Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 93 off 38 balls with seven fours and 10 sixes while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls. Lucknow had posted 220 for five with Mitchell Marsh making 96 off 57 balls and Josh Inglis scoring 60 off 29 balls.

Riyan Parag brushed off the online criticism after the win, standing by the team's decision to back young players like Sooryavanshi. Irfan Pathan noted that the teenager is closing in on Chris Gayle's record of 59 sixes in a season — and doing it with composure against fast bowling. Justin Langer called Sooryavanshi's performances breathtaking and tipped him for a big future.

The victory pushes Rajasthan into stronger playoff contention. Five teams are still chasing the final spot, and Rajasthan had lost their previous match to Delhi Capitals by five wickets.

The BCCI has announced the 2026-27 domestic season schedule, with the Ranji Trophy beginning on October 11. The season will feature extensive men's and women's matches across formats and run through the full domestic cycle ending in March 2027.

BCCI officials confirmed the dates on Thursday. They said the programme supports preparation for the international calendar ahead, and officials expect the calendar to accommodate all state teams without major clashes. The full fixtures will be released in the coming weeks.

South African all-rounder Donovan Ferreira suffered an injury serious enough to end his professional cricket hopes. He took up a sales role while trying to rebuild fitness and skills outside the official system. Then a coaching intervention at franchise level opened doors that national selectors had shut.

The revival shows what IPL franchises can do when they look beyond conventional pipelines. Ferreira wasn't on any national board's radar — he was working sales, rebuilding from scratch. But a team spotted him, backed him, and he's now playing international cricket. Similar rescues may appear in future seasons if more franchises scan outside established lists.

Gujarat Titans are ditching spin-friendly pitches at home after five consecutive defeats this season. Shubman Gill's thinking is straightforward: the current surfaces have done more damage than good to their batting lineup, and they want wickets that let bat and ball compete on more even terms.

Recent losses where spin choked their scoring have forced the hand. The team's leaning on domestic results and net sessions to reshape their pitch prep, banking on flatter surfaces bringing higher totals and fewer surprises off the bounce.

Rajasthan Royals beat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 93 off 38 balls with 10 sixes and seven fours. Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls to finish the chase in 19.1 overs. Lucknow Super Giants scored 220 for five with Mitchell Marsh making 96 off 57 balls.

Shubman Gill's India team is moving away from spin-friendly pitches at home after five straight defeats. The shift tilts the surface toward their batting order — and away from the spinners they've leaned on for years. It's also a signal about who they're backing for the fast-bowling future. Gurnoor Brar, a young quick, caught Gill's eye in nets and impressed Shikhar Dhawan with his pace. The dual moves suggest India wants surfaces that reward what they've got now, not what they hope to grow into.

India must decide whether to retain Kuldeep Yadav or hand a debut to off-spinner Saransh Jain for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Kuldeep took one wicket in 25 overs across both innings during the Galle victory.

Sri Lanka may include more left-handers in their batting line-up, which could influence the selection. Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed Kuldeep remains part of the team's plans despite limited opportunities.

Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja shared 14 wickets between them in the first Test while Kuldeep struggled for impact on a pitch that offered turn.

The BCCI released its central contracts for 2026-27 on Tuesday. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stay in Grade A. Several players moved up a grade after steady runs in the recent international season.

Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa are out for the season. De Kock's left wrist took a tendon injury, Bawa's right thumb a ligament tear — both confirmed on the eve of Mumbai's match against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Mumbai posted 147 for 8 at Eden Gardens, and KKR reached 114 for 3 in 13.3 overs chasing a revised target. The match remained live.

Hardik Pandya stays captain. Jasprit Bumrah's fit despite a minor knee issue.

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets at MA Chidambaram Stadium. They reached 181 for five in 19 overs after CSK posted 180 for seven.

Ishan Kishan made 70 off 47 balls, seven fours and three sixes. Heinrich Klaasen hit 47 off 26, six fours and two sixes. Their 75-run stand got SRH home with an over left.