26 mins. ago
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for India's two-match Test series against the hosts on their tour of Sri Lanka in August.
With Jasprit ******* rah ruled out and Auqib Nabi set to earn his maiden senior national team call-up, and the Test squad captained by captain Shubman Gill, India return to action on August 15 as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at Galle.
The squad includes experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj, and the pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi, has been selected on the basis of his impressive domestic performances.
Although ******* rah was initially in the squad, he is not available because he continues to recover from his left knee injury sustained in the ODI series against England. Participation of Sai Sudharsan is subject to clearance from the medical team of BCCI.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#squad #test
With Jasprit ******* rah ruled out and Auqib Nabi set to earn his maiden senior national team call-up, and the Test squad captained by captain Shubman Gill, India return to action on August 15 as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at Galle.
The squad includes experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj, and the pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi, has been selected on the basis of his impressive domestic performances.
Although ******* rah was initially in the squad, he is not available because he continues to recover from his left knee injury sustained in the ODI series against England. Participation of Sai Sudharsan is subject to clearance from the medical team of BCCI.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#squad #test
1 hr. ago
Mohammed Siraj finishes off in style: Pacer hits 16 runs in final over as India beat Sri Lanka Cricket XI originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mohammed Siraj smashed three sixes in the final over to finish India's warm-up chase in style.
India beat the Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in the Colombo practice match.
Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 was the standout batting performance of the game.
Mohammed Siraj is renowned for his new-ball spells, but it was his batting that provided the flourish as India wrapped up their warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. The pacer walked in late and smashed three consecutive sixes to seal the chase emphatically.
#Cricket #siraj #lanka #pacer
Mohammed Siraj smashed three sixes in the final over to finish India's warm-up chase in style.
India beat the Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in the Colombo practice match.
Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 was the standout batting performance of the game.
Mohammed Siraj is renowned for his new-ball spells, but it was his batting that provided the flourish as India wrapped up their warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. The pacer walked in late and smashed three consecutive sixes to seal the chase emphatically.
#Cricket #siraj #lanka #pacer
3 days ago
NEW DELHI: Flustered by the frequent injury breakdowns of players in the Indian team, the medical team at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is looking to resurrect its fitness programme. TOI understands that the CoE is finally working on standardising base fitness parameters after it emerged that the non-definitive customised fitness tests for players were identified as a core reason for the drop in the overall fitness standards.
The Indian team went through a change in fitness testing drills after Adrian Leroux replaced Soham Desai as the strength and conditioning coach last year. It is learnt that the BCCI medical team, which includes the CoE and the Indian team, has struggled to work in sync to ***** s the fitness of players. Since Leroux took over, it was decided that the Bronco test would be the primary test to judge fitness instead of the Yo-Yo test.
The Bronco test, which is a more agility driven test, didn't have a base parameter till now. TOI has learnt that the BCCI medical team has rolled out a figure of 5.15-5.20 minutes as a base figure to complete the ***** orted drills to be declared fit enough to be selected after the debacle in white-ball tour of Ireland and England. Earlier, the BCCI had set 16.5 as a marker to clear the basic Yo-Yo test. The CoE has also set 9-10 minute mark to complete the 2 km running test which is known as the 2K test.
"The Indian players are not used to the Bronco test. Over the last year, the CoE had set different base parameters for players. It has now emerged that certain senior players were given much comfortable targets to meet to clear fitness tests. The CoE staff had also cleared players like Harshit Rana and Nitish ***** ar Reddy to make sure it was delivering players according to team management's needs," a BCCI source told TOI.
TOI has learnt that the team management and BCCI, led by secretary Devajit Saikia, has questioned Team India physio Kamlesh Jain for the repeated breakdowns and overall dip in the fitness standards. The team management is also not happy with players cramping so frequently even in the favourable English weather.
"Kamlesh has been told that he shouldn't worry about any player's stature and flag anything that he doesn't find satisfactory. It has been seen that the mobility of some of the players in the field has been questionable. Senior batters are struggling to push their running between the wickets as they bat longer. The number of slow fielders has increased," the source said.
It has been observed that regular India players have not been prepared for the new fitness drills. For instance, someone like Mohammed Siraj was recently caught off guard by the sudden fitness tests at CoE before leaving for Sri Lanka.
"It is only now that contracted players have been handed the base parameters of the new tests. The Test regulars were caught off guard by the programme given to them at CoE. The players who are not part of the Test team are now starting t
The Indian team went through a change in fitness testing drills after Adrian Leroux replaced Soham Desai as the strength and conditioning coach last year. It is learnt that the BCCI medical team, which includes the CoE and the Indian team, has struggled to work in sync to ***** s the fitness of players. Since Leroux took over, it was decided that the Bronco test would be the primary test to judge fitness instead of the Yo-Yo test.
