Mhamunkar says flat international pitches deny young bowlers the assistance they receive in domestic cricket, making debuts unnecessarily difficult.
Wankhede Stadium curator Ramesh Mhamunkar said flat pitches in international cricket are unfair to young bowlers making their debuts after performing well in domestic cricket. Mhamunkar noted that India have hosted 15 ODIs in the last two years with an economy rate of 7.11, while T20I scoring has reached 10.66 runs per over.
Auqib Nabi conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs on his ODI debut against West Indies, while Anshul Kamboj gave away 82 in nine overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Gurnoor Brar also struggled on their debuts. Mhamunkar said even spinners receive little assistance on the current surfaces.
Mhamunkar said the Wankhede adds murum to red soil to produce batting wickets as instructed, but this prevents moisture retention needed for movement. He said domestic pitches offer assistance early before becoming batting-friendly, creating a more balanced contest.
Shane Watson has said India's inconsistency under head coach Gautam Gambhir stems from frequent changes to the batting order and lineup. Watson said on Prime Video that players coming in and out unsettled the side and made consistency harder to achieve. He noted India had won two ICC white-ball titles and the Asia Cup under Gambhir but also suffered 0-2 and 0-4 series losses to Ireland and England.
Watson praised Gambhir for backing Sanju Samson, who repaid the faith with a Player of the Tournament performance at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The former Australia all-rounder added that greater continuity would make India the dominant force in world cricket. Watson said the team had fallen from back-to-back World Test Championship runners-up to fifth in the current cycle.
India are scheduled to play New Zealand in a five-match T20I series starting October 22.
Lockie Ferguson said New Zealand's pace attack will play a significant role in the upcoming limited-overs series against India due to cooler conditions and softer wickets.
New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson said pace bowlers will play a big part in the upcoming limited-overs series against India. He said cooler night conditions in New Zealand at this time of year could produce swing and softer wickets.
Ferguson said New Zealand's fast-bowling depth is exciting and the presence of quality spin all-rounders allows the team to play an extra quick. He added that bowling hard into the wicket can bring rewards on New Zealand pitches.
Ferguson also said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will face challenges in New Zealand conditions but the experience will be exciting for the 15-year-old. India will play five T20Is and five ODIs in New Zealand starting on 22 October.
Kusal Mendis has been appointed as Sri Lanka's Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the role with immediate effect. De Silva, who led the side in 18 Tests since January 2024, said it was time to pass the mantle to the next generation. He remains available for selection as a player.
Mendis, already the white-ball captain, will lead the side for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi on November 9. He has played 75 Tests and scored 4,836 runs with 10 centuries. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva thanked Dhananjaya for his leadership and wished him well for the remainder of his career.
De Silva led Sri Lanka to seven wins in 18 Tests as captain. The team has won only one of six matches in the current World Test Championship cycle and is nearly out of contention for the final.
India A face Australia A in the second unofficial ODI on Friday after losing the series opener by 125 runs.
India A will look to level their three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A in the second match at the Siechem Ground in Puducherry on Friday. Australia A won the opener by 125 runs after Nathan McSweeney scored 123 and Mahli Beardman took four wickets. Rajat Patidar's half-century was the only significant contribution from India A in that match.
The match begins at 9:00 AM IST and will be streamed on JioHotstar and broadcast on the Star Sports Network. Ruturaj Gaikwad captains India A, while Australia A are led by an XI yet to be confirmed.
Arunachal Pradesh may forfeit their Ranji Trophy opener as factionalism within the state association remains unresolved. A court case is pending and the BCCI awaits clearance before taking any action.
Arunachal Pradesh face the possibility of forfeiting their Ranji Trophy season opener. The state association is still split by factionalism, and a case sits before the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says the board cannot act until the court clears the way.
The dispute has left the association unable to field a team or complete preparations. Without a resolution, Arunachal risks missing their opening fixture and drawing further sanctions from the BCCI.
New Zealand have ruled out Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes from their five-match T20I series against India due to injuries. Chapman sustained a left hamstring tear during the European T20 Premier League last month, while Foulkes injured his right hip flexor during a recent Canterbury training session.
Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner have been added to the 16-member squad in their place. New Zealand coach Rob Walter said he was gutted for the injured pair but welcomed the replacements ahead of the series that begins in Christchurch on 22 October.
