The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup will begin in Dubai on Aug 28, with eight teams competing for the T20I title. The tournament will feature a group-stage format, followed by semi-finals and the final. The participating teams have been divided into two groups:<ul><li>Group A: India, Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong, China</li><li>Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia</li></ul>Each team will play the other sides in its group once and the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The tournament final is scheduled for Sept 13.&nbsp;Sri Lanka enter the competition as the defending champions after defeating India in the 2024 final to win their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title. Chamari Athapaththu’s side will be aiming to become the first Sri Lankan team to successfully defend the trophy.&nbsp;India remain the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup and will be determined to reclaim the title. The tournament is expected to feature several closely contested matches, with established teams facing strong challenges from emerging sides.<h3>India aim to bounce back</h3>India will begin their campaign looking to recover from a disappointing T20 World Cup outing, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stage despite recording a 64-run victory over Pakistan.&nbsp;Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian team, while Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain. The squad combines experienced international players with several promising young cricketers.&nbsp;India, however, will be without Jemimah Rodrigues, as the batter suffered a high-grade right hamstring injury while representing Southern Brave in The Hundred. Pratika Rawal has been included as her replacement after making a strong impression with India A.&nbsp;The Indian team will open its campaign against Thailand on Aug 30. They will then face Hong Kong, China, before meeting Pakistan on Sept 5 in one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.&nbsp;The India-Pakistan contest is expected to attract significant attention, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in Group A before the semi-final race intensifies.<h3>Sri Lanka make late squad change</h3>Sri Lanka have also made a late change to their squad. All-rounder Dewmi Vihanga has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a right knee injury, while left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage has been named as her replacement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sri Lanka will rely on the experience of captain Chamari Athapaththu and a balanced squad as they attempt to retain the title.&nbsp;The defending champions will begin their campaign against the United Arab Emirates on Aug 29 and will later face Indonesia and Bangladesh in Group B.<h3>When to watch Women’s Asia Cup 2026</h3>All matches will begin at 8 PM IST. The start time is equivalent to:<ul><li>2:30 PM local time in Dubai</li><li>6 PM GMT</li></ul><h3>Where to watch Women’s Asia Cup 2026</h3>The Women’s Asia Cup will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network. Fans can also stream the matches live on Sony LIV.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-did-everything-we-could-shubman-gill-reacts-after-sri-lanka-hold-india-to-draw-in-second-test-1787843646557">We did everything we could': Gill reacts after SL hold IND to draw in 2nd Test</a><h3>Women’s Asia Cup 2026 squads</h3>India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal&nbsp;Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Sadaf Shamas, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar&nbsp;Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Dilara Akter, Farjana Easmin, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla&nbsp;Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Mithali Ayodhya, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Chethana Vimukthi&nbsp;Hong Kong, China: Natasha Miles (c), Maryam Bibi, Chan Ka Ying, Chan Sau Ha, Chan Shing Yan Dorothea, Iqra Sahar, Joyleen Kaur, Mahekdeep Kaur, Mariko Hill, Marina Lamplough, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shahzad, Siu Mei Wai, Wong Wing Kiu Hailey, Yasmin Daswani&nbsp;Thailand: Naruemol Chaiwai (c), Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chantham, Chanida Sutthiruang, Suleeporn Laomi, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Thipatcha Putthawong, Phannita Maya, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Nannaphat Chaihan, Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Thanrada Seesawan, Naomi Hamilton&nbsp;Indonesia: Nanda Sakarini (c), Kadek Winda Prastini, Rahmawati Pangestuti, Wesika Ratna Dewi, Rada Rani, Desi Wulandari, Putri Suwandewi, Kisi Salisa Kasse, Sang Maypriani, Ni Kadek Ariani, Derni Bangi, Dara Agung Laksmi, Lie Qiao, Maria Corazon Wombaki, Sofia Velic&nbsp;UAE: Esha Oza (c), Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Uttara Iyer, Vaishnave Mahesh&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-women-s-hockey-world-cup-2026-india-secure-fifth-place-with-3-1-win-over-germany-1787845102086">India defeat Germany 3-1 to finish fifth at FIH Women’s Hockey WC 2026</a><h3>Women’s Asia Cup 2026 full schedule</h3><ul><li>Aug 28: Thailand Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Aug 29: Sri Lanka Women vs United Arab Emirates Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Aug 30: India Women vs Thailand Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Aug 31: Bangladesh Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 1: Pakistan Women vs Thailand Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 2: Sri Lanka Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 3: India Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 4: United Arab Emirates Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 5: India Women vs Pakistan Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 6: Sri Lanka Women vs Bangladesh Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 7: Pakistan Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 8: Bangladesh Women vs United Arab Emirates Women - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 10: Semi-final 1 - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 11: Semi-final 2 - 8:00 PM IST</li><li>Sept 13: Final - 8:00 PM IST</li></ul>

The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 kicks off on Aug 28, with eight teams competing for continental glory in the T20I format. Defending champions Sri Lanka will aim to retain their title, while India will look to make a strong comeback following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.

The 10th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup will begin in Dubai on Aug 28, with eight teams competing for the T20I title. The tournament will feature a group-stage format, followed by semi-finals and the final. The participating teams have been divided into two groups: Group A: India, Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong, China Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia Each team will play the other sides in its group once and the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The tournament final is scheduled for Sept 13. Sri Lanka enter the competition as the defending champions after defeating India in the 2024 final to win their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title. Chamari Athapaththu’s side will be aiming to become the first Sri Lankan team to successfully defend the trophy. India remain the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup and will be determined to reclaim the title. The tournament is expected to feature several closely contested matches, with established teams facing strong challenges from emerging sides. India aim to bounce back India will begin their campaign looking to recover from a disappointing T20 World Cup outing, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stage despite recording a 64-run victory over Pakistan. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian team, while Smriti Mandhana has been named vice-captain. The squad combines experienced international players with several promising young cricketers. India, however, will be without Jemimah Rodrigues, as the batter suffered a high-grade right hamstring injury while representing Southern Brave in The Hundred. Pratika Rawal has been included as her replacement after making a strong impression with India A. The Indian team will open its campaign against Thailand on Aug 30. They will then face Hong Kong, China, before meeting Pakistan on Sept 5 in one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage. The India-Pakistan contest is expected to attract significant attention, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in Group A before the semi-final race intensifies. Sri Lanka make late squad change Sri Lanka have also made a late change to their squad. All-rounder Dewmi Vihanga has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a right knee injury, while left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage has been named as her replacement. Sri Lanka will rely on the experience of captain Chamari Athapaththu and a balanced squad as they attempt to retain the title. The defending champions will begin their campaign against the United Arab Emirates on Aug 29 and will later face Indonesia and Bangladesh in Group B. When to watch Women’s Asia Cup 2026 All matches will begin at 8 PM IST. The start time is equivalent to: 2:30 PM local time in Dubai 6 PM GMT Where to watch Women’s Asia Cup 2026 The Women’s Asia Cup will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network. Fans can also stream the matches live on Sony LIV. Also Read - We did everything we could': Gill reacts after SL hold IND to draw in 2nd Test Women’s Asia Cup 2026 squads India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Sadaf Shamas, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Dilara Akter, Farjana Easmin, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akter Supta, Sarmin Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Shanjida Akther Maghla Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Mithali Ayodhya, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kawya Kavindi, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Chethana Vimukthi Hong Kong, China: Natasha Miles (c), Maryam Bibi, Chan Ka Ying, Chan Sau Ha, Chan Shing Yan Dorothea, Iqra Sahar, Joyleen Kaur, Mahekdeep Kaur, Mariko Hill, Marina Lamplough, Ruchitha Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shahzad, Siu Mei Wai, Wong Wing Kiu Hailey, Yasmin Daswani Thailand: Naruemol Chaiwai (c), Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chantham, Chanida Sutthiruang, Suleeporn Laomi, Onnicha Kamchomphu, Thipatcha Putthawong, Phannita Maya, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, Sunida Chaturongrattana, Chayanisa Phengpaen, Nannaphat Chaihan, Koranit Suwanchonrathi, Thanrada Seesawan, Naomi Hamilton Indonesia: Nanda Sakarini (c), Kadek Winda Prastini, Rahmawati Pangestuti, Wesika Ratna Dewi, Rada Rani, Desi Wulandari, Putri Suwandewi, Kisi Salisa Kasse, Sang Maypriani, Ni Kadek Ariani, Derni Bangi, Dara Agung Laksmi, Lie Qiao, Maria Corazon Wombaki, Sofia Velic UAE: Esha Oza (c), Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish, Uttara Iyer, Vaishnave Mahesh Also Read - India defeat Germany 3-1 to finish fifth at FIH Women’s Hockey WC 2026 Women’s Asia Cup 2026 full schedule Aug 28: Thailand Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST Aug 29: Sri Lanka Women vs United Arab Emirates Women - 8:00 PM IST Aug 30: India Women vs Thailand Women - 8:00 PM IST Aug 31: Bangladesh Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 1: Pakistan Women vs Thailand Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 2: Sri Lanka Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 3: India Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 4: United Arab Emirates Women vs Indonesia Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 5: India Women vs Pakistan Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 6: Sri Lanka Women vs Bangladesh Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 7: Pakistan Women vs Hong Kong, China Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 8: Bangladesh Women vs United Arab Emirates Women - 8:00 PM IST Sept 10: Semi-final 1 - 8:00 PM IST Sept 11: Semi-final 2 - 8:00 PM IST Sept 13: Final - 8:00 PM IST

The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 kicks off on Aug 28, with eight teams competing for continental glory in the T20I format. Defending champions Sri Lanka will aim to retain their title, while India will look to make a strong comeback following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.

Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026: All you need to know about schedule, squads, venues and more

India leg-spinner Karn Sharma has announced his retirement from professional cricket and will play his final competitive match in the UP T20 League on Tuesday before turning his attention to coaching and ‘other responsibilities’ in cricket. The Railways cricketer represented India in four matches across formats, including one Test, two ODIs and one T20I, taking five wickets in total.&nbsp;He made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide during India’s 2014 tour and picked up four wickets in the match. He also played his white-ball internationals that year but could not secure a regular place in the Indian team.&nbsp;Sharma, however, enjoyed a successful IPL career and played for Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He claimed 83 wickets in 90 IPL matches at an average of 26.68 and an economy rate of 8.38.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/starc-lyon-active-top-10-test-bowlers-4-reasons-1787475002097">Starc, Lyon are last active top-10 Test bowlers: 4 reasons it won't happen again</a>&nbsp;He was also part of three consecutive title-winning campaigns and remains the only cricketer to win the IPL with three different teams.&nbsp;“I just want to retire. I will be playing my last game on Tuesday, and I will be retiring from all formats,” Karn said in his announcement during the UP T20 league.&nbsp;&nbsp;“After this, I will be available for coaching and other responsibilities related to the game of cricket."&nbsp;“To all those who supported me, I just want to say thanks. I am extremely grateful to my family, BCCI, Railways, UPCA, Andhra, Vidarbha Cricket Association and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-2nd-test-jaiswal-asitha-fernando-fight-colombo-video-1787469986821">WATCH| Tempers flare as Jaiswal charges at pacer Fernando following dismissal</a>&nbsp;Representing Kanpur Superstars, Sharma will play his final match against Meerut Mavericks on Aug 25 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Karn made his international debut across all three formats in 2014. He played his only Test against Australia in Adelaide and featured in one T20I against England in Birmingham. He also represented India in two ODIs against Sri Lanka that year.

India leg-spinner Karn Sharma has announced his retirement from professional cricket and will play his final competitive match in the UP T20 League on Tuesday before turning his attention to coaching and ‘other responsibilities’ in cricket. The Railways cricketer represented India in four matches across formats, including one Test, two ODIs and one T20I, taking five wickets in total. He made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide during India’s 2014 tour and picked up four wickets in the match. He also played his white-ball internationals that year but could not secure a regular place in the Indian team. Sharma, however, enjoyed a successful IPL career and played for Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He claimed 83 wickets in 90 IPL matches at an average of 26.68 and an economy rate of 8.38. Also Read - Starc, Lyon are last active top-10 Test bowlers: 4 reasons it won't happen again He was also part of three consecutive title-winning campaigns and remains the only cricketer to win the IPL with three different teams. “I just want to retire. I will be playing my last game on Tuesday, and I will be retiring from all formats,” Karn said in his announcement during the UP T20 league. “After this, I will be available for coaching and other responsibilities related to the game of cricket." “To all those who supported me, I just want to say thanks. I am extremely grateful to my family, BCCI, Railways, UPCA, Andhra, Vidarbha Cricket Association and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey,” he added. Also Read - WATCH| Tempers flare as Jaiswal charges at pacer Fernando following dismissal Representing Kanpur Superstars, Sharma will play his final match against Meerut Mavericks on Aug 25 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Karn made his international debut across all three formats in 2014. He played his only Test against Australia in Adelaide and featured in one T20I against England in Birmingham. He also represented India in two ODIs against Sri Lanka that year.

India leg-spinner Karn Sharma retires from all forms of cricket

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that it is unfair to blame the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the recurring injuries suffered by Indian players, pointing out that most of these injuries occur while they are representing India rather than during their time at the CoE.&nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya are among the Indian stars currently dealing with injuries. The CoE has faced criticism from fans and experts, who have questioned whether players are being cleared to return before fully completing their rehabilitation.&nbsp;Gavaskar said it was unfortunate that the physiotherapists at the Bengaluru-based CoE were being blamed. He also suggested that the repeated hamstring injuries among Indian players could be linked to their training methods.&nbsp;“While Bumrah has a knee injury, it’s seen that most Indian players suffer from hamstring injuries. Clearly, there is something wrong with their training and that is why these recurring hamstring injuries,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-Day.&nbsp;“These injuries happen when they are playing for India, but unfortunately the blame is put on the physios at the BCCI centre of excellence. The so-called biomechanics, where a bowler can bowl only so many balls in the practice nets, is a questionable practice,” Gavaskar added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-shubman-gill-pulls-off-spectacular-one-handed-catch-watch-1786960735507">IND vs SL, 1st Test: Shubman Gill pulls off spectacular one-handed catch - WATCH</a>&nbsp;The former India batter also questioned whether players need to spend several hours in the gym every day. He stressed that being ready for matches should be given more importance than simply focusing on gym fitness.&nbsp;“It is an issue that needs a good, hard look at why these injuries are happening again and again. It’s more important to be match fit than gym fit. But then, maybe I am from a generation that had different ideas on fitness,” Gavaskar said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gavaskar-demands-transparency-ipl-transfer-window-player-fees-public-1786961846027">‘Bring Transparency’: Gavaskar calls for IPL player fees and salary caps to be made public</a>&nbsp;India captain Shubman Gill had also expressed his frustration with the team’s growing injury list after the ODI series loss to England. He said it was not ideal for India to keep making changes to the playing XI because of injuries.

Sunil Gavaskar raised questions over India’s training methods after recurring injuries to Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana sparked concerns about player fitness.

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that it is unfair to blame the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the recurring injuries suffered by Indian players, pointing out that most of these injuries occur while they are representing India rather than during their time at the CoE. Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya are among the Indian stars currently dealing with injuries. The CoE has faced criticism from fans and experts, who have questioned whether players are being cleared to return before fully completing their rehabilitation. Gavaskar said it was unfortunate that the physiotherapists at the Bengaluru-based CoE were being blamed. He also suggested that the repeated hamstring injuries among Indian players could be linked to their training methods. “While Bumrah has a knee injury, it’s seen that most Indian players suffer from hamstring injuries. Clearly, there is something wrong with their training and that is why these recurring hamstring injuries,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Mid-Day. “These injuries happen when they are playing for India, but unfortunately the blame is put on the physios at the BCCI centre of excellence. The so-called biomechanics, where a bowler can bowl only so many balls in the practice nets, is a questionable practice,” Gavaskar added. Also Read - IND vs SL, 1st Test: Shubman Gill pulls off spectacular one-handed catch - WATCH The former India batter also questioned whether players need to spend several hours in the gym every day. He stressed that being ready for matches should be given more importance than simply focusing on gym fitness. “It is an issue that needs a good, hard look at why these injuries are happening again and again. It’s more important to be match fit than gym fit. But then, maybe I am from a generation that had different ideas on fitness,” Gavaskar said. Also Read - ‘Bring Transparency’: Gavaskar calls for IPL player fees and salary caps to be made public India captain Shubman Gill had also expressed his frustration with the team’s growing injury list after the ODI series loss to England. He said it was not ideal for India to keep making changes to the playing XI because of injuries.

Sunil Gavaskar raised questions over India’s training methods after recurring injuries to Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana sparked concerns about player fitness.

