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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring the viability of sending a handful of promising cricketers to the US as part of a specialised power-hitting program. While the logistics are not yet complete, a final call on the list of players to travel is also underway, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson confirmed.&nbsp;The multi-month initiative is designed not only to enhance players’ power-hitting in an alien environment, but also to work on the fitness regimes of brighter talents whose careers have been marred by injuries. &nbsp;"We're sending some players to the US. There's some power-hitting expertise over there, and we're exploring some options. We've got some players who've had some longer-term injuries, and players we want to expose to different methods of power hitting and just a different learning environment, spending four months in one place to get some new fresh ideas,” Hesson said in a chat with Cricinfo.&nbsp;<h3>Re-engineering Pakistan's fitness standards</h3>Hesson also highlighted that this program doesn’t just serve a single purpose but multiple, including changing the way players are trained. His comments have come on the back of PCB’s Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Dr Javed Mughal, who, earlier in a presser, said that 'fitness is non-negotiable in professional sport', and that the PCB developed a 'robust, reliable and repeatable testing and screening battery we had started to apply to all players.' &nbsp;"There's a bit of collaboration. It's certainly not just strength and conditioning," Hesson said. “We've got Javed Mughal, who's come in here and changing the way players are training and assessing them in a different way. So he needs time to plan it out as well.”<h3>Young pacers among those travelling to the US</h3>Under-19 quick Ali Raza, often regarded as the most exciting white-ball prospect in Pakistan, is among the players likely to be sent to the US, should the plan materialise. Raza, 18, has shown promise, including his match-winning performance against India in the final of the 50-over U19 Asia Cup last year, where he picked up four wickets for 42 runs. He also accounted for India's teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, early in the innings. Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, Raza also picked up his maiden tournament hat-trick, later helping them lift the title.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-15-year-old-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-must-use-a-separate-changing-room-on-england-tour-ecb-safeguarding-regulations-ind-vs-eng-2026-1782311413624">Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour</a> &nbsp;Raza, however, is yet to make his international debut, with the PCB keen to prioritise and manage his fitness and workload. &nbsp;"Pace bowling-wise, there's no more injuries [within Pakistan] than there are anywhere else in the world," Hesson said. "We're trying to get Ali Raza fit and strong enough to deal with the demands of international cricket. It's tough trying to be able to bowl multiple spells and sustain his pace. We know when he's at his top-end pace, he's exciting. But when the pressure ramps up, the pressure on the body ramps up. So he's got to work on his body so he can deal with those.”

PCB to send Pakistan's rising cricket talents, including young pacer Ali Raza, to the US for an intense four-month power-hitting and fitness training camp.


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring the viability of sending a handful of promising cricketers to the US as part of a specialised power-hitting program. While the logistics are not yet complete, a final call on the list of players to travel is also underway, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson confirmed. The multi-month initiative is designed not only to enhance players’ power-hitting in an alien environment, but also to work on the fitness regimes of brighter talents whose careers have been marred by injuries. "We're sending some players to the US. There's some power-hitting expertise over there, and we're exploring some options. We've got some players who've had some longer-term injuries, and players we want to expose to different methods of power hitting and just a different learning environment, spending four months in one place to get some new fresh ideas,” Hesson said in a chat with Cricinfo. Re-engineering Pakistan's fitness standards Hesson also highlighted that this program doesn’t just serve a single purpose but multiple, including changing the way players are trained. His comments have come on the back of PCB’s Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Dr Javed Mughal, who, earlier in a presser, said that 'fitness is non-negotiable in professional sport', and that the PCB developed a 'robust, reliable and repeatable testing and screening battery we had started to apply to all players.' "There's a bit of collaboration. It's certainly not just strength and conditioning," Hesson said. “We've got Javed Mughal, who's come in here and changing the way players are training and assessing them in a different way. So he needs time to plan it out as well.” Young pacers among those travelling to the US Under-19 quick Ali Raza, often regarded as the most exciting white-ball prospect in Pakistan, is among the players likely to be sent to the US, should the plan materialise. Raza, 18, has shown promise, including his match-winning performance against India in the final of the 50-over U19 Asia Cup last year, where he picked up four wickets for 42 runs. He also accounted for India's teenage prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, early in the innings. Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, Raza also picked up his maiden tournament hat-trick, later helping them lift the title. Also read | Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour Raza, however, is yet to make his international debut, with the PCB keen to prioritise and manage his fitness and workload. "Pace bowling-wise, there's no more injuries [within Pakistan] than there are anywhere else in the world," Hesson said. "We're trying to get Ali Raza fit and strong enough to deal with the demands of international cricket. It's tough trying to be able to bowl multiple spells and sustain his pace. We know when he's at his top-end pace, he's exciting. But when the pressure ramps up, the pressure on the body ramps up. So he's got to work on his body so he can deal with those.”

PCB to send Pakistan's rising cricket talents, including young pacer Ali Raza, to the US for an intense four-month power-hitting and fitness training camp.

PCB may send Pakistan’s rising talents to US for power-hitting training camp: Mike Hesson

15-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, must use a separate changing room from the main one used by senior Indian players on the upcoming UK tour, which includes two T20Is against Ireland and five against England. Sooryavanshi, 15, will be allowed to use the main dressing room during matches and for team talks, but will use a separate one while changing. Alternatively, guidelines allow him to change at a designated time in the main dressing room on his own and leave when his senior teammates change. This, however, will be done because of ECB safeguarding regulations for players under the age of 16.&nbsp;As first reported by The Guardian, similar regulations will be applied to India’s short T20I tour of Ireland, starting on Friday (Jun 26) in Belfast. Sunday (Jun 28) will host the second game, after which India will fly to England for the five T20Is, beginning July 1 at Chester-Le-Street.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-3rd-test-ben-stokes-i-was-man-enough-to-apologise-to-my-teammates-after-curfew-breach-trent-bridge-nightclub-incident-1782307003525">Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach</a> &nbsp;Elsewhere, even in Premier League football, Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use a separate changing room from teammates while featuring for first-team matches under similar regulations. After they turned 16, they could use the same changing room as their seniors. &nbsp;"This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction," an ECB spokesperson said. "A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times."&nbsp; &nbsp;Considering his parents are also accompanying him on this UK tour and will be staying at the same hotel as he does, which is outside of usual family-related travel guidelines, all parties involved have agreed to this due to his age. &nbsp;"The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK. Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments. &nbsp;"It is our understanding that the player's parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members that can provide the additional level of support and care,” the statement read. &nbsp;Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia earlier revealed that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him on his first-ever international tour as an Indian cricketer, with the Indian board bearing all expenses for his family members.

Why 15-year-old India prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room from senior teammates on the 2026 UK tour under strict ECB rules.

15-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, must use a separate changing room from the main one used by senior Indian players on the upcoming UK tour, which includes two T20Is against Ireland and five against England. Sooryavanshi, 15, will be allowed to use the main dressing room during matches and for team talks, but will use a separate one while changing. Alternatively, guidelines allow him to change at a designated time in the main dressing room on his own and leave when his senior teammates change. This, however, will be done because of ECB safeguarding regulations for players under the age of 16. As first reported by The Guardian, similar regulations will be applied to India’s short T20I tour of Ireland, starting on Friday (Jun 26) in Belfast. Sunday (Jun 28) will host the second game, after which India will fly to England for the five T20Is, beginning July 1 at Chester-Le-Street. Also read| Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach Elsewhere, even in Premier League football, Arsenal players Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman were required to use a separate changing room from teammates while featuring for first-team matches under similar regulations. After they turned 16, they could use the same changing room as their seniors. "This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction," an ECB spokesperson said. "A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times." Considering his parents are also accompanying him on this UK tour and will be staying at the same hotel as he does, which is outside of usual family-related travel guidelines, all parties involved have agreed to this due to his age. "The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the Team Liaison Officer (TLO) for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK. Each County Safeguarding Officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the Team Liaison Officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments. "It is our understanding that the player's parents will be travelling with him at all times. They are staying in the same hotel, which is outside of usual protocol, but agreed on this occasion due to his age. This additional measure provides us with further confidence that he has family members that can provide the additional level of support and care,” the statement read. Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia earlier revealed that Sooryavanshi’s parents will accompany him on his first-ever international tour as an Indian cricketer, with the Indian board bearing all expenses for his family members.

Why 15-year-old India prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room from senior teammates on the 2026 UK tour under strict ECB rules.

Why 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must use a separate changing room on England tour

England Test captain Ben Stokes revealed he was 'man enough' to apologise to his teammates over his and Gus Atkinson’s curfew breach that led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. With both returning to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday (Jun 25), Stokes addressed the media on the eve of the match, admitting his mistake but urging those with the mic to provide him space as a crucial Test looms.&nbsp;"Of course. That was one of the first things I had to do as captain,” Stokes said on apologising to his teammates for letting them down over his nightclub episode. "It's all fine, everything being fine and dandy, when it's going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well. &nbsp;"You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders, look everyone in the eye who it's affected and apologise how you need to apologise. That’s something I did,” he said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-rankings-joe-root-reclaims-no-1-test-batter-spot-matt-henry-joins-jasprit-bumrah-at-top-1782304573595">ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top</a> &nbsp;Stokes and Atkinson were reportedly involved in a physical altercation at a London club while celebrating England’s first Test win over the Kiwis at Lord’s. By doing so, they also breached midnight curfew protocols laid by the ECB following the drinking controversies that marred England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. &nbsp;The two, however, were left out of England’s squad for the Oval Test, led by veteran Joe Root, which ended with them conceding a 253-run defeat. &nbsp;While the ECB and Cricket Regulator cleared them of any wrongdoing in a physical altercation, the two were given a written warning. &nbsp;"I understand there's a lot of questions that you (the media) probably want to ask and want to hear from me, but I hope you respect, in terms of this whole week, I'm (only) focusing on this week," Stokes said on the eve of the match.&nbsp; &nbsp;"That's where my focus is at right now... I'm here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here," insisted Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week. &nbsp;"We are 1-1 in a three-match series, and this week is massive for the team,” he continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, England was also docked 12 WTC points for maintaining the slow over rate against New Zealand in the second Test. They are currently seventh on the table with four wins and seven losses in 12 contested matches in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.&nbsp;

England captain Ben Stokes takes full responsibility for his midnight curfew breach, declaring he was "man enough" to look his teammates in the eye and apologise.


England Test captain Ben Stokes revealed he was 'man enough' to apologise to his teammates over his and Gus Atkinson’s curfew breach that led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. With both returning to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge starting on Thursday (Jun 25), Stokes addressed the media on the eve of the match, admitting his mistake but urging those with the mic to provide him space as a crucial Test looms. "Of course. That was one of the first things I had to do as captain,” Stokes said on apologising to his teammates for letting them down over his nightclub episode. "It's all fine, everything being fine and dandy, when it's going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well. "You need to be big enough and man enough to be able to take that upon your shoulders, look everyone in the eye who it's affected and apologise how you need to apologise. That’s something I did,” he said. Also read | ICC Rankings: Joe Root reclaims no.1 Test batter spot, Matt Henry joins Jasprit Bumrah at top Stokes and Atkinson were reportedly involved in a physical altercation at a London club while celebrating England’s first Test win over the Kiwis at Lord’s. By doing so, they also breached midnight curfew protocols laid by the ECB following the drinking controversies that marred England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. The two, however, were left out of England’s squad for the Oval Test, led by veteran Joe Root, which ended with them conceding a 253-run defeat. While the ECB and Cricket Regulator cleared them of any wrongdoing in a physical altercation, the two were given a written warning. "I understand there's a lot of questions that you (the media) probably want to ask and want to hear from me, but I hope you respect, in terms of this whole week, I'm (only) focusing on this week," Stokes said on the eve of the match. "That's where my focus is at right now... I'm here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here," insisted Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham last week. "We are 1-1 in a three-match series, and this week is massive for the team,” he continued. Meanwhile, England was also docked 12 WTC points for maintaining the slow over rate against New Zealand in the second Test. They are currently seventh on the table with four wins and seven losses in 12 contested matches in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.