Rachin Ravindra is also unavailable after suffering a shoulder injury during a promotional shoot. The series will be followed by five ODIs and two Tests.
Rajat Patidar's twin fifties have put him in contention for India's ODI squad against New Zealand.
Rajat Patidar scored 53 and 67 in India A's first two unofficial ODIs against Australia A in Puducherry. The RCB captain has strengthened his case for selection in India's ODI squad for the five-match series against New Zealand next month. He has now made back-to-back half-centuries in the unofficial series.
Ruturaj Gaikwad managed only 15 and 12 in the two matches, while Devdutt Padikkal recorded a six-ball duck and a one-ball single. India A lost the series opener by 125 runs and will look to level the three-match series in the second unofficial ODI on Friday.
BCCI Centre of Excellence treated 32 top players for injuries with budget rising to Rs 127 crore for 2026-27.
The BCCI's Centre of Excellence treated 32 top men's team players for injuries between April 2025 and March 2026 according to the annual report accessed by Times of India. Twenty centrally contracted players and 12 players in the targeted or India A category underwent rehabilitation at the facility. The report showed the CoE budget increased by nearly Rs 35 crore compared to the previous year.
The CoE's projected expenses for 2026-27 stand at Rs 127 crore against Rs 92 crore in actual expenses last year. Most injuries were soft-tissue related with Rishabh Pant the only impact injury case after fracturing his foot during a Test in Manchester in July 2025. Rohit Sharma also underwent rehabilitation for a hamstring injury following IPL 2026 though no official statement was issued.
The BCCI advertised for a new Sports Science Medicine head last month after Nitin Patel resigned in March 2025. Communication gaps exist between the national team's SSM staff and the CoE team with VVS Laxman serving as the only communication channel.
New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke will miss the five-match T20I series against India that begins in Christchurch on October 22. The 25-year-old is recovering from a left hamstring tear sustained on the final day of the third Test against England and a calf strain picked up in late August training.
New Zealand coach Rob Walter said the decision followed discussions with O'Rourke and medical staff. The team wants the bowler fully fit for the four-Test tour of Australia that starts in Perth on December 9. O'Rourke had only recently returned to international cricket after a seven-month absence with a back stress fracture.
Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes have already been ruled out of the T20I series with hamstring and hip-flexor injuries. All-rounder Josh Clarkson and fast bowler Blair Tickner were added to the squad in their place.
The Foxes regained eight points after appealing their sanction for the August pitch breach.
Leicestershire received a 27-point deduction after the August match against Glamorgan but the Cricket Discipline Panel has now cut that penalty to 19 points. The club dropped out of Division One following last week's innings loss to Warwickshire.
The original ruling removed the 19 points Leicestershire gained from their 42-run victory and imposed an immediate eight-point sanction, with another eight points suspended until 2027 and a £5,000 fine. After the latest hearing the Panel returned eight points, leaving the side on 119, seventeen behind Essex.
Chief executive Emma White stated: "The (CDP) Panel made clear that the latest hearing and Amended Decision, which relates to the sanction alone, were not appeal proceedings." She added that the club's view on the charge remains unchanged and it will continue the appeal process with counsel Craig Harris and Oliver Laurence of Periculum Sport.
Kishan credited Dhir's confidence and skill work after the all-rounder's 3 for 31 on debut.
Ishan Kishan said Naman Dhir has worked hard on his bowling after the all-rounder took 3 for 31 on T20I debut against West Indies at Lucknow. Dhir dismissed Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer.
Kishan said he had seen Dhir bowl as a part-timer at Mumbai Indians but noticed a sharper approach on Tuesday. He praised Dhir for keeping flight after being hit for a six instead of turning defensive.
Dhir scored 318 IPL runs in 2026 without bowling a single over, but his international debut showed he can offer India another bowling option alongside his batting.
Former New Zealand Test opener retires after 10,432 first-class runs and 24 Test caps.
Jeet Raval has announced his retirement from professional cricket, Northern Districts said on Friday. The former New Zealand Test opener scored 10,432 first-class runs in 164 matches, including 24 centuries and 50 half-centuries.
