Manav Suthar took 4 for 76 as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 to take a 178-run lead in Galle.
Manav Suthar took 4 for 76 to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 284 on day three of the first Test in Galle.
Suthar praised Jadeja's consistency in hitting one spot and inducing false shots after sharing seven wickets with the experienced all-rounder. Jadeja reached 350 Test wickets during the innings, becoming the fourth all-rounder to achieve 4,000 runs and 350 wickets.
Sonal Dinusha scored a maiden international hundred and Niroshan Dickwella made 80 as the pair added 146 for the sixth wicket. Their stand delayed India's progress after Sri Lanka had slipped to 90 for five.
Suthar and Jadeja share seven wickets as India take commanding lead despite Dinusha's maiden hundred.
India took a 178-run lead after bowling Sri Lanka out for 284 on day three of the first Test in Galle. Manav Suthar took 4 for 76 while Ravindra Jadeja claimed three wickets as the spinners shared seven dismissals.
Sonal Dinusha scored a maiden international hundred and Niroshan Dickwella made 80 as the pair added 146 for the sixth wicket. Their stand delayed India's progress after Sri Lanka had slipped to 90 for five. Devdutt Padikkal's 167 and Dhruv Jurel's 51 helped India reach 462 in their first innings.
Jadeja reached 350 Test wickets during the innings, becoming the fourth all-rounder to achieve 4,000 runs and 350 wickets. Rain interrupted play throughout the day.
Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have settled their day-two dispute from the Darwin Test.
Mitchell Starc and Mehidy Hasan Miraz have resolved their on-field disagreement from day two of the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin. Mehidy said Starc offered an olive branch after the incident, which occurred when the batter appeared to run on the protected area of the pitch during Starc's 21st over. The matter is now considered closed by both players. Starc entered the series on 433 Test wickets and needs one more to equal Kapil Dev's tally. Mehidy took five wickets and scored 65 in the match.
Kartik Tyagi bowled a 149kph delivery during a Meerut Mavericks match in the UPT20 League, signaling his return to form after injury setbacks. The pacer's speed allied with improved consistency has drawn attention from observers.
Tyagi has worked on maintaining his pace while adding control to his repertoire following previous injury concerns. His performance in the domestic competition marks a step forward in his rehabilitation and form recovery.
The 24-year-old remains in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 and will hope his domestic returns translate to opportunities in the upcoming season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Private ownership has changed The Hundred's priorities from participation growth to ticket revenue and attendance figures.
The first season under private ownership recorded lower attendances than 2025 at several venues, according to BBC Sport data covering both men's and women's matches.
Revenue now rests more on ticket sales and commercial deals than on participation or broadcast reach. Teams that once spent on grassroots work are moving money into match-day packages aimed at paying fans.
Some grounds sold more premium seats while general admission fell, exposing the gap between the ECB's original growth goal and the new owners' commercial targets.
Niroshan Dickwella returns to the Sri Lanka Test squad after a long absence. Offspinner Keshara Nuwantha earns his first call-up ahead of the series against India in Galle.
Sri Lanka have named their Test squad for the series against India with two notable inclusions. Niroshan Dickwella returns after a long absence from the side. Offspinner Keshara Nuwantha receives his maiden call-up for the two-match series.
India arrive in Sri Lanka with Devdutt Padikkal included in place of the injured Sai Sudharsan. Shubman Gill leads the side in its 600th Test match, which begins on Independence Day in Galle.
Gill said the absence of Jasprit Bumrah creates an opportunity for other bowlers to step up. India sit fifth in the World Test Championship table and need results from the series.
Scotland and Netherlands boards say ICC changes to 2027 World Cup format create uncertainty and weaken cricket's integrity.
Scotland and the Netherlands have called out the ICC for cutting the 2027 World Cup from 14 teams to 12. The main event now splits into two groups of six, while the three lowest-ranked qualifiers must first play a preliminary Super Series — only the winner advances.
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association released a joint statement saying the change weakens the tournament's credibility and was pushed through without proper consultation. The boards met the ICC twice and asked for written clarification. They received nothing after the second meeting more than two weeks ago.
The decision was taken at the ICC's annual conference in Edinburgh in July. BBC Sport reported that almost every associate member was kept out of the loop, even though they attended.
