Davis Cup: India trail Korea 0-2 as Nagal, Suresh squander early leads
Now India need to win all three matches on the final day to advance to the knockout stage which has happened only twice in India's history: in 2010 against Brazil at home and in 2018 against China in away tie
Brydon Carse won't face charges over Derby nightclub incident
England and Durham seamer could face further action from Cricket Regulator
Sanju Samson Joins 'Team Delhi' As Brand Ambassador
Sanju Samson has been appointed Brand Ambassador of Jan Kaushal Kendra, Moti Nagar, with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta highlighting his connection with the capital and role inspiring youth.
Digital Desk | Cuttack, Sep 19 (IANS) The Odisha T20 League CM Trophy is all set to kick off on Sunday at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Six teams, Keonjhar Miners, Bhubaneswar Tigers, Kataka Panthers, Puri Titans, Rourkela Superstars and Sambalpur Warriors will battle it out for the ultimate glory. The Keonjhar Miners franchise sees its entry into the Odisha T20 League as an opportunity to build more than just a cricket team, with a focus on creating a strong regional identity and providing a platform for young talent from Keonjhar and across Odisha. Speaking about the vision behind the franchise, owner Manish Khemmka said, For us, the Keonjhar Miners is about much more than cricket. Keonjhar has a very strong connection with OCL and with our broader journey in Odisha, and we felt that a sporting franchise was a natural way to deepen that relationship with the region. Cricket has a unique ability to bring people together, create aspirations and give young people a platform to express themselves. Our vision is to build the Keonjhar Miners into a team that the people of Keonjhar and Odisha can genuinely identify with and feel proud of, he further said. Over time, we would like the Miners to represent three things talent, opportunity and a strong regional identity. We are looking at this as a long-term association, not simply as participation in one tournament, he further added. The franchise also believes the Odisha T20 League can play an important role in widening the pathway for young cricketers from districts outside the traditional cricketing centres. I think it is extremely important. One of the biggest strengths of a state-level league is that it creates a structured platform where young cricketers can compete in a professional environment and demonstrate their ability. Odisha has considerable cricketing talent beyond the traditional centres, and leagues like this can help widen the pathway for players from different districts. The OCA has also articulated the objective of creating opportunities for Odishas players and providing a pathway for them to progress to the next level. For us, the opportunity is particularly meaningful because the Keonjhar identity gives us a natural platform to connect with young talent from the region. We want aspiring cricketers to believe that they dont necessarily have to come from one of the traditional cricketing centres to get noticed. If they have the talent, dedication and discipline, there should be a pathway for them, he said. Looking beyond the tournament, the franchise is also keen to develop grassroots programmes and strengthen its engagement with the local community. Our ambition is to build something that lasts beyond the ten days of the tournament. The first step is to establish the Keonjhar Miners as a strong sporting identity and build a genuine connection with our supporters. Over the longer term, we would like to explore grassroots cricket programmes, talent identification camps, coaching initiatives and engagement with schools and local communities in Keonjhar and across Odisha. The objective would be to identify promising young players early and give them access to better coaching, competition and exposure, Khemmka noted. At the same time, we want the fans to feel that this is their team. That means taking the Miners beyond the cricket ground, engaging with communities, involving young people and creating experiences around the team. Ultimately, if a young boy or girl in Keonjhar starts dreaming of playing professional cricket because they saw the Keonjhar Miners, and if the community starts seeing the team as a source of pride for the region, then we would feel that we have achieved something much bigger than winning matches. That is the legacy we would like to build, he concluded.
Digital Desk | Dehradun, Sep 18 (IANS) The third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) 2026 is set to get underway with an exciting mens opening clash, as Haridwar Elmas lock horns with Nainital Tigers on September 22 at 7:30 PM at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, Dehradun. The League will bring together the leading mens and womens teams from across Uttarakhand, with the tournament scheduled to run until October 1. The womens competition will get the UPL 2026 action underway on September 21, with Pithoragarh Hurricanes taking on Dehradun Warriors at 11:00 AM, followed by Bageshwar Aerial facing Mussoorie Queens at 3:00 PM. The mens competition will begin on September 22, with Haridwar Elmas locking horns with Nainital Tigers at 7:30 PM in the opening mens fixture of the third season. The second mens fixture will see Pithoragarh Hurricanes take on Tehri Titans on September 23, as the seven-team mens competition gets underway. The subsequent days will feature double-header action, providing fans with an extended run of T20 cricket as the teams compete for a place in the knockout stages. The mens competition will feature Pithoragarh Hurricanes, USN Indians, Nainital Tigers, Rishikesh River Kings, Haridwar Elmas, Tehri Titans and Dehradun Warriors. The teams have assembled squads comprising established players, icon players, Under-23 and Under-19 cricketers and uncapped talent following the Players Draft held on September 16. Sunil Joshi, chairperson, Uttarakhand Premier League said, The announcement of the UPL 2026 schedule marks an exciting stage as we get ready for the third edition of the league. With the womens competition opening the tournament on September 21 and the mens action beginning the following day, we are looking forward to a competitive season featuring players from across Uttarakhand. We hope the league provides an engaging platform for both established and emerging cricketers and gives fans an exciting month of T20 cricket. The opening mens fixture promises an intriguing contest, with Haridwar Elmas facing Nainital Tigers on September 22. On September 23, Pithoragarh Hurricanes will face Tehri Titans, with Mayank Mishra representing Pithoragarh Hurricanes as their icon player and Tejasvi Jaiswal headlining the Tehri Titans squad. The league phase will continue with mens double-header fixtures on the subsequent days, with the teams competing for progression into the knockout stage. The Eliminator is scheduled to be played on September 30, before the tournament reaches its climax with the UPL 2026 Final on October 1. The womens competition will feature Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes and Dehradun Warriors. The four teams will be led by icon players Nandini Kashyap, Prema Rawat, Raghavi Bisht and Sweta Verma, respectively. The September 21 double-header will mark the beginning of the womens competition, with Pithoragarh Hurricanes and Dehradun Warriors meeting in the opening game before Bageshwar Aerial take on Mussoorie Queens in the afternoon fixture. The UPL 2026 will be played from September 21 to October 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, Dehradun. The womens competition will culminate with the Final on September 24, bringing the womens leg of UPL 2026 to a close.
New France Boss Zinedine Zidane Confirms Kylian Mbappe As Captain After Naming First Squad
Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Friday that Kylian Mbappe would be his France captain after naming his first squad since being appointed as the successor to Didier Deschamps as coach of Les Bleus.
Travis Head Leads Run Spree As Australia Win Zimbabwe ODI Series
Travis Head struck 112 to lead an Australia charge in a series-clinching 84-run win over Zimbabwe in the 2nd one-day international in Harare on Friday.
Umpires Set For Big Pay Increase As BCCI Unveils New Evaluation System
The revised payments will be Rs 60,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 35,000 per day as per grades A, B, C and D.
Rishabh Pant Urges Fans To Back Indian Athletes Ahead Of Asian Games 2026
Rishabh Pant said he was excited to watch the Games and encouraged fans to support the athletes regardless of the results.
Northants denied by elements as promotion race goes to wire
Ricardo Vasconcelos scored 122 in pursuit of 349 before rain and bad light prevail
Middlesex thwarted despite Roland-Jones, Higgins salvoes
Gloucestershire grateful to rain as they escape for draw nine down
Both Asia Cup Trophies Will Land Up At BCCI Headquarters One Day, Says Devajit Saikia
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Friday expressed firm confidence that both the men's and women's Asia Cup trophies will eventually be housed at the board's headquarters here. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women's team declined to accept their winner's medals and the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the PCB chairman and Pakistan's interior minister, after winning the Asia Cup final in Dubai last week. It mirrors a similar stance taken by the Indian men's team following their Asia Cup triumph last year. We congratulated our women's team for their superb victory in Dubai last week. They have very nicely won the first match against Japan and we hope that they will win the gold medal in the Asian Games on 22nd of this month. Asia Cup trophies we hope it will come one day. I will not give you a timeline, but I can assure you that both the trophies will come up and land up in this BCCI head office at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Saikia told reporters at the end of the 95th BCCI AGM held at its headquarters on Friday. The player auction for the upcoming IPL season will take place in the second week of December, which will also be the final mini-auction of the current 2023-27 rights cycle. To commemorate 20 years of the league, the BCCI is planning grand celebrations for the upcoming edition. We have also discussed about engaging and activating our state associations to give support to physically-challenged cricketers. The BCCI will complete 100 years in December 2027, so we will do centenary celebrations from December 2027 for one year, added Saikia. Saikia further clarified that former Assam Ranji Trophy cricketer Subhadeep Ghosh has been brought in as the Indian men's cricket team fielding coach on a short-term assignment following the exit of T Dilip. Ghosh, who previously worked with the senior women's side between 2021 and 2023 and serves as a fielding coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, assumed the role ahead of India's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August. Saikia further clarified that former Assam Ranji Trophy cricketer Subhadeep Ghosh has been brought in as the Indian men's cricket team fielding coach on a short-term assignment following the exit of T Dilip. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories His tenure will be evaluated following India's upcoming tour of New Zealand, based on performance assessments and feedback from the rest of Indian team management. If approved, Ghosh could continue in the role till the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Article Source: IANS
Cricketer Abhishek Porel Gets Bail After Over A Month In Jail: Report
After spending over a month in jail, Delhi Capitals and Bengal wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel has reportedly been granted bail.
Head Heroics Power Australia to Series Win Over Zimbabwe
Australia secured an unassailable 2-0 ODI series lead against Zimbabwe after Travis Head's century powered them to a record total, backed by Adam Zampa's 200th wicket in an 84-run victory.
