the quarter-finals of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. He scored 220 runs in the tournament - the second-most for his side - averaging 55.00 across six innings. The India Under-19s tour of Sri Lanka includes three one-day matches and two four-day games.
Brief Scores:
India Under-19 285 in 47.2 overs (Anvay Dravid 87, Arjun Rajput 76, Kushagra Ojha 38; Gimhan Mendis 5-41) vs Sri Lanka A.
After electing to bat first, the India Under-19 team had slipped to 81 for four in the 19th over, before Anvay, a 17-year-old talented 'keeper-batter, rescued the visitors with a mammoth 145-run partnership in just 126 **** for the fifth wicket with Rajput. India Under 19s lost both their openers- skipper Yashbardhan Chauhan (6) and Sagar Virk (4) - with the score reading 11 in the fourth over, following which Kushagra Ojha (38, 45b, 6x4) and VK Vineeth (24 off 45 **** ) added 67 for the third wicket to put the innings back on track.
Batting at No 5, Anvay, walking in with India U-19s at 78 for three in the 17th over, gave India Under-19's some much needed impetus, batting at a strike rate of 129.85, and reaching his half-century off 47 **** .
For the Sri Lanka Under-19s, left-arm seamer Gimhan Mendis took five for 41 in 8.2 overs.
Anvay was out for a 19-ball 14 in the first Youth ODI at the same venue, as the India Under-19s chased down 321 against the hosts to register a four-wicket win.
Incidentally, on Sunday, Anvay's elder brother Samit Dravid did well with bat and ball in a Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match on Sunday. Samit took two for 23 & scored 40 not out off 28 **** to fashion Bengaluru Blasters' eight-wicket win over Mysore Warriors.
Anvay recently led Karnataka's Under-19 side to the quarter-finals of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. He scored 220 runs in the tournament - the second-most for his side - averaging 55.00 across six innings. The India Under-19s tour of Sri Lanka includes three one-day matches and two four-day games.
Brief Scores:
India Under-19 285 in 47.2 overs (Anvay Dravid 87, Arjun Rajput 76, Kushagra Ojha 38; Gimhan Mendis 5-41) vs Sri Lanka A.
1 month ago
There was a familiar sight at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Wednesday. As Samit Dravid made his way to the crease for Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026, it took only a few deliveries for social media to draw comparisons with one of Indian cricket's greatest batters.
The trigger movement, upright stance, high left elbow and compact backlift instantly evoked memories of his father, Rahul Dravid. For many fans watching, it was as if "The Wall" had returned to the crease.
Samit arrived under difficult circumstances after the Blasters lost two wickets inside the opening eight deliveries. Rather than panic, the young batter played with composure, scoring 32 from 23 ******* to steady the innings before departing.
His contribution proved crucial as Rohan Patil struck 64 and Praveen Dubey added 51 to guide Bengaluru Blasters to 203/7. Hubli Tigers mounted a spirited chase led by Manvanth ******* ar's explosive 60 but eventually fell short by just two runs.
Although Samit's innings featured six boundaries, it was his technique that became the biggest talking point. His crisp square cuts, fluent cover drives, controlled pull shots and balanced footwork bore an uncanny resemblance to Rahul Dravid's trademark style, prompting fans online to describe him as a "photocopy" of the former India captain.
Given his upbringing, those comparisons are hardly unexpected. Having grown up in Karnataka's cricketing system under the guidance of one of the game's finest technicians, Samit naturally developed many of the batting fundamentals that made his father a legend.
Despite the similarities, however, the youngster is shaping a career with a different skill set.
Where Rahul built his legacy as one of the greatest specialist batters in cricket history, Samit has emerged as a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder. Alongside his middle-order batting, he offers medium pace and has already made a strong impression in age-group cricket.
He played a pivotal role in Karnataka's victorious 2023-24 Cooch Behar Trophy campaign, accumulating 362 runs while also claiming 16 wickets. One of the standout performances of that tournament came in the form of a crucial 98 against Jammu and Kashmir.
Those performances earned him selection for India's Under-19 squad for the home series against Australia in 2024. However, a knee injury cut short that opportunity. Since recovering, Samit has resumed his progress and continues to strengthen his credentials through consistent domestic performances with both bat and ball.
The Dravid family's next generation does not end there.
Rahul Dravid's younger son, Anvay Dravid, is also beginning to establish himself on the national stage. Unlike Samit, Anvay is a wicketkeeper-batter, following a role similar to the one his father performed during much of his international career.
The 17-year-old was recently named in India's Under-19 squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on July 14.
The trigger movement, upright stance, high left elbow and compact backlift instantly evoked memories of his father, Rahul Dravid. For many fans watching, it was as if "The Wall" had returned to the crease.
Samit arrived under difficult circumstances after the Blasters lost two wickets inside the opening eight deliveries. Rather than panic, the young batter played with composure, scoring 32 from 23 ******* to steady the innings before departing.
His contribution proved crucial as Rohan Patil struck 64 and Praveen Dubey added 51 to guide Bengaluru Blasters to 203/7. Hubli Tigers mounted a spirited chase led by Manvanth ******* ar's explosive 60 but eventually fell short by just two runs.