England captain Ben Stokes takes full responsibility for his midnight curfew breach, declaring he was "man enough" to look his teammates in the eye and apologise.

Ben Stokes: I was ‘Man Enough’ to apologise to my teammates after curfew breach

Former India captain Rohit Sharma shared a photograph of himself with the prestigious Padma Shri on X on Tuesday (Jun 23). The veteran Mumbai batter was presented with the honour by Indian President Droupadi Murmu during the Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Reflecting on the occasion, Rohit wrote on X: “23rd June bringing all kinds of magic. Nineteen years ago, it began with an India cap. Today, another proud chapter is added to the story."&nbsp;The date carries special meaning for Rohit, as he made his international debut for India on 23 Jun, 2007, in an ODI against Ireland in Belfast.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">23rd June bringing all kinds of magic ✨🇮🇳 19 years ago, it began with an India cap. Today, another proud chapter is added to the story. <a href="https://t.co/WCiILcc7M3">pic.twitter.com/WCiILcc7M3</a>&mdash; Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) <a href="https://x.com/ImRo45/status/2069465930326053100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Over a long 19-year international career, Rohit has represented India in 67 Tests, 285 ODIs and 159 T20Is, amassing 4,301, 11,720 and 4,231 runs respectively. He remains India’s leading run-scorer in T20 Internationals and is third among Indian batters in ODI runs.&nbsp;The 39-year-old, who is also the oldest Indian cricketer to feature in an ODI, last appeared in the format against Afghanistan in Chennai on 20 Jun, 2026, scoring 79 from 69 deliveries. He is expected to return to action in India’s three-match ODI series against England in Jul 2026.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-returns-to-delhi-capitals-kuldeep-yadav-moves-to-lsg-in-blockbuster-ipl-2027-trade-transfer-news-1782236710751">Pant returns to Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep moves to LSG in blockbuster IPL trade</a>&nbsp;Rohit ended his T20I career after guiding India to victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on 29 Jun, 2024 and retired from Test cricket in May 2025. As captain, he also led India to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-day-13-recap-colombia-qualify-croatia-beat-panama-england-play-out-a-draw-1782276923339">FIFA World Cup 2026 Day 13 Recap: Colombia qualify, Croatia beat Panama, England play out a draw</a>&nbsp;Earlier in his career, he was part of India’s triumphant squads at the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and the ICC World Twenty20 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni.&nbsp;Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, Rohit continues to represent Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He has played a pivotal role in the franchise’s success, helping them secure five league titles while becoming both their highest run-scorer and most-capped player.&nbsp;

Rohit received the honour from Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the Padma Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma shared a photograph of himself with the prestigious Padma Shri on X on Tuesday (Jun 23). The veteran Mumbai batter was presented with the honour by Indian President Droupadi Murmu during the Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Reflecting on the occasion, Rohit wrote on X: “23rd June bringing all kinds of magic. Nineteen years ago, it began with an India cap. Today, another proud chapter is added to the story." The date carries special meaning for Rohit, as he made his international debut for India on 23 Jun, 2007, in an ODI against Ireland in Belfast.

Rohit received the honour from Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the Padma Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

‘23rd June brings all kinds of magic’: Rohit Sharma after Padma Shri honour

In a blockbuster IPL trade ahead of the 2027 edition, Rishabh Pant has returned home to Delhi Capitals (DC) with Kuldeep Yadav joining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Pant will be back playing for Delhi, for whom he made his IPL debut and represented them for nine seasons from 2016 to 2024. Lucknow bought Pant at the mega auction ahead of the 2025 edition for a record price of INR 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in the tournament’s auction history. While Pant took a significant cut for his switch to DC at a revised fee of INR 15 crore, Kuldeep moved to LSG for his current fee of INR 13.50 crore.&nbsp;This financial gap leaves LSG with an extra INR 13.50 crore in their purse ahead of the upcoming mini-auction (INR 27cr - 13.50cr). Conversely, Delhi Capitals will see INR 1.50 crore deducted from their remaining balance. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-india-jersey-number-03-puts-him-in-elite-company-of-harbhajan-singh-paolo-maldini-roberto-carlos-1782228906063">Sooryavanshi’s India jersey number puts him in elite company of Harbhajan, Maldini &amp; Roberto Carlos</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Pant is the second high-profile player after Ravindra Jadeja to take a pay cut for a move to another franchise. Ahead of IPL 2026, Jadeja, playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), was part of a swap trade, which also included English all-rounder Sam Curran, moving to Rajasthan Royals, with Sanju Samson joining CSK. In 2022, CSK retained Jadeja for INR 18 crore, but his move to RR cost the inaugural champions INR 14 crore. &nbsp;Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal wrote a thank-you note for Kuldeep, while welcoming his former franchise captain Pant with open arms. &nbsp;“Dear Kuldeep thank you for your service over the last 5 years @DelhiCapitals you have been a core part of our team and you will be sorely missed. Go well - you are a champion player and I am sure you will do extremely well back in your home ground. Rishabh - Kiran and I are both happy to have you back at DC. Hope you can find your best form back home in Delhi. @IPL,” he wrote on his X handle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dear Kuldeep thank you for your service over the last 5 years <a href="https://x.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> you have been a core part of our team and you will be sorely missed. Go well - you are a champion player and i am sure you will do extremely well back in your home ground. Rishabh - Kiran and I are both…&mdash; Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) <a href="https://x.com/ParthJindal11/status/2069336766054633796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, both players struggled for their respective teams in IPL 2026. While Pant’s LSG finished at the bottom of the points table with just four wins from 14 matches, Kuldeep’s Delhi also failed to qualify for the playoffs. Personally, their performances were below par too. &nbsp;Pant scored just 312 runs in 13 outings, striking at close to 140 (138.05), and Kuldeep returned with fewer wickets than the matches he played in, finishing with 10 scalps in 11 games. Overall, though, Kuldeep fared decently for Delhi, picking up 72 wickets in 65 outings at an economy of 8.24.

In a blockbuster IPL trade, Rishabh Pant returns to Delhi Capitals on a revised INR 15Cr fee, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav joins LSG. Read details here.

In a blockbuster IPL trade ahead of the 2027 edition, Rishabh Pant has returned home to Delhi Capitals (DC) with Kuldeep Yadav joining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Pant will be back playing for Delhi, for whom he made his IPL debut and represented them for nine seasons from 2016 to 2024. Lucknow bought Pant at the mega auction ahead of the 2025 edition for a record price of INR 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in the tournament’s auction history. While Pant took a significant cut for his switch to DC at a revised fee of INR 15 crore, Kuldeep moved to LSG for his current fee of INR 13.50 crore. This financial gap leaves LSG with an extra INR 13.50 crore in their purse ahead of the upcoming mini-auction (INR 27cr - 13.50cr). Conversely, Delhi Capitals will see INR 1.50 crore deducted from their remaining balance. Also read | Sooryavanshi’s India jersey number puts him in elite company of Harbhajan, Maldini & Roberto Carlos Meanwhile, Pant is the second high-profile player after Ravindra Jadeja to take a pay cut for a move to another franchise. Ahead of IPL 2026, Jadeja, playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), was part of a swap trade, which also included English all-rounder Sam Curran, moving to Rajasthan Royals, with Sanju Samson joining CSK. In 2022, CSK retained Jadeja for INR 18 crore, but his move to RR cost the inaugural champions INR 14 crore. Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal wrote a thank-you note for Kuldeep, while welcoming his former franchise captain Pant with open arms. “Dear Kuldeep thank you for your service over the last 5 years @DelhiCapitals you have been a core part of our team and you will be sorely missed. Go well - you are a champion player and I am sure you will do extremely well back in your home ground. Rishabh - Kiran and I are both happy to have you back at DC. Hope you can find your best form back home in Delhi. @IPL,” he wrote on his X handle.

In a blockbuster IPL trade, Rishabh Pant returns to Delhi Capitals on a revised INR 15Cr fee, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav joins LSG. Read details here.

Rishabh Pant returns to Delhi Capitals, Kuldeep Yadav moves to LSG in blockbuster IPL trade

15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the talk of the town, and after being bestowed with his first official Team India jersey ahead of the Ireland T20Is, he joined global sports royalty. Should he debut during the first leg of the away UK tour, which starts with two T20Is in Belfast on June 26, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest Indian men’s cricketer. However, he will do it by having '03' written on his Indian jersey, a number that signifies domination, authority on the game, longevity, and a promising career ahead, like spin king Harbhajan Singh and football icons Paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos.&nbsp;Much like these stars, Sooryavanshi is as skilful as any the game has seen, maintains his authority over the bowlers, even the best of them, and with age on his side, can guarantee a career filled with records and accolades.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dreamed-of-this-moment-15-year-old-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-wears-india-jersey-for-first-time-watch-video-youngest-indian-cricketer-india-vs-ireland-2026-1782217837697">'Dreamed of this moment': 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wears India jersey for first time| WATCH</a> &nbsp;"Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practice, I dreamed of this moment...I cannot explain this feeling in words," Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ladies &amp; Gentlemen The moment the nation has been waiting for has arrived! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> jersey. Witness this incredibly special moment ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/sUUytFMPVw">pic.twitter.com/sUUytFMPVw</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2069261818997170269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>A new star on the block</h2>Sooryavanshi is a star in the making. Picked in the senior men’s team following his exploits in IPL 2026, where he earned a record five accolades in a single season, Sooryavanshi has won medals, titles and praises from all quarters, all before stepping out for the first time as an Indian player. &nbsp;The left-handed attacking opener is already an Under-19 T20 World Cup winner, an IPL Orange Cap winner (for scoring 776 runs in the 2026 edition), has smashed the most sixes in an IPL edition, and is a winner of the recently concluded ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka alongside several others. &nbsp;His video-game-like strokeplay forces fans to sit up and admire him, and makes statisticians worry about putting the right stat out every second. And the best part is that he does all of this with utter ease, no pressure and purely for the love of the game, at just 15 years old.<h3>Jersey number and Vaibhav’s elite company</h3>In Indian Cricket, the newcomers can pick their jersey number. After selecting one, which should be vacant, not attained by an active player and is also not retired (to honour selective players), it undergoes a complete process before being allotted to that player. &nbsp;Now that Vaibhav has picked No.3, previously used by two-time World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh, it remains to be seen how well he justifies it and carries its legacy forward. &nbsp;Let alone in cricket, several global stars across various sports have donned the No.3 jersey, entertaining billions all over. &nbsp;In football, former Italy captain Maldini and Brazilian fullback and FIFA World Cup winner, Roberto Carlos, are there. In the NBA, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul wore that number jersey. &nbsp;Given all these names have done their bit to shine at the top stage, it’s time for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make this number and cricket all about himself by serving and performing for Indian cricket for decades to come.&nbsp;

15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unboxes his senior India kit and picks the iconic No. 3 jersey, joining a legendary sports club.

