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Abhishek Sharma Equals Suryakumar's Record With 68 T20I Sixes in a Calendar Year
Abhishek Sharma has equalled the record for the most sixes in a calendar year in men's T20 Internationals among Full Member nations. He did it with five sixes in the 3rd T20I against West Indies at Holkar Stadium, Indore, on Sunday, October 11. That took his 2026 tally to 68 sixes , matching Suryakumar Yadav's mark from 2022. Abhishek began the match on 63 sixes from 31 T20Is this year. He hit five more in his innings of 69 off 30 balls , which also included six fours. Suryakumar needed 31 matches to reach 68 in 2022, so Abhishek has matched the record in 32. He has done it at a much faster rate, though. He has hit a six every 6.55 balls in 2026, against 9.13 for Suryakumar. The innings came after Sanju Samson fell early. Abhishek put on an attacking stand with Ishan Kishan , who made 37 off 18, before he holed out to a return catch off Shamar Springer. India then lost three wickets for nine runs in ten balls, but recovered to post 223. They went on to win by 14 runs and lead the five-match series 2-1. Abhishek already owns the third-highest calendar-year tally in this list with 54 sixes in 2025, and his opening partner Kishan has 52 sixes this year. With two matches left in the series, Abhishek will have the chance to take the record outright in the 4th T20I.
Arshdeep Singh Stars as India Beat West Indies by 14 Runs, Lead Series 2-1
India held their nerve to beat West Indies by 14 runs in the 3rd T20I at Holkar Stadium, Indore, taking an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series on the back of Arshdeep Singh's match-winning spell with the new ball at the death. Put in to bat, India got off to a stuttering start as Sanju Samson fell early, but Abhishek Sharma blazed his way to 69 off 30 balls, including six fours and five sixes, before holing out off Shamar Springer. Ishan Kishan kept the tempo going with 37 off 18, and useful contributions from Tilak Varma (28), Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Axar Patel (20) helped India post 223 for 10 despite losing wickets at regular intervals in the back half. Roston Chase, Shamar Joseph and Shamar Springer all picked up two wickets apiece for West Indies. Chasing 224, West Indies were always playing catch-up after early inroads. Shimron Hetmyer (43) and Kamil Pooran (42) put together a 60-run stand to briefly bring the equation down, and Sherfane Rutherford's 32 kept the required rate within reach. But Arshdeep Singh was outstanding with the ball, finishing with 3 for 44, including the crucial wickets of Shai Hope and Keemo Paul, while Naman Dhir chipped in with 2 for 39. A late flourish from Shamar Springer, who smashed an unbeaten 35 off just 11 balls with four sixes, briefly threatened to pull off a heist, but West Indies fell short at 209 for 7, with India closing out the game by 14 runs. Arshdeep Singh was named Player of the Match for his three-wicket haul and his composure in the death overs, a spell that proved decisive in restricting West Indies' chase. With this win, India move to 2-1 up in the series with two T20Is to play, and will look to seal the series when the two sides meet next.
Abhishek Sharma Completes 2,000 T20I Runs in Just His 65th Match
Abhishek Sharma brought up 2,000 runs in T20 Internationals during India's series against West Indies, reaching the landmark in just his 65th match for the country, one of the fastest by an Indian batter to the milestone. The left-handed opener has been central to India's aggressive template at the top of the order in T20Is over the past couple of years, combining power-hitting with the ability to accelerate from ball one. His strike rate well above 150 throughout his career has made him one of the most feared openers in the format, and touching 2,000 runs inside 65 innings-worth of matches underlines just how consistently he has delivered at the top for India. Abhishek has built his T20I game around taking the attack to the opposition inside the powerplay, regularly putting bowling attacks under pressure in the first six overs and setting the tone for India's innings. That approach has produced several match-defining starts for India across bilateral series and ICC events, and this milestone comes on the back of another series where he has continued to look fluent at the top. The 2,000-run mark places him among a select group of Indian batters to have scored that many T20I runs, and given his age and the trajectory of his career, he is well placed to climb much higher on India's all-time run charts in the format in the coming years. With the World Cup cycle building up, Abhishek's form and consistency at the top of the order will continue to be a key factor in India's T20I plans, and milestones like this one are a reminder of how quickly he has established himself as a first-choice opener since his debut. India's team management will be pleased to see one of their key batters continuing to rack up runs and milestones during a series where the side has otherwise had to manage several changes across formats.
