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England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test at Lord's on June 7, but the pitch used in the match did not amuse England skipper Ben Stokes. The Test, 150th at the Lord's, lasted just 166 completed overs making it the second shortest match at the ground with only 617 runs scored by both teams combined. The match would have gotten over on the second day itself after 16-wicket openig day had it not been for bad weather. Even in victory, England captain Ben Stokes was visibly unhappy, shaking his head after being dismissed for a three-ball duck in the second innings and far more vocal about the pitch after the win.<h2>What did Ben Stokes say about the Lord's pitch?</h2>England skipper Stokes did not mince his words after the match while speaking out against the Lord's pitch. Talking to the BBC, he acknowledged the win but acknowledged that the pitch won't do any good to Test cricket"From someone who loves Test cricket, is that something that will benefit Test cricket? I don't think so," he said but noted that "nobody's doing it on purpose. It's a tough job to be a groundsman.""I get asked a lot about the future of Test cricket, I get asked a lot about what we need to do to keep it growing, what we need to do to keep it such a strong format in the future. The game is played over five days and without a little bit of weather this wouldn't have finished on day four. For someone who believes Test cricket should be the best format and should never disappear, that's not ideal from that point of view."<h2>The debate on bowler-assisting pitches in Test cricket</h2>Stokes's comments have reignited a long-running debate about how much assistance pitches should offer to bowlers and where the line should be drawn. The teams have been preparing pitches which assist home bowlers to have an advantage with latest example being Pakistan. The Asian team prepared rank-turners for the three-ODI home series against Australia which they eventually won 2-1.The game, however, does not benefit clearly with such pitches as they temper with the balance of bat and ball dominace and favour one or the other, leaving a loop-sided contest to be played.

The first Test between England vs NZ was over inside three days in 166 overs - second shortest ever to be played at Lord's. England won it by 115 runs despite being all-out on 16-wicket first day of the Test.

England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test at Lord's on June 7, but the pitch used in the match did not amuse England skipper Ben Stokes. The Test, 150th at the Lord's, lasted just 166 completed overs making it the second shortest match at the ground with only 617 runs scored by both teams combined. The match would have gotten over on the second day itself after 16-wicket openig day had it not been for bad weather. Even in victory, England captain Ben Stokes was visibly unhappy, shaking his head after being dismissed for a three-ball duck in the second innings and far more vocal about the pitch after the win. What did Ben Stokes say about the Lord's pitch? England skipper Stokes did not mince his words after the match while speaking out against the Lord's pitch. Talking to the BBC, he acknowledged the win but acknowledged that the pitch won't do any good to Test cricket "From someone who loves Test cricket, is that something that will benefit Test cricket? I don't think so," he said but noted that "nobody's doing it on purpose. It's a tough job to be a groundsman." "I get asked a lot about the future of Test cricket, I get asked a lot about what we need to do to keep it growing, what we need to do to keep it such a strong format in the future. The game is played over five days and without a little bit of weather this wouldn't have finished on day four. For someone who believes Test cricket should be the best format and should never disappear, that's not ideal from that point of view." The debate on bowler-assisting pitches in Test cricket Stokes's comments have reignited a long-running debate about how much assistance pitches should offer to bowlers and where the line should be drawn. The teams have been preparing pitches which assist home bowlers to have an advantage with latest example being Pakistan. The Asian team prepared rank-turners for the three-ODI home series against Australia which they eventually won 2-1. The game, however, does not benefit clearly with such pitches as they temper with the balance of bat and ball dominace and favour one or the other, leaving a loop-sided contest to be played.

The first Test between England vs NZ was over inside three days in 166 overs - second shortest ever to be played at Lord's. England won it by 115 runs despite being all-out on 16-wicket first day of the Test.

'Not ideal': England win Test but skipper Ben Stokes isn't happy with Lord's pitch

Manav Suthar made an impressive Test debut for India during the ongoing red-ball match against Afghanistan. Bowling at the international level for the first time on Day 2 (Sunday, Jun 7) at New Chandigarh, Suthar picked up 3/21 in 15.5 overs. His performance put Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble at 113/5 in reply to India's 564/8 in the first innings. There's very much a chance that Suthar, who made his First Class debut only four years back in 2022, might end up with a five-wicket haul in his debut innings. The spinner said that his focusses on his strength of turning the ball and reaped the results for backing himself.<h2>Suthar reveals reason of debut success</h2>"My focus was to bowl in the right areas and back my strengths," said the spinner aftert the day's play. He added: "There was help from the surface, so my idea was to get the landing right. My strength is to turn the ball. So that is what I tried to do. I wanted to land in consistent areas, that was my focus."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atkinson-s-5-30-help-england-crush-new-zealand-in-first-test-by-115-runs-at-lord-s-take-1-0-lead-in-series-1780835164878">Atkinson's 5/30 help England beat New Zealand in 1st Test by 115 runs at Lord's</a>The spinner also revealed he had dreamt of playing for Indian during domestic cricket and how does it making him feel to finally make India debut."Had dreamt of playing for India when I started playing Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket. Thankful now."<h2>Suthar plays for which team in IPL?</h2>The spinner has played only five matches it the Indiand Premier League (IPL) and four of those came in IPL 2026 for Gujarat Titans, also captained by India Test &amp; ODI skipper Shubman Gill. Suthar has been associated with the franchise since 2024 and had played one IPL match in 2024 as well. He has taken only two wickets in the IPL so far, both of which came in 2026 for which he was retained by GT at a price of INR 30 lakh.<h2>How has Suthar peformed in domestic career?</h2>Suthar made his debut for Rajasthan in 2022 Ranji Trophy nad has taken 129 wickets since in 29 matches. His best in an innings is 8/33 along with a match best of 11/62. He has six five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls to his name so far. He is handy with the bat as well, scoring 945 Ranji trophy runs with one hundred and six fifties.Apart from it, Suthar has played 25 List A matches (50-over) and 29 T20s as well, taking 34 and 25 wickets, respectively.

Suthar picked up 3/21 in 15.5 overs in his debut Test innings for India and may very well end up taking a five-wicket haul as well. His performance helped India restrict Afghanistan at 113/5 in reply to 564/8-dec.

Manav Suthar made an impressive Test debut for India during the ongoing red-ball match against Afghanistan. Bowling at the international level for the first time on Day 2 (Sunday, Jun 7) at New Chandigarh, Suthar picked up 3/21 in 15.5 overs. His performance put Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble at 113/5 in reply to India's 564/8 in the first innings. There's very much a chance that Suthar, who made his First Class debut only four years back in 2022, might end up with a five-wicket haul in his debut innings. The spinner said that his focusses on his strength of turning the ball and reaped the results for backing himself. Suthar reveals reason of debut success "My focus was to bowl in the right areas and back my strengths," said the spinner aftert the day's play. He added: "There was help from the surface, so my idea was to get the landing right. My strength is to turn the ball. So that is what I tried to do. I wanted to land in consistent areas, that was my focus." Also Read - Atkinson's 5/30 help England beat New Zealand in 1st Test by 115 runs at Lord's The spinner also revealed he had dreamt of playing for Indian during domestic cricket and how does it making him feel to finally make India debut. "Had dreamt of playing for India when I started playing Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket. Thankful now." Suthar plays for which team in IPL? The spinner has played only five matches it the Indiand Premier League (IPL) and four of those came in IPL 2026 for Gujarat Titans, also captained by India Test & ODI skipper Shubman Gill. Suthar has been associated with the franchise since 2024 and had played one IPL match in 2024 as well. He has taken only two wickets in the IPL so far, both of which came in 2026 for which he was retained by GT at a price of INR 30 lakh. How has Suthar peformed in domestic career? Suthar made his debut for Rajasthan in 2022 Ranji Trophy nad has taken 129 wickets since in 29 matches. His best in an innings is 8/33 along with a match best of 11/62. He has six five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls to his name so far. He is handy with the bat as well, scoring 945 Ranji trophy runs with one hundred and six fifties. Apart from it, Suthar has played 25 List A matches (50-over) and 29 T20s as well, taking 34 and 25 wickets, respectively.

Suthar picked up 3/21 in 15.5 overs in his debut Test innings for India and may very well end up taking a five-wicket haul as well. His performance helped India restrict Afghanistan at 113/5 in reply to 564/8-dec.

IND vs AFG, 1st Test: Manav Suthar reveals reason for success on debut, says 'there was help from surface'

From Mithali Raj to Janette Brittin, here's a look at the top five players with most runs in Women's World Cup history. This list also includes Debbie Hockley, Charlotte Edwards and Laura Wolvaardt.

From Mithali Raj to Janette Brittin, here's a look at the top five players with most runs in Women's World Cup history. This list also includes Debbie Hockley, Charlotte Edwards and Laura Wolvaardt.

Meet top 5 players with most runs in Women's World Cup history

India A will tour Sri Lanka for a seven-match ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A from Jun 9 to Jun 21, with all fixtures, including the final, taking place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The competition will follow a double round-robin structure, with each team playing the other two sides twice during the league stage. After six group matches, the top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final scheduled for Jun 21. Teams will earn two points for a victory, one point for a no-result and none for a defeat.&nbsp;Captained by Tilak Varma, India A boasts a squad packed with emerging IPL talent, however, much of the attention will be on 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.&nbsp;&nbsp;A tours are rarely broadcast and there were doubts about television coverage for this series. Yet Sooryavanshi’s immense popularity, after winning both the IPL 2026 Orange Cap and MVP award for Rajasthan Royals, has generated significant interest and is widely seen as a key reason for the tournament receiving broader coverage.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-team-told-to-enter-leave-us-on-match-days-under-strict-rule-1780804865166">FIFA 2026: Iran team told to enter &amp; leave US on match days under strict rule</a>&nbsp;Afghanistan A will be led by Imran Mir, while Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige heads a squad featuring experienced campaigners Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando and Sadeera Samarawickrama, all aiming to force their way back into the senior national setup.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-team-told-to-enter-leave-us-on-match-days-under-strict-rule-1780804865166">FIFA 2026: Iran team told to enter &amp; leave US on match days under strict rule</a><h3>Live-streaming details</h3>Fans in India can watch the tri-series live on the Sony Sports Network. For online viewers, live streaming will be available through the SonyLIV website and app.<h2>Series schedule</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><thead><tr><th>Date</th><th>Match</th><th>Venue</th><th>Start Time (IST)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Jun 9, Tuesday</td><td>Sri Lanka A vs India A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 11, Thursday</td><td>Afghanistan A vs India A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 13, Saturday</td><td>Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 15, Monday</td><td>Sri Lanka A vs India A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 17, Wednesday</td><td>Afghanistan A vs India A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 19, Friday</td><td>Sri Lanka A vs Afghanistan A</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr><tr><td>Jun 21, Sunday</td><td>Final: TBD vs TBD</td><td>Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium &nbsp;</td><td>10:00 AM</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

<h2>Squads</h2><h2>India A Squad</h2>Tilak Varma (Captain), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag (Vice-Captain), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Kumar Kushagra (WK), Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Arshad Khan<h2>Afghanistan A Squad</h2>Imran Mir (Captain), Noor Rahman (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Ishaq (Wicketkeeper), Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Faisal Khan Shinozada, Farmanullah Safi, Shams Ur Rahman, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Mohammad Ibrahim and Abdullah Ahmadzai<h2>Sri Lanka A Squad</h2>Niroshan Dickwella (Vice Captain and WK), Avishka Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama (WK), Sahan Arachchige (Captain), Ahan Wickramasinghe, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Mohamed Shiraz, Dulaj Samuditha, Vishen Halambage, Ravindu Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara, Garuka Sanketh and Kugadas Mathulan

India A, featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma, Priyansh Arya and Riyan Parag, will tour Sri Lanka for a tri-nation series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.