BCCI To Take Call On Chief Selector Agarkar's Future Within 15 Days, Says Devajit Saikia
Secretary Devajit Saikia: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will take a decision on senior men's chief selector Ajit Agarkar's future within the next 15 days, said Secretary Devajit Saikia after the 95th Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place here on Friday. Agarkar, who assumed the chief selector's role in July 2023, has been a part of a successful period for the national side. Under his term as chief selector, India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final, won the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy, and retained the T20 World Cup title at home earlier this year. His term ends on October 4, and the BCCI will have to make a decision as India enters the final leg of preparations for the 2027 Mens ODI World Cup. Today, there has been no discussion about any individual. We still have 15 days to go. We will take a decision and in appropriate time, we will let you know, Saikia told reporters. In a major administrative decision, the BCCI has approved a substantial fee revision for domestic umpires and match referees, marking the first compensation enhancement since the 2017/18 season. Since 2017-18, there was no revision of the fees of the umpires. So we have done a restructuring of their categories. Earlier there were four categories, A+, A, B and C. Now we have restructured it as A, B, C and D. All their fees per day has been enhanced substantially, said Saikia. The BCCI has also introduced a merit-based promotion and demotion mechanism to foster accountability among match officials. Those who will be doing good, 10 umpires will be upgraded to the next level. Those umpires who are at the upper level, if they are not performing up to that level or they are a satisfactory level, they will be downgraded. 10 umpires will go up, 10 umpires will go down, he added. Saikia also quashed rumours over a possible change of venue for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Ranchi, scheduled to be held from February 19 to 23, 2027. There are six months left. We will take a call after a few days. We havent received any such requests as of now about the change of venue for the Ranchi Test. He also informed the new junior mens selection committee would soon be formed after the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviews candidates for the positions. We have received a large number of applicants for the junior selection committee, which we will give to our cricket committee, which will be competent to select the selectors. We will be trying to complete the process in the next 10-15 days. On the subject of aligning with the proposed Central Sports Act, Saikia clarified that the BCCI will await official notification from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports before making any structural amendments. Regarding the Sports Act, our stand is very clear. There are a lot of things which are yet to be done from the concerned authority. Once those exercises are completed, and once BCCI comes under the Sports Act, a particular notification has to be issued to make it a designated sport. On the subject of aligning with the proposed Central Sports Act, Saikia clarified that the BCCI will await official notification from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports before making any structural amendments. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Addressing the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court regarding the matter, Saikia said, So, as of today, there is nothing like that, which was mentioned in the Supreme Court that day. We will give the clarification on 27th of October, when the matter will be listed next time. Article Source: IANS
Abhishek Sharma Reveals Yuvraj Singh Text That Led To Record-Breaking T20I Hundred
After playing a record-breaking innings against Afghanistan in the third T20I, Abhishek Sharma revealed an interaction he had with Yuvraj Singh.
DDCA President Rohan Jaitley Praises Successful India-Afghanistan 'The Friendship Cup' In Delhi
With Afghanistan playing its home series against India in Delhi, the occasion was also a great reflection of the strong bond between the two countries and the power of sport to bring people closer.
BCCI waits on Agarkar decision; IPL 2027 auction in December
The BCCI held its 95th annual general meeting in Mumbai on Friday
Ajit Agarkar Set To Quit As BCCI Chief Selector, Search For Successor Underway: Sources
As per NDTV sources, Ajit Agarkar has expressed his intention to step down from the top job at the end of his term.
Ajit Agarkar Out, BCCI Lines Up 2-Man Shortlist For Chief Selector's Role: Sources
Speculation has been mounting over the past few days regarding Ajit Agarkar's future and whether he will be granted an extension.
Ryan Patel hundred in vain as Glamorgan do double over Surrey
Kia Oval victory all but secures Welsh county's Division One spot for 2027
Accused of Corruption, Pakistan's Rizwan Seeks ICC Guidance
Former Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan has contacted the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit for clarification on procedures related to corruption investigations, as he faces questioning by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over alleged links to illegal betting and gambling sites. This development follows the confiscation and forensic examination of his mobile phone, alongside Imam-ul-Haq's, during a recent tour, highlighting concerns about the PCB's compliance with ICC anti-corruption protocols and Pakistan cricket's history with such scandals.
Pay hike for domestic umpires and match referees
Head's 75-ball hundred sets up huge Australia total
Cooper Connolly and Mitchell Marsh made half-centuries while Ollie Peake added some powerful finishing touches
BCCI secretary assures Asia Cup trophies 'will land up' at their head office
Both India's men and women's teams didn't accept the Asia Cup winners' trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chief
Worcestershire halt Durham's winning run (with aid of rain)
Visitors 32 for 1 after being set 253 to win before elements conspire against a positive result
Cricketer Sanju Samson Meets Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met star cricketer and youth icon Sanju Samson on Friday and congratulated him on joining Team Delhi. Sharing a message on X, the Chief Minister said, Sanju shares a special bond with Delhi, where he spent his early years and began his cricketing journey. Now, as Brand Ambassador of Jan Kaushal Kendra, Moti Nagar, appointed by the Madan Lal Khurana Foundation, he will inspire Delhis youth towards skills, opportunities and self-reliance. MLA Shri Harish Khurana Ji, senior members of Trinity Foundation and IACT Education were also present, she said on X. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister welcomed young travel influencers and digital creators from Chhattisgarh at the Delhi Secretariat. Over the next five days, they will witness the changing Delhi taking shape under the leadership of Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodiJi and share its development story through their own lens and creativity. A Viksit Delhi in the making, with many stories worth sharing, said the Chief Minister on X. During the day, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Virasat Club Scheme for government school students to educate them about the citys rich heritage. In a message on X, the Chief Minister said, On the second day of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan organised on the occasion of the birthday of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Virasat Club Scheme was inaugurated today. During the day, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Virasat Club Scheme for government school students to educate them about the citys rich heritage. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories On this occasion, Education Minister Ashish Sood and Tourism and Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra were also present. Article Source: IANS
BCCI Plays Waiting Game on Agarkar's Future Amid Rumored Rifts
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia provided updates on several key issues, including the uncertain future of chief selector Ajit Agarkar, whose contract expires soon. Saikia also denied reports of a potential venue change for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Ranchi and discussed the formation of a new junior selection committee and the short-term appointment of fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh.
Agarkars tenure as chief selector all but over
BCCI secretary Saikia, however, remains non-committal about the Mumbaikars future
U-19 cricket | Yashbardhans all-round show helps India pip Australia
'Asia Cup trophies will be in BCCI office one day'
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the missing Asia Cup trophies for both men's and women's teams will eventually reach the BCCI headquarters, though no timeline was given. He also expressed confidence in the women's team winning gold at the Asian Games.
Japan Cricketers Hail 'Amazing' Experience Playing India At Asian Games 2026
Japan's women cricketers said they had an amazing experience at the Asian Games on Friday, despite the hosts being crushed by powerhouse India in the quarter-finals. India, ranked behind only Australia and England, bowled out Japan for 57 off 19.5 overs in the Twenty20 contest. Led by opener Shafali Verma's unbeaten 40 off 15 balls, India romped to an eight-wicket victory by reaching 59-2 off just five overs. Japan have appeared in two previous Asian Games and are benefiting from a push to promote cricket in the baseball-obsessed country, where it is a minority sport. This opportunity was amazing, especially for me, said Japan's Ahilya Chandel. Being half-Indian, it was extra special. Watching the team on TV and now being able to face them in real life has been great. From this game we can learn a lot about what we can work on in the future, if we get to face them again or play higher-ranked teams. A good-size crowd of home supporters turned out to watch Japan at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nagoya. Playing at home was really good and special, said Chandel. Friends and family came, along with supporters and our sponsors. There were probably fans who didn't know cricket but came to watch because it was a new sport for them. That's what we want as a women's cricket team, to attract Japanese people who dont know cricket. Defending Asian Games champions India will play Bangladesh in Sunday's semi-finals and Pakistan face Sri Lanka. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sri Lanka beat Malaysia by 86 runs in the day's other quarter-final.
All-round Yashbardhan Chauhan Shines As India U-19 Beat Australia U-19 By Seven Runs
Niranjan Shah Stadium: All-rounder Yashbardhan Chauhan produced a fine all-round display as India Under-19 edged past Australia Under-19 by seven runs in a rain-curtailed first Youth ODI here at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Friday. In a match reduced to 20 overs a side due to rain, India U-19 posted a strong total of 182/6 after being sent into bat. Chauhan led the scoring with 54 off 34 balls, laced with five boundaries and two sixes. The match also featured Anvay Dravid and Aryaveer Sehwag, the sons of legendary India cricketers Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. Opening the batting in his father's trademark aggressive style and in front of him at the stadium, batting all-rounder Aaryavir set the early tempo with 28 off 26 balls, including hitting five fours. Later in the innings, wicketkeeper-batter Anvay turned aggressor by smashing a 18-ball 38 at an explosive strike rate of 211.11, hitting two fours and three sixes. Dravid and Chauhan joined forces for a crucial 69-run fifth-wicket stand, which pulled India out of trouble after being at 88/4 in the 12th over. Off-spinner Eli Brain was the stand-out bowler for Australia, returning with figures of 2-29 in his four overs. Chasing 183, Australia U-19 put up a spirited fight, powered by solid contributions from their top order. Captain Jack Czosnek kept the visitors in the hunt with a blistering 55 off 27 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. With Australia needing 24 off 11 deliveries, Czosnek smashed three consecutive boundaries, including reaching his half-century off 25 balls on the second one, before falling on the very next ball. Chasing 183, Australia U-19 put up a spirited fight, powered by solid contributions from their top order. Captain Jack Czosnek kept the visitors in the hunt with a blistering 55 off 27 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Brief Scores: India Under-19s 182/6 (Yashbardhan Chauhan 54, Anvay Dravid 38; Eli Brain 2-29) beat Australia Under-19s 175/7 (Jack Czosnek 55, Neel Patel 45; Yashbardhan Chauhan 2-28) by seven runs Article Source: IANS
Asian Games Cricket Venue Under Fire, Waterlogging Among Major Concerns: Sources
Ahead of the semi-finals, concerns have been raised over the condition of the cricket venue at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Zimbabwe to host WI women for three ODIs and three T20Is in September-October
The ODIs, which are part of the ICC Women's Championship, will be held at the Harare Sports Club on September 24, 27 and 30
Jos Buttler Shatters Huge World Record, Sets New T20 Cricket Benchmark
Jos Buttler now has 15,000 runs in 528 matches at an average of 35.46, including nine centuries and 107 fifties.
Sehwag's son debuts but Dravid Jr steals the show
India Under-19 secured a narrow seven-run victory over Australia U-19 in a rain-affected first Youth ODI. Anvay Dravid's explosive late innings and Yashbardhan Chauhan's all-round performance, including a half-century and two wickets, were pivotal. The match also marked the U19 debut of Aaryavir Sehwag, who contributed 28 runs.
Zimbabwe to host West Indies for womens white-ball games in September-October
Digital Desk | Harare, Sep 18 (IANS) Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) have announced that it will host West Indies for a six-match womens white-ball series starting in Harare later this month. The series will feature three ODIs and is followed by as many T20I games. The three-match ODI series is a part of the ICC Womens Championship pathway, and will be played at the Harare Sports Club on September 24, 27, and 30 respectively. Both teams will then move to the Takashinga Cricket Club for the T20I fixtures scheduled for October 3, 5, and 7 respectively. The incoming tour extends a packed international calendar for Zimbabwe, coming on the heels of their Championship away visits to New Zealand and Pakistan, alongside an ongoing domestic T20I series against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. We are delighted to welcome West Indies Women to Harare for what promises to be an exciting series. Regular exposure to high-quality international cricket is vital to the development of Zimbabwe Women and playing a side of West Indies stature gives our players another opportunity to test their skills, learn and build the experience and confidence they need to become more competitive. This tour adds to a busy programme for our womens team and reflects our commitment to creating more opportunities for them at international level, ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said in a statement on Friday. The ODI games will begin at 9:30 local time, while the subsequent T20I matches at Takashinga will feature afternoon starts to wrap up the tour. Following this, Zimbabwe are also scheduled to travel to India for a white-ball series in October, marking this as the first-ever bilateral meeting between the two women's teams. The tour will feature three T20Is to be played on October 16, 18, and 20 respectively at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. It is followed by three ODIs to be played in BCA Stadium, Vadodara on October 23, 25, and 28 respectively.
