IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer breaks record for most T20I runs by an Indian captain in a year

Physicist predicted Friday the 13th 'doomsday' in 1960. It is 13 days away

INDIA bloc holds symbolic ‘public impeachment’ of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, lists 6 charges | Watch

Turkish ambassador Ali Murat Ersoy says India and Turkey ‘cannot remain strangers’

Doomsday warning? Why governments are warning people to stockpile emergency supplies for 72 hours

IPL 2027: Mumbai Indians appoint new-look coaching staff including Uthappa and McClenaghan

Did rebels shoot down helicopter carrying Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra's family in Uttarakhand? Indian Army fact-check reveals...

R Madhavan teams up with Vishal Furia for a new horror film

Omar Abdullah marries journalist Nidhi Razdan, announces ‘new journey’ on social media

US midterms: Early voting crosses record 47.9 million, Democrats lead Republicans

MAMA Awards 2026: K-Pop ceremony expands global reach with YouTube livestream and Google AI collaboration

Iran says US has 'completely shifted tone' in JD Vance's letter on peace talks

Federal judge blocks Trump administration's election pressure tactics in sweeping emergency order

Police called after 3-year-old scores 10 goals in 12 minutes at Florida youth soccer game

India slams energy supply disruptions, says oil trade cannot be held hostage

Can Trump pull off a Republican comeback against a looming 'blue wave'?

HorrorCon India 2026 opens in Delhi with W.i.S.H., horror experiences and Halloween celebrations

Rubio: US had no role in Bolsonaro's exit, Trump yet to decide on Iran strikes

'One little banana heist': UP Police shares elephant mom-calf clip to teach honesty, internet teaches it a lesson instead | Viral video

US flags possible 'mass-casualty' attack threat in Moscow, Russia takes measures

Breakthrough in US-Iran negotiations? Report says direct talks expected in Doha

Trump says Obama 'doesn't understand quality' over White House makeover

Tehran may move enriched uranium stockpile to another country, open Hormuz under new proposal: Report

Anirudh Ravichander-Kavya Maran wedding celebrations begin: Jailer 2 composer grooves to dhol beats | See viral pics

Trick or vote? White House Halloween celebrations unfold days before crucial US midterm elections

No jeans, T-shirts or DJ parties: Bihar tightens rules for teachers, school events

US Midterm elections 2026: What would Democratic 'Blue Tsunami' look like? 235 house seats, 51 senate seats

Pune woman, six-year-old son die after fall from 18th floor; 8-page suicide note recovered

Israeli-American rabbi ridicules Hindu beliefs over cow worship, faces backlash | Video

All votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud emerges as biggest party with 27 seats; majority eludes both blocs

Captured on CCTV video: Six-year-old special needs girl brutally attacked by Class III student at Panchkula school

From Mahanati to Akka: How Keerthy Suresh transformed herself with every performance

T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly being removed from his position, with the BCCI selectors and head coach looking at his replacement. Who are the five names leading the race to become India’s next T20I captain? Let’s check out.

T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav is reportedly being removed from his position, with the BCCI selectors and head coach looking at his replacement. Who are the five names leading the race to become India’s next T20I captain? Let’s check out.

Who next after Suryakumar Yadav? 5 candidates for India’s T20I captaincy

Suryakumar Yadav’s time as Team India’s T20I captain seems to be up. After a horror IPL 2026 with the bat, SKY, who earlier became only the third Indian captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to lift a T20 World Cup, would be the topic of discussion when the BCCI selectors and the head coach Gautam Gambhir sit to pick the squad for the Ireland and England T20Is. At 35 and with an extended lean patch of runs, SKY’s exit looks imminent, with all stakeholders needing to pick his replacement and India’s new T20I captain.&nbsp;A few names popped up midway through the recently concluded IPL 2026, with the Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer leading the race. Although his team failed to reach the playoffs, Iyer’s captaincy style, batting form and history of working with Gambhir (at KKR) during their 2024 triumph campaign press his case as SKY’s replacement at number four in the T20Is. But is he an automatic choice? Perhaps not!&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-effect-india-a-odi-tri-series-to-be-broadcast-live-here-is-how-to-watch-sony-sports-network-1780492263509">The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch</a> &nbsp;The latest report suggests that despite BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s vision of picking a team for the future, as he is often known for, head coach Gambhir could have his reservations. Their disagreements over several topics, including squad selections and playing XIs, have often made headlines, which is healthy if the team benefits from it, but the two are not on the same page on this.&nbsp; &nbsp;With Agarkar wanting to pick a new captain, keeping an eye on the 2028 Summer Games and the T20 World Cup the same year, Gambhir wishes to have more options up his sleeve.<h3>So, what are the options?</h3>A source close to the information revealed several names are being discussed internally to replace SKY, including Sanju Samson, T20I vice-captain Axar Patel and even Ishan Kishan, who impressed with his leadership skills in Pat Cummins’ absence this season. &nbsp;"Ajit is a very strong chief selector, one of the strongest to have been in charge. He has taken some tough calls with an eye on the future, and he, along with his panel, has a plan in place for the T20I captaincy and the way forward. That's the reason Shreyas was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and was in the squad for the last bilateral series India played before the T20 World Cup," the source revealed in a chat with the Times of India (TOI).&nbsp; &nbsp;"Now is he the coach's choice? Or he has someone else in mind? And will that someone be the selectors' choice? These are the important points of discussion. Axar Patel was the vice-captain for the World Cup; Ishan Kishan has age, form and leadership credentials, and then there is Sanju Samson's name doing the rounds. Samson has recency bias on his side, but his inconsistency has not pleased key stakeholders," the source added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s next assignment is a home series against Afghanistan, starting with a one-off Test on June 6 in New Chandigarh, with the three ODIs to follow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Who will replace SKY? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir are reportedly divided over India's next T20I captain as the Suryakumar era nears its end.

Suryakumar Yadav’s time as Team India’s T20I captain seems to be up. After a horror IPL 2026 with the bat, SKY, who earlier became only the third Indian captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to lift a T20 World Cup, would be the topic of discussion when the BCCI selectors and the head coach Gautam Gambhir sit to pick the squad for the Ireland and England T20Is. At 35 and with an extended lean patch of runs, SKY’s exit looks imminent, with all stakeholders needing to pick his replacement and India’s new T20I captain. A few names popped up midway through the recently concluded IPL 2026, with the Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer leading the race. Although his team failed to reach the playoffs, Iyer’s captaincy style, batting form and history of working with Gambhir (at KKR) during their 2024 triumph campaign press his case as SKY’s replacement at number four in the T20Is. But is he an automatic choice? Perhaps not! Also read | The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch The latest report suggests that despite BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s vision of picking a team for the future, as he is often known for, head coach Gambhir could have his reservations. Their disagreements over several topics, including squad selections and playing XIs, have often made headlines, which is healthy if the team benefits from it, but the two are not on the same page on this. With Agarkar wanting to pick a new captain, keeping an eye on the 2028 Summer Games and the T20 World Cup the same year, Gambhir wishes to have more options up his sleeve. So, what are the options? A source close to the information revealed several names are being discussed internally to replace SKY, including Sanju Samson, T20I vice-captain Axar Patel and even Ishan Kishan, who impressed with his leadership skills in Pat Cummins’ absence this season. "Ajit is a very strong chief selector, one of the strongest to have been in charge. He has taken some tough calls with an eye on the future, and he, along with his panel, has a plan in place for the T20I captaincy and the way forward. That's the reason Shreyas was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and was in the squad for the last bilateral series India played before the T20 World Cup," the source revealed in a chat with the Times of India (TOI). "Now is he the coach's choice? Or he has someone else in mind? And will that someone be the selectors' choice? These are the important points of discussion. Axar Patel was the vice-captain for the World Cup; Ishan Kishan has age, form and leadership credentials, and then there is Sanju Samson's name doing the rounds. Samson has recency bias on his side, but his inconsistency has not pleased key stakeholders," the source added. Meanwhile, India’s next assignment is a home series against Afghanistan, starting with a one-off Test on June 6 in New Chandigarh, with the three ODIs to follow.

Who will replace SKY? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir are reportedly divided over India's next T20I captain as the Suryakumar era nears its end.

Agarkar, Gambhir divided over India’s ‘next T20I captain’ as SKY’s exit ‘most likely’ – Report

England Test captain Ben Stokes has defended Jofra Archer for his absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s due to IPL commitments. Speaking to the media ahead of the series opener starting Thursday (Jun 4), Stokes warned that leading England players like Archer could be driven away from international cricket if the ECB attempts to limit their IPL commitments.&nbsp;Months after the Ashes embarrassment (1-4), England resumes Test cricket duties, with the home summer getting underway at the Home of Cricket in London. However, the hosts would be without Archer for the first Test, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad, which was beaten by the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. &nbsp;Currently in Barbados, the country of his birth, Archer’s availability for the second Test also remains uncertain.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-effect-india-a-odi-tri-series-to-be-broadcast-live-here-is-how-to-watch-sony-sports-network-1780492263509">The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch</a> &nbsp;Although New Zealand’s cricketer-turned-broadcaster Simon Doull called Archer’s absence (due to IPL commitments) ‘absolutely ludicrous’, Stokes commented on the same, saying that the top white-ball players could lose to Tests if they were to make themselves available for every match. &nbsp;"I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," Stokes said. "A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. &nbsp;"A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that there were not 10, 15, 20 years ago." &nbsp;Stokes said Archer's desire to play for his country was unquestionable, warning against a hardline approach. &nbsp;"There is a situation where it could get messy, and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for there anyone," he said. "Jofra has shown that he's committed and loves playing for England. Just because he's not available for this first Test match does not change that." &nbsp;On the other hand, Jacob Bethell, who also represented the eventual IPL 2026 winners, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is with the England team at Lord's, having played no meaningful red-ball cricket since his stunning Ashes century in Sydney in January. &nbsp;"It's just one of those things. You have your number three (Bethell), he has a great couple of games out in Australia, then he spends nine or 10 weeks out in India, and you are seeing him two days before a Test match," said Stokes. "That is almost becoming the norm. The game is changing all the time. There are some things you have to roll with and accept; it is what it is."&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes defends Jofra Archer’s absence from the New Zealand Test series opener following backlash over his extended IPL commitments.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has defended Jofra Archer for his absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s due to IPL commitments. Speaking to the media ahead of the series opener starting Thursday (Jun 4), Stokes warned that leading England players like Archer could be driven away from international cricket if the ECB attempts to limit their IPL commitments. Months after the Ashes embarrassment (1-4), England resumes Test cricket duties, with the home summer getting underway at the Home of Cricket in London. However, the hosts would be without Archer for the first Test, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad, which was beaten by the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. Currently in Barbados, the country of his birth, Archer’s availability for the second Test also remains uncertain. Also read | The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch Although New Zealand’s cricketer-turned-broadcaster Simon Doull called Archer’s absence (due to IPL commitments) ‘absolutely ludicrous’, Stokes commented on the same, saying that the top white-ball players could lose to Tests if they were to make themselves available for every match. "I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," Stokes said. "A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. "A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that there were not 10, 15, 20 years ago." Stokes said Archer's desire to play for his country was unquestionable, warning against a hardline approach. "There is a situation where it could get messy, and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for there anyone," he said. "Jofra has shown that he's committed and loves playing for England. Just because he's not available for this first Test match does not change that." On the other hand, Jacob Bethell, who also represented the eventual IPL 2026 winners, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is with the England team at Lord's, having played no meaningful red-ball cricket since his stunning Ashes century in Sydney in January. "It's just one of those things. You have your number three (Bethell), he has a great couple of games out in Australia, then he spends nine or 10 weeks out in India, and you are seeing him two days before a Test match," said Stokes. "That is almost becoming the norm. The game is changing all the time. There are some things you have to roll with and accept; it is what it is." (With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes defends Jofra Archer’s absence from the New Zealand Test series opener following backlash over his extended IPL commitments.