15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the talk of the town, and after being bestowed with his first official Team India jersey ahead of the Ireland T20Is, he joined global sports royalty. Should he debut during the first leg of the away UK tour, which starts with two T20Is in Belfast on June 26, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest Indian men’s cricketer. However, he will do it by having '03' written on his Indian jersey, a number that signifies domination, authority on the game, longevity, and a promising career ahead, like spin king Harbhajan Singh and football icons Paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos. Much like these stars, Sooryavanshi is as skilful as any the game has seen, maintains his authority over the bowlers, even the best of them, and with age on his side, can guarantee a career filled with records and accolades. Also read | 'Dreamed of this moment': 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wears India jersey for first time| WATCH "Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practice, I dreamed of this moment...I cannot explain this feeling in words," Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.

15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unboxes his senior India kit and picks the iconic No. 3 jersey, joining a legendary sports club.

Sooryavanshi’s India jersey number puts him in elite company of Harbhajan, Maldini & Roberto Carlos

Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wore his first official India jersey and said he had long dreamed of this moment. At 15 years and 88 days, Vaibhav is on the path to becoming the youngest Indian debutant in men’s cricket since the veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days in 1989.&nbsp;On the back of a successful IPL 2026, Vaibhav earned his maiden senior team call-up for the away UK tour, commencing with two T20Is against Ireland on June 26 in Belfast.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryansh-shedge-replaces-injured-nitish-kumar-reddy-team-india-t20i-squad-for-ireland-and-england-series-1782214808450">Suryansh Shedge replaces injured Nitish Reddy in India’s T20I squad for UK tour</a> &nbsp;The BCCI, on Tuesday (Jun 23), released a video of the moment when the Indian jersey was delivered to Vaibhav, calling it ‘the moment the nation has been waiting for’. &nbsp;WATCH -

"Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practice, I dreamed of this moment...I cannot explain this feeling in words," Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video. &nbsp;Vaibhav was shown on camera unpacking his India jersey, with his name on the back and the number 03.<h3>Vaibhav’s miraculous rise</h3>The spotlight has been on Sooryavanshi since his batting exploits in the IPL, where he amassed 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals to finish as the tournament's leading run-scorer. The left-handed opener struck one century and five fifties during IPL 2026 to pick up the Orange Cap. He won five awards, the most by any player in a single season, including the Super Striker, the MVP and the most sixes hit in an edition.&nbsp; &nbsp;Moreover, just after the IPL, Sooryavanshi featured for India A in the ODI tri-series alongside the A sides of Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka. He failed to score big until the final, where he recorded the quickest List-A fifty in just 11 balls, smashing Sri Lanka A bowlers to all parts of the ground. &nbsp;Vaibhav departed on a breathtaking 94 off 29 balls, hitting eight maximums and 11 fours. Courtesy of his knock, India A posted 377 in the first innings and won the match by 66 runs, lifting the trophy.

WATCH: 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets emotional unboxing his first Team India jersey ahead of the UK tour. See the viral BCCI video here!

Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wore his first official India jersey and said he had long dreamed of this moment. At 15 years and 88 days, Vaibhav is on the path to becoming the youngest Indian debutant in men’s cricket since the veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days in 1989. On the back of a successful IPL 2026, Vaibhav earned his maiden senior team call-up for the away UK tour, commencing with two T20Is against Ireland on June 26 in Belfast. Also read | Suryansh Shedge replaces injured Nitish Reddy in India’s T20I squad for UK tour The BCCI, on Tuesday (Jun 23), released a video of the moment when the Indian jersey was delivered to Vaibhav, calling it ‘the moment the nation has been waiting for’. WATCH -

WATCH: 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets emotional unboxing his first Team India jersey ahead of the UK tour. See the viral BCCI video here!

'Dreamed of this moment': 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wears India jersey for first time| WATCH

Nitish Kumar Reddy is ruled out of India’s T20I series against Ireland and England with a left quadriceps injury, with uncapped all-rounder Suryansh Shedge named as his replacement. The 23-year-old received his maiden India call-up just days after helping India A clinch the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka, which also included Afghanistan A.&nbsp;A lower-order batter, Shedge scored 147 runs at a strike rate in excess of 120, while bowling 23 overs across five games and picking up two wickets. He bowled at an economy of 6.04.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-t20i-squad-for-india-series-uncapped-james-coles-earns-maiden-call-up-jofra-archer-included-1782147222672">England T20I Squad for India Series: Uncapped James Coles earns maiden call-up, Archer included</a> &nbsp;Representing Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, Shedge scored 158 runs in seven outings, striking at close to 180 (175.55) and averaging 39.50 with the bat. Reddy’s injury was aggravated during the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, and he will now undergo his rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for at least a month. The selectors will follow his recovery, eyeing his comeback to the side for the away Test series in Sri Lanka in August. &nbsp;Besides Reddy, ace quick Mohammed Siraj (workload management) and Varun Chakravarthy (foot injury) were previously withdrawn from the T20I squad picked for the UK tour. &nbsp;Meanwhile, England also announced their potent 17-man squad for the five T20Is against India, starting July 1 in Chester-Le-Street. Harry Brook will lead the squad, with Jofra Archer returning to England’s T20I scheme of things. Seamers Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse have missed out on selection due to respective injuries, and uncapped all-rounder James Coles received his maiden call-up to the national side.<h3>Team India UK Schedule -</h3><h3>Against Ireland</h3><ul><li>1st T20I - June 26, Belfast</li><li>2nd T20I - June 28, Belfast</li></ul><h3>Against England</h3><h3>T20I Series Schedule –</h3><ul><li>1st T20I - July 1, Chester-Le-Street</li><li>2nd T20I – July 4, Manchester</li><li>3rd T20I – July 7, Nottingham</li><li>4th T20I – July 9, Bristol</li><li>5th T20I – July 11, Southampton</li></ul>Team Squads - &nbsp;India's Updated T20I Squad for Ireland and England Series - &nbsp;Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-capt), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Suryansh Shedge and Prasidh Krishna &nbsp;England T20I Squad for India Series - &nbsp;Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

Uncapped Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge replaces injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India's T20I squad for the UK tour. Check out the updated squads and full match schedule.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is ruled out of India’s T20I series against Ireland and England with a left quadriceps injury, with uncapped all-rounder Suryansh Shedge named as his replacement. The 23-year-old received his maiden India call-up just days after helping India A clinch the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka, which also included Afghanistan A. A lower-order batter, Shedge scored 147 runs at a strike rate in excess of 120, while bowling 23 overs across five games and picking up two wickets. He bowled at an economy of 6.04. Also read | England T20I Squad for India Series: Uncapped James Coles earns maiden call-up, Archer included Representing Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, Shedge scored 158 runs in seven outings, striking at close to 180 (175.55) and averaging 39.50 with the bat. Reddy’s injury was aggravated during the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai, and he will now undergo his rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for at least a month. The selectors will follow his recovery, eyeing his comeback to the side for the away Test series in Sri Lanka in August. Besides Reddy, ace quick Mohammed Siraj (workload management) and Varun Chakravarthy (foot injury) were previously withdrawn from the T20I squad picked for the UK tour. Meanwhile, England also announced their potent 17-man squad for the five T20Is against India, starting July 1 in Chester-Le-Street. Harry Brook will lead the squad, with Jofra Archer returning to England’s T20I scheme of things. Seamers Jamie Overton and Brydon Carse have missed out on selection due to respective injuries, and uncapped all-rounder James Coles received his maiden call-up to the national side. Team India UK Schedule - Against Ireland 1st T20I - June 26, Belfast 2nd T20I - June 28, Belfast Against England T20I Series Schedule – 1st T20I - July 1, Chester-Le-Street 2nd T20I – July 4, Manchester 3rd T20I – July 7, Nottingham 4th T20I – July 9, Bristol 5th T20I – July 11, Southampton Team Squads - India's Updated T20I Squad for Ireland and England Series - Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-capt), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Suryansh Shedge and Prasidh Krishna England T20I Squad for India Series - Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

Uncapped Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge replaces injured Nitish Kumar Reddy in India's T20I squad for the UK tour. Check out the updated squads and full match schedule.

Suryansh Shedge replaces injured Nitish Reddy in India’s T20I squad for UK tour

Uncapped all-rounder James Coles has earned his maiden England call-up for the five-match T20Is against India, starting July 1. The promising youngster bats in the top three for Sussex and bowls left-arm spin, having recently featured for the England Lions against South Africa. England announced a potent 17-man squad for the marquee home T20I series against India, led by Harry Brook. Jofra Archer will lead the pace attack consisting of Luke Wood, Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood and Josh Tongue.<h2>England squad for India T20Is -</h2>Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood &nbsp;Coles even attracted the highest bid at the inaugural player auction, with London Spirit paying £390,000 ($516,000) to sign him earlier this year. &nbsp;"James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," national selector Marcus North said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-regulator-drops-investigation-into-ben-stokes-gus-atkinson-london-nightclub-incident-ecb-eng-vs-nz-3rd-test-trent-bridge-1782140545839">Cricket Regulator drops investigation into Stokes, Atkinson nightclub incident</a> &nbsp;England will don the T20I jersey just two days after the scheduled end of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. While Baker and Tongue were released from the squad for the series decider against the Kiwis, Archer, captain Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Jordan Cox are among those picked for the final Test. &nbsp;On the other hand, Lancashire fast bowler Saqib Mahmood regains his place for the first time since January, whereas Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton miss out due to injuries. &nbsp;"We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude, which allows us to be flexible," North said.<h3>T20I Series Schedule –</h3><ul><li>1st T20I - July 1, Chester-Le-Street</li><li>2nd T20I – July 4, Manchester</li><li>3rd T20I – July 7, Nottingham</li><li>4th T20I – July 9, Bristol</li><li>5th T20I – July 11, Southampton</li></ul>

James Coles earns his maiden England T20I call-up to face India, just months after his record-breaking £390k Hundred auction move. Jofra Archer returns to spearhead a 17-man squad under captain Harry Brook. Full squad, injuries, and schedule inside.

Uncapped all-rounder James Coles has earned his maiden England call-up for the five-match T20Is against India, starting July 1. The promising youngster bats in the top three for Sussex and bowls left-arm spin, having recently featured for the England Lions against South Africa. England announced a potent 17-man squad for the marquee home T20I series against India, led by Harry Brook. Jofra Archer will lead the pace attack consisting of Luke Wood, Sonny Baker, Saqib Mahmood and Josh Tongue. England squad for India T20Is - Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood Coles even attracted the highest bid at the inaugural player auction, with London Spirit paying £390,000 ($516,000) to sign him earlier this year. "James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months," national selector Marcus North said. Also read | Cricket Regulator drops investigation into Stokes, Atkinson nightclub incident England will don the T20I jersey just two days after the scheduled end of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. While Baker and Tongue were released from the squad for the series decider against the Kiwis, Archer, captain Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Jordan Cox are among those picked for the final Test. On the other hand, Lancashire fast bowler Saqib Mahmood regains his place for the first time since January, whereas Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton miss out due to injuries. "We have selected a larger squad to accommodate for the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand is due to conclude, which allows us to be flexible," North said. T20I Series Schedule – 1st T20I - July 1, Chester-Le-Street 2nd T20I – July 4, Manchester 3rd T20I – July 7, Nottingham 4th T20I – July 9, Bristol 5th T20I – July 11, Southampton

James Coles earns his maiden England T20I call-up to face India, just months after his record-breaking £390k Hundred auction move. Jofra Archer returns to spearhead a 17-man squad under captain Harry Brook. Full squad, injuries, and schedule inside.