India A will tour Sri Lanka for a seven-match ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A from Jun 9 to Jun 21, with all fixtures, including the final, taking place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The competition will follow a double round-robin structure, with each team playing the other two sides twice during the league stage. After six group matches, the top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final scheduled for Jun 21. Teams will earn two points for a victory, one point for a no-result and none for a defeat. Captained by Tilak Varma, India A boasts a squad packed with emerging IPL talent, however, much of the attention will be on 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. A tours are rarely broadcast and there were doubts about television coverage for this series. Yet Sooryavanshi’s immense popularity, after winning both the IPL 2026 Orange Cap and MVP award for Rajasthan Royals, has generated significant interest and is widely seen as a key reason for the tournament receiving broader coverage. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Iran team told to enter & leave US on match days under strict rule Afghanistan A will be led by Imran Mir, while Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige heads a squad featuring experienced campaigners Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando and Sadeera Samarawickrama, all aiming to force their way back into the senior national setup. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Iran team told to enter & leave US on match days under strict rule Live-streaming details Fans in India can watch the tri-series live on the Sony Sports Network. For online viewers, live streaming will be available through the SonyLIV website and app. Series schedule

India A, featuring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma, Priyansh Arya and Riyan Parag, will tour Sri Lanka for a tri-nation series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.

India A Tri-Series in Sri Lanka 2026: Full schedule, venues, squads, timings & live-streaming details

BCCI (Men’s) Selection Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar said on Saturday that Jasprit Bumrah has been left out of the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England as part of workload management and to ensure his long-term fitness for ODIs and Tests. The India pacer has been rested from the T20I tours as the team shifts focus towards ODI preparations ahead of the 2027 World Cup, although he has been named in a full-strength squad for the 2026 Asian Games cricket competition.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Bumrah is also not part of the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, which began on Jun 6. Speaking at the squad announcement press conference, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Bumrah remains a key player across formats, particularly for major events such as the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-team-told-to-enter-leave-us-on-match-days-under-strict-rule-1780804865166">FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran team told to enter &amp; leave US on match days under strict rule</a>&nbsp;He added that the focus is on keeping Bumrah fit for Tests and ODIs by carefully managing his workload in lower-priority series. "One-Day World Cup, obviously, like T20 World Cup, we know how important he is, plus the WTC cycle, we've still got a chance, if we play well enough over these next nine tests, this one is not part of WTC, the Afghanistan one. But if we can have Jasprit play majority of those games and still keep him fit and healthy, it's always the thing. There's a lot of T20 cricket; you can always bring him back. Asian Games, he will be there, so yeah, the main aim is to try and keep him fit for the Test and the ODI," Agarkar said. India will start their white-ball tour of Ireland and England with a two-match T20I series against Ireland, with games scheduled for Jun 26 and 28. They will then head to England for a five-match T20I series beginning on Jul 1.

India will face Ireland in a two-match T20I series in Belfast from Jun 26 to 28, before taking on England in a five-match series from Jul 1 to 11.

BCCI (Men’s) Selection Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar said on Saturday that Jasprit Bumrah has been left out of the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England as part of workload management and to ensure his long-term fitness for ODIs and Tests. The India pacer has been rested from the T20I tours as the team shifts focus towards ODI preparations ahead of the 2027 World Cup, although he has been named in a full-strength squad for the 2026 Asian Games cricket competition. Meanwhile, Bumrah is also not part of the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, which began on Jun 6. Speaking at the squad announcement press conference, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that Bumrah remains a key player across formats, particularly for major events such as the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran team told to enter & leave US on match days under strict rule He added that the focus is on keeping Bumrah fit for Tests and ODIs by carefully managing his workload in lower-priority series. "One-Day World Cup, obviously, like T20 World Cup, we know how important he is, plus the WTC cycle, we've still got a chance, if we play well enough over these next nine tests, this one is not part of WTC, the Afghanistan one. But if we can have Jasprit play majority of those games and still keep him fit and healthy, it's always the thing. There's a lot of T20 cricket; you can always bring him back. Asian Games, he will be there, so yeah, the main aim is to try and keep him fit for the Test and the ODI," Agarkar said. India will start their white-ball tour of Ireland and England with a two-match T20I series against Ireland, with games scheduled for Jun 26 and 28. They will then head to England for a five-match T20I series beginning on Jul 1.

India will face Ireland in a two-match T20I series in Belfast from Jun 26 to 28, before taking on England in a five-match series from Jul 1 to 11.

'Main aim is to keep him fit for Test & ODI': Agarkar on Bumrah missing Ireland, England T20I series

Rohit Sharma has shared his thoughts on the leadership transition in India’s men’s T20I team, officially confirmed on Saturday (Jun 6), with Shreyas Iyer succeeding Suryakumar Yadav as captain. Rohit expressed confidence that Shreyas would have a good time in the role, while also praising Suryakumar’s remarkable journey from a late international debut to leading India to the 2026 T20 World Cup triumph. Speaking at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium during a Mumbai T20 League fixture between Suryakumar-led Triumphs Knights MNE and SoBo Mumbai Falcons, which featured Shreyas Iyer as batter, Rohit reflected on the importance of domestic competitions in developing talent alongside the IPL.&nbsp;“Surya led the team to the World Cup, and now Shreyas has been appointed the captain," Rohit said on the broadcast. “I am sure that, with how he has captained his franchise, Mumbai, he’s going to have a good time as well. Nothing has come easy for so many of these cricketers, especially for Surya. he made his India debut at 31, if I am not wrong, so that shows he was always up for the fight. When the chance came, he wanted to grab it with both hands, and he did."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-iraq-forward-held-for-seven-hours-by-us-authorities-here-s-what-we-know-1780802263358">FIFA 2026: Iraq forward held for seven hours by US authorities - Here's what we know</a>&nbsp;After leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit retired from the format, paving the way for Suryakumar to take over and under his leadership, India enjoyed an unbeaten run in T20I series for two years and successfully defended their world title by defeating New Zealand in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;However, despite a promising start as captain, Suryakumar’s batting form dipped after 2025. His average dropped into the 20s across international cricket and the IPL, while the explosive strike rate that once made him the world’s top-ranked T20 batter also declined.&nbsp;Although he produced occasional standout performances, including a crucial half-century against the USA during the World Cup, but his overall numbers were not convincing enough for selectors to retain him as captain.

Rohit Sharma praised Suryakumar Yadav for guiding India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title and also expressed confidence in new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, backing him to succeed based on his strong leadership in franchise cricket.

Rohit Sharma has shared his thoughts on the leadership transition in India’s men’s T20I team, officially confirmed on Saturday (Jun 6), with Shreyas Iyer succeeding Suryakumar Yadav as captain. Rohit expressed confidence that Shreyas would have a good time in the role, while also praising Suryakumar’s remarkable journey from a late international debut to leading India to the 2026 T20 World Cup triumph. Speaking at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium during a Mumbai T20 League fixture between Suryakumar-led Triumphs Knights MNE and SoBo Mumbai Falcons, which featured Shreyas Iyer as batter, Rohit reflected on the importance of domestic competitions in developing talent alongside the IPL. “Surya led the team to the World Cup, and now Shreyas has been appointed the captain," Rohit said on the broadcast. “I am sure that, with how he has captained his franchise, Mumbai, he’s going to have a good time as well. Nothing has come easy for so many of these cricketers, especially for Surya. he made his India debut at 31, if I am not wrong, so that shows he was always up for the fight. When the chance came, he wanted to grab it with both hands, and he did." Also Read - FIFA 2026: Iraq forward held for seven hours by US authorities - Here's what we know After leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit retired from the format, paving the way for Suryakumar to take over and under his leadership, India enjoyed an unbeaten run in T20I series for two years and successfully defended their world title by defeating New Zealand in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad. However, despite a promising start as captain, Suryakumar’s batting form dipped after 2025. His average dropped into the 20s across international cricket and the IPL, while the explosive strike rate that once made him the world’s top-ranked T20 batter also declined. Although he produced occasional standout performances, including a crucial half-century against the USA during the World Cup, but his overall numbers were not convincing enough for selectors to retain him as captain.

Rohit Sharma praised Suryakumar Yadav for guiding India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title and also expressed confidence in new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, backing him to succeed based on his strong leadership in franchise cricket.

'Nothing has come easy...': Rohit Sharma breaks silence on Suryakumar Yadav's T20 captaincy snub

Hours after being officially sacked as Team India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav had just best wishes for the newly appointed skipper, Shreyas Iyer. The BCCI selectors announced squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England starting June 26 and for the Asian Games in late September, dropping SKY. The Ajit Agarkar-led panel picked Iyer as his replacement, marking a significant shift towards the future with an aim for gold at the LA28 Games and the record fourth T20 World Cup crown Down Under.&nbsp;Speaking at the toss for Triumphs Knights MNE against SoBo Mumbai Falcons on Saturday (June 6), Suryakumar was full of praise for his fellow Mumbaikar, emphasising a historic milestone for local cricket. He said what makes him happier is that the last three Indian T20I captains have been from Mumbai (Rohit, Suryakumar and now Iyer).&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-t20i-run-may-be-over-but-his-captaincy-record-eclipses-ms-dhoni-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-1780752584930">Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run may be over, but his captaincy record eclipses Dhoni, Rohit</a> &nbsp;“Very happy for Shreyas Iyer. We played a lot of cricket for Mumbai and India together. Most importantly, three back-to-back T20I captains for India from Mumbai now, and it is a very proud moment for all of us at Mumbai cricket,” SKY said. &nbsp;Interestingly, Iyer, representing SoBo Mumbai Falcons, was benched for the fixture.<h3>SKY performs after facing India axe</h3>Out of the T20I setup, SKY, 35, found his form back during the match, hitting 48 off just 24 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours. He was the highest run-getter for his team, with the Triumphs scoring 147 for eight batting first. &nbsp;Meanwhile, it was his lean patch that forced the selectors to look beyond SKY in the T20Is. On the other hand, with Iyer proving his captaincy credentials (having led KKR to its third IPL title in 2024) and batting form for the Punjab Kings in the past two seasons, he became the selectors’ first choice. &nbsp;Iyer will lead India’s T20I squads in the UK and at the Asian Games, which also include 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.&nbsp;

Suryakumar Yadav breaks his silence hours after being sacked as India's T20 skipper, backing new captain Shreyas Iyer before smashing a blistering 24-ball 48 in the T20 Mumbai League.

