Raman urged selectors to give Pant freedom to play his aggressive brand of cricket rather than asking him to change his approach.
Former India batter WV Raman said Rishabh Pant must be allowed to bat aggressively in Test cricket rather than being asked to adopt a conventional defensive approach. Raman argued that Pant's trained reflexes are faster than any instruction to play within himself, and forcing him into a defensive mindset would create conflict.
Pant averages 43.37 in red-ball cricket and has won Test matches abroad from difficult situations through his attacking style. Raman said Pant deserves the licence to play his natural game because that is when he performs at his best.
Pant made 2 and 28 in India's warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Galle. Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan have both pushed for greater opportunities in the wicketkeeper-batter role.
Morkel expects Rahul to guide the batting unit with his prior experience on turning Sri Lankan pitches.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel said KL Rahul's experience from the 2017 Sri Lanka tour and his consistent form as an opener will make him a central figure in the two-Test series beginning in Galle on August 15. Morkel expects Rahul to share his knowledge of local conditions during net sessions and team meetings.
Morkel also highlighted the challenge of heat and humidity for the Indian pace attack and said the Kookaburra ball's behaviour once it softens will determine how the quick bowlers create pressure. India have not played a Test since early June.
Rahul is the only current squad member who has played Tests in Sri Lanka in the last decade. Morkel said the team's early arrival and 10-day preparation window will help players develop individual game plans for the surfaces.
VVS Laxman is expected to take up a new role at the BCCI with sweeping powers over the running of Indian cricket while continuing as head of the Centre of Excellence. The appointment would separate Laxman from the selection committee process.
Zaheer Khan has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Ajit Agarkar as chief selector if Laxman moves into the new position. Agarkar's contract extension will be discussed after the Sri Lanka Test series.
Laxman had reportedly declined the chief selector role due to the amount of travel involved.
Gill set a clear target of six or seven wins from nine Tests as India begin their push for the WTC 2027 final against Sri Lanka.
India captain Shubman Gill said the team must win around six or seven of its remaining nine Tests to reach the World Test Championship 2027 final. He was speaking on the eve of India's 600th Test, which begins against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15.
India sit fifth in the WTC points table. Gill pointed out that the extra preparation time on this tour, including a 10-day acclimatisation period and a three-day warm-up, should help the side adjust to conditions.
India haven't played a Test since early June. Most players need time to settle, and Gill believes the longer window gives them a better chance in the two-match series.
Kaushik takes over the Noida Kings with a proven record as both batter and leader in the UP T20 League.
Noida Kings have appointed Uttar Pradesh batter Madhav Kaushik as their captain for the fourth edition of the UP T20 League, which begins on August 14. Kaushik, who joined the franchise from Meerut Mavericks ahead of the 2024 season, previously led Meerut to the title in 2024 and the final in 2025.
Across the first three editions of the competition, Kaushik has scored 1,002 runs in 38 matches. His standout season came in 2024, when he made 366 runs in 12 matches at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 146.99.
In first-class cricket for Uttar Pradesh, Kaushik has scored 1,441 runs in 28 matches at an average of 37.92, including four centuries. The tournament will run until September 6 at venues in Lucknow and Greater Noida.
Babar Azam took a blow to his right hand and retired hurt on five, leaving Pakistan with questions ahead of next week's Test series.
Babar Azam was struck on the right hand by Hampshire seamer Manny Lumsden and walked off on five during the second day of the warm-up against the County Select XI at Beckenham. A team statement said he'll miss the rest of the fixture but will be back for practice in Leeds on Monday.
England spinner Shoaib Bashir claimed 4 for 76 as Pakistan were bowled out for 238, trailing by 67 on first innings. The County Select XI closed on 128 for 3, pushing their lead to 195.
The first Test starts at Headingley on August 19, with Lord's and Edgbaston still to come.
India reach their 600th Test milestone in Galle on Independence Day, having won 186 of 599 previous matches.
India will play their 600th men's Test when they face Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15, becoming only the third nation after England and Australia to reach the landmark. The occasion falls on India's 80th Independence Day. Shubman Gill called it a big honour to captain the side on such a significant day.
India's Test journey began with a 158-run defeat to England at Lord's in June 1932. Their first victory came 20 years later against England in Madras in February 1952. India secured their first overseas series triumph in New Zealand in 1967-68 and achieved their first win against West Indies in 1971.