Steve Smith Passes Joe Root for Most Catches by a Fielder in Test Cricket
Steve Smith has become the most successful fielder in Test history among non-wicketkeepers. He took his 221st Test catch on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban, on Sunday, October 11, going past Joe Root's 220. The record came at slip. David Bedingham drove outside off and produced a thick edge, and Smith dived full-stretch to take the catch. It left South Africa on 99 for 4 in reply to Australia's 390. It was the second sharp slip catch from Smith in quick succession during the opening session. By the first-session break, South Africa were 110 for 4, still 280 runs behind. Root had gone past Smith earlier this season. He took his 220th catch at first slip against Pakistan at Edgbaston, when Smith was on 219. Smith has now taken the lead again, and in 126 Tests , more than 40 fewer than Root. Smith, 37, is now clear at the top of the list. Root (220) is second, followed by Rahul Dravid (210), Mahela Jayawardene (205), Jacques Kallis (200) and Ricky Ponting (196). Smith and Root are the only active players with more than 200 Test catches.
Renshaw's Career-Best 190 and Record Stand With Lyon Put Australia in Control in Durban
Matt Renshaw scored a career-best 190 on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban, on Saturday, October 10. His innings took Australia from 124 for 6 on the first day to 390 all out . South Africa ended the day on 27 for 1, trailing by 363 runs, after bad light ended play early. Renshaw reached his second Test hundred in the morning session, off 204 balls. It came nine years after his first, against Pakistan in 2017. He added 86 for the seventh wicket with captain Pat Cummins (43) and then 134 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon, who made 27 off 92 balls. Lyon mostly blocked while Renshaw rotated the strike and waited for the bad ball. The stand with Lyon is Australia's highest ninth-wicket partnership against South Africa and the highest for that wicket at Kingsmead. It is also the second-highest ninth-wicket stand in Australia's Test history. Renshaw faced 397 balls and hit 21 fours and a six before he was caught at slip off Simon Harmer. His score is the highest by a visiting batter at number five or lower in a Test at Kingsmead, passing Kusal Perera's 153 not out in 2019. For South Africa, Wiaan Mulder took 4/68 and Marco Jansen 3/68, while Anrich Nortje took two wickets. The home side lost opener Ryan Rickelton for a duck to Josh Hazlewood late on the day. Aiden Markram (15) and David Bedingham (12) were unbeaten overnight.
Litton Das Returns as Captain, Aliss Al Islam Gets First ODI Call-Up in Bangladesh UAE Squad
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has named a 16-member squad for the ODI tri-series in the UAE, also involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Litton Das returns to lead the side, with Towhid Hridoy as vice-captain. Spinner Aliss Al Islam has earned his first ODI call-up. Litton was appointed ODI captain in July, replacing Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in mind. He had missed the July ODI series in Zimbabwe with a left calf injury. Aliss Al Islam , 29, is a mystery spinner who has played one T20I, at the Asian Games earlier this month. He usually bowls with the new ball. In List A cricket he has taken 35 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 17.05 and an economy rate of 4.05. Pacer Hasan Mahmud is also in the squad. Fast bowler Nahid Rana misses out through injury. Mohammad Saifuddin and Parvez Hossain Emon, who featured in the July series, have been left out. Bangladesh squad: Litton Das (c), Towhid Hridoy (vc), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Aliss Al Islam.
Hasan Mahmud's Hat-Trick and Rahmat Shah's Ton Headline Day 3 of Afghanistan-Bangladesh Test
Hasan Mahmud became the first Bangladesh fast bowler to take a Test hat-trick, and Rahmat Shah made history with a century on his Test captaincy debut. Both moments came on Day 3 of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, October 11. Afghanistan resumed on 211 for 4, chasing Bangladesh's first-innings 346. Rahmat, who took over as Test captain from Hashmatullah Shahidi in July, scored 105 off 216 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. He is the first Afghan to score a century on Test captaincy debut . Opener Abdul Malik added 62 off 120 balls, but Rahmat had little support from the rest of the order. Then came Mahmud. In the 83rd over of the innings, he dismissed Ismat Alam , Qais Ahmad and Zia-ur-Rehman off consecutive deliveries. The last one was given not out on the field. Bangladesh reviewed, and ball-tracking showed the delivery would have hit the off stump. Mahmud is only the third Bangladesh bowler to take a Test hat-trick, after Alok Kapali (2003) and Sohag Gazi (2013). Mahmud finished with 5/55 , his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, and became the fastest Bangladesh pacer to reach 50 Test wickets. Ebadot Hossain took 4/56. Afghanistan were bowled out for 240 , giving Bangladesh a first-innings lead of 106. Rahmat remained unbeaten on 105. Bangladesh lost two quick wickets in their second innings, but at lunch they were 44 for 2, leading by 150 runs . Their first innings had been built on half-centuries from Tanzid Hasan Tamim (83), Shadman Islam (67) and Litton Das (53).
