Padikkal's maiden Test century has created a genuine selection dilemma at number three that extends beyond naming one player.
Devdutt Padikkal's 167 at number three against Sri Lanka in Galle has placed him ahead of Sai Sudharsan in the selection debate. The Karnataka left-hander converted his overnight 131 into a career-best score on day two, ending a 24-year gap since the last Indian left-hander scored a Test hundred in that position. India's coach confirmed Padikkal will bat at three again in the second Test.
Sanjay Manjrekar described Padikkal as "godsent" against spin and argued he should retain the spot even after Sudharsan recovers from his foot injury. Padikkal credited two years of preparation and improved footwork for his ability to handle Sri Lanka's spinners on a turning pitch. KL Rahul noted the quiet work the 26-year-old put in during his time outside the Test squad.
The selection question now centres on whether India needs a specialist number three who can absorb spin or a more versatile batter capable of playing across conditions. The New Zealand tour later this year is expected to provide clarity on the long-term choice.
India posted 460 for nine on day two in Galle, but Sri Lanka's middle order has kept the first Test alive into day three.
India reached 460 for nine on day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 while Dhruv Jurel added 51 on a rain-interrupted day. Sri Lanka's spinners claimed seven wickets after play resumed following multiple weather delays.
Shubman Gill took a one-handed catch to dismiss Kamindu Mendis. KL Rahul contributed 82 before his dismissal. The pitch offered increasing turn and bounce as the day progressed.
Sri Lanka reached 215 for five at tea on day three, still trailing by 247 runs. Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha both passed fifty to keep the hosts in the contest.
Bangladesh's nine-wicket win in Darwin revealed ongoing issues with Australia's batting order that extend beyond a single match.
Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets in the first Test at Darwin, their first victory on Australian soil. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five for 66 in the second innings while Hasan Mahmud claimed nine wickets in the match. Cameron Green scored 104 in Australia's second innings, but the hosts were dismissed for 198 and 284 across both knocks.
Pat Cummins said the batting collapse reflected a trend rather than an isolated failure. Australia managed only a 56-run first-innings lead after being bowled out cheaply on the opening day. Bangladesh chased a target of 57 with ease on the fourth morning.
The result leaves Australia needing to win the second Test in Mackay to avoid a series defeat. Selectors face pressure to address the middle-order fragility before the home summer begins.
T Natarajan used the slower bouncer he developed over three years to good effect in a TNPL match.
T Natarajan rolled out the slower bouncer he's spent three years shaping during iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans' match against Vida Kovai Kings. He worked on the variation with Sreenath Aravind, the former India and Karnataka bowler, and it kept the batters honest on a flat deck.
He's adjusted the release and seam position across several domestic seasons, giving him something extra in the death overs beyond the yorker. TNPL franchises have watched his slower-ball accuracy improve steadily.
Delhi Capitals will see the variation when he joins them for IPL 2027, with more work planned in the off-season.
Australia were found to have fallen foul of an ICC over-rate regulation, with the governing body yet to determine whether sanctions will be imposed.
Australia breached an ICC over-rate rule in the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. The governing body hasn't decided if the team will face sanctions after their nine-wicket defeat.
That loss marked the first time Bangladesh had beaten Australia at home. Captain Pat Cummins said the batting collapse followed a longer pattern and selectors might now look at changes before the second Test in Mackay.
Australia must win that match to keep the series alive. The threat of fines and points deductions adds another layer of pressure to a side already facing questions after the result.
Kuldeep Yadav's selection for Colombo depends on pitch conditions as India consider spin combination changes after Galle.
India's spin coach Sairaj Bahutule backed Kuldeep Yadav to bounce back but noted that pitch conditions will determine his selection for the second Test in Colombo. The wrist-spinner took just one wicket in 25 overs across both innings in Galle.
Sri Lanka are likely to field more left-handers in the second Test, which could prompt India to consider off-spinner Saransh Jain for a debut. Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar shared 14 wickets between them in Galle.
Venkatesh Prasad warned against rushing to drop Kuldeep after one poor performance. The team retains three frontline spinners ahead of the Colombo Test starting on Friday.
