Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls as India defended their Asian Games men's cricket gold medal with a 19-run victory over Pakistan at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday. His 20-ball half-century helped India reach 211 for six after Pakistan's spinners had restricted the middle order.
Varma added 62 runs with Shivam Dube for the sixth wicket in just five overs after India lost early wickets. Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls while Dube contributed 27 off 15 balls in the final flourish.
Pakistan reached 192 for six in reply despite Hasan Nawaz's 96 off 51 balls. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar took two wickets each while Dube claimed the final-ball wicket of Nawaz to seal the victory.
Abhishek Sharma made 61 off 28 balls and Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls. Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel each took wickets in the victory that retained India's title from Hangzhou 2023.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said the team's refusal to complain about rain-disrupted preparation was a sign of a champion mindset after beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final. India posted 211 for six before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday. Iyer noted that the squad arrived on September 20 and received their first proper training session only before the semi-final on October 1.
Abhishek's 61 and Tilak's unbeaten 51 set up India's 211 for six. Pakistan fell 19 runs short despite Hasan Nawaz's 96.
Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls with seven sixes as India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the Asian Games men's cricket gold medal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls while Shivam Dube added late runs. India posted 211 for six after Shreyas Iyer won the toss and batted first.
Pakistan replied with 192 for six. Hasan Nawaz made 96 off 51 balls before Dube dismissed him on the final ball. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each took two wickets. Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas claimed two wickets each for Pakistan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 15 off nine balls before Saim Ayub dismissed him. Abhishek reached his fifty in 20 balls, equalling Yuvraj Singh's record for most sixes in an India-Pakistan T20I innings. India had beaten Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final.
on October 6. Ruturaj Gaikwad captains India A after Hardik Pandya was ruled out.
The first ODI between India A and Australia A in Puducherry has been moved from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 6. The second and third ODIs remain at 9:30 a.m. on October 8 and 10.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain India A for the three-match series. Hardik Pandya has been ruled out with an injury.
India A defeated Australia A 1-0 in the preceding two-match unofficial Test series. Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are also in the India A squad.
New Zealand batter Devon Conway said Pakistan U-19 player Sameer Minhas is a standout talent among the younger generation of Pakistani cricketers in the PSL. Conway, who represented Islamabad United, told journalist Saj Sadiq that Minhas is a really classy right-handed batter full of talent.
Minhas scored three half-centuries in PSL 2026 and finished the league phase with an average of 38.77. He also accumulated 286 runs across four first-class matches at an average of 47.66, including three half-centuries. In T20 cricket, he has scored 373 runs at a strike rate of 151.01 across 13 matches.
Pakistan are looking for young batters to support Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the national team. Minhas was born in Multan and has yet to make his international debut.
Karthik highlighted Rahul's ability to deliver under pressure despite receiving limited batting time during the three-match series.
Dinesh Karthik praised KL Rahul for his unbeaten 129 after the wicketkeeper-batter scored his ninth ODI century in the third match against West Indies. Rahul reached the milestone in 80 balls and finished with 129 off 87 deliveries, his highest ODI score.
Rahul walked in at 141 for three in the 25th over and accelerated after his half-century, hitting six sixes and nine fours. His innings included four maximums in the final 10 balls as India posted 351 for seven.
The knock came in Rahul's first innings of the series and reinforced his value in the middle order. He also passed 10,000 international runs during the innings, becoming the 15th Indian to reach the landmark. Rohit Sharma scored 92 and Ruturaj Gaikwad made 57 in the same match.
Shubman Gill said he sees captaincy as a responsibility rather than a childhood dream and values input from senior players including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Shubman Gill said he views captaining India in two formats as a responsibility rather than a childhood ambition. The 26-year-old told JioStar that his primary goal has always been to represent the country and win matches, and that the right intent helps him handle the pressures of leadership. Gill has scored 894 runs in 11 ODIs this year at an average of 127.71, including three centuries.
Gill said he is fortunate to have the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the team. He added that he often approaches KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for advice and values everyone's opinion before making decisions. Gill said learning comes from listening to everyone and then deciding what works best in a given situation.
Gill scored an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls in India's chase of 406 in the second ODI against West Indies, the highest score in an ODI run-chase. He reached his century in 62 balls and his double century in 117 balls, the fastest double century in ODI history.
