Duleep Trophy quarterfinals begin Sunday in Bengaluru featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's red-ball debut and strong squads from recent Ranji champions.
The 2026-27 domestic season opens with the Duleep Trophy quarterfinals in Bengaluru starting Sunday. East Zone face North East Zone while North take on West in the other match.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will make his red-ball debut as East Zone vice-captain alongside experienced players including Mohammed Shami and Ruturaj Gaikwad. North Zone includes six Jammu and Kashmir players following their Ranji Trophy triumph.
The tournament will run at the BCCI Centre of Excellence with matches broadcast live on digital platforms.
Gulf Giants head coach Simon Helmot revealed the team's auction strategy and plans to balance experience with domestic talent ahead of the ILT20 season.
Gulf Giants head coach Simon Helmot laid out the franchise's recruitment plans ahead of the ILT20 auction. He wants a mix of international experience and domestic talent, and the aim is to defend the title.
Helmot said the team will hunt for players who can control the middle overs. They'll keep most of last season's core and add depth in the spin department. Key overseas signings will be decided after the auction.
The season starts in January 2027. Helmot wants players with proven T20 records in the subcontinent.
Ravichandran Ashwin said India should tell Sarfaraz Khan whether he is viewed as a sub-continent specialist so he can plan his career accordingly.
Ravichandran Ashwin said India must communicate clearly with Sarfaraz Khan about his role in the side, especially if selectors view him as a specialist for sub-continental conditions. Sarfaraz returned to the Test squad last week as a replacement for injured batter Sai Sudharsan ahead of the series in Sri Lanka. He is in contention for a middle-order spot alongside Dhruv Jurel for the first Test in Galle.
Ashwin noted that New Zealand's Ajaz Patel and South Africa's Simon Harmer play defined roles in specific conditions. Sarfaraz has played six Tests, scoring 371 runs at 37.10 with one century. Ashwin argued that clear messaging would allow Sarfaraz to focus on his strengths without uncertainty over selection.
via Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express
Murali Kartik has backed Dhruv Jurel to keep his place at No.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Dhruv Jurel should start ahead of Sarfaraz Khan at No. 6 for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Jurel has been part of the team's planning for over a year, captaining India A in Sri Lanka last month and scoring a century and half-century in the red-ball tour games. Sarfaraz returns to the squad after more than a year out following the injury to Sai Sudharsan.
Kartik said it is important for the team to show consistency in selection and messaging so that players feel secure about their places. He noted that Jurel is also a capable wicket-keeper if needed. The decision will set the template for how India handle similar middle-order choices in the remainder of the World Test Championship cycle.
Sri Lanka recalled Niroshan Dickwella and named uncapped Keshara Nuwantha while India added replacements for multiple injuries.
Sri Lanka have named a 16-member squad for the first Test against India in Galle on Saturday with Dhananjaya de Silva as captain and Kamindu Mendis as deputy. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out due to injuries, prompting the recall of 33-year-old wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella after three years out of the side. Uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha earned selection alongside left-arm pacers Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
India named a 15-member squad that includes replacements Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan for injured Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan. India sit fifth in the World Test Championship table after nine matches while Sri Lanka occupy sixth place after four games in the 2025-27 cycle. The second Test begins in Colombo on August 23.
Sri Lanka recalled Niroshan Dickwella and named uncapped Keshara Nuwantha while India added Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan to cover multiple injuries.
Sri Lanka named a 16-member squad for the first Test against India in Galle on Saturday with Dhananjaya de Silva as captain and Kamindu Mendis as deputy. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out due to injuries, prompting the recall of 33-year-old wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella after three years out of the side. Uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha earned selection alongside left-arm pacers Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
India named a 15-member squad that includes replacements Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan for injured Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan. India sit fifth in the World Test Championship table after nine matches while Sri Lanka occupy sixth place after four games in the 2025-27 cycle. The second Test begins in Colombo on August 23.
Stuart Broad admitted Jadeja's sword celebration irritated him while Buttler called the all-rounder a nightmare to face in home conditions.
Former England pacer Stuart Broad said Ravindra Jadeja's sword celebration used to annoy him during their on-field encounters. Broad recalled telling Jadeja that batters averaging 50 do not celebrate half-centuries with such flair and suggested the gesture should be reserved for hundreds. Jadeja averages over 40 against England with three centuries and 11 fifties in the format.
