Jammu and Kashmir announced their Irani Cup squad on Wednesday with Paras Dogra named as captain. The side will face Rest of India at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar starting Thursday.
Auqib Nabi and Yudhvir Singh Charak were not included. Nabi is with the Indian ODI team after making his debut against West Indies, while Charak is reportedly injured. Ajay Sharma remains head coach.
Rishabh Pant will lead Rest of India. The J&K squad includes Shubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Yawer Hassan, Shubham Pundir, Abdul Samad, Kawalpreet Singh, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Abid Mushtaq, Sahil Lotra, Vanshaj Sharma, Sunil Kumar, Umar Nazir, Lone Nasir Muzaffar and Rohit Sharma.
Ireland allrounder Simi Singh retired from professional cricket at 39 after representing Ireland 90 times across formats since his 2017 debut.
Ireland allrounder Simi Singh announced his retirement from professional cricket on September 30 at the age of 39. Singh represented Ireland 90 times across formats after making his debut against New Zealand in May 2017. He became the first Irish international of Indian origin when he received his first cap at the age of 29.
Singh moved to Ireland in 2006 at the age of 19 to pursue his dream of playing international cricket. He played 35 ODIs and 53 T20Is, scoring over 2,000 runs and taking 83 wickets. Ireland head coach Gary Wilson said Singh always had the drive to make the most of his opportunity after receiving his first cap well into his career.
Singh credited Alan Lewis and coach Graham Ford as key figures in his development. He said Ireland will always have a special place in his heart and that he will remain a proud supporter of Irish cricket. Singh had recovered from a serious illness that threatened his life during his career.
West Indies opener John Campbell scored the fastest ODI century by a West Indies batter against India, reaching the milestone off 65 balls in the second ODI against India in Guwahati on Wednesday. Campbell hit nine fours and five sixes.
Campbell also broke Chris Gayle's record for the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter against India, reaching the landmark in 29 balls. West Indies posted 405 for seven, their first 400-plus total in ODIs.
India chased the target down for the loss of two wickets. Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma made 101 in a 255-run opening stand.
Punjab recruits veteran pacer Umesh Yadav as guest player to strengthen red-ball attack for upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
Punjab Cricket Association signed 38-year-old India pacer Umesh Yadav as a guest player for the 2026-27 domestic season, marking the first such appointment in PCA history. Yadav obtained a no-objection certificate from Vidarbha and will join Punjab's Ranji Trophy camp within days. PCA president Amarjit Mehta said the move targets the team's 34-year title drought and addresses the expected absence of Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh on India duty. Coach Amit Uniyal confirmed Yadav remains fit and will add experience to a young squad, though selection will depend on team combination each match. Punjab opens its campaign against Assam at New Chandigarh on October 11.
Mark Boucher has been named head coach of MI Emirates for the ILT20 season that starts November 22. He previously coached Mumbai Indians in the IPL and MI New York in Major League Cricket, so the move brings all three MI sides under the same coach.
Boucher replaces Robin Singh, who guided MI Emirates to the ILT20 title in 2024 before the franchise finished as runners-up in 2025. The tournament runs until December 20, giving Boucher limited preparation time after the October 1 player auction.
Boucher served as South Africa head coach from December 2019 to November 2022 before moving into franchise cricket. His familiarity with MI structures is expected to help with squad-building decisions.
Naman Dhir produced a diving catch at cover-point to dismiss Keacy Carty for nine in the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati. Prasidh Krishna bowled a good-length delivery that gripped the surface and arrived slower than expected, drawing Carty into an early drive. Dhir moved quickly to his left, dived forward and completed a clean two-handed take just above the ground.
Carty had scored just 13 off 31 deliveries in the first ODI and followed that with another low score in Guwahati. John Campbell and Carty had added 37 runs off 30 balls for the first wicket before the dismissal left West Indies at 37 for one after five overs. Campbell went on to score a 65-ball hundred.
India made one change for the match, with Auqib Nabi making his debut in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Dhir is playing his first international series after making his debut in the series opener in Thiruvananthapuram.
Japan secured a T20 fixture against India through political lobbying that began at the start of 2026 and involved the foreign ministers of both countries. Japan foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi met Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar in January, with Motegi presenting a replica Japan cricket shirt and receiving a bat signed by the Indian team. The Tochigi 5th District, which Motegi represents, includes Sano, the venue for the match.