Breaking Rohits Record For Fastest T20I Ton One Of My Biggest Achievements, Says Abhishek
Eclipsing Rohit Sharma: Eclipsing Rohit Sharmas record for fastest mens T20I century by an India batter through smashing a breathtaking 30-ball century against Afghanistan, left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma said achieving this at the Arun Jaitley Stadium stands as a defining milestone and attributed the blistering knock to a fearless team environment backing him to play aggressively. Abhishek tore into the Afghanistan bowling attack by hitting 108 off just 34 balls and took India to a formidable 221/7, as they won by 127 runs to win the series 3-0. His 30-ball century broke the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a Test-playing nation batter, surpassing the previous record of 33-ball tons held by Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and New Zealand's Finn Allen. The fastest overall hundred in T20 cricket remains Sahil Chauhans 27-ball effort for Estonia. Abhishek brought up his landmark century, his third ton in the format, with a quick single before dropping into a brief meditation pose on the pitch to celebrate. He was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Rashid Khan, but after hitting nine boundaries and 11 sixes. It's a big achievement, not for just me, for all the Indians I could probably say, because I still remember the way Rohit bhaji used to play T20 cricket, I really loved and enjoyed when I was watching back at home and breaking that record, it's one of my biggest achievements for now, Abhishek said in a video posted on bcci.tv on Friday. Highlighting the firm backing from head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek stated that minor setbacks like the defeats in Ireland and England did not diminish the batting unit's aggressive blueprint built over the last two years. I said on the first day as well when I got the Man of the Match award, we dominated the whole two years before the World Cup and probably just after the World Cup, 1-2 series can't define our betting department and the way we want to play. It's our responsibility as a batter to make sure we create that atmosphere again, where we have freedom to just go and express ourselves. Big mention to coach and captain because once they are on your side, I feel it gives you more freedom and confidence. Abhishek further revealed that Gambhir explicitly tasked him with driving that high-tempo mindset from the outset by giving a pep talk in the pre-match team huddle in Punjabi. I still remember in the first practice session when we spoke about how we want to dominate again and in that process you have to be fearless, you have to think about the team always. I still remember once I started when Sky was there, so he always wanted me to utilise the power play, because if you see a T20 game is mostly about the power-plays. So that's what GG bhai was saying - he wanted me to just create that atmosphere and create that in the team dressing room where you can just go and be fearless and play the way you want and express yourself, he explained. GG bhai came to me before the game only that I have to speak in the huddle, so I asked him if I can speak in Punjabi, because I feel when a Punjabi speaks in Punjabi, it actually motivates the whole team. I called the team Soormas, that means warriors. Soormas are those who always play in their way and win the games, so that's why I wanted to create that intent in the team just before the game, he added. Addressing his team-mates in the huddle, Abhishek rallied the Indian team by saying, Im going to speak in Punjabi. So, boys, we are going to play like Soormas. Soorma means warriors. The way weve been playing this entire series, thats exactly how we need to finish it today. Warriors never show mercy to anyone. We arent letting them off the hook today. Look at the crowd, well have to give them full entertainment. Alright? Otherwise, let's smash it. Chak de phatte, nap de killi, subah Jalandhar, shaam nu Dilli. Explaining the light-hearted ending to his speech, Abhishek said, After that, as I said, because we are playing in Delhi, so we have this line, I think Navjot Singh Sidhu sir used to say a lot, so that's what I wanted to make it a bit lighter atmosphere in the team. Off the park, Abhishek credited meditation and visualization routines for helping him maintain mental clarity under pressure. I mean, yes, I was manifesting this because the things I can't tell what I'm getting from meditation and I just wanted to convey in this way because that's how as a cricketer audience and people would enjoy and they would listen to you. Explaining the light-hearted ending to his speech, Abhishek said, After that, as I said, because we are playing in Delhi, so we have this line, I think Navjot Singh Sidhu sir used to say a lot, so that's what I wanted to make it a bit lighter atmosphere in the team. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Whoever youngsters who wants to learn something new, I feel this is something which I've recovered, which I've discovered actually from last six months, seven months and it actually helped me a lot and just being a bit more spiritual, that's it. Article Source: IANS
Rahul Dravid's Son Steals Show As Sehwag Jr Debuts In India's Thrilling U-19 Win
India Under-19 rode a blistering late assault from Anvay Dravid and a fluent half-century from Yashbardhan Chauhan to set up a seven-run win over Australia U-19 in a rain-truncated first Youth ODI.
Will Ajit Agarkar Get An Extension? Report Provides Huge Update On BCCI's Decision
The member units of the BCCI entrusted the office-bearers to take a call on whether to give chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar an extension or find his replacement during the Annual General Meeting.
Sussex seal victory as Notts falter in title defence
Champions left needing favours from elsewhere in final round after succumbing to seven-wicket defeat
Lungi Ngidi Ruled Out Of Australia ODI Series With Right Hamstring Injury
In place of Lungi Ngidi, South Africa have named young pacer Nqobani Mokoena as his replacement. Mokoena made his ODI debut in the recent series against Namibia, featuring in two matches and claiming...
Chauhan, Anvay Dravid shine as India Under-19s clinch thriller
Australia Under-19s fell seven short in 183 chase after rain reduced the match to 20 overs
We Should Be Doing Incredible Things: Gautam Gambhir Sets 'Mission 300' For Team India
India should breach the 300-run mark soon in T20 cricket considering the special talent the team possesses, its head coach Gautam Gambhir has said.
Nitish and Hardik can be part of the same XI: Gambhir
With Indias next big priority being the 2027 ODI World Cup, the head coach understandably wants both all-rounders to be fit and firing
ASIAN GAMES 2026 | Its a stroll in the park for India against Japan
CRICKET | Fans brave testing conditions as the Women in Blue first decimate the Japanese batting, and then overhaul the 58-run target in five overs for an eight-wicket win
India vs Japan One-Off T20I Venue Pictures Emerge, Internet Has Questions
Team India will take on Japan in a historic one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground on September 22, with the fixture set to mark the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
BCCI AGM: Dhumal, Majumdar retained in IPL Governing Council; umpires set for pay raise
Mumbai The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday re-elected Arun Singh Dhumal and M Khairul Jamal The post BCCI AGM: Dhumal, Majumdar retained in IPL Governing Council; umpires set for pay raise appeared first on Bilkul Online .
India captain Shreyas Iyer made a special gesture towards Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran after the conclusion of the T20I series.
Rohit's 1 Word For Mumbai Amid IPL Chatter
Rohit Sharma declares his 'forever' loyalty to Mumbai Indians on his Sony show
BCCI office-bearers authorised to take call on Ajit Agarkar's future
The BCCI's member units have authorised office-bearers to make a decision regarding the extension of chief selector Ajit Agarkar's contract, which is set to expire early next month, and to fill vacancies in the junior selection committee.
PGTI leader Saptak Talwar sees star-studded India Championship as a game changer for Indian golf
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Saptak Talwar, Indias current No. 1 on the DP World PGTI Tour, knows the next few weeks could be life-changing for him and take the 27-year-old to the next level in the sport. The tournament not only boasts of a massive $4 million prize, the highest in India for the second year running, but could also decide the topper of the DP World PGTI Order of Merit, newly named as the Race to DP World India Championship. Following a landmark arrangement between the DP World PGTI and the DP World Tour, the winner of the domestic Indian Order of Merit will get a full status on the main Tour. The arrangement is also the latest marker of the investment global logistics provider DP World has made in Indian golf part of a wider sporting footprint that also includes cricket and a consistent focus on bringing more young people into the sport. The event brings huge benefits for both the fans and the Indian golfers. While the fans await a golfing feast with the likes of two-time Masters winner, Rory McIlroy, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood and former FedEx Cup winner, Viktor Hovland, and Major champions like Ryan Fox, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, the top Indian golfers realise that the DP World India Championship could be a life-changer for them. The newly constituted Race to DP World India Championship is a competition to determine DP World PGTI Order of Merit Champion for 2026, DP World India Championship 2026 qualifiers and playing rights on the DP World PGTI for 2027. The race in its debut year, will feature non-stop golfing action on the DP World PGTI calendar in the run-up to the DP World India Championship 2026. The top 24 players of the standings will earn their spots for the DP World India Championship 2026 while the Top 60 players on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit who will retain their playing rights for the 2027 DP World PGTI season. The nine events of the second half of the season, which concludes with the inaugural Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship in the first week of October, will finalise 24 spots for DPWIC and the R2DPWIC for 2027 will run through the full DP World PGTI calendar from next season. Talwar currently holds a lead of more than Rs. 20 lakhs over No. 2 Jhared Hack (US), but the latter is not likely to play any more events over the next few weeks in India. Also, Talwar is more than Rs. 30 lakhs (twice what a player earns for a regular win in a Rs. One Crore event) ahead of the next best Indian, Honey Baisoya. Yet Talwar says, The DP World PGTI Order of Merit is not a done deal. With the OOM finishing at DGC (DP World India Championship), anything can happen. We have four events left and the last one on DP World PGTI is the Kapil Dev Invitational, which has double the Prize Money and then there is the big one the DP World India Championship, where the prize purse is almost 38-40 times more at $4 million. So, the top Indian golfer could well walk away with the Merit honours by doing well in DP World India Championship. And I see no reason why one of us cannot do that. However, as Amandeep Johl, CEO of DP World PGTI confirmed, Only one fourth of that prize money will be counted towards the DP World PGTI Order of Merit. Talwar added, I am also missing the Tour Championships (Kapil Dev Invitational) as I am off to Asian Games in Japan that week. So, the DP World India Championship can be a life-changer for me and many other Indian players. Talwars compatriots Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri will also be playing at DP World India Championship this year. Talwar, who early in his career, also played on the Canadian Tour, has now decided to try and top the DP World PGTI OOM to get into the main Tour in 2027. There has been further recognition in the form of a place in the National three-man team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, alongside Yuvraj Sandhu and Veer Ahlawat, who before him had earned DP World Tour cards in 2026 and 2025. This season Talwar has gained a lot of experience as he played a lot of events on the HotelPlanner (HPT), the second rung Tour in Europe, this season. At one point he had two possibly pathways to the DP World Tour for 2027. I had set myself a goal or threshold to try for a card through HPT, but when I was not inside that I decided to get back to India and play the DP World PGTI, where I was leading, says Talwar. Then there is the DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club. That golf course is close to my heart and for many others in India. I literally grew up on the B course, have seen every big event. As a junior I attended many of the clinics by world class players like Ernie Els and others. So, to be playing alongside the likes of Masters winners, Major champions and PGA Tour players is a great opportunity for us to showcase Indian talent. While admitting that the current Indian pros have not won as much as the previous generation from Jeev Milkha Singh to Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal to Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur and Shubhankar Sharma, Talwar added, This event, the DP World India Championship is a game changer for Indian golf. This could a catalyst for Indian golf. In 10 years, we will see this as the one that changed the landscape of Indian golf. We have a number of good players, but they have not translated into wins. One win could ignite that fire and then we will have a big bunch of winners. Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, DP World (India) Subcontinent, said: India is one of the largest markets in our global network, and we remain focused on strengthening our ports, rail and inland logistics network across the country. Our commitment to India extends beyond our business, and supporting the growth of sport is an important part of that commitment. We are particularly pleased that the DP World India Championship can create genuinely life-changing opportunities for players like Saptak. With the newly named Race to DP World India Championship providing a pathway to the DP World Tour, Indian golfers now have a clear opportunity to take their game to the next level. We are delighted to play our part in helping make that possible. This has been his big breakthrough year for Talwar, though he won his maiden pro title in 2025. He added a second PGTI win at the Indo-Rama Ventures Open at Kalhaar and was second in the HotelPlanner event in India. Since then, he has been a prime contender for the DP World -PGTI Order of Merit, which has multiple benefits. And, now the DP World India Championship could see Saptak Talwar take the next big step in the big and highly competitive world of golf.
