Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi drew attention during India's optional practice session in Ranchi on Thursday with a series of powerful hits. The Bihar batter repeatedly cleared the boundary while waiting for his chance in the T20I side.

India retained the same XI for the second T20I against West Indies, keeping Sooryavanshi on the bench. Sanju Samson kept his place at the top of the order despite recent criticism. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the team had not finalised its XI but indicated the same side was likely to play.

Sooryavanshi has impressed in the IPL and at India A level, where he scored the fastest List A fifty off 11 balls earlier this year. Former players including Dilip Vengsarkar and Chandrakant Pandit have urged the team to back his talent.

Former India captain Kapil Dev said it is too early to label 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the next global superstar. Sooryavanshi has not played in India's five-match T20I series against West Indies despite being in the squad. Kapil Dev cited Vinod Kambli as an example of a player who showed ability but faded out. He said Sooryavanshi needs another three years before any judgment can be made about his longevity. The teenager scored the fastest fifty in List A cricket off 11 balls for India A in June 2026 and smashed 175 off 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final. Kapil Dev added that lifestyle changes and mindset shifts matter more than early performances. Sooryavanshi remains on the bench as India stick with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson at the top.

Durham leg-spinner Shafiqullah Ghafari signed a one-year contract extension to remain at the club for the 2027 season. The 24-year-old made 10 appearances in the One-Day Cup during the 2026 campaign, helping Durham reach the semi-final.

Ghafari took career-best figures of 4-36 against Lancashire at Old Trafford in August and finished as the club's leading wicket-taker in the competition with 16 wickets. He was born in Afghanistan but successfully claimed asylum in England.

Ghafari made one County Championship appearance during Durham's Division Two promotion success and took 65 wickets in 23 games for Richmondshire in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League.

Wasim Jaffer has called for Mohammed Shami to be recalled to India's Test and ODI sides. Jaffer said on his YouTube channel that Shami has produced strong domestic returns since recovering from injury and should be considered for national selection. The former India batter pointed to Shami's 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches last season along with 15 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 16 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Shami last played for India in the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Ravichandran Ashwin said the door is not shut on Shami after Ajit Agarkar's exit as chief selector opened the way for Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall. Bhuvneshwar returns to the T20I squad for the New Zealand series after four years following consistent IPL performances with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Jaffer questioned India's pace-bowling depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup and said his preferred combination remains Jasprit Bumrah, Shami and Mohammed Siraj.

Bengal included wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel in their 17-member Ranji Trophy squad for the Elite Group C opener against Delhi at Kalyani. Porel received bail in September after spending more than a month in custody on sexual assault allegations. The season opener was shifted from Eden Gardens to the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground because the iconic venue will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Durga Puja festivities around Mahalaya on October 10.

Abhimanyu Easwaran leads the side that also features Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep. Porel was included in Bengal's practice match against Assam last month. The 17-year-old has been named as the designated wicketkeeper for the fixture that begins on October 11.

Bengal and Delhi are grouped with Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Services in Elite Group C. Porel remains under investigation while the legal process continues.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief Greg Marsh said players are entitled to 27.12 per cent of any proceeds from the sale of BBL teams to private investors. The ACA is willing to forgo that share in exchange for a higher ongoing revenue split of 27.5 per cent. Cricket Australia has rejected the model, arguing privatisation revenue differs from standard earnings. Talks remain ongoing with arbitration still possible.

ECB chairman Richard Thompson has walked back the board's hardline position against players joining the APL, but with a catch: he's flagged the legal minefield. Move too aggressively to block players, and the ECB risks a lawsuit over restraint of trade.

It's a telling shift. Earlier, the board looked ready to draw a line. Now Thompson's language suggests they're hunting for a middle ground — one that lets them manage the talent drain without exposure in court.

The APL's own future remains foggy. Discussions between the ECB and other stakeholders are ongoing, and no final decision has landed. Clarity is expected in the coming weeks.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has predicted that Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could bowl together at the 2027 ODI World Cup. Ashwin said on his YouTube channel that if Bhuvneshwar performs well in New Zealand, selectors will immediately consider him for the ODI team.

Ashwin said Bhuvneshwar's ability to swing the ball both ways and maintain decent pace makes him valuable in conditions where seam movement matters. He added that the selectors are watching Bhuvneshwar closely during the T20I series. Ashwin said recent results against West Indies showed India needs experience in the bowling department ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Bhuvneshwar last played for India in November 2022. He returns to the side for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand starting on October 22.