The Bronco test, which is a more agility driven test, didn't have a base parameter till now. TOI has learnt that the BCCI medical team has rolled out a figure of 5.15-5.20 minutes as a base figure to complete the ***** orted drills to be declared fit enough to be selected after the debacle in white-ball tour of Ireland and England. Earlier, the BCCI had set 16.5 as a marker to clear the basic Yo-Yo test. The CoE has also set 9-10 minute mark to complete the 2 km running test which is known as the 2K test.
"The Indian players are not used to the Bronco test. Over the last year, the CoE had set different base parameters for players. It has now emerged that certain senior players were given much comfortable targets to meet to clear fitness tests. The CoE staff had also cleared players like Harshit Rana and Nitish ***** ar Reddy to make sure it was delivering players according to team management's needs," a BCCI source told TOI.
TOI has learnt that the team management and BCCI, led by secretary Devajit Saikia, has questioned Team India physio Kamlesh Jain for the repeated breakdowns and overall dip in the fitness standards. The team management is also not happy with players cramping so frequently even in the favourable English weather.
"Kamlesh has been told that he shouldn't worry about any player's stature and flag anything that he doesn't find satisfactory. It has been seen that the mobility of some of the players in the field has been questionable. Senior batters are struggling to push their running between the wickets as they bat longer. The number of slow fielders has increased," the source said.
It has been observed that regular India players have not been prepared for the new fitness drills. For instance, someone like Mohammed Siraj was recently caught off guard by the sudden fitness tests at CoE before leaving for Sri Lanka.
"It is only now that contracted players have been handed the base parameters of the new tests. The Test regulars were caught off guard by the programme given to them at CoE. The players who are not part of the Test team are now starting t
6 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
6 days ago
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for India's two-match Test series against the hosts on their tour of Sri Lanka in August.
With Jasprit ******* rah ruled out and Auqib Nabi set to earn his maiden senior national team call-up, and the Test squad captained by captain Shubman Gill, India return to action on August 15 as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at Galle.
The squad includes experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj, and the pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi, has been selected on the basis of his impressive domestic performances.
Although ******* rah was initially in the squad, he is not available because he continues to recover from his left knee injury sustained in the ODI series against England. Participation of Sai Sudharsan is subject to clearance from the medical team of BCCI.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#series
With Jasprit ******* rah ruled out and Auqib Nabi set to earn his maiden senior national team call-up, and the Test squad captained by captain Shubman Gill, India return to action on August 15 as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series at Galle.
The squad includes experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj, and the pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi, has been selected on the basis of his impressive domestic performances.
Although ******* rah was initially in the squad, he is not available because he continues to recover from his left knee injury sustained in the ODI series against England. Participation of Sai Sudharsan is subject to clearance from the medical team of BCCI.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
#series
12 days ago
Chennai: As India look to usher in a new generation of fast bowlers, Australian great Glenn McGrath believes Prasidh Krishna has all the ingredients to become Jasprit ****** rah's long-term pace partner.
The legendary fast bowler, who is the director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, has closely followed Prasidh's rise and feels the tall Karnataka seamer has transformed his potential into performances.
"I'm a big fan of Prasidh," McGrath said. "If he gets his length right, he's got everything going for him."
"He has really matured. He's tall, bowls in good areas, generates bounce and has genuine pace. Occasionally he's a little short, but apart from that, I think he's the whole package. He's really developed and put his potential into performance," he said.
India have handed opportunities to several young quicks during the recent tours of the UK and Zimbabwe as they prepare for a demanding cycle of white-ball cricket, with the ODI and T20 World Cups to be played in South Africa and Australia-New Zealand respectively. It means India will need a strong pace attack firing on all cylinders, and McGrath believes the transition phase they are going through will not be easy.
"You've got ****** rah, who's a class bowler, and Mohammed Shami, who's world-class as well. Mohammed Siraj has been around for a long time too. You can't just expect to pick up straight where you left off. It's always going to be a transitional period," he said, referring to the Australian team, which will also go through a similar phase.
"Other than Pat ****** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, hardly anybody gets a chance... So it's not going to be easy for Australia either."
McGrath also pointed out that ****** rah's unconventional action demands careful workload management.
"The way he powers through those last few steps probably puts more stress on his body than most bowlers. It'll be interesting to see how he manages himself," McGrath said.
While India appear keen to fast-track younger bowlers, McGrath insisted experienced pacers still have an important role to play.
"It's always good to have experience there. Young bowlers learn by playing alongside senior guys. I was fortunate to watch Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. That's where you really learn. I'd always pick an experienced team over a potential team," he said.
On whether veterans such as Shami or Bhuvneshwar ****** ar could still mount a comeback, McGrath said the decision rested on their bodies, motivation and the selectors.
"If they're prepared to put the work in and their body allows it, then why not? As fast bowlers get older, the work only gets tougher. Ultimately, it's up to them and the selectors."
