India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand as he continues to recover from a right adductor strain. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday (Oct 26) that Kishan is improving but is yet to regain full match fitness ahead of the Oct 27 clash in Wellington. The 28-year-old sustained the injury during the first T20I of the five-match series last week and also missed the second match, with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replacing him in the playing XI.&nbsp;“The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Ishan’s progress,” the board said in a statement. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, who was added to the squad as cover for Kishan, will remain with the team for the third T20I.&nbsp;India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel also confirmed that Kishan would miss the match as a precaution, with the team management unwilling to rush the left-handed batter back before he regains full fitness.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-ex-india-opener-ramesh-says-vaibhav-panicked-at-number-3-1792992016463">IND vs NZ: Ex-India opener Ramesh says Vaibhav 'panicked' at number 3</a>&nbsp;A right adductor strain affects the muscles on the inner side of the thigh and can make running and movement difficult, which are important for a wicketkeeper-batter.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India will look to continue their winning run in the series. The visitors currently lead 2-0 after winning the first two matches and will aim to seal the series in Wellington.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-shadab-s-record-113-not-out-helps-pakistan-pull-stunning-chase-in-lahore-1792985527911">PAK vs ENG: Shadab's record 113 not out helps Pakistan pull stunning chase</a>&nbsp;A victory in the third T20I would give India an unassailable 3-0 lead, with two matches still remaining.

Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand as he continues to recover from a right adductor strain. The BCCI stated that the wicketkeeper-batter is making good progress but is yet to regain full match fitness.

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand as he continues to recover from a right adductor strain. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday (Oct 26) that Kishan is improving but is yet to regain full match fitness ahead of the Oct 27 clash in Wellington. The 28-year-old sustained the injury during the first T20I of the five-match series last week and also missed the second match, with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replacing him in the playing XI. “The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Ishan’s progress,” the board said in a statement. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, who was added to the squad as cover for Kishan, will remain with the team for the third T20I. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel also confirmed that Kishan would miss the match as a precaution, with the team management unwilling to rush the left-handed batter back before he regains full fitness. Also Read - IND vs NZ: Ex-India opener Ramesh says Vaibhav 'panicked' at number 3 A right adductor strain affects the muscles on the inner side of the thigh and can make running and movement difficult, which are important for a wicketkeeper-batter. Meanwhile, India will look to continue their winning run in the series. The visitors currently lead 2-0 after winning the first two matches and will aim to seal the series in Wellington. Also Read - PAK vs ENG: Shadab's record 113 not out helps Pakistan pull stunning chase A victory in the third T20I would give India an unassailable 3-0 lead, with two matches still remaining.

Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand as he continues to recover from a right adductor strain. The BCCI stated that the wicketkeeper-batter is making good progress but is yet to regain full match fitness.

IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan ruled out of Wellington T20I

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally played after missing four of India's T20Is following the Asian Games 2026 gold medal match against Pakistan. The 15-year-old replaced the injured Ishan Kishan in the second T20I against New Zealand on Saturday (Oct 24) but failed to capitalize. Batting at No. 3, Sooryavanshi scored 4 off 8 balls in pursuit of 181. This was the first time Vaibhav had batted at any position other than opening the innings. Former India batter Sadagoppan Ramesh said that changing his batting position caused Vaibhav to panic, which showed in his performance.<h2>Former India opener says Vaibhav panicked at No. 3</h2>"He should have opened. As a youngster, as soon as the management told him that he would bat at No. 3, he would have panicked. His strength is batting at 0/0 with the anticipation of whether he’s going to hit a six or four off his first delivery," said former India opener Ramesh on his Instagram channel.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-shadab-s-record-113-not-out-helps-pakistan-pull-stunning-chase-in-lahore-1792985527911">PAK vs ENG: Shadab's record 113 not out helps Pakistan pull stunning chase in Lahore</a>"His batting style has been one where he smashes it in the powerplay and then continues with that momentum in the middle overs. When he is so young and is new to the pressure of international cricket, it would have been ideal to play him at a position he’s comfortable at."<h2>What happened in the match?</h2>In the match, India pulled off a miracle win to go 2-0 up in the five-match T20I series. Chasing 181, India, the back-to-back T20 World Cup champions, were in a fix after being reduced to 70/5. Naman Dhir (31 off 17) then added 42 runs in 24 balls with Tilak Varma for the sixth wicket to stabilize the innings. Varma (51 not out off 26) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (26 not out off 13 balls) then added the remaining 69 runs in the next 30 balls as India romped home in 19.5 overs with four wickets in hand.

15yo Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just 4 at No. 3 vs NZ after changing spots. Ex-opener Sadagoppan Ramesh cited panic. India still chased 181 to win by 4 wickets, thanks to Tilak Varma's 51*(26).

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally played after missing four of India's T20Is following the Asian Games 2026 gold medal match against Pakistan. The 15-year-old replaced the injured Ishan Kishan in the second T20I against New Zealand on Saturday (Oct 24) but failed to capitalize. Batting at No. 3, Sooryavanshi scored 4 off 8 balls in pursuit of 181. This was the first time Vaibhav had batted at any position other than opening the innings. Former India batter Sadagoppan Ramesh said that changing his batting position caused Vaibhav to panic, which showed in his performance. Former India opener says Vaibhav panicked at No. 3 "He should have opened. As a youngster, as soon as the management told him that he would bat at No. 3, he would have panicked. His strength is batting at 0/0 with the anticipation of whether he’s going to hit a six or four off his first delivery," said former India opener Ramesh on his Instagram channel. Also Read - PAK vs ENG: Shadab's record 113 not out helps Pakistan pull stunning chase in Lahore "His batting style has been one where he smashes it in the powerplay and then continues with that momentum in the middle overs. When he is so young and is new to the pressure of international cricket, it would have been ideal to play him at a position he’s comfortable at." What happened in the match? In the match, India pulled off a miracle win to go 2-0 up in the five-match T20I series. Chasing 181, India, the back-to-back T20 World Cup champions, were in a fix after being reduced to 70/5. Naman Dhir (31 off 17) then added 42 runs in 24 balls with Tilak Varma for the sixth wicket to stabilize the innings. Varma (51 not out off 26) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (26 not out off 13 balls) then added the remaining 69 runs in the next 30 balls as India romped home in 19.5 overs with four wickets in hand.

15yo Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored just 4 at No. 3 vs NZ after changing spots. Ex-opener Sadagoppan Ramesh cited panic. India still chased 181 to win by 4 wickets, thanks to Tilak Varma's 51*(26).

IND vs NZ: Ex-India opener Ramesh says Vaibhav 'panicked' at number 3

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has added Kumar Kushagra to India’s squad as cover for the second T20I against New Zealand after wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to a low-grade strain in his right adductor muscle. The 28-year-old suffered the injury during the first T20I and will miss the second match, which is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 24).&nbsp;Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the senior team for the match, while the BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Kishan’s recovery.&nbsp;“Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the first T20I against New Zealand and is ruled out of the second T20I to be played on Saturday. The Men’s Selection Committee has added Kumar Kushagra to the squad as cover for the second T20I,” the BCCI media release said.&nbsp;“Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the India squad for the second T20I. The BCCI Medical Team continues to monitor Kishan’s progress,” the statement concluded.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-zim-w-1st-odi-rawal-charani-star-in-india-s-nine-wicket-win-over-zimbabwe-1792766729319">IND-W vs ZIM-W, 1st ODI: Rawal, Charani star in India’s nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe</a>&nbsp;Ishan Kishan’s absence could open the door for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to break into the playing XI, with the youngster waiting for an opportunity since the Asian Games as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-s-2022-cwg-silver-medallist-sabbhineni-meghana-announces-international-retirement-1792762922110">India’s 2022 CWG silver medallist Sabbhineni Meghana announces retirement</a><h3>India’s updated squad for 2nd T20I vs New Zealand</h3>Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson WK, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Kumar Kushagra (wk)

