Cricket

Smriti Mandhana Begins a New Chapter as India Captain India’s women’s cricket team is preparing for a new leadership era under Smriti Mandhana, who has been appointed captain across all formats. She takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the leadership role on October 6, 2026. Mandhana will lead India in their upcoming home series against Zimbabwe Women. The tour features three T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals. It will also mark the first bilateral international series between the two

Raut enjoyed her greatest success in ODIs, scoring 2,299 runs in 73 matches at an average of 34.83. Her record included three centuries and 15 half-centuries, establishing her as a consistent contributor at the top of the order. She represented India in three Women's ODI World Cups in 2009, 2013 and 2017. The 2017 tournament proved particularly memorable, as she played important innings during India's run to the final. Raut scored a century against Australia during the league stage before producing 86 runs

Chahal Opens Up About a Frightening IPL Experience Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has revisited a frightening incident from the 2013 Indian Premier League season. At the time, he was representing Mumbai Indians and attended a gathering hosted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru. Chahal recalled that an Australian cricketer who was heavily intoxicated approached him during the event. What initially appeared to be a joke soon turned into a deeply frightening experience for the young spinner. He recently shared further details while speaking

India Call Up Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Fifth T20I India have added experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar to their squad for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru. The decision comes ahead of the series decider scheduled for October 17, 2026. His inclusion follows a shoulder injury concern involving left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh during the fourth match in Hyderabad. The move gives India another experienced bowling option for the crucial encounter. Arshdeep Singh's Injury Raises Selection Questions Arshdeep sustained a blow to

Veteran Indian Batter Brings International Career to an End Indian women’s cricket batter Punam Raut has announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket, bringing an end to a career that began in 2009. The 37-year-old confirmed her decision on October 15, 2026, through a social media post. Raut had not represented India since 2021, but her contribution to the national team remains an important part of her cricketing journey. Punam Raut’s Career and International Records Raut represented India in four Test

India’s T20I Game Plan Faces Fresh Questions Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has raised concerns over India’s approach in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies. His comments came after India suffered a 24-run defeat in the fourth match, allowing the visitors to level the five-match series at 2-2. Jaffer believes certain team selection decisions may have affected India’s chances. The discussion has brought Gautam Gambhir’s coaching strategy under fresh scrutiny. Rinku Singh’s Absence Becomes a Talking Point Jaffer expressed disappointment over

Shai Hope’s Century Powers West Indies to a Big Total West Indies delivered a powerful performance to defeat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 International in Hyderabad on October 14. Captain Shai Hope led the batting effort with an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, hitting four boundaries and nine sixes. His aggressive innings helped the visitors post an impressive 247/3 after being asked to bat first. The result brought the five-match series level at 2-2, leaving both teams with everything to

Team India Plans Careful Workload Management for Bumrah India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to feature in the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Although the pacer is reportedly fully fit, the Indian team management wants to prioritise his preparation for the longer Test format. The decision is aimed at gradually increasing his bowling workload before the important red-ball matches. Bumrah is expected to play one India A multi-day fixture before joining the senior team. The plan reflects India’s focus

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad believes mental mistakes have played a major role in his team’s middle-order batting problems following their heavy defeat to Australia in the opening Test. The Proteas suffered a 214-run loss at Kingsmead in Durban, leaving the team with several concerns to address before the second match of the series. Conrad has called for greater concentration and better decision-making from his batters, stressing that technical ability alone is not enough against a strong Australian bowling attack. South Africa

Bengal made a winning start to their 2026–27 Ranji Trophy campaign with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Delhi in their Group C encounter. Mohammed Shami was among the wickets as Bengal’s disciplined bowling attack helped the team secure a comprehensive win in front of the home crowd on Day Four. Bengal claimed a vital victory in the domestic first-class competition, while Gujarat also registered a bonus-point win in their opening match after defeating Odisha by 10 wickets. Mohammed Shami Helps Bengal Secure a

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed reports suggesting that the opening One-Day International (ODI) of India's upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka will be shifted from Delhi to Ahmedabad. BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Monday that the match, scheduled for December 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, will take place in the national capital as planned. BCCI Confirms Delhi as Venue for Series Opener Saikia clarified that reports about a possible change of venue

India and Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudharsan was fit to resume playing after an injury scare on the second day of the Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan in Jaipur on Monday. However, his return to the crease was short-lived, as he was dismissed for three runs. Sudharsan Returns to the Field After Lunch Sudharsan took throwdowns during the lunch break before opening the batting for Tamil Nadu alongside N. Jagadeesan. His return came after he had left the field earlier in the day

India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I in Indore, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma's explosive 69 off 30 balls set up India's total of 223, while Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul and disciplined spin bowling helped restrict the visitors to 209 for seven. Naman Dhir also played a crucial role, dismissing Kamil Pooran after the West Indies batter had hit him for three sixes in the same over. Naman Dhir's 'Six and Out' Moment

India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma's explosive 69 and Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul helped India secure the victory despite a late batting collapse. India posted 223 all out before restricting the West Indies to 209 for seven. Abhishek Sharma Powers India's Batting Abhishek Sharma led India's innings with a brilliant 69 off just 30 balls, hitting six sixes and five fours. His aggressive approach helped

Australia could face a race against time to turn their strong position into victory in the opening Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban, with fading light continuing to disrupt play. Cloud cover and haze have forced the players to leave the field early on each day, resulting in around 45 overs being lost so far. If the conditions persist, the teams could have significantly fewer overs than scheduled to produce a result. Australia Hold 139-Run Lead at the End of Day

The fifth edition of the ILT20 will get under way on November 21 with the defending champions Desert Vipers taking on former winners MI Emirates, the organisers announced on Wednesday. The opening match will kick off at 6:30 pm at the Dubai International Stadium. In the second match of the season, Sharjah Warriorz will take on Season 1 winners Gulf Giants at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on November 22, Sunday. The second game of Super Sunday will see Dubai Capitals face Abu Dhabi Knight

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Smriti Mandhana as the new captain of the Indian women's cricket team after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role on Tuesday. Mandhana, 30, takes over the leadership after Kaur's successful tenure, which included India's historic women's ODI World Cup triumph last year. Mandhana Takes Charge as India Captain Mandhana has been one of India's most important batters in recent years and played a key role in the team's Asian Games gold

International Test cricket is coming to Abu Dhabi as Afghanistan take on Bangladesh in a One-Off Test Match at Zayed Cricket Stadium from 9 to 13 October 2026. For cricket fans in the UAE, this is a chance to watch Afghanistan and Bangladesh compete in the traditional red-ball format from the stands. With the match scheduled across five days, the contest can develop session by session, with batting, bowling, fielding, and strategy all playing an important role. If you are planning to attend,

Pakistan have appointed Sahibzada Farhan as their new Twenty20 international captain, replacing Salman Agha ahead of the home T20I series against Sri Lanka. Farhan, who became Pakistan's fourth T20I captain in two and a half years, will lead the side in the three-match series in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13. No official reason was given for Agha's removal from the leadership role. Farhan Recently Led Pakistan at Asian Games Farhan previously captained a second-string Pakistan side at the Asian Games in

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all formats. Her decision comes shortly after she guided India to the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, adding another major achievement to her captaincy career. One of her biggest accomplishments came in 2025, when she led India to their maiden ODI World Cup title. ‘The Decision Was Not Easy’ Harmanpreet described the decision to leave the captaincy as a difficult one, reflecting on years of memories,