Hours after being officially sacked as Team India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav had just best wishes for the newly appointed skipper, Shreyas Iyer. The BCCI selectors announced squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England starting June 26 and for the Asian Games in late September, dropping SKY. The Ajit Agarkar-led panel picked Iyer as his replacement, marking a significant shift towards the future with an aim for gold at the LA28 Games and the record fourth T20 World Cup crown Down Under. Speaking at the toss for Triumphs Knights MNE against SoBo Mumbai Falcons on Saturday (June 6), Suryakumar was full of praise for his fellow Mumbaikar, emphasising a historic milestone for local cricket. He said what makes him happier is that the last three Indian T20I captains have been from Mumbai (Rohit, Suryakumar and now Iyer). Also read | Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run may be over, but his captaincy record eclipses Dhoni, Rohit “Very happy for Shreyas Iyer. We played a lot of cricket for Mumbai and India together. Most importantly, three back-to-back T20I captains for India from Mumbai now, and it is a very proud moment for all of us at Mumbai cricket,” SKY said. Interestingly, Iyer, representing SoBo Mumbai Falcons, was benched for the fixture. SKY performs after facing India axe Out of the T20I setup, SKY, 35, found his form back during the match, hitting 48 off just 24 balls, hitting four sixes and three fours. He was the highest run-getter for his team, with the Triumphs scoring 147 for eight batting first. Meanwhile, it was his lean patch that forced the selectors to look beyond SKY in the T20Is. On the other hand, with Iyer proving his captaincy credentials (having led KKR to its third IPL title in 2024) and batting form for the Punjab Kings in the past two seasons, he became the selectors’ first choice. Iyer will lead India’s T20I squads in the UK and at the Asian Games, which also include 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Suryakumar Yadav breaks his silence hours after being sacked as India's T20 skipper, backing new captain Shreyas Iyer before smashing a blistering 24-ball 48 in the T20 Mumbai League.

‘Very, very happy for Shreyas’: Sacked T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav sends classy message to new captain Iyer

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted there was not much he could do other than hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his maiden India call-up for the upcoming UK tour and the Asian Games. Agarkar, who chaired the selection meet on Saturday in Mumbai, added, ‘Sooryavanshi picked himself’ after his IPL 2026 exploits. The 15-year-old batting sensation broke records in only his second IPL season. Winning the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs in 16 matches was among the five awards he won, creating history. His tally alone also helped Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs this season.&nbsp;"I think he just has picked himself, really," Agarkar said of Sooryavanshi’s selection. "With his performances, he has almost forced us to pick him with how well he has played. For a young kid… I don't need to talk about how well he is playing. And it's not just this season. He obviously had a great start [to his IPL career] last season. &nbsp;"And to back it up for a young kid in a competition that's as competitive and has a high-pressure environment, and how explosive he can be and a game-changer that he can be. Like everyone else that has watched T20 cricket in India, we have got high hopes of him,” he added. &nbsp;Following his IPL debut last season, the then 14-year-old smashed a record 35-ball hundred against the Gujarat Titans in only his third IPL match, becoming the youngest to do so and the quickest among Indians. Even this season, he took the attack to some of the best seamers in the world, including taking the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc to the cleaners.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-t20i-run-may-be-over-but-his-captaincy-record-eclipses-ms-dhoni-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-1780752584930">Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run may be over, but his captaincy record eclipses Dhoni, Rohit</a> &nbsp;Beyond the IPL colours, he also helped India’s Under-19 side to lift an ODI World Cup trophy early this year, smashing the second-fastest hundred (in 55 balls), clobbering a six-filled 175 against England in the final. His exploits elsewhere, too, convinced the selectors and broadcasters that he is the next big thing in Indian cricket. &nbsp;"I know his age, and how young he is, and how early in his career, but two IPLs in a row [he has done well]," Agarkar said. "We know what he was doing at the Under-19 level, and that's probably perhaps a step down to what the IPL is or slightly lower [than what] senior cricket is. But we can all see what kind of talent he has. We're hopeful that if and when he gets an opportunity to actually play for the country, he shows us the same sort of ability that he's shown. &nbsp;"Obviously, there will be tougher challenges when he plays for the country, but he's shown great promise and temperament. We always deliberate because there's so much talent around, especially when it comes to T20 cricket at this point. But it tells you a lot that his performances have made us pick him, and we're very hopeful,” he added.<h3>Excitement around his selection</h3>Agarkar revealed how everyone is excited about his selection in the senior men’s team.&nbsp; &nbsp;"We're very excited with what he's doing in T20 cricket. And hopefully, you know, us as selectors or the BCCI and the coaching staff can help him push in the right direction. At this point, we're just focused on what he can bring to the T20 team, and we'll take one step at a time,” he concluded. &nbsp;Meanwhile, for now, Sooryavanshi is part of the India-A squad for the ODI tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dambulla, starting June 9.&nbsp;

"He just picked himself." BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar opens up on fast-tracking 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into India's senior T20I squad after his record-breaking 776-run IPL season.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted there was not much he could do other than hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his maiden India call-up for the upcoming UK tour and the Asian Games. Agarkar, who chaired the selection meet on Saturday in Mumbai, added, ‘Sooryavanshi picked himself’ after his IPL 2026 exploits. The 15-year-old batting sensation broke records in only his second IPL season. Winning the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs in 16 matches was among the five awards he won, creating history. His tally alone also helped Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs this season. "I think he just has picked himself, really," Agarkar said of Sooryavanshi’s selection. "With his performances, he has almost forced us to pick him with how well he has played. For a young kid… I don't need to talk about how well he is playing. And it's not just this season. He obviously had a great start [to his IPL career] last season. "And to back it up for a young kid in a competition that's as competitive and has a high-pressure environment, and how explosive he can be and a game-changer that he can be. Like everyone else that has watched T20 cricket in India, we have got high hopes of him,” he added. Following his IPL debut last season, the then 14-year-old smashed a record 35-ball hundred against the Gujarat Titans in only his third IPL match, becoming the youngest to do so and the quickest among Indians. Even this season, he took the attack to some of the best seamers in the world, including taking the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc to the cleaners. Also read | Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run may be over, but his captaincy record eclipses Dhoni, Rohit Beyond the IPL colours, he also helped India’s Under-19 side to lift an ODI World Cup trophy early this year, smashing the second-fastest hundred (in 55 balls), clobbering a six-filled 175 against England in the final. His exploits elsewhere, too, convinced the selectors and broadcasters that he is the next big thing in Indian cricket. "I know his age, and how young he is, and how early in his career, but two IPLs in a row [he has done well]," Agarkar said. "We know what he was doing at the Under-19 level, and that's probably perhaps a step down to what the IPL is or slightly lower [than what] senior cricket is. But we can all see what kind of talent he has. We're hopeful that if and when he gets an opportunity to actually play for the country, he shows us the same sort of ability that he's shown. "Obviously, there will be tougher challenges when he plays for the country, but he's shown great promise and temperament. We always deliberate because there's so much talent around, especially when it comes to T20 cricket at this point. But it tells you a lot that his performances have made us pick him, and we're very hopeful,” he added. Excitement around his selection Agarkar revealed how everyone is excited about his selection in the senior men’s team. "We're very excited with what he's doing in T20 cricket. And hopefully, you know, us as selectors or the BCCI and the coaching staff can help him push in the right direction. At this point, we're just focused on what he can bring to the T20 team, and we'll take one step at a time,” he concluded. Meanwhile, for now, Sooryavanshi is part of the India-A squad for the ODI tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dambulla, starting June 9.

"He just picked himself." BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar opens up on fast-tracking 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into India's senior T20I squad after his record-breaking 776-run IPL season.

‘Think he just picked himself’: Ajit Agarkar on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maiden India call-up

Team India’s SKY breached the skies to achieve greatness but fell on the other side of things as age and form caught up with him. Suryakumar Yadav, the most successful Indian T20I captain, found no place in the squads picked for the away UK tour and the Asian Games just months after leading the Men in Blue to its record third world title. While he was the most-talked-about player and captain in March after helping India defend its T20 crown, the selectors decided to replace him with Shreyas Iyer three months later.&nbsp;His time in T20Is might be up, but his legacy as a captain eclipses even the best, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. &nbsp;Moments after Rohit Sharma led the Indian Team to end its ICC trophy drought in 2024 in the Americas, with a thrilling win over South Africa in the final in Barbados, he decided to step aside from the format. His teammate and former captain, Virat Kohli, also followed the same path, leaving the selectors with the massive task of appointing a new leader and rebuilding the transition squad.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-squads-for-england-ireland-tour-sooryavanshi-earns-call-up-shreyas-named-new-captain-1780732332687">India squads for England &amp; Ireland tour: Sooryavanshi earns call-up, Shreyas named new captain</a> &nbsp;With not many options to choose from, the selectors handpicked India’s best T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, as the T20I captain.&nbsp;<h3>The SKY era begins!</h3>His appointment brought a sea of changes to the side, with specialists finding a place in the XI for the home and away tours. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma became regulars, Ishan Kishan found his place back in the team, and Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya continued as mainstays. All began revolving around SKY and his leadership, with Team India benefiting the most. &nbsp;Since he took over as a permanent captain, Suryakumar’s Indian team has transformed into an unbeatable unit, playing a brand of cricket that is beyond fearlessness. Under his leadership, India scored 200s for fun, even at the most challenging grounds, with its top order clobbering hundreds just like that. &nbsp;The bowling improved by leaps and bounds, with Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah and the return of Varun Chakravarthy turning games on their heads. India's mystery spinner peaked in these two years, winning matches for India and also claiming the number one position in the ICC rankings for T20I bowlers.<h3>The final frontier</h3>Fast forward to the 2026 T20 World Cup, SKY maintained an unbeaten record as a captain in bilateral series and looked like the right man to lead India to another World Cup victory.&nbsp;Even though he failed to contribute enough with the bat at the showpiece event, his captaincy was top-notch, with the Men in Blue lifting the 2026 T20 WC trophy in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, little did he know that it would be the final time he would don the blue jersey. Although he hasn’t retired yet, his chances of returning to the T20I setup after the selection panel’s ‘eye on the future’ look bleak. Even if he doesn’t, his legacy as a batter and captain surpasses even the most talked-about skippers in Indian Cricket history.<h3>Dig into numbers</h3>To understand how good he actually was as an Indian T20I captain, here are the numbers.&nbsp;

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Captains</td><td>Matches</td><td>Won</td><td>Lost</td><td>Win Percentage</td></tr><tr><td>Suryakumar Yadav</td><td>52</td><td>42</td><td>10</td><td>80.76%</td></tr><tr><td>Rohit Sharma</td><td>62</td><td>49</td><td>12</td><td>79.03%</td></tr><tr><td>Virat Kohli</td><td>50</td><td>30</td><td>16</td><td>64.58%</td></tr><tr><td>MS Dhoni</td><td>72</td><td>41</td><td>28</td><td>59.28%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run is over just months after a World Cup triumph. Dive into the historic stats that prove his captaincy record eclipses even MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