Kumar Kushagra has joined India’s T20I squad as cover for the injured Ishan Kishan ahead of the second match against New Zealand in Christchurch.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has added Kumar Kushagra to India’s squad as cover for the second T20I against New Zealand after wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to a low-grade strain in his right adductor muscle. The 28-year-old suffered the injury during the first T20I and will miss the second match, which is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 24). Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the senior team for the match, while the BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Kishan’s recovery. “Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the first T20I against New Zealand and is ruled out of the second T20I to be played on Saturday. The Men’s Selection Committee has added Kumar Kushagra to the squad as cover for the second T20I,” the BCCI media release said. “Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the India squad for the second T20I. The BCCI Medical Team continues to monitor Kishan’s progress,” the statement concluded. Also Read - IND-W vs ZIM-W, 1st ODI: Rawal, Charani star in India’s nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe Ishan Kishan’s absence could open the door for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to break into the playing XI, with the youngster waiting for an opportunity since the Asian Games as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings. Also Read - India’s 2022 CWG silver medallist Sabbhineni Meghana announces retirement India’s updated squad for 2nd T20I vs New Zealand Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson WK, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Kumar Kushagra (wk)

Kumar Kushagra has joined India’s T20I squad as cover for the injured Ishan Kishan ahead of the second match against New Zealand in Christchurch.

IND vs NZ: Kumar Kushagra named as cover for Ishan Kishan in India’s T20I squad

India batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand, which is set to be played on Saturday (Oct 24) in Christchurch. India are 1–0 ahead in the series after winning the first match by four wickets on Thursday (Oct 22), also in Christchurch. India chased down a 226-run target in 19.4 overs with four wickets in hand. During the chase, the batting line-up was changed a bit, and it was because of Kishan's injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the announcement of Kishan's exclusion from the second T20I on its official X handle on Friday (Oct 23).<h2>Kishan ruled out of IND vs NZ 2nd T20I</h2>According to the <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2113487042483196368">BCCI post</a>: "Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand due to a low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-1st-t20i-that-s-how-they-got-the-momentum-skipper-shreyas-iyer-reveals-key-to-india-win-in-christchurch-1792728248996">IND vs NZ 1st T20I - 'That's how they got the momentum': Skipper Shreyas Iyer reveals key to India win in Christchurch</a>India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also shared at the press conference on Friday (Oct 23) after India's win that the batting order was changed because: "Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin. I know there was speculation [about the change in the batting order] but it wasn't a change as such. It was because of the groin strain [to Kishan]. I think he is unlikely for one game."Kishan came to bat at number 5 on Thursday and managed just one run off three balls before being dismissed.<h2>Who will replace Kishan in IND vs NZ 2nd T20I?</h2>With Kishan out of contention for the second match, teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could find himself playing on Saturday (Oct 24). Sooryavanshi is a specialist batter available in the squad. Sooryavanshi previously sat out matches as the calls for his inclusion in the Playing XI continue to grow.

Indian batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the 2nd T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch due to a groin injury, opening the door for young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

India batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand, which is set to be played on Saturday (Oct 24) in Christchurch. India are 1–0 ahead in the series after winning the first match by four wickets on Thursday (Oct 22), also in Christchurch. India chased down a 226-run target in 19.4 overs with four wickets in hand. During the chase, the batting line-up was changed a bit, and it was because of Kishan's injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the announcement of Kishan's exclusion from the second T20I on its official X handle on Friday (Oct 23). Kishan ruled out of IND vs NZ 2nd T20I According to the BCCI post: "Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand due to a low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress." Also Read - IND vs NZ 1st T20I - 'That's how they got the momentum': Skipper Shreyas Iyer reveals key to India win in Christchurch India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also shared at the press conference on Friday (Oct 23) after India's win that the batting order was changed because: "Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin. I know there was speculation [about the change in the batting order] but it wasn't a change as such. It was because of the groin strain [to Kishan]. I think he is unlikely for one game." Kishan came to bat at number 5 on Thursday and managed just one run off three balls before being dismissed. Who will replace Kishan in IND vs NZ 2nd T20I? With Kishan out of contention for the second match, teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could find himself playing on Saturday (Oct 24). Sooryavanshi is a specialist batter available in the squad. Sooryavanshi previously sat out matches as the calls for his inclusion in the Playing XI continue to grow.

Indian batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the 2nd T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch due to a groin injury, opening the door for young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Sooryavanshi set to play? Kishan's injury opens door for Vaibhav

Rain had the last laugh in Bengaluru as the fifth and final T20I was washed out, resulting in India and the West Indies sharing honours 2-2. The series decider was already reduced to a nine-over side, with the visitors winning the toss and sending India in to bat first. First-half action kept the fans at the iconic M Chinnaswamy engrossed before rain returned to abandon all proceedings and put curtains on a memorable T20I series between two powerhouses.<h2>Bhuvneshwar Returns After Nearly 4 Years</h2>For the first time in nearly four years, veteran quick <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-5th-t20i-toss-result-bhuvneshwar-kumar-return-1792251523260">Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the Indian team</a> as part of two changes made to the playing XI for the fifth T20I, captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed at the toss. The crowd erupted into joy after hearing Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion in the side, replacing Mayank Yadav. Shivam Dube was another change, replacing fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. &nbsp;India lost Abhishek Sharma in the first over, before Ishan Kishan opened his arms and entertained the crowd with his blistering yet brief stay at the crease. His 30 off 10 balls, including two sixes and three fours, helped India gain early momentum.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Into the orbit 🚀 

Ishan Kishan got the Bengaluru crowd going with a quick-fire 3⃣0⃣(10) 🎇

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/hpGnrNyZVS 

#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @mflone_ | @ishankishan51 https://t.co/CdeDA9r87n&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2111488852997357951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Ishan’s wicket in the third over, followed by Sanju Samson’s dismissal on 16 off seven balls soon after, brought Iyer and Tilak Varma to the crease. The two could add 22 for the fourth wicket before Hyderabad game hero Keemo Paul picked up his second of the night.<h3>Dhir Stuns West Indies</h3>In walked Naman Dhir. The right-hander didn’t waste any time before going berserk, smashing sixes and fours for fun. Before rain finally halted proceedings, Dhir had smashed three maximums and a boundary for his unbeaten 24 off just six balls, with India’s scorecard reading 118/5 in 7.4 overs. His exploits brought the crowd back to its feet, with everyone cheering the Punjab all-rounder’s clean hitting.&nbsp;WATCH -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">How about that for a start? 💥

🎥 Naman Dhir's mighty hits from the get-go 💪

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/hpGnrNyZVS 

#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @mflone_ https://t.co/JjTjDoqYj3&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2111498386683887724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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For the West Indies, Paul and Shamar Springer returned with two wickets each, while Shamar Joseph picked up one during India’s innings. &nbsp;The rain never allowed cricket to resume after that point, with two captains and teams shaking hands to call off a memorable T20I series.

Rain has the final say in Bengaluru as the 5th T20I is washed out. India and West Indies share the series 2-2 despite fireworks from Naman Dhir & Ishan Kishan.

Rain had the last laugh in Bengaluru as the fifth and final T20I was washed out, resulting in India and the West Indies sharing honours 2-2. The series decider was already reduced to a nine-over side, with the visitors winning the toss and sending India in to bat first. First-half action kept the fans at the iconic M Chinnaswamy engrossed before rain returned to abandon all proceedings and put curtains on a memorable T20I series between two powerhouses. Bhuvneshwar Returns After Nearly 4 Years For the first time in nearly four years, veteran quick Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the Indian team as part of two changes made to the playing XI for the fifth T20I, captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed at the toss. The crowd erupted into joy after hearing Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion in the side, replacing Mayank Yadav. Shivam Dube was another change, replacing fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. India lost Abhishek Sharma in the first over, before Ishan Kishan opened his arms and entertained the crowd with his blistering yet brief stay at the crease. His 30 off 10 balls, including two sixes and three fours, helped India gain early momentum.