Born in Ahmedabad, Raval moved to New Zealand as a child and played for Auckland, Central Districts and Northern Districts. He represented New Zealand in 24 Tests between 2016 and 2020, scoring 1,143 runs at an average of 30.
Raval reached the 10,000-run milestone in December 2025 while captaining Northern Districts against Auckland. He led the side to its first Plunket Shield title in twelve seasons.
Pat Cummins says Australia have moved on from Sandpapergate and has no concerns about revelations in Usman Khawaja's forthcoming autobiography.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said he is unfazed by Usman Khawaja's upcoming autobiography, which may revisit the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal. Khawaja called Cummins weeks ago to give him a heads-up about the book, which is due for release on November 10.
Cummins said the incident had already been dealt with through full investigations and repeated questioning at the time. He added that Australia as a group had moved on and were focused on the current series against South Africa.
The three-Test series begins at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. Khawaja was part of the Cape Town Test where Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper, and the book will be the first published account from any player who featured in that match.
Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner replace injured Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes in New Zealand's T20I squad for the series against India that starts on October 22.
New Zealand have added all-rounder Josh Clarkson and fast bowler Blair Tickner to their T20I squad for the five-match series against India after Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes were ruled out through injury. Chapman suffered a left hamstring tear during the European T20 Premier League last month and is expected to be available for the subsequent ODI series. Foulkes injured his right hip flexor during a recent Canterbury training session and has no confirmed return date.
Coach Rob Walter said he was gutted for Chapman and Foulkes but grateful the replacements were available. Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the 16-member squad that now includes Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
The series begins on October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, with further matches in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. Chapman is expected to return for the ODIs, while Foulkes' recovery timeline remains undetermined.
A video showed Pakistan's team manager gesturing to Hasan Nawaz and Naseem Shah to remove their caps while greeting PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi at a team dinner. The incident took place ahead of Pakistan's T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Nawaz shook hands with Naqvi while wearing his cap before the manager signalled for him to remove it. Naseem Shah received a similar gesture when he approached the chairman.
The footage has prompted debate about expected conduct at formal team events. The series begins at Rawalpindi on Friday with Sahibzada Farhan leading Pakistan against Kusal Mendis's Sri Lanka.
Sitanshu Kotak says Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall stems from the need for proven experience in Jasprit Bumrah's absence.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall for the New Zealand T20I series was driven by the need for experience in Jasprit Bumrah's absence. Kotak pointed to India's bowling struggles in England when Bumrah was unavailable, noting that new bowlers performed well but experience remained irreplaceable.
Bhuvneshwar has taken 45 wickets across the last two IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, including 28 wickets at an average of 17.89 this year. Kotak also said the selectors factored in New Zealand conditions when making the call.
Kotak added that Bhuvneshwar's strong IPL record made him a natural choice for the T20I squad. He declined to comment on Mohammed Shami's prospects, saying selection decisions rest with the panel.
Kishan plays at his home ground with India one win away from a series lead.
Ishan Kishan returns to Ranchi for the second T20I against West Indies on Friday. India lead the series 1-0 after Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 102 set up an eight-wicket win in Lucknow.
Kishan stayed not out on 37 and added an unbroken 137 with Iyer. West Indies must find a way past India's spinners on a pitch expected to grip before dew sets in.
The series moves to Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai next. India have not dropped consecutive home T20Is since 2019.
Kotak said Kishan has matured since returning from the World Cup and backed him to deliver at home, while selectors continue to monitor Mayank Yadav.
India assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak said Ishan Kishan is more mature now and ready to make the most of his home game in Ranchi. Kishan returned to the side after losing his central contract following a 2023 disciplinary issue. He led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and scored 101 in the final.
Kotak noted that Kishan plays according to the needs of the team and the situation. The 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi drew attention with an explosive net session at the JSCA Stadium on Thursday. Kotak said selectors would continue to assess Mayank Yadav's performance after the fast bowler struggled in the series opener.
Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad said the team will embrace rather than run away from the pressure of representing a side with 42 Ranji Trophy titles. They open their campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede on Sunday.
Lad said the squad understands the history and culture that come with representing Mumbai. Former captain Ajinkya Rahane's experience will be missed, but he can call him if needed.
Vice-captain Ayush Mhatre said he's learned the importance of staying calm from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Mumbai's squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan.
