Aakash Chopra defended the umpiring decision that sparked cheating allegations after India's narrow win over Japan.
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra said the overturned wide call during India's two-run win over Japan did not amount to cheating. The decision came in the final over and drew social-media criticism after India secured the narrow victory. Chopra stated that the umpires followed current ICC rules when they reversed the original call.
Chopra explained that the regulations treat switch hits and reverse sweeps identically and award the benefit of the doubt to the bowler once the batter changes stance. He added that his initial reading of the law was incorrect and that he had checked the wording after the match. He also said the reversal was not the result of pressure from Indian players.
The former opener argued that claims of unfair play were being made by people who wanted to criticise India regardless of the facts. He did not comment on whether the same outcome would have applied under earlier interpretations of the wide rule.
Nicholas Pooran will lead Royal Desert Champions in the relaunched Abu Dhabi T10 with Phil Salt and Sherfane Rutherford as direct signings.
Nicholas Pooran has been confirmed as captain and Icon player of Royal Desert Champions, the newest franchise joining the Abu Dhabi T10 for the 2026 edition. The team, founded by entrepreneur Amit Narang, has also secured direct signings in England international Phil Salt and West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford.
Pooran has a long association with the Abu Dhabi T10 format and previously captained the West Indies national team in limited-overs cricket until 2024. Former Indian all-rounder Robin Singh has been appointed as team director for the franchise.
Royal Desert Champions will compete in the tournament running from November 7 to November 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium. The official player draft is scheduled for September 30 in Abu Dhabi.
The BCCI completed its sponsorship bouquet for bilateral cricket with Muthoot Fincorp taking the title rights until March 2028. The deal covers 35 matches starting with the West Indies ODI series on September 27 and is valued around the base price of ₹4.85 crore per match. An official announcement is still awaited.
The board had earlier secured associate sponsorships with Campa, SBI Life and ChatGPT worth over ₹130 crore, a 44 per cent increase over the previous cycle. Muthoot previously sponsored Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Cricket accounts for 89 per cent of India's ₹18,864 crore sports economy, according to a recent WPP Media report.
During the sponsorship period, India will play five-match Test series against Australia in 2027 and England in 2028, alongside white-ball series against West Indies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Sahibzada Farhan replaces Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan's T20I captain with Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi also dropped from the shortest format squad.
Pakistan named Sahibzada Farhan as their new T20I captain on Monday. The 30-year-old takes over from Salman Ali Agha, who was dropped from the 15-member squad for the Sri Lanka series.
Farhan led Pakistan to the silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 and topped the run charts at the T20 World Cup 2026. Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi were also omitted from the T20I squad but remain in the ODI setup.
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in three T20Is from October 9 to 13 at Rawalpindi. The ODI squad for an upcoming tri-series retains Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Shukla takes charge of the batting unit for the five-day match against Jammu and Kashmir.
Current Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been appointed batting coach of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar from October 1 to 5. Shukla has been Bengal's head coach for the past few seasons and the team lost in the semifinals to Jammu and Kashmir during the last edition of the Ranji Trophy. The 46-year-old former Bengal skipper played three ODIs for India in 1999 and represented the IPL championship-winning Kolkata Knight Riders side.
This is Shukla's first BCCI assignment. Debasish Mohanty will serve as the ROI side's bowling coach and Milap Mewada is the fielding coach. The five-day fixture carries added significance as Jammu and Kashmir earned hosting rights after winning their first Ranji Trophy title last season.
Shukla will work with the Rest of India batters as they prepare to face the same Jammu and Kashmir unit that eliminated his Bengal team in the semifinals. The appointment marks a meaningful progression in his coaching career after several seasons guiding Bengal through Ranji Trophy campaigns.
England seek a series-clinching win on Harry Brook's home ground.
England named an unchanged squad for the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Thursday. The hosts will look to seal the series after their 89-run victory in the opener at Durham.
Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in Eshan Malinga for the injured Dilshan Madushanka. The tourists need to improve their batting after five players scored in single digits in the first match.
England lead the three-match series 1-0. The third ODI will be played at The Oval on Sunday.
England seek a series-clinching victory while Sri Lanka look for batting improvement.
England named an unchanged XI for the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley. The hosts will look to wrap up the series after their 89-run win in the opener.
Sri Lanka made one change, introducing Eshan Malinga in place of the injured Dilshan Madushanka. The tourists must improve their batting after five players scored in single digits at Durham.
The third ODI will be played at The Oval on Sunday, with England leading the series 1-0.
