Yuzvendra Chahal said Naman Dhir showed the courage to bowl after being hit for sixes, comparing him to Kedar Jadhav for his all-round value.
Yuzvendra Chahal praised Naman Dhir for showing courage to bowl after being hit for sixes during India's 14-run win over West Indies in the third T20I. Dhir took two wickets for 39 runs in three overs, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer and Kamil Pooran after being struck for boundaries in the same overs. Chahal said Dhir has the self-belief to execute plans under pressure on small grounds.
Chahal compared Dhir's role to Kedar Jadhav, noting that Dhir bats at number five or six while bowling two to four overs in T20Is. He said the Mumbai Indians all-rounder changes his line and length to confuse batters regardless of conditions. Dhir's performances have added another dimension to his game beyond his middle-order batting.
Abhishek Sharma reached 2000 T20I runs in 1024 balls, the fewest deliveries taken by any batter to the landmark.
Abhishek Sharma reached 2000 T20I runs in 1024 balls during India's 14-run win over West Indies in the third T20I at Indore on Sunday. The left-hander broke Suryakumar Yadav's previous record of 1164 balls. Sharma scored 69 from 30 balls with six fours and five sixes, becoming the fastest batter to the landmark in terms of balls faced.
India posted 223 after losing the toss. Arshdeep Singh took three wickets and Naman Dhir claimed two as West Indies finished on 209 for seven. Shamar Springer made an unbeaten 35 from 11 balls but could not prevent defeat.
Sharma said India discussed staying ruthless in the huddle after seeing West Indies chase down 249 in the previous match. He also acknowledged that West Indies had a plan against him and that he had to play better than their strategy.
Naman Dhir dismissed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer in India's third T20I against West Indies in Indore on Sunday. Pooran had hit Dhir for three consecutive sixes in the 11th over before the all-rounder had him caught at deep backward square-leg for 42 off 27 balls.
Dhir also removed Hetmyer for 43 off 26 balls after the left-hander had hit him for a four and a six earlier in the seventh over. Axar Patel dismissed Rovman Powell for five as West Indies reached 105 for four at the halfway stage of their chase of 224.
Abhishek Sharma earlier scored 69 off 30 balls to help India post 223. Roston Chase took two for 38 for West Indies.
New Zealand included seven new players for the final two ODIs against India as part of preparation for the 2027 World Cup.
New Zealand Cricket announced a split squad for the five-match ODI series against India that begins on November 4. Mitchell Santner will captain the side across all five matches. Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert return to the ODI setup after absences since 2023. Rachin Ravindra also returns from shoulder injury for the first three ODIs. Zak Foulkes, Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears were not considered due to injury. A section of players including Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Nathan Smith will not feature in the final two ODIs as they prepare for the subsequent Test series. Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson have not played ODI cricket since 2023.
Abhishek Sharma said India discussed staying ruthless in the huddle as they defended 223 to beat West Indies by 14 runs and take a 2-1 series lead.
Abhishek Sharma said India remained ruthless in the huddle to prevent West Indies from staging another comeback as the hosts defended 223 to win the third T20I by 14 runs in Indore on Sunday. India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after restricting West Indies to 209 for seven. Arshdeep Singh took three wickets and Naman Dhir claimed two.
Abhishek scored 69 off 30 balls and added 108 runs for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who made 37 off 18 balls. He said the team knew West Indies could turn matches around quickly and wanted to execute plans without offering any chance for a fightback. Shamar Springer remained unbeaten on 35 off 11 balls but could not take his team over the line.
Abhishek also became the fastest batter to reach 2,000 runs in men’s T20I cricket, achieving the milestone in 1,024 balls and breaking Suryakumar Yadav’s previous record of 1,164 balls.
Abhishek Sharma's 69 and Arshdeep Singh's three wickets helped India defend 223 and beat West Indies by 14 runs in Indore.
India defeated West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma scored 69 off 30 balls with six fours and five sixes as India posted 223 for six. Arshdeep Singh took three wickets while Naman Dhir claimed two as West Indies finished on 209 for seven.
Shamar Springer threatened a late comeback with an unbeaten 35 off 11 balls, but India held their nerve in the closing overs. Abhishek said the team discussed staying ruthless in the huddle after seeing West Indies chase down 249 in the previous match. The left-hander also became the fastest batter to reach 2000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the landmark in 1024 deliveries.
The fourth T20I will be played in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten half-century helped Bangladesh extend their lead past 200 runs on the third afternoon of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Dhaka. Rahmat Shah and Ziaur Malik scored fifties in Afghanistan's first innings reply.
Bangladesh had opted to bat first and picked Nayeem Hasan in the playing XI. Afghanistan's fast bowlers struck back after the hosts made a strong start on day one.
