Cricket

Forde holds his nerve at the close after Gous and spinners set up win for Kings

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons had the chase of 188 in their grasp for the longest part before losing the plot against spin in the middle overs

India's spin bowling coach weighs in on Devdutt Padikkal's chance ahead first Sri Lanka Test

The Indian team put in a good showing as they took on Sri Lanka in a three-day tour game ahead of their two-game series. Led by KL Rahul in the clash, India put forth a...

Sarfaraz Khan Marks India Return With Instagram Post Alongside Father Naushad

The BCCI Medical Team: Sarfaraz Khan marked his return to the Indian Test squad by sharing a picture of himself in the teams training kit alongside his father and former club cricketer and coach Naushad Khan on Instagram, after being recalled as a replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The last time Sarfaraz was selected for India's squad was at the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, a series which India lost 4-1. He has been left out of the Test team since then, even though he has a very good first-class record. As a right-handed batsman, he has scored heavily in domestic cricket, with an average of 64.73 from 62 first-class matches, but has played only six Tests for India. His most recent match in the format was in November 2024. The fact that he was left out of the India A team for the series against South Africa A caused a stir, especially since the senior side then lost the two-match Test series 2-0. Sarfaraz is returning following Sai Sudharsan's exclusion from the Sri Lanka series due to a stress reaction in his right toe. The BCCI stated on Sunday that the left-handed batsman had made some progress with his recovery but would still not be fit for the two-Test series. The BCCI stated that Sai Sudharsan will not be taking part in the Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made considerable progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering nicely. The BCCI Medical Team are keeping a close eye on his progress. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made significant progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring his progress, the BCCI said in a statement. The BCCI stated that Sai Sudharsan will not be taking part in the Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made considerable progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering nicely. The BCCI Medical Team are keeping a close eye on his progress. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sarfaraz might still have to wait until his turn to play in the playing eleven, since Devdutt Padikkal had a good performance in India's warm-up game, which took place on Sunday, and that performance could affect the team managers' choice regarding the batting order for the first Test. Article Source: IANS

'Let him play': Rahane's big message to BCCI on Rohit

Ajinkya Rahane has backed Rohit Sharma to play for India at the 2027 ODI World Cup, urging the BCCI to give the veteran opener clarity over his future.

Kuldeep Should Be Playing Regularly: Harbhajan

'If I was with the team, I would pick bowlers who I feel can pick wickets and win matches for me with the ball.'

Team India clear the air over Shubman Gill amid injury concerns ahead of first Sri Lanka Test

India and Sri Lanka are all set to take on each other in the first Test of the upcoming two-game Test series. The two sides are slated to meet at the Galle International Stadium on...

Mikel Arteta Backs Bruno Guimaraes To 'Ignite Something Different' At Arsenal

The 28-year-old has strengthened an already impressive midfield featuring Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze.

Why did VVS Laxman not take over as India's head coach after Rahul Dravid's exit? Former batter reveals

Team India is all set to take on Sri Lanka in a two-game Test series that is slated to kick off from August 15th. The two sides will meet for the first Test of the...

Pant an enigma at the crossroads

Having been replaced as Indias Test vice-captain, he can focus on his primary disciplines without having to attend lengthy team discussions or the distraction of being pulled in different directions; the team needs the most potent version of the player to come to the fore

TRT vs SOB Match 29, The Hundred Mens 2026 Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

TRT vs SOBMatch 29, Cricket Tips: Trent Rockets have become the first team to qualify for the next round of the Hundred Men's 2026. They are at the top of the ladder with 24 points and are very close to making their second consecutive final. But for that they need to win their final group game. Trent Rockets will lock horns with Southern Brave in match 29 on Monday. This contest will start at 11 PM IST at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Southern Brave have been eliminated from the competition, and they have nothing to lose. But they can spoil the party of the Rockets with a win here. TRT vs SOB: Match Details Date : August 10, 2026 (Monday) Time : 11:00 PM IST Venue : Trent Bridge, Nottingham TRT vs SOB: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the TRT vs SOB clash on the Star Sports Networks, whereas the live stream of this game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. TRT vs SOB: Head-to-Head in The Hundred Total Matches : 6 Trent Rockets : 3 Southern Brave : 3 No-result : 0 TRT vs SOB: Ground Pitch Report Trent Bridge has an even wicket to bat on. The wicket here offers early swing and movement when the ball is new. Traditionally, the wicket will improve a little as the game goes on. The toss will be important because batting first has been a good decision here. TRT vs SOB: Possible XIs Trent Rockets : Finn Allen, Aneurin Donald, Ben Duckett, Sam Billings (c & wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim David, Craig Overton, Lewis Gregory, Calvin Harrison, Matt Henry, Ben Sanderson Southern Brave: Michael Pepper, Jamie Smith (wk), Marcus Stoinis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Moeen Ali, Nikhil Chaudhary, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan (c), Adil Rashid, Luke Wood TRT vs SOB: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith are two star batters for both sides. They have played some match-winning knocks and will have a key role here. Probable Best Bowler Jofra Archer and Matt Henry are two bowlers who are doing pretty great this season and will be the ones to watch out for. Today Match Prediction : Trent Rockets are in excellent form, and Southern Brave are struggling in both departments. Hence, we predict Trent Rockets will win this game. TRT vs SOB Match 29, The Hundred Men's Competition 2026, Today Match TRT vs SOB, TRT vs SOB Prediction, TRT vs SOB Predicted XIs, Injury Update forTRT vs SOB Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

IRE vs AFG 3rd ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

IRE vs AFG 3rd ODI, Cricket Tips: Afghanistan produced a dominating performance in the second ODI against Ireland to record a 92-run win over the hosts. Rashid Khan produced another masterclass with the ball and took 6/34 to dismantle the Irish batters. Ibrahim Zadran also played a key role and scored 84 off 97 balls. Ireland didn't have an answer, and only Cade Carmichael looked good on the crease for his 62 off 66. The hosts can rely on one or two individuals to win games. They need a complete effort to beat Afghanistan. The third ODI will start at 3:15 PM IST on Monday at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. IRE vs AFG: Match Details Date : August 10, 2026 (Monday) Time : 3:15 PM IST Venue : Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast IRE vs AFG: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live stream of this match on the FanCode mobile app or website. IRE vs AFG: Head-to-Head in ODIs Total Matches : 34 Afghanistan : 19 Ireland : 13 No-resu lt: 02 IRE vs AFG: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Belfast has a sticky wicket. Early on, the new ball will do good off the surface, whereas the hard length will be difficult to face. The outfield is also slow, and the boundaries are big on square. The average score here is around 245-255 in the first innings. IRE vs AFG: Possible XIs Ireland : Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Cade Carmichael, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Ben Calitz, Gavin Hoey, Jai Moondra, Byron McDonough Afghanistan : Ibrahim Zadran, Sediq Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah (c), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi IRE vs AFG: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ibrahim Zadran and Cade Carmichael scored half-centuries in the first game and will be the ones to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Rashid Khan is very hard to pick for the Irish batters, and he showed it in the first game. For Ireland, Mark Adair holds the key with the new ball. Today Match Prediction : Afghanistan have the edge, and they will start the game as favorites. IRE vs AFG Match 3rd ODI, Today Match IRE vs AFG, IRE vs AFG Prediction, IRE vs AFG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Ireland vs Afghanistan Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Livingstone haunts old side Phoenix with matchwinning 66 off 30

Spirit captain adds 103 in partnership with Dewald Brevis to end Lord's losing streak

Sinner withdraws from Cincinnati Open with knee injury ahead of U.S. Open

Sinner had also pulled out of the Canadian Open, a key warm-up event for the U.S. Open

Andy Gorvin clinches thriller for Glamorgan

Jake Libby century goes in vain as home skipper holds his nerve for last-ball victory over Worcestershire

Exemplary professional, youngsters want to emulate him: Laxman praises Kohli

Laxman said Kohli consistently sets very high standards for himself and strives to meet them every time he plays

Shere - E - Punjab T20 League: Sanvir Singh Joins Shubman Gills Fazilka Falcons For Rs 13.20 Lakh

PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet: All rounder Sanvir Singh emerged as the highest pick in the first half of the auction for the upcoming season of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, with Fazilka Falcons securing the talented player for Rs 13.20 lakh. Sanvir will now have the opportunity to represent Fazilka Falcons alongside marquee player and Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill. The president of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Amarjit Singh Mehta said, We have worked very hard alongside our Punjab Chief Minister to turn this dream into reality, and it is now close to being fulfilled. Every cricketer dreams of playing at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, and through this league, players from across Punjab will get the opportunity to play at this iconic venue, gain valuable exposure and showcase their talent on a bigger platform. Among the other major picks, Naman Dhir was bought by Amritsar Soormas for Rs 10.80 lakh, while Amolpreet Singh joined Mohli Kings for Rs 8.20 lakh. Harnoor Singh and Ashwani Kumar were both picked by Bathinda Royals for Rs 7 lakh each, while Sukhdeep Bajwa was acquired by Jalandhar Warriors for Rs 6 lakh. Harpreet Brar was picked by Mohali Kings for Rs 4 lakh, while Mayank Markande joined Amritsar Soormas for Rs 1.50 lakh. PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, The first half of the auction has reflected the tremendous depth of cricketing talent in Punjab. The franchises have shown great enthusiasm in identifying and investing in players who have the potential to make a mark at the highest level. Sanvir Singhs selection as the highest pick is particularly exciting, and the opportunity to play alongside Shubman Gill will be invaluable for him. We are confident that the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will provide a strong platform for these players to learn, compete and take the next step in their careers. The league brings together six teams representing different regions of Punjab, Fazilka Falcons, Amritsar Soormas, Ludhiana Lions, Jalandhar Warriors, Mohali Kings and Bathinda Royals. PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said, The first half of the auction has reflected the tremendous depth of cricketing talent in Punjab. The franchises have shown great enthusiasm in identifying and investing in players who have the potential to make a mark at the highest level. Sanvir Singhs selection as the highest pick is particularly exciting, and the opportunity to play alongside Shubman Gill will be invaluable for him. We are confident that the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will provide a strong platform for these players to learn, compete and take the next step in their careers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The tournament seeks to strengthen Punjabs cricketing ecosystem, nurture young talent and create a pathway for future stars to progress to the highest levels of the game. Article Source: IANS

DPL: Yugal Saini's Blistering 91 Powers Central Delhi Kings To Thrilling Four-wicket Win Over South Delhi Superstarz

Central Delhi Kings: Central Delhi Kings pulled off a high-octane run-chase to defeat South Delhi Superstarz by four wickets with two balls to spare in match 19 of the Delhi Premier League 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Chasing a steep target of 221, Central Delhi Kings reached 222/6 in 19.4 overs, driven by Yugal Saini's explosive half-century. Opting to field after winning the toss, Central Delhi Kings struggled to contain the South Delhi Superstarz batters. South Delhi Superstarz mounted a formidable total of 220/6 in their 20 overs, anchored by wicketkeeper-batter Tejasvi Dahiya, who smashed 69 off just 31 deliveries with eight sixes and a boundary. Captain Ayush Badoni contributed a fluent 44 off 25 balls, while opener Sanat Sangwan set the base with 38 off 23 balls. Among the Central Delhi Kings bowlers, Money Grewal was the most economical, taking 2/26 in his four overs, while Gavnish Khurana also chipped in with two wickets (2/40). Opting to field after winning the toss, Central Delhi Kings struggled to contain the South Delhi Superstarz batters. South Delhi Superstarz mounted a formidable total of 220/6 in their 20 overs, anchored by wicketkeeper-batter Tejasvi Dahiya, who smashed 69 off just 31 deliveries with eight sixes and a boundary. Captain Ayush Badoni contributed a fluent 44 off 25 balls, while opener Sanat Sangwan set the base with 38 off 23 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite a spirited bowling performance from South Delhi's Anshuman Hooda, who took 3/33 in four overs, Central Delhi Kings held their nerve in the final overs to seal the 221-run chase with four wickets in hand. Article Source: IANS

From 40 Acres Of Barren Land To Sprawling BCCI CoE: How Jay Shah And Co Turned Dream To Reality

Standing on the cusp of its second anniversary, the state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence here came to a fruition after the efforts put on a war-footing by BCCI officials led by its former secretary Jay Shah.

James Bracey's hard-hitting hundred leads Gloucestershire win

He posts 103 off 85, dominates second-wicket stand of 153 with Ollie Price, while Joe Phillips raises unbeaten 61

Albert belts six sixes in six balls as Hampshire overpower Sussex

Struggling Sussex fall well short after Ali Orr and Ben Mayes hit hundreds for Hampshire

Jani keeps Bears alive as Lancashire miss chance

21-year-old batter hits 88 as Warwickshire chase down 312 at Rugby School

Ben Geddes century sees Middlesex into knockouts

Skipper hits seven sixes in a 93-ball 109 against Derbyshire, sharing third-wicket stand of 156 with Max Holden

Is Shubman Gill Fit To Play First Test Against Sri Lanka? India Coach Answers

Indian spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said that skipper Shubman Gill is very much ready for the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Daniel Bell-Drummond century keeps Kent hopes alive

Captain scores 133 not out as hosts defeat Leicestershire with two-and-a-half overs remaining

APL: Soumyadeep, Sumit Smash Unbeaten Fifties As Nagaon Rangers Register Maiden Win In Style

Assam Premier League: Nagaon Rangers registered their first win of the tournament courtesy a commanding batting display to beat Charaideo Sunrisers by ten wickets in match number 18 of the Assam Premier League 2026 at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati on Sunday. Soumyadeep Das and Sumit Kashyap put on an exquisite batting performance to see their side home and also register the tournament's first ten-wicket win. With the ball, Bhargav Dutta led a disciplined effort with three wickets to restrict Sunrisers after Hrishikesh Tamuli's fighting knock. Opting to field first, Nagaon Rangers struck early, removing Pradyun Saikia off the second ball of the contest. Sumit Ghadigaonkar fell soon after for 8, leaving Charaideo Sunrisers in a spot of bother at 32/2 inside the powerplay. Hrishikesh then held the innings together with a well-made 40 off 36 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking despite wickets falling around him. A late flourish from Himanshu Saraswat, who scored an unbeaten on 26 off just 13 balls with three sixes, helped Charaideo Sunrisers post 139/9 in their 20 overs. For Rangers, Bhargav Dutta finished with 3/18, while Rahul Singh, Sunil Lachit and Jitu Ali picked up two wickets apiece. In the run chase, Rangers openers took complete control of the contest, never giving the Sunrisers bowlers a sniff. Sumit and Soumyadeep took the bowling attack apart from the outset with the latter being the more explosive of the two. He scored an unbeaten 70 off just 36 balls with five fours and six sixes, while Kashyap registered an unbeaten 66 off 44 balls, also studded with a couple of boundaries and six maximums. None of the six Sunrisers bowlers could find a breakthrough, as Rangers chased down the target rather comfortably in 13.2 overs to complete a dominant ten-wicket win - their first of the season, and the first ten-wicket win recorded in this year's Assam Premier League. In the run chase, Rangers openers took complete control of the contest, never giving the Sunrisers bowlers a sniff. Sumit and Soumyadeep took the bowling attack apart from the outset with the latter being the more explosive of the two. He scored an unbeaten 70 off just 36 balls with five fours and six sixes, while Kashyap registered an unbeaten 66 off 44 balls, also studded with a couple of boundaries and six maximums. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Charaideo Sunrisers: 139/9 in 20 overs (Hrishikesh Tamuli 40, Himanshu Saraswat 26*; Bhargav Dutta 3-18, Rahul Singh 2-16, Sunil Lachit 2/23) lost to Nagaon Rangers: 140/0 in 13.2 overs (Soumyadeep Das 70*, Sumit Kashyap 66*) by 10 wickets Article Source: IANS

Kapp's all-round showing caps win over struggling Phoenix

South Africa allrounder ensures comfortable win for London Spirit in final home game

Sunrisers stay perfect at Headingley to put one foot in knockout stages

Marsh and Rickelton set up fourth home win out of four before bowlers squeeze hard