In the 21st century, India have won 123 of 263 Tests and currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship with a points percentage of 48.15 from nine matches. They need at least seven wins from their remaining nine Tests to reach the final.
The ACSU imposed the fine and TNPL ban after the player was caught with an undeclared phone inside the restricted area during a match in Dindigul.
A Tamil Nadu all-rounder who played two Ranji Trophy matches last season has been fined ₹1 lakh by the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit and barred from the rest of the Tamil Nadu Premier League. The ACSU found the undeclared phone on him inside the Players and Match Officials Area at NPR College ground in Natham, Dindigul on August 10.
The TNCA has told his franchise not to pick him until its own inquiry finishes. No bookmaker contact was found on the device; the breach is only about the phone being in a restricted zone.
He's been withdrawn from the franchise, and the other TNPL sides have been notified. The same ₹1 lakh fine went to Rajasthan Royals team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder earlier this year for using a phone in the dugout during an IPL match.
Middlesex and Leicestershire advance to the One-Day Cup final after respective semi-final victories over Durham and Nottinghamshire.
Middlesex reached their first List A final for 36 years after beating Durham by two wickets in the One-Day Cup semi-final at Radlett. Luke Hollman's unbeaten 83 guided them to victory and set up a final against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.
Leicestershire advanced to their second One-Day Cup final in four years with a 23-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Grace Road. They will face Middlesex in Sunday's final.
Both semi-finals produced competitive encounters that showcased the depth of talent in the domestic one-day competition.
Priyansh Arya has struck at 211 in IPL 2026 and says he is unconcerned by competition for India's opening spots.
Priyansh Arya has 364 runs at 211 in the 2026 IPL for Punjab Kings. The 25-year-old Delhi opener says his approach is instinctive — he watches the ball and trusts his instincts when the chance comes. He hit 475 runs at 179 last season.
Arya keeps the negative thoughts out, no matter the risk. He credits opening partner Prabhsimran Singh for the guidance during their record partnerships and values the senior batter's seven to eight years of IPL experience.
He has also opened with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India A's tri-series and spent time with Yuvraj Singh last year. Competition for India spots among the young openers doesn't bother him — performance is all that matters.
Pratika Rawal has been called into India's Asian Games squad as a replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues. Rodrigues suffered a hamstring injury during The Hundred, which also ruled her out of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup.
Rawal earned her first senior call-up after impressing in domestic cricket and made her T20I debut in the ongoing Asia Cup. The Asian Games begin in two weeks in Nagoya, where India will defend its title against seven other teams.
The 21-year-old Rawal will join the squad immediately as India prepares for both the Asia Cup semi-final and the multi-nation tournament.
India play their 600th Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Independence Day. The team sits fifth in the World Test Championship table and needs consistent wins to reach the final.
India begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, marking the country's 600th Test match. Shubman Gill captains the side on the landmark occasion, with Gautam Gambhir as head coach.
India currently occupy fifth place on the World Test Championship points table — another sequence of dropped points would further reduce their chances of qualifying for the final. Gill said it's an honour to lead the side in the 600th Test and emphasized the team needs a strong performance to stay in contention.
India won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch described as favourable for a full day's play. Devdutt Padikkal replaces injured Sai Sudharsan in the XI.
Gill said Bumrah’s knee injury leaves a gap but gives other bowlers the chance to make their mark in Galle.
India captain Shubman Gill told his bowlers that Jasprit Bumrah’s absence creates an opportunity for them to step up in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka that starts in Galle on Saturday. Bumrah was ruled out after failing to recover from the left knee injury he picked up during the ODI series in England last month.
Gill said the side must create wicket-taking opportunities on subcontinent pitches, especially on days one and two when the surface offers little assistance. He named Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and uncapped Auqib Nabi among the pace options, while Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar lead the spin choices.
The two-match series counts towards the World Test Championship. India sit fifth on the points table and need several wins to reach the final. The second Test begins in Colombo on August 23.
Harbhajan argued that modern batters lack the patience to build big Test innings and that IPL incentives have accelerated the shift.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh thinks the T20 era has chipped away at the patience needed for long Test innings. He reckons triple centuries have dried up because players chase shots instead of settling in.