Devdutt Padikkal struck 59 as India A set Australia A a target of 363 runs on day three of their four-day match in Puducherry.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 59 as India A were bowled out for 199 in their second innings on day three of the four-day match in Puducherry. The hosts set Australia A a target of 363 runs after taking a 163-run first-innings lead.
Kumar Kushagra remained unbeaten on 46 while Sai Sudharsan made 39. Todd Murphy took four for 48 for Australia A, who reached 55 for two at stumps and still need 308 runs to win with a full day remaining.
Padikkal has now recorded four 50-plus scores in as many first-class matches since taking over the India A captaincy.
Miller played his first ODI in 18 months but scored only 9 runs in the match.
David Miller featured in South Africa's playing XI for the first ODI against Australia at Kingsmead despite holding no Cricket South Africa contract since April. The 37-year-old lost the deal designed for players useful in only one format.
Miller expressed disappointment at losing the contract but said he remains available for selection and wants to play for South Africa. He is unlikely to feature against Bangladesh in December as he is set to play in the ILT20.
The left-hander smashed 63 off 35 balls in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, helping South Africa defeat India by 76 runs. South Africa co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup with Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Leicestershire confirm appeal against 27-point deduction for poor pitch in County Championship match against Glamorgan.
Leicestershire will appeal the 27-point deduction and £5,000 fine imposed for preparing a poor pitch in their August County Championship match against Glamorgan. The independent Cricket Discipline Panel ruled the pitch at Grace Road was substandard after 43 instances of uneven bounce were recorded during the four-day fixture. Leicestershire won the match by 42 runs but forfeited all 19 points earned from the victory.
A Bollywood film shoot for the Sourav Ganguly biopic took place at Grace Road four days before the Glamorgan fixture, preventing the pitch from being covered for eight hours in bright sunshine. The Cricket Discipline Panel acknowledged the disruption but dismissed it as a mitigating factor. The sanction also includes an additional eight-point deduction and a further eight-point penalty suspended until the end of the 2027 season.
Leicestershire have instructed sports law barrister Craig Harris to represent them in the appeal, which must be lodged by September 29. The club has confirmed it respects the Cricket Discipline Panel process but has serious concerns about the decision and sanctioning procedure. The deduction dropped Leicestershire to the bottom of Division One.
The IPL auction will return to India after three years with Goa selected as the venue for the 2027 edition. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the event is scheduled for December 15 and 16, following previous editions in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.
The board has set September 28 as the deadline for IPL franchises to submit player retentions ahead of the auction. Saikia noted that the move back to India comes after recent overseas editions, with the smaller auction size making it easier to secure a domestic venue.
The BCCI has yet to decide on the Impact Player rule for next season and is seeking franchise feedback. The Women's Premier League auction is scheduled for October 28 in Kochi, with the fifth WPL running from January 14 to February 7.
President Murmu and Home Minister Shah congratulated the Indian women's team after their 147-run win over Sri Lanka secured India's first gold at the Asian Games.
President Droupadi Murmu and Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the Indian women's cricket team on winning gold at the Asian Games 2026. The team defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the T20 final at Nisshin in Japan, securing India's first gold medal of the Games.
Murmu described the victory as historic and praised the team's performance, determination and spirit of teamwork. She said their achievement would inspire the nation's youth, particularly young girls and women. Shah called the display bedazzling and said the players brought home unmatched cricketing prowess.
The messages were posted on X. Murmu wrote that the win brought immense pride to the nation. Shah posted that the team commanded victory through untameable dominance on the pitch.
Ravindra Jadeja began his cricket journey at Jamnagar's historic Cricket Bungalow, where he trained under Mahendrasinh Chauhan. The 63-year-old coach still runs his academy at the venue without charging students and has been doing so for four decades. More than 300 young cricketers train at the facility daily across age groups.
The pavilion, built in 1908 during Maharaja Ranjitsinhji's reign, has seen generations of players pass through, including Vinoo Mankad, Salim Durrani and Ajay Jadeja. The building shows signs of neglect with peeling paint, broken windows and parts of the ceiling needing repair, but the coaching continues from early morning until late evening.
Chauhan says he cannot compete with modern academies that offer gymnasiums and swimming pools. He focuses on teaching the game he has devoted his life to, maintaining the same routine that produced multiple generations of Indian cricketers from the modest facility in the heart of Jamnagar.
Essex cricketer Robin Das has been charged with two counts of rape and will appear at Inner London Crown Court on October 9. The 24-year-old right-handed batter was arrested on August 27, 2025, following reports of a woman being raped in Brixton on March 30, 2024.