McGrath also called for a rethink in the way fast bowlers are rehabilitated after injuries, arguing that modern systems often "wrap bowlers in cotton wool" instead of making them physically stronger.
132677427
"The best way is to get stronger. Even when you're in
The legendary fast bowler, who is the director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, has closely followed Prasidh's rise and feels the tall Karnataka seamer has transformed his potential into performances.
"I'm a big fan of Prasidh," McGrath said. "If he gets his length right, he's got everything going for him."
"He has really matured. He's tall, bowls in good areas, generates bounce and has genuine pace. Occasionally he's a little short, but apart from that, I think he's the whole package. He's really developed and put his potential into performance," he said.
India have handed opportunities to several young quicks during the recent tours of the UK and Zimbabwe as they prepare for a demanding cycle of white-ball cricket, with the ODI and T20 World Cups to be played in South Africa and Australia-New Zealand respectively. It means India will need a strong pace attack firing on all cylinders, and McGrath believes the transition phase they are going through will not be easy.
"You've got ****** rah, who's a class bowler, and Mohammed Shami, who's world-class as well. Mohammed Siraj has been around for a long time too. You can't just expect to pick up straight where you left off. It's always going to be a transitional period," he said, referring to the Australian team, which will also go through a similar phase.
"Other than Pat ****** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, hardly anybody gets a chance... So it's not going to be easy for Australia either."
McGrath also pointed out that ****** rah's unconventional action demands careful workload management.
"The way he powers through those last few steps probably puts more stress on his body than most bowlers. It'll be interesting to see how he manages himself," McGrath said.
While India appear keen to fast-track younger bowlers, McGrath insisted experienced pacers still have an important role to play.
"It's always good to have experience there. Young bowlers learn by playing alongside senior guys. I was fortunate to watch Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes. That's where you really learn. I'd always pick an experienced team over a potential team," he said.
On whether veterans such as Shami or Bhuvneshwar ****** ar could still mount a comeback, McGrath said the decision rested on their bodies, motivation and the selectors.
"If they're prepared to put the work in and their body allows it, then why not? As fast bowlers get older, the work only gets tougher. Ultimately, it's up to them and the selectors."
McGrath also called for a rethink in the way fast bowlers are rehabilitated after injuries, arguing that modern systems often "wrap bowlers in cotton wool" instead of making them physically stronger.
132677427
"The best way is to get stronger. Even when you're in
17 days ago
TimesofIndia.com in London: The summer of cricket continues unabated in England. The men played three Tests against New Zealand and five T20Is and three ODIs against India. As for the women, there was the T20 World Cup and the one-off Test between India and England. And now, it is the turn of The Hundred, which began on July 21.
The Hundred, the unique tournament featuring 100-ball innings, is back with its sixth edition. Much has changed, and yet not a lot has changed. It still has eight teams, still features 100-ball innings where bowlers can bowl spells of five or 10 consecutive ****** , and is still objectively meant to quicken the game and feature double headers - men and women - on the same day.
On the opening day, defending men's champions MI London beat Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval. In the day's first game, Sunrisers edged MI London by 7 wickets in the women's competition. A day later, in Southampton, Southern Brave women narrowly got the better of Welsh Fire. And the men's match later in the day had the reverse outcome.
What's changed is the ownership, the team names, and the kit designs. After an influx of £520 million into The Hundred, the Ambani family acquired Oval Invincibles (now renamed MI London), Sun Group purchased Northern Superchargers (now SunRisers Leeds), and RPSG Group bought Manchester Originals (now Manchester Super Giants). GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals, have taken a 49% stake in Southern Brave.
On the opening day of the season at The Oval, the mood was as relaxed as one would expect at this time of year. The sun was out, and it was a pleasant day, away from the baking heat that this country had seen in the last couple of months. Even though it was a weekday, families were out in numbers, making the most of numerous entry points that get you into this cricket stadium in Kennington.
A venue that has seen three consecutive Test defeats for the hosts. It was here just a month ago that New Zealand walloped England by 253 runs. And it was here just about a year ago that Mohammed Siraj bowled with great fire to help India secure a series-levelling win by just 6 runs.
But now, on a Tuesday, The Hundred got underway, and the buzz was equal parts cricket, family and entertainment. A father, holding the hands of two of his kids, walked around and sought the support of a steward in finding the “family section.” Unlike international cricket, where tickets get sold for £100 or more, The Hundred hopes to bring in the masses with reasonable pricing.
With kids two and under going free, tickets for 3-15-year-olds are worth £5, and tickets for adults start from as little as £14. So, an entire young family could see two consecutive cricket matches, spanning about five hours or over, for £30-40.