Working on small things tactically helped, says Chaturved

Search For Head Of Sports Science & Medicine At CoE Is On As Top Candidates Back Out: VVS Laxman

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has hit a major roadblock in its attempt to appoint a Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) at its Centre of Excellence (CoE), with multiple high-profile international candidates backing out after nearing agreement. Speaking to reporters at the high-performance facility, CoE head VVS Laxman disclosed that despite extensive global recruitment drives, top choices, including a leading Australian expert and the former sports science head of the famous All Blacks rugby team, withdrew from the process at the final stage. The SSM head post has been vacant since Nitin Patel, the former India mens team physio, left the facility after March 2025. I think we have done a very extensive interview process. Andrew was part of the interview process when Nitin was selected in 2012. That's why we reached out to Andrew the moment we got to know that Nitin didn't want to continue or his term was getting finished. Andrew almost agreed and then backed out. Now, the second interview process was an extensive one. I can share, the first candidate was from Australia. The second and third candidates are already working at the CoE. Now, it's our responsibility to upskill them while looking to identify someone of that stature and experience and knowledge. So that process, it's not that the BCCI is not looking now for the suitable candidate, but you have to find the right candidate, said Laxman. Highlighting the scarcity of qualified personnel capable of managing elite athletes, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged the difficulty in finding an expert who meets the board's high benchmarks. In fact, it's a rare commodity to fit into that position. So we have our technical persons who are at a certain standard. So the person who will be heading the sports sector, he must be much better than them. So there are very limited people, not only in India but across the world. Therefore, we are facing some problems in spite of repeated processes being done. We are not getting the right candidate. So, because of the shortage and acute shortage, I should say, we are not getting the person. But the process is on to find the right candidate. Tracing the timeline of recruitment failures since Patel's exit, Laxman revealed that multiple global specialists pulled out due to personal reasons and unwillingness to commit to a full-time, on-site role in Bengaluru. Unfortunately, after Nitin left as the head of sports science, we didn't get anyone who can fill in that shoes or position. We had Andrew Leipus (who previously worked as Indian team physio and is now with IPL team Punjab Kings). In fact, everything was agreed upon. Devajit had with him two or three meetings and everything was agreed upon. Suddenly Andrew at the last moment citing family reasons backed off. Then we conducted a full fledged interview process where we had Dr. Dinshaw (Pardiwala), Dr. Ashish Soni and Dr. Rohan Khavte and myself, where we shortlisted five candidates out of which the number one, I don't want to name him, was an Australian. After selecting him, suddenly he backed out saying that he cannot move to Bangalore because one of the important reason and condition is it's a full time job. It is not a consultant or a part time one. You want that person to be here because like I'm here because it's a day to day monitoring. It cannot happen as a periodic monitoring, and unfortunately, that professional also didn't join. Then there was another professional who was the head of sports science of All Blacks. We engaged with him and he almost agreed. At the last moment, he backed out, he explained. Despite the vacancy at the helm, Laxman praised the existing internal team for stepping up and restructuring the department into localized operational units. So to fill in that position, you require someone not necessarily of the stature or experience, but the knowledge and understanding of Indian cricketers. It cannot happen as a periodic monitoring, and unfortunately, that professional also didn't join. Then there was another professional who was the head of sports science of All Blacks. We engaged with him and he almost agreed. At the last moment, he backed out, he explained. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reiterating that the BCCI will not compromise on quality merely to fill the slot, Laxman confirmed that the hunt for the right candidate remains active. I think the lookout is there, but you have to find someone who is qualified and capable enough to take up that position. I think that that lookout is still there. So we require to definitely fill in that position and the suitable candidate has to be identified and I think that lookout is still there. Article Source: IANS

Luke Procter 85 delivers crushing win for Northants

He shares 136-run stand with Nathan McSweeney, after spinners Rob Keogh and Yuzi Chahal run through Somerset line-up

Why Kuldeep did not bowl in 2nd innings of warm-up game...

India's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed that Kuldeep Yadav's absence from bowling in the second innings of the warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI was a precautionary measure to assess his body after a significant workload, allaying fitness concerns.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill Get Batting Practice As India Beat Sri Lanka XI By Six Wickets In Warm-Up

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill put on exactly 105 for the opening wicket to give India a flying start to their chase.

'We'll Decide In Galle': India Coach Opens Up On Spin Selection Headache

The first Test of the two-match series between India and Sri Lanka starts in Galle on August 15.

There Are Some Restrictions: BCCI Drops Major Hint On Duleep Trophy Final Venue Change

The 2026-27 domestic season will begin with the Duleep Trophy, which is scheduled between August 23 and September 10 at the BCCI CoE.

Shubman Gill Is Very Much Ready For The Test Match At Galle, Says Sairaj Bahutule

Sri Lanka Cricket XI: Indias spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule confirmed that captain Shubman Gills absence from the first two days of the warm-up fixture against Sri Lanka Cricket XI was purely a precautionary measure and added that the right-handed batter is fully fit and ready for the first Test in Galle starting on August 15. Gill, who opted to sit out of the first two days due to an impact injury on his right ring finger during a practice session on Thursday, returned to open the batting in the second innings and looked fluent during his 44-run knock. I think it was just a precaution more than anything else and he has been absolutely fine. He has been doing his training and the management decided that we could just take that precaution of not putting him into that first day. I think everything, the way he batted in the second inning was again flawless and he is very much ready for the Test match, Bahutule said in the post-game press conference. Highlighting the skippers analytical preparation for the Test series in the island nation, Bahutule noted that Gill leaves nothing to chance when preparing for specific opposition bowling line-ups. I think Shubman takes his preparation very seriously and he is a very meticulous boy. He understands that whatever is the demand for that particular series with the attack, which has been successful for the Sri Lankan team, his preparation is done accordingly. So, the net bowlers who have come with us, they have a good opportunity to bowl Shubman and we were doing a few scenarios with which Shubman was responding. I think this helps him to prepare and that was our effort. Speaking about giving batting time to pacers Gurnoor Brar and Mohammed Siraj, who unleashed big hits with the bat in the fag end of the innings, Bahutule stated its a part of the plan to get batting contributions from them in the Test series. The lower order bowlers, as you saw, Gurnoor and Sairaj did a good batting time. So, there is a process. All the lower order bowlers, who basically bat in lower order, their contribution will always be very useful to achieve a good total in the Test match and that is the entire process. We are encouraging them to bat as much as possible in the nets and see how they can contribute towards the team score. Left-handed top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal also impressed during the fixture, scoring a stroke-filled, unbeaten 142 in the first innings to push his case for inclusion in the starting eleven, especially with B Sai Sudharsan ruled out due to right big toe stress reaction. I think whoever gets that opportunity, Devdutt got this opportunity. He expressed himself. He batted beautifully and he is ready to (play). Whatever the decision, once we go to Galle, we will see the pitch and whatever decision has to be taken, it will be (done). But he has got those runs behind him. He has got the confidence behind him. Now, whether we take it, or whether he gets into the 11 is something which we will decide only at Galle, he noted. Currently sitting in fifth place on the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, India face a vital assignment in Sri Lanka as they look to climb the standings and keep themselves in contention for securing a berth in the final. But he has got those runs behind him. He has got the confidence behind him. Now, whether we take it, or whether he gets into the 11 is something which we will decide only at Galle, he noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The only thing is that, as you said, it is process oriented. We will see one game at a time. See how we can play the series to our potential and win it and slowly and steadily get there, concluded Bahutule. Article Source: IANS

Kuldeep took break to assess body, not fitness concern: Sairaj Bahutule

Kuldeep Yadav rested during the warm-up game after a heavy workload, which was precautionary. Other spinners like Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja received extended bowling sessions. The team focused on adapting to local conditions and assessing player fitness for the upcoming series. Shubman Gill recovered well after a hand injury and prepared diligently for the spinners.

Sarfaraz Khan replaces injured Sai Sudharsan, back in Test squad

Mumbai batter included in Indias team for two-match series in Sri Lanka

Sarfaraz Khan named Sai Sudharsan's replacement for Sri Lanka Tests

Meawhile captain Shubman Gill is

India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI Warm-Up Game: Shubman Gill-Led Team India's Report Card

Team India had the ideal preparation under its belt ahead of the two-match series against Sri Lanka, with the Shubman Gill-led side defeating Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in a three-day warm-up game on Sunday.

