Bethell and Archer return for the white-ball tour; Rew and Jack earn maiden call-ups.
Jacob Bethell returns from a knee injury and Jofra Archer from rest as England named squads for their white-ball tour of Australia. The itinerary includes three ODIs and five T20Is beginning on 13 November in Perth. Harry Brook captains both squads.
England handed first call-ups to Thomas Rew and Eddie Jack for the T20 leg. Jos Buttler remains unavailable after hamstring surgery, and Saqib Mahmood is out with a knee injury. Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Sonny Baker will leave after the ODIs to prepare for the Test tour of South Africa.
England expanded its central contracts list to a record 39 players, with eleven deals extended until September 2028. The tour ends with the final T20 in Canberra on 2 December. A warm-up match against Western Australia precedes the ODIs.
The ECB has awarded 30 full central contracts and nine development contracts for 2026-27, introducing a formal two-tier system for the first time.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed its central contract list for England Men's international cricket covering the 2026-2027 cycle. Thirty players have been awarded full central contracts, with a further nine receiving England Development contracts, bringing the total to 39 players under formal ECB agreements.
The two-tier system replaces the single combined list of 30 contracted players used in 2025-26. Players on two-year contracts running through September 2028 include Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Josh Tongue.
The development contract tier provides structured recognition for players progressing toward senior international cricket without committing to full central deals. The expanded structure gives the ECB greater flexibility in managing its talent pipeline between county cricket and senior international selection.
Arshdeep Singh says sorry to Axar Patel after calling him through for a run that led to his dismissal against West Indies.
Arshdeep Singh apologised to Axar Patel after a mix-up led to the all-rounder's run-out during India's third T20I against West Indies at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. Axar hit the ball to cover-point on the first ball of the 19th over and Arshdeep called for a single that was never there.
Arshdeep told BCCI after the match that he felt responsible for the dismissal. He also credited the team's plan to dismiss West Indies captain Shai Hope early, which he executed by bowling the opener in the second over.
India won the match by 14 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Arshdeep said all six bowlers maintained pressure while defending 223.
India's decision to play three specialist pacers and a part-time seamer in the third T20I came at the cost of wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
India fielded three specialist quicks plus Nitish Kumar Reddy's part-time pace in the third T20I against West Indies, leaving Kuldeep Yadav out of the XI for the first time in the series. Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav formed the pace attack while Naman Dhir provided spin support.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra said the selection reflected the need for a death-over specialist and additional batting depth, since none of the three frontline pacers could bat at number eight. Kuldeep would have been useful on a surface where Roston Chase excelled, but the team prioritised variety in the quick bowling options.
Mayank Yadav, returning after nearly two years, has taken nine wickets in 22 overs across six spells against Zimbabwe and West Indies at an economy of 8.27. Former bowling coach Bharat Arun said pace alone would not suffice in New Zealand and that execution of plans would determine Mayank's effectiveness.
India's decision to play three specialist quicks in Indore signals a deliberate shift toward raw pace over spin options.
India fielded three specialist quicks plus Nitish Kumar Reddy's part-time seam in the third T20I against West Indies, leaving Kuldeep Yadav out of the XI. The decision came on a surface where wrist spin had proved effective in the preceding match.
Mayank Yadav's inclusion gave India express pace for the first time in the series. Bharat Arun later stressed that raw speed must be paired with consistent direction and plan execution if Mayank is to become a regular weapon.
Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir now face a clear choice for the remainder of the series and the upcoming New Zealand tour: persist with the extra pace or reintroduce spin options when conditions favour turn.
Mayank Yadav touched 150 kmph and took nine wickets in his return series, giving India a regular 150 kmph option.
Mayank Yadav clocked 150 kmph during India's T20I series against West Indies. The pacer took nine wickets in six spells across matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies, conceding 182 runs in 22 overs at an economy rate of 8.27. He dismissed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer in Ranchi before bowling Rovman Powell with a 149.5 kmph delivery.
Mayank returned to the side after nearly two years following back surgery and four months of rehabilitation. His coach Devendra Sharma told Indian Express that recurring injuries led to the diagnosis and that Mayank had daily doubts about whether he would play again. Sharma said Mayank's pace is natural and that the main challenge was overcoming psychological blocks after he reached 125 kmph during recovery.