Rain has the final say in Bengaluru as the 5th T20I is washed out. India and West Indies share the series 2-2 despite fireworks from Naman Dhir &amp; Ishan Kishan.

Rain washes out 5th T20I as India-West Indies share honours 2-2

Shreyas Iyer loves playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, having scored 335 T20 runs at a strike rate of 200.59, including two hundreds, one of which came on Tuesday night against the West Indies in the first T20I. Three days after helping the men’s team defend its Asian Games gold medal against arch-rivals Pakistan in Japan, an exhausted Iyer took on the West Indian attack to score his maiden hundred in this format. The right-hander scored an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls to see his team home with eight wickets remaining.&nbsp;Calling his hundred exultant, Iyer revealed he dreamt about scoring his first T20I century, and the moment came in the first game of the five-match series. Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Iyer said, "Definitely exultant - that's the word I would use today. Honestly speaking, I was actually thinking about getting my first [T20I] century, and it came true. So I definitely want to say that dreams do come true."&nbsp;"After that exhausting travel, I didn't even realise where I was, to be honest," Iyer continued. "But I adapted quickly to the wicket, to the conditions, and I think bowling first helped us a lot. We just didn't look at it [the travel] as an excuse. We wanted to come and play as any other cricketer would."&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-shubman-gill-icc-rankings-surge-india-vs-west-indies-1791377301166">ICC Rankings: Shreyas Iyer breaks into top 10 after maiden T20I hundred in Lucknow</a>&nbsp;Considering that India’s T20I squad didn’t have enough time to train for the West Indies T20I, top-ranked T20I batter Ishan Kishan reflected on the quick turnaround, saying, "Once we step in the field, once you wear the jersey, you have to give your all. Some days you won't be feeling so good, but it's our job to just give 100% if you're there."&nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s already-cramped schedule continues to get tighter with the remaining four T20Is scheduled in Ranchi (October 9), Indore (October 11), Hyderabad (October 14) and Bengaluru (October 17).&nbsp;Shreyas Iyer-led India T20I side will then travel to New Zealand for the five-match T20I series starting October 22. The BCCI men’s selection committee also named the 16-man squad, recalling swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar and resting premier quick Jasprit Bumrah.

Shreyas Iyer smashed a 43-ball 102* against West Indies in Lucknow right after returning from the Asian Games, guiding India to an 8-wicket win in the 1st T20I.

Shreyas Iyer loves playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, having scored 335 T20 runs at a strike rate of 200.59, including two hundreds, one of which came on Tuesday night against the West Indies in the first T20I. Three days after helping the men’s team defend its Asian Games gold medal against arch-rivals Pakistan in Japan, an exhausted Iyer took on the West Indian attack to score his maiden hundred in this format. The right-hander scored an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls to see his team home with eight wickets remaining. Calling his hundred exultant, Iyer revealed he dreamt about scoring his first T20I century, and the moment came in the first game of the five-match series. Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Iyer said, "Definitely exultant - that's the word I would use today. Honestly speaking, I was actually thinking about getting my first [T20I] century, and it came true. So I definitely want to say that dreams do come true." "After that exhausting travel, I didn't even realise where I was, to be honest," Iyer continued. "But I adapted quickly to the wicket, to the conditions, and I think bowling first helped us a lot. We just didn't look at it [the travel] as an excuse. We wanted to come and play as any other cricketer would." Also read| ICC Rankings: Shreyas Iyer breaks into top 10 after maiden T20I hundred in Lucknow Considering that India’s T20I squad didn’t have enough time to train for the West Indies T20I, top-ranked T20I batter Ishan Kishan reflected on the quick turnaround, saying, "Once we step in the field, once you wear the jersey, you have to give your all. Some days you won't be feeling so good, but it's our job to just give 100% if you're there." Meanwhile, India’s already-cramped schedule continues to get tighter with the remaining four T20Is scheduled in Ranchi (October 9), Indore (October 11), Hyderabad (October 14) and Bengaluru (October 17). Shreyas Iyer-led India T20I side will then travel to New Zealand for the five-match T20I series starting October 22. The BCCI men’s selection committee also named the 16-man squad, recalling swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar and resting premier quick Jasprit Bumrah.

Shreyas Iyer smashed a 43-ball 102* against West Indies in Lucknow right after returning from the Asian Games, guiding India to an 8-wicket win in the 1st T20I.

‘Dreams do come true’: Shreyas Iyer reflects on match-winning 102* against West Indies in T20I opener

Ishan Kishan, since making a comeback to the India T20I team earlier this year, has been unstoppable. The batter has scored 1,042 runs in 30 matches played in 2026 - only behind Suryakumar Yadav's 1,164 runs in 2022. He recently played in the first T20I against West Indies on Tuesday (Oct 6) in Lucknow and scored an unbeaten 37 as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-maiden-century-india-beat-west-indies-1st-t20i-lucknow-1791306299510">India chased down the 172-run target</a> with eight wickets in hand. Ishan added 137 runs with skipper Shreyas Iyer (102 not out) for the third wicket as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.<h2>Kishan explains what helped him make India comeback</h2>The Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter was dropped from the national side across formats in 2023 and only made it back in 2026. The reason for him being dropped was related to discipline and fitness. The batter, after the first T20I against West Indies, spoke to broadcaster JioStar and shared his thoughts on his time out from the national team.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/smriti-mandhana-appointed-india-women-cricket-captain-harmanpreet-kaur-steps-down-1791304432861">Smriti Mandhana named India captain across formats after Harmanpreet steps down</a>"When I was dropped from the international team, I understood the consequences of a few mistakes that I had made. So, I worked on my fitness and my batting. I stayed patient and focused on rectifying my mistakes by doing well in domestic cricket. I knew if I kept performing in domestic cricket, the opportunity would come and I earned the recall to the national squad because of my hard work. Once you come back to the side, you don't think about what's going to happen if I get dropped again. The most important thing is to enjoy cricket and just focus on doing the best I can to contribute to the success of the team. My job is to keep scoring runs and if I am able to do that, then the rest will be taken care of automatically," said Kishan.<h2>Kishan in 2026</h2>The batter has been in scintillating form in the ongoing calendar year. Having already scored 1,042 runs in 30 innings and with four more T20Is left in the West Indies series, Kishan is poised to pass Suryakumar Yadav's tally of 1,164 runs in 2022 - the most for India in T20Is in a calendar year.Kishan has scored his runs at an average of 38.59 and a strike rate of 168 with one hundred and seven fifties, with a highest score of 103. In comparison, Kishan had scored only 796 runs in 32 matches at an average of 25 till 2023 since his debut in 2021.

After returning in 2026, Ishan Kishan scored 1,042 T20I runs. He hit 37* in India's 1st T20I win vs WI in Lucknow and credited hard work in domestic cricket for earning his national team recall.