‘Match-fit, not gym-fit’: Gavaskar questions Team India’s training methods amid injury crisis

India’s sporting story since Independence has been marked by determination, historic breakthroughs, remarkable comebacks and champions who have inspired millions. From hockey’s dominance in the early years to major achievements in cricket, athletics, badminton, wrestling, shooting, boxing, chess and other sports, India has steadily strengthened its presence on the global sporting stage.&nbsp;As India celebrates its 80th year of Independence, here is a look at some of the country’s biggest sporting milestones:<ul><li>1948 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: Independent India won its first Olympic medal as the men’s hockey team claimed gold at the London Games.</li><li>1951 : India wins Asian Games football gold: India became football champions at the first Asian Games, held in New Delhi.</li><li>1952 : KD Jadhav wins Olympic bronze: Jadhav became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal after securing bronze in wrestling at the Helsinki Games.</li><li>1956 : India reaches Olympic football semi-finals: India finished fourth at the Melbourne Olympics, which remains the country’s best Olympic football finish.</li><li>1956 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: India defeated Pakistan in the final in Melbourne to retain the hockey title.</li><li>1958 : Milkha Singh wins Commonwealth Games gold: Singh won the 440 yard race in Cardiff, becoming independent India’s first Commonwealth Games athletics gold medallist.</li><li>1958 : Lila Ram wins Commonwealth Games wrestling gold: Ram became the first Indian wrestler to win gold at the Commonwealth Games.</li><li>1958 : Milkha Singh wins two Asian Games golds: He topped the podium in the 200m and 400m events.</li><li>1960 : Milkha Singh finishes fourth in Olympic 400m: Singh narrowly missed a medal in Rome, finishing fourth in one of India’s finest Olympic athletics performances.</li><li>1962 : India wins Asian Games football gold: India defeated South Korea in the Jakarta final to claim its second Asian Games football title.</li><li>1964 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: India defeated Pakistan in the Tokyo final to secure another Olympic hockey title.</li><li>1966 : India wins Asian Games hockey gold: India claimed its first Asian Games hockey gold in Bangkok.</li><li>1971 : India wins Test series in West Indies and England: Under Ajit Wadekar, India recorded its first Test series victories in both countries in the same year.</li><li>1972 : India wins Olympic hockey bronze: India secured its 10th consecutive Olympic hockey medal with bronze at the Munich Games.</li><li>1975 : India wins Hockey World Cup: India defeated Pakistan in the final in Kuala Lumpur to claim its first and only Hockey World Cup title.</li><li>1980 : India wins eighth Olympic hockey gold: India extended its record by winning an eighth men’s hockey Olympic gold medal.</li><li>1983 : India wins maiden ODI World Cup: Kapil Dev’s team stunned defending champions West Indies at Lord’s to win India’s first ODI World Cup.</li><li>1984 : PT Usha finishes fourth at Olympics: Usha missed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Los Angeles by just 0.01 seconds.</li><li>1985 : Prakash Padukone wins All England title: Padukone became the first Indian to win the prestigious badminton championship.</li><li>1986 : PT Usha wins four Asian Games golds: Usha won four gold medals and one silver at the Seoul Asian Games.</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-indian-cricket-dismantled-poor-traveler-reputation-1786784382087">How India broke 'poor traveller' tag to become cricket rulers since independence</a><ul><li>1988 : Viswanathan Anand becomes India’s first chess Grandmaster: Anand achieved the feat at the age of 18.</li><li>1996 : Leander Paes wins Olympic bronze: Paes won the men’s singles bronze in Atlanta, giving India its first individual Olympic medal in 44 years.</li><li>1999 : Paes and Bhupathi win French Open: The Indian duo claimed their first Grand Slam men’s doubles title together.</li><li>1999 : Paes and Bhupathi win Wimbledon: The pair added the Wimbledon men’s doubles crown to their French Open success.</li><li>2000 : Karnam Malleswari wins Olympic bronze: Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.</li><li>2000 : Viswanathan Anand wins FIDE World Championship: Anand became the first Indian and first Asian to win the title.</li><li>2001 : Pullela Gopichand wins All England title: Gopichand became only the second Indian after Padukone to win the prestigious championship.</li><li>2002 : Anju Bobby George wins Asian Games gold: She claimed the women’s long jump title.</li><li>2002 : India wins women’s hockey gold at Commonwealth Games: India secured its first and only Commonwealth Games gold in women’s hockey.</li><li>2003 : Anju Bobby George wins World Championships bronze: She became the first Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.</li><li>2004 : Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore wins Olympic silver: Rathore won India’s first individual Olympic silver medal in double trap shooting.</li><li>2005 : Pankaj Advani completes billiards World Championship double: Advani became the first player to win both the points and time format world titles in the same year.</li><li>2006 : Samaresh Jung wins seven Commonwealth Games medals: Jung won five gold, one silver and one bronze in Melbourne and also received the inaugural David Dixon Award.</li><li>2007 : India wins inaugural T20 World Cup: MS Dhoni’s team defeated Pakistan in Johannesburg to win the first ICC World Twenty20 title.</li><li>2007 : Viswanathan Anand becomes undisputed World Champion: Anand went on to retain the world title in 2008, 2010 and 2012.</li><li>2008 : Abhinav Bindra wins Olympic gold: Bindra became India’s first individual Olympic champion.</li><li>2009 : Saina Nehwal wins Indonesia Open: She became the first Indian player, male or female, to win a BWF Super Series title.</li><li>2010 : Sushil Kumar wins World Wrestling Championships gold: He became the first Indian to win a World Wrestling Championships title.</li><li>2011 : India wins ODI World Cup: India lifted the trophy for the second time and became the first team to win the tournament on home soil.</li><li>2012 : Saina Nehwal wins Olympic bronze: She became India’s first Olympic badminton medallist.</li><li>2012 : Mary Kom wins Olympic bronze: Kom became India’s first woman boxer to win an Olympic medal.</li><li>2013 : Sachin Tendulkar reaches 100 international centuries: Tendulkar became the first player to score 100 international hundreds, a record that remains unmatched.</li><li>2013 : India wins Champions Trophy: MS Dhoni became the first captain to win all three major ICC limited overs titles.</li><li>2015 : Sania Mirza becomes world No. 1: Mirza became the first Indian woman to reach the top of the WTA women’s doubles rankings.</li><li>2015 : Sania Mirza wins Wimbledon: Mirza became the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam doubles title.</li><li>2016 : Sakshi Malik wins Olympic bronze: Malik became India’s first female Olympic wrestling medallist.</li><li>&nbsp;2016 : PV Sindhu wins Olympic silver: Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win an individual Olympic silver medal.</li><li>2018 : Neeraj Chopra wins Asian Games javelin gold: Chopra became the first Indian to win men’s javelin gold at the Asian Games.</li><li>2018 : Vinesh Phogat wins Asian Games wrestling gold: She became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games wrestling gold, claiming the 50kg freestyle title.</li><li>2019 : PV Sindhu wins World Championships gold: Sindhu became the first Indian badminton player to win a world singles title.</li><li>2021 : Neeraj Chopra wins Olympic javelin gold: Chopra delivered India’s first Olympic athletics gold and first ever track and field gold.</li><li>2022 : India wins maiden Thomas Cup: India defeated 14 time champions Indonesia to win the men’s badminton team world championship for the first time.</li><li>2023 : Satwik and Chirag win Asian Games gold: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won India’s first Asian Games badminton men’s doubles gold.</li><li>&nbsp;2023 : Neeraj Chopra wins World Championships gold: Chopra became India’s first world champion in athletics.</li><li>2024 : India wins T20 World Cup: India defeated South Africa in the final to claim its second men’s T20 World Cup title.</li><li>2024 : D. Gukesh becomes youngest World Chess Champion: At 18, Gukesh defeated Ding Liren 7.5 6.5 to become the youngest world champion in chess history.</li><li>2025 : India wins first Women’s ODI World Cup: India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title.</li><li>2025 : India wins Champions Trophy: India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to become the first team to win the tournament three times.</li><li>2026 : India wins third men’s T20 World Cup: India became the most successful team in the tournament’s history and the first to successfully defend the title.</li><li>2026 : India wins first Commonwealth Games judo gold medals: Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by winning India’s first ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medals in Glasgow.</li></ul>

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, here’s a look back at the sporting achievements that reflect the country’s remarkable journey and progress.

India’s sporting story since Independence has been marked by determination, historic breakthroughs, remarkable comebacks and champions who have inspired millions. From hockey’s dominance in the early years to major achievements in cricket, athletics, badminton, wrestling, shooting, boxing, chess and other sports, India has steadily strengthened its presence on the global sporting stage. As India celebrates its 80th year of Independence, here is a look at some of the country’s biggest sporting milestones: 1948 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: Independent India won its first Olympic medal as the men’s hockey team claimed gold at the London Games. 1951 : India wins Asian Games football gold: India became football champions at the first Asian Games, held in New Delhi. 1952 : KD Jadhav wins Olympic bronze: Jadhav became the first Indian to win an individual Olympic medal after securing bronze in wrestling at the Helsinki Games. 1956 : India reaches Olympic football semi-finals: India finished fourth at the Melbourne Olympics, which remains the country’s best Olympic football finish. 1956 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: India defeated Pakistan in the final in Melbourne to retain the hockey title. 1958 : Milkha Singh wins Commonwealth Games gold: Singh won the 440 yard race in Cardiff, becoming independent India’s first Commonwealth Games athletics gold medallist. 1958 : Lila Ram wins Commonwealth Games wrestling gold: Ram became the first Indian wrestler to win gold at the Commonwealth Games. 1958 : Milkha Singh wins two Asian Games golds: He topped the podium in the 200m and 400m events. 1960 : Milkha Singh finishes fourth in Olympic 400m: Singh narrowly missed a medal in Rome, finishing fourth in one of India’s finest Olympic athletics performances. 1962 : India wins Asian Games football gold: India defeated South Korea in the Jakarta final to claim its second Asian Games football title. 1964 : India wins Olympic hockey gold: India defeated Pakistan in the Tokyo final to secure another Olympic hockey title. 1966 : India wins Asian Games hockey gold: India claimed its first Asian Games hockey gold in Bangkok. 1971 : India wins Test series in West Indies and England: Under Ajit Wadekar, India recorded its first Test series victories in both countries in the same year. 1972 : India wins Olympic hockey bronze: India secured its 10th consecutive Olympic hockey medal with bronze at the Munich Games. 1975 : India wins Hockey World Cup: India defeated Pakistan in the final in Kuala Lumpur to claim its first and only Hockey World Cup title. 1980 : India wins eighth Olympic hockey gold: India extended its record by winning an eighth men’s hockey Olympic gold medal. 1983 : India wins maiden ODI World Cup: Kapil Dev’s team stunned defending champions West Indies at Lord’s to win India’s first ODI World Cup. 1984 : PT Usha finishes fourth at Olympics: Usha missed bronze in the 400m hurdles at Los Angeles by just 0.01 seconds. 1985 : Prakash Padukone wins All England title: Padukone became the first Indian to win the prestigious badminton championship. 1986 : PT Usha wins four Asian Games golds: Usha won four gold medals and one silver at the Seoul Asian Games. Also Read - How India broke 'poor traveller' tag to become cricket rulers since independence 1988 : Viswanathan Anand becomes India’s first chess Grandmaster: Anand achieved the feat at the age of 18. 1996 : Leander Paes wins Olympic bronze: Paes won the men’s singles bronze in Atlanta, giving India its first individual Olympic medal in 44 years. 1999 : Paes and Bhupathi win French Open: The Indian duo claimed their first Grand Slam men’s doubles title together. 1999 : Paes and Bhupathi win Wimbledon: The pair added the Wimbledon men’s doubles crown to their French Open success. 2000 : Karnam Malleswari wins Olympic bronze: Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. 2000 : Viswanathan Anand wins FIDE World Championship: Anand became the first Indian and first Asian to win the title. 2001 : Pullela Gopichand wins All England title: Gopichand became only the second Indian after Padukone to win the prestigious championship. 2002 : Anju Bobby George wins Asian Games gold: She claimed the women’s long jump title. 2002 : India wins women’s hockey gold at Commonwealth Games: India secured its first and only Commonwealth Games gold in women’s hockey. 2003 : Anju Bobby George wins World Championships bronze: She became the first Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships. 2004 : Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore wins Olympic silver: Rathore won India’s first individual Olympic silver medal in double trap shooting. 2005 : Pankaj Advani completes billiards World Championship double: Advani became the first player to win both the points and time format world titles in the same year. 2006 : Samaresh Jung wins seven Commonwealth Games medals: Jung won five gold, one silver and one bronze in Melbourne and also received the inaugural David Dixon Award. 2007 : India wins inaugural T20 World Cup: MS Dhoni’s team defeated Pakistan in Johannesburg to win the first ICC World Twenty20 title. 2007 : Viswanathan Anand becomes undisputed World Champion: Anand went on to retain the world title in 2008, 2010 and 2012. 2008 : Abhinav Bindra wins Olympic gold: Bindra became India’s first individual Olympic champion. 2009 : Saina Nehwal wins Indonesia Open: She became the first Indian player, male or female, to win a BWF Super Series title. 2010 : Sushil Kumar wins World Wrestling Championships gold: He became the first Indian to win a World Wrestling Championships title. 2011 : India wins ODI World Cup: India lifted the trophy for the second time and became the first team to win the tournament on home soil. 2012 : Saina Nehwal wins Olympic bronze: She became India’s first Olympic badminton medallist. 2012 : Mary Kom wins Olympic bronze: Kom became India’s first woman boxer to win an Olympic medal. 2013 : Sachin Tendulkar reaches 100 international centuries: Tendulkar became the first player to score 100 international hundreds, a record that remains unmatched. 2013 : India wins Champions Trophy: MS Dhoni became the first captain to win all three major ICC limited overs titles. 2015 : Sania Mirza becomes world No. 1: Mirza became the first Indian woman to reach the top of the WTA women’s doubles rankings. 2015 : Sania Mirza wins Wimbledon: Mirza became the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam doubles title. 2016 : Sakshi Malik wins Olympic bronze: Malik became India’s first female Olympic wrestling medallist. 2016 : PV Sindhu wins Olympic silver: Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win an individual Olympic silver medal. 2018 : Neeraj Chopra wins Asian Games javelin gold: Chopra became the first Indian to win men’s javelin gold at the Asian Games. 2018 : Vinesh Phogat wins Asian Games wrestling gold: She became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games wrestling gold, claiming the 50kg freestyle title. 2019 : PV Sindhu wins World Championships gold: Sindhu became the first Indian badminton player to win a world singles title. 2021 : Neeraj Chopra wins Olympic javelin gold: Chopra delivered India’s first Olympic athletics gold and first ever track and field gold. 2022 : India wins maiden Thomas Cup: India defeated 14 time champions Indonesia to win the men’s badminton team world championship for the first time. 2023 : Satwik and Chirag win Asian Games gold: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won India’s first Asian Games badminton men’s doubles gold. 2023 : Neeraj Chopra wins World Championships gold: Chopra became India’s first world champion in athletics. 2024 : India wins T20 World Cup: India defeated South Africa in the final to claim its second men’s T20 World Cup title. 2024 : D. Gukesh becomes youngest World Chess Champion: At 18, Gukesh defeated Ding Liren 7.5 6.5 to become the youngest world champion in chess history. 2025 : India wins first Women’s ODI World Cup: India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to claim its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title. 2025 : India wins Champions Trophy: India defeated New Zealand by four wickets to become the first team to win the tournament three times. 2026 : India wins third men’s T20 World Cup: India became the most successful team in the tournament’s history and the first to successfully defend the title. 2026 : India wins first Commonwealth Games judo gold medals: Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh created history by winning India’s first ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medals in Glasgow.

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, here’s a look back at the sporting achievements that reflect the country’s remarkable journey and progress.