In Indore, Mayank went wicketless but troubled batters with movement away from right-handers. He found less success in Lucknow where slower balls were picked when they landed short.
Dilip Vengsarkar said organising India A matches while the Ranji Trophy is underway devalues the domestic competition.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar criticised the BCCI for scheduling three red-ball India A matches against New Zealand A between October 24 and November 10. The fixtures overlap with the third and fourth rounds of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy that began on October 11. Vengsarkar said the decision dilutes India's premier domestic tournament.
He told Times of India that best domestic players will be unavailable for Ranji matches while performing for India A, which devalues runs and wickets scored in the competition. Vengsarkar rejected the idea that A tours help players acclimatise, arguing that only the main Test squad needs early exposure to overseas conditions.
India play five T20Is and five ODIs in New Zealand before the two-Test series that runs from November 19 to December 1. The Test matches affect India's World Test Championship qualification as the side sits fifth in the standings.
Mohammed Shami brushed aside fitness doubts after claiming four wickets and backed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's India return.
Mohammed Shami dismissed questions about his fitness after taking four wickets for Bengal on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match against Delhi at Kalyani. The 36-year-old said observers should watch him bowl rather than ask for statements.
Shami welcomed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall to India's T20I squad for New Zealand, saying the seamer deserved the opportunity after consistent performances. He added that Bengal needed pitches that assisted their pace attack.
Shami finished with four for an unspecified total as Delhi were bowled out for 240 on the first day.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the India-Sri Lanka ODI remains in Delhi on 13 December.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said reports that the opening ODI against Sri Lanka had been moved from Delhi to Ahmedabad were inaccurate. The first match stays at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on 13 December, while Ahmedabad hosts the third ODI on 19 December. Venues for bilateral series continue to be set under the board's standard policy.
The clarification comes after reports that construction work at the Delhi ground might force a switch. Saikia urged media outlets to rely on official BCCI statements for updates. The series also includes three T20Is, starting in Rajkot on 22 December.
Pollution concerns have previously affected fixtures in the capital during winter. In 2017 the BCCI indicated it would review scheduling in Delhi between October and December after Suranga Lakmal fell ill during a match at the venue.
Cheteshwar Pujara said Sanju Samson needed to read the conditions better before playing an aggressive shot in the third T20I against West Indies.
Former India player Cheteshwar Pujara said Sanju Samson should have understood the conditions better before attempting a big shot in the third T20I against West Indies. Samson was dismissed for a six-ball three in Indore after the bat turned in his hands. Pujara acknowledged that Abhishek Sharma taking time at the start of his innings did not allow Samson the luxury of playing himself in.
Pujara said the ball from Shamar Joseph was a good one and there was no doubt about its quality. He added that Samson might have batted better had he been given more time to get his eye in. Abhishek Sharma scored 69 off 30 balls in the same innings.
Pujara also said Ishan Kishan is doing what the team needs by scoring quickfire 30s and 40s at number three. He said the explosive nature of the top order means not every batter can post big scores every time.
Ravichandran Ashwin said Sanju Samson is doing enough to keep 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of India's T20I playing eleven. The former India spinner made the comments on his YouTube channel after India defeated West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I at Indore on October 11.
Ashwin acknowledged that Sooryavanshi deserves more opportunities but faces stiff competition for an opening slot. He said the management views Abhishek Sharma as untouchable because the left-hander can win matches on his own. Abhishek Sharma scored 69 off 30 balls in Indore, continuing his strong run on difficult pitches.
Samson has scored 96 runs across the three T20Is against West Indies, including 82 in Ranchi. Sooryavanshi has remained on the bench for the third consecutive match despite being named in the squad. Ashwin noted that such selection battles are common in international cricket.
Arshdeep Singh said India's bowlers followed a plan to dismiss Shai Hope for five runs in the third T20I.
Arshdeep Singh said India's bowlers followed a clear plan to restrict Shai Hope in the third T20I against West Indies in Indore on Sunday. Hope, who had scored centuries in the preceding ODIs and an unbeaten 102 in the second T20I, managed only five runs before Arshdeep bowled him in the second over.
Arshdeep finished with three wickets as India defended 223 to win by 14 runs and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with a 30-ball 69 while Ishan Kishan made 37 off 18 balls. West Indies replied with 209 for seven, led by Shimron Hetmyer's 43.