What Yuvi Told Abhishek before Record Ton
Abhishek Sharma's record 30-ball century against Afghanistan had a little help from mentor Yuvraj Singh.
BCCI Office Bearers Authorised To Take Decision Related To Chief Selector Ajit Agarkars Future
IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers have been authorised to take a call on all things related to the mens selection committees and offered no clarity on the future of chief selector Ajit Agarkar during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday. The development comes amid rising uncertainty over Agarkars position as the chairman of the senior mens selection committee. Agarkars contract runs till October 2026 and its yet to be known if it will be extended till next years ODI World Cup, to be played in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. Apart from this, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and Khairul Jamal Majumdar have been re-elected unopposed to the IPL Governing Council. Today's meeting went well, everything went well. The same people are repeated in the IPL Governing Council - Arun Dhumal and Mamon. Regarding the selectors (in both senior and junior mens committees), an authorisation has been taken and we will decide about the selectors later, Shukla said to reporters after the AGM ended at the BCCI headquarters. If Agarkar doesnt continue, the BCCI will have to follow the standard procedure, which involves inviting applications through a public advertisement and conducting candidate interviews. It is understood that former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel, currently the assistant coach at Gujarat Titans in the IPL and ventured into commentary duties, has emerged as a potential contender to take Agarkars spot in the panel if the BCCI office bearers decide to bring in a change in the panel. The murmurs of Patel coming into an influential role in the selection committee have been in on and off mode since March, but with him already past 5 years of retiring actively from the game, he can be a potential contender to replace Agarkar. Agarkar, who missed a high-profile review meeting on September 3 due to him being at a place where internet wasnt available, had attended the recent Afghanistan-India T20I games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, alongside his selection committee colleagues RP Singh and Ajay Ratra. In the second game held on Tuesday, Shukla along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI President Mithun Manhas were present in the stadium alongside Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials. Agarkar, who missed a high-profile review meeting on September 3 due to him being at a place where internet wasnt available, had attended the recent Afghanistan-India T20I games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, alongside his selection committee colleagues RP Singh and Ajay Ratra. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories One of the agendas at the AGM was the inclusion of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the BCCI fold, but it is understood that their bid for affiliate membership is deferred because of legal issues. Domestic umpires, match referees, and scorers are in line for a significant pay raise, with the BCCI likely to form a three-member committee to finalise the fee structure. Article Source: IANS
What Dhruv Jurel's ODI Selection Means For Rishabh Pant? Ex-India Star Explains
The selectors preferred youngster Dhruv Jurel as India's second-choice wicketkeeper-batter behind KL Rahul.
Charani, Shafali power India past Japan and into Asian Games semi-finals
India set up semi-finals date with Bangladesh on September 20 for a spot in the gold-medal match
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Bolstered by the experience of competing in international events in the last five-six months, Indias soft tennis stars Jay Meena and Aadhya Tiwari are aiming to clinch an elusive medal at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. The dynamic duo, who have a world championship medal and multiple Asian championship medals in mixed doubles, are leading a six-member soft tennis squad in Japan. Jay is competing in mens singles, mens team and mixed doubles events, while Aadhya will participate in womens singles and mixed doubles categories. The other members of the team include Yogesh Choudhary (mens team), Om Yadav (mens team), Aniket Chirag Patel (mens team) and Aryan Thakur (mens singles and mens team). The squad is accompanied by coach Devanshi Hareshbhai Patel and physiotherapist Utsav Kumar Dubey. India began their Asian Games campaign in the mens team event on a winning note entering the quarterfinals of the soft tennis competition. India defeated Laos 3-0 in the first preliminary match of Group C. The nation endured a 3-0 loss against Chinese Taipei in the second encounter before trumping Mongolia 3-0 in the third match to qualify for the quarterfinals, where they lost to Indonesia. Hailing from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, Jay developed interest in soft tennis by chance. As a young boy, he was more interested in cricket and initially aspired to become a cricketer before his curiosity led him to watch boys play the sport at a soft tennis court adjacent to his school. By the age of 14, he was already competing internationally. He also represented India in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games before bagging gold in mens singles at the 36th National Games in Gujarat. He never looked back thereafter. In 2024, partnering Aadhya, Jay created history by winning Indias first-ever medal at the World Soft Tennis Championships, securing bronze in mixed doubles. He strengthened his credentials by becoming the national champion in 2025. He also became the first Indian to secure a medal at the continental level by clinching bronze in the mens singles at the 2025 Asian Soft Tennis Championship. Recently he won bronze in mens singles at the 2026 Sunchang Open. Following his consistent performances, Jay was inducted in Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) last year by Sports Authority of India, offering him financial assistance towards international competition exposure and national coaching camps in Jammu and Ahmedabad. Jay said that competing in international competitions gave him and his team members the edge over their rivals. In 2018 I played my first Asian Games in Jakarta. It was a very different experience of my life. I came to know what the value of Asian Games is. This is my third Asian Games. In China too, when the Asian Games were held in Hangzhou, I reached the quarterfinals in singles and there I lost very narrowly. But this time, the Indian federation and Indian government have done a lot of hard work on the players. I want to thank the Sports Ministry and our government for their unprecedented support. We had international camps; we stayed out of the country for four-five months, playing in Korea and Japan. I am in TAGG scheme. I was provided equipment, which are generally imported, like racquets and balls etc. free of cost apart from shoes and playing kits and tracksuits. Playing in Korea and Japan has boosted my confidence. Both the countries organise leagues and tournaments throughout the year which helps the players keep in shape. You develop good muscle memory and then when there is a pressure situation in the match your body doesnt feel it. We have never won a medal at the Asian Games and this is our target this time, Jay explained. Aadhya, who hails from a small town Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh, started playing tennis from the age of three years even though her father was a Ranji Trophy cricketer. She initially struggled as there were no coaches to teach her the nuances of tennis. I learned tennis by myself. Then I was playing lawn tennis and was the Asia No. 6 seed. I played lawn tennis quite well; almost until 2013. After that, I went to a tournament, and there the soft tennis secretary from Madhya Pradesh approached me, saying, Why don't you try soft tennis? So, I was like, Okay, sir, I'll try once. In my very first tournament, I got two bronze and one silver medal, and my name came up in the Junior World Championship, and Senior World Championship. Ever since then, I have been continuing soft tennis because in lawn tennis, there were high costs involved, Aadhya told SAI Media from Japan. Aadhya is currently India No. 1 in soft tennis. In 2018, she was the youngest to represent India in the Asian Games at the age of 15. At 2023 Hangzhou edition, Aadhya finished fifth in womens team event. In 2025, she won bronze medals in mixed doubles and mixed team events at the Asian Soft Tennis Championship. Inducted in TAGG scheme, Aadhya was also part of the international competition exposure and national camps organized by SAI. I am very thankful to the TAGG scheme because the camps we got helped our game develop and improve a lot. SAI has helped us a lot. The training we got in the camps, and all the infrastructure, equipment, and even racquets - everything was provided by SAI, and the training went very well this time. In Korea too, there was a full one-month camp, and in Japan, a pre-Asian Games camp was held for 20 days. Right now, I would just say that there are high chances of getting a medal, Aadhya said.
BCCI office bearers authorised to take decision related to chief selector Agarkars future
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 18 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers have been authorised to take a call on all things related to the mens selection committees and offered no clarity on the future of chief selector Ajit Agarkar during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday. The development comes amid rising uncertainty over Agarkars position as the chairman of the senior mens selection committee. Agarkars contract runs till October 2026 and its yet to be known if it will be extended till next years ODI World Cup, to be played in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. Apart from this, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal and Khairul Jamal Majumdar have been re-elected unopposed to the IPL Governing Council. Today's meeting went well, everything went well. The same people are repeated in the IPL Governing Council - Arun Dhumal and Mamon. Regarding the selectors (in both senior and junior mens committees), an authorisation has been taken and we will decide about the selectors later, Shukla said to reporters after the AGM ended at the BCCI headquarters. If Agarkar doesnt continue, the BCCI will have to follow the standard procedure, which involves inviting applications through a public advertisement and conducting candidate interviews. It is understood that former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel, currently the assistant coach at Gujarat Titans in the IPL and ventured into commentary duties, has emerged as a potential contender to take Agarkars spot in the panel if the BCCI office bearers decide to bring in a change in the panel. The murmurs of Patel coming into an influential role in the selection committee have been in on and off mode since March, but with him already past 5 years of retiring actively from the game, he can be a potential contender to replace Agarkar. Agarkar, who missed a high-profile review meeting on September 3 due to him being at a place where internet wasnt available, had attended the recent Afghanistan-India T20I games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, alongside his selection committee colleagues RP Singh and Ajay Ratra. In the second game held on Tuesday, Shukla along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI President Mithun Manhas were present in the stadium alongside Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials. Asked about potential venue change for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at Ranchi, Shukla clarified that no such deliberations took place during the meeting. No, there was no discussion about the venue for that Test match. There were some fixtures. Out of them, the fixtures which were of 50 overs, it is now done of 20 overs, added Shukla. One of the agendas at the AGM was the inclusion of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the BCCI fold, but it is understood that their bid for affiliate membership is deferred because of legal issues. Domestic umpires, match referees, and scorers are in line for a significant pay raise, with the BCCI likely to form a three-member committee to finalise the fee structure.