‘It is what it is’: Ben Stokes defends Archer’s Test absence due to IPL duties

Has India found its new cricketing superstar? Perhaps! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 15, is doing wonders. Not only is he making headlines for all the right reasons, but he is also forcing broadcasters to chase him, even if it is for an India-A tour. After owning IPL 2026, the 15-year-old prodigy will don the India jersey for the ODI tri-series (A-tour), including hosts Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. His inclusion in the side sparked significant interest, with the authorities deciding to broadcast the whole series on a full-fledged scale.&nbsp;After his over-the-top IPL 2026, where Vaibhav won as many as five awards, including the MVP, Super Striker and three more, the Sony Sports Network, which holds broadcasting rights for India’s tours of Sri Lanka, will telecast the tri-series, starting June 9. After missing out on broadcasting the ICC tournaments and IPL, with rivals JioHotstar televising all major action lately, Sony holds the rights to showcase Vaibhav’s talent worldwide.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2026-full-schedule-2-wtc-tests-5-odis-t20is-india-set-for-marathon-new-zealand-tour-this-winters-shubman-gill-wtc-final-cycle-1780487709956">2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for marathon New Zealand tour this winter | Check full schedule</a> &nbsp;Although not new to the praises, Vaibhav earned widespread pats on his back for his scintillating performance in the past year. Since making his IPL debut in the 2025 edition, Vaibhav has won several accolades, including winning the Under-19 ODI World Cup early this year. His second IPL season saw him break an array of records.&nbsp; &nbsp;The left-handed opener scored the most runs by an uncapped player in an edition in the tournament history, scoring 776 runs in 16 matches and winning the Orange Cap for that. He also broke Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes hit in a season, surpassing Gayle’s tally of 59 (in 2012), clobbering 72 in his second season. His exploits in the Eliminator against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) broke the internet, as he smashed 97 off just 29 balls, his 90-plus score in this season, excluding a hundred. &nbsp;Such was his craze that when he departed on a brilliant 96 against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2, the crowd at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Mullanpur went silent, reminding everyone of early Sachin Tendulkar days in Indian Cricket.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Dambulla will host all matches.&nbsp;

After a historic, record-breaking season, 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gears up for India A's tour of Sri Lanka. Catch the live action on Sony!

Has India found its new cricketing superstar? Perhaps! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 15, is doing wonders. Not only is he making headlines for all the right reasons, but he is also forcing broadcasters to chase him, even if it is for an India-A tour. After owning IPL 2026, the 15-year-old prodigy will don the India jersey for the ODI tri-series (A-tour), including hosts Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. His inclusion in the side sparked significant interest, with the authorities deciding to broadcast the whole series on a full-fledged scale. After his over-the-top IPL 2026, where Vaibhav won as many as five awards, including the MVP, Super Striker and three more, the Sony Sports Network, which holds broadcasting rights for India’s tours of Sri Lanka, will telecast the tri-series, starting June 9. After missing out on broadcasting the ICC tournaments and IPL, with rivals JioHotstar televising all major action lately, Sony holds the rights to showcase Vaibhav’s talent worldwide. Also read | 2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for marathon New Zealand tour this winter | Check full schedule Although not new to the praises, Vaibhav earned widespread pats on his back for his scintillating performance in the past year. Since making his IPL debut in the 2025 edition, Vaibhav has won several accolades, including winning the Under-19 ODI World Cup early this year. His second IPL season saw him break an array of records. The left-handed opener scored the most runs by an uncapped player in an edition in the tournament history, scoring 776 runs in 16 matches and winning the Orange Cap for that. He also broke Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes hit in a season, surpassing Gayle’s tally of 59 (in 2012), clobbering 72 in his second season. His exploits in the Eliminator against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) broke the internet, as he smashed 97 off just 29 balls, his 90-plus score in this season, excluding a hundred. Such was his craze that when he departed on a brilliant 96 against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2, the crowd at the New Chandigarh Stadium in Mullanpur went silent, reminding everyone of early Sachin Tendulkar days in Indian Cricket. Meanwhile, Dambulla will host all matches.

After a historic, record-breaking season, 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gears up for India A's tour of Sri Lanka. Catch the live action on Sony!

The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December.&nbsp;India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-3rd-t20i-harmanpreet-s-50-goes-in-vain-as-england-seal-series-2-1-after-capsey-and-knight-masterclass-1780450151980">IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass</a> &nbsp;The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. &nbsp;"The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. &nbsp;For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. &nbsp;Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. &nbsp;New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23.&nbsp;<h3>Check Team India's Full Schedule -&nbsp;</h3>T20I Series -<ul><li>1st T20I - October 22</li><li>2nd T20I – October 24</li><li>3rd T20I – October 27</li><li>4th T20I – October 30</li><li>5th T20I – November 1</li></ul>ODI Series –<ul><li>1st ODI – November 4</li><li>2nd ODI – November 7</li><li>3rd ODI – November 10</li><li>4th ODI – November 13</li><li>5th ODI – November 15</li></ul>Test Series –<ul><li>1st Test – November 19 to 2</li><li>2nd Test – November 27 to December 1</li></ul>

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December. India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively. Also read | IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. "The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23. Check Team India's Full Schedule - T20I Series - 1st T20I - October 22 2nd T20I – October 24 3rd T20I – October 27 4th T20I – October 30 5th T20I – November 1 ODI Series – 1st ODI – November 4 2nd ODI – November 7 3rd ODI – November 10 4th ODI – November 13 5th ODI – November 15 Test Series – 1st Test – November 19 to 2 2nd Test – November 27 to December 1

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for marathon New Zealand tour this winter| Check full schedule

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is all over the cricket world and the internet. He is just 15 and has already defined the T20 template, enabling new ways to break records, score runs and hit sixes fearlessly. Playing only his second IPL season, the Rajasthan Royals opener, who is also an Under-19 ODI World Cup winner, swept away five records, creating history. His runs, sixes tally and strike rate earned him accolades that no one has collected in one season combined. He is clearly earmarked for international success and will soon realise his dream of playing for India, but what does this mean for him and the country? Let's explore.<h2>Records, rewards and much more</h2>Sooryavanshi broke a handful of IPL records in the just-concluded edition. Barring scoring the most runs for an uncapped player in an IPL season, the left-handed opener broke Chris Gayle’s tally of 59 sixes in one edition, which he smashed in 2012. Vaibhav comfortably passed that tally, clobbering 72 sixes in IPL 2026 – a record. &nbsp;Besides, Vaibhav also weaponised the first six overs like no batter has before him, scoring an astonishing 521 runs within the Powerplay phase, striking at a touching 233. His impact at the start kept him ahead of the modern-day SRH enforcers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-has-mastered-the-art-of-t20-batting-sanjay-manjrekar-lauds-rcb-star-for-his-ipl-2026-final-heroics-1780412086556">‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar lauds Kohli after his IPL 2026 final heroics</a> &nbsp;He has a lot more to him than just acing the art of T20 hitting, including hitting express pace with utter ease, maximising results on most occasions. During the Eliminator against Hyderabad in New Chandigarh, Sooryavanshi scored 97 off just 29 balls, hitting 12 sixes, including three in an over thrice. The look on Pat Cummins’ face and his comments after the match told the entire story.&nbsp; &nbsp;“He played pretty well. Just don't feel like you have too many options,” Cummins said on Vaibhav’s skyrocketing inning.<h3>What does the future hold for Sooryavanshi?</h3>Sooryavanshi’s rise has opened doors for budding cricketers to dream big and chase them, realising that if Vaibhav could, they can too. &nbsp;It’s not long before the batting sensation shall be fast-tracked into the senior men’s team, with plenty of T20 series lined up this year. While he will be away for the tri-nation T20 series in Sri Lanka next, representing India-A, the BCCI selectors could look at him as a potential pick for the away UK tour next. Considering the A-listers could be back for the five-match T20I series against England, starting July 1, Vaibhav could find a place for the Ireland T20Is. &nbsp;ODIs and Tests are a distant dream for now, but you never know.&nbsp; &nbsp;Could he break into India’s T20I first team in the meantime? Maybe, or maybe it’s early, but there are no questions about his talent.&nbsp;

At just 15, Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has completely rewritten T20 history in IPL 2026. Discover how he shattered Chris Gayle's ultimate record.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is all over the cricket world and the internet. He is just 15 and has already defined the T20 template, enabling new ways to break records, score runs and hit sixes fearlessly. Playing only his second IPL season, the Rajasthan Royals opener, who is also an Under-19 ODI World Cup winner, swept away five records, creating history. His runs, sixes tally and strike rate earned him accolades that no one has collected in one season combined. He is clearly earmarked for international success and will soon realise his dream of playing for India, but what does this mean for him and the country? Let's explore. Records, rewards and much more Sooryavanshi broke a handful of IPL records in the just-concluded edition. Barring scoring the most runs for an uncapped player in an IPL season, the left-handed opener broke Chris Gayle’s tally of 59 sixes in one edition, which he smashed in 2012. Vaibhav comfortably passed that tally, clobbering 72 sixes in IPL 2026 – a record. Besides, Vaibhav also weaponised the first six overs like no batter has before him, scoring an astonishing 521 runs within the Powerplay phase, striking at a touching 233. His impact at the start kept him ahead of the modern-day SRH enforcers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Also read | ‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar lauds Kohli after his IPL 2026 final heroics He has a lot more to him than just acing the art of T20 hitting, including hitting express pace with utter ease, maximising results on most occasions. During the Eliminator against Hyderabad in New Chandigarh, Sooryavanshi scored 97 off just 29 balls, hitting 12 sixes, including three in an over thrice. The look on Pat Cummins’ face and his comments after the match told the entire story. “He played pretty well. Just don't feel like you have too many options,” Cummins said on Vaibhav’s skyrocketing inning. What does the future hold for Sooryavanshi? Sooryavanshi’s rise has opened doors for budding cricketers to dream big and chase them, realising that if Vaibhav could, they can too. It’s not long before the batting sensation shall be fast-tracked into the senior men’s team, with plenty of T20 series lined up this year. While he will be away for the tri-nation T20 series in Sri Lanka next, representing India-A, the BCCI selectors could look at him as a potential pick for the away UK tour next. Considering the A-listers could be back for the five-match T20I series against England, starting July 1, Vaibhav could find a place for the Ireland T20Is. ODIs and Tests are a distant dream for now, but you never know. Could he break into India’s T20I first team in the meantime? Maybe, or maybe it’s early, but there are no questions about his talent.

At just 15, Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has completely rewritten T20 history in IPL 2026. Discover how he shattered Chris Gayle's ultimate record.