New Zealand Name Split ODI Squads for India Series, Santner Leads, Allen and Ferguson Return
New Zealand have named their squads for the five-match ODI series against India . Mitchell Santner will captain both groups. The series starts on November 4 at Eden Park, Auckland. It comes after the five T20Is, which run from October 22 to November 1. New Zealand Cricket has picked two separate squads. The first has 14 players for ODIs 1 to 3. The second has 13 players for ODIs 4 and 5. Several players will leave after the third match and head to Wellington to prepare for the two-Test series, which begins on November 19 . The Test squad of 14 will be named in early November. Squad for ODIs 1-3: Batters: Mark Chapman , Will Young All-rounders: Mitchell Santner (c) , Michael Bracewell , Daryl Mitchell , Rachin Ravindra , Nathan Smith Wicketkeeper-batters: Devon Conway , Tom Latham , Glenn Phillips Bowlers: Jacob Duffy , Matt Henry , Kyle Jamieson , Blair Tickner Squad for ODIs 4 and 5: Batters: Finn Allen , Mark Chapman , Will Young All-rounders: Mitchell Santner (c) , Michael Bracewell , Nick Kelly Wicketkeeper-batters: Mitchell Hay , Tim Seifert Bowlers: Kristian Clarke , Jacob Duffy , Matthew Fisher , Lockie Ferguson , Blair Tickner Only six players are in both squads: Santner , Bracewell , Chapman , Duffy , Young and Tickner . Eight players drop out after the third ODI. They are Conway , Henry , Jamieson , Latham , Mitchell , Phillips , Ravindra and Smith . Seven players come in for the last two games. They are Allen , Clarke , Fisher , Ferguson , Hay , Kelly and Seifert . Rachin Ravindra is back in the ODI squad after injury. Latham is the wicketkeeper for the first three ODIs. Hay and Seifert take over that role for the last two. Here are the ODI fixtures. All matches start at 7:30 AM IST. Match Date Venue 1st ODI November 4 Eden Park, Auckland 2nd ODI November 7 Sky Stadium, Wellington 3rd ODI November 10 Seddon Park, Hamilton 4th ODI November 13 Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 5th ODI November 15 Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Farhan 89 Leads Pakistan to Four-Wicket Win Over Sri Lanka in First T20I
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, October 9. They chased down 183 in 18.5 overs with seven balls to spare and lead the three-match series 1-0. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat. They made 182 for 8 , built around Lahiru Udara's 91 , which included 11 fours and a six. Kamindu Mendis added 23 and Dasun Shanaka 18. Naseem Shah led the Pakistan attack with 3/36 . Debutant Mohammad Imran was economical, taking 2/21 in his four overs. Razaullah, who also made his T20I debut, took 1/30, and Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan took one wicket each. The chase was driven by captain Sahibzada Farhan , who scored 89 with 10 fours and four sixes. He was dismissed with only four runs needed. Maaz Sadaqat hit a quick 50 off 29 balls , including four fours and three sixes. The pair put on 92 for the second wicket to take the game away from Sri Lanka. Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 21. Eshan Malinga and Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets each for Sri Lanka, but the visitors could not defend the total on a dew-affected pitch. Pakistan finished on 187 for 6 , with Khawaja Nafay and Imran seeing them home after Shadab Khan's late dismissal.