Ishan Kishan, since making a comeback to the India T20I team earlier this year, has been unstoppable. The batter has scored 1,042 runs in 30 matches played in 2026 - only behind Suryakumar Yadav's 1,164 runs in 2022. He recently played in the first T20I against West Indies on Tuesday (Oct 6) in Lucknow and scored an unbeaten 37 as India chased down the 172-run target with eight wickets in hand. Ishan added 137 runs with skipper Shreyas Iyer (102 not out) for the third wicket as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Kishan explains what helped him make India comeback The Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter was dropped from the national side across formats in 2023 and only made it back in 2026. The reason for him being dropped was related to discipline and fitness. The batter, after the first T20I against West Indies, spoke to broadcaster JioStar and shared his thoughts on his time out from the national team. Also Read - Smriti Mandhana named India captain across formats after Harmanpreet steps down "When I was dropped from the international team, I understood the consequences of a few mistakes that I had made. So, I worked on my fitness and my batting. I stayed patient and focused on rectifying my mistakes by doing well in domestic cricket. I knew if I kept performing in domestic cricket, the opportunity would come and I earned the recall to the national squad because of my hard work. Once you come back to the side, you don't think about what's going to happen if I get dropped again. The most important thing is to enjoy cricket and just focus on doing the best I can to contribute to the success of the team. My job is to keep scoring runs and if I am able to do that, then the rest will be taken care of automatically," said Kishan. Kishan in 2026 The batter has been in scintillating form in the ongoing calendar year. Having already scored 1,042 runs in 30 innings and with four more T20Is left in the West Indies series, Kishan is poised to pass Suryakumar Yadav's tally of 1,164 runs in 2022 - the most for India in T20Is in a calendar year. Kishan has scored his runs at an average of 38.59 and a strike rate of 168 with one hundred and seven fifties, with a highest score of 103. In comparison, Kishan had scored only 796 runs in 32 matches at an average of 25 till 2023 since his debut in 2021.

After returning in 2026, Ishan Kishan scored 1,042 T20I runs. He hit 37* in India's 1st T20I win vs WI in Lucknow and credited hard work in domestic cricket for earning his national team recall.

'Understood consequences of a few mistakes': Ishan Kishan reflects on journey back to India team

Talismanic Indian batter Virat Kohli is approaching the end of his cricket career, having already confirmed his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup to be his last. Although still peaking in the only format he plays in, Kohli’s ODI successor must be finalised before he hangs up his boots. Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has named a surprise left-hander as Kohli’s replacement at number three in the One-Dayers; it’s neither Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, nor even Devdutt Padikkal, who emerged as a Test star recently.&nbsp;For what Kohli has achieved batting at that position in the 50-over format, he has cemented his place amongst the greatest ODI batters of all time, let alone from India. His numbers put him only second to the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, while Kohli has surpassed him in the number of ODI hundreds. Considering there is plenty of ODI cricket scheduled before the showpiece event gets underway on October 2, 2027, in Africa, Kohli could inch closer to breaking Sachin’s run tally.&nbsp;Jaffer has brought up T20I mainstay Tilak Varma’s name as Kohli’s potential replacement at number three. Having tasted immense success in the shortest format with one T20 World Cup title to his name, Tilak has shown quality even batting up the order.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shai-hope-credits-ms-dhoni-advice-west-indies-record-chase-chandigarh-odi-1791124335890">‘Dhoni told me you always…’: Shai Hope credits MS Dhoni for Chandigarh run chase masterclass</a>&nbsp;Pressing his case ahead of the regulars in the ODIs, Jaffer, on his YouTube Channel, said, “It feels great to see his versatility. He previously scored a century at No. 3, and now he has adapted to the No. 5 and No. 6 positions so beautifully. This is an amazing quality.”&nbsp;Explaining his decision behind not picking Jaiswal as Kohli’s potential replacement, Jaffer said, “It’s about time. When Virat and Rohit leave, Rohit, obviously, is a top-order batter, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is there to replace him, but I feel there will be a left-handed batter in Virat’s place. He has that game; we saw the way he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. His first-class average is around 55. So, he can fit into all three formats pretty easily.”&nbsp;Meanwhile, Tilak has limited experience leading up to the 50-over World Cup, having played five ODIs. He has batted twice at number three, and once each at number four and five, scoring 68 runs at an average of 22.67. Tilak’s last ODI appearance came against South Africa in December 2025.

Wasim Jaffer picked Tilak Varma over Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan as the ideal left-handed successor for Virat Kohli at No. 3 in India's ODI lineup.

Talismanic Indian batter Virat Kohli is approaching the end of his cricket career, having already confirmed his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup to be his last. Although still peaking in the only format he plays in, Kohli’s ODI successor must be finalised before he hangs up his boots. Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has named a surprise left-hander as Kohli’s replacement at number three in the One-Dayers; it’s neither Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, nor even Devdutt Padikkal, who emerged as a Test star recently. For what Kohli has achieved batting at that position in the 50-over format, he has cemented his place amongst the greatest ODI batters of all time, let alone from India. His numbers put him only second to the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, while Kohli has surpassed him in the number of ODI hundreds. Considering there is plenty of ODI cricket scheduled before the showpiece event gets underway on October 2, 2027, in Africa, Kohli could inch closer to breaking Sachin’s run tally. Jaffer has brought up T20I mainstay Tilak Varma’s name as Kohli’s potential replacement at number three. Having tasted immense success in the shortest format with one T20 World Cup title to his name, Tilak has shown quality even batting up the order. Also read| ‘Dhoni told me you always…’: Shai Hope credits MS Dhoni for Chandigarh run chase masterclass Pressing his case ahead of the regulars in the ODIs, Jaffer, on his YouTube Channel, said, “It feels great to see his versatility. He previously scored a century at No. 3, and now he has adapted to the No. 5 and No. 6 positions so beautifully. This is an amazing quality.” Explaining his decision behind not picking Jaiswal as Kohli’s potential replacement, Jaffer said, “It’s about time. When Virat and Rohit leave, Rohit, obviously, is a top-order batter, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is there to replace him, but I feel there will be a left-handed batter in Virat’s place. He has that game; we saw the way he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. His first-class average is around 55. So, he can fit into all three formats pretty easily.” Meanwhile, Tilak has limited experience leading up to the 50-over World Cup, having played five ODIs. He has batted twice at number three, and once each at number four and five, scoring 68 runs at an average of 22.67. Tilak’s last ODI appearance came against South Africa in December 2025.

Wasim Jaffer picked Tilak Varma over Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan as the ideal left-handed successor for Virat Kohli at No. 3 in India's ODI lineup.

Not Jaiswal or Ishan Kishan: Wasim Jaffer picks surprise left-hander as Virat Kohli’s ODI successor at No. 3

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan became only the second Indian to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year after scoring 20 off 18 balls in the Asian Games final against Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 3). He had played a crucial unbeaten knock of 80 off 46 balls in the semifinal against Sri Lanka, helping India post a defendable total.&nbsp;Kishan has now scored 1,005 runs in T20Is this year at an average of 37.22 and a strike rate of 169.47. His tally also includes one century and seven fifties, with a highest score of 103.&nbsp;Suryakumar Yadav was the first Indian to cross the 1,000-run mark in T20Is in a calendar year. He scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022 at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of more than 187. His tally included two centuries and nine fifties.&nbsp;Among batters from Test-playing nations, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan holds the record for most T20I runs in a calendar year. He scored 1,326 runs in 2021 at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of over 134, including one century and 12 fifties.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-india-announces-cash-reward-for-men-s-team-after-asian-games-gold-1791085882018">Hockey India announces cash reward for men’s team after Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;Austria’s Karanbir Singh holds the overall record, scoring 1,488 runs in 32 matches in 2025 at an average of 51.31 and a strike rate of more than 174. He hit two centuries and 13 fifties that year.<h3>India defend Asian Games gold with 19-run win over Pakistan</h3>India successfully defended its men’s cricket title at the Asian Games 2026, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park. India posted 211/6, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma (51* off 22) and Shiv Dube (27 off 15) provided a late boost.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kolkata-finally-wakes-up-thousands-flock-to-salt-lake-stadium-for-historic-india-brazil-clash-1791039322125">Kolkata finds its voice as thousands pack Salt Lake stadium for India vs Brazil</a>&nbsp;Pakistan struggled early, slipping to 39/3 after the Powerplay, but Hasan Nawaz’s 96 off 51 kept them in the chase. However, India’s bowlers held their nerve as Pakistan needed 50 from the final 15 balls, securing a 19-run victory.