300 in 20 overs! Gambhir's next target for Team India
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir believes the national team possesses the talent to breach the 300-run mark in T20 cricket soon, emphasising the importance of impactful performances over individual milestones.
Asian Games 2026: India Women Meet Bangladesh In Semifinals In Bid To Defend Gold
Nagoya Asian Games: India women will face Bangladesh in the second semifinal of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 at the Korogi Sports Park on Sunday as they look to defend their gold medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Harmanpreet Kaur's Women in Blue brushed aside hosts Japan in a lopsided affair in the quarterfinal to march into the semifinals of the tournament for the second straight time in as many tournament appearances. The Women in Blue are favourites to defend their gold medal that they won after beating Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asiad final in what is a similar look to the semifinals, as it was in the previous edition. Just like in the 2023 Asian Games, India will meet Bangladesh in one of the two semifinals, while Sri Lanka will lock horns against Pakistan in the other last-four encounter. The Women in Blue are fresh from winning an eighth Asia Cup title a few days ago, while Bangladesh lost to the Indian juggernaut in the semifinal of that Asia Cup in Dubai. Indian players are in great form heading into the semifinal, with the likes of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana leading the show with the bat. The bowling unit matches foot to foot with the batters. Sree Charani is in the form of her life after picking two consecutive four-wicket hauls, with the second coming in the quarterfinal against Japan and is currently the World No.1 T20I bowler. Deepti Sharma continues to show her worth in both departments, while fast bowler Nandani Sharma has also been impressive. India have also been bolstered by the return of leg-spinner Shreyanka Patil, who picked one wicket during the quarterfinal after making a return from an injury layoff. The Women in Blue will want more from their middle order, which is a bit untested in recent times after the top order has been doing the heavy lifting in the Asia Cup. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are coming into the semifinal without any game time in Nisshin. Their quarterfinal against China was washed out, and they progressed through due to being the superior-ranked team of the two. The Women in Blue will want more from their middle order, which is a bit untested in recent times after the top order has been doing the heavy lifting in the Asia Cup. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The Bangladeshi side has defeated the Women in Blue only thrice in the 25 meetings and have often been found wanting in the batting department. They have shown decent outings with the ball, but it is their batters who have not been able to post competitive totals, not only against India, but against several other big teams. Article Source: IANS
No Sense Of Discrimination: Delhi Board Director On Hosting India-Afghanistan T20I Series
As India concluded the Afghanistan T20I series with a commanding 3-0 win, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Director Shyam Sunder said that hosting the India-Afghanistan T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi was a great experience.
Perth Scorchers head coach Adam Voges looks to pick the brain of Chennai Super Kings' batting coach Michael Hussey to learn about the unexpected Chepauk surface, which will be hosting the first match of the Big Bash League 2026-27.
India-Japan T20I: A Historic Cricketing Bridge Between Two Nations
Indias upcoming T20I against Japan is being presented as a historic first. It certainly is. But the significance of the September 22 match, for the Suzuki Cup at the Sano International Cricket Ground, goes far beyond the fact that India and Japan will meet for the first time. The match will also launch celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations. For India, the reigning T20 world champion, Japan represents a huge mismatch on paper, as they are ranked 41st in mens T20Is. Yet the worlds strongest cricket nation has chosen to play a developing cricket country, giving players, administrators, sponsors and young fans an opportunity to see international cricket at the highest level. Japan is not new to cricket. The game arrived there in the 19th century, with cricket being played in Yokohama as early as 1863. The Japan Cricket Association was established in 1984; Japan became an ICC Affiliate member in 1989 and an Associate member in 2005. Its mens team made its recognised tournament debut at the 1996 ACC Trophy. Japan subsequently won the ICC EAP Cricket Cup in 2005 and 2007. More recently, its progress has become increasingly visible. In 2026, Japan hosted the EAP T20 World Cup Qualifier, the biggest international cricket event staged in the country, involving nine teams. Japan also recorded a landmark 26-run victory over Papua New Guinea, its best result since ICC rankings began. So, India is not introducing Japan to cricket. It is stepping into a cricket movement that Japan has been building for decades. For India, it is an opportunity to help take the game somewhere it has traditionally struggled to reach. India already plays a wider range of opponents than the traditional cricket powers. Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland have all benefited from opportunities to play India, while Indias participation in tournaments such as the Asian Games and Asia Cup also creates exposure for emerging cricket nations. Afghanistan, unable to host international cricket at home for long periods, has found an important cricketing base in India. India have so far played 287 T20Is against 19 teams, and very soon Japan will be added to the list: Australia 37 T20Is, South Africa 36, England 35, Sri Lanka 33, the West Indies and New Zealand 31 each, Bangladesh 18, Zimbabwe and Pakistan 17 each, Ireland 10, Afghanistan 9, Namibia, the Netherlands, UAE and USA 2 each, and Hong Kong, Nepal, Oman and Scotland 1 each. The India-Japan match takes that philosophy one step further. Crickets growth cannot remain confined to its traditional territories. If the worlds most powerful cricket board can help strengthen the game in Japan, it can create a relationship that could eventually produce players, audiences and commercial opportunities far beyond one T20I. Indias approach in this respect is different from that of many other cricket powers. For example, England has recently been accused of ignoring emerging cricket altogether. The ECB has resisted proposals such as a European Nations Cup, citing the difficulty of finding additional space in an already crowded international calendar. But there is a larger question: if the richest and strongest cricket nations play mostly against one another, how do the next generation of cricket countries bridge the gap? England and Australia have largely operated within tighter bilateral circles, prioritising established rivalries. By contrast, Indias approach extends beyond bilateral cricket. Indias decision to go to Japan provides one possible answer. The value goes both ways. The BCCI and JCA can build an institutional relationship. The scoreboard is not the most important thing here. The bigger question is whether India can use its enormous influence to create more cricketing bridges, to Japan and eventually to other emerging nations. The India-Japan T20I is more than a bilateral match. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories In the context of Indias ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, this T20I shall be the first step of Sport 75, an initiative arising from an agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote relations between the two countries in the field of sports. For India, the September 22 match will also provide competitive preparation ahead of the Asian Games.
'I'm Man United Fan Because Of Nitish Rana, He Introduced Me To Football': Rinku Singh
And Rana Bhai: India cricketer Rinku Singh revealed that he is a core Manchester United fan, and his support for the Premier League club began after fellow cricketer Nitish Rana introduced him to football and helped him understand how to watch and follow the game. Rinku recently attended his first-ever live football match at Old Trafford, witnessing the Manchester derby against Manchester City in the Premier League. The experience gave the Indian cricketer an opportunity to watch the rivalry from inside the iconic stadium after previously following football only on television. Earlier, I was a United fan, and I still am to some extent because of Nitish Rana bhai. He introduced me to football and showed me how to watch the game. From there, my interest in football grew a bit. And Rana Bhai is a United fan, so I used to spend time with him, and watching him, I became a fan of United, Rinku told JioStar. The derby, however, did not produce the result Rinkus adopted club would have wanted. Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal in the second half. Despite arriving as a United supporter, Rinku admitted that he found himself backing City at certain stages of the match as United struggled to create an impact. Yes, I found myself supporting City a little bit as the match went on. United werent playing that well, while City were looking better at the time, he said. For Rinku, though, the result was secondary to the experience of watching a football match live for the first time. He said the atmosphere inside Old Trafford helped him understand why the sport has such a strong following around the world. I consider myself lucky because I got to watch a match between City and United. I was very lucky to be there and watch the match at such a time. It was the first live football match of my life, and it was a completely different feeling altogether, he said. I realised what it feels like to watch a football match live in a stadium. I had only watched matches on TV before, so it felt really good to be there. I loved the vibe. The way the entire crowd supports the team when a goal is scored or a player does something special, the crowd screams out. That is something you really feel and experience when you are there at the stadium, he added. I consider myself lucky because I got to watch a match between City and United. I was very lucky to be there and watch the match at such a time. It was the first live football match of my life, and it was a completely different feeling altogether, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I really like Marcus Rashford. Ive followed him a lot, so hes my favourite. And when it comes to composure, I think Bruno Fernandes. He stays very calm, plays very calmly, keeps strolling on the pitch, and when the ball arrives, he instantly scores a goal or does whatever is needed on the pitch, he said. Article Source: IANS
Nowhere To Hide: Afghanistan Coach's Scathing Remark After 3-0 T20I Defeat To India
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus said his side had been benchmarked' and tested' by India in their 3-0 T20I series loss to the heavyweights and admitted there was nowhere to hide' for them after being bowled out for 94 in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Opener Shafali Verma's all-round brilliance and left-arm spinner Shree Charani's devastating spell powered defending gold-medallists India into the Asian Games women's cricket semifinals with a dominant eight-wicket win over an inexperienced Japan on Friday.
We Havent Faced Any Accommodation Problems Here: India Batter Richa Ghosh
Korogi Sports Park: India wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh said that the women's cricket team hasn't faced any accommodation-related problems in Japan, as several members of the Indian contingent at the 2026 Asian Games have faced severe accommodation, logistical, and transport shortages upon arriving in Nagoya city. The Indian women's team have thrashed the hosts Japan in their quarterfinal match here on Friday. Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 from 15 balls, while Sree Charani picked up a four-wicket haul as the Women in Blue chased down a meagre total of 58 in just five overs to win by eight wickets here at the Korogi Sports Park. After the match, Richa shared while sharing her experience about competing in the Asian Games and said the team has not faced any issues related to the accommodation yet. We didn't face any problem yet, Richa told IANS. She added, It's a new experience because you can meet other sports as well. There are matches as well. We like Asian Games because all the matches are held together. So we can meet the participants of other events and share their experience. So I think it's a nice thing. The defending champions will next take on Bangladesh in the semifinal. Reflecting on the team's preparation for the crucial fixture, Richa said, We played before in the Asia Cup as well. So for us, we will go simple. We know our strength. So we will back on that only. We are not thinking about who we are facing next. We are just preparing ourselves for what we can do best on the match day. We didn't face any problem yet, Richa told IANS. She added, It's a new experience because you can meet other sports as well. There are matches as well. We like Asian Games because all the matches are held together. So we can meet the participants of other events and share their experience. So I think it's a nice thing. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Sharing her experience of visiting Japan for the first time, she said, So it really feels good. Enjoying the weather as well. A few days before it was raining. I am gld it was not raining during the match. I will enjoy this visit and will explore more in Japan. Article Source: IANS
Lungi Ngidi Ruled Out Of Australia ODIs, South Africa Call In Nqobani Mokoena
South Africa have been dealt with another injury blow ahead of their home series against Australia as fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has now been ruled out of the three-match ODI series due to a hamstring injury, Cricket South Africa confirmed on Friday. Ngidi picked up the hamstring injury in his right leg during Titans' first-class game against Dolphins, with scans on Wednesday confirming that he would need a period of rehab and will not be available to take part in the three ODIs that begin on September 24. In a further worry for the Proteas, his availability for the subsequent three-match Test series will be taken closer to those contests. Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the three-match Dafabet ODI series against Australia with a right hamstring injury, CSA wrote on social media. His availability for the subsequent Test series will be assessed closer to the start of the series, the Board added. Meanwhile, 20-year-old fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena has been called into the side for Ngidi. He made his ODI debut during South Africa's away series against Namibia. Meanwhile, this is the third injury blow for the Proteas in the bowling unit alone. Earlier, Ottneil Baartman was also ruled out of the ODI series after picking up a left hamstring injury while playing in the same game for Dolphins against Titans. He was replaced by Duan Jansen as Baartman also looks to get fit for the Test series against the Aussies. Meanwhile, 20-year-old fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena has been called into the side for Ngidi. He made his ODI debut during South Africa's away series against Namibia. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories In the absence of the trio, Marco Jansen will be leading the pace attack, which also features Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, Duan Jansen and now the new addition, Mokoena. Article Source: IANS
Gambhir reveals why Samson was dropped for England tour
India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that it is ot fair on Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill to have to repeatedly play without several of his key players.