Litchfield 77, Sutherland 4/30 Give Australia Women Seven-Wicket Win Over Bangladesh
Australia Women beat Bangladesh Women by seven wickets in the first ODI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Friday, October 9. The hosts chased down 167 in just 25.4 overs. They finished with 146 balls to spare and lead the three-match series 1-0. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl. Megan Schutt struck with the very first ball of the match, sending back Fargana Hoque for a golden duck. Bangladesh were 34 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Ritu Moni was the only batter to show real intent, making 45 off 63 balls with five fours. Shorna Akter added 21 off 50, and Nahida Akter stayed unbeaten on 19. Bangladesh were bowled out for 166 in 49.4 overs. Annabel Sutherland was the pick of the bowlers with 4/30 . Schutt finished with 2/19. She also reached a big personal landmark. Schutt trapped Sarmin Sultana lbw in her ninth delivery of the match for her 150th ODI wicket . She is only the third Australian woman to get there, after Cathryn Fitzpatrick (180) and Ellyse Perry (166). The chase was never in doubt. Phoebe Litchfield smashed 77 off 57 balls , with ten fours and a six, before Rabeya Khan got her. Georgia Voll chipped in with 19 off 18 early on. Ellyse Perry (26 not out) and Sutherland (25 not out off 23) saw Australia home at 168 for 3. Habiba Islam was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers with 2/36. This is Bangladesh's first women's ODI series in Australia. The second ODI is on Sunday, October 11 , and the third on Wednesday, October 14. Both are day/night games at the same ground. The series is part of Australia's build-up to the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in India, which starts on February 14, 2027.
Tilak Varma Completes 5,000 T20 Runs in 166 Innings, Fifth-Fastest Indian to the Mark
Tilak Varma crossed 5,000 career T20 runs during the 2nd T20I against West Indies at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. He got there in his 166th T20 innings , making him the fifth-fastest Indian to reach the milestone. Tilak came into the match on 4,987 runs from 165 innings, a tally that includes 5 hundreds and 30 fifties across T20 cricket. He walked in at number six with India well placed and finished unbeaten on 44 off 18 balls , with 3 fours and 3 sixes, a strike rate of 244.44. The knock helped India reach 249 for 5, though West Indies chased it down with 9 balls to spare. The milestone caps a busy year for the left-hander, who is India's T20I vice-captain. He had already moved past MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina on India's all-time T20I run-scoring list in July, and his 51 not out off 22 balls in the Asian Games gold medal match against Pakistan took him to the brink of 5,000 days before this game. India now head to Indore for the 3rd T20I on October 11 , with the series level at 1-1.
Shai Hope's 45-Ball Century Powers West Indies to Record 250 Chase, Levels T20I Series 1-1
West Indies beat India by 6 wickets in the 2nd T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, chasing down 250 in 18.3 overs with 9 balls to spare. Captain Shai Hope finished unbeaten on 102 off 45 balls and was named Player of the Match, as the five-match series was levelled at 1-1. West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl. India made 249 for 5 , with Sanju Samson hitting 82 off 41 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes), Tilak Varma an unbeaten 44 off 18 , Ishan Kishan 43 off 22 and captain Shreyas Iyer 40 off 18. Roston Chase was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3 for 24 in four overs, while Shamar Springer took 2 for 64. The chase began badly. Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer in his first over to leave West Indies 5 for 2 , and had Rovman Powell bowled for 24 to make it 58 for 3. Hope then took charge. He added 120 off 54 balls for the fourth wicket with Sherfane Rutherford , who made 84 off 37 with 7 fours and 7 sixes before falling to Kuldeep Yadav. Romario Shepherd then struck an unbeaten 34 off 13 , including 24 runs off one Kuldeep over, and Hope finished the game with a six off Axar Patel to complete his century with 6 fours and 9 sixes . It is West Indies' highest successful run chase in T20Is , and the second-highest in men's T20I history after South Africa's 259 against West Indies at Centurion in 2023. Hope's hundred, his second in T20Is , came off 45 balls, the second-fastest for West Indies in the format and level with the fastest against India. The match produced 501 runs , the second-highest aggregate in a men's T20I, and the result ended Iyer's run of 10 straight wins as India captain. The teams now move to Indore for the 3rd T20I on October 11 .