To unwind after a long day at work, numerous food carts, kiosks and drinks stalls came to the rescue. From Middle Eastern to fast food to Indian, everything was on offer to suit the palates of the patrons. To
The Hundred, the unique tournament featuring 100-ball innings, is back with its sixth edition. Much has changed, and yet not a lot has changed. It still has eight teams, still features 100-ball innings where bowlers can bowl spells of five or 10 consecutive ****** , and is still objectively meant to quicken the game and feature double headers - men and women - on the same day.
On the opening day, defending men's champions MI London beat Sunrisers Leeds at The Oval. In the day's first game, Sunrisers edged MI London by 7 wickets in the women's competition. A day later, in Southampton, Southern Brave women narrowly got the better of Welsh Fire. And the men's match later in the day had the reverse outcome.
What's changed is the ownership, the team names, and the kit designs. After an influx of £520 million into The Hundred, the Ambani family acquired Oval Invincibles (now renamed MI London), Sun Group purchased Northern Superchargers (now SunRisers Leeds), and RPSG Group bought Manchester Originals (now Manchester Super Giants). GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals, have taken a 49% stake in Southern Brave.
On the opening day of the season at The Oval, the mood was as relaxed as one would expect at this time of year. The sun was out, and it was a pleasant day, away from the baking heat that this country had seen in the last couple of months. Even though it was a weekday, families were out in numbers, making the most of numerous entry points that get you into this cricket stadium in Kennington.
A venue that has seen three consecutive Test defeats for the hosts. It was here just a month ago that New Zealand walloped England by 253 runs. And it was here just about a year ago that Mohammed Siraj bowled with great fire to help India secure a series-levelling win by just 6 runs.
But now, on a Tuesday, The Hundred got underway, and the buzz was equal parts cricket, family and entertainment. A father, holding the hands of two of his kids, walked around and sought the support of a steward in finding the “family section.” Unlike international cricket, where tickets get sold for £100 or more, The Hundred hopes to bring in the masses with reasonable pricing.
With kids two and under going free, tickets for 3-15-year-olds are worth £5, and tickets for adults start from as little as £14. So, an entire young family could see two consecutive cricket matches, spanning about five hours or over, for £30-40.
To unwind after a long day at work, numerous food carts, kiosks and drinks stalls came to the rescue. From Middle Eastern to fast food to Indian, everything was on offer to suit the palates of the patrons. To
2 months ago
Ahead of the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, India ******* istant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said Nitish ******* ar Reddy is emerging as the "natural successor" to Hardik Pandya as the team continues to build its all-rounder options for the future.
India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. In recent years, the team has added several all-rounders to its pool, with Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey providing spin-bowling all-round options.
Among the pace-bowling all-rounders, Nitish has made a strong case for himself and is being seen as a long-term option behind Hardik.
Speaking about the team's all-rounder depth, ten Doeschate said most of the available options are still bowling all-rounders.
"And when Hardik plays, he obviously brings a different element because he is such a strong batter, such a strong finisher. A sort of role scarcity is difficult to find a finisher who gives you overs as well," he said.
"So those guys are all tracking really nicely. Like I said with Nitish, for the last 18 months, he's shown glimpses of how important he can be to this team, particularly in this format. And I feel his body's getting stronger and stronger, and I sort of feel he is the natural successor or backup to Hardik," he added.
The ******* istant coach also said it was encouraging to see several all-rounders contributing with both bat and ball, especially with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
"Even someone like Gurnoor (Brar) and Harsh (Dubey), they are all bowling all-rounders. But the fact that we feel we've got guys who can hold the bat at number nine, obviously looking forward for the next 14, 15 months, that is going to be very important. Especially in South Africa, when you want to play three proper out-and-out seamers, those guys are going to need to bat. A lot of good signs on the all-rounder front and also on the fast-bowling front," he said.
Ten Doeschate also expressed satisfaction with the emerging pace-bowling group that is developing behind senior bowlers Jasprit ******* rah and Mohammed Siraj, both of whom are missing this series.
"It's fantastic. Like I say, one of the big things when this coaching staff started was always going to be the transition of the bowlers, particularly with guys like Shami not playing anymore. This week or a couple of weeks ago when we got together in Chandigarh to see those three young guys coming in fold, it was literally like a Wow moment.
"The way Gurnoor (Brar) has bowled in his first two games, to see a young Indian pacer hit 147, 148, it's like, I'm sure you guys are all excited as we are. Obviously the T20 was a big lead up for the next 15 months and to balance the experience that this team has,” he said.
With the 2027 World Cup cycle underway, India's management appears focused on building depth in both the all-rounder and fast-bowling departments, and Nitish is among the players being clo
India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. In recent years, the team has added several all-rounders to its pool, with Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey providing spin-bowling all-round options.
Among the pace-bowling all-rounders, Nitish has made a strong case for himself and is being seen as a long-term option behind Hardik.
Speaking about the team's all-rounder depth, ten Doeschate said most of the available options are still bowling all-rounders.