80 years, countless milestones: India’s sporting journey since 1947

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday (Aug 14) spoke about the death threats he and his wife, Dona Ganguly, have received, saying the matter has been reported to the police and expressing confidence that the investigation will resolve the issue. Ganguly, who is currently the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said the phone number linked to the threats was from Kolkata and added that he trusted the police to take the necessary action.&nbsp;“We have reported it to the police. I am sure the police will sort it out. The number is from here, Kolkata. Hopefully, the police will do the needful. I have security,” Ganguly told reporters.&nbsp;The former BCCI president’s comments came days after his office received two letters containing threats against him, his wife and people close to them. A complaint was later filed at the Thakurpukur Police Station in south Kolkata.&nbsp;Police said threatening letters had allegedly been sent in Ganguly’s name for around six months, although the earlier letters were not taken seriously at first. The latest letters contained direct threats, prompting his office to contact the authorities.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/abishek-porel-denied-bail-in-rape-case-sent-to-14-day-judicial-custody-1786720321466">Abishek Porel denied bail in rape case, sent to 14-day judicial custody</a>&nbsp;Police have started an investigation to find the sender and understand the reason behind the threats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Investigators are examining the letters, the courier details and a mobile number allegedly connected to the sender.&nbsp;Initial findings suggested that the letters may have been sent through a courier service by someone from Belgharia in North 24 Parganas. Police are also checking the movement of the SIM card allegedly used by the sender and have contacted the courier company for more information.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jemimah-rodrigues-suffers-injury-blow-ruled-out-of-asia-cup-and-asian-games-1786716789635">Jemimah Rodrigues suffers injury blow, ruled out of Asia Cup and Asian Games</a>&nbsp;The Kolkata Police are also trying to determine whether all the letters received in recent months were sent by the same person.&nbsp;Ganguly, meanwhile, has played down concerns about his safety and pointed to the security cover provided to him. The investigation is still underway as police continue their efforts to identify the sender and determine who was behind the threats.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that he had reported the threats to the police and was confident that the authorities would take action and resolve the matter soon.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday (Aug 14) spoke about the death threats he and his wife, Dona Ganguly, have received, saying the matter has been reported to the police and expressing confidence that the investigation will resolve the issue. Ganguly, who is currently the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said the phone number linked to the threats was from Kolkata and added that he trusted the police to take the necessary action. “We have reported it to the police. I am sure the police will sort it out. The number is from here, Kolkata. Hopefully, the police will do the needful. I have security,” Ganguly told reporters. The former BCCI president’s comments came days after his office received two letters containing threats against him, his wife and people close to them. A complaint was later filed at the Thakurpukur Police Station in south Kolkata. Police said threatening letters had allegedly been sent in Ganguly’s name for around six months, although the earlier letters were not taken seriously at first. The latest letters contained direct threats, prompting his office to contact the authorities. Also Read - Abishek Porel denied bail in rape case, sent to 14-day judicial custody Police have started an investigation to find the sender and understand the reason behind the threats. Investigators are examining the letters, the courier details and a mobile number allegedly connected to the sender. Initial findings suggested that the letters may have been sent through a courier service by someone from Belgharia in North 24 Parganas. Police are also checking the movement of the SIM card allegedly used by the sender and have contacted the courier company for more information. Also Read - Jemimah Rodrigues suffers injury blow, ruled out of Asia Cup and Asian Games The Kolkata Police are also trying to determine whether all the letters received in recent months were sent by the same person. Ganguly, meanwhile, has played down concerns about his safety and pointed to the security cover provided to him. The investigation is still underway as police continue their efforts to identify the sender and determine who was behind the threats.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that he had reported the threats to the police and was confident that the authorities would take action and resolve the matter soon.

'Phone number is from Kolkata’: Sourav Ganguly speaks out on death threats

Captain Shubman Gill wants India to use their historic 600th Test as the beginning of a fresh push towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final and a series win in Sri Lanka will be important for India to remain in the race. The Men in Blue are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 48.15, while Sri Lanka are sixth with 41.67. Bangladesh are fourth on 58.33, meaning India have plenty of ground to cover with less than a year left before the WTC final.&nbsp;Gill, who has now completed a year as India’s Test captain, said the team must start collecting the wins needed to stay in contention.&nbsp;“I am comfortable in my role as captain now. Our goal is to stay in contention for a berth in World Test Championship final. We need to win six or seven Tests for that. So we want to make a beginning here,” Gill said on the eve of the first Test.&nbsp;A series win would improve India’s position in the WTC table. A 1-0 win, with the other Test ending in a draw, would give India 16 points and take their total to 68, raising their points percentage to 51.51.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 2-0 series win would give them all 24 points, taking their tally to 76 from 11 Tests and their points percentage to 57.58.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/canadian-open-iga-swiatek-wins-first-title-of-2026-beats-rybakina-in-final-1786705861302">Canadian Open: Iga Swiatek wins first title of 2026, beats Rybakina in final</a>&nbsp;The series is also a major milestone in India’s Test history, as Saturday’s opening game will be India’s 600th Test since their format debut against England at Lord’s in 1932.&nbsp;For Gill, the chance to lead India in such an important match on Independence Day makes the occasion even more memorable.&nbsp;“Leading my country in the 600th Test is a very big honour and doing so on Independence Day is an even bigger honour,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1786702856138">IND vs SL, 1st Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;India also have some decisions to make regarding their batting order. Devdutt Padikkal is expected to bat at No. 3 in the absence of Sai Sudharsan, while Dhruv Jurel is likely to keep his place in the middle order despite a poor run of form in recent Tests.&nbsp;Gill said the players need time to develop and prove themselves.&nbsp;“Players are going to grow on their own. We need to give time to them, some players require a bit of time,” he said.&nbsp;Gill also rejected reports of a communication gap between the team management and the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru regarding Sudharsan’s recovery.&nbsp;“There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can’t take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15,” Gill said.

Shubman Gill called it a big honour to lead India in their 600th Test on Independence Day, but said his focus remains on getting the team’s WTC campaign back on track against Sri Lanka.

Captain Shubman Gill wants India to use their historic 600th Test as the beginning of a fresh push towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final and a series win in Sri Lanka will be important for India to remain in the race. The Men in Blue are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 48.15, while Sri Lanka are sixth with 41.67. Bangladesh are fourth on 58.33, meaning India have plenty of ground to cover with less than a year left before the WTC final. Gill, who has now completed a year as India’s Test captain, said the team must start collecting the wins needed to stay in contention. “I am comfortable in my role as captain now. Our goal is to stay in contention for a berth in World Test Championship final. We need to win six or seven Tests for that. So we want to make a beginning here,” Gill said on the eve of the first Test. A series win would improve India’s position in the WTC table. A 1-0 win, with the other Test ending in a draw, would give India 16 points and take their total to 68, raising their points percentage to 51.51. A 2-0 series win would give them all 24 points, taking their tally to 76 from 11 Tests and their points percentage to 57.58. Also Read - Canadian Open: Iga Swiatek wins first title of 2026, beats Rybakina in final The series is also a major milestone in India’s Test history, as Saturday’s opening game will be India’s 600th Test since their format debut against England at Lord’s in 1932. For Gill, the chance to lead India in such an important match on Independence Day makes the occasion even more memorable. “Leading my country in the 600th Test is a very big honour and doing so on Independence Day is an even bigger honour,” he said. Also Read - IND vs SL, 1st Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India? India also have some decisions to make regarding their batting order. Devdutt Padikkal is expected to bat at No. 3 in the absence of Sai Sudharsan, while Dhruv Jurel is likely to keep his place in the middle order despite a poor run of form in recent Tests. Gill said the players need time to develop and prove themselves. “Players are going to grow on their own. We need to give time to them, some players require a bit of time,” he said. Gill also rejected reports of a communication gap between the team management and the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru regarding Sudharsan’s recovery. “There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can’t take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15,” Gill said.

Shubman Gill called it a big honour to lead India in their 600th Test on Independence Day, but said his focus remains on getting the team’s WTC campaign back on track against Sri Lanka.

'Very big honour': Shubman Gill on leading India in historic 600th Test

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has impressed with his consistent wicket-taking performances in domestic cricket over the past few years and earned an India call-up as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement after the star pacer was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series due to injury. The 29-year-old spoke about his surprise selection in a video released by the BCCI with Saransh Jain.&nbsp;“I was at the airport. We had to go for a camp at CoE. I was about to board a flight to Bangalore. So, I got a call asking where I was. I told him that I was going to Bangalore; I was at the airport. He told me that you don’t have to go there, you have to come to Sri Lanka. You have been selected. At first, I couldn’t believe it. It was unexpected because the squad was already announced. I was like, I will work hard in the camp at CoE,” Nabi said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-fencing-championships-2026-india-clinch-maiden-overall-title-1786633880365">Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026: India clinch maiden overall title</a>&nbsp;The 29-year-old further admitted that he had expected an India call-up at some point, given his strong domestic record.&nbsp;“Yes, I had expectations. But as a cricketer, you have to have the mindset that your job is to perform. I did think that I would get a call-up sooner or later. If you have been doing well for years, you have to get the fruits of your hard work. I used to bowl with the same mindset; my job is to take wickets and perform, and leave the rest to the Almighty. Now that my name has come up, I am very happy, and my family is also happy. There can’t be a bigger moment for me than this,” Nabi said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-coach-morne-morkel-backs-kl-rahul-to-play-key-role-against-sri-lanka-1786627125746">IND vs SL: Coach Morne Morkel backs KL Rahul to play key role against Sri Lanka</a>&nbsp;Nabi also got a chance to play in India’s warm-up game last week. He said sharing the dressing room and training alongside players he had watched on television was a special experience.&nbsp;“The atmosphere was great. Sharing the dressing room with the people we see on TV, sharing the nets, was a big deal for me,” he added.

After years of waiting for an India call-up, Auqib Nabi received the news unexpectedly when a selector called him at the airport while he was heading to the CoE after being left out of the original Sri Lanka squad.

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has impressed with his consistent wicket-taking performances in domestic cricket over the past few years and earned an India call-up as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement after the star pacer was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series due to injury. The 29-year-old spoke about his surprise selection in a video released by the BCCI with Saransh Jain. “I was at the airport. We had to go for a camp at CoE. I was about to board a flight to Bangalore. So, I got a call asking where I was. I told him that I was going to Bangalore; I was at the airport. He told me that you don’t have to go there, you have to come to Sri Lanka. You have been selected. At first, I couldn’t believe it. It was unexpected because the squad was already announced. I was like, I will work hard in the camp at CoE,” Nabi said. Also Read - Commonwealth Fencing Championships 2026: India clinch maiden overall title The 29-year-old further admitted that he had expected an India call-up at some point, given his strong domestic record. “Yes, I had expectations. But as a cricketer, you have to have the mindset that your job is to perform. I did think that I would get a call-up sooner or later. If you have been doing well for years, you have to get the fruits of your hard work. I used to bowl with the same mindset; my job is to take wickets and perform, and leave the rest to the Almighty. Now that my name has come up, I am very happy, and my family is also happy. There can’t be a bigger moment for me than this,” Nabi said. Also Read - IND vs SL: Coach Morne Morkel backs KL Rahul to play key role against Sri Lanka Nabi also got a chance to play in India’s warm-up game last week. He said sharing the dressing room and training alongside players he had watched on television was a special experience. “The atmosphere was great. Sharing the dressing room with the people we see on TV, sharing the nets, was a big deal for me,” he added.

After years of waiting for an India call-up, Auqib Nabi received the news unexpectedly when a selector called him at the airport while he was heading to the CoE after being left out of the original Sri Lanka squad.

‘I couldn’t believe it’: Auqib Nabi opens up on India call-up

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman said the facility has a much wider role than simply helping injured players recover, while highlighting the importance of monitoring systems in preventing and managing injuries.&nbsp;Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Laxman said injuries are a normal part of every sportsperson’s career and stressed that no one should be blamed when a player suffers an injury.&nbsp;“CoE is not a rehab centre. There’s a bigger responsibility and mandate given by the BCCI,” Laxman said.&nbsp;“Injuries are part and parcel of any player’s career. That’s why the monitoring system is very critical. And we don’t use the term blame; then we will be trying to find scapegoats,” he added.&nbsp;Laxman’s comments came at a time when concerns have increased over the number of injuries affecting Indian players. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia met Laxman on Sunday to review the injury management and rehabilitation programme at the CoE.&nbsp;&nbsp;BCCI president Mithun Manhas and other senior officials also attended the press conference.&nbsp;Laxman also addressed the vacant position of Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) at the CoE and said that the BCCI has found it difficult to appoint the right person for the important role.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sourav-ganguly-yuvraj-singh-at-dc-trials-spark-ipl-2027-coaching-rumours-1786271352701">Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh at DC trials spark IPL 2027 coaching rumours</a>&nbsp;According to Laxman, the position requires more than just experience and reputation. The person must also understand the specific needs of Indian cricketers.&nbsp;“After Nitin (Patel) left, we couldn’t fill his shoes. Everything was agreed upon; Andrew (Leipus) backed off citing family reasons,” Laxman said.&nbsp;He revealed that the BCCI had shortlisted five candidates for the position, however, the top candidate, an Australian whose name was not revealed, later pulled out after deciding that he could not move to Bengaluru.&nbsp;“We shortlisted five candidates; No. 1 was Australian, can’t name him. He suddenly backed out, saying he can’t move to Bengaluru. It’s not a consultant role. You want the person to be there. It’s day-to-day monitoring,” Laxman said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashmita-chaliha-clinches-maiden-bwf-world-tour-title-at-korea-masters-1786269514501">Ashmita Chaliha clinches maiden BWF World Tour title at Korea Masters</a>&nbsp;Laxman added that the vertical heads at the CoE have taken on additional responsibilities because the Head of SSM position remains vacant.&nbsp;“Another professional, head of All Blacks… he agreed and backed out. To fill in that position, not just stature and experience, but understanding of Indian cricketers is important. With the Head of SSM position not filling, the vertical heads have stepped up,” he said.&nbsp;His comments come amid increasing scrutiny of the CoE’s injury-management system, as Indian players Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among those currently undergoing rehabilitation at the facility. All three have been ruled out of India’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on Aug 15.&nbsp;The CoE is also overseeing the rehabilitation of several white-ball players, including Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Prince Yadav.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

VVS Laxman defended the BCCI Centre of Excellence amid India’s injury concerns, stressing that its role extends beyond rehabilitation and that injuries are part of a cricketer’s career.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman said the facility has a much wider role than simply helping injured players recover, while highlighting the importance of monitoring systems in preventing and managing injuries. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Laxman said injuries are a normal part of every sportsperson’s career and stressed that no one should be blamed when a player suffers an injury. “CoE is not a rehab centre. There’s a bigger responsibility and mandate given by the BCCI,” Laxman said. “Injuries are part and parcel of any player’s career. That’s why the monitoring system is very critical. And we don’t use the term blame; then we will be trying to find scapegoats,” he added. Laxman’s comments came at a time when concerns have increased over the number of injuries affecting Indian players. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia met Laxman on Sunday to review the injury management and rehabilitation programme at the CoE. BCCI president Mithun Manhas and other senior officials also attended the press conference. Laxman also addressed the vacant position of Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) at the CoE and said that the BCCI has found it difficult to appoint the right person for the important role. Also Read - Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh at DC trials spark IPL 2027 coaching rumours According to Laxman, the position requires more than just experience and reputation. The person must also understand the specific needs of Indian cricketers. “After Nitin (Patel) left, we couldn’t fill his shoes. Everything was agreed upon; Andrew (Leipus) backed off citing family reasons,” Laxman said. He revealed that the BCCI had shortlisted five candidates for the position, however, the top candidate, an Australian whose name was not revealed, later pulled out after deciding that he could not move to Bengaluru. “We shortlisted five candidates; No. 1 was Australian, can’t name him. He suddenly backed out, saying he can’t move to Bengaluru. It’s not a consultant role. You want the person to be there. It’s day-to-day monitoring,” Laxman said. Also Read - Ashmita Chaliha clinches maiden BWF World Tour title at Korea Masters Laxman added that the vertical heads at the CoE have taken on additional responsibilities because the Head of SSM position remains vacant. “Another professional, head of All Blacks… he agreed and backed out. To fill in that position, not just stature and experience, but understanding of Indian cricketers is important. With the Head of SSM position not filling, the vertical heads have stepped up,” he said. His comments come amid increasing scrutiny of the CoE’s injury-management system, as Indian players Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among those currently undergoing rehabilitation at the facility. All three have been ruled out of India’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on Aug 15. The CoE is also overseeing the rehabilitation of several white-ball players, including Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Prince Yadav. With inputs from agencies

VVS Laxman defended the BCCI Centre of Excellence amid India’s injury concerns, stressing that its role extends beyond rehabilitation and that injuries are part of a cricketer’s career.