Ajit Agarkar's Tenure as India's Chief Selector Ends After Three ICC Titles, BCCI Invites Applications for Successor
Ajit Agarkar has completed his tenure as chairman of the BCCI's senior men's selection committee. His term officially ended on October 4, 2026 , after he decided not to seek an extension. He had told the BCCI of that decision after its annual general meeting on September 18. Agarkar took charge in July 2023 , a little over three years ago. His time in the role was one of the most successful periods for Indian white-ball cricket. India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final , then won the 2024 T20 World Cup , the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup . That is three ICC trophies in three successive years. Star Sports India's farewell tribute also highlighted two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals during his tenure. Head coach Gautam Gambhir paid tribute on X, calling it an "absolute honour" to work with Agarkar. He said the three ICC trophies showed Agarkar's conviction of putting the team first, and added that history would be kinder to him. Agarkar's term was not without criticism. His committee made several headline calls, including picking Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya as T20I captain after the 2024 World Cup, a decision that led to the 2026 T20 World Cup title. In October 2025, Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as ODI captain. Test cricket was a tougher area, with a 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand in 2024, a 3-1 loss in Australia and a 2-2 draw in England in 2025. The BCCI has invited applications for the vacant chairman's position. Pragyan Ojha has taken interim charge and chaired the selection meeting that picked India's squad for the New Zealand tour. The new chief selector will have to balance established players with emerging talent as India plans for the next ICC cycle. A former India pacer, Agarkar took 288 ODI wickets in 191 matches, more than any Indian bowler apart from Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.
Shreyas Iyer's Unbeaten 102 off 43 Powers India to 8-Wicket Win Over West Indies in 1st T20I
India beat West Indies by 8 wickets in the 1st T20I at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, chasing down 172 in just 14.4 overs with 32 balls to spare. Captain Shreyas Iyer was the hero with an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls , which earned him the Player of the Match award. India now lead the five-match series 1-0. India won the toss and chose to bowl. West Indies made a bright start, with Shai Hope hitting 52 off 37 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Sherfane Rutherford smashing 56 off 34 (6 fours, 3 sixes). Hope and Rutherford added 63 for the fourth wicket to take West Indies to 107, but the innings fell apart after Hope's dismissal. Three wickets fell for 17 runs between 107 and 124, and West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs . Akeal Hosein's quick 15 off 9 balls at the end pushed the total close to 170, with 8 extras also helping the cause. Naman Dhir was India's best bowler with 3 for 31 . Axar Patel (2 for 26, including a maiden) and Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 33) kept squeezing the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh (1 for 34) and Mayank Yadav (1 for 40) took a wicket each. A run-out of Shimron Hetmyer was the other dismissal. India lost Abhishek Sharma (21 off 10) and Sanju Samson (11 off 9) early, and were 35 for 2 in 3.3 overs. Iyer then took the chase away from West Indies. He and Ishan Kishan (37* off 27) added an unbroken 137 runs for the third wicket. Iyer hit 10 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 237.21 , bringing up his hundred and finishing the match with ease. West Indies' bowlers leaked runs, with Matthew Forde going for 39 in just two overs, while Hosein and Roston Chase took a wicket each. The two sides now move to Ranchi for the 2nd T20I on October 9 . Follow the ball-by-ball details on the full scorecard page.
India Women Name Squads for Zimbabwe Series: Smriti Mandhana Captains, Shafali Verma T20I Vice-Captain, Deepti Sharma ODI Vice-Captain
The BCCI Women's Selection Committee has announced India Women's squads for the home series against Zimbabwe , with Smriti Mandhana leading the side in both formats in her first assignment as captain. Shafali Verma has been named vice-captain for the T20I series , while Deepti Sharma is vice-captain for the ODI series . The squads were named on October 6, hours after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as captain across formats. The two squads are not identical. Here is the T20I squad : Smriti Mandhana (c) , Shafali Verma (vc) , Niki Prasad , Harmanpreet Kaur , Anushka Sharma Richa Ghosh (wk) , G Kamalini (wk) , Deepti Sharma , Prema Rawat Sree Charani , Nandni Sharma , Kranti Gaud , Arundhati Reddy , Jintimani Kalita , Minnu Mani And the ODI squad : Smriti Mandhana (c) , Shafali Verma , Pratika Rawal , Harmanpreet Kaur , Harleen Deol , Tejal Hasabnis Deepti Sharma (vc) , Richa Ghosh (wk) , Yastika Bhatia (wk) Vaishnavi Sharma , Nandni Sharma , Sree Charani , Kranti Gaud , Sayali Satghare , Renuka Thakur The biggest change in the T20I group is that Pratika Rawal has been left out. Four players have been brought in, Niki Prasad , Minnu Mani , Anushka Sharma and Jintimani Kalita , all of whom featured in the recent limited-overs and multi-day series against Australia Women. The ODI side, meanwhile, includes Vaishnavi Sharma , who recently took a six-wicket haul against Australia Women's A, along with Tejal Hasabnis and Sayali Satghare . Harmanpreet remains in both squads as a player, which gives the new captain an experienced batter to lean on during the transition. Among the notable names missing from both squads is Jemimah Rodrigues . Shafali's role is also different in the two formats. She is the deputy in T20Is but plays in the ODI team without a leadership role. This will be the first-ever bilateral series between India and Zimbabwe women, and Zimbabwe's first tour of India. The three T20Is will be played in Raipur , followed by three ODIs in Baroda . The ODI leg forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 . It will also be India's first home ODI assignment since the 2025 World Cup triumph. Match Date Venue 1st T20I October 16 Raipur 2nd T20I October 18 Raipur 3rd T20I October 20 Raipur 1st ODI October 23 Baroda 2nd ODI October 25 Baroda 3rd ODI October 28 Baroda