"And when Hardik plays, he obviously brings a different element because he is such a strong batter, such a strong finisher. A sort of role scarcity is difficult to find a finisher who gives you overs as well," he said.
"So those guys are all tracking really nicely. Like I said with Nitish, for the last 18 months, he's shown glimpses of how important he can be to this team, particularly in this format. And I feel his body's getting stronger and stronger, and I sort of feel he is the natural successor or backup to Hardik," he added.
The ******* istant coach also said it was encouraging to see several all-rounders contributing with both bat and ball, especially with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
"Even someone like Gurnoor (Brar) and Harsh (Dubey), they are all bowling all-rounders. But the fact that we feel we've got guys who can hold the bat at number nine, obviously looking forward for the next 14, 15 months, that is going to be very important. Especially in South Africa, when you want to play three proper out-and-out seamers, those guys are going to need to bat. A lot of good signs on the all-rounder front and also on the fast-bowling front," he said.
Ten Doeschate also expressed satisfaction with the emerging pace-bowling group that is developing behind senior bowlers Jasprit ******* rah and Mohammed Siraj, both of whom are missing this series.
"It's fantastic. Like I say, one of the big things when this coaching staff started was always going to be the transition of the bowlers, particularly with guys like Shami not playing anymore. This week or a couple of weeks ago when we got together in Chandigarh to see those three young guys coming in fold, it was literally like a Wow moment.
"The way Gurnoor (Brar) has bowled in his first two games, to see a young Indian pacer hit 147, 148, it's like, I'm sure you guys are all excited as we are. Obviously the T20 was a big lead up for the next 15 months and to balance the experience that this team has,” he said.
With the 2027 World Cup cycle underway, India's management appears focused on building depth in both the all-rounder and fast-bowling departments, and Nitish is among the players being clo
2 months ago
NEW DELHI: A heartwarming moment involving India captain Shubman Gill has gone viral following India's dominant victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur.
In a video that has been widely shared on social media, a young ball boy stationed near the boundary ropes was seen touching Gill's feet as the India skipper walked back to the pavilion after scoring a superb century.
Gill, who led from the front with a brilliant 126, acknowledged the youngster's gesture before continuing towards the dressing room. The touching interaction quickly became one of the standout moments of the match.
Manav Suthar steals the show on debut
While Gill's century and the viral video grabbed attention, the match ultimately belonged to debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who enjoyed a dream start to his Test career.
— rushiii_12 (rushiii_12)
The Rajasthan spinner claimed seven wickets in the match, including a sensational 6/33 in Afghanistan's first innings, as India completed their biggest-ever victory in Test cricket by an innings and 300 runs.
After electing to bat, India posted a massive 564/8 declared. Alongside Gill's 126, KL Rahul scored 100, while Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant contributed 81 each. Washington Sundar added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 52.
Afghanistan unable to recover
Afghanistan resumed Day 3 on 113/5 and were eventually bowled out for 152 despite a fighting 60 from Rahmat Shah. Suthar ripped through the lower order to register the second-best bowling figures by an Indian on Test debut.
Asked to follow on, Afghanistan showed some resistance through Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal, who added 42 runs for the opening wicket. Atal looked comfortable during his knock of 42, but India's bowlers gradually tightened their grip on the contest.
Mohammed Siraj provided the breakthrough before Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav joined the wicket-taking spree. Afghanistan slipped from 74/1 to 98/5 as Sundar removed Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Atal.
India complete historic win
The visitors never recovered from the collapse. Suthar added another wicket, Sundar finished with four wickets in the innings, and Kuldeep cleaned up the tail as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112.
131624804
The emphatic victory gave India their largest-ever win in Test cricket in terms of innings and runs.
While the hosts dominated with both bat and ball, it was a simple gesture from a young ball boy towards Gill that captured fans' imagination and became one of the most talked-about moments from an unforgettable Test match.
In a video that has been widely shared on social media, a young ball boy stationed near the boundary ropes was seen touching Gill's feet as the India skipper walked back to the pavilion after scoring a superb century.
Gill, who led from the front with a brilliant 126, acknowledged the youngster's gesture before continuing towards the dressing room. The touching interaction quickly became one of the standout moments of the match.
Manav Suthar steals the show on debut
While Gill's century and the viral video grabbed attention, the match ultimately belonged to debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who enjoyed a dream start to his Test career.
— rushiii_12 (rushiii_12)
The Rajasthan spinner claimed seven wickets in the match, including a sensational 6/33 in Afghanistan's first innings, as India completed their biggest-ever victory in Test cricket by an innings and 300 runs.
After electing to bat, India posted a massive 564/8 declared. Alongside Gill's 126, KL Rahul scored 100, while Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant contributed 81 each. Washington Sundar added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 52.
Afghanistan unable to recover
Afghanistan resumed Day 3 on 113/5 and were eventually bowled out for 152 despite a fighting 60 from Rahmat Shah. Suthar ripped through the lower order to register the second-best bowling figures by an Indian on Test debut.