Das played nine first-class and 29 List A matches for Essex. His last appearance came on July 21 in the One-Day Cup when he scored 29 before being charged two days later.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the charges follow his arrest last year. Essex stated that a contracted male player appeared in court for an incident outside club activities and placed him under immediate suspension.
Perth Scorchers confirmed Freya Kemp's return as their first overseas signing for WBBL|12.
Perth Scorchers have secured England pace-bowling allrounder Freya Kemp's return for a second season. The 21-year-old is the first overseas player confirmed by the club since the contract embargo lifted last month. Kemp hit 193 runs at a strike rate of 147.32 in 12 innings for the Scorchers in WBBL|11, including a 19-ball 35 in the knockout stage. Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey said Kemp made a strong impact last season and her ability to contribute at the end of innings adds value to the squad. Kemp said she loved her time with the Scorchers and is excited to return. The Scorchers have already secured Beth Mooney, Alana King and Chloe Ainsworth on multi-year deals.
Shreyas Iyer's side reached the milestone in a five-over contest decided by two runs.
India became the first team to reach 200 T20I wins after beating Japan by two runs in a rain-shortened match at Sano on Tuesday. Shreyas Iyer's side posted 32 for four in five overs before restricting Japan to 30 for three.
Washington Sundar took 2 for 13 and Axar Patel defended eight runs in the final over. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 16 off 12 balls. A wide call against India in the last over was overturned after the captain intervened.
India reached the landmark in 291 matches, ahead of Pakistan's 174 wins from 299 games. The result came in India's first meeting against Japan at senior international level.
Mitchell Starc played down rivalry tensions with South Africa ahead of the ODI and Test series.
Mitchell Starc said there is no animosity left between Australia and South Africa despite the teams' history of confrontational encounters. He spoke ahead of the first ODI in Durban on Thursday and the Test series that begins next month at Kingsmead.
Starc expects vocal support from the stands, particularly from Castle Corner, but believes the crossover of players across franchise leagues has reduced off-field tension. Several players from both sides have shared dressing rooms in the IPL, The Hundred and Major League Cricket.
Australia have made several changes for the ODI series opener, including the inclusion of Jack Edwards for his first ODI and the return of Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green. Alex Carey has been dropped.
Williams replaces Lisa Keightley, who has joined Cricket Australia after two seasons with the franchise.
Mumbai Indians have appointed Luke Williams as head coach for the Women's Premier League 2027 season, replacing Lisa Keightley. Keightley has left the franchise after two seasons to take up a role as Cricket Australia's national development lead. Williams previously guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first WPL title in 2024 and won two Women's Big Bash League titles with Adelaide Strikers.
The 46-year-old Australian has spent two decades coaching across Australia, England and India. He has served as assistant coach with the England women's team since 2025 and received the Bradman Medal three times for grade cricket between 2005 and 2010. Williams said he was excited to join a respected organisation and work with the talented group of players and support staff.
His first task will be to prepare Mumbai Indians' retention list ahead of the September 28 deadline. The mini auction is scheduled for October 28 in Kochi, with the WPL 2027 season running from January 14 to February 7.
R Sai Kishore has been left out of every major Indian squad this season despite strong county form.
Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore has not been selected for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, India A or Rest of India this season despite taking 126 wickets in 26 Ranji matches since 2022-23 at an average of 23.16. Tanay Thyagarajan and T Vijay were preferred ahead of him for South Zone.
Sai Kishore has spent the English summer playing County Division II for Gloucestershire, where he took five wickets for six runs in a spell of eight overs against Derbyshire. He has also dismissed Ben Stokes and Brett D'Oliveira with deliveries that drew attention on social media.
Selectors cited wicket tallies from the previous Ranji season as a factor in overlooking him. Sai Kishore will now return to lead Tamil Nadu in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
Gautam Gambhir urged Hardik Pandya to secure game time before any ODI return, stressing that rhythm ahead of the 2027 World Cup is more important than selection pressure.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir said Hardik Pandya must secure adequate game time before returning to the ODI side for the West Indies series starting Sunday. Pandya missed four IPL matches with back spasms, the Afghanistan ODI series with a quadriceps strain, and subsequent tours to Ireland and England. He was also omitted from the T20I squad for the Asian Games. Gambhir told JioHotstar that Pandya's value lies in his ability to bowl ten overs and bat at six or seven, yet the 32-year-old has played little cricket since the IPL. He added that players cannot arrive at the 2027 World Cup half-cooked and that rhythm matters more than selection pressure. Pandya is expected to make his comeback with India A against Australia A in Puducherry between October 6 and 11.