Bengal announced its 17-member squad for the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season, with Abhimanyu Easwaran named captain for the opener against Delhi at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani from October 11 to 14.

Mohammed Shami returns to the squad after a prolonged absence from the Indian team. The side also includes Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar among its pace options.

Bengal reached the semifinals last season under Easwaran before losing to eventual champions Jammu and Kashmir. The first leg of the tournament runs from October 11 to November 5.

Vishnu Vinod will lead Kerala in the Ranji Trophy opener against Jharkhand, scheduled to be held in Jamshedpur from October 11 to 14. Vishnu took over as captain during Kerala's final league match against Goa last season and recently led the side in the practice matches against Jammu & Kashmir and Hyderabad.

The selectors have also named an 18-member team for the upcoming match which features Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarvate, both returning to Kerala for this season. Off spinner Vaishakh Chandran makes a comeback after three seasons while left arm medium pacer Pavan Raj and left-arm spinner J.S. Anuraj earned their maiden call-ups to the senior squad.

Kerala squad: Vishnu Vinod (c), Rohan S. Kunnummal, Abhishek J. Nair, Abhishek P. Nair, Sachin Baby, Ahammed Imran, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Salman Nizar, Varun Nayanar, Jalaj Saxena, Vaisakh Chandran, Aditya Sarvate, J.S. Anuraj, V. Abhijith Praveen, M.D. Nidheesh, Eden Apple Tom, Pavan Raj and N.P. Basil. Coach: Swapnil Asnodkar.

Sourav Ganguly has received clearance from the BCCI ombudsman to serve as Delhi Capitals head coach while continuing as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Ganguly made the announcement outside the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata after the India versus Uruguay football friendly.

Ganguly previously worked with Delhi Capitals as an advisor in 2019 and as director of cricket from 2023 to 2025. He will take charge ahead of the 2027 IPL season. He is also head coach of Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, where he led the team to the final in 2026.

The JSW group currently oversees Delhi Capitals' cricketing operations through 2029 following the end of GMR's two-year cycle. Ganguly will also coach the Delhi Capitals women's team in the WPL.

Sourav Ganguly said he has received clearance from the BCCI ombudsman to serve as Delhi Capitals head coach while remaining president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. He made the comments after the India versus Uruguay football match in Kolkata.

Ganguly replaces Hemang Badani as DC head coach for the 2027 IPL season. He previously served as the franchise's Director of Cricket and currently coaches their sister side Pretoria Capitals in the SA20.

Delhi Capitals chairman Parth Jindal said Ganguly's experience would help the team challenge for the IPL title. Yuvraj Singh is expected to join as batting coach alongside Chaminda Vaas and Amit Mishra.

Sourav Ganguly confirmed on Tuesday that the BCCI ombudsman has cleared him to coach Delhi Capitals while staying on as Cricket Association of Bengal president. The 53-year-old will take over as DC head coach for the 2027 IPL, replacing Hemang Badani.

He already served DC as Director of Cricket and advisor, and coaches Pretoria Capitals in the SA20. Co-owner Parth Jindal said Ganguly’s experience and leadership will help the franchise push for the title.

Ganguly will also coach the WPL side. Yuvraj Singh is expected to join as batting coach, with Chaminda Vaas and Amit Mishra reportedly added to the support staff. Delhi finished sixth last season and missed the playoffs.

ICC Anti-Corruption Unit chief Andrew Ephgrave described tournaments featuring retired players as a grey area that could damage cricket's reputation. He noted that many such events operate without official sanction and fall outside established structures. Ephgrave recalled corruption allegations during the 2024 Legends League Cricket in Sri Lanka. He said the key challenge is distinguishing between exhibition events and officially recognised competitions.

Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry said she still loves waking up every day with the opportunity to get better as she enters her 20th summer of international cricket. The 35-year-old has played 365 international matches since her debut in 2007.

Perry helped Australia win their seventh T20 World Cup title at Lord's in July. She said the game is constantly progressing and she wants to keep finding new edges.

Perry is preparing for Australia's ODI series against Bangladesh starting Friday at Allan Border Field. She returns from her most successful individual T20 World Cup campaign.