The Times of India

Smith reached the landmark on Day 3 when he caught David Bedingham off Pat Cummins' bowling

Ravichandran Ashwin criticized Shai Hope's decision to keep Akeal Hosein bowling during the PowerPlay. Sanju Samson capitalized on this, scoring 82 runs off 41 balls. Despite India's strong batting performance, the West Indies managed to chase down 249 runs successfully. Shai Hope's unbeaten century led his team to level the series at 1-1. The upcoming matches could continue to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by bowlers.

Rahmat Shah became the first Afghan cricketer to score a century on his Test captaincy debut, making 105 against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. However, Afghanistan were bowled out for 240, trailing Bangladeshs first-innings total of 346 by 106 runs. Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud claimed a hat-trick and five wickets, becoming the first Bangladeshi fast bowler to achieve a Test hat-trick.

Matt Renshaw showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring 190 runs in a thrilling match against South Africa. With Australia struggling at 124/6, he rallied by combining for 174 runs with lower-order batsmen, including a spectacular 134-run partnership with Nathan Lyon for the ninth wicket. This remarkable innings was pivotal in Australia's total of 390 all out, as South Africa responded with 27/1 at day's end.

India's T20I bowling performance has declined in 2026 when Jasprit Bumrah is absent from the team. Without him, India's average has increased notably, and they are struggling to take wickets. The ongoing T20I series against the West Indies has highlighted these challenges, particularly on batting-friendly surfaces. Additionally, India's fielding issues, including dropped catches, are compounding their problems.

Suresh Raina expressed optimism about Mohammed Shami's potential return to the national team. After Bhuvneshwar Kumar's successful comeback, Raina highlighted Shami's strong domestic performances. Despite concerns regarding Shami's IPL statistics, Raina remains confident in his abilities. Bhuvneshwar's recent contributions illustrate how discipline can lead to opportunities in international cricket. Raina noted that Shami is closely following Kumar's path to making a return.

A Karachi teenager named Adam Gilchrist grabbed attention after smashing 117 off 108 balls in Pakistans Under-17 school cricket tournament, helping Kamran Public School win by 172 runs. His cricket-loving father named him after Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, but the young left-handed wicketkeeper-batter idolises Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara and hopes to follow in his footsteps.

Roston Chase showcased a stunning performance with the ball, leading the West Indies to triumph over India in the second T20I. Claiming three wickets for only 24 runs, he dramatically influenced the match's result. Despite India amassing 249 runs, Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford forged a critical partnership that shifted the momentum in favor of the West Indies, sparking debates about the balance between bat and ball in the sport.

Former India coach and commentator Ravi Shastri surprised fans by sharing a picture with world-famous DJ Calvin Harris behind the decks in Athens. Shastri joked, Little bit of Calvin, little bit of Harris and a whole lot of DJ magic! The reason for their meeting remains unclear, though speculation suggests it may have been a private celebration.

Manchester United recorded their worst league start in nearly 40 years after drawing 1-1 with Tottenham, collecting just six points from six matches. Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead before Dominic Solanke equalised in stoppage time, despite Tottenham playing with 10 men. Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi praised his team's fighting spirit, while Michael Carrick lamented Uniteds failure to secure victory.

Virender Sehwag draws parallels between his explosive batting style and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless gameplay. The 15-year-old prodigy has made waves in T20Is, showcasing an impressive strike rate and accumulating runs effortlessly. Sehwag emphasises that age should take a backseat to performance at higher levels of cricket, especially with seasoned competitors like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma vying for opening positions.

Brendan Allen is looking to extend his three-fight winning streak against Christian Leroy Duncan as he continues to push for a UFC middleweight title shot. The American talks about a proposed fight with Dricus du Plessis that fell through, why he prefers to stay active and what he needs to do to get closer to the belt.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir addresses the team's bowling concerns after the defeat against West Indies in the T20I clash. Gambhir discusses India's inability to defend 250, the impact of dew and flat pitches, Shivam Dube's role in the batting order, and the need to keep improving against dangerous opponents. He also credits the West Indies batters for their match-winning performance and explains India's flexible approach to batting in T20 cricket.

Wasim Jaffer has raised eyebrows over Yashasvi Jaiswals late venture into wicketkeeping practice as he gears up for the Ranji Trophy. Jaffer pointed out the difficulty of mastering wicketkeeping, particularly without foundational training. He recommends that Jaiswal focus on his batting skills instead, especially since he aims to secure a spot on India's white-ball teams.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned India's bowling choices after their six-wicket defeat to the West Indies in Ranchi. He felt Mayank Yadav or Arshdeep Singh should have bowled the 18th over instead of Axar Patel. Gavaskar also suggested Kuldeep Yadav would have been a better option than Shivam Dube earlier, as India failed to defend 249 runs.

Mayank Yadav finished with three wickets in three overs but conceded 36 runs at an economy rate of 12.00. Despite his early strikes, India failed to defend 249 as the West Indies chased down the target to win by six wickets.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honoured the state's 2026 Chess Olympiad medallists, distributing Rs 60 lakh among five recipients. D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa received Rs 15 lakh each, while Savitha Shri, R Vaishali and captain Srinath Narayanan were awarded Rs 10 lakh each. The state also launched its Dream Olympics 2036 scheme to support athletes with training and nutrition costs.

The West Indies chased down a target of 250 in just 18.3 overs to register their highest successful T20I chase against India and level the five-match series 1-1. Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102, while Sherfane Rutherford made 84 to lead the visitors to victory.