England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler described Jadeja as a nightmare to face in India and praised his ability to stand up when his team needed runs. Broad added that Jadeja's numbers made selection between him and Ravichandran Ashwin difficult for England tours. Jadeja, 37, returns to action on Saturday in India's first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Murali Kartik believes India must start identifying Ravindra Jadeja's successor in the Test side.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik has said the team must begin planning for life without Ravindra Jadeja in Test cricket. Kartik described Jadeja as being on the wrong side of thirty and in the twilight of his career.
Jadeja, 37, remains part of India's squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, but Kartik believes Manav Suthar has the skill set to take over the senior spinner's role. Suthar took seven wickets on his Test debut against Afghanistan and showed promise in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI.
Kartik said Jadeja's experience cannot be replaced overnight and that the transition needs to be managed carefully over the next year.
Sri Lanka have recalled 33-year-old Niroshan Dickwella as wicket-keeper for the first Test against India after three years out of the side. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out of the Galle Test beginning August 15.
Dhananjaya de Silva will lead the side with Kamindu Mendis as his deputy. The squad includes uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha and left-arm pacers Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
India have named a 15-member squad that includes replacements Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan for injured Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan. India are fifth in the World Test Championship table after nine matches while Sri Lanka sit sixth after four games in the 2025-27 cycle.
Farveez Maharoof believes Manav Suthar could make his Test debut ahead of Saransh Jain for the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes India could opt for three spinners in the opening Test against Sri Lanka, with young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar potentially getting the nod ahead of uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain. India will be without the retired Ravichandran Ashwin and injured Washington Sundar for the first Test, leaving Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as the likely first-choice spinners.
Maharoof said Suthar's ability to extract bounce from the surface could outweigh the benefit of having an off-spinner for variation. Suthar claimed seven wickets on his debut against Afghanistan, while Jain picked up seven wickets during India A's tour of Sri Lanka. Maharoof expects India to go into the Test with a balanced attack comprising three spinners and two seamers.
Maharoof also warned that Rishabh Pant remains a major threat for Sri Lanka despite modest returns in the warm-up match. He said Pant can transform a game within half an hour and will be difficult to contain with his unorthodox approach against spin.
Deep Dasgupta has called on Gautam Gambhir to give Rishabh Pant the freedom to play his natural attacking game in the Sri Lanka Test series.
Former India batter Deep Dasgupta has urged the team management to give Rishabh Pant the freedom to attack in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Pant struggled in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, scoring 2 in the first innings and 28 in the second. Dasgupta said Pant should bat exactly the way he usually does and that the word responsibility is complicated when it comes to attacking batters. Pant has never played a Test on Sri Lankan soil, and the Galle match would be his first Test in the country. The first Test of the two-match series will begin on Saturday, August 15.
Padikkal’s century removed any doubt over India’s number three selection for Galle.
Devdutt Padikkal secured his place at number three for India’s first Test against Sri Lanka after scoring an unbeaten 142 in the warm-up match. The left-hander showed strong footwork against both pace and spin on a surface that offered turn. Padikkal used his height to smother spin and played with attacking intent throughout his innings.
Shubman Gill returned to the middle after missing the first two days with a finger injury and scored 44 while opening the second innings. Mohammed Siraj hit three consecutive sixes in the final over to complete a six-wicket victory. Rishabh Pant gave his wicket away in both innings by charging down the pitch.
The first Test begins in Galle on August 15. India are fifth in the World Test Championship table and need to win seven of their remaining nine Tests to reach the final. Padikkal’s selection ends three years of middle-order experimentation that began after Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement.
Padikkal scored 131 not out off 134 balls on day one in Galle. India reached 288 for 2 after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the match.
Devdutt Padikkal got the call when Sai Sudharsan was ruled out, and he made it count — 131 not out off 134 balls at number three on the first day in Galle. India closed on 288 for 2, and for the first time in two years, the No. 3 slot had a century to build on.
It wasn't flashy. Padikkal played without a real chance, grafting alongside KL Rahul (77) in a 150-run partnership that gave India a platform before rain shut down play. The innings is what the position has been missing: solidity when it matters.