Pat Cummins says Australia's nine-wicket defeat in Darwin fits a pattern, not a one-time breakdown — selectors may act before Mackay.
Most read it as a humiliation: Australia, world number one, losing by nine wickets to Bangladesh in Darwin. Embarrassing, the commentary went. Calls for immediate overhaul.
Pat Cummins saw it differently. The batting wasn't a one-off collapse but a continuation of something deeper, a trend stretching back across recent series. Bangladesh's pace attack had squeezed Australia twice — low totals both innings — while Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished it off with five wickets. Selectors, Cummins suggested, might need to look at the structure before the second Test in Mackay, not just shuffle the chairs.
Cameron Green's 104 was the exception. Former players held it up as proof of what Australia's batting could look like when it clicked. It wasn't enough to save the match — Bangladesh claimed their first Test win on Australian soil — but it showed the template was there. The question now is whether the rest can follow it.
India reached 460 for nine on day two in Galle, but rain and Sri Lanka's fightback on day three have delayed proceedings.
Rain interruptions limited play on the third day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Galle. India closed day two on 460 for nine with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 167 and Dhruv Jurel adding 51. Sri Lanka reached 215 for five at tea on day three, trailing by 247 runs after Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha both passed fifty.
Shubman Gill took a one-handed catch to dismiss Kamindu Mendis off Kuldeep Yadav. Sri Lanka's spinners Nuwantha and Jayasuriya claimed six of the seven wickets on the rain-affected second day. Padikkal fell after extending his maiden Test century, while KL Rahul contributed 82 before his dismissal.
India must now press for a substantial lead before Sri Lanka resume their innings. The hosts have the first-innings deficit to overcome on a pitch beginning to offer turn and bounce. Weather forecasts suggest further interruptions remain possible in the days ahead.
The BCCI's anti-corruption unit has bookies, players and owners of state T20 leagues under investigation. Reports of irregular betting patterns in several domestic tournaments triggered the probe. No formal charges have been filed.
The unit is examining financial records and player contracts across multiple state associations. The investigation covers leagues that operate outside the official IPL structure. The BCCI hasn't disclosed the names of individuals or franchises involved.
State associations have been asked to cooperate with the inquiry. Further updates are expected once the preliminary assessment concludes.
Sunil Gavaskar has called for full transparency from the BCCI regarding IPL transfers.
Sunil Gavaskar wants the BCCI to stop leaving fans guessing when players move between IPL franchises. The former India captain said the board must publish clear reasons for every high-profile transfer so no one suspects back-room pressure or score-settling.
He argued both the releasing and acquiring teams should file documented explanations at the same time the deal is announced. Without that, Gavaskar warned, speculation will keep growing. The BCCI has not replied.
The next mega auction is set for late 2026, and several big retentions and releases are already lined up.
MS Dhoni ended his international career six years ago after 538 matches and 17,266 runs, retiring via Instagram without a farewell game.
MS Dhoni retired from international cricket six years ago after a career spanning 538 matches and 17,266 runs across formats. His final innings came in the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, where he fell short of his ground attempting a second run against New Zealand. India lost by 18 runs and Dhoni never played for India again.
Dhoni announced his retirement through an Instagram post on August 15, 2020, writing that from 7.29 pm he should be considered retired. There was no farewell match, no guard of honour, and no formal press conference. His career ended with 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper and multiple trophies as captain.
Ajinkya Rahane revealed that Dhoni maintained one strict rule during his captaincy. His hotel room remained open to teammates throughout tours, but when the door was closed, no one was permitted to enter. Rahane said this boundary was universally respected by players across India and CSK dressing rooms.
Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have settled their differences after the day-two incident in Darwin.
Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have reconciled after their altercation on day two of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh. Miraz said Starc offered an olive branch following the incident. The disagreement occurred during Starc's 21st over when Miraz appeared to run through the protected area of the pitch.
Starc had 433 Test wickets before the series and needs one more to equal Kapil Dev's tally. Miraz took five wickets in the match and scored crucial runs as Bangladesh won by nine wickets. The pair have now settled their differences.
Jos Buttler identified Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the batter most likely to break his T20 run-scoring record after scoring an unbeaten 51 for Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred.