England T20I Squad for India Series: Uncapped James Coles earns maiden call-up, Archer included

The Cricket Regulator has dropped the investigation into Ben Stokes and his England teammate Gus Atkinson’s nightclub incident, which led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. Although the two have returned to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge, they have also been cleared of regulatory breaches in that London club episode that made headlines all over. ECB’s probe, which ran in parallel, has also ended as the two parties cleared the Test captain and seamer in a major boost to England Cricket.&nbsp;Per earlier reports, both Stokes and Atkinson were said to be involved in an altercation involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa that also left a member of the England security team bloodied.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-3rd-test-ben-stokes-to-return-as-captain-for-final-test-against-new-zealand-confirms-england-head-coach-brendon-mccullum-1782046378250">ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to return as captain for final Test, confirms McCullum</a> &nbsp;"The Cricket Regulator's role is to determine whether any participant or player has breached any applicable ECB Cricket Regulations. &nbsp;"The investigation followed multiple lines of enquiry to gather and assess evidence in relation to the events in question. &nbsp;"Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred. Accordingly, no further action will be taken against either player,” The Cricket Regulator, which does not cover team protocols in its remit, said in a public statement. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the Cricket Regulator, headed by director Chris Haward, a former national chief constable lead for serious and organised crime, interviewed the two players before clearing them of any violent conduct. However, the two have been handed written warnings for breaching curfew/conduct standards. &nbsp;Stokes and Atkinson celebrated England’s first Test win over the Kiwis (at Lord’s) at a London nightclub before a brawl broke out, leaving the two out of England's cricket scheme of things. While the investigation was on, the ECB allowed the star players to play for their respective teams in the County Championship. Stokes featured for Durham, scoring 95, and Atkinson returned with four wickets playing for Surrey. &nbsp;Just before the conclusion of the second Test against New Zealand, which England lost by 253 runs, Stokes and Atkinson were withdrawn from their respective County games; the ECB recalled them to the side for the third and final Test in an official announcement soon after.&nbsp; &nbsp;Stokes returned as the captain, replacing Joe Root, who took over the baton temporarily in his absence.<h3>ECB probe’s outcome</h3>The ECB probe into the late-night trip to the Rex Rooms in Chelsea determined that Atkinson had been subject to two "unprovoked attacks" to which he did not retaliate. &nbsp;Stokes, meanwhile, was found not to be present at the time. &nbsp;On the other hand, Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, has said the relevant information was shared with the Team England Player Partnership; the head coach, Brendon McCullum, however, accepted on Sunday that an element of "ambiguity" may have existed.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

The Cricket Regulator has dropped its probe into Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson over a London nightclub brawl, clearing the duo ahead of the Trent Bridge Test.

The Cricket Regulator has dropped the investigation into Ben Stokes and his England teammate Gus Atkinson’s nightclub incident, which led to their exile from the squad for the second Test against New Zealand. Although the two have returned to the playing XI for the series decider at Trent Bridge, they have also been cleared of regulatory breaches in that London club episode that made headlines all over. ECB’s probe, which ran in parallel, has also ended as the two parties cleared the Test captain and seamer in a major boost to England Cricket. Per earlier reports, both Stokes and Atkinson were said to be involved in an altercation involving Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa that also left a member of the England security team bloodied. Also read| ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to return as captain for final Test, confirms McCullum "The Cricket Regulator's role is to determine whether any participant or player has breached any applicable ECB Cricket Regulations. "The investigation followed multiple lines of enquiry to gather and assess evidence in relation to the events in question. "Having carefully reviewed all currently available information, the Cricket Regulator has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred. Accordingly, no further action will be taken against either player,” The Cricket Regulator, which does not cover team protocols in its remit, said in a public statement. Meanwhile, the Cricket Regulator, headed by director Chris Haward, a former national chief constable lead for serious and organised crime, interviewed the two players before clearing them of any violent conduct. However, the two have been handed written warnings for breaching curfew/conduct standards. Stokes and Atkinson celebrated England’s first Test win over the Kiwis (at Lord’s) at a London nightclub before a brawl broke out, leaving the two out of England's cricket scheme of things. While the investigation was on, the ECB allowed the star players to play for their respective teams in the County Championship. Stokes featured for Durham, scoring 95, and Atkinson returned with four wickets playing for Surrey. Just before the conclusion of the second Test against New Zealand, which England lost by 253 runs, Stokes and Atkinson were withdrawn from their respective County games; the ECB recalled them to the side for the third and final Test in an official announcement soon after. Stokes returned as the captain, replacing Joe Root, who took over the baton temporarily in his absence. ECB probe’s outcome The ECB probe into the late-night trip to the Rex Rooms in Chelsea determined that Atkinson had been subject to two "unprovoked attacks" to which he did not retaliate. Stokes, meanwhile, was found not to be present at the time. On the other hand, Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, has said the relevant information was shared with the Team England Player Partnership; the head coach, Brendon McCullum, however, accepted on Sunday that an element of "ambiguity" may have existed. (With inputs from AFP)

The Cricket Regulator has dropped its probe into Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson over a London nightclub brawl, clearing the duo ahead of the Trent Bridge Test.

Cricket Regulator drops investigation into Stokes, Atkinson nightclub incident

From Kieron Pollard to Chris Gayle, here's a look at the top five batters with most runs in T20s. This list also includes Jos Buttler, Alex Hales and David Warner

From Kieron Pollard to Chris Gayle, here's a look at the top five batters with most runs in T20s. This list also includes Jos Buttler, Alex Hales and David Warner

Meet top 5 batters with most runs in T20s

India Women started their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a bang, beating Pakistan by 64 runs in the first match and then beating Netherlands by 95 runs in the second match. Thier loss against South Africa, however, has left them in a bit of trouble to make it to the semis. Only top two teams from each group of six teams will enter final four and India are vying for a place alongside Australia and South Africa as contenders. While the loss against Proteas does make their life difficult, India still have things not too out of control but would have to be on top of their game.<h2>How can India qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 semis?</h2>India are currently second in Group B with four points from two wins and one loss in three matches but it is their net run rate (NRR) of +2.511 which is in their favour. South Africa, on the other hand, also have four points from two wins and one loss in three matches, but have a net run rate (NRR) of -0.546.Also read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-2025-27-why-england-were-docked-12-points-during-the-second-test-against-new-zealand-1782117447611">WTC 2025-27: Why England were docked 12 points during the second Test against New Zealand</a>Both the teams have two matches left - India play against Bangladesh and Australia, while South Africa play against Bangladesh and Netherlands.Winning both the matches will take India to eight points, same as Australia, assuming they win against Pakistan and lose against India. South Africa, if manage to win their reamining matches, will have have eight points and the three team will then battle it out over net run rate.<h2>How is net run rate calculated?</h2>The net run rate is calculated as the difference of run scored by a team and runs scored againt them by the oppostiion divided by the overs. For example, India scored 200 runs in 20 overs and then stopped the other team at 180. The net run rate after that match would be (200/20 = 20) - (180/20 = 9), i.e +1.000.<h2>What if India lose against Australia?</h2>Aussuming India win against Bangladesh and lose against Australia, they would then on the mercy of South Africa losing at least one of their matches - against Bangladesh or Netherland.If Bangladesh beat South Africa, they would also reach six points, just India if they lose against Australia in group stage and win against Bangladesh. The net run rate (NRR), however, would again be in India's advantage as Bangladesh currently have a NRR of -0.641.

While the loss against Proteas does make their life difficult, India still have things not too out of control but would have to be on top of their game.

India Women started their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a bang, beating Pakistan by 64 runs in the first match and then beating Netherlands by 95 runs in the second match. Thier loss against South Africa, however, has left them in a bit of trouble to make it to the semis. Only top two teams from each group of six teams will enter final four and India are vying for a place alongside Australia and South Africa as contenders. While the loss against Proteas does make their life difficult, India still have things not too out of control but would have to be on top of their game. How can India qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 semis? India are currently second in Group B with four points from two wins and one loss in three matches but it is their net run rate (NRR) of +2.511 which is in their favour. South Africa, on the other hand, also have four points from two wins and one loss in three matches, but have a net run rate (NRR) of -0.546. Also read - WTC 2025-27: Why England were docked 12 points during the second Test against New Zealand Both the teams have two matches left - India play against Bangladesh and Australia, while South Africa play against Bangladesh and Netherlands. Winning both the matches will take India to eight points, same as Australia, assuming they win against Pakistan and lose against India. South Africa, if manage to win their reamining matches, will have have eight points and the three team will then battle it out over net run rate. How is net run rate calculated? The net run rate is calculated as the difference of run scored by a team and runs scored againt them by the oppostiion divided by the overs. For example, India scored 200 runs in 20 overs and then stopped the other team at 180. The net run rate after that match would be (200/20 = 20) - (180/20 = 9), i.e +1.000. What if India lose against Australia? Aussuming India win against Bangladesh and lose against Australia, they would then on the mercy of South Africa losing at least one of their matches - against Bangladesh or Netherland. If Bangladesh beat South Africa, they would also reach six points, just India if they lose against Australia in group stage and win against Bangladesh. The net run rate (NRR), however, would again be in India's advantage as Bangladesh currently have a NRR of -0.641.

While the loss against Proteas does make their life difficult, India still have things not too out of control but would have to be on top of their game.

T20 WC 2026 | How can India qualify for semis after loss against South Africa?

England have been hit with a significant penalty in the World Test Championship (WTC) after being found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. The International Cricket Council (ICC) deducted 12 WTC points from the team and imposed the maximum allowable fine of 50 per cent of their match fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;The punishment was handed down after England were ruled to be 12 overs behind the required rate after time allowances were taken into account. Under WTC playing conditions, teams lose one championship point for every over they fall short, leading to the points deduction. &nbsp;The sanction effectively cancels out the 12 points England earned from their victory in the first Test at Lord’s, according to ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;England’s players were also fined fifty per cent of their match fees for each over short.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-mohamed-salah-scripts-history-becomes-egypt-s-oldest-world-cup-goalscorer-1782114790656">FIFA 2026 | Mohamed Salah scripts history, becomes Egypt's oldest World Cup goalscorer</a>&nbsp;The offence was reported by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nitin Menon, supported by third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Graham Lloyd.&nbsp;&nbsp;Acting captain Joe Root admitted the breach and accepted the sanction, removing the need for a formal hearing before match referee Andy Pycroft.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-t20i-world-cup-2026-south-africa-spoil-india-skipper-harmanpreet-kaur-200th-game-with-clinical-win-6-wicket-marizanne-kapp-1782064844515">T20I World Cup: South Africa spoil Harmanpreet’s 200th game with clinical win</a>&nbsp;The penalty adds to England’s frustrations following their crushing 253-run loss to New Zealand in the second Test, a result that equalled the three-match series at 1-1.&nbsp;After the points deduction, England are placed seventh in the nine-team WTC standings with 38 points from 12 matches.&nbsp;It marks England’s second slow over-rate violation in the current WTC cycle. Earlier, they were penalised two points after their 22-run victory over India at Lord’s in 2025.&nbsp;England will now focus on the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, scheduled to begin on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Captain Ben Stokes is expected to return after missing the previous match, while fast bowler Gus Atkinson is also back in contention.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both players were unavailable for the Oval Test due to a nightclub controversy that caused embarrassment for the England and Wales Cricket Board.

England have been docked 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 50 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over rate during their defeat to New Zealand in the Oval Test.

