Former India cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane have paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Goa residence on Thursday. Dhawan described Patekar as a truly special talent whose work would continue to inspire generations. Rahane called him a remarkable actor whose performances had entertained and inspired multiple generations.
Patekar made his acting debut in the 1978 film Gaman and delivered memorable performances in Parinda, Krantiveer and Ab Tak Chhappan. He remained active until his death, appearing in Housefull 5 and Vishal Bhardwaj's O'Romeo.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also remembered Patekar's artistic legacy and social service work.
Nana Patekar claimed national shooting medals after his preparation for the 1991 film Prahaar turned into a competitive pursuit.
Nana Patekar won a silver medal in the 300m big-bore event at the 48th National Shooting Championships in 2004. He was part of the Maharashtra team that secured a bronze medal three years later, finishing 12th individually with a score of 549 out of 600.
Patekar's interest in shooting began while preparing for his 1991 film Prahaar. Training with the Indian Army introduced him to firearms, and he continued competing at state and national levels well into his 60s. His performances earned him the distinction of a Renowned Shot, allowing him to import a rifle without paying customs duty.
Patekar also supported young shooters by helping with training costs and argued that national-level athletes needed greater financial incentives alongside medals to pursue the sport professionally.
India is keeping 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the T20I side despite his prodigious talent at junior level.
India has not yet given 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a T20I debut despite his record-breaking performances at Under-19 and IPL level. He smashed the fastest fifty in List A cricket off 11 balls for India A and scored 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final.
Former India captain Kapil Dev said it is too early to judge the teenager and cited Vinod Kambli as an example of talent that faded. He said Sooryavanshi needs another three years before any long-term assessment can be made.
Sooryavanshi remains behind Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in the pecking order. The team management has chosen to back established players while the youngster waits for his opportunity.
Guptill and Adams join New Zealand's T20I coaching setup as temporary replacements while Watling takes over as batting coach. Injuries to Foulkes and Chapman have prompted squad changes ahead of the India series.
Martin Guptill and Andre Adams will step in as temporary assistant coaches for the five-match T20I series against India that starts October 22 in Christchurch. They're covering for Craig McMillan, who's recovering from back surgery. BJ Watling takes over as batting coach once New Zealand's Test series against India ends in December.
Injuries have thinned the squad. Zak Foulkes hurt his right hip flexor and Mark Chapman pulled a hamstring during the European T20 League. Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner have been called up in their place. Head coach Rob Walter said he was gutted for the injured players but glad experienced hands were available.
New Zealand has lost its last five bilateral T20I series to India and 17 of its last 19 matches against the Men in Blue.
Kapil Dev advised Hardik Pandya to increase his playing time to reduce injury risk after the all-rounder missed multiple series due to recurring fitness issues.
Kapil Dev said Hardik Pandya needs to play more cricket to regain rhythm, fitness and confidence before returning to competitive matches. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain told the Times of India that playing less and then suddenly playing more increases injury risk.
Pandya has not played competitive cricket since the final week of IPL 2026. He was expected to return for India A against Australia A but sustained a shin injury that ruled him out. He remains unavailable for India's white-ball tour of New Zealand.
Kapil Dev said players in his era used to play 250 days a year across domestic formats. He pointed out that consistent match practice helps the body stay accustomed to the demands of the game.
Vihari believes competition from Sooryavanshi is adding pressure on Samson following his lean run since the World Cup.
Hanuma Vihari said Sanju Samson tends to underperform when facing competition for a place in the Indian team. The former batter cited Samson's lean patch during Ishan Kishan's return earlier this year and suggested the same pressure is affecting him now with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the setup. Samson has scored two half-centuries in 11 innings since the 2026 T20 World Cup, with six single-digit scores.
Samson was dismissed for 11 in the first T20I against West Indies in Lucknow on Tuesday. Vihari said pressure plays a major role in cricket and players must learn to handle it regardless of competition. He remains a big fan of Samson and believes the Kerala batter deserves patience after his World Cup heroics.
Samson won Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup with three match-winning knocks in the knockout stages. His recent form has raised questions about his place in the XI ahead of the second T20I in Ranchi on Friday.
Joburg Super Kings paid R2.9 million for 18-year-old Jason Rowles, making him the most expensive player at the SA20 Season 5 auction.
Eighteen-year-old all-rounder Jason Rowles became the most expensive player at the SA20 Season 5 auction after Joburg Super Kings signed him for R2.9 million, approximately Rs 1.69 crore. Rowles is still a school student completing his matriculation at St David's Marist Inanda School and has only one T20 appearance to his name.