The fourth T20I is scheduled for Wednesday in Hyderabad.
Nathan McSweeney used videos of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to score 194 runs and help Australia A win their one-day series 2-1.
Nathan McSweeney credited footage of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for helping him score 194 runs in Australia A's 2-1 one-day series win against India A. The 27-year-old watched clips on YouTube to adapt his technique on turning pitches.
McSweeney scored 123 in the opening match in Puducherry after Australia A slipped to 104 for five. He added 32 and 39 in the next two games, losing his wicket to spin only once on the tour.
Australia A won the series despite McSweeney failing to convert his starts into further big scores. The South Australian has played three Tests for Australia but is yet to feature in white-ball internationals.
Maaz Sadaqat's 96 helped Pakistan post 215 for three and beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs to seal the T20I series.
Maaz Sadaqat scored 96 off 51 balls as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20I at Rawalpindi on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Sadaqat struck seven sixes and six fours before holing out to deep cover on the final ball of the innings. Sahibzada Farhan scored 73 off 44 balls as Pakistan posted 215 for three, their highest T20 total on home soil.
The pair added 88 runs for the second wicket off 49 balls after Sri Lanka dropped both batters early in their innings. Mohammad Imran took three wickets for 11 runs as Sri Lanka were restricted to 133 for seven in reply. Maheesh Theekshana remained unbeaten on 32 while Chamindu Wickramasinghe made 29.
Pakistan will host Sri Lanka in the third T20I at the same venue on Tuesday before moving on to the ODI tri-series that also includes England.
Prince Yadav used Abhishek Sharma's bat to score 13 off six balls during India's 14-run win over the West Indies in Indore.
Prince Yadav said he used Abhishek Sharma's bat to score 13 runs off six balls in the third T20I against the West Indies in Indore. He hit three fours in the final over to help India reach 223.
Abhishek had lent him the bat before the innings and told him not to embarrass it. Prince said he had also used the same bat during India's tour of Ireland earlier this year.
India won by 14 runs to take a 2-1 series lead. Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 44.
Political emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forced the PCB to relocate President's Trophy matches from Peshawar and Abbottabad to Sheikhupura and Lahore.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has moved ongoing President's Trophy Grade 1 matches away from Peshawar and Abbottabad following the federal government's declaration of a state of emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The fixtures have been shifted to Sheikhupura and Lahore. Matches in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will continue as scheduled.
The changes affect the penultimate round of the league stage. Ghani Glass will face Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy at Rana Naveed Academy in Sheikhupura, while Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited will play Oil and Gas Development Company Limited at the LCCA Ground in Lahore. Both matches begin on October 14.
The final round of the tournament has also been pushed back by one day and will now start on October 19. The LCCA Ground will host Markhor IT Solutions against Pakistan Television, and Hyderabad Kingsmen Academy will face State Bank of Pakistan at the National Cricket Ground in Islamabad.
Sudharsan hobbled off while fielding but batted after treatment, raising fresh fitness doubts days before the New Zealand A tour.
Sai Sudharsan left the field needing help after hurting himself while trying to stop a drive during Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy game against Rajasthan. After receiving treatment, the 24-year-old came back after lunch and opened the innings with N. Jagadeesan, but he managed only three runs before being dismissed. The incident happened on the second day in Jaipur.
Sudharsan had only just returned from a toe injury that kept him out of India’s Test series in Sri Lanka. He had been added to the Tamil Nadu side at the last moment after flying into Jaipur late on the eve of the match. Sportstar reports that he is still part of the India A squad for the three red-ball fixtures in New Zealand that start in Lincoln on October 26.
Naman Dhir has bowled regularly since he first picked up the ball, yet the IPL's Impact Player rule has cut his chances to do the same at franchise level. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder has five wickets in three T20Is against West Indies and leads India's wicket-takers in the current series.
Dhir made his T20I debut in Lucknow, returning 3 for 31 and 2 for 39 across his first two outings. Coaches tell him he will bat at six or seven depending on the match situation, while his bowling role is limited to two or three economical overs when required. Thinking like a batter, he says, helps him read what the opposition will try when he does get the ball.
A 28-ball 62 for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 and 655 runs at 217.61 in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 tournament earned him the India call-up.