India Name 16-Man T20I Squad for New Zealand Tour, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Recalled
The BCCI has announced India's 16-member squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand . Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The squad was named on October 6 . The biggest selection call is the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar . The 36-year-old pacer is back in India's T20I set-up after nearly four years. His last T20I was against New Zealand in November 2022. Here is the full squad: Batters: Shreyas Iyer (c) , Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , Tilak Varma (vc) , Ishan Kishan (wk) , Sanju Samson (wk) All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma , Naman Dhir , Nitish Kumar Reddy , Axar Patel , Shivam Dube Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh , Mayank Yadav , Bhuvneshwar Kumar , Prince Yadav , Kuldeep Yadav , Varun Chakaravarthy The batting group is built around Shreyas Iyer , Tilak Varma and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson as the two wicketkeeper-batters. Ishan arrives in good touch, having hit an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final. Depth is a big feature of this squad. Five all-rounders, Abhishek Sharma , Axar Patel , Shivam Dube , Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy , give the captain plenty of options. Abhishek made 61 off 28 balls in the Asian Games final against Pakistan and became the second-fastest batter in T20 history to 400 career sixes during that knock. The bowling mixes pace and spin. Arshdeep Singh , Mayank Yadav , Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Prince Yadav make up the pace group, while Kuldeep Yadav , Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel handle the spin department. Dube and Nitish can also chip in with the ball. Several of these players, including Abhishek Sharma , Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan , were part of the India side that won gold at the Asian Games, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final. Tilak finished unbeaten on 51 off 22 in that match. Iyer led that team, having taken over the T20I captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav this year. The T20Is are the first leg of a tour that runs from October 22 to December 1 and also includes five ODIs and two Tests. This announcement covers only the T20I squad. All five T20Is start at 12:30 PM IST. Match Date Venue 1st T20I October 22 Hagley Oval, Christchurch 2nd T20I October 24 Hagley Oval, Christchurch 3rd T20I October 27 Sky Stadium, Wellington 4th T20I October 30 Eden Park, Auckland 5th T20I November 1 Seddon Park, Hamilton
Smriti Mandhana Named India's New All-Format Captain in Women's Cricket After Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down
Smriti Mandhana has been named India's new captain across all three formats in women's cricket. The BCCI confirmed her appointment on October 6, 2026 , hours after Harmanpreet Kaur announced that she was stepping down from the captaincy. The decision marks a big change in leadership for the India women's team , though Mandhana is no stranger to the set-up. She served as vice-captain under Harmanpreet when India won their first-ever ICC Women's ODI World Cup title in 2025 , and she was Kaur's deputy again when India claimed gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Several former players, including Diana Edulji, had been vocal in recent weeks about the selectors handing her the job in all formats. Her form has only made the case stronger. On September 3, Mandhana hit 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong at the Women's Asia Cup T20 in Dubai, a knock that made her the leading run-getter in women's international cricket , ahead of Mithali Raj. During India's gold-medal win over Sri Lanka at the Asian Games, she then made 79 off 45 balls and became the first woman to reach 11,000 international runs . Mandhana also holds the record for the most international centuries by a woman, 18 , made up of 14 in ODIs, two in Tests and two in T20Is. She has 93 scores of fifty or more across formats, a tally she shares with Mithali Raj, and she was named Wisden's Leading Women's Cricketer in the World for 2024. She takes over from a captain who reportedly led India in 211 matches across formats . Harmanpreet has made it clear that she will continue to play for India as a batter. The handover comes after a difficult year in the shorter formats, with the BCCI holding a review of the women's side in Guwahati last month. Reports had earlier suggested that Harmanpreet, Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar would meet BCCI officials to plan the transition. For Mandhana, the new role adds the weight of leadership to a batting career already full of records. Who will serve as her deputy is likely to be one of the first questions the selectors have to answer.