Earlier generations turned out multiple triple-centurions — Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Matthew Hayden among them. Australia led the way in the early 2000s, pushing scoring rates higher while the rest caught up.
Now the IPL pulls the brightest young talent toward white-ball cricket, where recognition and big contracts arrive quicker.
Porel was arrested on August 11 following a Calcutta High Court directive and remains in judicial custody.
Delhi Capitals and Bengal wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel was denied bail and sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the Chinsurah Court on Friday. The 23-year-old faces allegations of sexual relations under the pretext of marriage. Porel was arrested on August 11 after the Calcutta High Court directed police to take him into custody.
The case stems from a complaint filed at Mogra Police Station on June 23 by a medical student from Karnataka. The complainant alleged that she and Porel had been in a relationship for three and a half years and that he had established a physical relationship with her after promising to marry her. The complaint also levelled allegations of physical and mental abuse, threats and misuse of private photographs and videos.
Porel has denied wrongdoing. The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The Calcutta High Court deferred further hearing of the woman's petition until September 14 after the West Bengal government sought more time to proceed with the investigation.
Raghuvanshi returns after surgery while Mhatre continues rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been named in Mumbai’s squad for the Dr (Capt) K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy after recovering from finger surgery. The 22-year-old missed the T20 Mumbai League in June following an operation in London.
Raghuvanshi scored 422 runs in 13 IPL matches last season and hit five half-centuries. Mumbai chief selector Rajesh Pawar confirmed the selection on Friday but said Ayush Mhatre remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Mumbai open their campaign against Chandigarh on September 1 in Bengaluru. The squad is led by Suved Parkar and includes Suryansh Shedge and 16-year-old pacer Karthik Kumar.
Twining takes charge of Renegades while maintaining his Australia assistant coach duties.
Melbourne Renegades have named Ashley Twining as their WBBL head coach. He's been an assistant with the Australia women's team across formats, and he'll keep that role once the tournament ends.
The 2026-27 season is the target. Renegades came last last time and need to climb the table, so they're bringing Twining in early to start the rebuild.
He'll juggle both jobs through the domestic window, splitting his time between national duties and the franchise.
The Galle pitch is expected to offer gradual turn rather than sharp spin from day one, prompting India to consider three spinners.
Two days before the first Test, word from both camps suggests the Galle pitch is not the usual dry turner and may not offer sharp spin from the opening day. Recent history indicates that for the first couple of days, Galle is a batting paradise, with gradual turn offered as the game progresses. India bowling coach Morne Morkel said something will start to happen as the match goes on. This leaves India with a choice between three spinners or three fast bowlers. As things stand, the former is the more reliable option because it adds batting depth. If the spin attack remains as expected, it could be a rare instance where the visitors field all left-arm spinners. The last Test at this venue saw two 450-plus totals, four hundreds and four half-centuries.
Morne Morkel says India will rely on KL Rahul's experience from the 2017 Sri Lanka tour to navigate conditions in Galle.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has identified KL Rahul as a key resource for the team in Sri Lanka, citing his experience from the 2017 tour and his consistent form as an opener in recent years. Rahul is the only member of the current squad who played Tests on the island in the last decade. Morkel expects Rahul to share his knowledge of local conditions during net sessions and team meetings. The 33-year-old has averaged 42 as an opener over the past five years and scored multiple centuries on difficult overseas pitches. His presence offers both batting stability and tactical insight that younger players lack. India arrived in Galle ten days before the first Test specifically to allow players time to adapt to the conditions.
Hasan Mahmud's 6-55 dismantles Australia for 198 on day one in Darwin, while Bangladesh reach 96-1 and trail by just 102.
Hasan Mahmud claimed career-best figures of 6-55 to bowl Australia out for 198 on the opening day of the first Test in Darwin. Steve Smith top-scored with 71 after a reprieve early on, but Bangladesh's pace attack suffocated the hosts on a tricky surface.
Mahmud became the first Bangladesh bowler to take six wickets against Australia in Test cricket. While he was getting among the runs, Taskin Ahmed notched 300 international wickets during the innings — a milestone that underscores how long Bangladesh's attack has been grinding away.
Bangladesh reached 96-1 at stumps, trailing by 102 runs. They've seized control of day one and hold all the momentum heading into day two.