Although Samit's innings featured six boundaries, it was his technique that became the biggest talking point. His crisp square cuts, fluent cover drives, controlled pull shots and balanced footwork bore an uncanny resemblance to Rahul Dravid's trademark style, prompting fans online to describe him as a "photocopy" of the former India captain.
Given his upbringing, those comparisons are hardly unexpected. Having grown up in Karnataka's cricketing system under the guidance of one of the game's finest technicians, Samit naturally developed many of the batting fundamentals that made his father a legend.
Despite the similarities, however, the youngster is shaping a career with a different skill set.
Where Rahul built his legacy as one of the greatest specialist batters in cricket history, Samit has emerged as a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder. Alongside his middle-order batting, he offers medium pace and has already made a strong impression in age-group cricket.
He played a pivotal role in Karnataka's victorious 2023-24 Cooch Behar Trophy campaign, accumulating 362 runs while also claiming 16 wickets. One of the standout performances of that tournament came in the form of a crucial 98 against Jammu and Kashmir.
Those performances earned him selection for India's Under-19 squad for the home series against Australia in 2024. However, a knee injury cut short that opportunity. Since recovering, Samit has resumed his progress and continues to strengthen his credentials through consistent domestic performances with both bat and ball.
The Dravid family's next generation does not end there.
Rahul Dravid's younger son, Anvay Dravid, is also beginning to establish himself on the national stage. Unlike Samit, Anvay is a wicketkeeper-batter, following a role similar to the one his father performed during much of his international career.
The 17-year-old was recently named in India's Under-19 squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, which begins on July 14.
2 months ago
New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players since the all-rounder decided to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) after the five-time champions' disastrous campaign in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified, and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have remained spectators.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain, and RR, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the strong interest in their captain.
The communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything yet, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Do KKR have a tangible **** et to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like the one in KL Rahul's case last year?
CSK have remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya's movement has grown stronger. The five-time champions are timing their entry exactly the way they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the trade's direction.
The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see whether Pandya is keen to move to a franchise without the captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but the initial discussions did not materialise into anything meaningful. A fresh round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if conversations continue to gather pace in the South.
Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learnt that MI will have to finalise the all-rounder's move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and the interested franchises are likely to factor that into their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise's approach to the two possible transactions.
132107803
If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade
The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified, and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have remained spectators.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain, and RR, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the strong interest in their captain.
The communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything yet, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Do KKR have a tangible **** et to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like the one in KL Rahul's case last year?
CSK have remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya's movement has grown stronger. The five-time champions are timing their entry exactly the way they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the trade's direction.
The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see whether Pandya is keen to move to a franchise without the captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but the initial discussions did not materialise into anything meaningful. A fresh round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if conversations continue to gather pace in the South.
Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learnt that MI will have to finalise the all-rounder's move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and the interested franchises are likely to factor that into their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise's approach to the two possible transactions.
132107803
If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade
2 months ago
Ishan Kishan has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence over the past year. His rich vein of form began after leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) ***** le and continued with impressive performances in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the IPL 2026, and the ODI series against Afghanistan, earning him another call-up to India's squad.
The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter marked his return to ODI cricket in style, scoring 34 in the first ODI at Dharamshala before smashing a brilliant 125 in Lucknow. With Virat Kohli sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Kishan, ODI captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer each occupied the No. 3 position during the series.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Kishan's long-term future lies at No. 4, especially after Kohli returns to the playing XI.
"When it comes to Ishan Kishan, it is great that he is part of the ODI setup. Being a left-hander, he'll add a lot of value. I see him eventually batting at No. 4. That is the ideal position for him. He plays spin exceptionally well and is equally comfortable against pace," Rayudu said while responding to a question from IANS during a virtual media interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network.
"He and Shreyas Iyer can form a formidable No. 4 and No. 5 combination for India going forward," he added.
With Virat Kohli unavailable due to injury, India fielded the following XI:
Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav
India will next travel to England for a white-ball series scheduled from July 1 to July 19, 2026. The tour comprises five T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals, where Kishan will look to cement his place in India's ODI middle order.
Match
Date
The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter marked his return to ODI cricket in style, scoring 34 in the first ODI at Dharamshala before smashing a brilliant 125 in Lucknow. With Virat Kohli sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Kishan, ODI captain Shubman Gill, and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer each occupied the No. 3 position during the series.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Kishan's long-term future lies at No. 4, especially after Kohli returns to the playing XI.
"When it comes to Ishan Kishan, it is great that he is part of the ODI setup. Being a left-hander, he'll add a lot of value. I see him eventually batting at No. 4. That is the ideal position for him. He plays spin exceptionally well and is equally comfortable against pace," Rayudu said while responding to a question from IANS during a virtual media interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network.
"He and Shreyas Iyer can form a formidable No. 4 and No. 5 combination for India going forward," he added.
With Virat Kohli unavailable due to injury, India fielded the following XI:
Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav
India will next travel to England for a white-ball series scheduled from July 1 to July 19, 2026. The tour comprises five T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals, where Kishan will look to cement his place in India's ODI middle order.
Match
Date