Asked to follow on, Afghanistan showed some resistance through Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal, who added 42 runs for the opening wicket. Atal looked comfortable during his knock of 42, but India's bowlers gradually tightened their grip on the contest.
Mohammed Siraj provided the breakthrough before Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav joined the wicket-taking spree. Afghanistan slipped from 74/1 to 98/5 as Sundar removed Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Atal.
India complete historic win
The visitors never recovered from the collapse. Suthar added another wicket, Sundar finished with four wickets in the innings, and Kuldeep cleaned up the tail as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112.
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The emphatic victory gave India their largest-ever win in Test cricket in terms of innings and runs.
While the hosts dominated with both bat and ball, it was a simple gesture from a young ball boy towards Gill that captured fans' imagination and became one of the most talked-about moments from an unforgettable Test match.
2 months ago
MUMBAI: One of Indian cricket’s worst-kept secrets became official on Saturday as BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced Shreyas Iyer as India’s new T20I captain. In a cruel twist of fate, Suryakumar Yadav, who had led India to a third T20 World Cup ***** le just three months ago, now finds himself out of the squad altogether.
It’s the first time a world ***** le-winning skipper has been axed for the team’s next international ***** ignment, though some — like Imran Khan in 1992 and Rohit Sharma, who quit T20Is in 2024 — chose to retire on a high while savouring their triumph.
The Rajasthan Royals opener forced his way into the team after a stunning IPL season in which he smashed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, with a record 72 sixes.
The appointment as captain marks a remarkable comeback for Shreyas, who has not played a T20I since Dec 2023. The 31-year-old will now lead India into a new T20 cycle that includes the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup.
‘Shreyas was standout candidate’
Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel, who served as deputy during India's 2026 World Cup triumph. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Shreyas’s leadership record and consistency made him the standout choice.
“We have seen what he has done over the last few years, leading different franchises. He won the IPL with KKR and then handled a tougher season this year after a great start. His own performances have been really good. He was quite close to making the World Cup squad as well. In my opinion, he is a standout candidate with enough experience now of having led in the T20 format,” Agarkar said.
Agarkar acknowledged that Surya’s form and longterm planning influenced the decision. “With regard to Surya, it’s a tough one, having just won the World Cup. But after every World Cup, you reassess the best way forward. Partly his own form and partly looking at the next two-year cycle, we thought this was the best way forward,” he said. Agarkar was effusive about Sooryavanshi. “We have seen what he can do. Even in the playoffs, he almost singlehandedly carried Rajasthan Royals. For a young kid to perform in such a high-pressure environment and be such a game-changer is commendable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced the injured Virat Kohli in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan.
Delhi pacer Prince Yadav has been retained for the Ireland and England tours after earning an ODI call-up against Afghanistan.
Squads for Ireland and Eng tours: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ***** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
India squad for Asiad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ***** ar Reddy, Axar Patel
It’s the first time a world ***** le-winning skipper has been axed for the team’s next international ***** ignment, though some — like Imran Khan in 1992 and Rohit Sharma, who quit T20Is in 2024 — chose to retire on a high while savouring their triumph.
The Rajasthan Royals opener forced his way into the team after a stunning IPL season in which he smashed 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, with a record 72 sixes.
The appointment as captain marks a remarkable comeback for Shreyas, who has not played a T20I since Dec 2023. The 31-year-old will now lead India into a new T20 cycle that includes the 2028 Olympics and T20 World Cup.
‘Shreyas was standout candidate’
Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel, who served as deputy during India's 2026 World Cup triumph. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Shreyas’s leadership record and consistency made him the standout choice.
“We have seen what he has done over the last few years, leading different franchises. He won the IPL with KKR and then handled a tougher season this year after a great start. His own performances have been really good. He was quite close to making the World Cup squad as well. In my opinion, he is a standout candidate with enough experience now of having led in the T20 format,” Agarkar said.
Agarkar acknowledged that Surya’s form and longterm planning influenced the decision. “With regard to Surya, it’s a tough one, having just won the World Cup. But after every World Cup, you reassess the best way forward. Partly his own form and partly looking at the next two-year cycle, we thought this was the best way forward,” he said. Agarkar was effusive about Sooryavanshi. “We have seen what he can do. Even in the playoffs, he almost singlehandedly carried Rajasthan Royals. For a young kid to perform in such a high-pressure environment and be such a game-changer is commendable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced the injured Virat Kohli in India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan.
Delhi pacer Prince Yadav has been retained for the Ireland and England tours after earning an ODI call-up against Afghanistan.
Squads for Ireland and Eng tours: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ***** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
India squad for Asiad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ***** ar Reddy, Axar Patel
2 months ago
The BCCI has officially announced India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, with several notable changes grabbing attention. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, while 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden senior India call-up. Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain.