Niroshan Dickwella returns to the Sri Lanka Test squad while offspinner Nuwantha earns his first call-up. India arrive with Devdutt Padikkal in place of the injured Sai Sudharsan for the 600th Test in Galle.
Niroshan Dickwella's back. The Sri Lanka wicketkeeper returns to the Test squad for the two-match series against India, and offspinner Nuwantha gets his first call-up as the hosts prepare.
India's XI is largely unchanged — Devdutt Padikkal slots in for the injured Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill captains in his side's 600th Test match. With Jasprit Bumrah absent, Gill sees an opening for other bowlers to press their case. Sarfaraz Khan didn't make the cut for the Galle opener.
India sit fifth in the World Test Championship table and need wins to keep their final alive. The squad composition suggests they're comfortable with their balance — youth stepping in where injury demands it, but no wholesale overhaul.
India captain Shubman Gill said the team management has maintained constant communication with the BCCI Centre of Excellence regarding the fitness of injured players ahead of the Sri Lanka series. He was responding to questions about Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan, who were initially included in the squad but later ruled out. Gill confirmed that Sudharsan did not recover sufficiently from a toe niggle and that risks could not be taken in Test cricket. The five-day format influenced the decision, as players have multiple opportunities to contribute even after a poor start. Gill said the absences had not affected team morale and expressed confidence in the current 15. He noted that the extended preparation time on this tour should help the side adapt to conditions in Galle. India face Sri Lanka in the first Test beginning August 15.
WV Raman said Rishabh Pant must be allowed to bat aggressively in Test cricket rather than being asked to change his approach to a more conventional style.
Former India batter WV Raman said Rishabh Pant must be allowed to play his natural aggressive game in Test cricket rather than being asked to adopt a conventional defensive approach. Raman argued that Pant's trained reflexes respond faster than any instruction to play within himself, and forcing him into a defensive mindset would create conflict between his mind and his instincts. Pant averages 43.37 in red-ball cricket and has won Test matches abroad from difficult situations through his attacking style. He needs three more sixes to become the first Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in Test cricket. 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.
via Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express
England batter Jordan Cox says advice from Virat Kohli will stay with him forever as he prepares to bat at number three for England in the Pakistan Test series. The series begins at Headingley on August 19.
Cox steps up due to Jacob Bethell's knee injury and draws on his time training with Kohli in India. He described Kohli as always available at the end of a phone for guidance.
The 27-year-old will make his Test debut in the absence of the injured Bethell. England face Pakistan in a three-match series starting later this month.
Gupta called for an end to random bilateral series to strengthen the ODI format.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta says ODIs can thrive — but only if random bilateral series stop. He made the case while discussing the 50-over format's future, arguing that fewer, more intentional bilateral contests would preserve what makes the game matter.
Excessive bilaterals have diluted the format's value. The ICC has been working to restructure the international calendar, and Gupta's remarks signal where the thinking's headed: a streamlined schedule that lets major tournaments breathe. The governing body will consult with member boards on how to reshape the white-ball calendar, with calendar changes a priority for ICC leadership.
The tension here is real. Boards depend on bilateral revenue. But if every ODI feels fungible, none of them feels special — and that's the ICC's gamble.
Todd Greenberg said Cricket Australia must balance the need for meaningful ODIs against potential revenue loss from removing bilateral series.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the bilateral ODIs need more meaning, yet he also flagged the money that could disappear if those series vanish from the schedule. He knows standalone matches lack the storylines that pull crowds.
The financial hit from dropping ODIs needs careful thought, he added. The 50-over game must find its place beside franchise leagues and still feed into the World Cup cycle.
Several boards are already under pressure to explain three-match series to broadcasters while viewers drift toward T20.
Rhodes believes standalone bilateral ODIs will reduce while the World Cup keeps the format alive.
Former South Africa batter Jonty Rhodes said 50-over cricket could face pressure in the coming years as T20 continues to attract new audiences. Rhodes spoke at the jersey launch of ETPL's Rotterdam Dockers franchise in Mumbai.
Rhodes said bilateral ODI series will likely decrease while the 50-over World Cup retains its relevance. He noted that T20 has not damaged Test cricket but that the 50-over format may be the one squeezed between the two.
South Africa will host the next ODI World Cup. Rhodes said the country is looking forward to the event and hopes to win its first ICC white-ball trophy.