Before Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav was the only Indian to score 1,000-plus T20I runs in a calendar year, amassing 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan became only the second Indian to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year after scoring 20 off 18 balls in the Asian Games final against Pakistan on Saturday (Oct 3). He had played a crucial unbeaten knock of 80 off 46 balls in the semifinal against Sri Lanka, helping India post a defendable total. Kishan has now scored 1,005 runs in T20Is this year at an average of 37.22 and a strike rate of 169.47. His tally also includes one century and seven fifties, with a highest score of 103. Suryakumar Yadav was the first Indian to cross the 1,000-run mark in T20Is in a calendar year. He scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022 at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of more than 187. His tally included two centuries and nine fifties. Among batters from Test-playing nations, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan holds the record for most T20I runs in a calendar year. He scored 1,326 runs in 2021 at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of over 134, including one century and 12 fifties. Also Read - Hockey India announces cash reward for men’s team after Asian Games gold Austria’s Karanbir Singh holds the overall record, scoring 1,488 runs in 32 matches in 2025 at an average of 51.31 and a strike rate of more than 174. He hit two centuries and 13 fifties that year. India defend Asian Games gold with 19-run win over Pakistan India successfully defended its men’s cricket title at the Asian Games 2026, beating Pakistan by 19 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park. India posted 211/6, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma (51* off 22) and Shiv Dube (27 off 15) provided a late boost. Also Read - Kolkata finds its voice as thousands pack Salt Lake stadium for India vs Brazil Pakistan struggled early, slipping to 39/3 after the Powerplay, but Hasan Nawaz’s 96 off 51 kept them in the chase. However, India’s bowlers held their nerve as Pakistan needed 50 from the final 15 balls, securing a 19-run victory.

Before Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav was the only Indian to score 1,000-plus T20I runs in a calendar year, amassing 1,164 runs in 31 matches in 2022.

Ishan Kishan scripts history, becomes 2nd Indian to cross 1,000 T20I runs in a year

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

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

Meet top 5 batters in the latest ICC T20I Rankings

Abhishek Sharma climbed one place to the second spot in the updated T20I rankings for batters following blistering starts in two contested T20Is against Afghanistan in the ongoing series. While he scored a match-winning 82 during the run chase in the series opener in Delhi, he set the stage for a successful chase in the next match with his attacking 39 at the top. India won both matches and clinched the three-match series 2-0. Sharma replaced Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan, who slipped to third in the rankings, with Ishan Kishan ruling at the top with 913 rating points.&nbsp;England Test quick Ollie Robinson, who bagged 21 wickets in three Tests against Pakistan at home, attained his career-best ranking of No. 3. His fellow seamer Josh Tongue, who picked up 19 wickets across six innings against Pakistan, jumped two places to No. 11 – his best Test ranking thus far.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Abhishek’s opening partner Sanju Samson also made gains after his quickfire 57 against Afghanistan in the second T20I on Tuesday, rising four places to No. 30 in the updated rankings for the batters.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2027-auction-returns-to-india-wpl-2027-auction-date-kochi-1789556564684">India to host IPL 2027 auction; WPL 2027 auction set for late October in Kochi</a>&nbsp;Among the T20I bowlers, Varun Chakaravarthy, who returned with figures of 1/16 in the first T20I before getting ruled out of the series with a side strain, moved up two places to No. 5. Ace quick Jasprit Bumrah, who returned to the T20I team for the first time since the T20 World Cup triumph in March 2026, returned to the top 10, jumping seven places. Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, gained a significant rise, climbing 11 places to No. 14, with Axar Patel rising six spots to No. 27.&nbsp;Afghanistan all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai also jumped places in the all-rounders’ category following a gritty showing with both bat and ball in the first two T20Is against India. Omarzai jumped two places to No. 5, and Nabi climbed up one spot to No. 8.<h2>Test Rankings: Robinson Hits Career-High</h2>While the English quick enjoyed his most successful series with the ball against Pakistan, he also jumped 11 places to No. 13 in the Test all-rounders category following his exploits with the bat in the final Test in Birmingham, where he scored a fifty.&nbsp;Among the Test batters, Pakistan captain Babar Azam rose two spots to No. 13, seasoned batter Shan Masood climbed four spots to No. 37 and England keeper-batter Jamie Smith moved three spots to No. 20.

Abhishek Sharma climbs to No. 2 in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings. Meanwhile, England's Ollie Robinson jumps to a career-best 3rd in Test bowling. Get all the ICC ranking updates here. 

Abhishek Sharma climbed one place to the second spot in the updated T20I rankings for batters following blistering starts in two contested T20Is against Afghanistan in the ongoing series. While he scored a match-winning 82 during the run chase in the series opener in Delhi, he set the stage for a successful chase in the next match with his attacking 39 at the top. India won both matches and clinched the three-match series 2-0. Sharma replaced Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan, who slipped to third in the rankings, with Ishan Kishan ruling at the top with 913 rating points. England Test quick Ollie Robinson, who bagged 21 wickets in three Tests against Pakistan at home, attained his career-best ranking of No. 3. His fellow seamer Josh Tongue, who picked up 19 wickets across six innings against Pakistan, jumped two places to No. 11 – his best Test ranking thus far. Meanwhile, Abhishek’s opening partner Sanju Samson also made gains after his quickfire 57 against Afghanistan in the second T20I on Tuesday, rising four places to No. 30 in the updated rankings for the batters. Also read| India to host IPL 2027 auction; WPL 2027 auction set for late October in Kochi Among the T20I bowlers, Varun Chakaravarthy, who returned with figures of 1/16 in the first T20I before getting ruled out of the series with a side strain, moved up two places to No. 5. Ace quick Jasprit Bumrah, who returned to the T20I team for the first time since the T20 World Cup triumph in March 2026, returned to the top 10, jumping seven places. Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, gained a significant rise, climbing 11 places to No. 14, with Axar Patel rising six spots to No. 27. Afghanistan all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai also jumped places in the all-rounders’ category following a gritty showing with both bat and ball in the first two T20Is against India. Omarzai jumped two places to No. 5, and Nabi climbed up one spot to No. 8. Test Rankings: Robinson Hits Career-High While the English quick enjoyed his most successful series with the ball against Pakistan, he also jumped 11 places to No. 13 in the Test all-rounders category following his exploits with the bat in the final Test in Birmingham, where he scored a fifty. Among the Test batters, Pakistan captain Babar Azam rose two spots to No. 13, seasoned batter Shan Masood climbed four spots to No. 37 and England keeper-batter Jamie Smith moved three spots to No. 20.