'The 15-year-old who broke IPL' - What Sooryavanshi's defining season means for Indian Cricket

The hosts, England, have named two uncapped players in their final XII for the summer’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in London. Opener Emilio Gay and pacer Sonny Baker have been picked for the series opener, while Ollie Robinson returned for the first time in over two years. Captain Ben Stokes is also back leading the team for the first time since the Ashes debacle, with veteran batter Joe Root ready to take centre stage. On the other hand, another of the Fab Four, Kane Williamson, is set for his last dance at the Home of Cricket.&nbsp;Check England XII for the Lord’s Test – &nbsp;Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue &nbsp;With no Zak Crawley at the top following a shallow away Ashes, England roped in Durham batter Gay to open alongside Ben Duckett, with Baker also potentially earning his maiden Test call-up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sairaj-bahutule-joins-india-support-staff-as-spin-bowling-coach-for-afghanistan-series-ind-vs-afg-one-off-test-new-chandigarh-june-6-1780403299248">Remember Sairaj Bahutule? PBKS spin coach joins India support staff for Afghanistan series</a> &nbsp;Praising the speedster, England head coach Brendon McCullum said, "Sonny Baker is quick. I think he's going to be a cricketer the country really gets behind when he does play. He charges in, and he leaves everything out there. He's full noise. He's exciting. He swings the ball both ways, and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph. He's an exciting proposition, and his time, if it's not in this Test, his time will come. If it is in this Test, I'd expect him to do a good job." &nbsp;With no Jofra Archer available for selection due to IPL commitments and Brydon Carse out with a finger injury, England brought back Robinson to lead the pace attack at Lord’s. Without revealing his final XI, McCullum commented on how the weather could determine the side that walks out for the first Test. &nbsp;"There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," McCullum said ahead of the Lord’s Test starting Thursday (June 4). “We have a strong understanding of what we think will be our XI, but we do want to have the ability to pivot if required, if the conditions turn out to be slightly different to what we anticipate.”<h3>Kane’s ‘last dance’ at Lord’s</h3>At 35, Kane Williamson might not play another Test at the Home of Cricket after this one and realising this, he said, "It's always a special Test. I think if you look over your career, you only get...well depends on how long you play for... but yeah, I've played for a while, and you only get a handful of opportunities to come to Lords and play. &nbsp;"I think the way they maintain the tradition is quite special. It's unique to Lords; the history that surrounds it, the effort that goes into it, to all of that- you come here and you, you notice those differences to all other grounds,” he continued.&nbsp;

A new era meets a historic farewell at Lord's. England name uncapped starlets Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker in their final XII, while Kane Williamson prepares for his ultimate 'last dance.'

The hosts, England, have named two uncapped players in their final XII for the summer’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in London. Opener Emilio Gay and pacer Sonny Baker have been picked for the series opener, while Ollie Robinson returned for the first time in over two years. Captain Ben Stokes is also back leading the team for the first time since the Ashes debacle, with veteran batter Joe Root ready to take centre stage. On the other hand, another of the Fab Four, Kane Williamson, is set for his last dance at the Home of Cricket. Check England XII for the Lord’s Test – Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue With no Zak Crawley at the top following a shallow away Ashes, England roped in Durham batter Gay to open alongside Ben Duckett, with Baker also potentially earning his maiden Test call-up. Also read | Remember Sairaj Bahutule? PBKS spin coach joins India support staff for Afghanistan series Praising the speedster, England head coach Brendon McCullum said, "Sonny Baker is quick. I think he's going to be a cricketer the country really gets behind when he does play. He charges in, and he leaves everything out there. He's full noise. He's exciting. He swings the ball both ways, and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph. He's an exciting proposition, and his time, if it's not in this Test, his time will come. If it is in this Test, I'd expect him to do a good job." With no Jofra Archer available for selection due to IPL commitments and Brydon Carse out with a finger injury, England brought back Robinson to lead the pace attack at Lord’s. Without revealing his final XI, McCullum commented on how the weather could determine the side that walks out for the first Test. "There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," McCullum said ahead of the Lord’s Test starting Thursday (June 4). “We have a strong understanding of what we think will be our XI, but we do want to have the ability to pivot if required, if the conditions turn out to be slightly different to what we anticipate.” Kane’s ‘last dance’ at Lord’s At 35, Kane Williamson might not play another Test at the Home of Cricket after this one and realising this, he said, "It's always a special Test. I think if you look over your career, you only get...well depends on how long you play for... but yeah, I've played for a while, and you only get a handful of opportunities to come to Lords and play. "I think the way they maintain the tradition is quite special. It's unique to Lords; the history that surrounds it, the effort that goes into it, to all of that- you come here and you, you notice those differences to all other grounds,” he continued.

A new era meets a historic farewell at Lord's. England name uncapped starlets Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker in their final XII, while Kane Williamson prepares for his ultimate 'last dance.'

ENG vs NZ 1st Test: England name uncapped Gay, Baker in final XII; Williamson set for Lord’s ‘last dance’

Melbourne’s two Big Bash League teams, the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, are reportedly set for a major change ahead of the upcoming season. According to SEN Cricket, the two clubs are expected to be brought together under a single operational structure managed by Cricket Victoria. Staff members were reportedly informed of the proposed development on Tuesday (Jun 2).&nbsp;The new team would keep the Melbourne name instead of Victoria, as per BBL rules and would likely continue to play home matches at the MCG and could potentially wear Victoria’s traditional navy-blue colours.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a previous report by Code Sports said “Bushrangers” is one of the names being considered for the new merged team. Although Cricket Victoria runs both Melbourne BBL sides, reports suggest it still plans to sell its second licene, which is likely to be bought by IPL-linked investors and rebranded.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-tahsin-mohammed-19-year-old-indian-teen-with-kerala-roots-named-in-qatar-fifa-world-cup-squad-1780415799928">Who is Tahsin Mohammed? Indian teen with Kerala roots named in Qatar World Cup squad</a>&nbsp;Earlier reports had indicated that the Renegades were the most likely club to be sold and under those plans, the franchise would have split its home fixtures across multiple venues, including the MCG, GMHBA Stadium, Junction Oval and even Chennai in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar on Kohli's IPL final heroics">‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar lauds Kohli after his IPL 2026 final heroics</a>&nbsp;The reports further indicate that the Stars and Renegades playing squads will remain separate for now, with the changes focused primarily on administration rather than on-field operations.&nbsp;The development comes after Cricket Australia’s efforts to introduce private ownership into the BBL from the 2027-28 season were put on hold in April following resistance from the cricket associations of Queensland and New South Wales.

In a major development for the Big Bash League, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades are reportedly set to merge into a single franchise, marking a significant shake-up in Australian T20 cricket.

Melbourne’s two Big Bash League teams, the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, are reportedly set for a major change ahead of the upcoming season. According to SEN Cricket, the two clubs are expected to be brought together under a single operational structure managed by Cricket Victoria. Staff members were reportedly informed of the proposed development on Tuesday (Jun 2). The new team would keep the Melbourne name instead of Victoria, as per BBL rules and would likely continue to play home matches at the MCG and could potentially wear Victoria’s traditional navy-blue colours. Meanwhile, a previous report by Code Sports said “Bushrangers” is one of the names being considered for the new merged team. Although Cricket Victoria runs both Melbourne BBL sides, reports suggest it still plans to sell its second licene, which is likely to be bought by IPL-linked investors and rebranded. Also Read - Who is Tahsin Mohammed? Indian teen with Kerala roots named in Qatar World Cup squad Earlier reports had indicated that the Renegades were the most likely club to be sold and under those plans, the franchise would have split its home fixtures across multiple venues, including the MCG, GMHBA Stadium, Junction Oval and even Chennai in India. Also Read - ‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar lauds Kohli after his IPL 2026 final heroics The reports further indicate that the Stars and Renegades playing squads will remain separate for now, with the changes focused primarily on administration rather than on-field operations. The development comes after Cricket Australia’s efforts to introduce private ownership into the BBL from the 2027-28 season were put on hold in April following resistance from the cricket associations of Queensland and New South Wales.

In a major development for the Big Bash League, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades are reportedly set to merge into a single franchise, marking a significant shake-up in Australian T20 cricket.

Melbourne Stars, Renegades set for merger in major Big Bash League shake-up

After 18 IPL seasons and two titles, back-to-back, batting giant Virat Kohli has mastered the art of T20 batting, says cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar. Kohli, the RCB icon, was the hero with the bat on the night of the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, hitting an unbeaten 75 to complete the run chase (against the Gujarat Titans) and help his team successfully defend its IPL crown. With 675 runs this season, Kohli became the only player ever to breach the 600-run mark in four straight editions, creating history. However, his longtime sceptic, Sanjay, praised Virat for his heroics.&nbsp;Virat has won countless T20 matches for India and his IPL franchise over the years, proving how well he has met the demands of the modern-day T20 game. Often called out for his strike rate, Virat bettered it from the last season, scoring at over 165 in IPL 2026, and Manjrekar is absolutely delighted with this improvement in his batting.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-a-player-and-what-a-knock-virat-kohli-gets-special-praise-from-this-england-footballer-after-rcb-s-back-to-back-ipl-titles-1780380131610">'What a player and what a knock': Virat Kohli gets special praise from THIS England footballer after RCB's back-to-back IPL titles</a>&nbsp;Also, unlike previously, when Kohli used to take his time before opening his arms, as it’s his usual game, the batting king now begins in the third and fourth gear, cashing in on the chances inside the Powerplay, something that impressed Manjrekar the most. Taking to his Instagram channel, Sanjay lauded Kohli, saying,&nbsp;“At this stage, watching him in this tournament, he has mastered the art of T20 batting that is needed in IPL cricket. Which means now he knows that he has to score at a 150 to 160 strike rate. So he cashes in the first six overs. The most important thing is that he has found this power game, which is just about optimum. It’s almost like he is in third and fourth gear, while the others are trying to hit at a strike rate of 200 and 230.&nbsp;“Because of that, there are mishits, and they have to be lucky with someone dropping a catch, and then their innings flourish. Virat Kohli has ensured that there aren’t any mishits because he’s just hitting the ball long enough to go over the boundary, thereby ensuring his technique and balance are right. The bottom hand jab comes into play,” he added.<h3>Precision of placing fours over volatile sixes</h3>Regardless of how quickly T20 cricket is evolving and upcoming youngsters love smashing all balls over the boundary line, Kohli enjoys scoring his boundaries, as he does in international cricket. Carefully mending his T20 game to tick the modern-day parameters, Kohli hasn’t lost touch with scoring fours at will.&nbsp;“When hitting boundaries, Kohli is still big on fours rather than sixes as he does in white-ball international cricket. Having mastered the art of T20 batting, I don’t see it quickly fading away from Kohli. He will keep working on his fitness, and he has found this template to be consistent and to go with the modern times of strike rate. This form of Virat Kohli will be there for a while, and thereby, RCB will be very fortunate and, in a way, very deserving as well,” Manjrekar observed.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Kohli’s next outing will be against Afghanistan during the three-match ODI series starting June 14.

After RCB's historic IPL 2026 title defence, longtime sceptic Sanjay Manjrekar admits Virat Kohli has completely mastered the modern template of T20 batting.