Team India’s SKY breached the skies to achieve greatness but fell on the other side of things as age and form caught up with him. Suryakumar Yadav, the most successful Indian T20I captain, found no place in the squads picked for the away UK tour and the Asian Games just months after leading the Men in Blue to its record third world title. While he was the most-talked-about player and captain in March after helping India defend its T20 crown, the selectors decided to replace him with Shreyas Iyer three months later. His time in T20Is might be up, but his legacy as a captain eclipses even the best, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Moments after Rohit Sharma led the Indian Team to end its ICC trophy drought in 2024 in the Americas, with a thrilling win over South Africa in the final in Barbados, he decided to step aside from the format. His teammate and former captain, Virat Kohli, also followed the same path, leaving the selectors with the massive task of appointing a new leader and rebuilding the transition squad. Also read | India squads for England & Ireland tour: Sooryavanshi earns call-up, Shreyas named new captain With not many options to choose from, the selectors handpicked India’s best T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, as the T20I captain. The SKY era begins! His appointment brought a sea of changes to the side, with specialists finding a place in the XI for the home and away tours. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma became regulars, Ishan Kishan found his place back in the team, and Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya continued as mainstays. All began revolving around SKY and his leadership, with Team India benefiting the most. Since he took over as a permanent captain, Suryakumar’s Indian team has transformed into an unbeatable unit, playing a brand of cricket that is beyond fearlessness. Under his leadership, India scored 200s for fun, even at the most challenging grounds, with its top order clobbering hundreds just like that. The bowling improved by leaps and bounds, with Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah and the return of Varun Chakravarthy turning games on their heads. India's mystery spinner peaked in these two years, winning matches for India and also claiming the number one position in the ICC rankings for T20I bowlers. The final frontier Fast forward to the 2026 T20 World Cup, SKY maintained an unbeaten record as a captain in bilateral series and looked like the right man to lead India to another World Cup victory. Even though he failed to contribute enough with the bat at the showpiece event, his captaincy was top-notch, with the Men in Blue lifting the 2026 T20 WC trophy in Ahmedabad. However, little did he know that it would be the final time he would don the blue jersey. Although he hasn’t retired yet, his chances of returning to the T20I setup after the selection panel’s ‘eye on the future’ look bleak. Even if he doesn’t, his legacy as a batter and captain surpasses even the most talked-about skippers in Indian Cricket history. Dig into numbers To understand how good he actually was as an Indian T20I captain, here are the numbers.

Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run is over just months after a World Cup triumph. Dive into the historic stats that prove his captaincy record eclipses even MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I run may be over, but his captaincy record eclipses Dhoni, Rohit

Indian Test captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul scored hundreds as the hosts dominated day one of the stand-alone Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. Batting first after winning the toss, India survived a few early scares but lost Yashasvi Jaiswal on 24, caught behind. Sai Sudharsan, who received his coach’s backing for an extended rope at number three, added 139 runs for the second wicket before being dismissed on a well-made 81.&nbsp;Rahul, nearing his first Test century of the season, joined hands with Gill to punish Afghanistan for loose bowling and poor fielding. A 67-run partnership saw KL complete his 12th Test hundred, with the crowd at the New Chandigarh stadium cheering the seasoned opener. However, soon after, he found a fielder at the covers, leaving India 247 for three. The right-hander smashed 11 fours on his way to another memorable ton.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-the-best-suryakumar-yadav-breaks-silence-after-shock-t20i-ouster-india-squads-for-ireland-england-asian-games-2026-shreyas-iyer-1780745938044">’All the best': Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence after shock T20I ouster</a> &nbsp;“Yeah, I'm really happy that I could get some time in the middle and make that switch from T20 to Test cricket in a couple of days' time. And yeah, that was the most pleasing thing. But yeah, really hot, so there wasn't much time for me to feel happy or satisfied with the way I batted. I was just exhausted by the end of it,” Rahul said in a chat with the broadcasters after the day’s play. &nbsp;Gill and former vice-captain Rishabh Pant continued the wrath, with the pair putting India in the driver’s seat. Gill was quick to his fifty and made the most of the momentum to reach another Test hundred as the skipper.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sublime from the skipper! 👌 🎥 Glimpses of <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> Captain Shubman Gill&#39;s delightful shotmaking en route to his hundred! 👏 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/Au50EfVM30">https://t.co/Au50EfVM30</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/INDvAFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAFG</a> | <a href="https://x.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> | <a href="https://x.com/ShubmanGill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShubmanGill</a> <a href="https://t.co/YdlpM0c0kP">pic.twitter.com/YdlpM0c0kP</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2063222829282427231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pant, on the other hand, was back in his best mode, hitting sixes for fun. In an over off Abdul Malik, Pant smashed him for three sixes, increasing his tally to 97, just one behind Chris Gayle and Tim Southee.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Into the stands... three times in one over! 🚀 Vintage Rishabh Pant on display 👊 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/Au50EfVM30">https://t.co/Au50EfVM30</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/INDvAFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAFG</a> | <a href="https://x.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> | <a href="https://x.com/RishabhPant17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishabhPant17</a> <a href="https://t.co/rtJfeZLPdT">pic.twitter.com/rtJfeZLPdT</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2063212275616690509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After Gill completed his hundred, Pant also reached his fifty, helping India score 368 for three at stumps on day one.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul smashed brilliant centuries as India dominated Day 1 of the Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, reaching 368/3 at stumps. Sai Sudharsan hit a fluid 81 while Rishabh Pant provided late fireworks. Read the full match report here.

Indian Test captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul scored hundreds as the hosts dominated day one of the stand-alone Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. Batting first after winning the toss, India survived a few early scares but lost Yashasvi Jaiswal on 24, caught behind. Sai Sudharsan, who received his coach’s backing for an extended rope at number three, added 139 runs for the second wicket before being dismissed on a well-made 81. Rahul, nearing his first Test century of the season, joined hands with Gill to punish Afghanistan for loose bowling and poor fielding. A 67-run partnership saw KL complete his 12th Test hundred, with the crowd at the New Chandigarh stadium cheering the seasoned opener. However, soon after, he found a fielder at the covers, leaving India 247 for three. The right-hander smashed 11 fours on his way to another memorable ton. Also read| ’All the best': Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence after shock T20I ouster “Yeah, I'm really happy that I could get some time in the middle and make that switch from T20 to Test cricket in a couple of days' time. And yeah, that was the most pleasing thing. But yeah, really hot, so there wasn't much time for me to feel happy or satisfied with the way I batted. I was just exhausted by the end of it,” Rahul said in a chat with the broadcasters after the day’s play. Gill and former vice-captain Rishabh Pant continued the wrath, with the pair putting India in the driver’s seat. Gill was quick to his fifty and made the most of the momentum to reach another Test hundred as the skipper.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul smashed brilliant centuries as India dominated Day 1 of the Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, reaching 368/3 at stumps. Sai Sudharsan hit a fluid 81 while Rishabh Pant provided late fireworks. Read the full match report here.

IND vs AFG Day 1: Captain Gill and KL Rahul smash centuries as India score 368/3

Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence after being axed from India's T20I squads for the away UK tour and the Asian Games, with the BCCI selectors replacing him with Shreyas Iyer. Suryakumar was the captain of the T20I side that lifted the World Cup earlier this year; however, his extended lean patch with the bat, which carried into IPL 2026 as well, led to his removal as T20I captain. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England, and for the Asian Games in September.&nbsp;On Saturday (Jun 6), the selectors named Iyer as the new T20I skipper, eyeing glory at the LA28 Games and the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand the same year. The teen batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, also earned his maiden India call-up for the two series, with ace quick Jasprit Bumrah rested. Bumrah, however, returns to the full-strength team for the Asian Games in Japan.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-squad-for-asian-games-2026-shreyas-iyer-to-lead-bumrah-returns-1780735949578">India squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to lead, Bumrah returns</a> &nbsp;Taking to his Instagram story, SKY posted, "Wishing this highly skilled group all the best for challenges ahead.”&nbsp; &nbsp;His message reflects his acceptance of his fate and admiration for the team picked for the T20I series.<h3>New faces, new roles, exciting times!</h3>Sooryavanshi’s selection marks a historic moment in Indian Cricket, as he could become the youngest player since the great Sachin Tendulkar to make his India debut at just 15. Sachin was 16 years and 205 days old when he made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989. &nbsp;Meanwhile, on the newly appointed T20I captain, Iyer, who returned to India’s T20I side for the first time since December 2023, Agarkar said, “We have got a bit more time for the next WC, and his (Shreyas) performances as captain, having won (the IPL) with KKR and a couple of good seasons with PBKS. He was very close to always being there in the team but could not find the spot.” &nbsp;India will first tour Ireland for two T20Is on June 26 and 28 in Belfast before heading to England for five T20Is and three ODIs, starting July 1. Cricket at the Asian Games will take place from September 24 to October 3.

Suryakumar Yadav has broken his silence after being axed from India's T20I squad. Shreyas Iyer takes over as captain for the UK tour and Asian Games, while 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns a historic call-up. Read SKY's classy reaction and view the full squad details.

Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence after being axed from India's T20I squads for the away UK tour and the Asian Games, with the BCCI selectors replacing him with Shreyas Iyer. Suryakumar was the captain of the T20I side that lifted the World Cup earlier this year; however, his extended lean patch with the bat, which carried into IPL 2026 as well, led to his removal as T20I captain. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England, and for the Asian Games in September. On Saturday (Jun 6), the selectors named Iyer as the new T20I skipper, eyeing glory at the LA28 Games and the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand the same year. The teen batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, also earned his maiden India call-up for the two series, with ace quick Jasprit Bumrah rested. Bumrah, however, returns to the full-strength team for the Asian Games in Japan. Also read | India squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to lead, Bumrah returns Taking to his Instagram story, SKY posted, "Wishing this highly skilled group all the best for challenges ahead.” His message reflects his acceptance of his fate and admiration for the team picked for the T20I series. New faces, new roles, exciting times! Sooryavanshi’s selection marks a historic moment in Indian Cricket, as he could become the youngest player since the great Sachin Tendulkar to make his India debut at just 15. Sachin was 16 years and 205 days old when he made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989. Meanwhile, on the newly appointed T20I captain, Iyer, who returned to India’s T20I side for the first time since December 2023, Agarkar said, “We have got a bit more time for the next WC, and his (Shreyas) performances as captain, having won (the IPL) with KKR and a couple of good seasons with PBKS. He was very close to always being there in the team but could not find the spot.” India will first tour Ireland for two T20Is on June 26 and 28 in Belfast before heading to England for five T20Is and three ODIs, starting July 1. Cricket at the Asian Games will take place from September 24 to October 3.

Suryakumar Yadav has broken his silence after being axed from India's T20I squad. Shreyas Iyer takes over as captain for the UK tour and Asian Games, while 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns a historic call-up. Read SKY's classy reaction and view the full squad details.