Abhishek Sharma climbs to No. 2 in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings. Meanwhile, England's Ollie Robinson jumps to a career-best 3rd in Test bowling. Get all the ICC ranking updates here.&nbsp;

Abhishek Sharma rises to No. 2 in T20Is; ENG’s Robinson 3rd after record Pakistan Tests

Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan powered India to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the T20I series opener in Delhi on Sunday (Sep 13). The left-hander Abhishek was on song at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, smashing seven sixes and as many fours in his blistering 32-ball 82 during the chase, with Ishan Kishan smoking 42 off 33 balls to help India land the first punch. Earlier, seamer Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, picking up three wickets for 19 runs in his four overs. India completed the 157-chase in 13.4 overs.&nbsp;Abhishek got his first runs with a six off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over and there was no looking back for the swashbuckling left-handed batter. He lost opening partner Sanju Samson for 10 but kept up the charge with a flurry of fours and sixes to raise his fifty off 22 balls. Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42, put on 121 runs as the pair tore into the opposition attack to raise the noise of over 25,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sree-charani-india-beat-sri-lanka-womens-asia-cup-2026-final-1789322824899">Shree Charani stars with 4/20 as India beat Sri Lanka to win Women’s Asia Cup 2026</a>&nbsp;"The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary," said India captain Shreyas Iyer. "Kishan has been in great form. He's very relaxed, calm and knows his game."&nbsp;Abhishek fell to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as Rashid Khan took a good catch in the deep.&nbsp;Nabi soon sent back Kishan before Tilak Varma (3) and Iyer (8) saw the team home.<h2>Arshdeep Shines in Delhi</h2>India's left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh set up victory with figures of 3-19 in his four overs as he helped restrict Afghanistan to 156-8. Put in to bat, Afghanistan slipped to 43-5 before Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 64.&nbsp;Returning pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah started with a wide down the leg side for five extras but struck on the second legal delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught at first slip.&nbsp;Iyer praised Bumrah, calling the pace spearhead, who returned to the team after an injury in the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, a "great asset".&nbsp;Meanwhile, skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with two fours but was soon run out for 11 after a mix up with Sediqullah Atal to give India the upper hand.&nbsp;"I would say that run out was the turning point," said Zadran. "Ishan Kishan grabbed the ball and threw it to the bowler. They got the momentum."&nbsp;Wickets kept tumbling as spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one each as Afghanistan lost half their side in seven overs.&nbsp;Omarzai, who survived a dropped catch on 39, and Nabi (33) then combined to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 83. Arshdeep broke the stand as he bowled Nabi off a slower yorker.&nbsp;Omarzai stuck around until the end as Afghanistan got 21 runs off the last over from Shivam Dube but it was not enough against the reigning T20 world champions.&nbsp;Delhi will host the second T20I on Tuesday (Sep 15).&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Abhishek Sharma's 32-ball 82 and Arshdeep Singh's 3-19 led India to a dominant 7-wicket win over Afghanistan in the 1st T20I at Delhi's Kotla ground.

Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan powered India to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the T20I series opener in Delhi on Sunday (Sep 13). The left-hander Abhishek was on song at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, smashing seven sixes and as many fours in his blistering 32-ball 82 during the chase, with Ishan Kishan smoking 42 off 33 balls to help India land the first punch. Earlier, seamer Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, picking up three wickets for 19 runs in his four overs. India completed the 157-chase in 13.4 overs. Abhishek got his first runs with a six off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over and there was no looking back for the swashbuckling left-handed batter. He lost opening partner Sanju Samson for 10 but kept up the charge with a flurry of fours and sixes to raise his fifty off 22 balls. Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who made 42, put on 121 runs as the pair tore into the opposition attack to raise the noise of over 25,000 fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Also read| Shree Charani stars with 4/20 as India beat Sri Lanka to win Women’s Asia Cup 2026 "The shots Abhishek played were flawless, exemplary," said India captain Shreyas Iyer. "Kishan has been in great form. He's very relaxed, calm and knows his game." Abhishek fell to off-spinner Mohammad Nabi as Rashid Khan took a good catch in the deep. Nabi soon sent back Kishan before Tilak Varma (3) and Iyer (8) saw the team home. Arshdeep Shines in Delhi India's left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh set up victory with figures of 3-19 in his four overs as he helped restrict Afghanistan to 156-8. Put in to bat, Afghanistan slipped to 43-5 before Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 64. Returning pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah started with a wide down the leg side for five extras but struck on the second legal delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught at first slip. Iyer praised Bumrah, calling the pace spearhead, who returned to the team after an injury in the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, a "great asset". Meanwhile, skipper Ibrahim Zadran attempted to hit back with two fours but was soon run out for 11 after a mix up with Sediqullah Atal to give India the upper hand. "I would say that run out was the turning point," said Zadran. "Ishan Kishan grabbed the ball and threw it to the bowler. They got the momentum." Wickets kept tumbling as spinners Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one each as Afghanistan lost half their side in seven overs. Omarzai, who survived a dropped catch on 39, and Nabi (33) then combined to rebuild the innings with a partnership of 83. Arshdeep broke the stand as he bowled Nabi off a slower yorker. Omarzai stuck around until the end as Afghanistan got 21 runs off the last over from Shivam Dube but it was not enough against the reigning T20 world champions. Delhi will host the second T20I on Tuesday (Sep 15). (With inputs from AFP)

Abhishek Sharma's 32-ball 82 and Arshdeep Singh's 3-19 led India to a dominant 7-wicket win over Afghanistan in the 1st T20I at Delhi's Kotla ground.

Abhishek, Kishan, Arshdeep star as India crush Afghanistan in 1st T20I

East Zone finally won their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years (the premier red-ball tournament in Indian domestic cricket), beating South Zone on the basis of a first-innings lead. The final, which ended in a draw on Day 5 (Sep 10), saw more than 1,300 runs scored at Chepauk in Chennai, more than 1,000 of which were scored by East Zone. Ishan Kishan, the winning captain, was named Player of the Match for his 270 in the first innings. South Zone captain Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series for his 266 runs in three innings across two matches at an average of 266.00, including two fifties (one of which was 99) and a hundred.<h2>East Zone dominates from start to finish</h2>After piling up 708 runs in the first innings, East Zone declared their second innings at 388/7, which resulted in a draw as both teams shook hands. For East Zone, MD Kounain Quraishi remained 116 not out in the second innings, while skipper Kishan added 80 to take his match total to 350. Apart from them, Anukul Roy (64) and Shikhar Mohan (52) also contributed fifties, while Kumar Kushagra chipped in with 46.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-t-deserve-to-play-shakeel-calls-out-pak-batting-after-another-sorry-display-in-england-1789025396312">'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel on Pak batting after another sorry display</a>South Zone, which managed 336 runs in the first innings on the back of captain Tilak Varma's 99, was never in the hunt to overtake East Zone's 708, as Varma acknowledged in his post-match comments."The first day we were doing better, but when they scored 708, it was slightly tough chasing that. Props to their batters. We didn't bowl that great, honestly. Honestly, we were just thinking of batting on for three days, and we tried our best to score 700... Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us," he said.Kishan, on the other hand, was chuffed with his team's performance as well as his own, saying: "To be honest, it's more about being one unit. We did that as a group, we won this title as a group, and everyone was taking care of each other. [On my role as captain], I think I've been a good leader, but the journey doesn't end here; when you lead a side, there are always mistakes happening... I think it was more about reading the situation, taking care of each other, and getting into the zone where I was. It's a good transformation for me: I've been calmer, I've had more hunger, and you want to lead the team from the front."

East Zone won the Duleep Trophy on a first-innings lead after a drawn final vs South Zone. Ishan Kishan (270 & 80) was Player of the Match, while South Zone skipper Tilak Varma was Player of the Series.

East Zone finally won their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years (the premier red-ball tournament in Indian domestic cricket), beating South Zone on the basis of a first-innings lead. The final, which ended in a draw on Day 5 (Sep 10), saw more than 1,300 runs scored at Chepauk in Chennai, more than 1,000 of which were scored by East Zone. Ishan Kishan, the winning captain, was named Player of the Match for his 270 in the first innings. South Zone captain Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series for his 266 runs in three innings across two matches at an average of 266.00, including two fifties (one of which was 99) and a hundred. East Zone dominates from start to finish After piling up 708 runs in the first innings, East Zone declared their second innings at 388/7, which resulted in a draw as both teams shook hands. For East Zone, MD Kounain Quraishi remained 116 not out in the second innings, while skipper Kishan added 80 to take his match total to 350. Apart from them, Anukul Roy (64) and Shikhar Mohan (52) also contributed fifties, while Kumar Kushagra chipped in with 46. Also Read - 'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel on Pak batting after another sorry display South Zone, which managed 336 runs in the first innings on the back of captain Tilak Varma's 99, was never in the hunt to overtake East Zone's 708, as Varma acknowledged in his post-match comments. "The first day we were doing better, but when they scored 708, it was slightly tough chasing that. Props to their batters. We didn't bowl that great, honestly. Honestly, we were just thinking of batting on for three days, and we tried our best to score 700... Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us," he said. Kishan, on the other hand, was chuffed with his team's performance as well as his own, saying: "To be honest, it's more about being one unit. We did that as a group, we won this title as a group, and everyone was taking care of each other. [On my role as captain], I think I've been a good leader, but the journey doesn't end here; when you lead a side, there are always mistakes happening... I think it was more about reading the situation, taking care of each other, and getting into the zone where I was. It's a good transformation for me: I've been calmer, I've had more hunger, and you want to lead the team from the front."