After 18 IPL seasons and two titles, back-to-back, batting giant Virat Kohli has mastered the art of T20 batting, says cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar. Kohli, the RCB icon, was the hero with the bat on the night of the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, hitting an unbeaten 75 to complete the run chase (against the Gujarat Titans) and help his team successfully defend its IPL crown. With 675 runs this season, Kohli became the only player ever to breach the 600-run mark in four straight editions, creating history. However, his longtime sceptic, Sanjay, praised Virat for his heroics. Virat has won countless T20 matches for India and his IPL franchise over the years, proving how well he has met the demands of the modern-day T20 game. Often called out for his strike rate, Virat bettered it from the last season, scoring at over 165 in IPL 2026, and Manjrekar is absolutely delighted with this improvement in his batting. Also read | 'What a player and what a knock': Virat Kohli gets special praise from THIS England footballer after RCB's back-to-back IPL titles Also, unlike previously, when Kohli used to take his time before opening his arms, as it’s his usual game, the batting king now begins in the third and fourth gear, cashing in on the chances inside the Powerplay, something that impressed Manjrekar the most. Taking to his Instagram channel, Sanjay lauded Kohli, saying, “At this stage, watching him in this tournament, he has mastered the art of T20 batting that is needed in IPL cricket. Which means now he knows that he has to score at a 150 to 160 strike rate. So he cashes in the first six overs. The most important thing is that he has found this power game, which is just about optimum. It’s almost like he is in third and fourth gear, while the others are trying to hit at a strike rate of 200 and 230. “Because of that, there are mishits, and they have to be lucky with someone dropping a catch, and then their innings flourish. Virat Kohli has ensured that there aren’t any mishits because he’s just hitting the ball long enough to go over the boundary, thereby ensuring his technique and balance are right. The bottom hand jab comes into play,” he added. Precision of placing fours over volatile sixes Regardless of how quickly T20 cricket is evolving and upcoming youngsters love smashing all balls over the boundary line, Kohli enjoys scoring his boundaries, as he does in international cricket. Carefully mending his T20 game to tick the modern-day parameters, Kohli hasn’t lost touch with scoring fours at will. “When hitting boundaries, Kohli is still big on fours rather than sixes as he does in white-ball international cricket. Having mastered the art of T20 batting, I don’t see it quickly fading away from Kohli. He will keep working on his fitness, and he has found this template to be consistent and to go with the modern times of strike rate. This form of Virat Kohli will be there for a while, and thereby, RCB will be very fortunate and, in a way, very deserving as well,” Manjrekar observed. Meanwhile, Kohli’s next outing will be against Afghanistan during the three-match ODI series starting June 14.

After RCB's historic IPL 2026 title defence, longtime sceptic Sanjay Manjrekar admits Virat Kohli has completely mastered the modern template of T20 batting.

‘He has mastered the art of T20 batting’: Manjrekar lauds Kohli after his IPL 2026 final heroics

Here's a look at the five players who could be released by their franchises after disappointing campaigns in IPL 2026.

Here's a look at the five players who could be released by their franchises after disappointing campaigns in IPL 2026.

IPL 2026: 5 players who could be released after disappointing campaigns

Sairaj Bahutule, the former Indian leg-spinner and a domestic giant with over 600 wickets in First-Class cricket, will join Team India’s backroom staff as their spin-bowling coach for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The 53-year-old Punjab Kings spin coach will also work with the spinners in white-ball cricket.&nbsp;Bahutule’s coaching experience should come in handy for the Indian spinners across formats. While his latest stint was with PBKS during the just-concluded IPL 2026, where his team finished outside the top four, Sairaj worked with Kerala and Bengal men’s teams earlier. Even in the IPL, he was part of Rajasthan Royals’ support staff from 2018 to 2021, before joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He rejoined the franchise for one year during the 2025 edition.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-founder-lalit-modi-biggest-regret-giving-bcci-too-much-power-indian-premier-league-valuation-ipl-2026-final-rcb-beat-gt-1780399643914">‘My Biggest Regret’: IPL founder Lalit Modi on giving BCCI too much power</a> &nbsp;During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as Team India head coach, Sairaj was part of the support staff for India A series, alongside a few India series. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Bahutule had a brief international career. Since making his India debut in 1997, the leg-spinner has played only two Tests and eight ODIs, with his last appearance coming in 2003. However, in domestic cricket, Bahutule registered 630 FC wickets in 188 matches, and 197 in 143 List-A Games &nbsp;Bahutule will now join Team India’s coaching staff consisting of the head coach (Gautam Gambhir), bowling coach Morne Morkel, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, T Dilip (fielding coach) and Ryan Ten Doeschate (assistant coach). &nbsp;Sitting in the sixth place on the WTC points table with four wins, as many losses and a draw, Team India must pull up its socks should they wish to stay alive in the race for the top two in this cycle. Team India will return to action for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, starting June 6.&nbsp;

Domestic cricket legend Sairaj Bahutule joins Gautam Gambhir's Team India backroom staff as specialist spin coach ahead of the Afghanistan Test in Chandigarh.

Sairaj Bahutule, the former Indian leg-spinner and a domestic giant with over 600 wickets in First-Class cricket, will join Team India’s backroom staff as their spin-bowling coach for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The 53-year-old Punjab Kings spin coach will also work with the spinners in white-ball cricket. Bahutule’s coaching experience should come in handy for the Indian spinners across formats. While his latest stint was with PBKS during the just-concluded IPL 2026, where his team finished outside the top four, Sairaj worked with Kerala and Bengal men’s teams earlier. Even in the IPL, he was part of Rajasthan Royals’ support staff from 2018 to 2021, before joining the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He rejoined the franchise for one year during the 2025 edition. Also read | ‘My Biggest Regret’: IPL founder Lalit Modi on giving BCCI too much power During Rahul Dravid’s tenure as Team India head coach, Sairaj was part of the support staff for India A series, alongside a few India series. Meanwhile, Bahutule had a brief international career. Since making his India debut in 1997, the leg-spinner has played only two Tests and eight ODIs, with his last appearance coming in 2003. However, in domestic cricket, Bahutule registered 630 FC wickets in 188 matches, and 197 in 143 List-A Games Bahutule will now join Team India’s coaching staff consisting of the head coach (Gautam Gambhir), bowling coach Morne Morkel, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, T Dilip (fielding coach) and Ryan Ten Doeschate (assistant coach). Sitting in the sixth place on the WTC points table with four wins, as many losses and a draw, Team India must pull up its socks should they wish to stay alive in the race for the top two in this cycle. Team India will return to action for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, starting June 6.

Domestic cricket legend Sairaj Bahutule joins Gautam Gambhir's Team India backroom staff as specialist spin coach ahead of the Afghanistan Test in Chandigarh.

Remember Sairaj Bahutule? PBKS spin coach joins India support staff for Afghanistan series

For the first time in history, Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team is set to host India in a bilateral series. According to media reports, the two sides will play a three-match T20I series in Sep 2026, with all matches scheduled to be held in India. While an official confirmation is still pending, sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have reached an agreement, with only a few formalities remaining before the announcement.&nbsp;“BCCI and ACB share a good relationship. BCCI has been helping other boards like Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe by sending Indian teams to play series there to boost the finances of those boards. An understanding has been reached between BCCI and ACB in this regard. An official announcement will be made after a few modalities are completed," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by TOI on Tuesday.&nbsp;The series is expected to take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sep 13, 16 and 19 and will serve as preparation ahead of the Asian Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The BCCI facilitated an understanding between the ACB and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for Delhi to serve as the home base for Afghanistan during the series. The DDCA is also scheduling its Delhi Premier League T20 accordingly," the source said.&nbsp;“The itinerary has been shared with India’s national selection committee since it has to pick a 15-member T20 squad for the Asian Games later in September. The cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin on September 23. The selectors will pick the team accordingly," the source added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-reschedules-women-s-champions-trophy-2027-to-february-window-1780384079095">ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window</a>&nbsp;Due to ongoing geopolitical challenges, Afghanistan have been unable to host international cricket regularly at home and have instead used venues in India and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Afghanistan are also scheduled to tour India this month for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series. The Test match will be played at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur from Jun 6 to 10. The ODI leg of the tour will follow, with matches scheduled in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai on Jun 13, 17 and 20 respectively.

The T20I series between India and Afghanistan is expected to take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sep 13, 16, 19 and will serve as preparation ahead of the Asian Games.

For the first time in history, Afghanistan’s men’s cricket team is set to host India in a bilateral series. According to media reports, the two sides will play a three-match T20I series in Sep 2026, with all matches scheduled to be held in India. While an official confirmation is still pending, sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have reached an agreement, with only a few formalities remaining before the announcement. “BCCI and ACB share a good relationship. BCCI has been helping other boards like Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe by sending Indian teams to play series there to boost the finances of those boards. An understanding has been reached between BCCI and ACB in this regard. An official announcement will be made after a few modalities are completed," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by TOI on Tuesday. The series is expected to take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sep 13, 16 and 19 and will serve as preparation ahead of the Asian Games. “The BCCI facilitated an understanding between the ACB and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for Delhi to serve as the home base for Afghanistan during the series. The DDCA is also scheduling its Delhi Premier League T20 accordingly," the source said. “The itinerary has been shared with India’s national selection committee since it has to pick a 15-member T20 squad for the Asian Games later in September. The cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin on September 23. The selectors will pick the team accordingly," the source added. Also Read - ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window Due to ongoing geopolitical challenges, Afghanistan have been unable to host international cricket regularly at home and have instead used venues in India and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Afghanistan are also scheduled to tour India this month for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series. The Test match will be played at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur from Jun 6 to 10. The ODI leg of the tour will follow, with matches scheduled in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai on Jun 13, 17 and 20 respectively.

The T20I series between India and Afghanistan is expected to take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sep 13, 16, 19 and will serve as preparation ahead of the Asian Games.

Delhi set to host India vs Afghanistan T20I series in September 2026

IPL founder and fugitive billionaire Lalit Modi opens up about his biggest regret, and it centres entirely around the Indian Cricket Board. After the BCCI expelled and banned the creator of the world's richest cricket league over financial irregularities and misconduct following the 2010 edition, Modi said he regretted leaving India without doing certain things that needed to be done at that time. Modi revealed how everyone was jealous of his creation, adding that the cash-rich Indian Premier League wouldn’t have worked if it hadn’t been for him.&nbsp;“I was cut to size because of many other issues. Everybody was jealous. It wouldn’t have worked if I had not been who I was. The IPL wouldn’t have worked if not for me. Why are you talking to me 17 years later, despite me not being part of the game since then?” Modi said while speaking to Wisden for the Scoop Extended.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It (The idea of IPL) just didn’t come out of thin air. It went through a lot of scientific research and a lot of learnings of mine. Everybody around the world has tried to create what I created and failed. When people say, I made a mistake, I didn’t make a mistake. If I had to ever do this again, it wouldn’t be any different from what I did last time,” he added.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-planned-his-historic-776-run-ipl-season-months-in-advance-1780384799933">How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi planned his historic 776-run IPL season months in advance</a> &nbsp;Modi, however, revealed his biggest regret was handing too much power to the BCCI over the IPL, which now rules this world of T20-based franchise leagues. Even though most of the Test-playing nations now have their own franchise T20 leagues, none compares to the IPL, whose valuation is approximately $18bn (INR 1.63 lakh crores). &nbsp;“I regretted the fact that I left India without doing certain things that had to be done. The founder of the IPL should always get a seat on the board of the league. I gave too much power to the BCCI,” Modi said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I could have dictated at the time what I wanted because everybody thought it’s gonna fail. They didn’t really care about it; I had already written the constitution of a separate company being formed. Obviously, BCCI would continue to get the money, but the governance of the league should have been in partnership with the IPL owners along with the BCCI,” he concluded. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the BCCI successfully hosted the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defending its IPL crown. The RCB beat the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

IPL founder Lalit Modi reveals his "biggest regret" regarding the BCCI's total control over the $18bn league and claims it wouldn't exist without him.