'All the best': Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence after shock T20I ouster

Batting veteran Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the forthcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting June 14, due to a hamstring injury, with BCCI selectors announcing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement. Kohli suffered the injury while batting for RCB during the IPL 2026 final last Sunday (May 31), helping his franchise lift their second trophy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed this development during a presser in Mumbai on Saturday (Jun 6), while adding that Kohli could regain his fitness in time for the England ODIs, starting July 14.&nbsp;"With Virat at this point, it's just been less than a week since he injured himself in the [IPL] finals. We don't know the timelines yet," Agarkar said. "But it looks like he might be fit for that England one-day series. It's not a definitive answer, so don't hold me to it. I haven't had a clear timeline from the physio yet."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-squad-for-asian-games-2026-shreyas-iyer-to-lead-bumrah-returns-1780735949578">India squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to lead, Bumrah returns</a> &nbsp;Kohli now only plays ODIs, having retired from Tests and T20Is, with his last appearance coming during the New Zealand series in January this year, which India lost 1-2. Unsurprisingly, Kohli top-scored for India in that series, registering 240 runs in three matches, including a hundred and striking at 105.26.&nbsp; &nbsp;‘King Kohli’ carried his ODI form into the IPL, scoring 675 runs in the triumphant campaign, averaging over 56 and striking at 165.84.&nbsp; &nbsp;Jaiswal, on the other hand, would be back playing ODIs for the first time since December 2025, when he scored a match-winning 116 against South Africa. Since making his ODI debut in February last year, Jaiswal has only featured in four One-Dayers thus far, with the Afghanistan series providing a chance to impress. &nbsp;Moreover, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is undergoing a fitness test at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, with batting great and former captain Rohit Sharma also likely to report to the facility in the coming days. The two, however, have been included in India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series.<h3>India's updated ODI squad vs Afghanistan</h3>Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey

Virat Kohli has been ruled out of India's upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury suffered in the IPL 2026 final. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as his replacement, while updates on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have been revealed. Check out the updated squad here.

Batting veteran Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the forthcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting June 14, due to a hamstring injury, with BCCI selectors announcing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement. Kohli suffered the injury while batting for RCB during the IPL 2026 final last Sunday (May 31), helping his franchise lift their second trophy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed this development during a presser in Mumbai on Saturday (Jun 6), while adding that Kohli could regain his fitness in time for the England ODIs, starting July 14. "With Virat at this point, it's just been less than a week since he injured himself in the [IPL] finals. We don't know the timelines yet," Agarkar said. "But it looks like he might be fit for that England one-day series. It's not a definitive answer, so don't hold me to it. I haven't had a clear timeline from the physio yet." Also read | India squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to lead, Bumrah returns Kohli now only plays ODIs, having retired from Tests and T20Is, with his last appearance coming during the New Zealand series in January this year, which India lost 1-2. Unsurprisingly, Kohli top-scored for India in that series, registering 240 runs in three matches, including a hundred and striking at 105.26. ‘King Kohli’ carried his ODI form into the IPL, scoring 675 runs in the triumphant campaign, averaging over 56 and striking at 165.84. Jaiswal, on the other hand, would be back playing ODIs for the first time since December 2025, when he scored a match-winning 116 against South Africa. Since making his ODI debut in February last year, Jaiswal has only featured in four One-Dayers thus far, with the Afghanistan series providing a chance to impress. Moreover, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is undergoing a fitness test at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, with batting great and former captain Rohit Sharma also likely to report to the facility in the coming days. The two, however, have been included in India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series. India's updated ODI squad vs Afghanistan Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey

Virat Kohli has been ruled out of India's upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury suffered in the IPL 2026 final. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as his replacement, while updates on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have been revealed. Check out the updated squad here.

Virat Kohli ruled out of Afghanistan ODIs with injury, Jaiswal named replacement

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled India’s squad for the men’s T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan. Recently appointed T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is expected to compete for an opening spot alongside established batters Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, giving India significant depth at the top of the order.&nbsp;The middle-order department features Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and power-hitter Shivam Dube. India’s spin attack will be led by Sundar, supported by Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, while the pace department includes Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.&nbsp;Although star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for India’s upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England as part of workload management ahead of the 2027 World Cup, selectors have included him in the 15-member squad for the Asian Games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-fans-allowed-to-bring-sealed-water-bottles-into-stadiums-during-world-cup-1780727388945">FIFA 2026: Fans allowed to bring sealed water bottles into stadiums during World Cup</a>&nbsp;The men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format from Sep 24 to Oct 3, with ten teams, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman, will compete for the gold medal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-squads-for-england-ireland-tour-sooryavanshi-earns-call-up-shreyas-named-new-captain-1780732332687">Shreyas named captain, Sooryavanshi earns call-up for England &amp; Ireland tour</a>&nbsp;The tournament opens with the preliminary qualifying stage from Sep 24 to 26, followed by quarter-finals on Sep 28 and 29. The semi-finals are set for Oct 1, while the bronze-medal match and the final will both be played on Oct 3.<h2>India squad for the 2026 Asian Games (Men’s T20)</h2>Shreyas Iyer (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah

India have announced their 15-player squad for the Asian Games 2026, with the cricket tournament scheduled for September and October in Japan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled India’s squad for the men’s T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan. Recently appointed T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, while Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is expected to compete for an opening spot alongside established batters Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, giving India significant depth at the top of the order. The middle-order department features Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and power-hitter Shivam Dube. India’s spin attack will be led by Sundar, supported by Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, while the pace department includes Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Although star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for India’s upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England as part of workload management ahead of the 2027 World Cup, selectors have included him in the 15-member squad for the Asian Games. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Fans allowed to bring sealed water bottles into stadiums during World Cup The men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format from Sep 24 to Oct 3, with ten teams, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman, will compete for the gold medal. Also Read - Shreyas named captain, Sooryavanshi earns call-up for England & Ireland tour The tournament opens with the preliminary qualifying stage from Sep 24 to 26, followed by quarter-finals on Sep 28 and 29. The semi-finals are set for Oct 1, while the bronze-medal match and the final will both be played on Oct 3. India squad for the 2026 Asian Games (Men’s T20) Shreyas Iyer (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah

India have announced their 15-player squad for the Asian Games 2026, with the cricket tournament scheduled for September and October in Japan.

India squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to lead, Bumrah returns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England on Saturday (Jun 6), with the series scheduled in June and July respectively. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the new T20I captain, replacing T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has been left out of the squad. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up following a standout IPL 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals. Meanwhile, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for both series, although he has been included in India’s squad for the Asian Games later this year.&nbsp;India will face Ireland in a two-match T20I series in Belfast from Jun 26 to 28, before taking on England in a five-match series from Jul 1 to 11.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-york-knicks-edge-san-antonio-spurs-105-104-to-take-2-0-lead-in-nba-finals-1780721505871">New York Knicks edge San Antonio Spurs 105-104 to take 2-0 lead in NBA Finals</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Presenting <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>&#39;s T20I squads for the tours of England &amp; Ireland 2026 🇮🇳<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/IREvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IREvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/f84kSSAIDf">pic.twitter.com/f84kSSAIDf</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2063164567484797250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Shreyas Iyer last played a T20I for India in Dec 2023. He was also part of the home series against New Zealand earlier this year but did not get a chance to play and was not picked for the World Cup squad.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/norway-chess-2026-r-praggnanandhaa-scripts-history-becomes-first-indian-champion-in-tournament-history-1780716711063">Norway Chess 2026: Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian champion</a>&nbsp;However, his strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, where he has played well as both a batter and captain, helped him make a comeback and has now been given the captaincy by the selectors.<h2>India squad for Ireland series</h2>Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav<h2>India squad for England series</h2>Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prince Yadav

Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the T20I series against Ireland and England, while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden call-up ahead of the Asian Games.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England on Saturday (Jun 6), with the series scheduled in June and July respectively. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the new T20I captain, replacing T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has been left out of the squad. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up following a standout IPL 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals. Meanwhile, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for both series, although he has been included in India’s squad for the Asian Games later this year. India will face Ireland in a two-match T20I series in Belfast from Jun 26 to 28, before taking on England in a five-match series from Jul 1 to 11. Also Read - New York Knicks edge San Antonio Spurs 105-104 to take 2-0 lead in NBA Finals

Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the T20I series against Ireland and England, while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden call-up ahead of the Asian Games.

India squads for England & Ireland tour: Sooryavanshi earns call-up, Shreyas named new captain

India handed a maiden Test cap to left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat first in the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (Jun 6). The 23-year-old Rajasthan all-rounder received his Test cap from Kuldeep Yadav before the start of play, marking a memorable moment in his cricketing journey.&nbsp;At the toss, Gill explained that India wanted to take advantage of the batting-friendly conditions before the surface started to slow down.&nbsp;“We are gonna bat first. Very hot and humid. It’s going to get slower and lower," Gill said. “It’s a great privilege to captain here. The preparation has been good. We’ve got Manav Suthar making his debut."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-grants-visas-to-iran-players-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup-2026-1780715191972">US grants visas to Iran players ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026</a><h2>Who is Manav Suthar?</h2>Manav Suthar is a promising 23-year-old bowling all-rounder known for his slow left-arm orthodox spin and useful contributions with the bat lower down the order. He represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket and is also associated with Gujarat Titans⁠ in the IPL.&nbsp;Born in Sri Ganganagar, Suthar’s rise to the national side has been driven by consistent performances in domestic cricket. Widely regarded as one of India’s most brightest red-ball prospects, he has earned his opportunity with the senior team while veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja sits out the Afghanistan Test. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-shortage-of-money-coaches-or-facilities-so-why-isn-t-india-winning-more-olympic-medals-1780715746739">No shortage of money, coaches or facilities. So why isn't India winning more Olympic medals?</a>&nbsp;Suthar first attracted widespread attention during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, where he finished as Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker with 39 wickets in six matches. Across 29 first-class games, he has taken 129 wickets and scored 945 runs, underlining his value as an all-rounder.&nbsp;He also emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the unofficial Test series against Australia A, highlighted by a five-wicket haul and also impressed during the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.<h2>Playing XIs</h2>India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna&nbsp;Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Mohammad Saleem Safi

Manav Suthar earned a long-awaited India Test debut after his strong domestic performances, as Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bat against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.

India handed a maiden Test cap to left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat first in the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (Jun 6). The 23-year-old Rajasthan all-rounder received his Test cap from Kuldeep Yadav before the start of play, marking a memorable moment in his cricketing journey. At the toss, Gill explained that India wanted to take advantage of the batting-friendly conditions before the surface started to slow down. “We are gonna bat first. Very hot and humid. It’s going to get slower and lower," Gill said. “It’s a great privilege to captain here. The preparation has been good. We’ve got Manav Suthar making his debut." Also Read - US grants visas to Iran players ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Who is Manav Suthar? Manav Suthar is a promising 23-year-old bowling all-rounder known for his slow left-arm orthodox spin and useful contributions with the bat lower down the order. He represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket and is also associated with Gujarat Titans⁠ in the IPL. Born in Sri Ganganagar, Suthar’s rise to the national side has been driven by consistent performances in domestic cricket. Widely regarded as one of India’s most brightest red-ball prospects, he has earned his opportunity with the senior team while veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja sits out the Afghanistan Test. Also Read - No shortage of money, coaches or facilities. So why isn't India winning more Olympic medals? Suthar first attracted widespread attention during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, where he finished as Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker with 39 wickets in six matches. Across 29 first-class games, he has taken 129 wickets and scored 945 runs, underlining his value as an all-rounder. He also emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the unofficial Test series against Australia A, highlighted by a five-wicket haul and also impressed during the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Playing XIs India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Mohammad Saleem Safi

Manav Suthar earned a long-awaited India Test debut after his strong domestic performances, as Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bat against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.