‘Not a rehab centre’: VVS Laxman defends BCCI CoE amid injury concerns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly worried about the growing injury problems in the senior men’s team, as around 10 players are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to visit the CoE on Sunday to review the rehabilitation process and assess the current situation. According to a PTI report, Saikia will meet VVS Laxman, the head of the CoE, to discuss the issues.&nbsp;The CoE has been without a permanent head of Sports Science since Nitin Patel left the role in Mar 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Aakashdeep, Ashok Sharma and Riyan Parag are among the players currently at the Bengaluru facility.&nbsp;“Yes, secretary Saikia will be in Bengaluru to take a stock of the situation along with VVS Laxman. There is a meeting scheduled between the two. It is not known whether head coach of national team Gautam Gambhir or chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar will join online or not. It will be interesting if both Saikia and Laxman can front up and answer a few media queries with so many conjectures,” a BCCI source in the know told PTI on conditions of anonymity.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-s-father-jorge-passes-away-at-68-1786199062492">Lionel Messi’s father Jorge passes away at 68</a>&nbsp;There are growing concerns over the return-to-play procedures followed at the CoE, particularly after Harshit Rana suffered another injury soon after returning to action.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/arsenal-sign-bruno-guimaraes-from-newcastle-united-1786193276320">Arsenal sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United</a>&nbsp;Questions have also been raised about communication between the CoE and the selection committee, as a strong understanding between the two is important to ensure players return to matches only when they are fully ready.&nbsp;Recently, Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan were reportedly expected to feature in India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka. However, both were ruled out at the last moment, forcing the selectors to look for replacements.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will meet VVS Laxman in Bengaluru to review the rehabilitation of injured players at the Centre of Excellence. The meeting comes as concerns grow over the fitness of key players, including Bumrah and Pandya, who have suffered injuries in recent weeks.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly worried about the growing injury problems in the senior men’s team, as around 10 players are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to visit the CoE on Sunday to review the rehabilitation process and assess the current situation. According to a PTI report, Saikia will meet VVS Laxman, the head of the CoE, to discuss the issues. The CoE has been without a permanent head of Sports Science since Nitin Patel left the role in Mar 2025. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Aakashdeep, Ashok Sharma and Riyan Parag are among the players currently at the Bengaluru facility. “Yes, secretary Saikia will be in Bengaluru to take a stock of the situation along with VVS Laxman. There is a meeting scheduled between the two. It is not known whether head coach of national team Gautam Gambhir or chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar will join online or not. It will be interesting if both Saikia and Laxman can front up and answer a few media queries with so many conjectures,” a BCCI source in the know told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Also Read - Lionel Messi’s father Jorge passes away at 68 There are growing concerns over the return-to-play procedures followed at the CoE, particularly after Harshit Rana suffered another injury soon after returning to action. Also Read - Arsenal sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United Questions have also been raised about communication between the CoE and the selection committee, as a strong understanding between the two is important to ensure players return to matches only when they are fully ready. Recently, Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan were reportedly expected to feature in India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka. However, both were ruled out at the last moment, forcing the selectors to look for replacements. With inputs from agencies

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will meet VVS Laxman in Bengaluru to review the rehabilitation of injured players at the Centre of Excellence. The meeting comes as concerns grow over the fitness of key players, including Bumrah and Pandya, who have suffered injuries in recent weeks.

Amid injury crisis, BCCI secretary set for crucial talks with COE head VVS Laxman

Maharashtra has approved its largest state-level technology policy in years, and the timing is not coincidental. India's IT industry is being reshaped by artificial intelligence faster than anyone forecast, and the state that hosts much of it is trying to get ahead of the outcome.&nbsp;What The Policy Contains&nbsp;The Maharashtra Cabinet has cleared AI Policy 2026, aimed at expanding the use of artificial intelligence across industry, governance and public services. It targets ₹10,000 crore in investment and more than 1.5 lakh job opportunities by 2031.&nbsp;The policy establishes a Maharashtra AI Mission, with a programme to train two lakh youth and working professionals in artificial intelligence. It provides for AI cities to be developed across five innovation areas, a State AI Data Exchange, and the Maharashtra Advanced Centre for Artificial Intelligence Training.&nbsp;On the startup side, it creates a dedicated AI Startup Venture Fund of ₹500 crore and provides for 12 AI incubators across the state.&nbsp;The policy is framed as a state-level implementation of the national India AI Mission, which carries a central government outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore and coordinates compute infrastructure, talent pipelines, language models and startup support under a single mandate.&nbsp;The Problem It Is Responding To&nbsp;The urgency comes from what AI is currently doing to India's existing technology industry rather than what it might build.&nbsp;The combined market capitalisation of TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra has fallen more than 46 per cent — from a record ₹33.71 lakh crore in August 2024 to ₹18.15 lakh crore in July 2026. TCS alone is down roughly 56 per cent from its all-time high. The Nifty IT index has fallen nearly 40 per cent from its peak.&nbsp;That decline is not a demand cycle. Generative AI is automating application coding, testing, customer support and back-office processing — precisely the categories of work that India's IT services export model was built to supply. The threatened business model is labour arbitrage: billing clients in dollars for work performed by engineers paid in rupees, with revenue scaling on headcount. When AI performs a share of that work, the headcount per rupee of revenue falls.&nbsp;Wipro's most recent quarter showed the squeeze clearly: revenue up 10.6 per cent year-on-year, net profit essentially flat, and operating margin at a 15-quarter low, which the company attributed partly to AI investment.&nbsp;Training Versus Absorbing&nbsp;The gap between the policy's ambition and the problem's scale deserves noting honestly. Training two lakh people in AI skills is a substantial programme. But India's IT sector employs several million, and the roles most exposed to automation are the entry-level and mid-level positions that the industry has historically used to absorb large graduate intakes.&nbsp;Reskilling addresses the supply of AI-capable workers. It does not by itself create demand for them. The ₹500 crore venture fund and the incubators are aimed at that second problem — building companies that employ AI talent domestically rather than exporting the skill — but ₹500 crore is a modest figure against a market where individual AI startups raise more than that in single rounds.&nbsp;What Would Make It Work&nbsp;The policy's most consequential provisions may be the least prominent ones: the State AI Data Exchange and the compute and infrastructure commitments under the national India AI Mission.&nbsp;India's structural disadvantage in AI is not talent — it supplies engineers to every major laboratory in the world. It is compute and data. Indian companies wanting to train substantial models have largely rented capacity from American cloud providers on American terms. Europe has just opened a €30 billion tender for seven AI gigafactories to address the same gap.&nbsp;If Maharashtra's policy contributes meaningfully to domestic compute and to usable, shareable public data, it addresses something the market has not solved on its own. If it functions mainly as a training and incubation programme, it will produce skilled people for an industry whose value is being captured elsewhere.&nbsp;The state is making the bet either way. What the last two years have established is that not making it is not an option.

Maharashtra's Cabinet cleared AI Policy 2026, targeting ₹10,000 crore investment and 1.5 lakh jobs by 2031, with an AI Mission training two lakh youth, a ₹500 crore startup fund and 12 incubators — as India's top IT firms shed 46% of their market value to AI disruption.

Maharashtra has approved its largest state-level technology policy in years, and the timing is not coincidental. India's IT industry is being reshaped by artificial intelligence faster than anyone forecast, and the state that hosts much of it is trying to get ahead of the outcome. What The Policy Contains The Maharashtra Cabinet has cleared AI Policy 2026, aimed at expanding the use of artificial intelligence across industry, governance and public services. It targets ₹10,000 crore in investment and more than 1.5 lakh job opportunities by 2031. The policy establishes a Maharashtra AI Mission, with a programme to train two lakh youth and working professionals in artificial intelligence. It provides for AI cities to be developed across five innovation areas, a State AI Data Exchange, and the Maharashtra Advanced Centre for Artificial Intelligence Training. On the startup side, it creates a dedicated AI Startup Venture Fund of ₹500 crore and provides for 12 AI incubators across the state. The policy is framed as a state-level implementation of the national India AI Mission, which carries a central government outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore and coordinates compute infrastructure, talent pipelines, language models and startup support under a single mandate. The Problem It Is Responding To The urgency comes from what AI is currently doing to India's existing technology industry rather than what it might build. The combined market capitalisation of TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra has fallen more than 46 per cent — from a record ₹33.71 lakh crore in August 2024 to ₹18.15 lakh crore in July 2026. TCS alone is down roughly 56 per cent from its all-time high. The Nifty IT index has fallen nearly 40 per cent from its peak. That decline is not a demand cycle. Generative AI is automating application coding, testing, customer support and back-office processing — precisely the categories of work that India's IT services export model was built to supply. The threatened business model is labour arbitrage: billing clients in dollars for work performed by engineers paid in rupees, with revenue scaling on headcount. When AI performs a share of that work, the headcount per rupee of revenue falls. Wipro's most recent quarter showed the squeeze clearly: revenue up 10.6 per cent year-on-year, net profit essentially flat, and operating margin at a 15-quarter low, which the company attributed partly to AI investment. Training Versus Absorbing The gap between the policy's ambition and the problem's scale deserves noting honestly. Training two lakh people in AI skills is a substantial programme. But India's IT sector employs several million, and the roles most exposed to automation are the entry-level and mid-level positions that the industry has historically used to absorb large graduate intakes. Reskilling addresses the supply of AI-capable workers. It does not by itself create demand for them. The ₹500 crore venture fund and the incubators are aimed at that second problem — building companies that employ AI talent domestically rather than exporting the skill — but ₹500 crore is a modest figure against a market where individual AI startups raise more than that in single rounds. What Would Make It Work The policy's most consequential provisions may be the least prominent ones: the State AI Data Exchange and the compute and infrastructure commitments under the national India AI Mission. India's structural disadvantage in AI is not talent — it supplies engineers to every major laboratory in the world. It is compute and data. Indian companies wanting to train substantial models have largely rented capacity from American cloud providers on American terms. Europe has just opened a €30 billion tender for seven AI gigafactories to address the same gap. If Maharashtra's policy contributes meaningfully to domestic compute and to usable, shareable public data, it addresses something the market has not solved on its own. If it functions mainly as a training and incubation programme, it will produce skilled people for an industry whose value is being captured elsewhere. The state is making the bet either way. What the last two years have established is that not making it is not an option.

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved AI Policy 2026, targeting ₹10,000 crore in investment and more than 1.5 lakh jobs by 2031. It establishes a Maharashtra AI Mission to train two lakh youth, AI cities across five innovation areas, a ₹500 crore AI Startup Venture Fund and 12 incubators — arriving as the country's largest IT firms shed nearly half their market value to AI disruption.

Maharashtra bets ₹10,000 crore on AI as India's IT giants lose half their value

Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of India’s upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury, adding to the team’s growing list of unavailable players ahead of an important World Test Championship (WTC) assignment. Sudharsan had become India’s preferred choice at No. 3 after making his Test debut, but his absence has now opened up a spot in the batting order and given the team management a chance to consider other options.&nbsp;Devdutt Padikkal could be one of the contenders for the position, as the left-hander strengthened his case by scoring a composed century on the second day of India’s ongoing warm-up game. His performance could put him in the race for the No.3 spot, although India still have to finalise their batting combination.<h3>More injury concerns</h3>Sudharsan is not the only Indian player to miss the Sri Lanka series due to injury. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is also unavailable, as he picked up an injury during the ODI series against England and was later rested until Jul 30. His absence will be a major blow to India’s bowling attack, given his experience and ability to change the course of a match.&nbsp;Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have also been ruled out of the series with injuries. The number of absentees has left the selectors and team management with fewer options as they prepare for the two Tests.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/korea-masters-2026-ashmita-chaliha-beats-rakshitha-ramraj-to-reach-final-1786180626257">Korea Masters 2026: Ashmita Chaliha beats Rakshitha Ramraj to reach final</a>&nbsp;With the first Test approaching, India still have several decisions to make, especially regarding the batting order and the overall balance of the team. Padikkal’s century in the warm-up has come at the right time and could make him a strong option for No.3.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami-land-acquisition-plea-reply-1786174320141">Rishabh Pant makes midnight plea to Uttarakhand CM over land acquisition dispute</a>&nbsp;The series is going to be important for both India and Sri Lanka in the World Test Championship standings. India are currently fifth, while Sri Lanka are sixth, making the series a chance for both teams to improve their position in the race for the 2027 WTC Final.

Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury, adding to the team’s injury concerns and leaving the No. 3 spot open for the important WTC series.

Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of India’s upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury, adding to the team’s growing list of unavailable players ahead of an important World Test Championship (WTC) assignment. Sudharsan had become India’s preferred choice at No. 3 after making his Test debut, but his absence has now opened up a spot in the batting order and given the team management a chance to consider other options. Devdutt Padikkal could be one of the contenders for the position, as the left-hander strengthened his case by scoring a composed century on the second day of India’s ongoing warm-up game. His performance could put him in the race for the No.3 spot, although India still have to finalise their batting combination. More injury concerns Sudharsan is not the only Indian player to miss the Sri Lanka series due to injury. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is also unavailable, as he picked up an injury during the ODI series against England and was later rested until Jul 30. His absence will be a major blow to India’s bowling attack, given his experience and ability to change the course of a match. Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have also been ruled out of the series with injuries. The number of absentees has left the selectors and team management with fewer options as they prepare for the two Tests. Also Read - Korea Masters 2026: Ashmita Chaliha beats Rakshitha Ramraj to reach final With the first Test approaching, India still have several decisions to make, especially regarding the batting order and the overall balance of the team. Padikkal’s century in the warm-up has come at the right time and could make him a strong option for No.3. Also Read - Rishabh Pant makes midnight plea to Uttarakhand CM over land acquisition dispute The series is going to be important for both India and Sri Lanka in the World Test Championship standings. India are currently fifth, while Sri Lanka are sixth, making the series a chance for both teams to improve their position in the race for the 2027 WTC Final.

Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of India’s Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury, adding to the team’s injury concerns and leaving the No. 3 spot open for the important WTC series.

SL vs IND: Sai Sudharsan ruled out of Test series due to injury

Star India batter Sarfaraz Khan has drawn attention with a cryptic social media post as he continues to wait for a return to the national team after nearly two years out of the senior XI. Despite averaging 64.73 in 62 first-class matches, Sarfaraz Khan has played only six Tests for India, with his last appearance coming during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India lost the series 4-1. In his last Test appearance, Sarfaraz scored 0 and four before being left out of the playing XI.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Thursday, Sarfaraz shared a picture from the 2019 Telugu film Jersey on social media. He captioned the post: “I may not fit in, but I will fight with everything &nbsp;I have got.”

Sarfaraz on Friday posted a photo from the 2019 Telugu film ‘Jersey’

The batter had made a strong impact during India’s home Test series against New Zealand, scoring 150 in the first Test. However, India went on to suffer a historic 0-3 series whitewash. Sarfaraz struggled in the remaining matches, with his highest score being just 11.&nbsp;Despite staying around the Indian team setup, Sarfaraz has not returned to the senior side since the 1-4 defeat to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.&nbsp;His absence became a talking point again when he was not selected for India’s squad for the Test series against South Africa. India eventually lost that two-match series 0-2.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-cricket-announces-free-entry-for-fans-during-india-test-series-1786111447312">Sri Lanka Cricket announces free entry for fans during India Test series</a>&nbsp;India are currently playing a three-day warm-up match in Colombo as they prepare for a two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The first Test will begin on Saturday (Aug 15) in Galle, while the second Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-opens-up-on-joining-etpl-after-india-retirement-1786105060569">Ajinkya Rahane opens up on joining ETPL after India retirement</a>&nbsp;The series will mark India’s first Test tour of Sri Lanka in more than a decade. The last time India played a Test series in Sri Lanka, they completed a 3-0 clean sweep in 2017.&nbsp;Sarfaraz was last seen in action during IPL 2026, when he played for Chennai Super Kings. He scored 161 runs in seven matches at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 169.47.&nbsp;The batter will next represent West Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

Sarfaraz Khan's cryptic social media post has gone viral after he was left out of India's Test squad, with the batter still waiting for a regular place in the national team despite his strong first-class record.

Star India batter Sarfaraz Khan has drawn attention with a cryptic social media post as he continues to wait for a return to the national team after nearly two years out of the senior XI. Despite averaging 64.73 in 62 first-class matches, Sarfaraz Khan has played only six Tests for India, with his last appearance coming during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where India lost the series 4-1. In his last Test appearance, Sarfaraz scored 0 and four before being left out of the playing XI. On Thursday, Sarfaraz shared a picture from the 2019 Telugu film Jersey on social media. He captioned the post: “I may not fit in, but I will fight with everything I have got.”

Sarfaraz Khan's cryptic social media post has gone viral after he was left out of India's Test squad, with the batter still waiting for a regular place in the national team despite his strong first-class record.