IPL founder and fugitive billionaire Lalit Modi opens up about his biggest regret, and it centres entirely around the Indian Cricket Board. After the BCCI expelled and banned the creator of the world's richest cricket league over financial irregularities and misconduct following the 2010 edition, Modi said he regretted leaving India without doing certain things that needed to be done at that time. Modi revealed how everyone was jealous of his creation, adding that the cash-rich Indian Premier League wouldn’t have worked if it hadn’t been for him. “I was cut to size because of many other issues. Everybody was jealous. It wouldn’t have worked if I had not been who I was. The IPL wouldn’t have worked if not for me. Why are you talking to me 17 years later, despite me not being part of the game since then?” Modi said while speaking to Wisden for the Scoop Extended. "It (The idea of IPL) just didn’t come out of thin air. It went through a lot of scientific research and a lot of learnings of mine. Everybody around the world has tried to create what I created and failed. When people say, I made a mistake, I didn’t make a mistake. If I had to ever do this again, it wouldn’t be any different from what I did last time,” he added. Also read | How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi planned his historic 776-run IPL season months in advance Modi, however, revealed his biggest regret was handing too much power to the BCCI over the IPL, which now rules this world of T20-based franchise leagues. Even though most of the Test-playing nations now have their own franchise T20 leagues, none compares to the IPL, whose valuation is approximately $18bn (INR 1.63 lakh crores). “I regretted the fact that I left India without doing certain things that had to be done. The founder of the IPL should always get a seat on the board of the league. I gave too much power to the BCCI,” Modi said. “I could have dictated at the time what I wanted because everybody thought it’s gonna fail. They didn’t really care about it; I had already written the constitution of a separate company being formed. Obviously, BCCI would continue to get the money, but the governance of the league should have been in partnership with the IPL owners along with the BCCI,” he concluded. Meanwhile, the BCCI successfully hosted the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defending its IPL crown. The RCB beat the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.

IPL founder Lalit Modi reveals his "biggest regret" regarding the BCCI's total control over the $18bn league and claims it wouldn't exist without him.

‘My Biggest Regret’: IPL founder Lalit Modi on giving BCCI too much power

Former England captain and Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff takes the reins as the new head coach of the Big Bash League franchise Sydney Thunder. Having already coached The Hundred franchise Northern Superchargers (now SunRisers Leeds) in 2024 and 2025, Flintoff will mark his first head coaching role in the BBL. Flintoff’s appointment, which the Thunder says is ‘the most significant off-field acquisition in club history’, comes on the back of his experience coaching England Lions and the A-side in the past 12 months, including against Australia ahead of the away Ashes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sydney Thunder are proud to announce Andrew &#39;Freddie&#39; Flintoff | <a href="https://x.com/flintoff11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@flintoff11</a> as BBL Head Coach for until the end of BBL|17 ⚡️ Full release ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/gKig9dOOBy">https://t.co/gKig9dOOBy</a> <a href="https://t.co/WGkQ3LNRKo">pic.twitter.com/WGkQ3LNRKo</a>&mdash; Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) <a href="https://x.com/ThunderBBL/status/2061721535329767849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His appointment as Thunder’s coach will affect the Lions’ tour of South Africa in December, as their schedules overlap. Flintoff, however, has also briefly worked with England’s white-ball squads as a consultant when Matthew Mott was coaching the senior team.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-s-schedule-after-ipl-2026-complete-list-of-matches-dates-and-venues-1780387433672">Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues</a> &nbsp;"This is a huge day in the history of Sydney Thunder, and the BBL more broadly," Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said. "Fred brings something truly unique to Sydney Thunder. He's a global icon of the game, but more importantly, he is a modern leader who understands how to build high-performance environments, connect with players as people, and set standards that last. His passion for the game, coaching itself and knowledge of Australian cricket, and our Thunder program stood out during the process. &nbsp;"The goal here isn't just about the now; it's about a step-change to establishing a culture and identity that will set us up for sustained success for years to come,” he continued. &nbsp;Flintoff will replace former England coach Trevor Bayliss, under whom Thunder reached the BBL final in the 2024/25 edition, while also finishing last in the 2023-24 and 2025-26 seasons.<h3>‘Cannot wait to get started’</h3>Having earlier plied his trade as a player in the Big Bash League (with the Brisbane Heat), Flintoff said he cannot wait to get started in a newer role.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I can't wait to get over there and get started," Flintoff said of his appointment. "I'm looking at this with a lot of optimism. You look at the franchise, you look at the players, you look at the support, and I think there's something really big to build on. &nbsp;"You look at the squad, and it's a real nice mix. You've got David Warner, Chris Green, Daniel Sams - some of these older guys are established cricketers, and you just want to provide an environment where they can go out there and flourish. We've seen how good they are. I saw Sam Konstas play against England Under-19s, against one of my lads - incredible talent. Matthew Gilkes and Tanveer Sangha are the same,” he added.

Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff has been named the new head coach of BBL franchise Sydney Thunder. Discover what this "historic" signing means for the club.

Former England captain and Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff takes the reins as the new head coach of the Big Bash League franchise Sydney Thunder. Having already coached The Hundred franchise Northern Superchargers (now SunRisers Leeds) in 2024 and 2025, Flintoff will mark his first head coaching role in the BBL. Flintoff’s appointment, which the Thunder says is ‘the most significant off-field acquisition in club history’, comes on the back of his experience coaching England Lions and the A-side in the past 12 months, including against Australia ahead of the away Ashes.

Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff has been named the new head coach of BBL franchise Sydney Thunder. Discover what this "historic" signing means for the club.

Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff takes reins as Sydney Thunder head coach in BBL

Amid criticism over his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi is reportedly set to join the team as a net bowler. The right-arm pacer enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 domestic season, playing an important role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. Nabi has claimed 156 wickets in 41 first-class matches at an impressive average of 18.37. During the recently concluded Ranji Trophy campaign, he produced outstanding numbers, taking 60 wickets at an average of 12.57, including seven five-wicket hauls.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to reports, Nabi is one of six bowlers who will assist the Indian team during practice sessions ahead of the Test.&nbsp;“Yes Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others, who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can’t go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.&nbsp;Despite his exceptional performances, the 29-year-old was overlooked for the 15-member Test squad, instead, the selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, handed a first national call-up to Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indonesia-open-2026-pv-sindhu-advances-to-round-of-16-srikanth-malvika-exit-1780388726483">Indonesia Open 2026: PV Sindhu advances to Round of 16, Srikanth, Malvika exit</a>&nbsp;Addressing Nabi’s omission, Agarkar acknowledged that the pacer was seriously considered but explained that team balance and Indian conditions limited the number of fast bowlers selected.&nbsp;“Auqib Nabi, of course, is someone who has had a great season, not just now but last season as well," Agarkar said. “There’s always a chat around that, but you don’t necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you pick a Test team in India. He was close, but at this point we have gone with the three that we have picked. But there was certainly a chat around that. There is no doubt that he has had some incredible performances for Jammu and Kashmir."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-s-schedule-after-ipl-2026-complete-list-of-matches-dates-and-venues-1780387433672">Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues</a>&nbsp;UP leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has also been asked to bowl in the nets as Afghanistan are expected to field several wrist-spinners.&nbsp;India are scheduled to begin preparations this afternoon for the match, which starts on Jun 6, however, the players who were part of IPL are unlikely to train.

IND vs AFG One-off Test: Auqib Nabi’s omission from India’s squad sparked debate, but the BCCI has now handed the Jammu and Kashmir pacer a surprise opportunity.

Amid criticism over his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi is reportedly set to join the team as a net bowler. The right-arm pacer enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 domestic season, playing an important role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. Nabi has claimed 156 wickets in 41 first-class matches at an impressive average of 18.37. During the recently concluded Ranji Trophy campaign, he produced outstanding numbers, taking 60 wickets at an average of 12.57, including seven five-wicket hauls. According to reports, Nabi is one of six bowlers who will assist the Indian team during practice sessions ahead of the Test. “Yes Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others, who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can’t go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Despite his exceptional performances, the 29-year-old was overlooked for the 15-member Test squad, instead, the selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, handed a first national call-up to Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar. Also Read - Indonesia Open 2026: PV Sindhu advances to Round of 16, Srikanth, Malvika exit Addressing Nabi’s omission, Agarkar acknowledged that the pacer was seriously considered but explained that team balance and Indian conditions limited the number of fast bowlers selected. “Auqib Nabi, of course, is someone who has had a great season, not just now but last season as well," Agarkar said. “There’s always a chat around that, but you don’t necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you pick a Test team in India. He was close, but at this point we have gone with the three that we have picked. But there was certainly a chat around that. There is no doubt that he has had some incredible performances for Jammu and Kashmir." Also Read - Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues UP leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has also been asked to bowl in the nets as Afghanistan are expected to field several wrist-spinners. India are scheduled to begin preparations this afternoon for the match, which starts on Jun 6, however, the players who were part of IPL are unlikely to train.

IND vs AFG One-off Test: Auqib Nabi’s omission from India’s squad sparked debate, but the BCCI has now handed the Jammu and Kashmir pacer a surprise opportunity.

Auqib Nabi added to India squad as backup for one-off Test vs Afghanistan

Shortly after the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes, India’s international cricket calendar will resume with a lone Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on June 6. Led by Shubman Gill, who recently guided Gujarat Titans to the IPL final, the squad includes key red-ball players such as KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj, all set to return to the longer format.&nbsp;Following the Test, India will shift focus to preparations for next year’s World Cup with a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The series will also see the return of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket, having already retired from Tests and T20Is.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India A team, under Tilak Varma’s leadership, will compete in a tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A from Jun 9 to 21. The squad blends youth and experience, featuring IPL 2026 Orange Cap winner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ruturaj Gaikwad and attacking openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya.&nbsp;&nbsp;The seven-match tournament in Sri Lanka is expected to serve as a key platform for emerging players aiming to push for selection in India’s ODI setup ahead of the global event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-a-player-and-what-a-knock-virat-kohli-gets-special-praise-from-this-england-footballer-after-rcb-s-back-to-back-ipl-titles-1780380131610">Kohli gets special praise from THIS footballer as RCB win back-to-back IPL title</a>&nbsp;India’s packed schedule continues with two T20Is in Ireland, followed by a tour of England featuring five T20Is and three ODIs from Jul 1 to 19.&nbsp;Later in 2026, India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is, host the West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is and conclude the year at home with white-ball series against Sri Lanka comprising three ODIs and three T20Is in December.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-reschedules-women-s-champions-trophy-2027-to-february-window-1780384079095">ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window</a><h3>Afghanistan tour of India 2026</h3><ul><li>Only Test: Jun 6 to 10 - New Chandigarh</li><li>1st ODI: Jun 13 - Dharamsala</li><li>2nd ODI: Jun 17 - Lucknow</li><li>3rd ODI: Jun 20 - Chennai</li></ul><h3>A-Team Tri-Series (IND-A, AFG-A &amp; SL-A)</h3><ul><li>1st match: Jun 9 - Sri Lanka A vs India A - Dambulla</li><li>2nd match: Jun 11 - Afghanistan A vs India A - Dambulla</li><li>4th match: Jun 15 - Sri Lanka A vs India A - Dambulla</li><li>5th match: Jun 17 - Afghanistan A vs India A - Dambulla</li><li>Final: Jun 21 - Dambulla</li></ul><h3>India tour of Ireland 2026</h3><ul><li>1st T20I: Jun 26 - Belfast</li><li>2nd T20I: Jun 28 - Belfast</li></ul><h3>India tour of England 2026</h3><ul><li>1st T20I: Jul 1 - Chester-le-Street</li><li>2nd T20I: Jul 4 - Manchester</li><li>3rd T20I: Jul 7 - Nottingham</li><li>4th T20I: Jul 9 - Bristol</li><li>5th T20I: Jul 11 - Southampton</li><li>1st ODI: Jul 14 - Birmingham</li><li>2nd ODI: Jul 16 - Cardiff</li><li>3rd ODI: Jul 19 - Lord’s</li></ul>

Complete list of India’s international fixtures following the conclusion of IPL 2026 on May 31.