Japan rebuilt the Sano pitch using locally sourced clay that matched conditions at the Asian Games venues in Aichi-Nagoya. A Sri Lankan groundsman, Mahesh Bopage, assisted with the preparation. The match went ahead despite Typhoon Dujuan threatening to wash out the fixture, with India winning by two runs after setting Japan a rain-adjusted target of 33.
The fixture formed part of celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between Tokyo and New Delhi in 2027. Japan, ranked 41st in the world, has never reached the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament.
Virat Kohli rose to second in ICC ODI batting rankings after scoring his 55th ODI century against West Indies.
Virat Kohli moved up to second place in the latest ICC men's ODI batting rankings after scoring his 55th ODI century against the West Indies. He gained 29 points to reach 796, narrowing the gap with India captain Shubman Gill, who remains at the top with 816 points. Kohli's unbeaten 139 in the first ODI helped India take a 1-0 series lead.
England opener Tom Banton gained 333 places to reach 83rd after scoring 126 in the third ODI against Sri Lanka. South Africa's Keshav Maharaj climbed three places to third among bowlers, while India's Kuldeep Yadav moved up four spots to fifth. Australia's Josh Hazlewood returned to the top 10 after taking three wickets against South Africa.
The rankings update covers the last two matches of the England-Sri Lanka series and the first two of the South Africa-Australia series, in addition to India's series opener against the West Indies.
Rishabh Pant is likely to turn out for Delhi against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy opener after leading Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir. The Irani Cup begins in Srinagar on October 1, with the Ranji Trophy starting on October 11. Pant played just one Ranji match last season, against Saurashtra, and had not featured in the competition since leading Delhi in the 2017-18 final against Vidarbha.
Pant revealed that MS Dhoni advised him to focus on building a career that could last 15 to 20 years rather than seeking short-term success. He also said Dhoni taught him the value of silence and that he is working on keeping quiet as part of his personal development. Pant was overlooked for India's ODI series against West Indies, with Dhruv Jurel named as the backup wicketkeeper.
Pant admitted that missing selection is difficult but views setbacks as part of an athlete's life that lead to comebacks. He is currently captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup and aims to build momentum before India's Test series against New Zealand.
The Irani Cup will be the first major cricket event in Srinagar since the late 1980s.
The Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar hosts the Irani Cup from Thursday — the first major fixture in Kashmir in 40 years. The last international match here was an ODI against Australia in 1986.
West Indies played the first international at the ground in October 1983, but protestors dug up the pitch during lunch and the match ended with West Indies 28 runs ahead. A full house still created an atmosphere that lingered.
J&K's recent Ranji Trophy title gives the return extra weight. Players such as Parvez Rasool, Auqib Nabi, Umran Malik and Rasikh Salam have already moved from that setup into national squads.
Gambhir said Nabi received his debut in a live series match to test him under pressure similar to World Cup conditions.
Gautam Gambhir said India handed Auqib Nabi his ODI debut in the second match against West Indies because the series was still alive. The head coach said a dead-rubber appearance would not expose the bowler to the pressure that mirrors World Cup conditions. Nabi replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy and became the third Jammu and Kashmir cricketer to represent India after Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik.
Nabi took 60 wickets in 17 innings during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy at an average of 12.65. He conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs on debut, the most runs by an Indian on ODI debut, and recorded an economy of 9.51. Gambhir said the exposure in a decisive match would help Nabi and other emerging pacers prepare for high-stakes tournaments.
Chris Gayle says Lasith Malinga's action and slower ball made him the hardest T20 bowler he faced.
Chris Gayle called Lasith Malinga the toughest bowler he faced in T20 cricket. Across their meetings, Gayle managed 57 runs off 72 balls and fell once. He told Midwicket Stories that Malinga's sling made it hard to set up, and the slower ball stayed hidden until it was too late. Against him, Gayle shifted to survival mode — blocking or stealing the strike instead of going after the ball. Malinga picked up 170 IPL wickets in 122 matches and won four titles with Mumbai Indians. Gayle finished his IPL career with 4,965 runs and a record 357 sixes.
Hanuma Vihari claims Naman Dhir brings more batting value than Washington Sundar in the ODI all-rounder slot.
Hanuma Vihari said Naman Dhir offers more value than Washington Sundar in the ODI middle order. Dhir made his ODI debut in the first match against West Indies and bowled five overs for 33 runs.