England have been hit with a significant penalty in the World Test Championship (WTC) after being found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. The International Cricket Council (ICC) deducted 12 WTC points from the team and imposed the maximum allowable fine of 50 per cent of their match fees. The punishment was handed down after England were ruled to be 12 overs behind the required rate after time allowances were taken into account. Under WTC playing conditions, teams lose one championship point for every over they fall short, leading to the points deduction. The sanction effectively cancels out the 12 points England earned from their victory in the first Test at Lord’s, according to ESPNcricinfo. England’s players were also fined fifty per cent of their match fees for each over short. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Mohamed Salah scripts history, becomes Egypt's oldest World Cup goalscorer The offence was reported by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nitin Menon, supported by third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Graham Lloyd. Acting captain Joe Root admitted the breach and accepted the sanction, removing the need for a formal hearing before match referee Andy Pycroft. Also Read - T20I World Cup: South Africa spoil Harmanpreet’s 200th game with clinical win The penalty adds to England’s frustrations following their crushing 253-run loss to New Zealand in the second Test, a result that equalled the three-match series at 1-1. After the points deduction, England are placed seventh in the nine-team WTC standings with 38 points from 12 matches. It marks England’s second slow over-rate violation in the current WTC cycle. Earlier, they were penalised two points after their 22-run victory over India at Lord’s in 2025. England will now focus on the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, scheduled to begin on Thursday. Captain Ben Stokes is expected to return after missing the previous match, while fast bowler Gus Atkinson is also back in contention. Both players were unavailable for the Oval Test due to a nightclub controversy that caused embarrassment for the England and Wales Cricket Board.

England have been docked 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 50 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over rate during their defeat to New Zealand in the Oval Test.

WTC 2025-27: Why England were docked 12 points during the second Test against New Zealand

South Africa spoiled Harmanpreet Kaur’s 200th T20I game as they beat the title contenders, India, by six wickets in their Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash on Sunday (Jun 21). Unbeaten until this game, India looked uncharacteristically sloppy on the field and failed to make the most of the chances. As a result, they lost the match but remain second on the points table, behind Australia, who are unbeaten after three games.&nbsp;Harmanpreet Kaur made history with her 200th appearance for India in this format, becoming the first player, in men’s or women’s cricket, to achieve this feat. She also captained India for the 200th time across all formats, becoming the first Indian to do so. While she wanted to make the most of this monumental feat by extending India’s unbeaten run to three games, a loss at the hands of the Proteas will bring them back to the drawing board and rightly so.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-a-vs-sri-lanka-a-odi-tri-series-in-sri-lanka-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-stars-in-final-with-record-11-ball-fifty-fastest-in-list-a-1782049605791">India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty</a> &nbsp;Sharing disappointment over this loss, Harmanpreet said, “We got a couple of chances in between but couldn't take those chances. We have two matches, and this is the time to stay positive. Shree Charani and Shafali bowled well, but the fielders didn't support them. We have to take opportunities at this level.&nbsp; &nbsp;“We were not lucky enough with that. We have two matches, and this is the time to think about that. We will sit and rethink what to do and then will see the changes to be done,” she added. &nbsp;India batted first after winning the toss, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana adding 30 for the first wicket. The two departed inside the Powerplay, with Verma scoring 31 off 15 balls. The middle order looked sluggish on the Manchester track, with only captain Harmanpreet and all-rounder Deepti Sharma getting into the 20s afterwards. &nbsp;India scored 158 for seven in the first innings, with Marizanne Kapp returning with two wickets.<h3>Kapp’s show steals Harman’s spotlight</h3>Kapp backed up her clinical bowling display with a brilliant, unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to see her side home with six wickets to spare. The renowned all-rounder smashed seven fours and four sixes, with opener Tazmin Brits also scoring 40 in 36 deliveries to help the cause. &nbsp;“It was a tough game. Playing India is always tough. And I am very proud of the way the team came back. I was just praying, to be honest. I do well if I am in earlier. I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully. We said it is a tough place to bat because you can't let it get too far, but you also can't lose too many wickets. We had the big hitters in the back-end and just wanted to put our heads down,” the Player of the Match, Kapp, said.&nbsp;

Marizanne Kapp's sensational unbeaten 81 spoiled skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s historic 200th T20I match as South Africa defeated India by six wickets in a thrilling Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash in Manchester.

South Africa spoiled Harmanpreet Kaur’s 200th T20I game as they beat the title contenders, India, by six wickets in their Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash on Sunday (Jun 21). Unbeaten until this game, India looked uncharacteristically sloppy on the field and failed to make the most of the chances. As a result, they lost the match but remain second on the points table, behind Australia, who are unbeaten after three games. Harmanpreet Kaur made history with her 200th appearance for India in this format, becoming the first player, in men’s or women’s cricket, to achieve this feat. She also captained India for the 200th time across all formats, becoming the first Indian to do so. While she wanted to make the most of this monumental feat by extending India’s unbeaten run to three games, a loss at the hands of the Proteas will bring them back to the drawing board and rightly so. Also read | India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty Sharing disappointment over this loss, Harmanpreet said, “We got a couple of chances in between but couldn't take those chances. We have two matches, and this is the time to stay positive. Shree Charani and Shafali bowled well, but the fielders didn't support them. We have to take opportunities at this level. “We were not lucky enough with that. We have two matches, and this is the time to think about that. We will sit and rethink what to do and then will see the changes to be done,” she added. India batted first after winning the toss, with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana adding 30 for the first wicket. The two departed inside the Powerplay, with Verma scoring 31 off 15 balls. The middle order looked sluggish on the Manchester track, with only captain Harmanpreet and all-rounder Deepti Sharma getting into the 20s afterwards. India scored 158 for seven in the first innings, with Marizanne Kapp returning with two wickets. Kapp’s show steals Harman’s spotlight Kapp backed up her clinical bowling display with a brilliant, unbeaten 81 off 45 balls to see her side home with six wickets to spare. The renowned all-rounder smashed seven fours and four sixes, with opener Tazmin Brits also scoring 40 in 36 deliveries to help the cause. “It was a tough game. Playing India is always tough. And I am very proud of the way the team came back. I was just praying, to be honest. I do well if I am in earlier. I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully. We said it is a tough place to bat because you can't let it get too far, but you also can't lose too many wickets. We had the big hitters in the back-end and just wanted to put our heads down,” the Player of the Match, Kapp, said.

Marizanne Kapp's sensational unbeaten 81 spoiled skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s historic 200th T20I match as South Africa defeated India by six wickets in a thrilling Group A Women's T20 World Cup clash in Manchester.

Women’s T20I World Cup: South Africa spoil India skipper Harmanpreet’s 200th game with clinical win

The concept of a ‘hat-trick’ has ironically nothing to do with football - the most-followed sport worldwide, as the word derived from another sport, famous in the UK at the start and now across the globe, cricket. Its latest mention was for Argentine great Lionel Messi, who scored three successive goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 game against Algeria to earn his first ‘World Cup hat-trick’. So, where did this word come from, what does this mean, and who holds the record for the most hat-tricks in modern football?<h2>What is a hat-trick?</h2>A hat-trick in sports is a feat achieved across three successive events; it could be wickets (in cricket) or goals (in football and hockey). In cricket, if a bowler picks up three wickets off three successive deliveries, it will be termed a hat-trick of those events. Similarly, in football, if a player scores three goals in a game, not necessarily consecutively, a hat-trick would be written on his scoring sheet. &nbsp;So, where did this word come from? &nbsp;Historians suggest that the hat-trick's first mention was during a cricket match in the UK in 1858. &nbsp;On September 11, 1858, an All-England Eleven team faced off against a local twenty-two from Hallam (Sheffield) at the Hyde Park Ground. Heathfield Harman (H.H.) Stephenson, representing All-England, bowled three batters on three consecutive deliveries. &nbsp;At this point, there was no official reward system for exceptional individual play. So, to mark the sheer improbability of three consecutive bowled wickets, a local fan initiated a ‘whip-round’ (a spontaneous crowd collection). The money collected was taken to a local haberdasher (a merchant selling men's clothing items) to buy a physical top hat, which was later presented to Stephenson.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

For several years, the concept of ‘tricking a batter to earn a hat’ remained an oral slang among cricketers until its earliest known appearance occurred in the Chelmsford Chronicle in 1865, 12 years before the first-ever international cricket game was played between England and Australia. &nbsp;Meanwhile, that newspaper used the term to describe a game of cricket, where a bowler took three wickets off three balls, noting that he had performed a hat-trick. However, by the launch of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack editions in the 1870s, the term was officially codified into the lexicon of English sport.<h3>Hat-trick’s migration to football</h3>As football grew as a sport across the UK (by the late 1800s), later in Europe and elsewhere, fans began using this term for someone who scored three goals in a 90-minute match.&nbsp; &nbsp;By the mid-20th century, this word entered the ice-hockey arena and soon spread across countless sports, played with and around individual skill.&nbsp;However, with the passage of time, teams winning three back-to-back matches, events or even tournaments, are also noted as completing a hat-trick.<h3>Who has scored the most hat-tricks in modern-day football?</h3>Modern-day football is completely dominated by two generational icons, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Considering the top modern goal-scorers, Ronaldo leads the hat-trick tally against his closest opponent, Messi, sitting at the top with 66 and counting across all competitions.&nbsp; &nbsp;A prolific goal-scorer, Ronaldo is also inching closer to completing 1000 goals since his professional debut in 2003. &nbsp;Second is Messi, who has over 59 hat-tricks in all competitions, the latest of which came during his team’s title-defence opener in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Poland and former Bayern Munich great Robert Lewandowski is third with 33 hat-tricks, while Messi’s former teammate at Barcelona, Luis Suarez, is next with 31. &nbsp;Meanwhile, should the two (Ronaldo and Messi) proceed further in the tournament, chances of both adding more hat-tricks to their tallies increase.

Discover the fascinating 19th-century cricket history behind the word 'hat-trick' and see who leads the all-time leaderboard between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The concept of a ‘hat-trick’ has ironically nothing to do with football - the most-followed sport worldwide, as the word derived from another sport, famous in the UK at the start and now across the globe, cricket. Its latest mention was for Argentine great Lionel Messi, who scored three successive goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 game against Algeria to earn his first ‘World Cup hat-trick’. So, where did this word come from, what does this mean, and who holds the record for the most hat-tricks in modern football? What is a hat-trick? A hat-trick in sports is a feat achieved across three successive events; it could be wickets (in cricket) or goals (in football and hockey). In cricket, if a bowler picks up three wickets off three successive deliveries, it will be termed a hat-trick of those events. Similarly, in football, if a player scores three goals in a game, not necessarily consecutively, a hat-trick would be written on his scoring sheet. So, where did this word come from? Historians suggest that the hat-trick's first mention was during a cricket match in the UK in 1858. On September 11, 1858, an All-England Eleven team faced off against a local twenty-two from Hallam (Sheffield) at the Hyde Park Ground. Heathfield Harman (H.H.) Stephenson, representing All-England, bowled three batters on three consecutive deliveries. At this point, there was no official reward system for exceptional individual play. So, to mark the sheer improbability of three consecutive bowled wickets, a local fan initiated a ‘whip-round’ (a spontaneous crowd collection). The money collected was taken to a local haberdasher (a merchant selling men's clothing items) to buy a physical top hat, which was later presented to Stephenson.

Discover the fascinating 19th-century cricket history behind the word 'hat-trick' and see who leads the all-time leaderboard between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Why is it called a ‘Hat-Trick’—and who has the most in modern football?