Sarfaraz Khan Returns For Sri Lanka Tests, Replaces Injured India Star

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan on Sunday replaced the injured Sai Sudharsan in Team India's squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 15.

Sarfaraz Khan Replaces Injured Sai Sudharsan In Indias Squad For Tests Against Sri Lanka

The BCCI Medical Team: Right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan has been named as a replacement for injured left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan in Indias squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made significant progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring his progress, the BCCI said in its official statement. Sarfaraz, whos adept at handling pacers and spinners, will join Team India in Colombo before the squad travels to Galle for the opening Test, starting on August 15. In six Tests, Sarfaraz has scored 371 runs at an average of 37.1 and highest score of 150. He was in India's squad for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, but did not feature in any of the five games. Sarfaraz was also part of the India A team during the England tour but wasnt included in the main Test squad for the five-series trip in June-July 2025. Sarfaraz, whos adept at handling pacers and spinners, will join Team India in Colombo before the squad travels to Galle for the opening Test, starting on August 15. In six Tests, Sarfaraz has scored 371 runs at an average of 37.1 and highest score of 150. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Updated India Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan. Article Source: IANS

Diksha, Aditi Stay Inside Top-20 At London Championship

Ladies European Tour Order: Diksha Dagar and Aditi Ashok remained inside the Top-20 after the third round of the $2 million PIF London Championship at Centurion Club on Saturday, while Pranavi Urs slipped down the leaderboard following a difficult outing. Diksha, a carded a 1-over 72 to move up three places from tied-22nd to tied-19th. She stands at 1-under 215 after 54 holes, having opened the tournament with rounds of 75 and 70. Aditi, meanwhile, followed her opening rounds of 71 and 73 with another 73 to remain tied-19th. She had started the day tied-16th. Pranavi had been the leading Indian after the opening two rounds, climbing to tied-12th following rounds of 71 and 72. However, a 6-over 78 in the third round dropped her to tied-38th at 5-over 221. Diksha, currently the highest-ranked Indian on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, will now look to close the tournament strongly in the final round. At the top of the leaderboard, Canadas Anna Huang strengthened her grip on the tournament with a bogey-free 8-under 65. The 18-year-old moved to 19-under and opened up a three-shot advantage over Englands Charley Hull heading into the final round. Huang, a three-time LET winner who secured her third title in May, has led the tournament from the opening round. She began her third round with a birdie on the first hole and added another on the fourth before producing back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth. She repeated the feat on the 14th and 15th before ending her round in spectacular fashion with an eagle on the 18th for the third successive day. A victory in London would see Huang become the youngest player to win four LET titles. She repeated the feat on the 14th and 15th before ending her round in spectacular fashion with an eagle on the 18th for the third successive day. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the title race headed for a final-round showdown, the Indian trio will look to finish their campaigns strongly, with Diksha and Aditi positioned inside the Top-20 and Pranavi aiming to recover from her third-round setback. Article Source: IANS

Sarfaraz Khan named Sai Sudharsan's replacement for two-match Test series against Sri Lanka

Mumbai star batter Sarfaraz Khan has been named as the replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan in India's squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, the Board of Control for Cricket in India...

Was Supposed To Be India Head Coach, Could Not Take Up Due To Personal Reasons: VVS Laxman

BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman revealed that he was offered the role of Team India head coach back in 2023, but could not take it up for personal reasons.

BCCI To Consider Relocating Duleep Trophy Final To Stadium

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the board is considering relocating the Duleep Trophy final from the Centre of Excellence to a stadium due to spectator restrictions.

India Needed 16 Off Last Over. Mohammed Siraj Does The Unthinkable - Watch

Mohammed Siraj boasted of his batting skills to help India register a thrilling win over Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a three-day warm-up game.

India Need 16 Off Last Over. Mohammed Siraj Does The Unthinkable - Watch

Mohammed Siraj boasted of his batting skills to help India register a thrilling win over Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a three-day warm-up game.

Number of Duleep Trophy games telecast will be increased: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia

DPL: Sarthak, Vikas Power North Delhi Strikers To 7-wicket Win Over New Delhi Tigers

North Delhi Strikers: North Delhi Strikers secured a comfortable seven-wicket win against New Delhi Tigers in Match 18 of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a captain's solid innings from Sarthak Ranjan and an organised, all-round bowling effort. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, North Delhi Strikers limited New Delhi Tigers to 161/8 in their 20 overs. Opener Atulya Pandey provided a strong start with 32 off 21 balls, hitting six boundaries. Nevertheless, North Delhi Strikers consistently took wickets at key moments. Vikas Dixit was the most effective bowler, disrupting partnerships during the middle and final overs, finishing with impressive figures of 3/28 in four overs. Despite valuable middle-order performances by skipper Himmat Singh (24 off 17), Aaryan Sharma (25 off 21), and Hrithik Shokeen (35* off 25), the Tigers had difficulty breaking through against a disciplined Strikers bowling unit. All five frontline bowlers, Akhil Chaudhary (1/33), Ajay Yadav (1/32), Arjun Rapria (1/35), Mayank Dagar (1/32), and Vikas Dixit, took at least one wicket, making it challenging for the Tigers to gain the upper hand. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, North Delhi Strikers limited New Delhi Tigers to 161/8 in their 20 overs. Opener Atulya Pandey provided a strong start with 32 off 21 balls, hitting six boundaries. Nevertheless, North Delhi Strikers consistently took wickets at key moments. Vikas Dixit was the most effective bowler, disrupting partnerships during the middle and final overs, finishing with impressive figures of 3/28 in four overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Revant Rakyan's 2/26 momentarily slowed the chase, but quick cameos by Yash Bhatia, who scored 19 off nine, Bharat Sindhwani, 24 off 18, and Yash Dabas, who remained unbeaten, scoring 14 off nine, smoothly led the Strikers to victory with five balls remaining. Article Source: IANS

Afghanistan out to secure their World Cup spot

Rahmat Shah's men are just one win away from making the 2027 ODI World Cup

Gill and Jaiswal get in their drills ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

India's key batters got some good time in the middle in Colombo practice game

Village Talent Will Now Get A Platform: Ramandeep Hails Sher-e-Punjab T20 League

Punjab T20 League: Cricketer Ramandeep Singh believes the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will provide a much-needed platform for talented cricketers from villages across the state, allowing them to showcase their abilities in front of a wider audience. Speaking on the sidelines of the player auction for the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League in Chandigarh on Sunday, Ramandeep said the league would help bridge the gap between emerging players at the grassroots level and the wider cricketing audience. Earlier, I think, the talent did not get a chance to come on TV because only the IPL and international-level cricket were telecast. Now, with the league initiative started by Punjab Cricket, we are very thankful to the Punjab government and especially the PCA, because they have given us this platform where talent from the villages will be seen on TV, Ramandeep told reporters. The player auction is currently underway at a hotel in Chandigarh, with more than 450 cricketers going under the hammer for six franchises. Each team has a purse of Rs 45 lakh for the auction. The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will feature six teams and is scheduled to be played from August 30 to September 13 at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali. Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Amarjit Singh Mehta said the league was the fulfilment of a vision to take sport to every part of the state. This league was the dream of our Chief Minister. He wanted to build a big league for Punjab, and his dream is going to come true today. He wanted to bring sports to every village in Punjab, Mehta said. The entire Punjab Cricket Association team worked together to bring this league to this level. There are six teams in the league, featuring marquee players, icon players and district players. The opening ceremony will be held on August 30 and the closing ceremony on September 13, he added. Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, all-rounder Abhishek Sharma, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, Ramandeep Singh and young pacer Gurnoor Brar have been named the marquee players for the six franchises. The entire Punjab Cricket Association team worked together to bring this league to this level. There are six teams in the league, featuring marquee players, icon players and district players. The opening ceremony will be held on August 30 and the closing ceremony on September 13, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The league is expected to provide emerging players with an opportunity to share the stage with established names from Punjab and gain exposure through televised matches. Article Source: IANS

There is brilliant coordination between CoE and Indian team management, insists Laxman

Former India cricketer picks standout player for team India ahead of Sri Lanka Test series

The Indian team is all set to take on Sri Lanka in a two-game Test series. The two sides will meet at the Galle International Stadium from August 15th, and ahead of the series, there...