Rohit said lifting the 2027 World Cup trophy would let him relive the feeling he has experienced twice in T20 cricket.
Rohit Sharma said he wants to win the 2027 ODI World Cup to experience the feeling of lifting the trophy again after doing so twice in T20 cricket. The former captain told JioStar that winning a World Cup is a special feeling and he has experienced it twice in the T20 format. Rohit said the fun of winning cannot be described and he wants that feeling back.
Rohit praised Shubman Gill's captaincy, saying the 26-year-old has a great cricketing brain and is clear about what he wants. He added that Gill needs the support of players and staff around him. Rohit said he will do whatever he can to help Gill.
Rohit scored 101 off 75 balls in India's chase of 406 in the second ODI against West Indies. He needs two runs in the third ODI to become only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score 10,000 ODI runs as an opener.
Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson said India did not win the Asian Games gold medal on a platter after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final in Nagoya on Saturday. Samson credited the presence of experienced players for helping the team manage energy and stay focused during a tournament disrupted by rain.
India posted 211 for six with half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six. Samson said the experienced squad knew how to manage energy levels when practice and match schedules were repeatedly interrupted.
He noted that fielding the regular T20 contingent gave the team both quality and composure for the high-stakes final. Samson said once the game started, players focused on match conditions rather than the occasion itself.
India retained the Asian Games men’s cricket gold with a 19-run win over Pakistan, completing a double after the women’s team secured gold earlier in the week.
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s cricket final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on October 3. India posted 211 for six after choosing to bat first. Abhishek Sharma scored 61 off 28 balls and Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22.
Pakistan slipped to 39 for three inside six overs before Hasan Nawaz’s 96 off 51 balls revived their chase. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each took two wickets as India defended the target. The win marked India’s second consecutive Asian Games gold in men’s cricket.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said Pakistan no longer offer the competition they once did, while praising India’s composure under pressure. He added that the team performed like defending champions throughout the tournament.
Fans praised Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 that guided India to back-to-back Asian Games gold medals.
Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls as India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the Asian Games men's cricket gold medal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Saturday. Varma reached his fifty in 21 balls and added 62 runs with Shivam Dube in the final five overs.
India posted 211 for six after Abhishek Sharma's 61 off 28 balls gave them a strong platform. Pakistan's Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas took two wickets each. Hasan Nawaz made 96 in reply.
Varma has now scored 206 runs against Pakistan in T20Is at an average above 100. His late acceleration followed a similar pattern to his unbeaten 69 in last year's Asia Cup final.
Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub produced a baby-cradle celebration after dismissing India's 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Asian Games men's cricket final on Saturday. Sooryavanshi had scored 15 off nine balls, including two sixes, before edging an Abrar Ahmed delivery to wicketkeeper Usman Khan at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface offering turn and bounce.
India reached the final after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final while Pakistan advanced by defeating Bangladesh in a rain-shortened semi-final. The teams did not exchange handshakes at the toss. Sooryavanshi has been dismissed three times by off-spin in his international career, giving Pakistan a potential point of attack on a turning pitch.
Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said Sooryavanshi should not change his approach, noting the left-hander has shown a decent temperament for the big stage. Manjrekar added that opponents tend to bring spin on early against the teenager.
Shoaib Akhtar denies PCB chief selector offer and any meetings with board officials.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has dismissed reports claiming he was offered the PCB's chief selector role. Akhtar, speaking from Houston on a PTV sports programme, said there was no truth to the speculation.
Rumours had suggested the PCB was considering Akhtar for the position and that he had met chairman Mohsin Naqvi to discuss the role. Akhtar categorically denied both claims and said he had no interest in any position within the board.
The 51-year-old cited advice from his late mother, who had told him to stay away from the PCB. He added that he wants Pakistan cricket to improve but made clear he has no plans to work with the board.
AB de Villiers describes Virat Kohli’s current ODI form as a third peak ahead of the 2027 World Cup, praising his aggressive approach and relaxed mindset.
AB de Villiers said Virat Kohli is experiencing a third peak in his ODI career ahead of the 2027 World Cup. De Villiers highlighted Kohli’s aggressive approach and relaxed mindset, noting that the batter is making decisions on instinct rather than overthinking.
Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls with nine sixes in the first ODI against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. De Villiers said Kohli’s current form follows peaks from 2012-2014 and 2016-2019, with the batter now taking his game to another level.
De Villiers also backed Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the 2027 World Cup squad, citing his leadership qualities and experience. He said strategic field placements can accommodate older players while their batting remains central to the team’s plans.
Jos Buttler believes McCullum's undivided attention on white-ball cricket will benefit England's 2027 World Cup campaign.
Jos Buttler said Brendon McCullum's removal as England Test coach allows him to focus solely on white-ball cricket ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. McCullum was relieved of his red-ball duties in July while retaining charge of the limited-overs teams. England won their ODI series against India and Sri Lanka this summer under the split-coaching model. Buttler said the change gives McCullum more time to prepare the team for next year's tournament in southern Africa. England will be without Buttler and Jofra Archer for an ODI tri-series in Pakistan later this month. Archer has been rested while Buttler recovers from a hamstring injury sustained against Sri Lanka.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored an unbeaten 188 off 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge on Friday. The 20-year-old left-hander hit 15 fours and 13 sixes to surpass Chris Gayle's previous record of 175 not out set for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013. He reached his fifty in 24 balls and his hundred in 40.
Pretorius fell 12 runs short of the first double century in men's T20 cricket. The Titans posted 267 for 3 before bowling out the Knights for 143 to win by 124 runs. Donovan Ferreira took 3 for 16.
Pretorius entered the match after scoring a 53-ball 101 for South Africa against Namibia last month. The innings equalled Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis for the longest T20 innings by balls faced.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is pushing through structural changes to the National Cricket League ahead of the 2026-27 season. Match fees have doubled to Tk 1.5 lakh, division-specific coloured caps and helmets will mark each side, and captains will wear customised blazers at the toss. A new shield-shaped trophy arrives, and Kookaburra balls return after last season's Duke experiment. The biggest shift is a Second XI competition that starts on October 7, giving the eight teams a developmental side. Players who don't deliver in the top tier can be dropped to the Second XI, where facilities and pay are lower, so the incentive to stay sharp is real. National players are expected to feature through most of the tournament that runs until November 17, though availability will hinge on the Asian Games, a one-off Test against Afghanistan and tours to South Africa and the West Indies.
England return to Zimbabwe for a World Cup qualifier; Kris Srikkanth says India's bowling cannot win a World Cup.
England will return to Zimbabwe for the first time since 2004 when they face a World Cup qualifier in Harare on October 20. The match forms part of the 2027 World Cup draw confirmed this week.
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth criticised India's bowling after the team lost the third ODI to West Indies in New Chandigarh. He said the attack remains too weak to win a World Cup and questioned the decision to rest Mohammed Siraj for the final over.
Srikkanth also criticised the inclusion of Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj, who conceded 146 runs combined while taking one wicket. He added that Nitish Kumar Reddy lacks the skills required for the all-rounder role after scoring nine runs and conceding 50 without a wicket.
Mukesh Choudhary picked up his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Rest of India dismissed Jammu and Kashmir for 278 on day two of the Irani Cup at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium. The left-arm seamer finished with five for 78 from 19 overs, his best figures in 22 matches across nine years. Rest of India closed at 24 for one in their second innings, 17 runs behind.
Choudhary said he's learned to manage his workload after a string of injuries — rib fracture, back issue, side strain. He now bowls 30 to 35 overs a week and has built the strength to hold 140 km/h. He thanked Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan for promising him a place once he regains fitness.
Choudhary debuted for CSK in 2022 and took 16 wickets that season. A stress fracture kept him out in 2023, but he's back in the franchise's plans with the Ranji Trophy starting October 11.
Mukesh Choudhary recorded his maiden first-class five-wicket haul as Rest of India restricted Jammu and Kashmir to 278 in the Irani Cup.
Mukesh Choudhary finished with five for 78 as Rest of India bowled Jammu and Kashmir out for 278 on day two of the Irani Cup in Srinagar on Friday. The Chennai Super Kings pacer bowled 19 overs and sent back five of the six J&K batters who made double figures. Rest of India closed at 24 for one in their second innings, trailing by 17 runs after J&K took a 41-run first-innings lead. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad posted an Instagram story congratulating his teammate on the fifer. J&K will win the Irani Cup on first-innings lead if the match ends in a draw.