Number three has been a weak link for India since it was last consistently held three years ago. Padikkal's unbeaten hundred doesn't automatically make him the long-term answer, but it does something more useful right now — it proves the spot doesn't need a permanent specialist. Whoever's in form, whoever suits the opposition, can bat there and have half a chance of building an innings.
Australia confirmed their XI for the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on Thursday. Captain Pat Cummins will lead an experienced pace attack that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
Scott Boland was left out of the side. Cameron Green will bat at number five in the lineup.
Bangladesh have confirmed wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das is fit to play after recovering from a calf injury. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said the team will wait until match morning to finalise its bowling attack but is leaning toward two spinners and three seamers. This marks Bangladesh's first bilateral Test tour of Australia since 2003.
The International Cricket Council has moved the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy from Sri Lanka to India. The six-team T20I tournament will be played from 14 to 28 February 2027 at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka lost the hosting rights after the ICC cited governance concerns at its Annual Conference in July. The ICC Board ratified India as the replacement host on 1 September. Sri Lanka will still compete in the event despite losing hosting duties.
India enters the tournament as holders of the Women's Cricket World Cup. Australia arrives as Women's T20 World Cup champions after reclaiming the title in England in July. England, New Zealand and South Africa complete the six-team field.
Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of The Hundred with a hamstring injury, putting her participation in the Women's T20 Asia Cup in doubt.
India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the ongoing Hundred after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Southern Brave. The injury puts her participation in the upcoming Women's T20 Asia Cup in doubt. Southern Brave confirmed on Saturday that Rodrigues has been replaced by Australian all-rounder Charlie Knott for the remainder of the tournament.
The 25-year-old has scored 143 runs with a highest of 42 not out in six innings for the Brave at an average of 35.75 and a strike rate of 131.19. The Women's T20 Asia Cup begins on August 28, with India starting their campaign against Thailand on August 30.
Rodrigues has just under three weeks to recover from the injury to be fit for the continental tournament.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's three-ball duck in the second innings has highlighted a worrying trend in his aggressive strokeplay.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's three-ball duck in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka has highlighted a worrying trend in his aggressive strokeplay. The left-handed opener was dismissed early after attempting an attacking shot on a difficult pitch.
Jaiswal joined an exclusive Test cricket club earlier in the match when he reached a significant milestone. However, the quick dismissal in the second innings raised questions about his shot selection under pressure.
India's series against Sri Lanka continues with the second Test after the Galle match concludes. Jaiswal will need to balance his natural aggression with the demands of the conditions in the remaining fixtures.
Sri Lanka recalled Niroshan Dickwella after three years following injuries to Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka for the Galle Test.
Sri Lanka named a 16-member squad for the first Test against India in Galle on Saturday with Niroshan Dickwella recalled after three years. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out with injuries, prompting the return of the 33-year-old wicketkeeper who last played a Test against New Zealand in 2023. Dhananjaya de Silva will captain the side with Kamindu Mendis as deputy. Uncapped off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha earned his first call-up alongside left-arm pacers Vishwa Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka. India have also made changes after injuries ruled out Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar. Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan were added to the 15-member squad.
Josh Hazlewood reached 300 Test wickets with a six-wicket haul against Bangladesh in Darwin.
Josh Hazlewood became the ninth Australian to reach 300 Test wickets during the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. The fast bowler took six wickets in the match and now sits behind only Glenn McGrath, Pat Cummins and Dennis Lillee among Australian pacers on the all-time list. His average remains better than all three.
Hazlewood said the team remains focused on victory despite trailing after three days. He noted variable bounce on the fifth day could create opportunities. Australia need a substantial effort with the bat to set Bangladesh a challenging target.
The second Test begins in Mackay on Friday. Hazlewood confirmed he will be available for selection.
Ireland face Afghanistan in ODIs while targeting 2027 World Cup qualification.
Ireland open a five-match ODI series against Afghanistan on Wednesday, and automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup is the prize. New head coach Gary Wilson called the side “laser-focused” on reaching South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Ireland haven’t made a 50-over World Cup since 2015. Next year they’ll join a 10-team qualifier for one guaranteed berth, with three more sides moving into a Super Series.