‘I’ll fight with everything’: Sarfaraz Khan’s cryptic message after India Test snub

India are set to face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series, with the first match beginning on Saturday (Aug 15) in Galle. With India currently fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and the next WTC final less than a year away, the Shubman Gill-led team will be looking for a series win. The Men in Blue are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings with a 48.15 per cent points percentage, behind fourth-placed Bangladesh (58.33 per cent) and ahead of sixth-placed Sri Lanka (41.67 per cent), making the upcoming series crucial for both teams' qualification hopes.&nbsp;Bangladesh, however, have a tough schedule ahead, as they will first host the West Indies before travelling to Australia for a challenging series.<h3>What happens if India win the Sri Lanka series?</h3>India can win the series either 1-0 or 2-0, but if India win one Test and the other ends in a draw, they will collect 16 points from the series and their total will increase to 68 points, while their points percentage will rise to 51.51 per cent.&nbsp;Sri Lanka's points percentage would fall to 33.33 per cent in that scenario.&nbsp;A 2-0 win would give India the maximum possible boost, as the two victories would earn them 24 points, taking their total to 76 after 11 Tests. Their points percentage would increase to 57.58 per cent.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2027-pandya-to-be-pursued-by-csk-and-kkr-ashwin-predicts-what-next-for-all-rounder-1786090897096">IPL 2027: Pandya to be pursued by CSK and KKR? Ashwin predicts what next for all-rounder</a>&nbsp;For Sri Lanka, losing both Tests at home would be a major setback and their points percentage would drop to 27.78 per cent, leaving them only slightly ahead of seventh-placed England.&nbsp;England currently have four wins from 13 Tests and a points percentage of 24.36 per cent.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/recovery-management-and-no-prehab-strength-and-conditioning-expert-shares-reason-behind-injuries-in-indian-cricket-1786085111228">Strength and conditioning expert shares reason behind injuries in Indian cricket</a>&nbsp;A series win could help India strengthen their fifth-place position as they could also move up to fourth if Bangladesh lose their upcoming series against Australia. However, even a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka would not be enough for India to break into the top three, as New Zealand currently have a points percentage of 72.22 per cent.&nbsp;<h2>WTC 2025-27 standings</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Team</td><td>P</td><td>W</td><td>L</td><td>D</td><td>NR</td><td>Deducted</td><td>Points</td><td>PCT</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Australia</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>84</td><td>87.5</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>South Africa</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>36</td><td>75.00</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>52</td><td>72.22</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bangladesh</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>28</td><td>58.33</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>India</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>52</td><td>48.15</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>20</td><td>41.67</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>England</td><td>13</td><td>4</td><td>8</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>38</td><td>24.36</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Pakistan</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>16</td><td>22.22</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>West Indies</td><td>12</td><td>2</td><td>8</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>30</td><td>20.83</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

India will look to improve their World Test Championship standing when they face Sri Lanka in a crucial two-Test series, with a clean sweep boosting their qualification hopes.

India are set to face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series, with the first match beginning on Saturday (Aug 15) in Galle. With India currently fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and the next WTC final less than a year away, the Shubman Gill-led team will be looking for a series win. The Men in Blue are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings with a 48.15 per cent points percentage, behind fourth-placed Bangladesh (58.33 per cent) and ahead of sixth-placed Sri Lanka (41.67 per cent), making the upcoming series crucial for both teams' qualification hopes. Bangladesh, however, have a tough schedule ahead, as they will first host the West Indies before travelling to Australia for a challenging series. What happens if India win the Sri Lanka series? India can win the series either 1-0 or 2-0, but if India win one Test and the other ends in a draw, they will collect 16 points from the series and their total will increase to 68 points, while their points percentage will rise to 51.51 per cent. Sri Lanka's points percentage would fall to 33.33 per cent in that scenario. A 2-0 win would give India the maximum possible boost, as the two victories would earn them 24 points, taking their total to 76 after 11 Tests. Their points percentage would increase to 57.58 per cent. Also Read - IPL 2027: Pandya to be pursued by CSK and KKR? Ashwin predicts what next for all-rounder For Sri Lanka, losing both Tests at home would be a major setback and their points percentage would drop to 27.78 per cent, leaving them only slightly ahead of seventh-placed England. England currently have four wins from 13 Tests and a points percentage of 24.36 per cent. Also Read - Strength and conditioning expert shares reason behind injuries in Indian cricket A series win could help India strengthen their fifth-place position as they could also move up to fourth if Bangladesh lose their upcoming series against Australia. However, even a 2-0 victory over Sri Lanka would not be enough for India to break into the top three, as New Zealand currently have a points percentage of 72.22 per cent. WTC 2025-27 standings

India will look to improve their World Test Championship standing when they face Sri Lanka in a crucial two-Test series, with a clean sweep boosting their qualification hopes.

Explained | Can India reach WTC final with a series win in Sri Lanka?

India Test captain Shubman Gill suffered a blow to his thumb during a net session on Thursday (Aug 6), just a day before the team’s warm-up game against Sri Lanka A. The setback comes at a time when India have been dealing with several injury concerns across both red-ball and white-ball cricket. India began preparations for the warm-up match and Test series after arriving in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, but Shubman Gill suffered a thumb injury during Thursday's practice and required medical attention.&nbsp;According to reports, the Indian captain was treated by the team’s medical staff before returning to the nets and continuing his practice. &nbsp;&nbsp;The injury is another concern for India, who have already faced several setbacks ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana were ruled out earlier, while injuries to Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar have added to the team’s selection worries.&nbsp;Bumrah has been ruled out of the series, which has opened the door for Auqib Nabi to receive his first India call-up. Sundar is also unlikely to play in the opening Test after picking up a hamstring injury during the ODI series against England.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/history-jos-buttler-breaks-kieron-pollard-s-all-time-t20-run-record-1786010615174">History! Jos Buttler breaks Kieron Pollard's all-time T20 run record</a>&nbsp;Sudharsan is another doubt for the first Test as he continues to recover from a toe injury. He did not travel with the Indian team to Sri Lanka and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/korea-masters-2026-tanvi-sharma-continues-dream-run-books-quarterfinal-spot-1786009018355">Korea Masters 2026: Tanvi Sharma continues dream run, books quarterfinal spot</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s batters will get an opportunity to improve their game against spin in a three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on Friday. The practice game will be held ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;India will be keen to get used to quality spin before the Test series, as spin bowling troubled them during the home series against New Zealand and South Africa and they are likely to face another tough challenge against Sri Lanka’s spinners.

Shubman Gill suffered a thumb injury ahead of the Sri Lanka A warm-up match, adding to India's growing injury concerns before the Test series.

India Test captain Shubman Gill suffered a blow to his thumb during a net session on Thursday (Aug 6), just a day before the team’s warm-up game against Sri Lanka A. The setback comes at a time when India have been dealing with several injury concerns across both red-ball and white-ball cricket. India began preparations for the warm-up match and Test series after arriving in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, but Shubman Gill suffered a thumb injury during Thursday's practice and required medical attention. According to reports, the Indian captain was treated by the team’s medical staff before returning to the nets and continuing his practice. The injury is another concern for India, who have already faced several setbacks ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana were ruled out earlier, while injuries to Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar have added to the team’s selection worries. Bumrah has been ruled out of the series, which has opened the door for Auqib Nabi to receive his first India call-up. Sundar is also unlikely to play in the opening Test after picking up a hamstring injury during the ODI series against England. Also Read - History! Jos Buttler breaks Kieron Pollard's all-time T20 run record Sudharsan is another doubt for the first Test as he continues to recover from a toe injury. He did not travel with the Indian team to Sri Lanka and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Also Read - Korea Masters 2026: Tanvi Sharma continues dream run, books quarterfinal spot Meanwhile, India’s batters will get an opportunity to improve their game against spin in a three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on Friday. The practice game will be held ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins next week. India will be keen to get used to quality spin before the Test series, as spin bowling troubled them during the home series against New Zealand and South Africa and they are likely to face another tough challenge against Sri Lanka’s spinners.

Shubman Gill suffered a thumb injury ahead of the Sri Lanka A warm-up match, adding to India's growing injury concerns before the Test series.

Big blow to India as Shubman Gill suffers thumb injury ahead of Sri Lanka Test opener

Indian batter Rohit Sharma has praised former India fielding coach T Dilip for his contribution to the team during his time with the national side. Dilip was part of India’s support staff during two T20 World Cup triumphs and the 2025 Champions Trophy victory. Praising Dilip’s work behind the scenes, Rohit said he “created magic within the group” and described him as a “workhorse”.&nbsp;Dilip was India’s fielding coach from 2021 until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned to the role for India’s 2025 Test tour of England on a one-year contract, but the deal was not extended after it ended. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also left the team after the white-ball tour of England in Jul and later joined Kolkata Knight Riders as their Head of Cricket Strategy.&nbsp;Rohit shared a picture with Dilip on his Instagram story and wrote, “You are a legend Dillip guru. You created magic within the group and a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead @dillip.tk.19.”&nbsp;One of Dilip's most popular initiatives was the fielding medal ceremony, which began during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The award was presented to the ‘Best Fielder of the Match’ after games and became a popular tradition within the team.&nbsp;Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among those to receive the medal. The initiative was introduced to promote a stronger fielding culture and encourage players to take risks and give their best on the field.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-hands-eight-year-ban-to-indian-origin-usa-cricketer-in-corruption-case-1785764116023">ICC hands eight-year ban to Indian-origin USA cricketer in corruption case</a>&nbsp;Dilip also shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, admitting that “it is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much.”&nbsp;“Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team’s journey,” he posted.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-seeks-trump-s-backing-after-world-cup-rights-plan-fails-1785769483824">FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeks Trump’s backing after World Cup rights plan fails</a>&nbsp;Dilip said the fielding medal would remain one of the most special memories from his time with the team.&nbsp;“The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I’ll carry with me forever,” he added.&nbsp;Reflecting on India’s major achievements during his tenure, Dilip wrote: “I will always cherish being part of: Two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumphs (2024 &amp; 2026), ICC Champions Trophy triumph (2025), Two Asia Cup triumphs (2023 &amp; 2025), Runners-up at the ICC World Test Championship &amp; ICC Men’s Cricket ODI World Cup (2023), Several unforgettable journeys on the world stage. A heartfelt thank you to the BCCI @indiancricketteam for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to serve Indian cricket,” he continued.&nbsp;He also thanked former head coaches Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir for trusting him during their respective tenures. Dilip also acknowledged Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who led India across different formats during his time with the team.&nbsp;“And to every player, coach and member of the support staff… thank you. The memories we’ve created together will stay with me for the rest of my life. As this chapter comes to a close, I’ll always be grateful that, for five unforgettable years, I had the honour of wearing the India badge. Forever grateful. The journey continues,” he signed off.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed as India men’s new fielding coach ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, according to Cricinfo.&nbsp;The 57-year-old previously worked as the India women’s fielding coach for two years. During that period, he was part of the support staff at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Rohit Sharma paid tribute to outgoing India fielding coach T Dilip, praising his contribution after the coach shared an emotional farewell message following the end of his five-year stint with the national team.

Indian batter Rohit Sharma has praised former India fielding coach T Dilip for his contribution to the team during his time with the national side. Dilip was part of India’s support staff during two T20 World Cup triumphs and the 2025 Champions Trophy victory. Praising Dilip’s work behind the scenes, Rohit said he “created magic within the group” and described him as a “workhorse”. Dilip was India’s fielding coach from 2021 until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned to the role for India’s 2025 Test tour of England on a one-year contract, but the deal was not extended after it ended. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also left the team after the white-ball tour of England in Jul and later joined Kolkata Knight Riders as their Head of Cricket Strategy. Rohit shared a picture with Dilip on his Instagram story and wrote, “You are a legend Dillip guru. You created magic within the group and a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead @dillip.tk.19.” One of Dilip's most popular initiatives was the fielding medal ceremony, which began during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The award was presented to the ‘Best Fielder of the Match’ after games and became a popular tradition within the team. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among those to receive the medal. The initiative was introduced to promote a stronger fielding culture and encourage players to take risks and give their best on the field. Also Read - ICC hands eight-year ban to Indian-origin USA cricketer in corruption case Dilip also shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, admitting that “it is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much.” “Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team’s journey,” he posted. Also Read - FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeks Trump’s backing after World Cup rights plan fails Dilip said the fielding medal would remain one of the most special memories from his time with the team. “The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I’ll carry with me forever,” he added. Reflecting on India’s major achievements during his tenure, Dilip wrote: “I will always cherish being part of: Two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumphs (2024 & 2026), ICC Champions Trophy triumph (2025), Two Asia Cup triumphs (2023 & 2025), Runners-up at the ICC World Test Championship & ICC Men’s Cricket ODI World Cup (2023), Several unforgettable journeys on the world stage. A heartfelt thank you to the BCCI @indiancricketteam for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to serve Indian cricket,” he continued. He also thanked former head coaches Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir for trusting him during their respective tenures. Dilip also acknowledged Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who led India across different formats during his time with the team. “And to every player, coach and member of the support staff… thank you. The memories we’ve created together will stay with me for the rest of my life. As this chapter comes to a close, I’ll always be grateful that, for five unforgettable years, I had the honour of wearing the India badge. Forever grateful. The journey continues,” he signed off. Meanwhile, Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed as India men’s new fielding coach ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, according to Cricinfo. The 57-year-old previously worked as the India women’s fielding coach for two years. During that period, he was part of the support staff at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. With inputs from agencies

Rohit Sharma paid tribute to outgoing India fielding coach T Dilip, praising his contribution after the coach shared an emotional farewell message following the end of his five-year stint with the national team.

'You created magic within group': Rohit Sharma pays tribute to T Dilip after India exit

Wipro grew its revenue by nearly 11 per cent last quarter and earned almost exactly the same profit it did a year ago. The gap between those two figures is where India's IT services industry is currently living.&nbsp;The Results&nbsp;For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, Wipro reported consolidated revenue from operations of ₹24,478.6 crore, up 10.6 per cent from ₹22,134.6 crore in the same quarter a year earlier. That is solid top-line growth for a company of Wipro's scale in a competitive market.&nbsp;Consolidated net profit came in at ₹3,356.3 crore — an increase of 0.6 per cent on the ₹3,336.5 crore reported a year ago. In practical terms, flat.&nbsp;The Margin Story&nbsp;The mechanism connecting those two numbers is margin. Wipro's operating margin fell to 16 per cent, down 1.2 percentage points year-on-year and its lowest level in fifteen quarters — nearly four years.&nbsp;The company attributed the compression to three factors: salary increases, deal ramp-up costs, and investment in artificial intelligence. All three are the cost of staying competitive rather than signs of weakness, but they land on the same line of the income statement.&nbsp;The AI investment component is the structurally interesting one. Wipro has committed heavily to AI capability-building — it pledged $1 billion over three years through its ai360 programme, and has since layered on partnerships with Microsoft covering Azure, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure AI Foundry, a Google Cloud arrangement rolling out Gemini Enterprise across its global teams, and a tie-up with Factory to deploy AI coding agents in enterprise software development.&nbsp;The Bind Indian IT Is In&nbsp;Those investments are not optional. Clients are increasingly buying AI-enabled delivery, and a services firm that cannot offer it loses deals outright. But AI capability is expensive to build and, for now, its principal effect on the services model is deflationary: work that once billed for a hundred engineer-hours may bill for sixty, with the AI absorbing the difference.&nbsp;That is the squeeze visible in Wipro's numbers. Revenue grows because clients are buying transformation programmes. Margin shrinks because delivering them costs more up front and, over time, requires fewer billable people per rupee of output. The industry is being asked to invest heavily in the technology most likely to compress its own pricing.&nbsp;Guidance And Dividend&nbsp;Wipro's board declared an interim dividend of ₹2 per equity share, with a record date of July 27, 2026 and distribution scheduled on or before August 14.&nbsp;Guidance for the second quarter of FY27 puts IT services revenue at $2.574 billion to $2.627 billion, implying sequential growth in constant currency of between minus 1.5 per cent and plus 0.5 per cent. The midpoint of that range is a contraction — the company is not projecting momentum into the current quarter.&nbsp;For investors, the question Wipro's quarter poses is one facing every large Indian IT firm: whether the AI spending now depressing margins eventually produces a higher-value delivery model, or whether it simply becomes the new cost of doing the same business at lower prices.

Wipro's Q1 FY27 revenue rose 10.6% to ₹24,478.6 crore but net profit was flat at ₹3,356.3 crore. Operating margin fell to 16%, a 15-quarter low, on salary hikes, deal ramp-ups and AI investment. Q2 guidance implies possible sequential contraction.