Sourav Ganguly Named Delhi Capitals Head Coach for IPL 2027
Delhi Capitals have confirmed Sourav Ganguly as their head coach for IPL 2027, with the franchise sharing an "it's time for Dadagiri" announcement calling the former India captain "Head Coach of the Tigers." The appointment caps a sweeping coaching overhaul at Delhi Capitals ahead of the new season, under JSW Group's two-year operational takeover of the franchise. Yuvraj Singh joins as assistant coach, marking his first-ever IPL coaching role, while Chaminda Vaas comes in as fast bowling coach and Amit Mishra , a former Delhi player in both IPL and domestic cricket, takes over as spin bowling coach. The outgoing GMR-era staff, led by Hemang Badani alongside Venugopal Rao, Munaf Patel and Ian Bell, will not continue into the new cycle. Ganguly's return is not his first stint in the Delhi dugout. He previously served as the franchise's Director of Cricket and briefly took over as head coach from Ricky Ponting during the 2024 season. He has also coached in franchise cricket since, leading Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2025. Ganguly and Yuvraj were seen together at a Delhi Capitals talent-identification camp in Bengaluru last month, where Mishra was also involved in assessing bowling prospects, fuelling speculation about the revamp before the news emerged in local reports and was finally confirmed by the club. The shake-up follows a disappointing run for Delhi Capitals, who missed the IPL playoffs in both 2025 and 2026, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. The franchise has also moved to bring Rishabh Pant back into the fold ahead of the new season, with the former captain having previously made 111 appearances across nine seasons for Delhi before his trade to Lucknow Super Giants.
Harmanpreet Kaur Steps Down as India Women's Captain Across All Formats
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the India women's cricket team across all three formats . The 37-year-old announced her decision on October 6, 2026 through an emotional Instagram post. She has made it clear that she will keep playing for India, only without the captain's armband. Kaur said the decision was not easy. She wrote that she had given the team everything, including her time, her energy and, many times, a part of her own game and personal ambitions. She admitted that some of her calls as captain were not always understood, but said every one of them was meant to make the team better and give other players room to grow. She ended the post with the line "Captaincy ends. The journey continues." She also said she is leaving the role with peace of mind. In her view, the team has talent, character and a bright future. Kaur thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, the BCCI, her family and the fans who stood by her through the highs and lows. Her last assignment as captain ended on a high. Kaur led India to gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, with Smriti Mandhana as her vice-captain. The biggest moment of her captaincy came in 2025, when she guided India to their first-ever ICC Women's ODI World Cup title . She is reported to have led the side in 211 matches across formats . The year has not been smooth for the team, though. India faced some tough results in the shorter formats, and the BCCI held a review of the women's side in Guwahati last month. Kaur's exit now opens up one of the biggest questions in Indian women's cricket. No successor has been named yet. Mandhana, who has been the vice-captain for several years, is seen as the leading candidate. Reports suggest Kaur, Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar will meet BCCI officials to plan the transition. Kaur made her ODI debut against Pakistan on March 7, 2009, and played her first T20I against England on June 11, 2009. That is more than 17 years in international cricket. Even after stepping aside as captain, she remains a key batter and one of the most recognisable faces of the Indian women's game.