IND vs AFG, One-off Test: Manav Suthar makes Test debut, Gill chooses to bat

The BCCI has confirmed the date of the Team India squad selection for their forthcoming UK tour consisting of two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast and five T20Is and three ODIs against England starting July 1. The latest report suggests that the BCCI’s selection committee will meet at its headquarters in Mumbai on Saturday (Jun 6) to pick T20I and ODI squads for the two series. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the BCCI secretary will address the media at around 1 pm, per BCCI’s latest release.&nbsp;The media address would, however, attract significant attention, with several changes likely to headline the Team India's squad selection announcement. While the reports have suggested that the selectors have decided to move on from the T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, owing to his extended lean patch, announcing Shreyas Iyer as his replacement and the new T20I captain would be on the agenda.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thank-god-for-good-people-in-india-michael-clarke-recalls-horrifying-car-crash-after-ipl-2026-final-1780664241510">‘Thank God for good people in India’: Michael Clarke recalls horrifying car crash after IPL 2026 final</a><h3>The Biggest News</h3>Besides, the most highly awaited announcement would be that of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maiden call-up to the senior men’s team for the UK T20Is. The teen sensation broke several IPL records in the recently concluded season and won as many as five awards, the most by anyone in a single edition ever. The left-handed opener won awards for the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs (776 in 16 matches), the Super Striker (237.31), the Most Valuable Player, the Most Sixes (72) and the Emerging Player of the Season. &nbsp;The selectors, however, could also announce the squad for the Asian Games in advance due to entry deadlines set by organisers.<h3>Team India’s upcoming T20I schedule –</h3>After hosting Afghanistan for the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, beginning the same day (Jun 6), India will face three ODIs against them, following which they will leave for Ireland for the two T20Is on June 26 and 28. &nbsp;India’s next white-ball assignment will be against England, the five T20Is starting July 1, followed by three ODIs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, the cricketing action at the Asian Games 2026 will take place from September 24 to October 3.

All eyes on Mumbai this Saturday! Will 15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earn his maiden senior India call-up for the tours of Ireland and England?

The BCCI has confirmed the date of the Team India squad selection for their forthcoming UK tour consisting of two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast and five T20Is and three ODIs against England starting July 1. The latest report suggests that the BCCI’s selection committee will meet at its headquarters in Mumbai on Saturday (Jun 6) to pick T20I and ODI squads for the two series. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the BCCI secretary will address the media at around 1 pm, per BCCI’s latest release. The media address would, however, attract significant attention, with several changes likely to headline the Team India's squad selection announcement. While the reports have suggested that the selectors have decided to move on from the T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, owing to his extended lean patch, announcing Shreyas Iyer as his replacement and the new T20I captain would be on the agenda. Also read | ‘Thank God for good people in India’: Michael Clarke recalls horrifying car crash after IPL 2026 final The Biggest News Besides, the most highly awaited announcement would be that of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s maiden call-up to the senior men’s team for the UK T20Is. The teen sensation broke several IPL records in the recently concluded season and won as many as five awards, the most by anyone in a single edition ever. The left-handed opener won awards for the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs (776 in 16 matches), the Super Striker (237.31), the Most Valuable Player, the Most Sixes (72) and the Emerging Player of the Season. The selectors, however, could also announce the squad for the Asian Games in advance due to entry deadlines set by organisers. Team India’s upcoming T20I schedule – After hosting Afghanistan for the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, beginning the same day (Jun 6), India will face three ODIs against them, following which they will leave for Ireland for the two T20Is on June 26 and 28. India’s next white-ball assignment will be against England, the five T20Is starting July 1, followed by three ODIs. Meanwhile, the cricketing action at the Asian Games 2026 will take place from September 24 to October 3.

All eyes on Mumbai this Saturday! Will 15-year-old IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earn his maiden senior India call-up for the tours of Ireland and England?

India squad announcement for UK Tour on June 6: Eyes on Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer

History at the Home of Cricket! Lord’s becomes the first venue to host 150 Test matches during the England vs New Zealand clash. See the top 5 most-used grounds.

History at the Home of Cricket! Lord’s becomes the first venue to host 150 Test matches during the England vs New Zealand clash. See the top 5 most-used grounds.

Lord’s Becomes First Ground to Host 150 Tests: See Venues with Most Matches

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke survived a horrifying car crash hours after the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad. On his way to the airport following RCB’s second successive IPL win last Sunday (May 31), the car in which Clarke was travelling crashed into a semi-trailer and ended up partially wedged underneath the truck. While recalling the accident, which he calls a ‘frightening experience’, Clarke thanked the ‘good Indian people’ because of whom he survived and could reach home safely.&nbsp;"Interesting trip home, to say the least," Clarke revealed on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. "Let me start by saying thank God for good people in India. That's why I made it home safely." &nbsp;Travelling as a passenger, Clarke said he was asleep on the way to the airport and was jolted awake by the impact of the crash. Revealing more about the accident, Clarke said the car driver explained what led to the crash, and the car coming underneath the truck.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-2026-one-off-test-head-coach-gautam-gambhir-confirms-sai-sudharsan-as-india-new-number-3-over-devdutt-padikkal-1780656558876">IND vs AFG: Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan as India's no. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal</a> &nbsp;"I was asleep. I fell asleep after the game, travelling. Obviously, I wasn't driving. Then I woke up to virtually the front half of the car being under a truck," Clarke revealed. &nbsp;"The driver explained to me that the brake lights on the truck weren't working. So my driver had hit the truck from the backside. Again, it was a big semi-trailer, and our car had gone underneath. The car's certainly written off," he added.<h3>Clarke raises concern for the driver</h3>While the two-time ODI World Cup winner got away with a few bruises, he feared worse for the driver, whom he thinks suffered a fracture in his legs. Clarke also noted how deeply shaken the driver was, given that the vehicle belonged to his employer rather than being his personal car. &nbsp;"I got away with some bruises, but I definitely think he had a little break in his leg," Clarke said. "I was really concerned because he was so scared. It wasn't his car; he works for the company," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;Clarke said he urged the driver to seek medical attention.<h3>Clarke thanks locals and BCCI for support</h3>Clarke was full of praise for the locals who rescued and helped him. He also thanked the BCCI members for checking on the driver and Clarke. &nbsp;"Everyone at the BCCI, everybody there, they've been checking in on him, and they've been checking in on me. They've been unreal. So I'm very grateful for that," he said. "It was a complete accident. These things happen all the time, but for me it was more the shock because I was fast asleep and then woke up to see myself so close to being underneath a truck."&nbsp; &nbsp;However, despite the accident, Clarke managed to catch his flight back home. Also thanking everyone for another fruitful IPL, Clarke said, "Not the ideal way to get home, but I made my flight. I'm back here, and I'm very fortunate to have been part of another awesome IPL campaign. I love it.”

"Thank God for good people in India." Former Australia captain Michael Clarke opens up about surviving a horrifying highway car crash after the IPL 2026 final.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke survived a horrifying car crash hours after the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad. On his way to the airport following RCB’s second successive IPL win last Sunday (May 31), the car in which Clarke was travelling crashed into a semi-trailer and ended up partially wedged underneath the truck. While recalling the accident, which he calls a ‘frightening experience’, Clarke thanked the ‘good Indian people’ because of whom he survived and could reach home safely. "Interesting trip home, to say the least," Clarke revealed on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. "Let me start by saying thank God for good people in India. That's why I made it home safely." Travelling as a passenger, Clarke said he was asleep on the way to the airport and was jolted awake by the impact of the crash. Revealing more about the accident, Clarke said the car driver explained what led to the crash, and the car coming underneath the truck. Also read | IND vs AFG: Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan as India's no. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal "I was asleep. I fell asleep after the game, travelling. Obviously, I wasn't driving. Then I woke up to virtually the front half of the car being under a truck," Clarke revealed. "The driver explained to me that the brake lights on the truck weren't working. So my driver had hit the truck from the backside. Again, it was a big semi-trailer, and our car had gone underneath. The car's certainly written off," he added. Clarke raises concern for the driver While the two-time ODI World Cup winner got away with a few bruises, he feared worse for the driver, whom he thinks suffered a fracture in his legs. Clarke also noted how deeply shaken the driver was, given that the vehicle belonged to his employer rather than being his personal car. "I got away with some bruises, but I definitely think he had a little break in his leg," Clarke said. "I was really concerned because he was so scared. It wasn't his car; he works for the company," he said. Clarke said he urged the driver to seek medical attention. Clarke thanks locals and BCCI for support Clarke was full of praise for the locals who rescued and helped him. He also thanked the BCCI members for checking on the driver and Clarke. "Everyone at the BCCI, everybody there, they've been checking in on him, and they've been checking in on me. They've been unreal. So I'm very grateful for that," he said. "It was a complete accident. These things happen all the time, but for me it was more the shock because I was fast asleep and then woke up to see myself so close to being underneath a truck." However, despite the accident, Clarke managed to catch his flight back home. Also thanking everyone for another fruitful IPL, Clarke said, "Not the ideal way to get home, but I made my flight. I'm back here, and I'm very fortunate to have been part of another awesome IPL campaign. I love it.”

"Thank God for good people in India." Former Australia captain Michael Clarke opens up about surviving a horrifying highway car crash after the IPL 2026 final.

‘Thank God for good people in India’: Michael Clarke recalls horrifying car crash after IPL 2026 final

Eight years after their first face-off in Tests in Bengaluru, a one-off affair back then too, India and Afghanistan will be back playing Tests in New Chandigarh, starting June 6. While Team India reigns supreme across formats, Afghanistan’s gradual rise in world cricket will make this non-WTC clash a mouthwatering one. For India, ace quick Jasprit Bumrah and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are rested, and for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan remains absent. What is there for the two teams to look forward to? Let’s dig into the match preview of India vs Afghanistan 2026 one-off Test.<h2>Match Preview –</h2>Team India is back playing Tests for the first time since conceding the home two-match series to South Africa late last year. Although this game’s outcome will have no impact on their WTC standings, the hosts still have plenty to play for and look forward to - redemption and future stars. &nbsp;After drawing the away Test series in England and losing one to the Proteas at home, India dented their WTC chances in this cycle. Currently in transition after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements, India would aim to iron out several flaws and address some unanswered questions, including the number three slot and Rishabh Pant’s lost form. With no Bumrah around, the pace bowling onus would fall on the GT duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-2026-one-off-test-head-coach-gautam-gambhir-confirms-sai-sudharsan-as-india-new-number-3-over-devdutt-padikkal-1780656558876">IND vs AFG: Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan as India's no. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal</a> &nbsp;While Kuldeep Yadav also seeks a purple patch following a switch from IPL cricket to red-ball, either of the two uncapped all-rounders, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, is confirmed to make his debut. A new face for the first Test since the T20 spectacle in IPL would keep fans on their toes and interested. &nbsp;On the other hand, Afghanistan has everything to gain from this match. Known as the powerhouse in the shortest format, a gradual rise in Tests would help their players build confidence and improve their gameplay. In Rashid Khan’s absence, their best Test player, Rahmat Shah, would have all eyes on him. Being their most technically sound batter, with the most runs, hundreds and fifty-plus scores in Tests, Rahmat will hold the keys. &nbsp;Besides him, their captain Hasmatullah Shahidi and opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside spinner Qais Ahmad, are going to be key players for Afghanistan.&nbsp; &nbsp;Could Afghanistan stun India? Probability is less but never zero.<h3>Check out the predicted playing XIs of both teams –</h3>India - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Harsh Dubey / Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna &nbsp;Afghanistan - Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Zia Sharifi, Nangeyalia Kharotai

IND vs AFG Match Preview: Shubman Gill leads a new-look, transitional India in a stand-alone Test at New Chandigarh. Read predicted XIs, key matchups, and stats.