The Start Of A Truly Special Journey: Kumble Marks 36 Years Since India Debut

ICC Cricket Hall: Former India spinner Anil Kumble on Sunday marked 36 years since his international debut for India, looking back on the August 9, 1990 Test against England in Manchester where he claimed Allan Lamb as his first international wicket and began a career that would eventually make him India's most successful Test bowler. Kumble, who received his India Test cap as player number 192, used the anniversary to reflect on the significance of that first appearance and the career that followed. It was 36 years ago today that I received my first Test Cap as player number 192 for India. Taking the wicket of Allan Lamb was the start of a truly special journey, one that I cherish deeply to this day. I am incredibly grateful for this journey and everyone who has been a part it, Kumble wrote on X. The former India captain's international career began during the second Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. He bowled 43 overs in England's first innings, taking 3 wickets for 105 runs, including Lamb. In the second innings, he bowled 17 more overs but did not take any additional wickets. Kumble amassed 619 wickets over 132 Tests, the most by an Indian in the format. His 337 wickets from 271 ODIs brought his total international wickets to 953, setting another Indian record. His career featured one of Test cricket's rarest feats. In the 1999 Delhi Test versus Pakistan, Kumble became just the second bowler after Jim Laker of England to take all 10 wickets in a single innings. Kumble amassed 619 wickets over 132 Tests, the most by an Indian in the format. His 337 wickets from 271 ODIs brought his total international wickets to 953, setting another Indian record. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kumble also served as India's head coach from 2016 to 2017, guiding the team to Test series wins against the West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia. In 2015, he achieved one of the highest honours by being inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Article Source: IANS

IPL Teams Pressuring Indian Players To Play Despite Injuries, Claims BCCI Source

A source at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has expressed significant concerns regarding players competing in the Indian Premier League while injured, attributing this to franchise and financial pressures, which subsequently complicates their rehabilitation and return to international cricket.

India defeat Sri Lanka in practice game ahead of Test series, register dominant six-wicket win in Colombo

The Indian team managed to get the best of Sri Lanka Cricket XI as they defeated the side by six wickets in the three-day practice game ahead of the two-game Test series between the two...

Jaiswal, Gill get batting practice as India beat Sri Lanka XI by six wickets in warm-up

Chasing 207 for victory, India completed the target in 45 overs, finishing on 214 for four with Siraj smashing 32 off just 15 balls, including three successive sixes, to bring the game to an emphatic end

Jaiswal Hits 61, Siraj Slams Hat-trick Of Sixes As India Seal Six-wicket Win In Warm-up Game

Sri Lanka Cricket XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 61 while fast bowler Mohammed Siraj showcased his power-hitting capabilities by blasting a hat-trick of sixes to propel India to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Cricket XI on the third and final day of their warm-up fixture at the NCC Ground on Sunday. Chasing a target of 207 after Sri Lanka XI declared their second innings at 200/6, India required 23 runs off the final two overs in a race against time. Siraj, who finished unbeaten on 32 off just 15 balls, launched Sonal Dinusha for a maximum over the boundary in the 44th over before unleashing absolute carnage against Keshara Nuwantha in the 45th and final over of the day. Siraj smashed three consecutive sixes to different parts of the ground off Nuwantha to wrap up the chase in sensational fashion with three balls to spare and ensured India hit the bonus runs needed to complete their full quota of overs for the match. Earlier, the final day provided encouraging signs for India as regular skipper Shubman Gill returned to active action following an impact injury to his right ring finger sustained during Thursday's practice session. Gill, who sat out of the opening two days as a precautionary measure, walked out to open the second innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and looked at ease during an fluent knock of 44. His footwork against spin was particularly assured before he mistimed a lofted shot off Ramesh Mendis and was caught at fine leg. Jaiswal, who registered a duck in the first innings, struck a confident 61 before retiring hurt to give other batters crucial time in the middle. Rishabh Pant, who got out for two on Saturday, began in subdued fashion amassing only six runs off 25 balls in a deliberate effort to spend time at the crease. Dhruv Jurel (12) missed out after edging a short, wide delivery from left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando behind to the keeper. Pant would go on to hit a four and three sixes before falling for 28 off 68 balls. Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja continued his sparkling form by breezing to a quickfire 22 in the second essay to complement his first-innings score of 63. Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, and Saransh Jain also got batting time in the middle before Siraj's explosive finish sealed the deal in Indias favour. In the morning session, after India declared their first innings at 357/6, Sri Lanka Cricket XI had resumed their second innings under overcast conditions, with Indian seamers taking advantage of early moisture. Siraj was the pick of the frontline pacers, providing an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Ravindu Rasantha with a characteristic wobble-seam delivery. Prasidh Krishna bowled with aggression and rattled the middle stump of Pasindu Sooriyabandara, while tall pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed with his extra bounce to account for Pavan Rathnanayake and captain Sonal Dinusha to finish with 2-38. Jadeja then chipped in with two late wickets, including of top-scorer Nipun Dhananjaya (46), who was stumped by Jurel after charging down the track. Nishan Madushka was the standout performer for the host side, completing his second half-century of the match with a crisp 63 off 73 balls before Sri Lanka XI declared at tea after 45 overs. Prasidh Krishna bowled with aggression and rattled the middle stump of Pasindu Sooriyabandara, while tall pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed with his extra bounce to account for Pavan Rathnanayake and captain Sonal Dinusha to finish with 2-38. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363/8 dec and 200-6 dec (Nishan Madushka 63, Nipun Dhananjaya 46; Ravindra Jadeja 2-33, Gurnoor Brar 2-37) lost to India 357/6 dec and 214/4 in 45 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 61, Shubman Gill 44; Keshara Nuwantha 2-57, Vishwa Fernando 1-34) by six wickets Article Source: IANS

BCCI CoE still seeking Head of Sports Science amid injury concerns, says Laxman

VVS Laxman, chief of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), confirmed that the search for a permanent Head of Sports Science and Medicine is ongoing, nearly 18 months after Nitin Patel's departure, despite mounting injury cases among Indian cricketers.

No miscommunication between BCCI CoE and Indian team management, says Laxman

The spate of injuries to India players has heightened the focus on the CoE's role even more because they continue to operate without a Head of Sports Science

'36 Years Ago Today': Spin Great Anil Kumble Reflects His First Test Wicket

Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble reflected on the 36th anniversary of his international debut, expressing deep gratitude for his 'truly special journey' that began with his first Test wicket, Allan Lamb.

Rigid RTP Benchmarks And Technology Key To Player Recovery At CoE, Says VVS Laxman