However, the biggest talking point from the squad announcement was the absence of two of India's most experienced white-ball stars - Jasprit **** rah and Hardik Pandya.
Jasprit **** rah has been rested for the Ireland and England T20I tour as part of India's workload management plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. While he is not part of the T20I squad, the premier fast bowler has been included in India's squad for the Asian Games, indicating that the management is carefully managing his schedule rather than sidelining him completely.
Unlike **** rah, Hardik Pandya was not considered for selection as he is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the management's primary focus is to have Hardik fully fit and available for the ODI format, particularly with the long-term goal of preparing for the 50-over World Cup.
"He's part of the ODIs. Like Jasprit **** rah, the main objective is to see if he can start playing well and stay healthy for the 50-over World Cup," Agarkar said in Press conference.
India's squad for the Ireland and England T20Is features a blend of established performers and exciting young talent:
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Nitish **** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Bumrah, meanwhile, remains part of India's plans for the Asian Games, where Shreyas Iyer will also lead the side.
India's Asian Games squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish **** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit **** rah.
However, the biggest talking point from the squad announcement was the absence of two of India's most experienced white-ball stars - Jasprit **** rah and Hardik Pandya.
Jasprit **** rah has been rested for the Ireland and England T20I tour as part of India's workload management plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. While he is not part of the T20I squad, the premier fast bowler has been included in India's squad for the Asian Games, indicating that the management is carefully managing his schedule rather than sidelining him completely.
Unlike **** rah, Hardik Pandya was not considered for selection as he is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the management's primary focus is to have Hardik fully fit and available for the ODI format, particularly with the long-term goal of preparing for the 50-over World Cup.
"He's part of the ODIs. Like Jasprit **** rah, the main objective is to see if he can start playing well and stay healthy for the 50-over World Cup," Agarkar said in Press conference.
India's squad for the Ireland and England T20Is features a blend of established performers and exciting young talent:
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Nitish **** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Bumrah, meanwhile, remains part of India's plans for the Asian Games, where Shreyas Iyer will also lead the side.
India's Asian Games squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish **** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit **** rah.
2 months ago
Shreyas Iyer was announced as the new India T20I captain when the men's senior selection committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar picked the squads for the tours of Ireland, England coupled with the Asian Games. Iyer replaces Suryakumar Yadav who failed to find a spot in the squad altogether. Tilak Varma has also been elevated as vice-captain in the T20I setup, which doesn't see many changes from the squad that won the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Jasprit ****** rah wasn't picked for the T20Is against England and Ireland but was included in the Asian Games squad, which will be held in Aichi–Nagoya, ****** an. Mohammed Siraj made way for ****** rah and Prince Yadav in the 15-member squad for the multi-games event.
Both Siraj and Yadav are likely to feature in the ODIs against the West Indies which will overlap with the Asian Games.
In a notable change, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was picked in both squads with selectors expressing a combination of excitement and apprehension to see what he offers on the big stage.
Addressing a query on why Iyer was picked and appointed as captain, Agarkar said, "We have seen what Shreyas Iyer has done in different seasons with different teams. He was close to getting to the World Cup squad as well. He is a standout candidate with enough experience. It's a tough one on SKY [Suryakumar Yadav]. You try and reassess after a World Cup; this was best way forward".
Hardik Pandya, undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI CoE, wasn't considered for the T20I series because the management, similar to their approach with ****** rah, want to preserve the premier all-rounder for the 50-over World Cup.
"He is part of the ODIs. Like Jasprit ****** rah, the main objective is to see if he can start playing well and stay healthy for the 50-over World Cup," explained Agarkar.
India squad for Ireland and England T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish ****** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India squad for Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer (C), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ****** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun C, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit ****** rah
Jasprit ****** rah wasn't picked for the T20Is against England and Ireland but was included in the Asian Games squad, which will be held in Aichi–Nagoya, ****** an. Mohammed Siraj made way for ****** rah and Prince Yadav in the 15-member squad for the multi-games event.
Both Siraj and Yadav are likely to feature in the ODIs against the West Indies which will overlap with the Asian Games.
In a notable change, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was picked in both squads with selectors expressing a combination of excitement and apprehension to see what he offers on the big stage.
Addressing a query on why Iyer was picked and appointed as captain, Agarkar said, "We have seen what Shreyas Iyer has done in different seasons with different teams. He was close to getting to the World Cup squad as well. He is a standout candidate with enough experience. It's a tough one on SKY [Suryakumar Yadav]. You try and reassess after a World Cup; this was best way forward".
Hardik Pandya, undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI CoE, wasn't considered for the T20I series because the management, similar to their approach with ****** rah, want to preserve the premier all-rounder for the 50-over World Cup.
"He is part of the ODIs. Like Jasprit ****** rah, the main objective is to see if he can start playing well and stay healthy for the 50-over World Cup," explained Agarkar.