Manu Bhaker, Tajinderpal Toor Named Flag Bearers For Asian Games Opening Ceremony
Tajinderpal Singh Toor: Double Olympic medallist pistol shooter Manu Bhaker and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony, scheduled for Saturday. The opening ceremony will take place at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm IST. Over 500 Indian athletes are set to compete in 37 sports at the 20th edition of the Asian Games, which will conclude on October 4. Manu created history by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games in Paris when she bagged bronze medals in 10m air Pistl and 10m air pistol mixed team event. She was a part of the gold-medal-winning 25m pistol women's team in the Hangzhou edition of the continental games. Meanwhile, Toor is a two-time defending champion in shot put in the Asian Games. The Asian Games are the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years. They are organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The upcoming Games will feature 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports. This will be the 20th edition of the Games and the third time that the continental showpiece is being hosted by Japan after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994. India headed to the continental showpiece looking to surpass the record-breaking campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where they won 107 medals, including 28 gold. India are the defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team coming as the reigning champions. PV Sindhu will spearhead India's badminton campaign, while Mirabai Chanu will lead the weightlifting contingent. Manu Bhaker will be among the country's leading names in shooting, with Aman Sehrawat taking the mat in wrestling. Lovlina Borgohain, meanwhile, will look to pack a punch in boxing India are the defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team coming as the reigning champions. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Olympic quotas are also available in archery, sailing, squash, surfing and tennis. Article Source: IANS
Asian Games 2026: Charani, Shafali shine as India outclass Japan to enter semis
Charani (4/10) and Shafali (2/13) shared six wickets among them as India bowled out Japan for a paltry 57, and then chased down the target in just five overs
Strong possibility: Gautam Gambhir on Hardik Pandya, Nitish Reddy in playing XI
Pandya, who has not played any cricket since May due to a quadriceps injury, was not picked for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies as he is not in a position to bowl 10 overs.
Asian Games: India Women Begin Gold Medal Defence With 8-wicket Win Over Hosts Japan
Korogi Sports Park: India women's cricket team began its gold medal defence at the Asian Games in style, registering a cakewalk win over hosts Japan by eight wickets in the fourth quarterfinal at the Korogi Sports Park here on Friday. Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 from 15 balls, while Sree Charani picked up a four-wicket haul as the Women in Blue chased down a meagre total of 58 in just five overs to win by eight wickets. Shafali set the tone for the paltry chase, opening with a promoted G Kamalini. While the young Kamalini was dismissed for a two-ball duck, Shafali unleashed her carnage with four boundaries in a 17-run first over. Following Kamalini's removal in the second over by Nonoha Yasumoto, India also lost Bharti Fulmali for six runs in the third over. But Shafali remained unfazed by the two dismissals as she hit three more fours in the fifth over before a six to seal the game for the Women in Blue. Richa also had a brief enjoyment in the middle and made 12 from six deliveries with a couple of fours. Earlier, No.1 T20I bowler Charani starred with another four-wicket haul. Charani, who picked 4-20 in the Asia Cup victorious final against Sri Lanka, scalped 4-10 in her four overs against Japan as her spell played a pivotal role in keeping a lid on the minnow side. While Charani did the majority of the damage, Shafali also picked up a couple of wickets; while returning from a long injury layoff, Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma scalped one wicket each to plot the downfall of the hosts. Earlier, No.1 T20I bowler Charani starred with another four-wicket haul. Charani, who picked 4-20 in the Asia Cup victorious final against Sri Lanka, scalped 4-10 in her four overs against Japan as her spell played a pivotal role in keeping a lid on the minnow side. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet each other in the first semifinal, which will take place earlier in the day on Saturday. Article Source: IANS
Scorchers Coach Voges Leans On Hussey's IPL Knowledge For Unexpected Chennai Surface In BBL Opener
The MA Chidambaram Stadium: Perth Scorchers head coach Adam Voges looks to pick the brain of Chennai Super Kings' batting coach Michael Hussey to learn about the unexpected Chepauk surface, which will be hosting the first match of the Big Bash League 2026-27. The MA Chidambaram Stadium will host the BBL opener on December 12 between Sorchers and Melbourne Renegades, which marks the first instance of the BBL taking place outside Australia. The teams will have to encounter the unknown conditions of Chennai before they head to Australia for the remainder of the tournament. The Chepauk has behaved differently than expected in the last few years, with CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad having conceded that he was confounded by the surface, while the East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan and South Zone captain Tilak Varma also expected turn from the surface in the Duleep Trophy final; however, there was none. I live just down the road from Mike Hussey, Voges said as quoted by Cricinfo. So I'll be leaning on all the contacts in order to understand the conditions and Chennai itself as best we can, and hopefully make the experience and the trip a really successful one, on and off the field. Scorchers have a few players in their squad who have experience of playing the IPL, with the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Cooper Connolly having experienced success too. Meanwhile, several of their players have no experience of Indian conditions. Yeah, I think it's going to be new for everyone, and that's the exciting part, Voges said. That's the great challenge for all of us. And certainly, for us from a Scorchers perspective, we have a number of players who will be coming who have experience in the conditions over here. We've got a number of hopefully IPL stars in Mitchell Marsh and Cooper Connolly that will certainly hopefully be part of our squad that comes over. Ashton Turner and Jhye Richardson are another couple of guys who have played in the conditions as well, he said. Yeah, I think it's going to be new for everyone, and that's the exciting part, Voges said. That's the great challenge for all of us. And certainly, for us from a Scorchers perspective, we have a number of players who will be coming who have experience in the conditions over here. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories So, I'm certainly going to be leaning on those experiences as well, and to be able to try and communicate those experiences, particularly to a few of our younger guys, because there'll be a few of our guys that this will be their first experience in India and in these conditions. And so just trying to upskill them as quickly as we possibly can to give them the best chance to go out and succeed and put on a good show. Article Source: IANS
Asian Games: Shafali's 15-ball blitz powers India into semis
Shafali Verma produced a stunning 15-ball blitz as India crushed Japan by eight wickets with 15 overs to spare and stormed into the Asian Games semi-finals.
Asian Games: Charani Picks Four-wicket Haul As India Bowl Hosts Japan For 57 In QF
Korogi Sports Park: No.1 T20I bowler Sree Charani continued her top form as she picked up another four-wicket haul to help India bowl hosts Japan out for 57 in the fourth quarterfinal of the women's Asian Games here at the Korogi Sports Park on Friday. Charani, the young left-arm spinner, picked 4-10 in her four overs as her spell played a pivotal role in keeping a lid on the minnow Japanese side. This was her second consecutive four-wicket haul after she picked 4-20 against Sri Lanka in the final of the victorious Asian Games 2026. While Charani did the majority of the damage, Shafali Verma also picked up a couple of wickets, while returning from a long injury layoff, Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma scalped one wicket each to plot the downfall of the hosts. India, the defending gold medallists at the Asian Games, opted to bowl first. Japanese openers Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato-Stafford struggled to face the much-superior Indian bowling. They did not lose a wicket in the powerplay, making 24/0 in the first six overs. However, things changed after the powerplay and more so after the first 10 overs. Charani began the good work when she removed Iwasaki for 10 before nicking behind the Japanese captain Mai Yanagida for a golden duck. Deepti and Shafali also joined the party as the former got Erika Oda caught for five at deep mid-wicket, while Shafali removed the other opener, Ayaka Kato-Stafford, who was also their highest run-scorer for 25 from 47 balls caught at mid-on. She later got the struggling Shimako Kato for three in the 17th over with a quicker ball, before Hinase Goto was run out for one, with Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh doing good work. India, the defending gold medallists at the Asian Games, opted to bowl first. Japanese openers Haruna Iwasaki and Ayaka Kato-Stafford struggled to face the much-superior Indian bowling. They did not lose a wicket in the powerplay, making 24/0 in the first six overs. However, things changed after the powerplay and more so after the first 10 overs. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Erika Toguchi Quinn was the next to bite the dust as she found Shafali after top-edging an attempt towards long-on. Shreyanka had the final wicket to her name when she castled Nonoha Yasumoto for a duck as Japan were bowled out for 57. Article Source: IANS
Ben Sawyer Leaves New Zealand Women's Head Coach Job After Four-year Tenure
Chief High Performance Cricket Officer: Ben Sawyer has left his role as the New Zealand women's head coach after being at the helm for four years following a review meeting. Sawyer was appointed the head coach of the White Ferns in June 2022, and his contract was set to end in December 2026; however, he did not receive a renewal after a review process of the high-performance structure. During his time with the New Zealand women's side, the Australian-born led the White Ferns to a bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, before guiding them to the T20 World Cup 2024 crown. Being the White Ferns coach has been a huge honour, and I'm really grateful to have had the opportunity to lead this group, Sawyer said, as quoted by NZC. This team means a lot to me, and I'm really proud of what we've been able to achieve in the past four years. Although Im disappointed to be leaving, I want to wish the team and NZC all the best, he added. Meanwhile, Daryl Gibson, NZCs Chief High Performance Cricket Officer, reflected on Sawyer's tenure and highlighted how difficult a leadership change was. Bens overseen a period of considerable change and progression for the White Ferns, and were deeply appreciative of the commitment, professionalism and time he invested in the womens game. It was a difficult decision which was not made lightly, but it reflects our view that the next stage of the White Ferns journey requires a different leadership approach to support the future direction of the programme, Gibson said. Under Sawyer, star all-rounder Melie Kerr was appointed as the women's team's captain, and Kerr also thanked the coach for his services. Were hugely grateful for Ben and everything hes put into this team, said Kerr. His preparation was second to none; he poured his heart and soul into the role and left no stone unturned trying to make the team better. Ben played a huge part in a defining moment for womens cricket in New Zealand. He showed a belief in us that helped propel the team to World Cup victory after a difficult few months, and thats a testament to his character and leadership, she said. His preparation was second to none; he poured his heart and soul into the role and left no stone unturned trying to make the team better. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories New Zealand will have an interim coach and a team manager for their away T20I series against Australia next month. The squad for the series will be named in early October, while the process to get Sawyer's replacement will start soon, NZC stated. Article Source: IANS
IND-W vs JPN-W, Asian Games 2026 Women's Cricket Quarter-Final Live Updates: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has won the toss and opted to bowl in their historic match against Japan at Asian Games 2026.