Wipro grew its revenue by nearly 11 per cent last quarter and earned almost exactly the same profit it did a year ago. The gap between those two figures is where India's IT services industry is currently living. The Results For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, Wipro reported consolidated revenue from operations of ₹24,478.6 crore, up 10.6 per cent from ₹22,134.6 crore in the same quarter a year earlier. That is solid top-line growth for a company of Wipro's scale in a competitive market. Consolidated net profit came in at ₹3,356.3 crore — an increase of 0.6 per cent on the ₹3,336.5 crore reported a year ago. In practical terms, flat. The Margin Story The mechanism connecting those two numbers is margin. Wipro's operating margin fell to 16 per cent, down 1.2 percentage points year-on-year and its lowest level in fifteen quarters — nearly four years. The company attributed the compression to three factors: salary increases, deal ramp-up costs, and investment in artificial intelligence. All three are the cost of staying competitive rather than signs of weakness, but they land on the same line of the income statement. The AI investment component is the structurally interesting one. Wipro has committed heavily to AI capability-building — it pledged $1 billion over three years through its ai360 programme, and has since layered on partnerships with Microsoft covering Azure, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure AI Foundry, a Google Cloud arrangement rolling out Gemini Enterprise across its global teams, and a tie-up with Factory to deploy AI coding agents in enterprise software development. The Bind Indian IT Is In Those investments are not optional. Clients are increasingly buying AI-enabled delivery, and a services firm that cannot offer it loses deals outright. But AI capability is expensive to build and, for now, its principal effect on the services model is deflationary: work that once billed for a hundred engineer-hours may bill for sixty, with the AI absorbing the difference. That is the squeeze visible in Wipro's numbers. Revenue grows because clients are buying transformation programmes. Margin shrinks because delivering them costs more up front and, over time, requires fewer billable people per rupee of output. The industry is being asked to invest heavily in the technology most likely to compress its own pricing. Guidance And Dividend Wipro's board declared an interim dividend of ₹2 per equity share, with a record date of July 27, 2026 and distribution scheduled on or before August 14. Guidance for the second quarter of FY27 puts IT services revenue at $2.574 billion to $2.627 billion, implying sequential growth in constant currency of between minus 1.5 per cent and plus 0.5 per cent. The midpoint of that range is a contraction — the company is not projecting momentum into the current quarter. For investors, the question Wipro's quarter poses is one facing every large Indian IT firm: whether the AI spending now depressing margins eventually produces a higher-value delivery model, or whether it simply becomes the new cost of doing the same business at lower prices.

Wipro reported first-quarter FY27 revenue of ₹24,478.6 crore, up 10.6 per cent year-on-year. Net profit barely moved, rising 0.6 per cent to ₹3,356.3 crore. Operating margin fell 1.2 percentage points to 16 per cent — a 15-quarter low — which the company attributed to salary increases, deal ramp-ups and AI investment.

Wipro's margins fall to 15-quarter low as AI investment eats into profit

Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed as the new fielding coach of the India men’s cricket team, replacing T Dilip ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Dilip returned for a second stint with the Indian team during the five-Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year BCCI contract, which was not renewed after it expired. His first stint as India’s men’s fielding coach began in 2021 and lasted until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.&nbsp;The 57-year-old previously worked as the fielding coach of the India women’s team for two years and during that period, he was part of the support staff for India’s campaigns at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.&nbsp;He has also worked with India A and served as the head coach of Assam’s senior men’s team. Before starting his coaching career, Ghosh played domestic cricket as a right-handed batter for Assam and Railways and featured in 17 first-class matches and 17 List A games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vinesh-phogat-vows-to-fight-against-brij-bhushan-singh-s-acquittal-by-delhi-court-in-sexual-harassment-case-1785748434201">Vinesh Phogat vows to fight against Brij Bhushan Singh's acquittal by Delhi court in sexual harassment case</a>&nbsp;India's tour of Sri Lanka will begin with the first Test in Galle on Aug 15, followed by the second and final Test at the SSC in Colombo from Aug 23.&nbsp;Before the Test series, India are scheduled to play a three-day practice match in Colombo from Aug 7. The series will be their first assignment in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle since their home series against South Africa last Nov. India also played a one-off Test against Afghanistan in the first week of June.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-auqib-nabi-replaces-injured-jasprit-bumrah-for-upcoming-test-series-1785743368965">IND vs SL: Auqib Nabi replaces injured Jasprit Bumrah for upcoming Test series</a>&nbsp;There has also been another change in India’s support staff, as assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stepped down after the team’s white-ball tour of England and has since joined IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders as their Head of Cricket Strategy.

India have named 57-year-old Subhadeep Ghosh as the new fielding coach of the men's cricket team ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, with the veteran coach replacing T Dilip.

Subhadeep Ghosh has been appointed as the new fielding coach of the India men’s cricket team, replacing T Dilip ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Dilip returned for a second stint with the Indian team during the five-Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year BCCI contract, which was not renewed after it expired. His first stint as India’s men’s fielding coach began in 2021 and lasted until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 57-year-old previously worked as the fielding coach of the India women’s team for two years and during that period, he was part of the support staff for India’s campaigns at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. He has also worked with India A and served as the head coach of Assam’s senior men’s team. Before starting his coaching career, Ghosh played domestic cricket as a right-handed batter for Assam and Railways and featured in 17 first-class matches and 17 List A games. Also Read - Vinesh Phogat vows to fight against Brij Bhushan Singh's acquittal by Delhi court in sexual harassment case India's tour of Sri Lanka will begin with the first Test in Galle on Aug 15, followed by the second and final Test at the SSC in Colombo from Aug 23. Before the Test series, India are scheduled to play a three-day practice match in Colombo from Aug 7. The series will be their first assignment in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle since their home series against South Africa last Nov. India also played a one-off Test against Afghanistan in the first week of June. Also Read - IND vs SL: Auqib Nabi replaces injured Jasprit Bumrah for upcoming Test series There has also been another change in India’s support staff, as assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stepped down after the team’s white-ball tour of England and has since joined IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders as their Head of Cricket Strategy.

India have named 57-year-old Subhadeep Ghosh as the new fielding coach of the men's cricket team ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, with the veteran coach replacing T Dilip.

Subhadeep Ghosh replaces T Dilip as India men's fielding coach ahead of SL tour

India received a major boost ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was declared fit to play both the matches. According to PTI, the fast bowler has been cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru after recovering from the impact injury he sustained during the ODI series against England. The 32-year-old &nbsp;had missed the third ODI at Lord's after picking up the injury and was included in India's Test squad subject to clearing his fitness assessment. His availability comes as a timely relief for a side already dealing with multiple injury concerns ahead of the two-Test series beginning in Galle on Aug 15.&nbsp;"Jasprit Bumrah has recovered from his impact injury. He has cleared the fitness Tests mandated by the COE. Hopefully he will be available for both games as he is integral to the team's plans," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.<h3>Big boost for India</h3>Bumrah's return significantly strengthens India's pace attack at a crucial stage of the World Test Championship cycle. Led by Shubman Gill, India currently sit fifth in the WTC standings, one place above Sri Lanka and need victories to stay in the race for a place in the 2027 final.&nbsp;The visitors need to win seven of their remaining nine Tests to remain in contention, making a 2-0 series victory in Sri Lanka particularly important before a challenging away assignment in New Zealand later this year.&nbsp;India's preparations have been affected by a string of injuries, as Harshit Rana has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Nitish Reddy is recovering from a quadriceps issue. Washington Sundar will miss the opening Test because of a hamstring injury, forcing selectors to call up off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain after his impressive domestic performances and India A stint.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-day-9-asmita-harsh-win-gold-neeraj-claims-silver-tejaswini-makes-history-1785554253717">CWG 2026 Day 9: Asmita, Harsh win gold, Neeraj claims silver, Tejaswini makes history</a>&nbsp;Fast bowler Akash Deep also remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from stress reactions in his back.&nbsp;Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja return to the Test setup after being rested for India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in June, a match that did not count towards the WTC.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-10-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785552760720">CWG 2026 Day 10: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar complete the pace unit, with Brar earning his maiden Test call-up after a 10-wicket haul for India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle.&nbsp;The first Test will be played in Galle from Aug 15, followed by the second in Colombo from Aug 23. India have fond memories of their last Test tour to Sri Lanka, having completed a 3-0 whitewash in 2017.&nbsp;With Bumrah now fully fit and back to lead the bowling attack, India will hope to begin an important stretch of their WTC campaign on a winning note despite the absence of several first-choice players.&nbsp;India squad for Sri Lanka Test series - Shubman Gill (captain), Lokesh Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain

India received a major boost ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests as Jasprit Bumrah passed his fitness assessment and is expected to play both matches.

India received a major boost ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was declared fit to play both the matches. According to PTI, the fast bowler has been cleared by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru after recovering from the impact injury he sustained during the ODI series against England. The 32-year-old had missed the third ODI at Lord's after picking up the injury and was included in India's Test squad subject to clearing his fitness assessment. His availability comes as a timely relief for a side already dealing with multiple injury concerns ahead of the two-Test series beginning in Galle on Aug 15. "Jasprit Bumrah has recovered from his impact injury. He has cleared the fitness Tests mandated by the COE. Hopefully he will be available for both games as he is integral to the team's plans," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity. Big boost for India Bumrah's return significantly strengthens India's pace attack at a crucial stage of the World Test Championship cycle. Led by Shubman Gill, India currently sit fifth in the WTC standings, one place above Sri Lanka and need victories to stay in the race for a place in the 2027 final. The visitors need to win seven of their remaining nine Tests to remain in contention, making a 2-0 series victory in Sri Lanka particularly important before a challenging away assignment in New Zealand later this year. India's preparations have been affected by a string of injuries, as Harshit Rana has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Nitish Reddy is recovering from a quadriceps issue. Washington Sundar will miss the opening Test because of a hamstring injury, forcing selectors to call up off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain after his impressive domestic performances and India A stint. Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 9: Asmita, Harsh win gold, Neeraj claims silver, Tejaswini makes history Fast bowler Akash Deep also remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from stress reactions in his back. Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja return to the Test setup after being rested for India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in June, a match that did not count towards the WTC. Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 10: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar complete the pace unit, with Brar earning his maiden Test call-up after a 10-wicket haul for India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle. The first Test will be played in Galle from Aug 15, followed by the second in Colombo from Aug 23. India have fond memories of their last Test tour to Sri Lanka, having completed a 3-0 whitewash in 2017. With Bumrah now fully fit and back to lead the bowling attack, India will hope to begin an important stretch of their WTC campaign on a winning note despite the absence of several first-choice players. India squad for Sri Lanka Test series - Shubman Gill (captain), Lokesh Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain

India received a major boost ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests as Jasprit Bumrah passed his fitness assessment and is expected to play both matches.

IND vs SL: India receive major boost as Jasprit Bumrah cleared for Test series

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket.&nbsp;“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said.&nbsp;“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-retires-from-international-cricket-1785388583556">Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket</a><h3>From overseas heroics to match-winning displays, here are Ajinkya Rahane’s top five Test innings</h3><ul><li>96 vs South Africa, Durban (2013) In only his second Test, Rahane scored a brave 96 on a difficult pitch against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Though he missed a century, he showed he could succeed in overseas conditions.</li><li>118 vs New Zealand, Wellington (2014) Batting at No. 7, Rahane scored his maiden Test century with 118 on a challenging pitch. His knock helped India save the match and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.</li><li>147 vs Australia, Melbourne (2014) Rahane’s stylish 147 against a strong Australian attack helped India fight back after Australia scored 530. It remains one of his finest overseas innings.</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-logic-of-orange-former-hockey-captain-viren-rasquinha-questions-new-india-jersey-1785391545741">'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey</a><ul><li>103 vs England, Lord’s (2014) Rahane’s calm 103 on a green Lord’s pitch came after India were struggling at 145/7 and his century played a key role in India’s first Test win at Lord’s in 28 years.</li><li>112 vs Australia, Melbourne (2020) Leading India after the Adelaide collapse and Virat Kohli’s absence, Rahane scored a match-winning 112. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja guided India to victory in the Boxing Day Test and helped set up their famous series win in Australia.</li></ul>

Ajinkya Rahane’s memorable Test career featured several overseas masterclasses, with his Lord’s century and MCG hundred among his finest performances.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket. “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said. “Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added. Also Read - Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket From overseas heroics to match-winning displays, here are Ajinkya Rahane’s top five Test innings 96 vs South Africa, Durban (2013) In only his second Test, Rahane scored a brave 96 on a difficult pitch against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Though he missed a century, he showed he could succeed in overseas conditions. 118 vs New Zealand, Wellington (2014) Batting at No. 7, Rahane scored his maiden Test century with 118 on a challenging pitch. His knock helped India save the match and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure. 147 vs Australia, Melbourne (2014) Rahane’s stylish 147 against a strong Australian attack helped India fight back after Australia scored 530. It remains one of his finest overseas innings. Also Read - 'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey 103 vs England, Lord’s (2014) Rahane’s calm 103 on a green Lord’s pitch came after India were struggling at 145/7 and his century played a key role in India’s first Test win at Lord’s in 28 years. 112 vs Australia, Melbourne (2020) Leading India after the Adelaide collapse and Virat Kohli’s absence, Rahane scored a match-winning 112. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja guided India to victory in the Boxing Day Test and helped set up their famous series win in Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane’s memorable Test career featured several overseas masterclasses, with his Lord’s century and MCG hundred among his finest performances.

Ajinkya Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket.&nbsp;“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said.&nbsp;“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rahane further said that he always put India and the team before himself and played the sport with complete honesty.&nbsp;“I lived by one simple rule. Always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you,” the veteran cricketer said.&nbsp;Looking back on his journey, Rahane said that Indian cricket had changed since his first-class debut and that he was proud to have contributed to its growth over the last 20 years.&nbsp;“Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-set-to-appoint-stephen-fleming-as-test-head-coach-1785384520578">England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach</a>&nbsp;The 38-year-old also thanked the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and fans for standing by him throughout his career.&nbsp;“And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated. And that was in your hearts. Thank you for your love, your faith and your support. Cap number 278, signing off,” Rahane concluded.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-8-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785381180176">Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;Rahane represented India in 85 Test matches, scoring 5,077 runs in 144 innings at an average of 38.46. His tally also includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, with a strike rate of 49.50.&nbsp;In ODIs, he played 90 matches and scored 2,962 runs in 87 innings at an average of 35.26 and registered three centuries and 24 fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 78.63.&nbsp;Rahane also featured in 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29, with one half-century to his name.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket. “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said. “Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added. Rahane further said that he always put India and the team before himself and played the sport with complete honesty. “I lived by one simple rule. Always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you,” the veteran cricketer said. Looking back on his journey, Rahane said that Indian cricket had changed since his first-class debut and that he was proud to have contributed to its growth over the last 20 years. “Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he said. Also Read - England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach The 38-year-old also thanked the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and fans for standing by him throughout his career. “And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated. And that was in your hearts. Thank you for your love, your faith and your support. Cap number 278, signing off,” Rahane concluded. Also Read - Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings Rahane represented India in 85 Test matches, scoring 5,077 runs in 144 innings at an average of 38.46. His tally also includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, with a strike rate of 49.50. In ODIs, he played 90 matches and scored 2,962 runs in 87 innings at an average of 35.26 and registered three centuries and 24 fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 78.63. Rahane also featured in 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29, with one half-century to his name. With inputs from agencies

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket

India have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings after beating Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series on Saturday (Jul 25). The 2026 T20 World Cup champions moved back to the top after briefly dropping to second following their 0-4 T20I series defeat to England earlier this month. Both India and England are tied on 268 rating points, but India sit above England after the decimal-point calculation in the ICC rankings.<h3>Ishan Kishan goes past Virat Kohli</h3>Batting first at the Harare Sports Club, India posted a commanding 219/5 in 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan led the scoring with 81, while vice-captain Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on a quickfire 60 off just 29 deliveries.&nbsp;Ishan’s knock also took his tally to 783 runs in 22 T20Is in 2026, helping him move past Virat Kohli’s record of 781 runs in a calendar year, which the former India captain set in 20 T20Is in 2022.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-tim-david-reacts-after-controversial-dismissal-against-usman-tariq-1785044586909">WATCH | Tim David reacts after controversial dismissal against Usman Tariq</a>&nbsp;Only Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma are now ahead of Ishan among Indian batters with the most T20I runs in a calendar year. Suryakumar scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022, while Abhishek made 859 runs in 21 T20Is in 2025.&nbsp;After winning the Player of the Match award for his match-winning innings, Ishan now has another milestone in sight, as he can surpass Abhishek’s tally if he scores enough runs in the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday (Jul 26).&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-sachin-siwach-advances-women-s-lawn-bowls-pair-shine-1785041928312">CWG 2026: Sachin Siwach advances, women’s lawn bowls pair shine</a>&nbsp;Ishan has also scored 370 runs in 12 T20Is this year as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. He needs 67 more runs in the series finale to overtake Sanju Samson’s record of 436 runs, the highest by an Indian designated wicketkeeper-batter in a calendar year. Samson achieved the feat in 12 T20Is during the 2024 season.

India have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I team rankings just two weeks after slipping to second place following their 0-4 series defeat to England. 