Shortly after the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concludes, India’s international cricket calendar will resume with a lone Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on June 6. Led by Shubman Gill, who recently guided Gujarat Titans to the IPL final, the squad includes key red-ball players such as KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj, all set to return to the longer format. Following the Test, India will shift focus to preparations for next year’s World Cup with a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The series will also see the return of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket, having already retired from Tests and T20Is. Meanwhile, India A team, under Tilak Varma’s leadership, will compete in a tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A from Jun 9 to 21. The squad blends youth and experience, featuring IPL 2026 Orange Cap winner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ruturaj Gaikwad and attacking openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. The seven-match tournament in Sri Lanka is expected to serve as a key platform for emerging players aiming to push for selection in India’s ODI setup ahead of the global event. Also Read - Kohli gets special praise from THIS footballer as RCB win back-to-back IPL title India’s packed schedule continues with two T20Is in Ireland, followed by a tour of England featuring five T20Is and three ODIs from Jul 1 to 19. Later in 2026, India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is, host the West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is and conclude the year at home with white-ball series against Sri Lanka comprising three ODIs and three T20Is in December. Also Read - ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window Afghanistan tour of India 2026 Only Test: Jun 6 to 10 - New Chandigarh 1st ODI: Jun 13 - Dharamsala 2nd ODI: Jun 17 - Lucknow 3rd ODI: Jun 20 - Chennai A-Team Tri-Series (IND-A, AFG-A & SL-A) 1st match: Jun 9 - Sri Lanka A vs India A - Dambulla 2nd match: Jun 11 - Afghanistan A vs India A - Dambulla 4th match: Jun 15 - Sri Lanka A vs India A - Dambulla 5th match: Jun 17 - Afghanistan A vs India A - Dambulla Final: Jun 21 - Dambulla India tour of Ireland 2026 1st T20I: Jun 26 - Belfast 2nd T20I: Jun 28 - Belfast India tour of England 2026 1st T20I: Jul 1 - Chester-le-Street 2nd T20I: Jul 4 - Manchester 3rd T20I: Jul 7 - Nottingham 4th T20I: Jul 9 - Bristol 5th T20I: Jul 11 - Southampton 1st ODI: Jul 14 - Birmingham 2nd ODI: Jul 16 - Cardiff 3rd ODI: Jul 19 - Lord’s

Complete list of India’s international fixtures following the conclusion of IPL 2026 on May 31.

Team India's schedule after IPL 2026: Complete list of matches, dates and venues

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rescheduled the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy to Feb 2027, following decisions taken at its Board meeting in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Originally scheduled for June-July, the tournament will now take place from Feb 14 to 28, however, the ICC did not provide a specific explanation for the revised schedule. In a statement released on Monday, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the discussions in Ahmedabad reflected the governing body’s focus on strengthening governance, administration and the global development of cricket.&nbsp;“Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC’s commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally. From women’s cricket and emerging nations to the management of franchise competitions, today’s discussions and decisions aim to ensure that cricket remains fair, competitive, and exciting for fans worldwide," ICC chairman Jay Shah said in a statement on Monday.&nbsp;First announced in 2022, the Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in the T20 format and the new dates create a partial overlap with New Zealand’s white-ball tour of Australia, which runs from Feb 27 to Mar 7 and includes six limited-overs matches.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-planned-his-historic-776-run-ipl-season-months-in-advance-1780384799933">How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi planned his historic 776-run IPL season months in advance</a>&nbsp;According to ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Australia is evaluating possible options after being informed of the scheduling change.<h3>Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy introduced</h3>The ICC also confirmed the launch of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in 2026 as a pilot event featuring 10 teams. The competition will include five full member nations and five associate member teams, selected based on rankings and previous Women’s T20 World Cup qualification performances.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-a-player-and-what-a-knock-virat-kohli-gets-special-praise-from-this-england-footballer-after-rcb-s-back-to-back-ipl-titles-1780380131610">Kohli gets special praise from THIS footballer as RCB win back-to-back IPL title</a><h3>Qualification pathway for Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 approved</h3>During the meeting, the ICC Board also approved the qualification structure for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, which will be hosted by Pakistan. Under the existing arrangement, India’s matches in the tournament will be played at a neutral venue.&nbsp;The 12-team event will grant automatic qualification to 10 teams and will include the top eight sides from the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, the host nation if it has not already qualified and the next highest-ranked team in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as of 6 Jul, 2026.&nbsp;The final two places will be decided through a 10-team global qualifying tournament.

The ICC has rescheduled the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka from its original June-July window to February 2027.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rescheduled the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy to Feb 2027, following decisions taken at its Board meeting in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Originally scheduled for June-July, the tournament will now take place from Feb 14 to 28, however, the ICC did not provide a specific explanation for the revised schedule. In a statement released on Monday, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the discussions in Ahmedabad reflected the governing body’s focus on strengthening governance, administration and the global development of cricket. “Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC’s commitment to governance, administration and the growth of cricket globally. From women’s cricket and emerging nations to the management of franchise competitions, today’s discussions and decisions aim to ensure that cricket remains fair, competitive, and exciting for fans worldwide," ICC chairman Jay Shah said in a statement on Monday. First announced in 2022, the Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in the T20 format and the new dates create a partial overlap with New Zealand’s white-ball tour of Australia, which runs from Feb 27 to Mar 7 and includes six limited-overs matches. Also Read - How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi planned his historic 776-run IPL season months in advance According to ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Australia is evaluating possible options after being informed of the scheduling change. Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy introduced The ICC also confirmed the launch of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy in 2026 as a pilot event featuring 10 teams. The competition will include five full member nations and five associate member teams, selected based on rankings and previous Women’s T20 World Cup qualification performances. Also Read - Kohli gets special praise from THIS footballer as RCB win back-to-back IPL title Qualification pathway for Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 approved During the meeting, the ICC Board also approved the qualification structure for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, which will be hosted by Pakistan. Under the existing arrangement, India’s matches in the tournament will be played at a neutral venue. The 12-team event will grant automatic qualification to 10 teams and will include the top eight sides from the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, the host nation if it has not already qualified and the next highest-ranked team in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings as of 6 Jul, 2026. The final two places will be decided through a 10-team global qualifying tournament.

The ICC has rescheduled the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka from its original June-July window to February 2027.

ICC reschedules Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 to February window

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David has been suspended for one match by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The suspension will take effect in the opening game of the IPL 2027 season. According to an official IPL statement, David was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and handed two demerit points for committing a Level 1 offence under Article 2.9 of the Code of Conduct.&nbsp;The regulation relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Team Official, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a Match."&nbsp;As per the statement, the incident occurred in the 10th over of Gujarat Titans’ innings when David threw an ice bag aggressively in the direction of on-field umpire Nitin Menon. The Australian batter accepted responsibility for the offence and agreed to the penalty imposed by match referee Javagal Srinath.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-3rd-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1780321440408">IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;The sanction carries further consequences because it was David’s third Level 1 offence of the season; he had previously accumulated one demerit point in match 20 and two more in match 54. With the latest breach adding another two points, his season tally has reached five demerit points, which has led to an automatic one-match suspension.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-approves-red-to-pink-ball-switch-in-tests-to-reduce-bad-light-interruptions-1780323727292">ICC approves red-to-pink ball switch in Tests to reduce bad-light interruptions</a>&nbsp;As a result, David will be unavailable for the first match of IPL 2027, regardless of which franchise he represents. Earlier in the tournament, he was also penalised for refusing to hand the ball back to the umpire during a league-stage fixture.&nbsp;Despite the disciplinary setback, David played a crucial role in RCB’s successful title defence, contributing 305 runs at an impressive strike rate of 188.27. The Bengaluru side defeated Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium to retain the championship on Sunday (May 31).

Tim David banned for one match by BCCI after umpire incident in IPL 2026 final; here’s what happened

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David has been suspended for one match by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The suspension will take effect in the opening game of the IPL 2027 season. According to an official IPL statement, David was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and handed two demerit points for committing a Level 1 offence under Article 2.9 of the Code of Conduct. The regulation relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Team Official, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a Match." As per the statement, the incident occurred in the 10th over of Gujarat Titans’ innings when David threw an ice bag aggressively in the direction of on-field umpire Nitin Menon. The Australian batter accepted responsibility for the offence and agreed to the penalty imposed by match referee Javagal Srinath. Also Read - IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? The sanction carries further consequences because it was David’s third Level 1 offence of the season; he had previously accumulated one demerit point in match 20 and two more in match 54. With the latest breach adding another two points, his season tally has reached five demerit points, which has led to an automatic one-match suspension. Also Read - ICC approves red-to-pink ball switch in Tests to reduce bad-light interruptions As a result, David will be unavailable for the first match of IPL 2027, regardless of which franchise he represents. Earlier in the tournament, he was also penalised for refusing to hand the ball back to the umpire during a league-stage fixture. Despite the disciplinary setback, David played a crucial role in RCB’s successful title defence, contributing 305 runs at an impressive strike rate of 188.27. The Bengaluru side defeated Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium to retain the championship on Sunday (May 31).

Tim David banned for one match by BCCI after umpire incident in IPL 2026 final; here’s what happened

Why did Tim David receive a fine & one-match ban after IPL Final?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a trial in Test cricket that could see the traditional red ball replaced by a pink ball when poor light threatens to halt play. Approved during the ICC Board’s annual meeting in Ahmedabad, the initiative will only be implemented if both teams agree to the arrangement before a series begins. Under the trial, Test matches will continue to start with the red ball, but if fading light risks the loss of overs, floodlights may be used and a pink ball introduced to allow play to continue.&nbsp;&nbsp;The concept is aimed at reducing disruptions caused by bad light. For example, if 75 of the scheduled 90 overs in a day have already been completed and bad conditions prevent the remaining 15 overs from being bowled, those overs could be played under lights with a pink ball, provided both teams had agreed to the option.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ICC also confirmed that match officials will be able to use Hawk-Eye technology when reviewing and reporting suspected illegal bowling actions. Additionally, the governing body, in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), will invest in research and development projects focused on advanced lighting technologies to help minimise stoppages caused by poor visibility.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-3rd-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1780321440408">IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;In a statement, the ICC said the pink-ball trial is intended to “maximise play in case of anticipated bad light,” while maintaining the full scheduled quota of overs in Test matches.&nbsp;"Trialing the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light," said ICC in a statement.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-do-everything-bcci-drops-key-hint-on-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-1780310720719">'Will do everything...': BCCI drops key hint on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi</a>&nbsp;Among the other revised playing conditions, head coaches or individuals nominated by them will now be permitted to communicate with players during official drinks breaks. The updated regulations also introduce a standard 15-minute innings interval in T20 Internationals and require batters to be ready to resume play immediately after the break.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the ICC has revised the schedule for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, moving the tournament from its originally planned June-July window to Feb 14-28. The competition will be hosted in Sri Lanka and played in the T20I format, as decided earlier.&nbsp;The ICC has also approved a pilot edition of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, a 10-team tournament will feature five full member nations and five associate member teams, selected according to rankings and performances in T20 World Cup qualification events.

The ICC approved trial use of pink balls in Tests in case bad light affects play and allowed head coaches inside the field during drinks breaks at its annual meeting in Ahmedabad.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a trial in Test cricket that could see the traditional red ball replaced by a pink ball when poor light threatens to halt play. Approved during the ICC Board’s annual meeting in Ahmedabad, the initiative will only be implemented if both teams agree to the arrangement before a series begins. Under the trial, Test matches will continue to start with the red ball, but if fading light risks the loss of overs, floodlights may be used and a pink ball introduced to allow play to continue. The concept is aimed at reducing disruptions caused by bad light. For example, if 75 of the scheduled 90 overs in a day have already been completed and bad conditions prevent the remaining 15 overs from being bowled, those overs could be played under lights with a pink ball, provided both teams had agreed to the option. The ICC also confirmed that match officials will be able to use Hawk-Eye technology when reviewing and reporting suspected illegal bowling actions. Additionally, the governing body, in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), will invest in research and development projects focused on advanced lighting technologies to help minimise stoppages caused by poor visibility. Also Read - IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? In a statement, the ICC said the pink-ball trial is intended to “maximise play in case of anticipated bad light,” while maintaining the full scheduled quota of overs in Test matches. "Trialing the use of a pink ball in Test matches, with prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light," said ICC in a statement. Also Read - 'Will do everything...': BCCI drops key hint on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Among the other revised playing conditions, head coaches or individuals nominated by them will now be permitted to communicate with players during official drinks breaks. The updated regulations also introduce a standard 15-minute innings interval in T20 Internationals and require batters to be ready to resume play immediately after the break. Meanwhile, the ICC has revised the schedule for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, moving the tournament from its originally planned June-July window to Feb 14-28. The competition will be hosted in Sri Lanka and played in the T20I format, as decided earlier. The ICC has also approved a pilot edition of the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, a 10-team tournament will feature five full member nations and five associate member teams, selected according to rankings and performances in T20 World Cup qualification events.