East Zone won the Duleep Trophy on a first-innings lead after a drawn final vs South Zone. Ishan Kishan (270 &amp; 80) was Player of the Match, while South Zone skipper Tilak Varma was Player of the Series.

Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years with 350 runs vs South Zone

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan clobbered his highest first-class score of 270 against South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. Riding on his brilliant double hundred and a gritty century from Kumar Kushagra, East Zone posted their first-innings total in excess of 700 at stumps on day 2, marking only the third time in the tournament’s final history that a team has crossed the 700-run milestone. &nbsp;Resuming day two on 385 for four, Kishan (111*) and Kushagra (63*) began piling up runs and misery on South Zone bowlers. Mohammed Siraj, who went wicketless on day 1, tried hard – both with his pace and line and verbal volleys to unsettle the pair, but failed. MD Nidheesh too bowled his heart out with the new ball in his quest to break this partnership but tasted no success, as the two batters inched closer to their respective milestones. The two spinners, Tripurana Vijay and Shreyas Gopal, also kept persisting with defensive lines on either side of the drinks break but failed to provide any respite.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/where-to-watch-india-vs-japan-historic-t20i-live-streaming-channel-details-1788703019306">Where to watch India vs Japan historic T20I: Channel and live streaming details</a> &nbsp;The right-handed batter Kushagra completed his sixth first-class hundred soon after but lost his wicket before lunch on day two.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch 🎥 Kumar Kushagra lights up Chennai with a brilliant 101(132) 💪 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/BhTkGWeeoD">https://t.co/BhTkGWeeoD</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DuleepTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuleepTrophy</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/EZvSZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EZvSZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/zfqrn3Uh4C">pic.twitter.com/zfqrn3Uh4C</a>&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIdomestic/status/2096903068399124779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kishan, on the other hand, took advantage of South Zone’s tired bowling attack and kept manoeuvring gaps for boundaries for fun, closing in on his double hundred.&nbsp;Nothing worked for Tilak Varma’s South Zone, which had also tried part-timers in Devdutt Padikkal, as Kishan completed his brilliant 200 in 270 balls.<h3>WATCH the moment Kishan scored 200 vs South Zone -</h3>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That moment when Ishan Kishan reached 2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ 👏👏 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/KQf5Km69nk">https://t.co/KQf5Km69nk</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DuleepTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuleepTrophy</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SZvEZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SZvEZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/6YJYiwNtjV">pic.twitter.com/6YJYiwNtjV</a>&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIdomestic/status/2096884661041639535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Just when he crossed his 200-mark, Kishan upped the ante and began scoring quickly, with South Zone anticipating a declaration. Much to their disappointment, Kishan did not declare and kept cruising even after crossing 250. Although fatigue caught up with him as he walked out retired hurt, Kishan returned following Mohammed Shami’s dismissal on 28 to rack up more runs.&nbsp; &nbsp;He, however, failed to smash a triple hundred in this title match, after finding a fielder near long-on to depart on 270.&nbsp; &nbsp;South Zone could finally wrap up East Zone's innings on 708, with a mountain to climb should they seek a shocking turnaround from here in the Duleep Trophy final.

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan smashed a record-breaking 270 to propel his side to a colossal 708 against South Zone on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. Read the day report. 

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan clobbered his highest first-class score of 270 against South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. Riding on his brilliant double hundred and a gritty century from Kumar Kushagra, East Zone posted their first-innings total in excess of 700 at stumps on day 2, marking only the third time in the tournament’s final history that a team has crossed the 700-run milestone. Resuming day two on 385 for four, Kishan (111*) and Kushagra (63*) began piling up runs and misery on South Zone bowlers. Mohammed Siraj, who went wicketless on day 1, tried hard – both with his pace and line and verbal volleys to unsettle the pair, but failed. MD Nidheesh too bowled his heart out with the new ball in his quest to break this partnership but tasted no success, as the two batters inched closer to their respective milestones. The two spinners, Tripurana Vijay and Shreyas Gopal, also kept persisting with defensive lines on either side of the drinks break but failed to provide any respite. Also read| Where to watch India vs Japan historic T20I: Channel and live streaming details The right-handed batter Kushagra completed his sixth first-class hundred soon after but lost his wicket before lunch on day two.

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan smashed a record-breaking 270 to propel his side to a colossal 708 against South Zone on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. Read the day report.&nbsp;

Ishan Kishan smashes 270 as East Zone rack up 708 in Duleep Trophy Final

India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. &nbsp;Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. &nbsp;"I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;"If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-tilak-varma-duleep-trophy-final-afg-t20is-format-switch-1788614605122">'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; it is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for your domestic games; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said.&nbsp;"I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. &nbsp;Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp;

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. "I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai. "If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said. Also read| 'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup. "It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; it is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for your domestic games; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said. "I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

'He has that hunger for India comeback': Ishan Kishan hails Mohammed Shami ahead of Duleep Trophy final

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. &nbsp;Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-ioa-bcci-cricket-logistics-1788598143640">Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics</a>&nbsp;"I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. &nbsp;"So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. &nbsp;"We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.&nbsp;

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges. Also read| Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics "I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. "So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. "We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said. "But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final

India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a massive jump in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after his brilliant performances against Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old climbed 230 places to a career-best 48th spot after finishing as the leading run-scorer in the three-match T20I series in Harare. Sooryavanshi scored 151 runs at an average of 50.33, helping India complete a 3-0 series sweep and also earned his first Player of the Series award in international cricket.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi made an immediate impact by scoring a 19-ball fifty in the opening T20I, followed it up with his highest international score of 81 off 49 balls in the final match.&nbsp;&nbsp;With those innings, he became the first player in men’s T20I history to score more than one half-century before the age of 16. He now has 536 rating points in the ICC rankings.&nbsp;&nbsp;India opener Ishan Kishan continues to lead the T20I batting rankings. He reached a career-best rating of 916 points after scoring 81 runs in the second T20I against Zimbabwe, the third-highest rating ever achieved by a T20I batter.&nbsp;Although he dropped slightly to 910 points after the series, he remains comfortably ahead of second-placed Sahibzada Farhan, who has 848 points.&nbsp;Among other Indian batters, Tilak Varma climbed two places to sixth, while Shreyas Iyer moved up seven spots to 24th.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mixed-feelings-about-this-one-manu-bhaker-reacts-after-winning-bronze-at-shooting-world-cup-1785309305344">'Mixed feelings': Manu Bhaker reacts after winning bronze at Shooting World Cup</a>&nbsp;Spinner Ravi Bishnoi made a big jump in the bowling rankings, rising 31 places to 41st after taking three wickets against Zimbabwe.&nbsp;Zimbabwe players also improved their rankings, as Ryan Burl moved up six places to joint 85th among batters, while fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani climbed 10 spots to 26th in the bowling rankings.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-2025-27-points-table-pakistan-slip-to-bottom-after-west-indies-defeat-where-does-india-stand-1785300993806">WTC 25-27 Points Table: PAK slip to bottom after WI loss, where does IND stand?</a><h2>Gill returns to ODI No. 1</h2>In the ODI rankings, Shubman Gill has regained the No. 1 batting position. He returned to the top after New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell missed the recent ODI series against the West Indies.&nbsp;India now have three batters in the top four of the ODI rankings, with Kohli at No. 2 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4.<h2>Bumrah stays on top in Tests</h2>India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, maintaining his position as the world’s highest-ranked Test bowler.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi jumped 230 places to reach a career-best 48th position in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after his strong performances in India's 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe.