Gautam Gambhir Ends Silence On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Snub As Sanju Samson Roars Back To Form
India head coach Gautam Gambhir said 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must wait for senior team opportunities, prioritizing consistent performers over newcomers.
3rd T20I: A Storm That Blew Afghanistan Away Abhishek Dishes Out Unforgettable Six-hitting Blitz
Arun Jaitley Stadium: Storms usually give some warning before arriving to leave a citys weather cycle in a mess and leave people wondering when it really came, hit them hard and then vanish as if it never came in the first place. Similar scenes unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday night. Abhishek Sharma, taking strike for his first delivery of the night, had to push defensively to cover as Fazalhaq Farooqi got some good away shape. But on the very next ball, with fans around the Mohinder Amarnath stand chanting Abhishek, Abhishek, Farooqi bowled a half-volley which had hit me written all over, Abhishek brought out his signature loft over extra cover and the India walle song from Happy New Year blared from the speakers at the stadium. From there, for the next 50 minutes Afghanistan were caught in a storm and were literally blown away by the carnage unleashed by Abhishek. By the time he was out in the 10th over, Abhishek had made 108 off just 34 balls. He had hit 11 sixes and nine fours, reached the fastest mens T20I hundred by an Indian batter, the quickest ton by a batter from a Full Member nation and put the game beyond Afghanistan's reach. The loud cheer at the toss hinted at what the 26,230 fans wanted. When Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran chose to bowl, they roared as India had won the toss and fielded first in both earlier matches, and though they won the matches, the fans had been waiting to watch the world champions bat first with nothing to hold them back. By the time, Indias innings ended at 221/7, despite making 79 runs in the final overs, the fans could not have asked for more. For all the talk of a dead rubber, the people who paid to be there got far more than their money's worth, and most of it came from one bat of Abhisheks. After a gentle opening over, Abhishek showed signs of hitting the fifth gear quickly. Azmatullah Omarzai was pulled over square leg for six and Jai Ho song was played by the DJ. Suddenly the crowd began to chant, Ek chakka aur maar (Hit one more six), and for a moment it felt like going back to the Salim Durani era, where the stylish batter would hit sixes on appeal from fans. Abhishek then came down the pitch at Omarzai, the first time all night he charged a seamer and lifted him down the ground for four going in the completely opposite direction of what the fans appealed to him. Their request, though, was fulfilled on the last ball of second over when Abhishek crunched Omarzai over deep cover for six, leaving the stands in a frenzy. When Farooqi came back and pitched it up again, he was taken for two sixes and two fours. Holding the bat handle high, Abhisheks strengths have been pretty simple - to hit seamers cleanly on both sides of the wicket with his eye-catchy bat-swing. Against spinners, he hangs back and brings out shots to be hit all over the park and at times, makes room to execute his shots. All of it was on show on Thursday. Mohammad Nabi's off-spin suffered the most as at the end of it, Abhishek had raced to 50 off just 16 balls. It was the sixth time he had reached a T20I fifty inside 20 deliveries. His mentor Yuvraj Singh, Colin Munro, Finn Allen, Dasun Shanaka and Adil Butt have done it three times each. It was also the fifth time Abhishek got to fifty inside the powerplay, which no other batter from a Full Member side has done more than twice. Afghanistan then did something they rarely do - bring in Rashid Khan inside the first six overs. Abhishek hit him for two fours, then came down the track and hit a straight six off him, as he had in each of the three matches. It was his seventh six in the power-play (and 37 in all in T20Is this year, again a record in mens T20Is), and it took India to exactly a century of runs in power-play, their highest six-over score in T20Is and the joint fifth-highest in the format. It was the fourth time India had gone past 90 in the powerplay, and each time Abhishek had led the way in Mumbai, Guwahati, and the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad. His own power-play contribution was 76 not out off 22 balls, the highest by any batter at the end of a T20I powerplay on record. Even after the fielding restrictions ended, Afghanistan could not find a way to stop Abhishek. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Abdullah Ahmadzai paid for small errors, as the others had. Abhishek went from fifty to a hundred in only 14 balls and amassed 51 runs along the way. He reached three figures with a single in the ninth over - no batter had ever got to a men's T20I hundred earlier in an innings. The previous best mark was also his, 10.1 overs against England at the Wankhede last year and bettered what Rohit Sharma had done before - a 35-ball ton against Sri Lanka in 2017. Amidst the crowd rising to applaud an unforgettable blitzkrieg, which included his father Rajkumar Sharma beaming with pride and being congratulated by spectators in the hospitality stand, Abhishek looked puzzled. He turned to Sanju Samson, who later hit a 35-ball fifty, to ask what was going on, and Samson had to tell him he had just reached his hundred. After all that noise, his celebration was completely still. After holding his helmet and bat aloft, Abhishek did not leap or punch the air. He took off his helmet, sat down on the turf and settled into a meditative pose with his eyes closed and chanted Om Namah Shivaye. Though it left a few people laughing over the latest entry into unique milestone celebrations in cricket, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and rest of the Indian team having a smile, that was just a glimpse into what Abhisheks mindset was absolutely in zen mode and blowing away the hapless Afghanistan bowlers. The end came in the 10th over, when he tried to hit a Rashid googly out of the ground and edged it to Rahmanullah Gurbaz behind the stumps. Abhishek had made 108 off just 34 balls at a strike rate of 317, while the rest of India's batters managed 112 off 86 balls at 127. Of his 108 runs, 102 came from boundaries which translates to 94.44 per cent, the highest share of boundary runs in any men's T20I hundred. Apart from notching up his third T20I century, it was Abhisheks 10th hundred in all T20 cricket, level with Virat Kohli for the most by an Indian mens batter. The boundary-hitting carnage meant more because of what happened with Abhishek before coming to New Delhi for the series. At the T20 World Cup he made 141 runs a mixture of three ducks (and being messed up by stomach infection), before hitting fifties in must-win clashes, including the final. Though he got 563 runs in IPL 2026 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the fight for places at the top of the order for India was getting tighter via Vaibhav Sooryavanshis entry. Against Zimbabwe in July, Abhishek made 1, 8 and 2. Suddenly, the murmurs over him retaining his spot in the playing eleven rose. When Abhishek is in form, doubt does not seem to stay with him. But when he is not, that harshness with himself is visible. His technique for T20 cricket, though, was never the problem. A quick fifty in the series opener on Sunday suggested the good old Abhishek was coming back and Thursdays game settled the debate. The rest of India's innings was quieter just like the calm after the storm. But the damage caused by Abhishek, especially in the powerplay, made the result a foregone conclusion. Look, I'll tell and want to say one thing. It's not about the hundred that he scored here. I can sit here and keep talking about his 100. But it's just the impact. The only thing that we talk about in that dressing room is about how much impact we can create with the bat and how much impact we can create with the ball and that has been our ideology and philosophy since the last two years. T20 cricket is not about runs or wickets. It's about how much impact you can create and for both Sanju and Abhishek, I think you can easily sit here and say one got a 50 and the other one got a 100. But for me, I think the biggest positive was when we got a 100 in the power-play - that we have never done in my coaching tenure. So I think that was a very clear message that if you're going hard, just keep going hard, said Gambhir in the post-game press conference. The only thing that we talk about in that dressing room is about how much impact we can create with the bat and how much impact we can create with the ball and that has been our ideology and philosophy since the last two years. T20 cricket is not about runs or wickets. It's about how much impact you can create and for both Sanju and Abhishek, I think you can easily sit here and say one got a 50 and the other one got a 100. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories So that's probably the next target because the kind of talent we have in that dressing room, we should be doing some incredible things. So we still have a lot to achieve, he added. On Thursday, as he brought out a storm of sheer six-hitting in New Delhi, Abhishek showed it may not be far away. Article Source: IANS
India's Schedule At Asian Games, 18th September 2026: Women's Cricket Team In Spotlight
India's schedule at Asian Games, September 18, 2026: Harmanpreet Kaur-led women's cricket team begins Asian Games adventure against Japan.
Asian Games 2026: Gymnast Pranati Nayak, Male Coach Given Same Room In Midnight Chaos In Japan
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak and coach Ashok Mishra were assigned the same room at Asian Games accommodation, causing a late-night dispute.
Athapaththu and Dilhari muscle Sri Lanka past Malaysia in mismatch
For Malaysia, there was an impressive spell of 3 for 29 from Nurin Imanina, but they lacked the firepower to push the higher-rated Sri Lankans too much
40 Years Since The Chennai Tied Test!
The only previous tie had occurred at Brisbane back in December 1960 between Australia and the West Indies. In the 40 years since the Madras Test, there have been 1,583 Test matches. But there has never again been a tie.
James Vince Makes ETPL History As Dublin Guardians Knock Rotterdam Dockers Out
The result also brought the qualification race to its conclusion, with Rotterdam eliminated and Belfast Wolves securing the final playoff place.