Vihari told his YouTube channel that Sundar is more of a bowler who can bat while Dhir contributes with the bat and is better suited at number six or seven. He added that India made a good move by including both Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the XI and should continue experimenting before the 2027 World Cup.
Dhir has scored 351 runs from 11 List A innings at an average of 39.00 with four half-centuries. He has also taken wickets with his off-spin in domestic cricket.
Gambhir questioned flat pitches after the 406 chase. He said bowlers need contest to prepare for 2027 conditions.
India coach Gautam Gambhir criticised the flat pitches after India chased 406 against West Indies in Guwahati. The second ODI produced 811 runs and five centuries. Gambhir said the conditions offered no contest between bat and ball, which does not prepare bowlers for tougher surfaces. He noted that young bowlers need pressure situations to develop. The 2027 World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Those venues typically offer more assistance to bowlers than the Indian pitches used in this series.
Heavy rain is forecast for the second ODI in Guwahati, threatening to shorten or wash out the match.
India take on the West Indies in the second ODI at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. A 96 percent chance of rain is forecast for the day, with the highest probability of precipitation at the 2 pm start time.
The match can lose overs after a 60-minute buffer and requires at least 20 overs per side to constitute a result. India lead the series 1-0 after a seven-wicket win in Thiruvananthapuram.
West Indies will be without Justin Greaves due to injury. India have handed a debut to Auqib Nabi and left out Nitish Reddy.
Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting. She set an Asian record in qualification, hitting 28 out of 30 targets on her debut at the Games.
The Haryana shooter also won silver in the women's trap team event and gold in the mixed team trap alongside Kynan Chenai. She comes from a Below Poverty Line family and trained initially with an old double-barrel gun provided by her cousin.
Neeru had postponed her marriage to focus on improving her family's situation through her sporting career.
Gill's 223 is the highest score in an ODI chase and the fastest double century in the format's history.
Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 223 off 133 balls as India chased down 406 against West Indies in Guwahati. The innings included 26 fours and eight sixes and came after Rohit Sharma's 101 had given India a strong platform. Gill reached his double century in 117 balls, the fastest in ODI history, and became only the second batter after Rohit to score multiple ODI double centuries. India completed the chase in 43.3 overs with eight wickets in hand, becoming only the second team after South Africa to successfully chase 400 or more in men's ODIs. West Indies had posted their highest ODI total of 405 for seven, with three centurions in the same innings for the first time.
via Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express
Floyd Reifer admits West Indies need more work against spin and on fielding discipline.
West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer said the team continues to work on batting in the middle overs, particularly against spin, but acknowledged considerable ground remains. He said the aim is to return to the levels of 2024 and 2025 when West Indies scored at more than six runs an over in the middle overs. Reifer noted that batting on slow, turning pitches requires adjustments that the current side is still learning.
Reifer stressed the importance of fielding discipline after West Indies dropped Shubman Gill on 11 in the first ODI, allowing the India captain to score 110. He said fielding is an attitude and that teams cannot afford to drop players like Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The visitors made four changes for the second ODI in Guwahati, bringing in Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Shamar Joseph and Vitel Lawes.
India handed a debut to pacer Auqib Nabi, who replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI. Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field first at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
The BCCI is preparing a directive requiring senior India players to play at least one domestic red-ball game before the two-Test series against New Zealand that begins on November 19. Shubman Gill could represent Punjab and KL Rahul could turn out for Karnataka in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, which starts on October 11.
Jasprit Bumrah may play a first-class match for India A rather than a Ranji fixture to manage his workload. The reported move follows the 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand in 2024, when players lacked sufficient red-ball preparation.
The BCCI medical team will have the final say on releases, with fitness and workload considered. Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among those whose fitness will be monitored closely before the tour.
Bavuma and de Kock argued over a DRS call that dismissed Xavier Bartlett for 50. South Africa won the second ODI by 32 runs to seal the series.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock engaged in a heated on-field exchange over a DRS decision during the second ODI against Australia at the Wanderers. The incident occurred in the 48th over when Lizaad Williams trapped Xavier Bartlett on the pads.
The on-field umpire turned down the appeal. Bavuma opted to review after an extended discussion in the middle. Replays showed three reds and Bartlett was dismissed for 50 off 28 balls. Marco Jansen intervened to calm de Kock before the wicketkeeper walked away.
South Africa posted 365 for nine with David Miller scoring 142 off 93 balls and Bavuma making 103. Australia replied with 333 but fell 32 runs short. The win sealed the series with one match remaining.