Jos Buttler named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the player most likely to break his all-time T20 run-scoring record. The England batter made the remark after scoring an unbeaten 51 for Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred. Buttler became the leading T20 run-scorer with that innings.
Sooryavanshi has scored 776 runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 237.30, including 72 sixes. The Rajasthan Royals batter scored 151 runs in three T20Is against Zimbabwe last month. Buttler told Sky Sports that someone will eventually surpass the record and identified the 15-year-old as the likely candidate.
Pakistan appointed Fatima Sana as captain for both the Women's Asia Cup and Asian Games, replacing injured Najiha Alvi with Sadaf Shamas.
Pakistan have named Fatima Sana as captain for the Women's Asia Cup in Dubai and the Asian Games in Japan. Sadaf Shamas replaced the injured Najiha Alvi in the Asia Cup squad. Sana returns to the captaincy role for both events.
Sri Lanka suffered a setback when all-rounder Dewmi Vihanga was ruled out with a knee injury ahead of the Asia Cup. Left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage replaced her in the 15-member squad. The tournament begins on August 28 across venues in the UAE.
Esha Oza will lead UAE in the home Asia Cup. Pakistan sit in Group A alongside India, Thailand and Hong Kong-China. The eight-team tournament features defending champions Sri Lanka in Group B.
India reached 460 for nine on day two in Galle as Devdutt Padikkal converted his overnight century into 167.
India reached 460 for nine on a rain-affected second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 after reaching his maiden Test century on day one. Sri Lanka's spinners took six of the seven wickets to fall.
Dhruv Jurel added 51 from number six while KL Rahul had retired hurt on 77 on the opening day. Only 43 overs were possible on day two due to rain interruptions.
India will resume on day three with a substantial first-innings lead and seven wickets remaining.
Bangladesh won their first Test in Australia by nine wickets after Mehidy Hasan Miraz's five-wicket haul dismantled the hosts.
Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets in the first Test at Darwin on Sunday. The visitors chased down a target of 57 after Australia were bowled out for 284 in their second innings. Cameron Green's 104 was not enough to prevent the historic result.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz took five wickets across both innings while Bangladesh's fast bowlers dismissed Australia for 198 in the first innings. Najmul Hossain Shanto said the whole team deserved the player-of-the-match award.
The result leaves Australia 1-0 down in the two-match series and marks Bangladesh's first Test victory on Australian soil.
Graeme Smith marked India's Independence Day by highlighting the cricket connection between India and South Africa.
Graeme Smith, SA20 League Commissioner, extended Independence Day wishes to India on the country's 80th anniversary of independence. Smith highlighted the strong bond between India and South Africa through cricket.
The former South Africa captain said cricket has played a significant role in building connections between the two nations. Smith has maintained close ties with Indian cricket through various roles in the game.
India and South Africa are scheduled to play bilateral series in multiple formats over the next 18 months.
KL Rahul retired hurt on 77 with cramps but is expected to bat on day two of the Galle Test.
KL Rahul retired hurt on 77 after cramps hit his right forearm during India's first innings at Galle. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed the vice-captain got treatment from the physio and should be available on day two.
Rahul had put on 150 with Devdutt Padikkal before leaving in the 51st over. India closed day one at 288 for two, Padikkal 131 not out.
Manchester Super Giants beat Trent Rockets by five wickets in the Hundred final, with Tim Seifert's 72 proving decisive.
Manchester Super Giants defeated Trent Rockets by five wickets in the men's Hundred final at Lord's to claim their first title. Tim Seifert scored 72 off 38 balls, and Liam Dawson hit the winning six with two balls remaining. The win came at the third attempt for the Old Trafford-based franchise. Noor Ahmad took three wickets earlier in the match to restrict the Rockets to 158 for eight. Jos Buttler captained the side to the victory.
BBC Sport analyses how a joint men's and women's points system would reshape other major sports.
BBC Sport has run the numbers on what happens if men's and women's results count the same in the big competitions. The exercise follows The Hundred's move to a single trophy built from points in both sections. In their model, several traditional football, rugby and tennis powers drop down the standings once women's results carry equal weight. The report doesn't push for changes, but it shows the idea is gaining traction.