A left-arm bowler and left-handed batter, Rowles is vice-captain of South Africa's Under-19 side. He scored 45 runs off 31 balls in the CSA T20 Challenge. Joburg Super Kings beat MI Cape Town in a bidding battle for the teenager.
The SA20 Season 5 begins on January 17, 2027, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on Pretoria Capitals in the opening match. Joburg Super Kings also signed Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million and Kieron Pollard for R1.5 million at the same auction.
BJ Watling will take over as New Zealand's batting coach from Luke Ronchi after the Test series against India ends in December.
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter BJ Watling will replace Luke Ronchi as the Black Caps batting coach after New Zealand's Test series against India concludes in early December. Watling will join the support staff on November 16 and work alongside Ronchi during a transition period before taking over fully.
Watling scored 3,790 Test runs in 75 matches, including eight centuries, and holds the national record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper with 265. He retired from international cricket in 2021 after helping New Zealand win the inaugural World Test Championship. Watling said he was excited to return to the setup and contribute to a world-class side.
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham said Watling personified what it means to be a Black Cap and that his attitude as a player would translate into his coaching style. Watling will work with the team during the transition before taking full charge ahead of New Zealand's four-match Test series in Australia.
MCC official confirms pink-ball use in Tests needs agreement between both teams and cannot be switched mid-match.
The ICC's new playing conditions allow a pink-ball trial in day-time Tests from October 1. Fraser Stewart, the Head of Cricket at Marylebone Cricket Club, clarified that the trial is a playing condition rather than a law of cricket.
Stewart said bilateral series teams must agree among themselves to use a pink ball. He rejected suggestions that teams could start with a red ball and switch to pink later in the match.
Stewart also addressed time-wasting penalties. He said the ICC has decided to enforce existing laws more strictly, with umpires able to award five penalty runs for repeated time-wasting during a match.
Agarkar's estimated earnings from the chief selector role total Rs 9.75 crore based on a Rs 3 crore annual salary.
Ajit Agarkar stepped down as India's chief selector on October 4 after completing his tenure with the BCCI. Reports at the time of his appointment in 2023 indicated the annual salary for the position had been increased to Rs 3 crore.
Agarkar served for approximately three years and three months. Based on the reported annual salary, his total earnings from the chief selector role are estimated at Rs 9.75 crore.
Agarkar's net worth is estimated between Rs 40 crore and Rs 50 crore from his playing career, coaching assignments and work as a commentator. The BCCI has begun the process of finding his successor.
Dhir took 3/31 in four overs on debut after making his ODI debut three weeks earlier.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel that Naman Dhir's ability to think like a batter while bowling helped him claim three wickets on T20I debut against the West Indies. Dhir dismissed Romario Shepherd immediately after being hit for a six by adjusting his line and length. Kaif added that the 26-year-old showed the quality to become a reliable bowling option.
Australia return to the venue of their 2018 series opener eight years after the Sandpapergate scandal that ended their tour and banned their captain and vice-captain.
Australia begin a three-Test series against South Africa on Friday at Kingsmead in Durban, the same ground where they won the opening Test of the 2018 tour. That series ended in a 3-1 defeat and is still defined by the ball-tampering scandal that brought 12-month bans for Steve Smith and David Warner and a nine-month ban for Cameron Bancroft.
Mitchell Starc took nine wickets in Durban, but the tour collapsed and South Africa claimed their first home series win over Australia in 48 years with a 492-run victory in Johannesburg. Darren Lehmann resigned as coach after the final Test.
This is the first Test tour between the sides since the scandal. Australia arrive with a settled squad; South Africa hope to build on their recent home win against England.
Sana joins Perth Scorchers while Sarah Coyte returns to Sydney Sixers ahead of WBBL|12.
Nicoleana (Sana) joined Perth Scorchers while Sarah Coyte returns to Sydney Sixers for Weber WBBL|12, Cricket Australia announced on Tuesday. The signings form part of ongoing player movements ahead of the 12th edition of the women's Big Bash League.
Sana previously played for Sydney Thunder while Coyte spent the previous season away from Sixers. Both players bring experience to their new franchises ahead of the tournament.
The announcements continue the pre-season movement as teams finalise squads for the upcoming WBBL campaign.
Rishi Dhawan backed Shubman Gill to captain India well at the 2027 ODI World Cup with Rohit and Kohli's support.