India have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings after beating Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series on Saturday (Jul 25). The 2026 T20 World Cup champions moved back to the top after briefly dropping to second following their 0-4 T20I series defeat to England earlier this month. Both India and England are tied on 268 rating points, but India sit above England after the decimal-point calculation in the ICC rankings. Ishan Kishan goes past Virat Kohli Batting first at the Harare Sports Club, India posted a commanding 219/5 in 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan led the scoring with 81, while vice-captain Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on a quickfire 60 off just 29 deliveries. Ishan’s knock also took his tally to 783 runs in 22 T20Is in 2026, helping him move past Virat Kohli’s record of 781 runs in a calendar year, which the former India captain set in 20 T20Is in 2022. Also Read - WATCH | Tim David reacts after controversial dismissal against Usman Tariq Only Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma are now ahead of Ishan among Indian batters with the most T20I runs in a calendar year. Suryakumar scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022, while Abhishek made 859 runs in 21 T20Is in 2025. After winning the Player of the Match award for his match-winning innings, Ishan now has another milestone in sight, as he can surpass Abhishek’s tally if he scores enough runs in the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday (Jul 26). Also Read - CWG 2026: Sachin Siwach advances, women’s lawn bowls pair shine Ishan has also scored 370 runs in 12 T20Is this year as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. He needs 67 more runs in the series finale to overtake Sanju Samson’s record of 436 runs, the highest by an Indian designated wicketkeeper-batter in a calendar year. Samson achieved the feat in 12 T20Is during the 2024 season.

India have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I team rankings just two weeks after slipping to second place following their 0-4 series defeat to England.&nbsp;

India regain No.1 spot in ICC T20I team rankings

Kuldeep Yadav has missed out on India's playing XI during the recent tours of England and Ireland, as the team opted for the spin-bowling all-rounder combination of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal shared his thoughts on whether Kuldeep should have a permanent place in the playing XI despite the current team combination.&nbsp;When asked if India should continue with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar or include Kuldeep Yadav regularly, the 35-year-old said the decision should be based on the match conditions and the team’s needs.&nbsp;“In my opinion, it should depend on the conditions and the team’s requirements rather than having a fixed combination. On pitches that help spin, there can even be room for more than one specialist spinner. Kuldeep has proved himself many times and whenever he gets an opportunity, he has delivered. Healthy competition among players is always good because it pushes everyone to perform better," said Yuzi.&nbsp;"The most important thing is that India has strong bench strength and the team management has several quality options to choose from. That is a positive sign for Indian cricket.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-it-will-definitely-give-me-a-boost-pv-sindhu-on-how-japan-open-triumph-fuels-world-championships-hopes-1784485844070">Exclusive | 'It will definitely give me a boost': PV Sindhu on how Japan Open triumph fuels World Championships hopes</a><h3>Chahal and Ishant launch AQUON</h3>Meanwhile, Indian cricketers Ishant Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal have launched AQUON, a daily hydration drink designed to help maintain hydration and electrolyte balance for both everyday consumers and athletes.&nbsp;AQUON is marketed by Delhi-based Kiyas Lab Private Limited, a DPIIT-recognised startup and is manufactured at Sapiens Labs in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-i-never-stop-practising-sachin-basheer-on-his-rise-from-caddie-to-champion-1784474343009">Exclusive | 'I never stop practising...': Sachin Baisoya on his rise from caddie to champion</a>&nbsp;Speaking about the idea behind the brand, Chahal and Ishant said, “We’ve both spent years training, travelling and playing in Indian conditions, so we know how important hydration is. But most products we came across were either too sugary, too medicinal in taste, too expensive or simply not enjoyable enough to have every day.&nbsp;We felt there was space for something that worked well, tasted genuinely good and fitted easily into everyday life and not just sport. We were also very clear that quality couldn’t be compromised, which is why our products are manufactured in an NSF-certified facility and that’s all where AQUON started.”

Should Kuldeep Yadav have a permanent place in India's XI? Yuzvendra Chahal opens up on India's spin selection debate.

Kuldeep Yadav has missed out on India's playing XI during the recent tours of England and Ireland, as the team opted for the spin-bowling all-rounder combination of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal shared his thoughts on whether Kuldeep should have a permanent place in the playing XI despite the current team combination. When asked if India should continue with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar or include Kuldeep Yadav regularly, the 35-year-old said the decision should be based on the match conditions and the team’s needs. “In my opinion, it should depend on the conditions and the team’s requirements rather than having a fixed combination. On pitches that help spin, there can even be room for more than one specialist spinner. Kuldeep has proved himself many times and whenever he gets an opportunity, he has delivered. Healthy competition among players is always good because it pushes everyone to perform better," said Yuzi. "The most important thing is that India has strong bench strength and the team management has several quality options to choose from. That is a positive sign for Indian cricket.” Also Read - Exclusive | 'It will definitely give me a boost': PV Sindhu on how Japan Open triumph fuels World Championships hopes Chahal and Ishant launch AQUON Meanwhile, Indian cricketers Ishant Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal have launched AQUON, a daily hydration drink designed to help maintain hydration and electrolyte balance for both everyday consumers and athletes. AQUON is marketed by Delhi-based Kiyas Lab Private Limited, a DPIIT-recognised startup and is manufactured at Sapiens Labs in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Also Read - Exclusive | 'I never stop practising...': Sachin Baisoya on his rise from caddie to champion Speaking about the idea behind the brand, Chahal and Ishant said, “We’ve both spent years training, travelling and playing in Indian conditions, so we know how important hydration is. But most products we came across were either too sugary, too medicinal in taste, too expensive or simply not enjoyable enough to have every day. We felt there was space for something that worked well, tasted genuinely good and fitted easily into everyday life and not just sport. We were also very clear that quality couldn’t be compromised, which is why our products are manufactured in an NSF-certified facility and that’s all where AQUON started.”

Should Kuldeep Yadav have a permanent place in India's XI? Yuzvendra Chahal opens up on India's spin selection debate.

Exclusive | 'The team has several quality options': Yuzvendra Chahal on India's Kuldeep-Axar-Washington selection debate

Indian batter Tilak Varma has defended his batting approach during India’s T20I tours of Ireland and England, saying his strike rate was influenced by match situations rather than his personal style. Tilak said his only focus is to do what the team needs, whether it is attacking from the very first ball or playing a steady innings, he believes the situation should decide his approach.&nbsp;The 23-year-old pointed out that India often lost four or five wickets inside the first 10 overs on both tours, making it important for him to stabilise the innings instead of taking unnecessary risks. He also said he accepts the responsibilities given to him by the team management and adjusts his game accordingly.&nbsp;Although Tilak scored useful runs on the tours, he was criticised for not increasing the scoring rate quickly enough and for slowing the team’s momentum.&nbsp;“In this game, you have to bat in different places and especially in such conditions, it’s not easy. At the same time, I always say that I do whatever is required for the team. If I have to grind it out and play for the team, I do. If I have to hit from ball number one, then I do that. So at that time, in the conditions of the team, if you look at it, from Ireland to England, you always had four to five wickets falling inside the powerplay or the first 10 overs,” Tilak told reporters in the pre-match press conference.&nbsp;“So going there and then getting out in trying to accelerate, it doesn’t make sense. So that’s what I always have in my mind, that I can go and hit the first ball. But at the same time, I’m playing for the country, so there are a lot of responsibilities. So what are the conditions of the team? If I have to play for the team till the end, our team’s plans keep changing. When you are the vice-captain, the team gives you something after thinking about it. So I want to take the same responsibilities that the management gives me, so I’m playing according to that,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zinedine-zidane-set-to-take-over-as-france-head-coach-1784640555328">Zinedine Zidane set to take over as France head coach</a>&nbsp;Tilak registered two half-centuries during the Ireland and England tours, one against Ireland and another against England. In seven T20Is, he scored 178 runs, with his highest score of 55 coming in the second T20I against Ireland in Belfast.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-ve-played-our-entire-career-together-rohit-sharma-opens-up-on-bond-with-virat-kohli-1784640782719">‘We’ve played our entire career together’: Rohit opens up on bond with Kohli</a>&nbsp;India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run, losing the T20I series 2-0 to Ireland before suffering a 4-0 whitewash against England. The Men in Blue will now aim to return to winning ways in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which begins on Jul 23.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Indian batter Tilak Varma defended his batting approach during the tours of Ireland and England, stating that his strike rate reflected the demands of the match situation rather than his personal style of play.

Indian batter Tilak Varma has defended his batting approach during India’s T20I tours of Ireland and England, saying his strike rate was influenced by match situations rather than his personal style. Tilak said his only focus is to do what the team needs, whether it is attacking from the very first ball or playing a steady innings, he believes the situation should decide his approach. The 23-year-old pointed out that India often lost four or five wickets inside the first 10 overs on both tours, making it important for him to stabilise the innings instead of taking unnecessary risks. He also said he accepts the responsibilities given to him by the team management and adjusts his game accordingly. Although Tilak scored useful runs on the tours, he was criticised for not increasing the scoring rate quickly enough and for slowing the team’s momentum. “In this game, you have to bat in different places and especially in such conditions, it’s not easy. At the same time, I always say that I do whatever is required for the team. If I have to grind it out and play for the team, I do. If I have to hit from ball number one, then I do that. So at that time, in the conditions of the team, if you look at it, from Ireland to England, you always had four to five wickets falling inside the powerplay or the first 10 overs,” Tilak told reporters in the pre-match press conference. “So going there and then getting out in trying to accelerate, it doesn’t make sense. So that’s what I always have in my mind, that I can go and hit the first ball. But at the same time, I’m playing for the country, so there are a lot of responsibilities. So what are the conditions of the team? If I have to play for the team till the end, our team’s plans keep changing. When you are the vice-captain, the team gives you something after thinking about it. So I want to take the same responsibilities that the management gives me, so I’m playing according to that,” he added. Also Read - Zinedine Zidane set to take over as France head coach Tilak registered two half-centuries during the Ireland and England tours, one against Ireland and another against England. In seven T20Is, he scored 178 runs, with his highest score of 55 coming in the second T20I against Ireland in Belfast. Also Read - ‘We’ve played our entire career together’: Rohit opens up on bond with Kohli India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run, losing the T20I series 2-0 to Ireland before suffering a 4-0 whitewash against England. The Men in Blue will now aim to return to winning ways in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which begins on Jul 23. With inputs from agencies

Indian batter Tilak Varma defended his batting approach during the tours of Ireland and England, stating that his strike rate reflected the demands of the match situation rather than his personal style of play.

'I can attack from first ball, but...': Tilak Varma hits back at strike-rate criticism

For most of their international careers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared the dressing room and built one of India’s most successful batting partnerships. They have seen each other grow into modern-day greats and both went on to captain India in all three formats, with Rohit taking over the leadership after Kohli. The two legends also retired from Tests and T20Is around the same time. Now, as they enter the final phase of their international careers, their biggest aim is to help India win the 2027 ODI World Cup.&nbsp;Although there is uncertainty over their ODI futures, especially after reports suggested the selectors may be looking beyond Rohit, the pair continues to enjoy batting together and delivering big partnerships.&nbsp;In the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s, Rohit and Kohli put together their 21st century partnership in ODIs as India chased a huge target of 388. Even though India fell short, Rohit said he enjoyed sharing the crease with his long-time teammate.&nbsp;“We (him and Kohli) played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle, we have had so many partnerships. It’s fun batting together as we understand each other so much, bouncing off ideas,” Rohit told BCCI.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-announce-squad-for-fih-hockey-men-s-world-cup-2026-1784636597215">India announce squad for FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026</a>&nbsp;Rohit starred with 138, becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s, while Kohli chipped in with a quick 74 off 60 balls.&nbsp;The 39-year-old also continued his impressive record in England, scoring his eighth ODI century in the country.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/china-masters-2026-hs-prannoy-devika-sihag-exit-in-first-round-1784631027594">China Masters 2026: HS Prannoy, Devika Sihag exit in first round</a>&nbsp;Overall, Rohit has scored 1,603 runs in 30 ODI innings in England at an average of 64.12.&nbsp;“I love playing in England. The atmosphere, the grounds, the pitches, when you turn up to play any format over here, it challenges you in different ways. And that’s what you want as a cricketer. To be challenged in every way possible. I enjoyed out there in the middle,” he said.&nbsp;India eventually lost the series 2-1, with the bowlers coming under criticism after failing to defend big totals. However, Rohit backed the bowling unit, saying the attack is still gaining experience.&nbsp;“Again with bowling, you got to understand that these guys haven’t played a lot of ODIs and you got give them time. We can learn from this game, take things in our stride and when we again come across situation like this, we try and better ourselves. Disappointed with the result, we couldn’t finish off the game, we have to move on,” he said.

Rohit Sharma praised his partnership with Virat Kohli after the duo stitched together a century stand during the Lord's ODI. 

For most of their international careers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared the dressing room and built one of India’s most successful batting partnerships. They have seen each other grow into modern-day greats and both went on to captain India in all three formats, with Rohit taking over the leadership after Kohli. The two legends also retired from Tests and T20Is around the same time. Now, as they enter the final phase of their international careers, their biggest aim is to help India win the 2027 ODI World Cup. Although there is uncertainty over their ODI futures, especially after reports suggested the selectors may be looking beyond Rohit, the pair continues to enjoy batting together and delivering big partnerships. In the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s, Rohit and Kohli put together their 21st century partnership in ODIs as India chased a huge target of 388. Even though India fell short, Rohit said he enjoyed sharing the crease with his long-time teammate. “We (him and Kohli) played our entire career together, so it was nice to have him in the middle, we have had so many partnerships. It’s fun batting together as we understand each other so much, bouncing off ideas,” Rohit told BCCI. Also Read - India announce squad for FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026 Rohit starred with 138, becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s, while Kohli chipped in with a quick 74 off 60 balls. The 39-year-old also continued his impressive record in England, scoring his eighth ODI century in the country. Also Read - China Masters 2026: HS Prannoy, Devika Sihag exit in first round Overall, Rohit has scored 1,603 runs in 30 ODI innings in England at an average of 64.12. “I love playing in England. The atmosphere, the grounds, the pitches, when you turn up to play any format over here, it challenges you in different ways. And that’s what you want as a cricketer. To be challenged in every way possible. I enjoyed out there in the middle,” he said. India eventually lost the series 2-1, with the bowlers coming under criticism after failing to defend big totals. However, Rohit backed the bowling unit, saying the attack is still gaining experience. “Again with bowling, you got to understand that these guys haven’t played a lot of ODIs and you got give them time. We can learn from this game, take things in our stride and when we again come across situation like this, we try and better ourselves. Disappointed with the result, we couldn’t finish off the game, we have to move on,” he said.

Rohit Sharma praised his partnership with Virat Kohli after the duo stitched together a century stand during the Lord's ODI.&nbsp;

‘We’ve played our entire career together’: Rohit Sharma opens up on bond with Virat Kohli

T20 World Cup champions India find themselves under mounting pressure after extending their winless run to four matches. Trailing 0-2 in the five-match T20I series against England, the Men in Blue head into the fourth encounter at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday needing a victory to stay alive in the contest. Since taking over the captaincy after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his maiden win as skipper. India’s struggles began with a surprising 0-2 series defeat to Ireland in Jun and were further worsened by a crushing 125-run loss to England in the second T20I, the team’s biggest defeat by runs in T20 internationals.&nbsp;Another defeat in Bristol would see India lose successive T20I bilateral series for the first time in the 2020s. The last instance of back-to-back series defeats came in 2019, when Virat Kohli’s side suffered a 2-1 loss in New Zealand before being whitewashed 2-0 at home by the same opponents.&nbsp;With both the series and the team’s reputation at stake, Iyer and his teammates will be desperate to end their losing streak and register their first win under the new leadership.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-one-off-test-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783598958951">IND-W vs ENG-W One-off Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a><h2>IND vs ENG, 4th T20I&nbsp;</h2>India will aim to keep the series alive when they face Harry Brook’s England in the fourth T20I at Bristol on Thursday (Jul 9). One of the key talking points ahead of the match is whether wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson will return to the playing XI after missing the previous two games.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-4th-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783510115984">IND vs ENG, 4th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;In his absence, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been given opportunities. While the youngster has not done anything extraordinary, but he has not disappointed either.&nbsp;Now, with the series on the line, India must produce a significantly improved performance to avoid another disappointing bilateral series defeat.

India’s T20I struggles began with a 0-2 series loss to Ireland, followed by a record 125-run defeat against England in the second T20I.