Shai Hope's Unbeaten 162 Powers West Indies to 5-Wicket Win, India's Lead Cut to 2-1
West Indies produced their best performance of the series to beat India by 5 wickets in the 3rd ODI at the PCA International Stadium, New Chandigarh, chasing down 352 with 10 balls in hand to reduce India's series lead to 2-1. Put in to bat after India won the toss, the hosts were rocked early as Shubman Gill (1) and Virat Kohli (0) fell inside the first three overs to Jayden Seales. Rohit Sharma (92) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (57) steadied things with a 137-run stand, and KL Rahul then took over, smashing an unbeaten 129 off just 87 balls studded with 10 fours and 6 sixes. Late cameos from Naman Dhir (30) and Anshul Kamboj (17 off 9) pushed India to 351 for 7, with Seales finishing with 3 for 62. Chasing a stiff target, West Indies lost John Campbell early for 10, but Shai Hope anchored the innings from the top, batting through to finish unbeaten on 162 off 143 balls, the highest score of the match. He found support from Amir Jangoo , who made a run-a-ball 67 before being run out, and then from Keemo Paul , whose 44 off 35 kept the required rate under control. Sherfane Rutherford (24) and Matthew Forde (7) chipped in before Gudakesh Motie's unbeaten 19 off 14 sealed the chase in 48.2 overs. India's bowling was shared around, with Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav and Naman Dhir all picking up a wicket apiece, but none of them could break Hope's grip on the innings. With this result, India's lead in the five-match series is cut to 2-1 after West Indies bounced back strongly following heavy defeats in the first two games. Shai Hope's unbeaten 162 stands out as the standout individual effort of the series so far, and the momentum has clearly shifted ahead of the 4th ODI, where India will look to respond and close out the series.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius Smashes 188 Not Out, Breaks Chris Gayle's T20 World Record
Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashed the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket history, blasting an unbeaten 188 off just 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge in Bloemfontein, breaking a record that had stood for 13 years. The 20-year-old went past Chris Gayle's famous 175 not out, made for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. Pretorius reached fifty off just 24 balls, raced to his century in 40 balls, and brought up 150 in 58 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and 13 sixes along the way. He fell just 12 runs short of becoming the first man to score a T20 double century, as his side ran out of overs with the Titans posting 267 for 3, the second-highest total in the tournament's history. The innings also eclipsed Dewald Brevis's 162, the previous record for the highest individual score in the CSA T20 Challenge. Pretorius, a Rajasthan Royals player in the IPL, has now built a reputation as one of the format's most destructive young talents, having already set the record for the youngest T20I centurion from a Full Member nation earlier this year.
Anshul Kamboj Makes ODI Debut as Siraj Returns, Prasidh Krishna Out With Hamstring Injury
Anshul Kamboj made his ODI debut for India in the series-deciding third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh, receiving his cap from Virat Kohli, as Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy also returned to the playing XI. Kamboj was drafted in as a late injury replacement after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out with a left hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI in Guwahati. The 25-year-old Haryana pacer was pulled out of India A's four-day game against Australia A in Puducherry on Friday and flew straight into the squad, having taken 116 wickets in 38 first-class matches for Haryana. Siraj, who had been on the bench for the first two matches, came into the XI in place of the injured Krishna rather than Kamboj, who took the spot of Auqib Nabi. India had already sealed an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with the third ODI marking the first men's ODI played at the New PCA Stadium. West Indies made three changes of their own, bringing in Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde and Gudakesh Motie.
Rohit Sharma Becomes Fastest Opener to 10,000 ODI Runs, Breaks Tendulkar's Record
Rohit Sharma broke Sachin Tendulkar's 22-year-old record for the fastest 10,000 ODI runs by an opening batter, reaching the milestone in just 202 innings during the third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh. Rohit needed only two runs to reach the mark and got there with a flick off Jayden Seales in the third ball of India's innings. He beat Tendulkar's previous record of 214 innings, set against Australia in Brisbane back in January 2004, by 12 innings. Chris Gayle (268 innings) and Sanath Jayasuriya (303) are the only other openers to have reached the landmark. He is the fourth batter in men's ODI history to cross 10,000 runs as an opener. The milestone comes two days after he struck a 75-ball century in the second ODI, during which he also became the third Indian batter after Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 career ODI runs.
Abhishek Sharma Hits 400 Career T20 Sixes and 100 in 2026 During Asian Games Final
Abhishek Sharma broke two major six-hitting records during his innings of 61 off 28 balls for India against Pakistan in the Asian Games gold medal match at Korogi Sports Park, striking 7 sixes and 3 fours. During the knock, Abhishek became the second-fastest player in T20 history to reach 400 career sixes , needing 3,513 balls faced, behind only Andre Russell's 3,027 and ahead of Chris Gayle's 3,557. He also crossed 100 T20 sixes in the 2026 calendar year , taking 651 balls to get there, the second-fastest pace behind Russell's 589 balls in 2019 and just ahead of Dewald Brevis's 653 in 2025. The milestone also makes Abhishek the first batter in history to hit 100 or more T20 sixes in two consecutive calendar years, having also reached three figures in 2025. With four more sixes needed to beat his own Indian record of 108 in a single year, he remains on pace to break that mark before 2026 is out.