India-A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the bigger stage. His moment came in the final against the hosts, Sri Lanka-A, on Sunday (Jun 21). Batting first in the summit clash, Sooryavanshi brought his IPL game to the table, smashing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">quickest-ever fifty in all of List-A cricket</a> in just 11 balls. His breathtaking strokeplay stunned the viewers and statisticians. Riding on his 29-ball 94, India-A clobbered 377 for nine before wrapping up Sri Lanka A on 311 to win the match by 66 runs and clinch the tri-series.&nbsp;WATCH Winning Moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">SERIAL WINNERS 🏆 Here&#39;s the moment <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> sealed the Tri-Series <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TalentTVCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TalentTVCup</a> title! 🎉 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/biMk40VJJ7">pic.twitter.com/biMk40VJJ7</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2068685492510654464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sri Lanka A won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision Vaibhav made them regret in the end. Opening alongside Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav smashed an 11-ball fifty and inched closer to his first hundred of the tournament soon after, before departing on 94. His record-filled innings included eight sixes, 11 fours and a strike rate of 324.14. His dismissal came in the ninth over, when India-A had already scored 132 runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I didn't think too much, just wanted to make the most of the first 10 overs and execute what I had planned,” the Player of the Match, Sooryavanshi, said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“There was no pressure, but I was trying to execute the plans that were not working. I talked to the coaches and worked on it in practice. Today, the plan was executed, and the result came out on its own,” he added.&nbsp;WATCH Sooryavanshi's 94-run knock -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">RUTHLESS REDEMPTION. 😈 Ruthless Boss Baby making sure revenge is s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶ explosive. ☄️🔥 🥵 Watch Sri Lanka &#39;A&#39; vs India &#39;A&#39;, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV. 📺<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TalentTVCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TalentTVCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/8MH0fKnB8C">pic.twitter.com/8MH0fKnB8C</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2068574342934675598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Arya got out in the next over on 39. India-A captain Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then stitched an 84-run stand for the third wicket. A cluster of wickets late in the innings held back India-A's scoring rate, but thanks to an unbelievable cameo from Anukul Roy, who smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 15 balls, India-A posted a winning total.<h3>India-A triumph over Sri Lanka-A</h3>Sri Lanka lost two wickets inside the fifth over, with the third one coming in the 10th, as their scorecard read 75/3 at one stage. Sadeera Samarawickrama starred with the bat, scoring 52 off 44 balls, but fell to pace express Ashok Sharma.&nbsp; &nbsp;Skipper Sahan Arachchige also tried his hand at saving the team’s grace, only to be dismissed by Vipraj Nigam on 19, who picked up three wickets. &nbsp;Bowling all-rounder Wanuja Sahan was the hosts’ last hope, but even his 62 off 69 balls couldn’t save his team from the loss, as they were bundled out on 311, conceding the final by 66 runs and a chance to win the tri-series at home. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi will now head to the UK as part of the T20I squads for the Ireland and England series. India will face Ireland in the first of two T20Is on June 26 in Belfast.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a historic 11-ball fifty as India-A crushed Sri Lanka-A by 66 runs to clinch the tri-series title.

India-A opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the bigger stage. His moment came in the final against the hosts, Sri Lanka-A, on Sunday (Jun 21). Batting first in the summit clash, Sooryavanshi brought his IPL game to the table, smashing the quickest-ever fifty in all of List-A cricket in just 11 balls. His breathtaking strokeplay stunned the viewers and statisticians. Riding on his 29-ball 94, India-A clobbered 377 for nine before wrapping up Sri Lanka A on 311 to win the match by 66 runs and clinch the tri-series. WATCH Winning Moment -

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a historic 11-ball fifty as India-A crushed Sri Lanka-A by 66 runs to clinch the tri-series title.

India-A win tri-series in Sri Lanka; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars in final with record 11-ball fifty

Ben Stokes will return as England’s Test captain for his team’s third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting Thursday (Jun 25). Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were pulled out of the squad for the second Test amid the ECB’s investigation into their London nightclub episode. The two breached England’s midnight curfew, thus facing the axe. After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-n-2nd-test-2026-matt-henry-bags-11-wickets-as-new-zealand-crush-england-by-253-runs-to-level-series-1782041645814">England conceded the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs</a>, its head coach, Brendon McCullum, has confirmed talks of fast-tracking Stokes’ return to the playing XI for the series decider and reclaiming the captaincy. In a shocking turn of events, just days after the local media reported that Stokes is contemplating international retirement after the ECB supposedly asked him to relinquish Test captaincy, the veteran all-rounder is on the cusp of a surprise return to the playing XI.&nbsp;Earlier on Sunday (Jun 21), Stokes (Durham) and Atkinson (Surrey) were withdrawn from their respective County Championship games, indicating their recall to the Test side for the Trent Bridge match.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-2026-ben-stokes-gus-atkinson-withdrawn-from-county-championship-games-ahead-of-3rd-test-new-zealand-ecb-investigation-nightclub-brawl-1782038738581">Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, in Stokes and Atkinson’s absence, England played three debutants in the second Test and lost it by a whopping margin. &nbsp;"Yeah, at this stage, that's what we're planning on. The rest of the squad will be out later on this afternoon. It's a quick turnaround, so we need to give guys that consistency of message and deliver it appropriately, but we are anticipating that Ben will be back as captain,” McCullum answers on Stokes’ potential return to cricket.&nbsp; &nbsp;Even though Joe Root led England at the Oval, his interim captaincy tenure seemed to have ended with Stokes’ return as captain looking inevitable.<h3>‘Backing Stokes but chats are private’</h3>Disclosing how he remained in constant touch with Stokes after that incident, McCullum revealed he tried to be supportive of his team captain during this time but denied giving more details about their chats. He, however, sounded elated with Stokes finding some form with the bat, after scoring 95 in his lone outing for Durham against Northamptonshire – his best score in all of cricket since his Test hundred against India last July.&nbsp; &nbsp;"People will always have difference of opinion, that's the way things are. People read things differently. I've been speaking to Ben every day since we had the incident, obviously trying to be supportive. I think it's great he was able to play this week and get some runs, and hopefully rediscover some of that form. We know that a fit and firing, and performing at optimum level, Ben Stokes is an asset that every team would like. &nbsp;"Those conversations with Stokesy, they're private; I won't go into those at all. But people can assess their view of things differently. But I care about Ben and am pleased that he was able to get some game time [for Durham] and a bit of pep in his step as well,” he continued.&nbsp;

Head coach Brendon McCullum confirms plans to fast-track Ben Stokes back as Test captain for England’s high-stakes Trent Bridge decider against New Zealand.

Ben Stokes will return as England’s Test captain for his team’s third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge starting Thursday (Jun 25). Stokes and his teammate Gus Atkinson were pulled out of the squad for the second Test amid the ECB’s investigation into their London nightclub episode. The two breached England’s midnight curfew, thus facing the axe. After England conceded the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs, its head coach, Brendon McCullum, has confirmed talks of fast-tracking Stokes’ return to the playing XI for the series decider and reclaiming the captaincy. In a shocking turn of events, just days after the local media reported that Stokes is contemplating international retirement after the ECB supposedly asked him to relinquish Test captaincy, the veteran all-rounder is on the cusp of a surprise return to the playing XI. Earlier on Sunday (Jun 21), Stokes (Durham) and Atkinson (Surrey) were withdrawn from their respective County Championship games, indicating their recall to the Test side for the Trent Bridge match. Also read | Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe Meanwhile, in Stokes and Atkinson’s absence, England played three debutants in the second Test and lost it by a whopping margin. "Yeah, at this stage, that's what we're planning on. The rest of the squad will be out later on this afternoon. It's a quick turnaround, so we need to give guys that consistency of message and deliver it appropriately, but we are anticipating that Ben will be back as captain,” McCullum answers on Stokes’ potential return to cricket. Even though Joe Root led England at the Oval, his interim captaincy tenure seemed to have ended with Stokes’ return as captain looking inevitable. ‘Backing Stokes but chats are private’ Disclosing how he remained in constant touch with Stokes after that incident, McCullum revealed he tried to be supportive of his team captain during this time but denied giving more details about their chats. He, however, sounded elated with Stokes finding some form with the bat, after scoring 95 in his lone outing for Durham against Northamptonshire – his best score in all of cricket since his Test hundred against India last July. "People will always have difference of opinion, that's the way things are. People read things differently. I've been speaking to Ben every day since we had the incident, obviously trying to be supportive. I think it's great he was able to play this week and get some runs, and hopefully rediscover some of that form. We know that a fit and firing, and performing at optimum level, Ben Stokes is an asset that every team would like. "Those conversations with Stokesy, they're private; I won't go into those at all. But people can assess their view of things differently. But I care about Ben and am pleased that he was able to get some game time [for Durham] and a bit of pep in his step as well,” he continued.

Head coach Brendon McCullum confirms plans to fast-track Ben Stokes back as Test captain for England’s high-stakes Trent Bridge decider against New Zealand.

ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to return as captain for final Test, confirms McCullum

The Madhya Pradesh League T20 continues to be an important platform for cricketers aiming to make an impact and push for higher selection. One such player is Gwalior Cheetahs’ Kuldeep Gehi, who has played some good innings recently to help his team in the ongoing tournament. Ahead of his next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia in an interaction and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.&nbsp;Talking about Rajat, Kuldeep said he has always been an inspiration for him. Since their school days, he has seen Rajat’s hard work, dedication and focus that helped him succeed in cricket.&nbsp;He recalled that even as a youngster, Rajat was fully focused on improving his game. While others spent time chatting, Rajat would often be practising with a bat, working on his skills and staying committed to his goals.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kieron-pollard-creates-history-overtakes-chris-gayle-as-t20-s-leading-run-scorer-1782028106028">Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer</a> Kuldeep further said that sharing a dressing room with Rajat is also a special experience and that he continues to learn from him. He praised Rajat’s professionalism and said his experience has been very helpful.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-england-odi-squad-kohli-bumrah-return-jaiswal-dropped-1782032189597">India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped</a>&nbsp;The wicketkeeper-batter also spoke about how Rajat helped him during a difficult phase in a T20 tournament when he struggled for runs in his first few matches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rajat advised him “not to doubt himself and reminded him that he had been selected because of his abilities. He encouraged Kuldeep to keep things simple, watch the ball closely and react naturally.”&nbsp;According to Kuldeep, that advice changed his mindset. He stopped overthinking, trusted his instincts and performed better in the next match. He credited Rajat’s guidance and experience for helping him regain confidence and improve his performances.&nbsp;In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026, JKC Sports-owned Gwalior Cheetahs will now face Jabalpur Royal Lions at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Ahead of Gwalior Cheetahs’ next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.

The Madhya Pradesh League T20 continues to be an important platform for cricketers aiming to make an impact and push for higher selection. One such player is Gwalior Cheetahs’ Kuldeep Gehi, who has played some good innings recently to help his team in the ongoing tournament. Ahead of his next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia in an interaction and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar. Talking about Rajat, Kuldeep said he has always been an inspiration for him. Since their school days, he has seen Rajat’s hard work, dedication and focus that helped him succeed in cricket. He recalled that even as a youngster, Rajat was fully focused on improving his game. While others spent time chatting, Rajat would often be practising with a bat, working on his skills and staying committed to his goals. Also Read - Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer Kuldeep further said that sharing a dressing room with Rajat is also a special experience and that he continues to learn from him. He praised Rajat’s professionalism and said his experience has been very helpful. Also Read - India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped The wicketkeeper-batter also spoke about how Rajat helped him during a difficult phase in a T20 tournament when he struggled for runs in his first few matches. Rajat advised him “not to doubt himself and reminded him that he had been selected because of his abilities. He encouraged Kuldeep to keep things simple, watch the ball closely and react naturally.” According to Kuldeep, that advice changed his mindset. He stopped overthinking, trusted his instincts and performed better in the next match. He credited Rajat’s guidance and experience for helping him regain confidence and improve his performances. In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026, JKC Sports-owned Gwalior Cheetahs will now face Jabalpur Royal Lions at Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Ahead of Gwalior Cheetahs’ next match, Gehi spoke to WION’s Aditya Bhatia and shared his bond with Rajat Patidar.