T20 World Cup champions India find themselves under mounting pressure after extending their winless run to four matches. Trailing 0-2 in the five-match T20I series against England, the Men in Blue head into the fourth encounter at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday needing a victory to stay alive in the contest. Since taking over the captaincy after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his maiden win as skipper. India’s struggles began with a surprising 0-2 series defeat to Ireland in Jun and were further worsened by a crushing 125-run loss to England in the second T20I, the team’s biggest defeat by runs in T20 internationals. Another defeat in Bristol would see India lose successive T20I bilateral series for the first time in the 2020s. The last instance of back-to-back series defeats came in 2019, when Virat Kohli’s side suffered a 2-1 loss in New Zealand before being whitewashed 2-0 at home by the same opponents. With both the series and the team’s reputation at stake, Iyer and his teammates will be desperate to end their losing streak and register their first win under the new leadership. Also Read - IND-W vs ENG-W One-off Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India? IND vs ENG, 4th T20I India will aim to keep the series alive when they face Harry Brook’s England in the fourth T20I at Bristol on Thursday (Jul 9). One of the key talking points ahead of the match is whether wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson will return to the playing XI after missing the previous two games. Also Read - IND vs ENG, 4th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? In his absence, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been given opportunities. While the youngster has not done anything extraordinary, but he has not disappointed either. Now, with the series on the line, India must produce a significantly improved performance to avoid another disappointing bilateral series defeat.

India’s T20I struggles began with a 0-2 series loss to Ireland, followed by a record 125-run defeat against England in the second T20I.

When did India last face consecutive T20I series defeats?

After missing the first match of India’s tour of England, young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has hinted that his India debut could finally be close. The 15-year-old opener, who became one of the biggest stars of IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, shared a short message on his Instagram story before the second T20I against England.&nbsp;“New chapter,” Sooryavanshi wrote, leading many fans to believe he could make his India debut on Saturday.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi received his first senior India call-up after an outstanding IPL season. He scored 776 runs at an incredible strike rate of 237.30 and impressed everyone with his fearless batting.&nbsp;However, he is still waiting for his first match for India. He did not play in either of the two T20Is against Ireland and was also left out of the first T20I against England. That match ended without a result after rain stopped play during England’s chase.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

So far, the Indian team management has continued with the same top-order of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, the trio that helped India win the 2026 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-messi-breaks-maradona-s-all-time-world-cup-assist-record-as-argentina-beat-cabo-verde-1783149713080">FIFA 2026: Messi breaks Maradona's all-time World Cup assist record as Argentina beat Cabo Verde</a>&nbsp;Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer have said they do not want to change a successful batting lineup. They have also said Sooryavanshi will get his chance at the right time and needs to stay patient.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-one-goal-five-records-messi-continues-to-rewrite-history-books-watch-1783143423162">FIFA 2026 | 'One goal, five records': Messi rewrites history books vs Cape Verde</a>&nbsp;Still, many former cricketers and fans have questioned why one of India’s most exciting young talents has not made his debut yet.&nbsp;India could finally give Sooryavanshi his first international match when they face England in the second T20I of the five-match series on Saturday.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has sparked speculation over a possible India debut after sharing a "New Chapter" post on Instagram ahead of the second T20I against England.

After missing the first match of India’s tour of England, young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has hinted that his India debut could finally be close. The 15-year-old opener, who became one of the biggest stars of IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, shared a short message on his Instagram story before the second T20I against England. “New chapter,” Sooryavanshi wrote, leading many fans to believe he could make his India debut on Saturday. Sooryavanshi received his first senior India call-up after an outstanding IPL season. He scored 776 runs at an incredible strike rate of 237.30 and impressed everyone with his fearless batting. However, he is still waiting for his first match for India. He did not play in either of the two T20Is against Ireland and was also left out of the first T20I against England. That match ended without a result after rain stopped play during England’s chase.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has sparked speculation over a possible India debut after sharing a "New Chapter" post on Instagram ahead of the second T20I against England.

India call-up soon? Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sparks speculation with cryptic post

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

India batter Ishan Kishan has opened up about his approach during his time away from the national team, emphasising that consistent performances with the bat are the only way to earn a recall to the Indian side. The star batter made a strong comeback in 2026 after being dropped in 2024 and losing his BCCI central contract. Following a break to focus on his mental well-being, Kishan worked his way back through steady domestic performances, including a notable run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which helped him secure a place in India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;He also stepped into a leadership role in IPL 2026, captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad in the absence of Pat Cummins. Speaking on JioHotstar after SRH’s five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals, Kishan said he chose not to dwell on disappointment during his time out of the side and instead focused on improving his game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-this-is-not-evolution-former-india-shuttler-vimal-kumar-criticises-bwf-s-new-scoring-system-1777181258733">'This is not evolution...': Vimal Kumar criticises BWF’s new scoring system</a>&nbsp;He explained that feeling sorry for oneself may bring sympathy but does little to change outcomes, adding that scoring runs consistently was the only path back into contention.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When I wasn't playing and was out of the team, I told myself I can't cry or sulk about it. It's the easiest thing to do for any sportsman," Kishan said. "It might earn you sympathy, but it won't get you anywhere. The only thing that could have gotten me back into the reckoning was runs."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-is-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-injured-rr-coach-shares-major-update-1777189398687">IPL 2026 | Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi injured? RR coach shares major update</a>&nbsp;The wicketkeeper-batter stressed the importance of consistency, adding that selection depends purely on performance. "Only consistent run-scoring can bring you back into the team. If 300 runs in a season are not enough, score 400; if not that, score 500," he said.&nbsp;Kishan further reflected on how time away from the national side changed his perspective on the game. "At the end of the day, cricket is our daily bread. When you're out of the team, you understand its importance and start respecting every game. You become hungrier," he said. He added that his focus remained on pushing himself to become a better batter, even if it meant taking an aggressive approach. "I just wanted to improve my game and score as many runs as I could, even if that meant hitting more sixes than any other batter," Kishan said.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Ishan Kishan opened up about his time out of the national side, saying consistent performances with the bat are key to earning a recall.

India batter Ishan Kishan has opened up about his approach during his time away from the national team, emphasising that consistent performances with the bat are the only way to earn a recall to the Indian side. The star batter made a strong comeback in 2026 after being dropped in 2024 and losing his BCCI central contract. Following a break to focus on his mental well-being, Kishan worked his way back through steady domestic performances, including a notable run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which helped him secure a place in India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He also stepped into a leadership role in IPL 2026, captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad in the absence of Pat Cummins. Speaking on JioHotstar after SRH’s five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals, Kishan said he chose not to dwell on disappointment during his time out of the side and instead focused on improving his game. Also Read - 'This is not evolution...': Vimal Kumar criticises BWF’s new scoring system He explained that feeling sorry for oneself may bring sympathy but does little to change outcomes, adding that scoring runs consistently was the only path back into contention. "When I wasn't playing and was out of the team, I told myself I can't cry or sulk about it. It's the easiest thing to do for any sportsman," Kishan said. "It might earn you sympathy, but it won't get you anywhere. The only thing that could have gotten me back into the reckoning was runs." Also Read - IPL 2026 | Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi injured? RR coach shares major update The wicketkeeper-batter stressed the importance of consistency, adding that selection depends purely on performance. "Only consistent run-scoring can bring you back into the team. If 300 runs in a season are not enough, score 400; if not that, score 500," he said. Kishan further reflected on how time away from the national side changed his perspective on the game. "At the end of the day, cricket is our daily bread. When you're out of the team, you understand its importance and start respecting every game. You become hungrier," he said. He added that his focus remained on pushing himself to become a better batter, even if it meant taking an aggressive approach. "I just wanted to improve my game and score as many runs as I could, even if that meant hitting more sixes than any other batter," Kishan said. With inputs from agencies

Ishan Kishan opened up about his time out of the national side, saying consistent performances with the bat are key to earning a recall.

'Only consistent run-scoring can bring you back': Ishan Kishan on India return

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star all-rounder Krunal Pandya shared that representing India remains his biggest goal, describing the opportunity to wear the national jersey as unmatched. Reflecting on his recent match-winning contribution against the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2026 season at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, he spoke about managing pressure and relying on experience. RCB successfully chased down 206, thanks to a 81-run knock by Virat Kohli and a rapid 55 from Devdutt Padikkal. However, a late stumble in the innings created tension before Krunal steadied things with an unbeaten 23 off just 12 balls to guide the team home.&nbsp;Coming in during a high-pressure phase, Krunal admitted that the situation was challenging, particularly since he had limited batting time earlier in the season. He noted that a lack of continuity can make such moments tougher, but his familiarity with batting in multiple roles, from top order to lower middle order, helped him stay composed.&nbsp;His aggressive approach proved decisive, especially in the 18th over when he attacked spinner Manav Suthar with boundaries and a six, swinging momentum back in RCB’s favour.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-mitchell-starc-joins-dc-camp-ahead-of-pbks-clash-will-he-make-the-xi-today-1777100508173">IPL 2026 | Mitchell Starc joins DC camp ahead of PBKS clash, will he make the XI today?</a>&nbsp;“There was pressure. Obviously, this was the 7th or 8th match, and before this game, I had played only two innings with the bat. Sometimes, when there’s no continuity, you can suddenly get into a pressure situation," Krunal was quoted as saying to JioHotstar.&nbsp;He added that his versatility and experience across batting positions helped him stay composed. “But I’ve been doing this role for a long time, from No. 3 to No. 8. So, whatever experience I have, I try to use it, and I try to be as calm and present as possible in that situation," he said.&nbsp;Looking beyond the league, Krunal reiterated his determination to return to international cricket, stressing that consistent performances and contributing to team victories are the aspects within his control.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There’s nothing bigger than playing in the blue jersey once again. My goal has always been to play for India. But again, what do I have in my control? Consistent performances and how I win games for my team, that’s what I try to focus on," he said.&nbsp;Krunal emphasised the role of handling pressure and personal growth in shaping his approach, saying, “I’ve always enjoyed pressure situations. I’ve learned a lot from my life in cricket, because you only have one brain and you use the same brain in life and in sports. So, I’ve always focused on how I can get better as a person, and that is the reason I’m able to play cricket this way."&nbsp;He also spoke about evolving as a bowler in the fast-changing T20 landscape, where batters are constantly innovating. “Every year, batting is evolving at such a pace that you genuinely feel, while standing on your mark, ‘Where will you bowl?’ Because you feel like the batter can hit you anywhere."&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Krunal Pandya reflects on his match-winning cameo in RCB’s chase against Gujarat Titans, his approach to handling pressure, growth as a spinner and ambition to return to the Indian team.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star all-rounder Krunal Pandya shared that representing India remains his biggest goal, describing the opportunity to wear the national jersey as unmatched. Reflecting on his recent match-winning contribution against the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2026 season at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, he spoke about managing pressure and relying on experience. RCB successfully chased down 206, thanks to a 81-run knock by Virat Kohli and a rapid 55 from Devdutt Padikkal. However, a late stumble in the innings created tension before Krunal steadied things with an unbeaten 23 off just 12 balls to guide the team home. Coming in during a high-pressure phase, Krunal admitted that the situation was challenging, particularly since he had limited batting time earlier in the season. He noted that a lack of continuity can make such moments tougher, but his familiarity with batting in multiple roles, from top order to lower middle order, helped him stay composed. His aggressive approach proved decisive, especially in the 18th over when he attacked spinner Manav Suthar with boundaries and a six, swinging momentum back in RCB’s favour. Also Read - IPL 2026 | Mitchell Starc joins DC camp ahead of PBKS clash, will he make the XI today? “There was pressure. Obviously, this was the 7th or 8th match, and before this game, I had played only two innings with the bat. Sometimes, when there’s no continuity, you can suddenly get into a pressure situation," Krunal was quoted as saying to JioHotstar. He added that his versatility and experience across batting positions helped him stay composed. “But I’ve been doing this role for a long time, from No. 3 to No. 8. So, whatever experience I have, I try to use it, and I try to be as calm and present as possible in that situation," he said. Looking beyond the league, Krunal reiterated his determination to return to international cricket, stressing that consistent performances and contributing to team victories are the aspects within his control. “There’s nothing bigger than playing in the blue jersey once again. My goal has always been to play for India. But again, what do I have in my control? Consistent performances and how I win games for my team, that’s what I try to focus on," he said. Krunal emphasised the role of handling pressure and personal growth in shaping his approach, saying, “I’ve always enjoyed pressure situations. I’ve learned a lot from my life in cricket, because you only have one brain and you use the same brain in life and in sports. So, I’ve always focused on how I can get better as a person, and that is the reason I’m able to play cricket this way." He also spoke about evolving as a bowler in the fast-changing T20 landscape, where batters are constantly innovating. “Every year, batting is evolving at such a pace that you genuinely feel, while standing on your mark, ‘Where will you bowl?’ Because you feel like the batter can hit you anywhere." With inputs from agencies

Krunal Pandya reflects on his match-winning cameo in RCB’s chase against Gujarat Titans, his approach to handling pressure, growth as a spinner and ambition to return to the Indian team.

‘Nothing bigger than wearing the blue jersey again’: Krunal Pandya sets sights on India return

Ajit Agarkar, who currently chairs India’s senior men’s selection committee, is expected to receive an extension of about one year after his present term ends in June. According to indications from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the move is aimed at preserving continuity as the team prepares for a busy global calendar. If approved, his tenure would run through June 2027, covering a period in which India has enjoyed significant success, including multiple ICC trophy wins and a strong return to dominance in world cricket.&nbsp;As per a BCCI official quoted by The Indian Express, the transition under Agarkar has been smooth, with the selection group showing a willingness to take bold, results-driven calls.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Under Agarkar’s tenure, the team had a seamless transition and was fearless in taking bold decisions. The board felt he should continue. The BCCI officer bearers will be speaking to him on the sidelines of IPL games to update him," said BCCI official.&nbsp;Under Agarkar’s oversight, India ended a prolonged wait for major ICC silverware, winning back-to-back T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the Champions Trophy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-dekho-woh-aa-gaya-kolkata-knight-riders-welcome-matheesha-pathirana-to-squad-watch-1776574270862">IPL 2026 | KKR welcome Matheesha Pathirana to squad - Watch</a>&nbsp;The side also reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil, reinforcing its status as a consistent contender in white-ball cricket. With another ODI World Cup scheduled for next year, the BCCI reportedly views stability in selection leadership as an important factor.&nbsp;His period in charge has also coincided with a significant transition phase. Senior players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have stepped away from Test cricket, prompting a reshaping of leadership across formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shubman Gill has taken over Test captaincy, while Suryakumar Yadav now leads the T20I side. Test results have been uneven, including a home defeat to South Africa and a 3-0 series loss to New Zealand, but the limited-overs teams have continued to perform strongly.

BCCI set to extend chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s contract until June 2027, aiming for continuity ahead of the next ODI World Cup amid a major team transition after multiple ICC titles.

Ajit Agarkar, who currently chairs India’s senior men’s selection committee, is expected to receive an extension of about one year after his present term ends in June. According to indications from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the move is aimed at preserving continuity as the team prepares for a busy global calendar. If approved, his tenure would run through June 2027, covering a period in which India has enjoyed significant success, including multiple ICC trophy wins and a strong return to dominance in world cricket. As per a BCCI official quoted by The Indian Express, the transition under Agarkar has been smooth, with the selection group showing a willingness to take bold, results-driven calls. “Under Agarkar’s tenure, the team had a seamless transition and was fearless in taking bold decisions. The board felt he should continue. The BCCI officer bearers will be speaking to him on the sidelines of IPL games to update him," said BCCI official. Under Agarkar’s oversight, India ended a prolonged wait for major ICC silverware, winning back-to-back T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the Champions Trophy. Also Read - IPL 2026 | KKR welcome Matheesha Pathirana to squad - Watch The side also reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil, reinforcing its status as a consistent contender in white-ball cricket. With another ODI World Cup scheduled for next year, the BCCI reportedly views stability in selection leadership as an important factor. His period in charge has also coincided with a significant transition phase. Senior players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have stepped away from Test cricket, prompting a reshaping of leadership across formats. Shubman Gill has taken over Test captaincy, while Suryakumar Yadav now leads the T20I side. Test results have been uneven, including a home defeat to South Africa and a 3-0 series loss to New Zealand, but the limited-overs teams have continued to perform strongly.

BCCI set to extend chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s contract until June 2027, aiming for continuity ahead of the next ODI World Cup amid a major team transition after multiple ICC titles.

BCCI likely to extend Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ahead of 2027 World Cup

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy.&nbsp;“Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup.&nbsp;Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ban-vs-pak-3rd-odi-salman-ali-agha-s-106-in-vain-as-bangladesh-defeat-pakistan-by-11-runs-win-series-2-1-1773594553242">BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1</a>&nbsp;“We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said.&nbsp;“Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added.&nbsp;The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-letting-shreyas-iyer-and-phil-salt-leave-anil-kumble-on-kkr-s-ipl-retention-calls-1773570620739">‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls</a>&nbsp;India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back.&nbsp;Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy. “Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup. Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal. Also Read - BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1 “We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said. “Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added. The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November. Also Read - ‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back. Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

‘Great opportunity for us’: Shubman Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 ODI World Cup