The match marks Afghanistan's rare Test outing against a confident Bangladesh side that has dominated recent bilateral series.
Smaran scored a century on Karnataka captaincy debut in Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra.
R. Smaran scored a century on his Ranji Trophy captaincy debut as Karnataka reached 22 for four before recovering against Andhra at ACA Cricket Ground, Mulapadu on Sunday. The 23-year-old left-hander batted for nearly five-and-a-half hours and added a fifth-wicket stand with Shrijith after the visitors lost their first four wickets for 22 runs.
Smaran was appointed Karnataka captain after Devdutt Padikkal's absence. He had earlier scored a match-winning innings for Rest of India in the Irani Cup before being selected for the India-A tour of New Zealand. Karnataka coach Vinay Kumar, who led the side to consecutive Ranji Trophy titles in 2014 and 2015, provides the team with inspiration, Smaran said.
The southpaw said he was staying in the present and not keeping expectations about playing at any particular level. Karnataka came close to winning the Ranji Trophy last season but finished second, and Smaran said the focus remains on ending the drought.
Hasan Mahmud becomes first Bangladesh pacer to take a Test hat-trick, finishing with five for 55 against Afghanistan.
Hasan Mahmud claimed a Test hat-trick on Sunday, the first by a Bangladesh pacer in the format. The 26-year-old fast bowler took three wickets in the 83rd over of Afghanistan's first innings in Abu Dhabi, removing Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman. Mahmud finished with five for 55 as Afghanistan were dismissed for 240, giving Bangladesh a 106-run lead.
Mahmud is the third Bangladesh bowler to take a Test hat-trick after spinners Alok Kapali and Sohag Gazi. He dismissed Alam through the defence, had Qais Ahmad caught behind by Litton Das, and trapped Zia-ur-Rehman lbw after a successful DRS review. Bangladesh have now taken 33 of their 50 Test hat-tricks in the past 40 years.
The one-off Test continues on day four with Bangladesh looking to extend their advantage.
Sam Fanning batted through a hamstring injury at No.10 to guide Western Australia to a two-wicket Sheffield Shield victory over Queensland at the WACA Ground. The 25-year-old opener had been on crutches a day earlier and could only complete runs with a hurried crab walk between the wickets. He finished unbeaten on 14 off 82 balls as Aaron Hardie remained not out on 80 from 128 deliveries.
Western Australia reached their 201-run target after Jhye Richardson took 5 for 19 to bowl Queensland out for 68 in their second innings. The win marked the first Sheffield Shield victory under new coach Beau Casson. Hardie was named man of the match for holding the innings together as wickets fell around him.
Fanning's match-winning contribution came after Western Australia slipped to 161 for 8 and still needed 40 runs. He combined with Hardie in a decisive ninth-wicket stand that sealed one of the more extraordinary finishes at the WACA Ground in recent seasons.
Georgia Voll's unbeaten 131 seals Australia's series win over Bangladesh.
Georgia Voll scored an unbeaten 131 as Australia completed a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second ODI at Allan Border Field on Sunday. Voll shared a 162-run opening stand with Phoebe Litchfield before Australia chased down 223 in 28.1 overs.
Sobhana Mostary had earlier become the first Bangladesh woman to score a century against Australia, making 118 in a 195-run stand with Nigar Sultana Joty. The partnership was the highest for any wicket by any team against Australia in ODIs. Sobhana was dismissed by Megan Schutt for 118.
Australia's win gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with one game remaining. Voll's innings was her third ODI century.
Ashwin said Hope's decision to keep Akeal Hosein bowling during the powerplay handed Sanju Samson an easy target in Ranchi.
Ravichandran Ashwin took aim at Shai Hope's decision to bowl Akeal Hosein for three straight overs in the powerplay of the second T20I in Ranchi. Sanju Samson took advantage, smashing 82 off 41 balls as India reached 249 for five.
Hosein leaked 46 runs in those three overs, with Samson hitting two sixes and two fours in one over alone. Ashwin said the West Indies captain can't expect to build pressure by feeding a spinner to a batter who was already clearing the ropes at will.
West Indies still chased the target down with nine balls to spare after Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 45 balls.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed early on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season.
India Test openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed within the opening hour of their Ranji Trophy matches on Sunday. Jaiswal scored a 13-ball duck for Mumbai against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. Rahul made four runs for Karnataka against Andhra in Mulapadu.
Jaiswal recently made India's ODI squad against the West Indies but did not play in the series. The 24-year-old last played in India's two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka. Rahul was part of India's 2-1 ODI series win against the West Indies, scoring a century in Mullanpur.
Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar and Washington Sundar are also in action in the opening round. The Plate group match between Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland was cancelled due to an ongoing legal dispute within the Arunachal association.