Eight years after their first face-off in Tests in Bengaluru, a one-off affair back then too, India and Afghanistan will be back playing Tests in New Chandigarh, starting June 6. While Team India reigns supreme across formats, Afghanistan’s gradual rise in world cricket will make this non-WTC clash a mouthwatering one. For India, ace quick Jasprit Bumrah and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are rested, and for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan remains absent. What is there for the two teams to look forward to? Let’s dig into the match preview of India vs Afghanistan 2026 one-off Test. Match Preview – Team India is back playing Tests for the first time since conceding the home two-match series to South Africa late last year. Although this game’s outcome will have no impact on their WTC standings, the hosts still have plenty to play for and look forward to - redemption and future stars. After drawing the away Test series in England and losing one to the Proteas at home, India dented their WTC chances in this cycle. Currently in transition after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements, India would aim to iron out several flaws and address some unanswered questions, including the number three slot and Rishabh Pant’s lost form. With no Bumrah around, the pace bowling onus would fall on the GT duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Also read | IND vs AFG: Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan as India's no. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal While Kuldeep Yadav also seeks a purple patch following a switch from IPL cricket to red-ball, either of the two uncapped all-rounders, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, is confirmed to make his debut. A new face for the first Test since the T20 spectacle in IPL would keep fans on their toes and interested. On the other hand, Afghanistan has everything to gain from this match. Known as the powerhouse in the shortest format, a gradual rise in Tests would help their players build confidence and improve their gameplay. In Rashid Khan’s absence, their best Test player, Rahmat Shah, would have all eyes on him. Being their most technically sound batter, with the most runs, hundreds and fifty-plus scores in Tests, Rahmat will hold the keys. Besides him, their captain Hasmatullah Shahidi and opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside spinner Qais Ahmad, are going to be key players for Afghanistan. Could Afghanistan stun India? Probability is less but never zero. Check out the predicted playing XIs of both teams – India - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Harsh Dubey / Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna Afghanistan - Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Zia Sharifi, Nangeyalia Kharotai

IND vs AFG Match Preview: Shubman Gill leads a new-look, transitional India in a stand-alone Test at New Chandigarh. Read predicted XIs, key matchups, and stats.

IND vs AFG 2026 Match Preview: Team India seeks redemption and future stars in stand-alone Test

India will aim to find answers to key selection questions when they face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in New Chandigarh, starting Saturday (Jun 6). Although Afghanistan enter the contest as underdogs, the hosts will be eager to avoid a repeat of the errors that resulted in a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa last year.&nbsp;The last Test meeting between the two sides came in 2018 in Bengaluru, which also marked Afghanistan’s debut in the format. India dominated the match, dismissing the visitors twice in just two days. Ten wickets fell between lunch and tea on the second day, while the remaining ten wickets were taken between tea and stumps as India sealed a victory.&nbsp;This time, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi will be hoping for a more competitive showing from his side against an Indian team still working to finalise its ideal Test combination.&nbsp;As the crucial Test clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-top-5-most-successful-teams-in-fifa-world-cup-history-1780643997793">Meet top 5 most successful teams in FIFA World Cup history</a><h2>India vs Afghanistan, One-off Test: Match Details</h2><h2>When will the IND vs AFG, One-off Test be played?</h2>The One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will start on Saturday (Jun 6, 2026). The toss will take place at 09:00 pm IST.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-accidentally-sold-dozens-world-cup-2026-tickets-for-0-now-fans-have-7-days-to-pay-1780632142719">World Cup 2026 shock: FIFA 'accidentally' gives away dozens tickets for free</a><h2>Where is the match being played?</h2>The match will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.<h2>Where can fans watch the match on television?</h2>The live telecast of the One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be available on Star Sports in India.<h2>Where to livestream IND vs AFG, One-off Test?</h2>The livestream of the One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.<h2>IND vs AFG Test Squad</h2>India: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey&nbsp;Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi

As the crucial Test clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

India will aim to find answers to key selection questions when they face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in New Chandigarh, starting Saturday (Jun 6). Although Afghanistan enter the contest as underdogs, the hosts will be eager to avoid a repeat of the errors that resulted in a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa last year. The last Test meeting between the two sides came in 2018 in Bengaluru, which also marked Afghanistan’s debut in the format. India dominated the match, dismissing the visitors twice in just two days. Ten wickets fell between lunch and tea on the second day, while the remaining ten wickets were taken between tea and stumps as India sealed a victory. This time, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi will be hoping for a more competitive showing from his side against an Indian team still working to finalise its ideal Test combination. As the crucial Test clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India. Also Check - Meet top 5 most successful teams in FIFA World Cup history India vs Afghanistan, One-off Test: Match Details When will the IND vs AFG, One-off Test be played? The One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will start on Saturday (Jun 6, 2026). The toss will take place at 09:00 pm IST. Also Read - World Cup 2026 shock: FIFA 'accidentally' gives away dozens tickets for free Where is the match being played? The match will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Where can fans watch the match on television? The live telecast of the One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be available on Star Sports in India. Where to livestream IND vs AFG, One-off Test? The livestream of the One-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be available on the JioHotstar app and website. IND vs AFG Test Squad India: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi and Saleem Safi

As the crucial Test clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

IND vs AFG, One-off Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed Sai Sudharsan as the new number three for India in Tests over Devdutt Padikkal. Sai will continue to bat in his usual position after brief exploits in England and against the West Indies and South Africa during the home series last year. The left-hander is coming off a brilliant IPL 2026 with the bat, scoring 722 runs in 17 matches, including a hundred. In the whites, Sudharsan has played six Tests, scoring 302 runs, with two fifties to his name. While he played three of those Tests on the England tour, Sai registered 7, 87, 39, 15, and 14 in the remaining five innings at home.&nbsp;With the one-off Test against Afghanistan on the horizon, Gambhir has backed the Gujarat Titans' opener to continue in his role, promising him an extended run at that position.&nbsp;In Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-top-5-batters-in-latest-icc-t20i-rankings-2026-check-who-sits-at-the-top-1778677850182">Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top</a> &nbsp;“Sai Sudharsan has not got a fair chance. He has only played a handful of Test matches. And he started his Test career in England, which we all know is not the easiest place (for batters). He has had a phenomenal run in the IPL as well, and we have got to give him a fair chance,” Gambhir said to reporters on the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.<h3>Coach explains why Padikkal has to wait</h3>Granting a longer rope to Sai at number three means another contender for that spot, Devdutt Padikkal, might have to wait longer for his chances. Gambhir explained that although only one player (of the two) can play at that position, it’s Sai for now, and Padikkal should be patient for his turn.&nbsp;Explaining the reason behind choosing Sai over Padikkal, Gambhir said, “We can (only) pick 11 (players), and some will have to wait for an opportunity. Sai is not in bad form either. He scored, what, 700 runs in IPL. If judging players by just four or five matches is good enough, then I feel we will never be able to build something. &nbsp;“Hopefully (Padikkal) will get his time. Whenever his time comes, we will give him a fair run as well. It is not about giving someone five Tests and someone else one Test. If we give someone a fair run, we will give the other guy an opportunity whenever it comes up. At the moment, we need to give Sai a fair run. He is a world-class player, and I am sure he will come good,” he added. &nbsp;Moreover, since ICC rules dictate that for a series to fall under the ongoing WTC cycle, it must have at least two Test matches, this one-off Test between India and Afghanistan is a stand-alone match, with its result not impacting the Indian Team's WTC standings.&nbsp;

Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan will bat at No. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal in the IND vs AFG Test. Find out why the coach is backing the left-hander for the long run.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed Sai Sudharsan as the new number three for India in Tests over Devdutt Padikkal. Sai will continue to bat in his usual position after brief exploits in England and against the West Indies and South Africa during the home series last year. The left-hander is coming off a brilliant IPL 2026 with the bat, scoring 722 runs in 17 matches, including a hundred. In the whites, Sudharsan has played six Tests, scoring 302 runs, with two fifties to his name. While he played three of those Tests on the England tour, Sai registered 7, 87, 39, 15, and 14 in the remaining five innings at home. With the one-off Test against Afghanistan on the horizon, Gambhir has backed the Gujarat Titans' opener to continue in his role, promising him an extended run at that position. In Pics | Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top “Sai Sudharsan has not got a fair chance. He has only played a handful of Test matches. And he started his Test career in England, which we all know is not the easiest place (for batters). He has had a phenomenal run in the IPL as well, and we have got to give him a fair chance,” Gambhir said to reporters on the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Coach explains why Padikkal has to wait Granting a longer rope to Sai at number three means another contender for that spot, Devdutt Padikkal, might have to wait longer for his chances. Gambhir explained that although only one player (of the two) can play at that position, it’s Sai for now, and Padikkal should be patient for his turn. Explaining the reason behind choosing Sai over Padikkal, Gambhir said, “We can (only) pick 11 (players), and some will have to wait for an opportunity. Sai is not in bad form either. He scored, what, 700 runs in IPL. If judging players by just four or five matches is good enough, then I feel we will never be able to build something. “Hopefully (Padikkal) will get his time. Whenever his time comes, we will give him a fair run as well. It is not about giving someone five Tests and someone else one Test. If we give someone a fair run, we will give the other guy an opportunity whenever it comes up. At the moment, we need to give Sai a fair run. He is a world-class player, and I am sure he will come good,” he added. Moreover, since ICC rules dictate that for a series to fall under the ongoing WTC cycle, it must have at least two Test matches, this one-off Test between India and Afghanistan is a stand-alone match, with its result not impacting the Indian Team's WTC standings.

Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan will bat at No. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal in the IND vs AFG Test. Find out why the coach is backing the left-hander for the long run.