The ICC approved trial use of pink balls in Tests in case bad light affects play and allowed head coaches inside the field during drinks breaks at its annual meeting in Ahmedabad.

ICC approves red-to-pink ball switch in Tests to reduce bad-light interruptions

The Indian women’s cricket team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, is gearing up for the third and final T20I of the three-match series against England at Taunton’s Cooper Associates County Ground. With the series tied 1-1, the winner of this encounter will not only clinch the series but also gain valuable momentum ahead of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup.&nbsp;For India, the series has served as an important opportunity to assess combinations and strategies suited to English conditions before the global tournament. Among the standout performers so far has been Yastika Bhatia, who followed her impressive half-century in the opening match with another useful contribution in the second game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-heartbeat-of-our-dressing-room-coach-andy-flower-after-rcb-s-ipl-2026-triumph-1780313161472">'Virat Kohli is heartbeat of our dressing room': Coach Andy Flower after RCB's IPL 2026 triumph</a>&nbsp;Jemimah Rodrigues also produced a fifty, while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma showed encouraging form with promising starts in the previous fixture.&nbsp;However, India’s batting unit has struggled to capitalise in the closing stages of the innings and has lost momentum during the final overs in both matches and power-hitter Richa Ghosh is yet to make a significant impact in the series.&nbsp;As the crucial clash between India Women and England Women approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-do-everything-bcci-drops-key-hint-on-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-1780310720719">'Will do everything...': BCCI drops key hint on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi</a><h3>India vs England Women, 3rd T20I: Match Details</h3><h3>When will the 3rd T20I be played?</h3>The final T20I of the series is scheduled for Jun 2, with the match set to begin at 11:00 pm IST. The toss will take place at 10:30 pm IST.<h3>Where is the match being played?</h3>The match will be held at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.<h3>Where can fans watch the match on television?</h3>The India Women vs England Women 3rd T20I live telecast will be available on the Star Sports in India.<h2>Where to livestream India-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I?</h2>The India Women vs England Women 3rd T20I will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.

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

The Indian women’s cricket team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, is gearing up for the third and final T20I of the three-match series against England at Taunton’s Cooper Associates County Ground. With the series tied 1-1, the winner of this encounter will not only clinch the series but also gain valuable momentum ahead of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup. For India, the series has served as an important opportunity to assess combinations and strategies suited to English conditions before the global tournament. Among the standout performers so far has been Yastika Bhatia, who followed her impressive half-century in the opening match with another useful contribution in the second game. Also Read - 'Virat Kohli is heartbeat of our dressing room': Coach Andy Flower after RCB's IPL 2026 triumph Jemimah Rodrigues also produced a fifty, while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma showed encouraging form with promising starts in the previous fixture. However, India’s batting unit has struggled to capitalise in the closing stages of the innings and has lost momentum during the final overs in both matches and power-hitter Richa Ghosh is yet to make a significant impact in the series. As the crucial clash between India Women and England Women approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India. Also Read - 'Will do everything...': BCCI drops key hint on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India vs England Women, 3rd T20I: Match Details When will the 3rd T20I be played? The final T20I of the series is scheduled for Jun 2, with the match set to begin at 11:00 pm IST. The toss will take place at 10:30 pm IST. Where is the match being played? The match will be held at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. Where can fans watch the match on television? The India Women vs England Women 3rd T20I live telecast will be available on the Star Sports in India. Where to livestream India-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I? The India Women vs England Women 3rd T20I will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website.

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

IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli after the franchise successfully retained its Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2026 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Flower described Kohli as the role model within the RCB camp and praised the veteran batter for setting a powerful example through his dedication and fearless approach.&nbsp;RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to defend the championship successfully. Led by Rajat Patidar, the side first restricted GT to 155/8 before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.&nbsp;Speaking in a video shared by RCB on X, Flower highlighted Kohli’s influence on the team, calling him the emotional core of the dressing room.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Virat, I know you get a lot of attention and quite rightly. But I don't want to downplay that because you are a heartbeat in this dressing room. And the courage that you continually show to go out there and put yourself on the line and take on high-quality opposition is a bloody great role modelling for all of us," Flower said in the video.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮”: Andy Flower to Virat Kohli ❤️ Coach Andy uncut. From highlighting top performances, to wishing the young guns. Here’s a special from Andy’s dressing room talk. 🎥😇🤩 Thank you, Coach! 🫡 To be… <a href="https://t.co/QHGI6xCmLP">pic.twitter.com/QHGI6xCmLP</a>&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://x.com/RCBTweets/status/2061297210449625193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Flower further acknowledged that Kohli often attracts significant attention, but stressed that his importance to the squad goes far beyond public recognition. According to the coach, Kohli’s willingness to shoulder responsibility and compete fearlessly against the best players in the world makes him an exceptional role model for the entire group.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When I think of our season, and I particularly think of the last couple of games in the playoffs, what really stands out for me is the bravery of you guys in the middle. There's been countless examples of it. But when you're playing at the top level, and that's Test cricket or World Cups or IPL, you need to be obviously highly skilful. You need to have cricket intelligence, but you really need to have heart. And we've seen that in abundance this year," Flower said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/anushka-sharma-plants-a-kiss-on-virat-kohli-s-forehead-as-they-celebrate-rcb-s-ipl-win-see-pic-1780315153831">Anushka Sharma plants a kiss on Virat Kohli’s forehead as they celebrate RCB’s IPL win, see pic</a>&nbsp;In the final, Gujarat Titans struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. Washington Sundar top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 37 deliveries, while Nishant Sindhu contributed 20. RCB’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, with Rasikh Dar Salam claiming 3/27, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets each.&nbsp;RCB’s chase began strongly through a 62-run opening partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Kohli. Although GT fought back and reduced the defending champions to 132/5, Kohli remained composed, finishing unbeaten on 75 from 42 balls. His innings, featuring nine boundaries and three sixes, steered RCB to victory with 12 balls remaining.&nbsp;The triumph secured RCB’s second IPL crown and added another milestone to the franchise’s growing trophy collection, which also includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles, taking their tally of major Indian franchise cricket trophies to four.

RCB head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli as the heartbeat of the dressing room after the franchise's IPL 2026 triumph over the Gujarat Titans in the final.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli after the franchise successfully retained its Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2026 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Flower described Kohli as the role model within the RCB camp and praised the veteran batter for setting a powerful example through his dedication and fearless approach. RCB became only the third franchise in IPL history, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to defend the championship successfully. Led by Rajat Patidar, the side first restricted GT to 155/8 before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare. Speaking in a video shared by RCB on X, Flower highlighted Kohli’s influence on the team, calling him the emotional core of the dressing room. "Virat, I know you get a lot of attention and quite rightly. But I don't want to downplay that because you are a heartbeat in this dressing room. And the courage that you continually show to go out there and put yourself on the line and take on high-quality opposition is a bloody great role modelling for all of us," Flower said in the video.

RCB head coach Andy Flower hailed Virat Kohli as the heartbeat of the dressing room after the franchise's IPL 2026 triumph over the Gujarat Titans in the final.

'Virat Kohli is heartbeat of our dressing room': Coach Andy Flower after RCB's IPL 2026 triumph

Praising teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his outstanding IPL 2026 campaign, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would provide every possible support to help the 15-year-old reach the “highest level of cricket". Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi ended IPL 2026 as the tournament’s leading run-getter, scoring 776 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.30.&nbsp;&nbsp;At just 15 years and 65 days old, he became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap, surpassing the previous mark set by Sai Sudharsan, who earned the honour while representing Gujarat Titans at the age of 23 years and 231 days.&nbsp;“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a wonderful player coming up, and he has a bright future. BCCI will do everything to get him to the highest level of cricket," Saikia said after the IPL final in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.&nbsp;Saikia also applauded Royal Challengers Bengaluru for successfully retaining their IPL crown.&nbsp;“It was a wonderful season… I hope all the fans have a lovely time during this IPL, and congratulations to RCB for winning the tournament consecutively twice," he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rcb-cancels-victory-parade-amid-security-and-crowd-management-concerns-1780308593561">IPL 2026: RCB cancels victory parade amid security and crowd management concerns</a>&nbsp;Focus will now shift to India’s preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the team will be chasing its first-ever title. Confidence is high around the India women’s team after their landmark ODI World Cup victory at home last year, when they defeated South Africa in the final.&nbsp;“That is the most challenging thing (Women’s T20 World Cup) coming up in the coming days. They (Women in Blue) are already doing well… and I hope they will repeat the same performance they did last year by winning the ODI title," Saikia added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-2026-world-no-1-sabalenka-faces-osaka-in-historic-night-clash-1780294182401">French Open 2026: World no 1 Sabalenka faces Osaka in historic night clash</a>&nbsp;Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur also praised the title-winning efforts of the Rajat Patidar-led RCB side.&nbsp;“I congratulate RCB for winning the IPL for the second consecutive time. The match was happening in Ahmedabad, but many RCB fans had come to watch the match. This was a great victory in cricket… IPL is the biggest league of cricket. This is a very big achievement of BCCI," Thakur said.

At just 15 years and 65 days old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history, surpassing Sai Sudharsan's previous record.

Praising teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his outstanding IPL 2026 campaign, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would provide every possible support to help the 15-year-old reach the “highest level of cricket". Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi ended IPL 2026 as the tournament’s leading run-getter, scoring 776 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.30. At just 15 years and 65 days old, he became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap, surpassing the previous mark set by Sai Sudharsan, who earned the honour while representing Gujarat Titans at the age of 23 years and 231 days. “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a wonderful player coming up, and he has a bright future. BCCI will do everything to get him to the highest level of cricket," Saikia said after the IPL final in Ahmedabad on Sunday night. Saikia also applauded Royal Challengers Bengaluru for successfully retaining their IPL crown. “It was a wonderful season… I hope all the fans have a lovely time during this IPL, and congratulations to RCB for winning the tournament consecutively twice," he said. Also Read - IPL 2026: RCB cancels victory parade amid security and crowd management concerns Focus will now shift to India’s preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the team will be chasing its first-ever title. Confidence is high around the India women’s team after their landmark ODI World Cup victory at home last year, when they defeated South Africa in the final. “That is the most challenging thing (Women’s T20 World Cup) coming up in the coming days. They (Women in Blue) are already doing well… and I hope they will repeat the same performance they did last year by winning the ODI title," Saikia added. Also Read - French Open 2026: World no 1 Sabalenka faces Osaka in historic night clash Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur also praised the title-winning efforts of the Rajat Patidar-led RCB side. “I congratulate RCB for winning the IPL for the second consecutive time. The match was happening in Ahmedabad, but many RCB fans had come to watch the match. This was a great victory in cricket… IPL is the biggest league of cricket. This is a very big achievement of BCCI," Thakur said.