'Encouraged me to keep things simple...': Kuldeep Gehi on Rajat Patidar's support during tough times

England had no answers to Matt Henry’s tight line and length as the Kiwi quick picked up 11 wickets across two innings, including two five-wicket hauls, to help New Zealand win the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs and level the three-match series 1-1. England struggled to maintain momentum under new interim captain Joe Root after the Lord’s win, as the new-look side stumbled in the second Test in London, conceding a chance to clean sweep New Zealand at home. With no Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson, England played three debutants, including pacer Sonny Baker and keeper-batters Jordan Cox and James Rew.&nbsp;“Probably didn't expect it to unfold like that today,” Player of the Match Henry said after the game. “There were little moments in the first Test that set things up nicely. Credit goes to all of us.&nbsp; &nbsp;On Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, Henry said, “We actually played England a few years ago, and we wanted to keep their batters in the crease. Credit goes to Tom; he was outstanding. For me, it's about how I get the job done. Huge credit to Tom. It's easy when you got such a strong bowling group.” &nbsp;England won the toss and sent New Zealand out to bat first. Following a shaky start, New Zealand returned to the driver’s seat, thanks to a brilliant maiden Test hundred by Glenn Phillips (100 off 135 balls). New Zealand’s first-inning score of 391 gave them the cushion, on which Henry rode and never allowed English batters to settle and wrapped them up on 291 in their reply. He picked up five wickets for 80 in the first innings. &nbsp;Kiwi’s response in their second innings was enough to keep England at Bay, as they added 362 more to that lead, thanks to a magnificent hundred by Henry Nicholls, who replaced recently retired Kane Williamson. For England, the returning pace duo of Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher picked up three wickets each.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jofra finds the edge again and it’s safely pouched by Bethell 👏 <a href="https://t.co/nf8OHEPRDj">pic.twitter.com/nf8OHEPRDj</a>&mdash; England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2068297197808972177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Come England’s run chase, they were pushed against the wall with three early blows. Stand-in captain Root contributed with a gritty 77, with Harry Brook notching up 58 off just 54 balls, aiding England’s chances of an improbable chase. A little hand from the two debutants, Rew (15) and Cox (25), fought to save face, but Henry had other plans. The right-arm quick was unplayable with both the new and old balls, bagging six wickets in the second innings and returning with 11 in the match. &nbsp;As a result, New Zealand crushed England by 253 runs to win the second Test and level the series. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the latest reports also suggest that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-nz-2026-ben-stokes-gus-atkinson-withdrawn-from-county-championship-games-ahead-of-3rd-test-new-zealand-ecb-investigation-nightclub-brawl-1782038738581">Stokes and Atkinson are in line for a shock recall</a> to the side for the final Test at Trent Bridge amid the ECB’s probe into their nightclub incident. The final Test and series-decider starts next Thursday (Jun 25).

Matt Henry’s spectacular 11-wicket haul powered New Zealand to an emphatic 253-run win over England at The Oval, levelling the three-match series 1-1.

England had no answers to Matt Henry’s tight line and length as the Kiwi quick picked up 11 wickets across two innings, including two five-wicket hauls, to help New Zealand win the second Test at the Oval by 253 runs and level the three-match series 1-1. England struggled to maintain momentum under new interim captain Joe Root after the Lord’s win, as the new-look side stumbled in the second Test in London, conceding a chance to clean sweep New Zealand at home. With no Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson, England played three debutants, including pacer Sonny Baker and keeper-batters Jordan Cox and James Rew. “Probably didn't expect it to unfold like that today,” Player of the Match Henry said after the game. “There were little moments in the first Test that set things up nicely. Credit goes to all of us. On Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, Henry said, “We actually played England a few years ago, and we wanted to keep their batters in the crease. Credit goes to Tom; he was outstanding. For me, it's about how I get the job done. Huge credit to Tom. It's easy when you got such a strong bowling group.” England won the toss and sent New Zealand out to bat first. Following a shaky start, New Zealand returned to the driver’s seat, thanks to a brilliant maiden Test hundred by Glenn Phillips (100 off 135 balls). New Zealand’s first-inning score of 391 gave them the cushion, on which Henry rode and never allowed English batters to settle and wrapped them up on 291 in their reply. He picked up five wickets for 80 in the first innings. Kiwi’s response in their second innings was enough to keep England at Bay, as they added 362 more to that lead, thanks to a magnificent hundred by Henry Nicholls, who replaced recently retired Kane Williamson. For England, the returning pace duo of Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher picked up three wickets each.

Matt Henry’s spectacular 11-wicket haul powered New Zealand to an emphatic 253-run win over England at The Oval, levelling the three-match series 1-1.

Matt Henry bags 11 wickets as New Zealand crush England in 2nd Test to level series

England Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their respective County Championship fixtures on Sunday (Jun 21), indicating their return to the national side for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting next week. Both were dropped from the England Test squad for the second Test at the Oval for breaching the midnight curfew during an incident at a London nightclub. The two were also involved in a brawl, leading to ECB’s investigation into the matter.&nbsp;Amid the ongoing chaos that fuelled speculation about Stokes contemplating international retirement and relinquishing the Test captaincy, the ECB allowed the two to play County games for Durham (Stokes) and Surrey (Atkinson) in the meantime.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-tour-of-england-odi-squad-kohli-bumrah-return-jaiswal-dropped-1782032189597">India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped</a> &nbsp;Stokes enjoyed bowling a lengthy spell for Durham before scoring a gritty 95 against Northamptonshire on Saturday (Jun 20), his highest score across all cricket since scoring a hundred against India in July last year. On the other hand, seamer Atkinson returned with four wickets against Glamorgan. &nbsp;However, both were then withdrawn before day three of those matches, in what is understood to be an attempt to ensure they are fit for the third Test starting Thursday (Jun 25). &nbsp;Meanwhile, investigations into the pair's conduct by the England and Wales Cricket Board and the independent Cricket Regulator have yet to be concluded. No official confirmation of the outcomes of those investigations, or an England squad announcement for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at the Oval.&nbsp; &nbsp;England fast bowler Josh Tongue, speaking after Saturday's play, said the side had "missed" the inspirational Stokes at the Oval. &nbsp;“Stokesy is an unbelievable player. I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy, and it's always nice seeing him get some runs,” the England quick said.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from County matches, signalling a return for England's 3rd Test against New Zealand after their nightclub curfew breach.

England Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from their respective County Championship fixtures on Sunday (Jun 21), indicating their return to the national side for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting next week. Both were dropped from the England Test squad for the second Test at the Oval for breaching the midnight curfew during an incident at a London nightclub. The two were also involved in a brawl, leading to ECB’s investigation into the matter. Amid the ongoing chaos that fuelled speculation about Stokes contemplating international retirement and relinquishing the Test captaincy, the ECB allowed the two to play County games for Durham (Stokes) and Surrey (Atkinson) in the meantime. Also read | India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped Stokes enjoyed bowling a lengthy spell for Durham before scoring a gritty 95 against Northamptonshire on Saturday (Jun 20), his highest score across all cricket since scoring a hundred against India in July last year. On the other hand, seamer Atkinson returned with four wickets against Glamorgan. However, both were then withdrawn before day three of those matches, in what is understood to be an attempt to ensure they are fit for the third Test starting Thursday (Jun 25). Meanwhile, investigations into the pair's conduct by the England and Wales Cricket Board and the independent Cricket Regulator have yet to be concluded. No official confirmation of the outcomes of those investigations, or an England squad announcement for the third Test, is expected until the conclusion of the second Test at the Oval. England fast bowler Josh Tongue, speaking after Saturday's play, said the side had "missed" the inspirational Stokes at the Oval. “Stokesy is an unbelievable player. I made my England debut when he was captain. I've got huge respect for Stokesy, and it's always nice seeing him get some runs,” the England quick said.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from County matches, signalling a return for England's 3rd Test against New Zealand after their nightclub curfew breach.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in line for shock England recall amid ECB nightclub probe

India have named star batter Virat Kohli in their squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on Jul 14. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that Kohli’s inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered during the IPL 2026 final.The former India captain missed the recent ODI series because of the same injury but is expected to be available for the England assignment if he completes his rehabilitation successfully.&nbsp;In a major boost for the visitors, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah returns to the ODI setup after being rested for the one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan under the BCCI’s workload management plan.&nbsp;The squad selection forms part of India’s long-term build-up to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Young all-rounder Harshit Rana has also earned a recall after impressing in the series against New Zealand earlier this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls</a>&nbsp;Rana had been sidelined with a right knee lateral meniscus tear that required surgery, causing him to miss both the T20 World Cup and the subsequent IPL season. He later returned to the national setup for the final ODI against Afghanistan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-manuel-neuer-becomes-most-capped-goalkeeper-in-world-cup-history-1782016741367">FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;The selectors have also brought back Axar Patel, replacing Harsh Dubey, who featured in the Afghanistan series. Axar last appeared in India’s ODI squad during the Australia tour in October and has not played a 50-over international since then.&nbsp;Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains out of India's ODI plans, with Washington Sundar continuing as the preferred spin-bowling all-rounder. Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been left out of the squad.<h2>India ODI squad for England series</h2>Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar

Virat Kohli has returned to India’s ODI squad for the England series, with the BCCI saying his place in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he recovers from a hamstring injury ahead of Jul 14.

India have named star batter Virat Kohli in their squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on Jul 14. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) clarified that Kohli’s inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered during the IPL 2026 final. The former India captain missed the recent ODI series because of the same injury but is expected to be available for the England assignment if he completes his rehabilitation successfully. In a major boost for the visitors, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah returns to the ODI setup after being rested for the one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan under the BCCI’s workload management plan. The squad selection forms part of India’s long-term build-up to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Young all-rounder Harshit Rana has also earned a recall after impressing in the series against New Zealand earlier this year. Also Read - IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls Rana had been sidelined with a right knee lateral meniscus tear that required surgery, causing him to miss both the T20 World Cup and the subsequent IPL season. He later returned to the national setup for the final ODI against Afghanistan. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history The selectors have also brought back Axar Patel, replacing Harsh Dubey, who featured in the Afghanistan series. Axar last appeared in India’s ODI squad during the Australia tour in October and has not played a 50-over international since then. Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remains out of India's ODI plans, with Washington Sundar continuing as the preferred spin-bowling all-rounder. Yashasvi Jaiswal has also been left out of the squad. India ODI squad for England series Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar

Virat Kohli has returned to India’s ODI squad for the England series, with the BCCI saying his place in the playing XI will depend on his fitness as he recovers from a hamstring injury ahead of Jul 14.