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: Amidst the list of injured players of the senior mens team in double digits at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, its head VVS Laxman on Sunday said that they must meet strict, data-driven fitness benchmarks and complete two Return To Play (RTP) matches before being cleared to rejoin national or domestic teams. Addressing reporters at the CoE facility here, Laxman detailed the multi-layered diagnostic and recovery setup that connects the BCCI with world-renowned medical specialists, as he pushed back against the criticism of its injury-management protocols. The process starts with diagnosing the injury and finishes with a player declared fit after the two RTP (Return To Play) matches we have. Diagnosing, obviously, wherever the player gets injured in whatever environment - if it's the Indian team, the Indian team physio understands the nature of the injury and then we've got experts and specialists with whom we have got a year-long connection. Dr Rowan (Schouten) is the one we go as far as stress fracture for the back is concerned. Dr Dinshaw (Pardiwala) is our go-to doctor in Mumbai for shoulder, knee, in fact a lot more injuries. Then we've got Dr Kini, who is a foot and ankle specialist. We've got Dr (Sudhir) Warrier, who is our hand and wrist specialist. Then we've got three doctors... one in England who takes care of the surgeries of the ankle, one doctor in Munich who takes care of the sports hernia, and one doctor in South Africa, provided if we wish to explore that. Now, we got three specialists and interventional radiologists, Dr. Muthukumar, Dr. Shrikant, and Dr. Kini, who are the ones who read the scans and tell what is there in the scans. So, that becomes the first part of diagnosing the injury. Once that diagnosis happens, then those players through the Indian team, SSM staff is sent to the CoE, he said. Laxman then explained how players transition from physical therapy to match readiness once they arrive at the CoE. From the time they come here, two things which we do: obviously we clinically examine and assess them. Based on that assessment, we know what is the plan of action for them to recover and go back and join the team. The physio plays a part, and once the player is ready for the next phase, which is your strength and conditioning, then the S&C comes and plays a part. Slowly they go to the skill part, and then we build up the load, and then we play two RTP matches before we declare the player fit. Now, what is important, as I mentioned, through the data we have, we know the benchmark of each and every player from the skill and fitness point of view. So until and unless that benchmark is not met, or in fact got better, we don't release. That's a benchmark we use to declare a player fit. The whole idea is that when he goes back to the Indian team, men and women, or wherever, including the state teams or whatever teams he is participating, he has to be up and running and from the first match, he has been able to perform to the best of his potential. Now, it's an objective way of assessing the player to move from one stage to the next stage and this is where I think it's very important to understand that the guidelines and the timelines are given based on what you expect. But it's human body. It is not a machine where the timelines will always be met. So, there is a continuous process of understanding how a player is progressing and based on that, the load is increased. So, that is a process from the time they are diagnosed with the injury to the time they leave the COE and declare fit, he explained. Turning his attention to workload management for fast bowlers via the AMS (Athlete Management System), Laxman revealed Again, through this technology, you understand the workload. All this is there on a regular basis on the AMS. Like, the bowling workload for a fast bowler and I think our learning is, the stress injuries or the injuries happen not because a fast bowler is bowling too much. It happens that a fast bowler is not bowling enough. I think that's a critical part for all of us to understand. So there's a sweet spot we have for each and every fast bowler across the contractor, the targeted and the under-19s and there's a weekly monitoring of that load. So you give them X number of deliveries which they have to bowl in a week and then through the GPS which the players wear, we get the information whether they have been able to fulfill that or not. So there is a lot of emphasis on monitoring the load and I think through technology to various tools, we monitor that. I think remote monitoring is something which is very, very critical and it's tough. But at the same time, it's an evolving thing for us in how to remotely monitor a player when he's not in front of us, he said. Laxman also dismissed reports suggesting that contracted Indian players were bypassing official setups to consult private fitness trainers during their injury rehabilitation. This is news to me and I think there's a lot of news which is happening. But as I told, the way we do is the Indian team S&C is responsible of keeping a track of the contracted players. The S&Cs at the CoE are responsible to keep a track of the targeted and the age-group players. Everything is there on the AMS. Everything, every session of the player is there on the AMS and that is why we use the GPS, where wherever the player is doing, whatever he is doing is documented out there. If you see the men and women team's trainer, Adrian (le Roux), he is a world class trainer. In 2002, I remember he was our first foreign fitness trainer. The quality of him has got no questions around his quality. So, I am sure he knows how to manage the contracted players. Now Nick (Lee) recently joined the Indian women's team. He is again a very experienced S&C professional. Again, all these professionals are not only experienced, but they are knowledgeable and understanding of each and every player in their respective group is there. So, I think the trust and the coordination between the S&C and the players, as far as my knowledge is concerned, is going on. So, if you are saying something else, that's news to me, Laxman asserted. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed questions regarding fan access for domestic fixtures held at the state-of-the-art campus, citing government land allocation rules that restrict spectator crowds on site. The CoE is set to host the season-opening Duleep Trophy from August 23. There are some restrictions when this land was allocated here that we cannot have crowd in this campus. So that is a government restriction. We cannot violate that. But very close persons of the team members, they can come. But this year, we have increased the number of matches to be telecasted live. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed questions regarding fan access for domestic fixtures held at the state-of-the-art campus, citing government land allocation rules that restrict spectator crowds on site. The CoE is set to host the season-opening Duleep Trophy from August 23. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We still have time. We'll look into that aspect. If required, we'll do that. But for the time being, what we have done, we have increased the number of matches which were telecasted prior to this year, which is very limited. We have enhanced the numbers now, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

VVS Laxman Lauds India Women's Team For 2025 World Cup Title, Calls It High Point Of His Tenure

Former India batter VVS Laxman on Sunday cited the transition to world-class infrastructure and the Indian women's team's historic 2025 ODI World Cup triumph.

England Opener Emilio Gay Set To Be Fit For Pakistan Test Series: Report

Daily Mail Sport: England have received a big boost ahead of their test series against Pakistan starting on August 19, as their opener Emilio Gay, who suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Durham against Middlesex on Friday, is expected to be fit for the first test match at Headingley. Gay made his debut against New Zealand earlier this year and started off his career scoring two half-centuries in the three-match series. Although he missed a hundred and was inconsistent, his partnership with Ben Duckett impressed the team management, who are keen to give him a long rope after removing Zak Crawley from the team due to poor performances. According to the Daily Mail Sport, a scan on Saturday revealed no serious damage, allowing Gay to resume his opening partnership with Ben Duckett as Englands Test team embark on their latest new era with Pakistan's Test. The series will also mark Joe Root's first official assignment in his second stint as England's Test captain since stepping down in 2022. The squad selection involved newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming along with Marcus Trescothick, who will oversee the team as interim head coach for this series before the former assumes full charge. England have already suffered a blow ahead of the three-match contest as their top-order batter Jacob Bethell has been ruled out due to a knee injury sustained during the recent 2-1 ODI series win against India. The series will also mark Joe Root's first official assignment in his second stint as England's Test captain since stepping down in 2022. The squad selection involved newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming along with Marcus Trescothick, who will oversee the team as interim head coach for this series before the former assumes full charge. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England squad for first two Tests against Pakistan: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue Article Source: IANS

Can't Take Decision On Our Own: BCCI Seeks Centre's Clearance For This Tour - Report

Cricketing relations between India and Bangladesh have taken a hit over the past year or so due to strained political ties.

Bhuvneshwar Keeps ODI WC Ambitions Grounded, Says cant Predict What Will Happen

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: India and Lucknow Falcons pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar refused to look too far ahead when asked about his chances of making the ODI World Cup squad, insisting that his immediate focus remains on playing and performing rather than predicting what the future may hold. I have to play, I am playing. I can't predict what will happen after that, Bhuvneshwar told IANS when asked if his recent performances in white-ball cricket, including the IPL and domestic competitions, could put him in contention for the ODI World Cup. The experienced pacer is set to lead the Lucknow Falcons in the fourth edition of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, which will get underway on August 14. For Bhuvneshwar, the tournament represents another opportunity to contribute on the field while helping the next generation of Uttar Pradesh cricketers navigate the demands of competitive cricket. The 24-day UPT20 Season 4 will feature 34 matches and, for the first time, will be staged across two cities. Lucknow will host the opening phase at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, with 22 matches scheduled across 13 matchdays, before the tournament moves to Green Park Stadium in Kanpur for the remaining 12 matches over 11 matchdays. Bhuvneshwar, who has been part of the league since its early years, believes the tournament has grown steadily and can serve as an important stepping stone for players aspiring to reach the IPL and, eventually, the national team. This is the fourth year of the league and every year we are seeing an improvement, be it the ability of the players, or the facilities provided by UPCA, or the way they carry out operations. I am sure theres a good future. I think every state is having a league, not just UPCA, he added. The veteran pacer sees the emergence of state T20 leagues as a positive development for domestic cricket. Of course, these leagues have a future. This is a big opportunity for all the players. If they do well, they might get to play at the IPL and eventually for the Indian team. So its a great opportunity, he stated. Bhuvneshwar said the focus within the Lucknow Falcons camp is less on elaborate match plans at this stage and more on ensuring players are mentally prepared and comfortable when they step onto the field. See, it hasn't started yet; practice is going on. Of course, there will be some strategy, some planning. But it is very important how you get into the match, how you get into the mindset, the pacer said. Bhuvneshwar said the focus within the Lucknow Falcons camp is less on elaborate match plans at this stage and more on ensuring players are mentally prepared and comfortable when they step onto the field. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So the aim, being a captain, and a coachs, is that we can keep the players in a good space, in a happy space, in a comfortable space. That is our effort, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Transition To State-of-the-art Facility, Women's ODI WC Win High Points Of Tenure: Laxman