At just 15 years and 65 days old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history, surpassing Sai Sudharsan's previous record.

'Will do everything...': BCCI drops key hint on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

From KL Rahul to Jos Buttler, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 3000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Chris Gayle, David Warner and Faf du Plessis

From KL Rahul to Jos Buttler, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 3000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Chris Gayle, David Warner and Faf du Plessis

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 3000 Indian Premier League runs

From Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Abhishek Sharma, here's a look at the top five batters with most sixes in IPL 2026. This list also includes Rajat Patidar, Ryan Rickelton and Mitchell Marsh 

From Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Abhishek Sharma, here's a look at the top five batters with most sixes in IPL 2026. This list also includes Rajat Patidar, Ryan Rickelton and Mitchell Marsh&nbsp;

Meet top 5 batters with most sixes in IPL 2026

Like a king, Virat Kohli did not merely defend the IPL crown. He dominated the final, owned the occasion and finished it in the grandest fashion possible. One clean swing, one towering six, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are champions again.&nbsp; &nbsp;The image feels almost cinematic, ethereal. Kohli, bat raised, eyes blazing, the crowd roaring in unison. Some players win titles. Kohli creates moments that linger long after the celebrations have ended.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ask any fan about Kohli's magic, and they'll take you back to Melbourne 2022. With India in a difficult situation against Pakistan, Kohli unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, highlighted by an iconic straight six off Haris Rauf, turning a lost cause into one of cricket's most unforgettable victories.&nbsp;This IPL season was another reminder that the fire still burns fiercely. Kohli was not merely surviving on reputation. He was dictating games. He scored heavily, set the tone at the top of the order, and once again became the heartbeat of RCB's campaign. In the final, he produced his fastest IPL fifty and his highest score in a playoff match, delivering when the pressure was at its peak. Kohli, in a blazing opening partnership with Venkatesh Iyer, ripped apart the Gujarat bowlers and powered RCB to the fastest team fifty in mere 3.3 overs. That has always been the Kohli way. When the stakes rise, so does the man.&nbsp;His recent ODI form tells a similar story. The old rhythm is back. The feet move with certainty, the cover drive flows effortlessly, and the chase master remains cricket's most reliable closer. There is still something inevitable about Kohli in pursuit of a target. Oppositions know it. Fans know it. Perhaps Kohli himself knows it too.&nbsp;Which is why the question refuses to disappear. Should he reconsider his Test retirement?&nbsp;Today, Indian cricket is blessed with extraordinary depth. The bench strength is stronger than it has ever been. Young batters are emerging across formats, and opportunities must be created for the future. Yet depth alone does not replace experience. There are talented players waiting in the wings, but then, there is only one Virat Kohli.&nbsp;Sport has often shown that retirement does not always have to be the final chapter. Michael Jordan returned to win three more NBA titles after stepping away from basketball. George Foreman came back from retirement and became heavyweight champion at 45. Again, in cricket, Imran Khan returned to lead Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup. Great players possess a rare ability to rewrite endings that once appeared complete.&nbsp;Of course, Test cricket demands far more than mere desire. It requires months of meticulous preparation, unwavering grit, and absolute dedication.&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlike the frenetic spectacle of a T20 contest, it calls for the fortitude to withstand prolonged periods at the crease, where bowlers are granted both the time and the mandate to scrutinise, identify, and relentlessly exploit every conceivable chink in a batsman's armour. It is a format that tests not only technique and temperament, but also resilience, perseverance, and almost a monk-like commitment to the craft.&nbsp;Kohli alone knows whether he still possesses that hunger. A comeback cannot be driven by public emotion or nostalgia. Kohli retired from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, bringing an end to an illustrious 14-year journey with 9,230 runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.&nbsp;Yet there is a compelling argument that Test cricket still needs him. Indian cricket has produced many fine batters, but Kohli brought something different to the longest format. He made Test cricket feel so special in today's era. He played every session as though it carried the weight of a final. He transformed intensity into an art form.&nbsp;Perhaps this IPL triumph changes nothing. Perhaps it may turn into a glorious final act in a remarkable career. But when a champion continues to perform at the highest level, when he still decides finals and still chases targets with the certainty of old, the conversation becomes unavoidable.&nbsp;The king has conquered the IPL once more. The question now is whether he has one last Test chapter left to write.

Following his explosive match-winning six to secure back-to-back IPL titles for RCB, we look at why Virat Kohli's flawless form demands a massive question: Is it time for the King to come out of Test retirement?

Like a king, Virat Kohli did not merely defend the IPL crown. He dominated the final, owned the occasion and finished it in the grandest fashion possible. One clean swing, one towering six, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are champions again. The image feels almost cinematic, ethereal. Kohli, bat raised, eyes blazing, the crowd roaring in unison. Some players win titles. Kohli creates moments that linger long after the celebrations have ended. Ask any fan about Kohli's magic, and they'll take you back to Melbourne 2022. With India in a difficult situation against Pakistan, Kohli unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, highlighted by an iconic straight six off Haris Rauf, turning a lost cause into one of cricket's most unforgettable victories. This IPL season was another reminder that the fire still burns fiercely. Kohli was not merely surviving on reputation. He was dictating games. He scored heavily, set the tone at the top of the order, and once again became the heartbeat of RCB's campaign. In the final, he produced his fastest IPL fifty and his highest score in a playoff match, delivering when the pressure was at its peak. Kohli, in a blazing opening partnership with Venkatesh Iyer, ripped apart the Gujarat bowlers and powered RCB to the fastest team fifty in mere 3.3 overs. That has always been the Kohli way. When the stakes rise, so does the man. His recent ODI form tells a similar story. The old rhythm is back. The feet move with certainty, the cover drive flows effortlessly, and the chase master remains cricket's most reliable closer. There is still something inevitable about Kohli in pursuit of a target. Oppositions know it. Fans know it. Perhaps Kohli himself knows it too. Which is why the question refuses to disappear. Should he reconsider his Test retirement? Today, Indian cricket is blessed with extraordinary depth. The bench strength is stronger than it has ever been. Young batters are emerging across formats, and opportunities must be created for the future. Yet depth alone does not replace experience. There are talented players waiting in the wings, but then, there is only one Virat Kohli. Sport has often shown that retirement does not always have to be the final chapter. Michael Jordan returned to win three more NBA titles after stepping away from basketball. George Foreman came back from retirement and became heavyweight champion at 45. Again, in cricket, Imran Khan returned to lead Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup. Great players possess a rare ability to rewrite endings that once appeared complete. Of course, Test cricket demands far more than mere desire. It requires months of meticulous preparation, unwavering grit, and absolute dedication. Unlike the frenetic spectacle of a T20 contest, it calls for the fortitude to withstand prolonged periods at the crease, where bowlers are granted both the time and the mandate to scrutinise, identify, and relentlessly exploit every conceivable chink in a batsman's armour. It is a format that tests not only technique and temperament, but also resilience, perseverance, and almost a monk-like commitment to the craft. Kohli alone knows whether he still possesses that hunger. A comeback cannot be driven by public emotion or nostalgia. Kohli retired from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, bringing an end to an illustrious 14-year journey with 9,230 runs from 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Yet there is a compelling argument that Test cricket still needs him. Indian cricket has produced many fine batters, but Kohli brought something different to the longest format. He made Test cricket feel so special in today's era. He played every session as though it carried the weight of a final. He transformed intensity into an art form. Perhaps this IPL triumph changes nothing. Perhaps it may turn into a glorious final act in a remarkable career. But when a champion continues to perform at the highest level, when he still decides finals and still chases targets with the certainty of old, the conversation becomes unavoidable. The king has conquered the IPL once more. The question now is whether he has one last Test chapter left to write.

Following his explosive match-winning six to secure back-to-back IPL titles for RCB, we look at why Virat Kohli's flawless form demands a massive question: Is it time for the King to come out of Test retirement?

Should Virat Kohli make a comeback to Test Cricket?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one name cricket fans worldwide will keep hearing and talking about for another two decades. The 15-year-old batting prodigy, playing only his second IPL season, broke multiple records and won not one, not two, but five IPL 2026 awards. The left-handed opener won the Orange Cap, awards for the most sixes hit, being the most valuable player this season and two more.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔥Most runs - Orange Cap 🔥Most sixes 🔥Most Valuable Player 🔥Super Striker of the Season 🔥Emerging Player of the Season 😂 And an extra suitcase to carry ‘em all! Jug jug jeeyo, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 💗🙇‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/L1exzo4qfH">pic.twitter.com/L1exzo4qfH</a>&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://x.com/rajasthanroyals/status/2061158743056990699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There was no stopping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. After his IPL debut last season, Vaibhav elevated his game and smashed even the best of attacks for fun this time. Last year, he smashed a 35-ball hundred (against GT) in only his third IPL match, and this time, he added another three-figure score to his tally.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-final-rcb-vs-gt-potm-virat-kohli-reflects-on-retaining-ipl-crown-with-a-six-back-to-back-titles-1780254846909">‘Wanting to hit winning runs’: POTM Kohli reflects on retaining IPL crown for RCB with a six</a> &nbsp;He even scored five fifties, three of which were agonisingly cut short in the 90s, with the one against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator making headlines. Vaibhav smashed a 29-ball 97 against the SRH, helping RR beat the former champions to qualify for the Qualifier 2. That match saw him break Chris Gayle’s 14-year-old record for the most sixes in an IPL edition. While Gayle clobbered 59 sixes in 2012, Vaibhav amassed 72 in 2026, in only his second IPL edition. Even in the next game against GT, Vaibhav departed playing a similar shot on 96, though RR failed to defend a 200-plus score and lost the match.<h3>All awards won by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi –</h3><ul><li>Most Valuable Player (MVP)</li><li>Orange Cap (776 runs in 16 matches)</li><li>Most Sixes (72)</li><li>Emerging Player of the Year</li><li>Super Striker of the Season (237.3)</li></ul><h3>Here’s what he said after collecting the awards -</h3>"It feels nice, but there is pressure because I am doing interviews. It is a proud moment, and I will try to do well next season too. I try to back my game, and if the ball is there to be hit, I go all out for it and just try to play that way. &nbsp;"How to play the pressure game, how to change myself every game, you can't play every game in one mode, you need to read the game situation and play according to the team's requirements. These are my learnings from this season. [On fitness] Yes, my focus is on that. If I have to play long, I have to stay clear of injuries and work on my fitness and have to focus more,” Vaibhav added.

At just 15 years old, Rajasthan Royals prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated the IPL 2026 awards night by sweeping 5 historic honours, including the Orange Cap and MVP.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is one name cricket fans worldwide will keep hearing and talking about for another two decades. The 15-year-old batting prodigy, playing only his second IPL season, broke multiple records and won not one, not two, but five IPL 2026 awards. The left-handed opener won the Orange Cap, awards for the most sixes hit, being the most valuable player this season and two more.

At just 15 years old, Rajasthan Royals prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated the IPL 2026 awards night by sweeping 5 historic honours, including the Orange Cap and MVP.

15-year-old, 2nd season and FIVE awards – How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi owned IPL 2026

cricket

Cricket, News on Cricket, stories on Cricket, articles on Cricket, Cricket stories at Wion, Cricket news, Cricket latest news

cricket

Who next after Suryakumar Yadav? 5 candidates for India’s T20I captaincy

Agarkar, Gambhir split over India’s 'next T20I captain' as SKY’s exit ‘likely’

‘It is what it is’: Ben Stokes defends Archer’s Test absence due to IPL duties

'Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live| check details

2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for NZ tour| Check full schedule

Beyond 72 Sixes: What Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL growth means for Indian Cricket

Gay, Baker named in England's final XII; Williamson set for Lord’s ‘last dance’