Former India pacer Rishi Dhawan said Shubman Gill will captain India very well at the 2027 ODI World Cup. Gill has led India in 15 ODIs and 11 Tests since taking over from Rohit Sharma.
Dhawan said Gill has handled the dual responsibility of captaincy and batting exceptionally well. He added that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's presence will support Gill through the World Cup.
Dhawan also backed Rohit and Kohli to feature in the 2027 World Cup given their fitness and experience.
Mohit Sharma said MS Dhoni's situational awareness and ability to understand players' strengths shaped his career during their time together at India and CSK.
Former India pacer Mohit Sharma said MS Dhoni's ability to read situations and understand players' strengths had a significant impact on his career. Sharma played under Dhoni for both India and Chennai Super Kings.
Sharma said Dhoni's situational awareness allowed him to find multiple solutions to the same problem and use bowlers according to their strengths. He added that Dhoni's approach extended beyond results to building a team environment that sustained success across formats.
Sharma spent four to five years with CSK and credited the franchise's culture for its sustained performance in the IPL and Champions League T20. He said Dhoni's calm decision-making and focus on the team's broader philosophy shaped his own understanding of leadership.
The ILT20 Season 5 schedule runs from November 21 to December 20 with Desert Vipers facing MI Emirates in the opener.
The International League T20 Season 5 will run from November 21 to December 20 across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Defending champions Desert Vipers open against MI Emirates at Dubai International Stadium on November 21.
Each of the six teams plays 10 league matches in a double round-robin format. The top four sides advance to playoffs with Qualifier 1 on December 16 in Abu Dhabi and the final scheduled for December 20 at Dubai.
Fifteen matches will be played at Dubai International Stadium, 11 at Zayed Cricket Stadium and eight at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Teams include players such as Babar Azam, Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran.
India's eighth Asia Cup title and Asian Games gold came against Sri Lanka within a week, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana leading the run-scoring.
India women completed a record-extending eighth Women's Asia Cup title in Dubai and a gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan, both against Sri Lanka. The back-to-back wins came within a week of each other, underlining the gap between India and other Asian sides.
Shafali Verma scored 188 runs at the Asian Games and 236 at the Asia Cup, while Smriti Mandhana contributed 116 and 213 runs respectively across the two tournaments. Sree Charani took 18 wickets in seven T20Is during September at an economy of 3.30.
The traditional top four Asian teams — India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh — continue to dominate continental events, with qualifier sides unable to challenge consistently.
Pollard moves to Joburg Super Kings after spending his SA20 career with MI Cape Town and his IPL career with Mumbai Indians.
Kieron Pollard was signed by Joburg Super Kings for R1.5 million at the SA20 2027 auction, 16 years after Chennai Super Kings lost the bidding war for him at the IPL 2010 auction. The Trinidadian all-rounder spent 13 seasons with Mumbai Indians, scoring 3,412 runs and taking 69 wickets across five title-winning campaigns. He also represented MI Emirates in the ILT20 and MI New York in Major League Cricket before beginning his SA20 journey with MI Cape Town.
Pollard led MI Cape Town in the 2024 edition and returned midway through 2026 as Rashid Khan's replacement. MI Cape Town released him ahead of this year's auction, allowing Joburg Super Kings to secure his services. The move puts one of MI's most identifiable faces into the yellow of the Super Kings.
Joburg Super Kings also signed Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million and 18-year-old Jason Rowles for R2.9 million, the highest bid of the auction. The franchise's wildcard selection was England all-rounder Jamie Overton.
Nayar addressed three technical points in a two-hour session that helped Iyer end a 67-match wait for his first T20I hundred.
Abhishek Nayar worked with Shreyas Iyer at his Mumbai home for two hours on grip, initial movement and backlift after the captain returned from the Asian Games. Iyer had failed to cross 30 in his previous 10 T20I innings and had been doubting his ability to clear the boundary. Nayar compared old videos of Iyer's batting and made small technical adjustments that restored the feel for hitting sixes.
Shreyas Iyer fixed technical issues with Abhishek Nayar's help before scoring his maiden T20I century.
Shreyas Iyer worked with former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar on grip and backlift adjustments after struggling for form since taking over as T20I captain. The two-hour session at Iyer's Mumbai home addressed his inability to generate power and clear the boundary.
Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls in the first T20I against West Indies, his maiden T20I century. He said the conversation with Nayar helped him set himself before each delivery and create momentum from the start.
Sunil Gavaskar said the century silenced questions about Iyer's batting form and sent a strong signal that the captain is back to his best ahead of a busy T20 cycle.