'We've Been Benchmarked, Tested, Theres Nowhere To Hide,' Admits Afghan Coach Pybus
Arun Jaitley Stadium: Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus said his side had been benchmarked and tested by India in their 3-0 T20I series loss to the heavyweights and admitted there was nowhere to hide for them after being bowled out for 94 in the third T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Afghanistan had a long gap since playing their last T20 World Cup group stage game in February, and the defeat to India has exposed exactly where they currently stand right now in terms of the shortest format. We've got a lot to work on. I think I said the other day this is our first T20 series since the World Cup. That's a really long break. Some of these guys have just come back into the squad for the first time since then. We've been benchmarked, tested and we can see where our deficits are. Now we need to go to work. We were poor. We were pleased to start off with winning the toss and getting an opportunity to chase. Our first 10 overs with the ball - our control wasn't good enough and Abhishek and Sanju batted beautifully up front. I was really pleased with the way we came back from 10 to 20 overs. I thought our fight back was phenomenal, skills and intent in the field was much better, Pybus said in the post-match press conference. Though Afghanistan gave away 79 runs from the last 60 balls in Indias innings, after Abhishek Sharma blew them to hit 108 and rack up 100 runs in power-play, Pybus was still left ruing the inconsistency with the ball. I thought we were brilliant in the field in those back 10 overs. Rashid led that. He was superb. With the batting, you're chasing 220. The intent is to go and chase it down. You have got scoreboard pressure and go at 11 runs and over. There's nowhere to hide. If you come up short, it's no good scoring 150 and being behind the rate. We've got to execute our game plan. We didn't deliver. I thought that up front with Ibrahim and Gurbaz, we were much better in terms of our intent. We brought our game to the Indian opening bowlers, but we couldn't hold that consistency. Afghanistan's batting hadnt stepped up to the enormous talent they have in the first two T20Is. In the third T20I, after making 31 runs in the first three overs, it did not qualify as a performance at all. That slide, coupled with scoreboard pressure, led to Afghanistan finishing six short of the three-figure mark, and 14 fewer than Abhisheks 108. Pybus stated the problem was execution under pressure, not the batting order. I don't think it's much of the batting order, it's the execution. Ibrahim and Gurbaz at the top of the order are an established pair. Again I thought our intent was much better. I thought we were too passive in the last game. I thought we let India bowl to us. So I was happier with the way that we took on the Indian attack. Again it comes back to execution under pressure and you're chasing 220, you've just got to keep on going. So there are areas for all of our players to improve and a little bit like with the bowling, against an attack as good as India's, you're facing Jasprit and Axar - these are absolutely world-class operators and you've got to be very clear in your game plans. So we've got work to do and really to come here and play in India against the best T20 side in the world and understand what it's like to play under pressure - this isn't league cricket, it isn't international cricket against lower-ranked sides. This is the ultimate examination. So we can see very clearly what we've got to work on. His bowlers, as per Pybus, had discovered how small the margins are against India's openers on flat pitches. We're bowling to some really fine opening batters on fantastic surfaces. The reality is with players like this on these surfaces, you can get hit off your length. You can get hit off the top of your bounce. They're superb at it. The other side of that is that we need to be much, much better. Our control, our disciplines. On wickets like this, your length is about 12 inches. On one side of the length, you're getting pulled. The other side of the length, you're getting driven. It's an opportunity for our cricketers, particularly for our bowlers, to understand the skill levels you need to have to be able to control the game. Until you have an experience like this, you don't know what it is, really. When you've got the guys who are hitting you as a spin bowler, as we saw in the last game with Rash and Nabi, where literally you miss your length by six inches, it's gone back over your head off the back foot for six. It's a proper challenge. But again, until you actually have this experience, you don't know what it is. With the 2028 T20 World Cup in view, Pybus felt any mental hold big teams like India have over Afghanistan would have to be broken one step at a time. If there is an issue with a side where the opposition have got the wood over you, when you work through that, you do it stage by stage. You're conditioning and got to get your skills right. Off the back of improving your skills, then your strategy improves. Until you get your skills to world-class level, you really don't have a strategy and then once we get our strategy right, then we've got to execute under pressure. It's fine when you're playing lower-ranked sides and maybe you can beat them on skill. But to come to India, historically it's been one of the great challenges in world cricket. I don't think it's any different for Afghanistan. You're playing against players who are grounded in their game here with a volume of games in the IPL, and they're unbelievable playing on these surfaces. But again, if you want to go in the T20 format, if we want to be able to go to the World Cup in 2028 and to be looking to have a game which is going to take us to get into the last rounds and then be there to fight through those stages, we've got to deal with it. But it really is - when you have those psychological issues, you've got to do it step by step. Again, when you come here, it's the ultimate challenge. You've got to be up for it. But you've also got to have the skills and the strategy to be able to deliver. When sides are evolving, when you are putting your calendar together, you need a mixture of opponents, and this is the best opponent we can have for us to work out exactly where we're at. I think the boys are bitterly disappointed, obviously here in particular and I think there will be some serious reflection, really and then it's up to myself and the coaching staff to get busy with them, he explained. Pybus also gave an update on pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who sat out of all three games due to a shoulder niggle. Naveen irritated his shoulder in training. We've had him here to be able to gauge where he's at in his comeback. He got some decent bowling early on. When we were here before we started coming into these three matches, the good news is the irritation has got nothing to do with his old injury. I think the boys are bitterly disappointed, obviously here in particular and I think there will be some serious reflection, really and then it's up to myself and the coaching staff to get busy with them, he explained. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories He's got some really fantastic support staff around him who are hugely experienced. Our goal is to get him back to his best and we don't want to rush that. I know he's absolutely desperate to play and I know he's disappointed he couldn't play, but we want to get him 100 percent ready so he can play at his best. Article Source: IANS
Friendship Cup a celebration of cricket, reflects strong India-Afghanistan bond: DDCA chief Jaitley
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley hailed the successful conduct of 'The Friendship Cup' between India and Afghanistan in the national capital by lauding the massive turnout of fans and describing the series as a testament to cricket's role in strengthening ties between the two nations. India clinched a 3-0 series win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which was Afghanistan's home venue for a week. India got twin seven-wicket victories, before sealing a thumping 127-run win on Thursday night. Congratulations to Team India on a memorable 3-0 series victory against Afghanistan. 'The Friendship Cup' has been a wonderful celebration of cricket. It was heartening to see fans come out in such huge numbers (85000-plus) across all three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with thousands also travelling from Afghanistan to be part of the occasion. The incredible atmosphere throughout the series reflected the passion for cricket in Delhi, Jaitley said in a statement at the conclusion of the series. The opening match on Sunday drew 25,165 spectators, while 24,259 fans attended the second game on Tuesday. The third and final match saw a crowd of 26,230. Jaitley added that Afghanistan's decision to stage its home series against India in New Delhi underlined the close relationship between the two neighbours and credited the cricket bodies involved for making it happen. With Afghanistan playing its home series against India in Delhi, the occasion was also a great reflection of the strong bond between the two countries and the power of sport to bring people closer, in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of stronger ties with our neighbours. We are grateful to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, the BCCI and ICC Chairman Jay Shah for their support and efforts in making this series possible and enabling Delhi to be part of this memorable chapter of international cricket. We are proud that the DDCA and Delhi could play a part in hosting three exciting encounters between India and Afghanistan, giving fans the opportunity to witness some really quality cricket from both teams, he added.
Hardik Yet To Be Ready To Bowl 10 Overs In ODIs, Wont Be Rushed Back: Gambhir
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Ace seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not yet fit enough to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in ODIs and will not be hurried back into international cricket, said India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Pandya hasnt played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 due to rehabbing from a back injury picked while leading Mumbai Indians. A quadriceps injury and a leg niggle meant Pandya wasnt picked for the white-ball games against Afghanistan, Ireland, England, Zimbabwe. Though Pandya was a notable absence in 3-0 T20I series win over Afghanistan and in the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies, he has been named in the India A squad for the 50-over series against Australia A, although his final inclusion is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. With Hardik still unavailable, India chose to withdraw seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Asian Games in Japan and slotted him into the white-ball games against the West Indies, starting with the three-match ODI series in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. First of all, from Nitish's point of view, it's actually a great thing that he's been withdrawn from a T20 format and he'll get game time against the West Indies as well. We know how important seam bowling all-rounders will be probably in a year's time when we go to South Africa and Namibia. Once Hardik comes back, obviously it's going to be good. Sometimes we could even go on to play both of them in the playing 11. But again, Hardik at the moment, yes, he cannot bowl 10 overs and he hasn't played a lot of cricket since the IPL. So we don't want to push him into international cricket because international cricket can be extremely tough on your body as well. So if he plays those, that India A series, obviously he'll get some game time as well and that was the clear message to him that if he can play that A series and then if everything goes well, he can come back and be part of the T20s and the one-day squad as well. In the meantime, Nitish will get more game time as well because he hasn't played enough cricket since the IPL either,. Gambhir said in the post-match press conference after India wrapped up the 3-0 series win over Afghanistan with a thumping 127-run win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Reddy, who himself missed trips to Ireland, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe due to a quadriceps strain, took consecutive three-fors against Afghanistan after a shaky start to the series, where he gave away 30 runs and missed his lengths. Gambhir added that his bowling returns had been one of the biggest gains from the series. It's been a huge plus for us because we want to expose him to most of the international games because we know how important he is - whether it's in 50-over format or going forward in T20s as well because there are not many going around guys who can bowl and who can bat at the middle order. So it's a massive positive that the way he's bowled in this series. Obviously, he didn't start off that well in the first game, but then we always know that the more you bowl in international cricket, the more he's going to get better and that's what he should. So I think it's good that we got Nitish now from the Asian Games so that now he can, and you could see, the more he bowls, the better he becomes and we have, when you can develop a couple of seam bowling all-rounders, it will always be handy in a year's time, he added. Gambhir also admitted that majority of players missing ODIs against the West Indies to play in the Asian Games wasnt an ideal scenario to prepare for the 2027 World Cup, though he also saw it as a chance for newbies Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi to showcase their mettle in 50-over cricket. Look, it's not ideal. Obviously, we know that it's not ideal when we are preparing for a World Cup, which is in a years time. But again, the Asian Games squad was selected long back. Sometimes it's difficult for the selectors when they have to put the best squad in place. So, we always knew that if the best team goes to the best, the front-line players go to the Asian Games. Obviously, we will probably have to compromise a bit in this one-day series against the West Indies. But again, it gives other people the opportunity as well. Obviously, in a series like this, we've got young guys like Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi getting those opportunities in this squad. So, they can also show what they bring in white ball format. Obviously, the bigger the pool, the better it is for us when we have this opportunity in the next three one-day games. Normally, when you have all the players available, sometimes players might not get that opportunity. But now, with people like Vipraj (Nigam, going to the Asian Games), Naman and Auqib, these guys will get their opportunity. So, from one end, it's good. But on the other side, obviously, you want the best players. The head coach signed off by admitting that players not being able to play an entire series due to varied injuries hasnt been ideal for him and ODI skipper Shubman Gill. Obviously, the bigger the pool, the better it is for us when we have this opportunity in the next three one-day games. Normally, when you have all the players available, sometimes players might not get that opportunity. But now, with people like Vipraj (Nigam, going to the Asian Games), Naman and Auqib, these guys will get their opportunity. So, from one end, it's good. But on the other side, obviously, you want the best players. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories More importantly, it's not fair on a young captain as well if he doesn't get the best team, playing consistently and regularly and not being on the path consistently. That's why I have to be dead honest. Yes, as a coach, I can take all the criticisms, but for me, I think it is important for Shubman to get the best team and eleven as many times as he can in red ball and in white ball formats as well, he said. Article Source: IANS