IND vs AFG: Gautam Gambhir confirms Sai Sudharsan as India's no. 3 over Devdutt Padikkal

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to allow the use of a pink ball in place of the traditional red ball when Test matches are interrupted due to poor light. His comments came ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, a match that could potentially be affected by fading light conditions.&nbsp;Gambhir emphasised that teams should not miss crucial opportunities to have a result due to factors beyond their control. He added that losing valuable playing time because of bad light could have significant consequences, especially in the race for qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters on Friday (Jun 5), Gambhir said he fully supports the initiative, arguing that every effort should be made to ensure matches reach a meaningful conclusion. He pointed out that it would be disappointing for a team to miss out on WTC qualification after two years of hard work simply because weather or light conditions prevented play.&nbsp;"I love that because I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, but because of bad light, it's not happening. So I'm all for it," Gambhir said on Friday.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2026-final-maja-chwalinska-s-fairytale-run-faces-its-biggest-test-against-mirra-andreeva-1780640837748">French Open 2026 Final: History-maker Maja Chwalinska vs in-form Mirra Andreeva</a> "If there's an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it... I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added.&nbsp;India enter the Afghanistan Test after a difficult home series against South Africa, where they were beaten 2-0. The team currently occupies sixth place in the WTC standings, having secured 48.15 percent of the available points from nine matches.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to use a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball as a way to reduce disruptions caused by poor light in Test cricket.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to allow the use of a pink ball in place of the traditional red ball when Test matches are interrupted due to poor light. His comments came ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, a match that could potentially be affected by fading light conditions. Gambhir emphasised that teams should not miss crucial opportunities to have a result due to factors beyond their control. He added that losing valuable playing time because of bad light could have significant consequences, especially in the race for qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Speaking to reporters on Friday (Jun 5), Gambhir said he fully supports the initiative, arguing that every effort should be made to ensure matches reach a meaningful conclusion. He pointed out that it would be disappointing for a team to miss out on WTC qualification after two years of hard work simply because weather or light conditions prevented play. "I love that because I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, but because of bad light, it's not happening. So I'm all for it," Gambhir said on Friday. Also Read - French Open 2026 Final: History-maker Maja Chwalinska vs in-form Mirra Andreeva "If there's an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it... I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final, if you don't play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it's a proactive move, it's a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added. India enter the Afghanistan Test after a difficult home series against South Africa, where they were beaten 2-0. The team currently occupies sixth place in the WTC standings, having secured 48.15 percent of the available points from nine matches. With inputs from agencies

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposal to use a pink ball instead of the traditional red ball as a way to reduce disruptions caused by poor light in Test cricket.

'If there’s an opportunity to get a result…': Gambhir in favour of red-ball and pink-ball switch

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a look at the five highest goal scorers in the history of the tournament.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a look at the five highest goal scorers in the history of the tournament.

Meet top 5 goal scorers in FIFA World Cup history

From Abhishek Sharma to Ishan Kishan, here's a look at the top five batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026. This list also includes Phil Salt, Pathum Nissanka and Sahibzada Farhan

From Abhishek Sharma to Ishan Kishan, here's a look at the top five batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026. This list also includes Phil Salt, Pathum Nissanka and Sahibzada Farhan

Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top

Shreyas Iyer will replace Suryakumar Yadav as Team India’s new T20I captain, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to earn his maiden India call-up for the forthcoming UK tour. With an eye on the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles and the T20 World Cup the same year in Australia and New Zealand, the BCCI selectors have decided to make these sweeping changes. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will announce the T20I squad for the Ireland and England series on Saturday (Jun 6), Team India’s first assignment since Suryakumar Yadav-led India won the T20 World Cup in March this year.&nbsp;The selectors have also decided to drop Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I squads following his lean patch in the T20 WC and IPL 2026. At the World Cup, his best performance came against the USA in India’s opener; later, SKY failed to score another T20I fifty, amassing 242 runs in nine innings. Even at IPL 2026 with Mumbai Indians, SKY managed a mere 270 with the bat in 13 innings and averaged just above 20.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-2026-one-off-test-kuldeep-eyes-red-ball-redemption-after-underwhelming-ipl-2026-delhi-capitals-1780587026317">IND vs AFG, one-off Test: Kuldeep eyes red-ball redemption after underwhelming IPL 2026</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, SKY’s successor, Iyer, hasn’t played a T20I since December 2023. Although Iyer returned for the New Zealand T20Is just before the marquee event as an injury replacement, he did not play a game as the management backed the WC-bound XI in all matches. &nbsp;Iyer, however, has proved his captaincy credentials, having led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third league title in 2024; later, he led Punjab Kings to the final next season, only to lose to the RCB. This season, Iyer’s batting form and leadership were on full display, at least during the first half of the season, when Punjab led the points table with six wins in seven matches. However, a second-half turnaround saw them fall shy of the top-four finish. In the do-or-die match against the LSG, Iyer smashed his maiden IPL hundred and won the game for his team, but unfortunately for them, Rajasthan Royals qualified. &nbsp;In IPL 2025, Iyer scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 and 498 in the following season, striking at 168.81.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, should the selectors hand Sooryavanshi his call-up, he will become the youngest Indian player to be picked for the senior men's team since the great Sachin Tendulkar. Sooryavanshi’s selections come on the back of a brilliant IPL 2026, where he won the Orange Cap (776 runs in 16 matches) and four other awards, creating history.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, before the UK tour, Vaibhav will feature in the ODI tri-series involving the A teams of India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan starting June 9 in Dambulla.&nbsp;

In a massive T20I shake-up, Shreyas Iyer is set to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India's new captain for the UK tour, while IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lines up for a historic maiden call-up. Check out the full selection details ahead of Saturday's squad announcement.

Shreyas Iyer will replace Suryakumar Yadav as Team India’s new T20I captain, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to earn his maiden India call-up for the forthcoming UK tour. With an eye on the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles and the T20 World Cup the same year in Australia and New Zealand, the BCCI selectors have decided to make these sweeping changes. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will announce the T20I squad for the Ireland and England series on Saturday (Jun 6), Team India’s first assignment since Suryakumar Yadav-led India won the T20 World Cup in March this year. The selectors have also decided to drop Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I squads following his lean patch in the T20 WC and IPL 2026. At the World Cup, his best performance came against the USA in India’s opener; later, SKY failed to score another T20I fifty, amassing 242 runs in nine innings. Even at IPL 2026 with Mumbai Indians, SKY managed a mere 270 with the bat in 13 innings and averaged just above 20. Also read | IND vs AFG, one-off Test: Kuldeep eyes red-ball redemption after underwhelming IPL 2026 Meanwhile, SKY’s successor, Iyer, hasn’t played a T20I since December 2023. Although Iyer returned for the New Zealand T20Is just before the marquee event as an injury replacement, he did not play a game as the management backed the WC-bound XI in all matches. Iyer, however, has proved his captaincy credentials, having led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third league title in 2024; later, he led Punjab Kings to the final next season, only to lose to the RCB. This season, Iyer’s batting form and leadership were on full display, at least during the first half of the season, when Punjab led the points table with six wins in seven matches. However, a second-half turnaround saw them fall shy of the top-four finish. In the do-or-die match against the LSG, Iyer smashed his maiden IPL hundred and won the game for his team, but unfortunately for them, Rajasthan Royals qualified. In IPL 2025, Iyer scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 and 498 in the following season, striking at 168.81. On the other hand, should the selectors hand Sooryavanshi his call-up, he will become the youngest Indian player to be picked for the senior men's team since the great Sachin Tendulkar. Sooryavanshi’s selections come on the back of a brilliant IPL 2026, where he won the Orange Cap (776 runs in 16 matches) and four other awards, creating history. However, before the UK tour, Vaibhav will feature in the ODI tri-series involving the A teams of India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan starting June 9 in Dambulla.

In a massive T20I shake-up, Shreyas Iyer is set to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India's new captain for the UK tour, while IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lines up for a historic maiden call-up. Check out the full selection details ahead of Saturday's squad announcement.

India T20I Captain: Shreyas Iyer to replace SKY; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set for maiden India call-up

India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a brief career that included seven Test appearances for the national side.The Andhra Pradesh cricketer made his Test debut in 2023 against Australia in Nagpur and played his final red-ball match against England in Visakhapatnam. Across 12 innings, he scored 221 runs at an average of 20.09.&nbsp;In a heartfelt message, Bharat called representing India the “greatest honour” of his career and looked back on the dedication, sacrifices and strong support system that helped him reach the international stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;“With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international cricket," Bharat wrote. “To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength, but the honour to represent India in Tests was worth every moment."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-2026-one-off-test-kuldeep-eyes-red-ball-redemption-after-underwhelming-ipl-2026-delhi-capitals-1780587026317">IND vs AFG, one-off Test: Kuldeep eyes red-ball redemption after underwhelming IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;The 31-year-old further expressed deep gratitude to his family, acknowledging the constant support of his parents and sister over a cricketing journey that lasted more than 20 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also extended thanks to the BCCI, Andhra Cricket Association, coaches, team management, teammates and ground staff for playing a role in his development as a player.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pep-guardiola-must-have-quit-100-times-manchester-city-chairman-reveals-coach-meltdowns-before-leaving-club-1780578980578">Manchester City chairman reveals Pep Guardiola’s meltdowns before leaving club</a>&nbsp;Bharat also gave special credit to several key figures in his career, including Virat Kohli, who gave him his IPL debut and Rohit Sharma, under whom he earned his first Test cap for India. He further thanked former head coach Rahul Dravid for supporting his progression from the India ‘A’ team to the senior side.&nbsp;“My journey with BCCI and Test cricket may have come to an end, but my journey in the game continues," he said. “I will keep playing, contributing, and giving back to cricket by guiding, mentoring and coaching the next generation."&nbsp;“I love India and I love cricket. Thank you for everything," he concluded.

KS Bharat has retired from international cricket after playing seven Test matches for India. He thanked his family, BCCI, Andhra Cricket Association and his mentors for their support. 

India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a brief career that included seven Test appearances for the national side. The Andhra Pradesh cricketer made his Test debut in 2023 against Australia in Nagpur and played his final red-ball match against England in Visakhapatnam. Across 12 innings, he scored 221 runs at an average of 20.09. In a heartfelt message, Bharat called representing India the “greatest honour” of his career and looked back on the dedication, sacrifices and strong support system that helped him reach the international stage. “With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international cricket," Bharat wrote. “To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength, but the honour to represent India in Tests was worth every moment." Also Read - IND vs AFG, one-off Test: Kuldeep eyes red-ball redemption after underwhelming IPL 2026 The 31-year-old further expressed deep gratitude to his family, acknowledging the constant support of his parents and sister over a cricketing journey that lasted more than 20 years. He also extended thanks to the BCCI, Andhra Cricket Association, coaches, team management, teammates and ground staff for playing a role in his development as a player. Also Read - Manchester City chairman reveals Pep Guardiola’s meltdowns before leaving club Bharat also gave special credit to several key figures in his career, including Virat Kohli, who gave him his IPL debut and Rohit Sharma, under whom he earned his first Test cap for India. He further thanked former head coach Rahul Dravid for supporting his progression from the India ‘A’ team to the senior side. “My journey with BCCI and Test cricket may have come to an end, but my journey in the game continues," he said. “I will keep playing, contributing, and giving back to cricket by guiding, mentoring and coaching the next generation." “I love India and I love cricket. Thank you for everything," he concluded.

KS Bharat has retired from international cricket after playing seven Test matches for India. He thanked his family, BCCI, Andhra Cricket Association and his mentors for their support.&nbsp;

KS Bharat announces retirement from international cricket, expresses gratitude to Kohli & Rohit

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KS Bharat announces retirement from international cricket