India tour of England, ODI squad: Kohli, Bumrah return; Jaiswal dropped

Kieron Pollard etched his name into T20 cricket history on Saturday, overtaking Chris Gayle to become the leading run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket. The landmark came during a superb century for MI New York in the 2026 edition of Major League Cricket. The former West Indies skipper reached the record in style, clearing the ropes during an unbeaten 100 off 56 deliveries against Washington Freedom. The knock lifted Pollard beyond Gayle’s career tally of 14,562 T20 runs, taking his aggregate to 14,582 runs from 736 appearances.&nbsp;The feat further highlights Pollard’s remarkable durability in the shortest format. Having played in domestic leagues around the world for nearly 20 years, he remains the only player to have crossed the 700-match mark in T20 cricket.&nbsp;Despite Pollard’s heroics, MI New York fell short as Washington Freedom claimed a convincing 30-run win after piling up 245/5.&nbsp;The standout performance of the match came from Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who scored a sensational 155 off just 68 balls, the highest individual score in MLC history.&nbsp;Owen brought up his century in only 41 deliveries and dominated the attack throughout one of the most explosive innings the tournament has witnessed.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-day-10-recap-japan-cruise-past-tunisia-germany-beat-ivory-coast-to-reach-knockouts-curacao-get-another-draw-1782024339096">FIFA 2026 Day 10 Recap: Japan cruise past Tunisia, Germany beat Ivory Coast to reach knockouts, Curacao get another draw</a>&nbsp;Valuable contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman helped Freedom set a huge target of 246.&nbsp;MI New York’s had a poor start to chase early when Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel were dismissed in the opening over. Soon after, Glenn Maxwell removed Nicholas Pooran, leaving the side in deep trouble. Reduced to 64/5, MI New York appeared out of contention before Pollard produced a determined fightback.&nbsp;Also Read - &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-a-vs-sl-a-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-smashes-fastest-list-a-fifty-in-just-11-balls-1782023306828">IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls</a>&nbsp;The veteran all-rounder had crucial stands with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch, guiding the recovery while registering only the second T20 hundred of his career. He reached the milestone on the final ball of the innings, ending unbeaten on 100 with 11 boundaries and four sixes.&nbsp;Although the result favored Washington Freedom, Pollard’s achievement stole the spotlight, as he now stands alone atop the all-time men’s T20 run-scoring list, ahead of Gayle. The elite group of batters to surpass 14,000 T20 runs also includes Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner and Virat Kohli.

Kieron Pollard achieved another major milestone in his T20 career by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket.

Kieron Pollard etched his name into T20 cricket history on Saturday, overtaking Chris Gayle to become the leading run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket. The landmark came during a superb century for MI New York in the 2026 edition of Major League Cricket. The former West Indies skipper reached the record in style, clearing the ropes during an unbeaten 100 off 56 deliveries against Washington Freedom. The knock lifted Pollard beyond Gayle’s career tally of 14,562 T20 runs, taking his aggregate to 14,582 runs from 736 appearances. The feat further highlights Pollard’s remarkable durability in the shortest format. Having played in domestic leagues around the world for nearly 20 years, he remains the only player to have crossed the 700-match mark in T20 cricket. Despite Pollard’s heroics, MI New York fell short as Washington Freedom claimed a convincing 30-run win after piling up 245/5. The standout performance of the match came from Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who scored a sensational 155 off just 68 balls, the highest individual score in MLC history. Owen brought up his century in only 41 deliveries and dominated the attack throughout one of the most explosive innings the tournament has witnessed. Also Read - FIFA 2026 Day 10 Recap: Japan cruise past Tunisia, Germany beat Ivory Coast to reach knockouts, Curacao get another draw Valuable contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman helped Freedom set a huge target of 246. MI New York’s had a poor start to chase early when Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel were dismissed in the opening over. Soon after, Glenn Maxwell removed Nicholas Pooran, leaving the side in deep trouble. Reduced to 64/5, MI New York appeared out of contention before Pollard produced a determined fightback. Also Read - IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls The veteran all-rounder had crucial stands with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch, guiding the recovery while registering only the second T20 hundred of his career. He reached the milestone on the final ball of the innings, ending unbeaten on 100 with 11 boundaries and four sixes. Although the result favored Washington Freedom, Pollard’s achievement stole the spotlight, as he now stands alone atop the all-time men’s T20 run-scoring list, ahead of Gayle. The elite group of batters to surpass 14,000 T20 runs also includes Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner and Virat Kohli.

Kieron Pollard achieved another major milestone in his T20 career by becoming the highest run-scorer in men's T20 cricket.

Kieron Pollard creates history, overtakes Chris Gayle as T20’s leading run-scorer

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday (Jun 21) by scoring the fastest half-century ever in List A cricket. The 15-year-old had a quiet tournament before the final, with scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38. However, he delivered a stunning performance when India A were asked to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi started aggressively from the opening ball, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease, while Sri Lanka A’s bowlers struggled to stop his attacking approach. One of the highlights of his innings was an over against Mohamed Shiraz in which he scored 26 runs.&nbsp;He reached his fifty in just 11 balls after hitting a six over long-on, breaking a record that had stood for 20 years. At that point, his strike rate was an incredible 454.54.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-manuel-neuer-becomes-most-capped-goalkeeper-in-world-cup-history-1782016741367">FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history</a>&nbsp;The innings was a remarkable comeback for the young batter, who had found it difficult to play freely on Dambulla’s slower pitches earlier in the tournament.&nbsp;His brilliant knock ended at 94 runs from only 29 balls when Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige dismissed him, with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking the catch.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed in the tri-series final with 94 runs off 29 balls, including a rapid fifty in only 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday (Jun 21) by scoring the fastest half-century ever in List A cricket. The 15-year-old had a quiet tournament before the final, with scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38. However, he delivered a stunning performance when India A were asked to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Sooryavanshi started aggressively from the opening ball, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease, while Sri Lanka A’s bowlers struggled to stop his attacking approach. One of the highlights of his innings was an over against Mohamed Shiraz in which he scored 26 runs. He reached his fifty in just 11 balls after hitting a six over long-on, breaking a record that had stood for 20 years. At that point, his strike rate was an incredible 454.54. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history The innings was a remarkable comeback for the young batter, who had found it difficult to play freely on Dambulla’s slower pitches earlier in the tournament. His brilliant knock ended at 94 runs from only 29 balls when Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige dismissed him, with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth taking the catch.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi impressed in the tri-series final with 94 runs off 29 balls, including a rapid fifty in only 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.

IND-A vs SL-A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, smashes fastest List A fifty in just 11 balls

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of England due to injury, sources told ANI. The tour begins on Jul 1 with a five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series that will run through late July. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli continues his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered during the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained their title. The veteran batter is expected to undergo a fitness assessment on Jun 26 to know his availability for the England assignment.&nbsp;The BCCI has already announced India’s T20I squad, while the ODI squad is expected to be named shortly.&nbsp;Pandya’s latest setback is a leg strain, adding to the back spasms that sidelined him for four matches during Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-paraguay-s-matias-galarza-scores-tournament-s-fastest-goal-in-just-64-seconds-1781929269732">FIFA World Cup 2026: Paraguay's Matias Galarza scores tournament's fastest goal in just 64 seconds</a>&nbsp;The all-rounder had a difficult season, contributing 206 runs from 10 innings at an average of 22.88 and a strike rate of 138.25, while managing only four wickets. Mumbai Indians finished in the bottom half of the table.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-lionel-messi-deserved-a-red-card-algeria-lodge-fifa-complaint-over-controversial-tackle-1781943779400">FIFA 2026 | 'Lionel Messi deserved a red card': Algeria lodge FIFA complaint over controversial tackle</a>&nbsp;Pandya was also unavailable for India’s ongoing three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Prior to that series, sources indicated that he had been cleared by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and had submitted his fitness report to the BCCI two days before the team’s scheduled departure.&nbsp;&nbsp;"He was declared fit by COE and sent his fitness report to the Board two days before, but after his final session before leaving COE, he had some issues about his fitness", a source told ANI.

Pandya’s latest setback is a leg strain, adding to the back spasms that sidelined him for four matches during Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign. 


India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball tour of England due to injury, sources told ANI. The tour begins on Jul 1 with a five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series that will run through late July. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli continues his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered during the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained their title. The veteran batter is expected to undergo a fitness assessment on Jun 26 to know his availability for the England assignment. The BCCI has already announced India’s T20I squad, while the ODI squad is expected to be named shortly. Pandya’s latest setback is a leg strain, adding to the back spasms that sidelined him for four matches during Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Paraguay's Matias Galarza scores tournament's fastest goal in just 64 seconds The all-rounder had a difficult season, contributing 206 runs from 10 innings at an average of 22.88 and a strike rate of 138.25, while managing only four wickets. Mumbai Indians finished in the bottom half of the table. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Lionel Messi deserved a red card': Algeria lodge FIFA complaint over controversial tackle Pandya was also unavailable for India’s ongoing three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Prior to that series, sources indicated that he had been cleared by the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and had submitted his fitness report to the BCCI two days before the team’s scheduled departure. "He was declared fit by COE and sent his fitness report to the Board two days before, but after his final session before leaving COE, he had some issues about his fitness", a source told ANI.

Pandya’s latest setback is a leg strain, adding to the back spasms that sidelined him for four matches during Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign.&nbsp;

India hit by major setback as Hardik Pandya ruled out of England series

India will face Afghanistan in the third ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday (Jun 20). The hosts will be aiming to build on their strong start to the series after securing a seven-wicket victory in the rain-affected opening ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, followed by a commanding 170-run win in the second ODI in Lucknow. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be looking to improve their performances as they seek a comeback and hope to end the series on a positive note.&nbsp;As the crucial ODI clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.<h2>India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI: Match Details</h2><h2>When will the IND vs AFG, 3rd ODI be played?</h2>The third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be played on Saturday (20 Jun, 2026). The toss will take place at 01:00 pm IST.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-south-africa-keep-dream-alive-with-late-draw-against-czech-republic-1781805577878">Teboho Mokoena's penalty help South Africa earn point against Czech Republic</a><h2>Where is the match being played?</h2>The match will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.<h2>Where can fans watch the match on television?</h2>The live telecast of the third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be available on Star Sports in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-equal-conditions-for-all-iran-to-lodge-complaint-with-fifa-regarding-travel-arrangements-1781854358527">FIFA 2026 | 'Equal conditions for all': Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA regarding travel arrangements</a><h2>Where to livestream IND vs AFG, 3rd ODI?</h2>The livestream of the third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.<h2>IND vs AFG ODI Squad</h2>India: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey&nbsp;Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami

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

India will face Afghanistan in the third ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday (Jun 20). The hosts will be aiming to build on their strong start to the series after securing a seven-wicket victory in the rain-affected opening ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, followed by a commanding 170-run win in the second ODI in Lucknow. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will be looking to improve their performances as they seek a comeback and hope to end the series on a positive note. As the crucial ODI clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India. India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI: Match Details When will the IND vs AFG, 3rd ODI be played? The third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be played on Saturday (20 Jun, 2026). The toss will take place at 01:00 pm IST. Also Read - Teboho Mokoena's penalty help South Africa earn point against Czech Republic Where is the match being played? The match will be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Where can fans watch the match on television? The live telecast of the third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be available on Star Sports in India. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | 'Equal conditions for all': Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA regarding travel arrangements Where to livestream IND vs AFG, 3rd ODI? The livestream of the third ODI between India and Afghanistan will be available on the JioHotstar app and website. IND vs AFG ODI Squad India: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik and Bilal Sami

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

IND vs AFG, 3rd ODI: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five batters with most runs in India vs Afghanistan T20Is. This list also includes Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib and Ibrahim Zadran

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five batters with most runs in India vs Afghanistan T20Is. This list also includes Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib and Ibrahim Zadran.

Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Afghanistan T20Is

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Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Afghanistan T20Is