India squad for Ireland and England T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish ****** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
India squad for Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer (C), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish ****** ar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun C, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jasprit ****** rah
3 months ago
Yesterday IPL match result: Finn Allen blitz, Sunil Narine magic keep KKR playoff hopes alive
KOLKATA: The New Zealand batter’s breezy 93 off just 35 **** helped Kolkata Knight Riders stay alive in this IPL by recording a 29-run victory at the Eden Gardens against Gujarat **** ans here on Saturday. They jumped one spot to seventh with 11 points from 12 games. GT, who suffered their first defeat after five wins, were left waiting for a playoff spot with one match to go. The opener brought back memories of his belligerent knock where he smashed the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in the semis against South Africa off just 33 **** at this same venue in March.
Allen fell short of his second ton of this season, but helped KKR put up 247 for two, their highest total in this IPL, after being asked to bat first on losing the toss against GT. GT’s inform openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill raced to 42 off the first three overs while chasing the target, but their stand ended a little painfully when Sudharsan retired hurt after suffering a blow to the elbow off a delivery from pacer Kartik Tyagi.
Gill played another classic knock, finding boundaries without playing too many risky shots before falling to KKR’s most successful bowler of the evening, Sunil Narine, for 85 that came off 49 **** . Jos **** ler did give his skipper able support, but could not take the side home as GT finished at 218 for four. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, playing his first match for KKR, came in as an impact player, bowled just eight deliveries before walking out sustaining a calf injury.
Earlier, KKR made GT pay for some sloppy fielding after losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14), who became Mohammed Siraj’s 200th T20 victim. Allen, too, could have departed for 14 had Jason Holder managed to hold on to a tough chance at cover. The right-handed batter, however, got an easy life again at 33, when Siraj dropped a sitter at long on off Holder.
However, the 27-year-old was unperturbed and continued to play his shots. Allen greeted Rashid Khan with consecutive sixes and a four to reach his 50 off 21 **** with the help of three fours and four sixes. He added two more sixes off Holder’s next over to help KKR reach 100 in nine overs.
The 95-run second-wicket stand between Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi finally came to an end when Allen played a lofted shot off Sai Kishore to be caught by Rashid at the mid-wicket boundary. The opener hit four boundaries and 10 sixes. Cameron Green too got a life when Arshad dropped him at 33 off Rashid. The Australian also got a 50 off 26 deliveries.
Raghuvanshi was dropped by Washington Sundar on 52 and ended up remaining unbeaten on 82 off 44 **** .
https://sports.yahoo.com/a...
KOLKATA: The New Zealand batter’s breezy 93 off just 35 **** helped Kolkata Knight Riders stay alive in this IPL by recording a 29-run victory at the Eden Gardens against Gujarat **** ans here on Saturday. They jumped one spot to seventh with 11 points from 12 games. GT, who suffered their first defeat after five wins, were left waiting for a playoff spot with one match to go. The opener brought back memories of his belligerent knock where he smashed the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in the semis against South Africa off just 33 **** at this same venue in March.
Allen fell short of his second ton of this season, but helped KKR put up 247 for two, their highest total in this IPL, after being asked to bat first on losing the toss against GT. GT’s inform openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill raced to 42 off the first three overs while chasing the target, but their stand ended a little painfully when Sudharsan retired hurt after suffering a blow to the elbow off a delivery from pacer Kartik Tyagi.
Gill played another classic knock, finding boundaries without playing too many risky shots before falling to KKR’s most successful bowler of the evening, Sunil Narine, for 85 that came off 49 **** . Jos **** ler did give his skipper able support, but could not take the side home as GT finished at 218 for four. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, playing his first match for KKR, came in as an impact player, bowled just eight deliveries before walking out sustaining a calf injury.
Earlier, KKR made GT pay for some sloppy fielding after losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14), who became Mohammed Siraj’s 200th T20 victim. Allen, too, could have departed for 14 had Jason Holder managed to hold on to a tough chance at cover. The right-handed batter, however, got an easy life again at 33, when Siraj dropped a sitter at long on off Holder.
However, the 27-year-old was unperturbed and continued to play his shots. Allen greeted Rashid Khan with consecutive sixes and a four to reach his 50 off 21 **** with the help of three fours and four sixes. He added two more sixes off Holder’s next over to help KKR reach 100 in nine overs.
The 95-run second-wicket stand between Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi finally came to an end when Allen played a lofted shot off Sai Kishore to be caught by Rashid at the mid-wicket boundary. The opener hit four boundaries and 10 sixes. Cameron Green too got a life when Arshad dropped him at 33 off Rashid. The Australian also got a 50 off 26 deliveries.
Raghuvanshi was dropped by Washington Sundar on 52 and ended up remaining unbeaten on 82 off 44 **** .
https://sports.yahoo.com/a...