Harsh Dubey said Ashwin helped him secure his first bat sponsor and continues to guide him. The all-rounder has four ODI wickets and expects a Test call-up soon.
Harsh Dubey said Ravichandran Ashwin secured his first bat sponsor and has given him regular input on his game. The 24-year-old all-rounder spoke ahead of Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener against Puducherry in Nagpur.
Dubey has taken 34 wickets in 38 T20 matches at an average of 25.85 and an economy rate of 7.57. He made his India ODI debut against Afghanistan at Dharamsala this year and collected four wickets in two matches at an average of 21.25.
He said he expects a Test debut soon and described the IPL as the best place to learn how to handle pressure. Dubey joined Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for Smaran Ravichandran after sending white-ball videos from a district tournament.
Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer said Virat Kohli appeared unhappy with how his Test retirement was managed and could have played more red-ball cricket.
Wasim Jaffer believes Virat Kohli felt let down by the way his Test retirement was arranged. Speaking on his own YouTube channel, the former India opener said the timing and handling left Kohli unhappy and that the star batter still had much to offer in the longest format.
Jaffer noted that Kohli had been training for the England series and had just played a Ranji Trophy game for Delhi in January 2025, showing his continued interest. He added that only Kohli himself can explain the exact reasons, and that the matter might have been dealt with differently. Kohli stepped away from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, closing a 14-year career that brought 9,230 runs and 30 centuries in 123 matches.
Lockie Ferguson backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India call-up, saying the 15-year-old's IPL performances made his selection unsurprising.
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson said it is no surprise that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in India's T20I squad for the five-match series beginning October 22. Ferguson faced the teenager in the IPL and described him as proper talent.
Sooryavanshi has been selected after back-to-back IPL seasons in which he performed at a high level. Ferguson said he is looking forward to the challenge of bowling to the left-hander on New Zealand pitches. The 35-year-old also returns to New Zealand's ODI setup after three years and will feature in the fourth and fifth matches against India starting November 4.
Ferguson noted that Arshdeep Singh, with whom he shared an IPL dressing room, will enjoy bowling in New Zealand due to the extra swing and bounce available to fast bowlers there. India will play two Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is during the tour.
The USA left-arm seamer, who took the first five-wicket haul in WPL history, moves to the two-time champions before the January 2027 season.
Mumbai Indians Women have completed a trade that will bring USA left-arm seamer Tara Norris from UP Warriorz before the Women’s Premier League 2027 season starts. The left-arm pacer, who was originally with Delhi Capitals, will now line up for the two-time champions in the competition running from 14 January to 7 February 2027.
Norris was the first player from an ICC Associate nation picked at a WPL auction and the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in the league. Across five matches she took seven wickets during the 2023 season.
A mini-auction will be held on 28 October in Kochi, where teams that have completed trades enter with adjusted purse balances to bid for released and uncapped players.
Varun Aaron called for India to stop managing Shivam Dube after his 7 off 10 and expensive bowling in the third T20I.
Former India pacer Varun Aaron said India should stop managing Shivam Dube after his performance in the third T20I against West Indies. Dube bowled two overs for 30 runs and scored seven off 10 balls in Indore.
Aaron said Dube has received a long rope with the ball and must improve his bowling consistency. He backed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Prince Yadav as alternatives and said Reddy should feature in the remaining matches.
Aaron described Dube as India's number one all-rounder when Hardik Pandya is unavailable but said the team must demand more from him with the ball. India won by 14 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Hardik Pandya turned 33 as trade speculation intensified over a potential move from Mumbai Indians to Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2027.
Hardik Pandya turned 33 on Sunday with his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma posting an emotional tribute that traced his journey from a pure batter in Baroda to India's premier white-ball all-rounder. Sharma highlighted his 2015 recruitment by Mumbai Indians, his move to Gujarat Titans where he won the IPL on captaincy debut, and his return to Mumbai in 2024.
Pandya has been sidelined since the end of IPL 2026 with recurring back and shin injuries. He was ruled out of India A matches against Australia A and will miss the upcoming New Zealand tour after fresh scans on his right shin.
Trade speculation has linked Pandya with Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2027 season, with the three-time champions reportedly interested in his leadership experience after Ajinkya Rahane's retirement. Mumbai Indians have three seasons under his captaincy without consistent playoff success.
India have taken 73 wickets in 13 T20Is without Jasprit Bumrah at an average of 29.32 and an economy rate of 9.37. With the fast bowler in the side, the team claimed 111 wickets in 15 matches at 22.18 and 8.77.
The figures show the difference Bumrah makes to the attack on batting-friendly surfaces. India have struggled to contain West Indies in the ongoing series, conceding totals above 200 in both completed matches.
India also recorded the most dropped catches among Full Member sides in T20Is since the start of 2025. The fielding lapses have proved costly in high-scoring games.