ODI World Cup: Reflecting on his tenure at the helm of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE), former India batter VVS Laxman on Sunday cited the transition to world-class infrastructure and the Indian women's team's historic 2025 ODI World Cup triumph as the ultimate highlights of his stint. Laxman, one of the few players to have played 100 Test matches, has been the CoEs head of cricket since December 2021. Under him, the high-performance facility moved from being at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to a world-class facility spread across 40 acres of land on the outskirts of the garden city. First, realising and being part of the vision converted into actual execution has been the highlight. Because we were operating from that facility at the Chinnaswamy, which was great, and it still contributed towards a lot of cricketers. But this is an unbelievable world-class infrastructure. So I was part of that transition. The second thing was the development of a lot of young cricketers. Again, it's not the trophies you win. Trophies are a byproduct of what systems, the processes you set. Those systems and the processes are something which is in your control and you can focus in an objective way, understanding whether those processes are working or not working. The trophies are a byproduct of the hard work and the processes and systems you put in place, said Laxman in a press conference on Sunday. Explaining his deep connection with women's cricket, Laxman expressed immense pride in the team's maiden ODI World Cup victory, and recalled the emotional moment when head coach Amol Muzumdar and captain Harmanpreet Kaur invited him to join the winning celebrations. The third one is understanding and being involved with women's cricket. I think that for me was something out of my comfort zone, and out of my understanding. I think in the last four and a half years, the amount of involvement I got into women's cricket is something which I will treasure. In fact, Amol and Harman wanted me to be there on the ground when we won the World Cup. I was there in the BCCI box and I enjoyed watching from there - the whole celebration. I was probably one of the last ones to leave because, again, any vision you set in, any goal or ambition you establish, and if that bears the fruit, you feel really happy about it. So I think Indian women's team winning the World Cup was probably the high point. So there are a lot of high points. Actually, watching the youngsters as with this magnitude of the infrastructure, from April to September, the entire infrastructure of such a big scale is filled with players. In that, watching right from under-16, under-15 players to your elite contracted players like Harman, Indian women's team and men's team and targeted players coming and to see them work on their game, to see them get better each and every day, it can't be more meaningful than what I've experienced. So I think that, again, is a high point and I think all these players, all these activities will only strengthen Indian cricket and all these players, I'm sure, will get a lot more laurels to Indian cricket and try to be the best players they can be and we always aim to be the best team in world cricket. Speaking about star batter Virat Kohli, Laxman lauded his work ethic and the benchmarks he has established for the next generation of players. I think there's no doubt that Virat is an exemplary professional and the standards he sets for himself is something which he tries and goes out each and every time he plays, whichever team, to meet those standards and that's why he's a great role model. I think a lot of youngsters or players want to emulate him and that's been, again, one of the high points. I see a lot of youngsters, I don't know if I can name them, but everyone who's here and the benchmark we set is the benchmark of the best. That's why you have the NFDC parameters. It's not only about the fitness, but it's also the attitude with which a role model plays and that's why they're known as role models. Elaborating on the psychological and physical management on the players undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE, Laxman cited all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a case in point regarding workload management amid tight schedules. I think the mental side of a player undergoing rehab or getting injuries is something which we always require to keep in mind. So the player also knows that he has got injured. The player also knows what is that he requires to do to get fit and be again participating in the commitments. Now from the CoE side, we make sure that we make the player understand the workload. In this case, it is Nitish. Being an all-rounder, obviously there is a lot of workload on him and how he becomes fitter, not only when he is playing various tournaments but also when he is not part of any tournaments. I think it is an ongoing process now of getting better from your fitness levels because everyone knows, now you go to IPL, you play state franchise and then you start playing the domestic cricket or international cricket. So while you are playing the matches also, unlike before where there is an off-season where you actually can get better at your fitness, the player should know that while he is playing the matches, how he productively and meaningfully uses the breaks to get fit. So I think the conversation with Nitish is, injury is part and parcel. What is that you can do to get better, to handle the workload of being an all-rounder and it is across the board. It is not only Nitish, across the board, you want to tell and that is why the screening at the start of the season is very, very important. Laxman also highlighted the introduction of the 'Bronco test' to evaluate anaerobic capacity during competitive series without putting excessive strain on athletes. If you see in the presentation, the parameters we have for all the fitness tests, the NFTC test is mentioned there. So all the contracted players and the targeted players come before the start of the season and they undergo a string of fitness tests which you must have seen with various machines up there and on-field activities. So I think the conversation with Nitish is, injury is part and parcel. What is that you can do to get better, to handle the workload of being an all-rounder and it is across the board. It is not only Nitish, across the board, you want to tell and that is why the screening at the start of the season is very, very important. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So the Bronco test becomes like a conditioning session. It also indirectly tests the fitness levels, the anaerobic fitness levels of a player and that is taken on board across the various age groups and we do that through the season. So that is something which can be repeatable, Laxman concluded. Article Source: IANS

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Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh Among 'Marquee Players' Of Sher-e-Punjab T20 League

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Barabati Stadium Set To Host Odisha T20 League From Sep 18

The Odisha Cricket Association: The iconic Barabati Stadium is set to host the upcoming season of the Odisha T20 League, with the tournament scheduled to begin on September 18. The league will bring together some of the states leading cricketers alongside emerging talent, offering young players an opportunity to compete at a higher level and showcase their skills on a bigger platform. The tournament will also highlight Odishas regional cricketing culture, with franchises representing different parts of the state, including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar and other regions. The regional representation is expected to add to the competitive edge of the league and provide a platform for local rivalries to develop. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Sanjay Behera said the league would play an important role in the development of players in the state. We are extremely delighted to kickstart the Odisha T20 League. This tournament will play a vital role in the development of our players. It will provide young cricketers with the opportunity to compete against some of the best talent in the state, gain valuable experience and prepare themselves for bigger stages in the future, he said. Behera also underlined the OCAs focus on creating opportunities for players while ensuring an engaging experience for spectators. We are extremely delighted to kickstart the Odisha T20 League. This tournament will play a vital role in the development of our players. It will provide young cricketers with the opportunity to compete against some of the best talent in the state, gain valuable experience and prepare themselves for bigger stages in the future, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With a mix of experienced domestic cricketers and promising youngsters, the Odisha T20 League is expected to contribute to the development of the states cricketing ecosystem and provide emerging players with a pathway to higher levels of the game. Article Source: IANS

'Players not machines': V V S Laxman defends BCCI CoE on player injuries

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CoE Not Just A Rehab Centre; Injuries Part And Parcel Of Modern-day Cricket: Laxman

BCCI President Mithun Manhas: Stating injuries are an inevitable part of modern-day elite sport, BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman said on Sunday the facility carries a broader mandate than just rehabilitating injured players while asserting that seamless coordination exists between support staff, selectors, and team management. Amidst mounting injury concerns hurting the senior mens and womens teams at various junctures, Laxman addressed a press conference alongside BCCI President Mithun Manhas, secretary Devajit Saikia, treasurer Raghuram Bhatt, and joint secretary Prabhtej Singh Bhatia. The quartet also had a meeting with Laxman to address the increasing injury concerns at the high-performance facility spread over nearly 40 acres on the outskirts of Bengaluru. CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence. I don't think it's a cause of concern. But obviously when someone is playing at the elite level, you're supposed to give more than 100 percent because if you're not, then you're not doing justification to the role or for what purpose you're selected in the team. There's no doubt that the modern generation of players has to play a lot more cricket than probably when I used to play the game. Obviously with the addition of T20, the three formats, but that's when all the initiatives which CoE and SSM staff has taken, it will benefit them. It's not only for the contracted or targeted players, it will benefit even the state players. So I think ultimately injuries are part and parcel of any player, said Laxman in the press conference. He also said that elite athletes naturally push their bodies, thus making physical setbacks an unavoidable component of competitive sport. I just want to reiterate that when you're playing at the highest level, you finish your whatever series, from that series to the next series, you automatically work hard on getting better, and on getting fitter. Even though you do that with playing at the highest level, you can get injured. So if you're thinking about not to get injured, then you're not playing to the best of your ability. So I think one thing which should be addressed, and I think that's changed dramatically, is how you see injury. Do you see injury as a negative thing? Or do you think injury is part and parcel? You obviously get better and evolve in the processes to take care of the players, but injuries are bound to happen. I think that's why the monitoring system is very, very critical. I've got no doubt that Adrian and Nick or Kamlesh and Rakhi are doing that when they're playing for the country. You get injured and we have to understand that it's part and parcel of playing international cricket with the intensity you expect them to play, he explained. Laxman further dismissed reports of miscommunication or finger-pointing over player fitness, even as players like Jasprit Bumrah, B Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, Prince Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy are rehabbing from varied injuries at the CoE. I think we don't like to use the name blame because when you're using the blame, then you're finding someone as a scapegoat. I don't know what you all feel and you start blaming because of this and because of that. But there's a brilliant coordination between the CoE, team management of both the teams and the SSM staff of both the teams and the selection committee, he said. Detailing the process regarding the conditional selection of key players like Bumrah and Sudharsan, who are now not in sight to play the two-game Test series against Sri Lanka, Laxman explained the systematic flow of information. Now you're talking about Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan. When we send a fitness status report, and the process is that the selector reaches out to the CoE asking for the fitness status report and we collect the current fitness status and send a fitness status report to the selection committee chairman or chairperson in women's selection committee with a copy to obviously the head coach of both the teams and the BCCI. Now with Bumrah and Sai Sudarshan, there's always an asterisk and this is one thing which you all know that when the media release comes from the BCCI, there's an asterisk attached to a player selection. And what does that asterisk mean? It means subject to fitness. So Bumrah and Sai Sudarshan were going to be picked to Sri Lanka subject to fitness clearance. He further added that recovery trajectories are continuously monitored before final calls are taken. As I told before, you assess them, you move them from one stage to the next stage and if the progression is slow, you communicate to the selection committee chairman and the head coach, which is happening seamlessly, and they understand that they're not yet ready to participate in an international series. Always it's player-centric and team-centric. So that communication is happening seamlessly. So the subject to fitness is something we require to keep in mind in any press release, and I think what the BCCI has done is to ensure there is transparency in all the fitness reports and also the selection. At the end of the selection, whether it's a release to the press, it's clearly mentioned that these players are picked subject to fitness. It means if they don't clear the fitness test here, that means the selectors will know who are the other players who will go in their place if they don't clear the fitness test. I mean, it's basic common sense. Elaborating on the administrative timeline, Secretary Saikia explained why the 'subject to fitness' clause remains essential during squad announcements. Just to add to your question, we basically have our selection meetings at least three to four weeks before the team departs. So therefore, three weeks before or four weeks before, we do not know the exact status of the player. At the end of the selection, whether it's a release to the press, it's clearly mentioned that these players are picked subject to fitness. It means if they don't clear the fitness test here, that means the selectors will know who are the other players who will go in their place if they don't clear the fitness test. I mean, it's basic common sense. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But by the time it will be effectively required for the travel or to play the match, by that time he may be totally picked. So in that situation, we always keep that subject to fitness condition and we do not deprive the player also. It is very uncertain that within 21 days he will get picked or not. Nobody can predict that as it is a human body, not a machine. So he may take 14 or 28 days time, subject to his own body composition, Saikia concluded. Article Source: IANS

LNS vs BPH: Approaching Milestones and Records Ahead of Match 28, The Hundred Mens 2026

LNS vs BPH,Approaching Milestones and Records :The second game of the double header on Sunday in the Hundred Men's 2026 will be played between London Spirit and Birmingham Phoenix. These two teams have been eliminated from the competition, and nothing can save them from it. Both teams are sitting at the bottom of the points table at the moment. Birmingham Phoenix are placed at the bottom of the table with only one win. That win came at the start of the campaign against Trent Rockets. But since then, they suffered five consecutive defeats and are struggling to get a win. That is what they will be looking for from this game. The upcoming contest is scheduled to be played on Sunday at 10:30 PM IST at Lords Cricket Ground in London. London Spirit are one spot above them. The winner of this game won't change anything, but both teams will be aiming to finish the campaigns on a high. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the LNS vs BPH Match 28 at the Lord's Cricket Ground, London. LNS vs BPH: Approaching Test Records and Cricket Milestones Ahead of the LNS vs BPHMatch 28 atLord's Cricket Ground in London 123 - Jonny Bairstow needs 123 runs to complete 7000 runs in men's T20 cricket. 1 - Veteran English pacer David Willey has been exceptional this season. He has taken 390 wickets in his T20 career so far. One more wicket and he will surpass T20 legend Lasith Malinga. 22 - Will Smeed has scored 3978 runs in T20 cricket. He needs 22 more runs to reach the milestone of 4000 runs in his career. 6 - Jordan Thompson is close to reaching 150 wickets in his T20 cricket. He is just six wickets away from this landmark. 1 - Chris Wood is just one wicket away from surpassing legendary South African bowler Dalye Styen in T20 cricket. 41 - Liam Livingstone has 1159 runs in the Hundred men's competition. He needs 41 more runs to become the fifth-highest scorer in this league. 3 - David Willey is just three wickets away from entering the top five wicket-takers in this league. 80 - Joe Clarke needs 80 more runs to complete 1000 runs in this league. Only nine batters have done this milestone. Also Read: Live Cricket Score

Sarfaraz Khan Likely To Replace Injured Sai Sudharsan For Sri Lanka Tests: Report

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'Going To Defend The Fortress': Kagiso Rabada Embraces Home Advantage For 2027 World Cup

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Star India batter touted as replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan for Sri Lanka Test series | Reports

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Were Going To Defend This Fortress: Rabada Embraces Home Advantage For 2027 WC

ICC Cricket World Cup: South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada believes playing the ICC Cricket World Cup on home soil next year will not bring additional pressure on the Proteas; instead, it will prove to be an opportunity to 'defend this fortress' and clinch their first 50-over World Cup title. South Africa will co-host the 14th edition of the 50-over World Cup with Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027, with expectations high following the teams impressive performances across formats in recent years. The Proteas secured their maiden ICC World Test Championship title in 2025 after defeating Australia at Lords, while they have also shown consistency in the limited-overs formats. However, Rabada does not believe those achievements, combined with the pressure of playing in front of home supporters, will weigh heavily on the team. Well, I think theres a lot more to it at the moment with us hosting it. Its almost like freedom as well. I dont feel the pressure of us playing at home and feeling the need to win it, Rabada told the ICC at the official Cricket World Cup 2027 venue and brand announcement event in Johannesburg. Its almost like, were at home, and were going to defend this fortress. And thats what it means to me. Its about representing the badge, he added. Rabada, who featured in South Africas 2019 and 2023 World Cup campaigns, is also drawing inspiration from one of crickets most iconic moments. The fast bowler recalled Pakistan great Wasim Akrams match-winning spell in the 1992 World Cup final against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where the left-armer produced a decisive burst to help Pakistan secure their maiden World Cup title. One World Cup moment from the past that Ill never forget, because Im a bowler, Im going to go to the bowlers club, was Wasim Akram against England in the final. Him just cleaning up (the stumps) and putting on a show to take it home for his country and showing the passion and the skill. He was fast, had so much skill, and just had this presence, this heightened energy about him that he was there to play, Rabada said. The 31-year-old believes South Africas recent success has also strengthened the teams belief that it can handle the pressure of major knockout matches. One World Cup moment from the past that Ill never forget, because Im a bowler, Im going to go to the bowlers club, was Wasim Akram against England in the final. Him just cleaning up (the stumps) and putting on a show to take it home for his country and showing the passion and the skill. He was fast, had so much skill, and just had this presence, this heightened energy about him that he was there to play, Rabada said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa have reached the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup on four occasions but are yet to win the title. With the 2027 tournament taking place in their own backyard, the Proteas will look to complete the final step and lift the trophy. Article Source: IANS

Sarfaraz set to replace injured Sai Sudharsan for Sri Lanka Tests

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