India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a massive jump in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after his brilliant performances against Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old climbed 230 places to a career-best 48th spot after finishing as the leading run-scorer in the three-match T20I series in Harare. Sooryavanshi scored 151 runs at an average of 50.33, helping India complete a 3-0 series sweep and also earned his first Player of the Series award in international cricket. Sooryavanshi made an immediate impact by scoring a 19-ball fifty in the opening T20I, followed it up with his highest international score of 81 off 49 balls in the final match. With those innings, he became the first player in men’s T20I history to score more than one half-century before the age of 16. He now has 536 rating points in the ICC rankings. India opener Ishan Kishan continues to lead the T20I batting rankings. He reached a career-best rating of 916 points after scoring 81 runs in the second T20I against Zimbabwe, the third-highest rating ever achieved by a T20I batter. Although he dropped slightly to 910 points after the series, he remains comfortably ahead of second-placed Sahibzada Farhan, who has 848 points. Among other Indian batters, Tilak Varma climbed two places to sixth, while Shreyas Iyer moved up seven spots to 24th. Also Read - 'Mixed feelings': Manu Bhaker reacts after winning bronze at Shooting World Cup Spinner Ravi Bishnoi made a big jump in the bowling rankings, rising 31 places to 41st after taking three wickets against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe players also improved their rankings, as Ryan Burl moved up six places to joint 85th among batters, while fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani climbed 10 spots to 26th in the bowling rankings. Also Read - WTC 25-27 Points Table: PAK slip to bottom after WI loss, where does IND stand? Gill returns to ODI No. 1 In the ODI rankings, Shubman Gill has regained the No. 1 batting position. He returned to the top after New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell missed the recent ODI series against the West Indies. India now have three batters in the top four of the ODI rankings, with Kohli at No. 2 and Rohit Sharma at No. 4. Bumrah stays on top in Tests India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, maintaining his position as the world’s highest-ranked Test bowler.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi jumped 230 places to reach a career-best 48th position in the latest ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings after his strong performances in India's 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe.

ICC T20I Rankings: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi jumps 230 places, Ishan Kishan stays No. 1

From Suryakumar Yadav to Abhishek Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs in a calendar year. This list also includes Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan

From Suryakumar Yadav to Abhishek Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs in a calendar year. This list also includes Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs in a calendar year

India produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I on Saturday (July 25), sealing the three-match series with an unbeatable 2-0 lead. After posting a formidable 219, India bundled out Zimbabwe for just 129 in 17.5 overs. The hosts made a brisk start thanks to Brian Bennett's 32 off 19 balls, which included three fours and three sixes, but suffered a dramatic collapse as wickets fell in quick succession. The third and final T20I of the series will be played on Sunday (July 26).&nbsp;Earlier in the innings, India recovered from an early wobble to post 219/5 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I, thanks to a scintillating 81 from Ishan Kishan and an unbeaten 60 from Tilak Varma. Asked to bat first, India suffered an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for just 8 by Blessing Muzarabani in the second over. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then lit up the powerplay with an entertaining 20 off just nine balls, hammering three fours and a six before Richard Ngarava removed him.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/history-beckons-anahat-singh-becomes-first-indian-in-21-years-to-reach-world-junior-squash-championships-final-1784984896498">History beckons! Anahat Singh becomes first Indian in 21 years to reach World Junior Squash Championships final</a>&nbsp;With India at 28/2, Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings, guiding the visitors to 51/2 at the end of the powerplay. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking before Brian Bennett broke the partnership by dismissing Iyer for a 20-ball 25, leaving India at 95/3 after 10 overs. Kishan continued to anchor the innings while Tilak Varma shifted gears at the other end. The left-hander reached his 12th T20 half-century in just 31 deliveries, setting the stage for a late onslaught.&nbsp;The turning point came in the 15th over when Kishan and Tilak plundered 21 runs off Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, taking the attack to the hosts. Tilak then raced to his ninth T20 fifty in only 23 balls, ensuring India maintained the momentum heading into the death overs. Newman Nyamhuri eventually ended Kishan's brilliant knock on the first ball of the 18th over. The wicketkeeper-batter departed after scoring 81 from 44 deliveries, an innings laced with nine fours and two sixes.&nbsp;Tilak, however, carried the charge until the end, finishing unbeaten on 60 off just 29 balls with five fours and three sixes. Rinku Singh chipped in with a quick 12 before Brad Evans dismissed him in the final over, as India concluded their innings on an imposing 219/5. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brian Bennett, Newman Nyamhuri and Brad Evans claimed one wicket each.

India beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I to seal the three-match series 2-0. Brian Bennett's quickfire start wasn't enough as India dominated with bat and ball

India produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I on Saturday (July 25), sealing the three-match series with an unbeatable 2-0 lead. After posting a formidable 219, India bundled out Zimbabwe for just 129 in 17.5 overs. The hosts made a brisk start thanks to Brian Bennett's 32 off 19 balls, which included three fours and three sixes, but suffered a dramatic collapse as wickets fell in quick succession. The third and final T20I of the series will be played on Sunday (July 26). Earlier in the innings, India recovered from an early wobble to post 219/5 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I, thanks to a scintillating 81 from Ishan Kishan and an unbeaten 60 from Tilak Varma. Asked to bat first, India suffered an early setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for just 8 by Blessing Muzarabani in the second over. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then lit up the powerplay with an entertaining 20 off just nine balls, hammering three fours and a six before Richard Ngarava removed him. Also Read: History beckons! Anahat Singh becomes first Indian in 21 years to reach World Junior Squash Championships final With India at 28/2, Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings, guiding the visitors to 51/2 at the end of the powerplay. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking before Brian Bennett broke the partnership by dismissing Iyer for a 20-ball 25, leaving India at 95/3 after 10 overs. Kishan continued to anchor the innings while Tilak Varma shifted gears at the other end. The left-hander reached his 12th T20 half-century in just 31 deliveries, setting the stage for a late onslaught. The turning point came in the 15th over when Kishan and Tilak plundered 21 runs off Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, taking the attack to the hosts. Tilak then raced to his ninth T20 fifty in only 23 balls, ensuring India maintained the momentum heading into the death overs. Newman Nyamhuri eventually ended Kishan's brilliant knock on the first ball of the 18th over. The wicketkeeper-batter departed after scoring 81 from 44 deliveries, an innings laced with nine fours and two sixes. Tilak, however, carried the charge until the end, finishing unbeaten on 60 off just 29 balls with five fours and three sixes. Rinku Singh chipped in with a quick 12 before Brad Evans dismissed him in the final over, as India concluded their innings on an imposing 219/5. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Brian Bennett, Newman Nyamhuri and Brad Evans claimed one wicket each.

India hammered Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I to clinch the series 2-0 after bowling out the hosts for 129 in a commanding display

IND vs ZIM, 2nd T20I: India thrash Zimbabwe by 90 runs; take 2-0 lead in series

India made one change to their playing XI for the second ODI against England after wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was ruled out due to illness. Ishan Kishan replaced him in the side as England won the toss and chose to bowl first at Edgbaston. India captain Shubman Gill said his team would also have preferred to bowl first but was happy with the way they played in the first ODI.&nbsp;"We would have bowled first as well. We had a near-perfect game in the last match and hopefully we can do it again today," Gill said at the toss. "KL is sick, so he misses out, and Ishan Kishan comes back in."&nbsp;Gill also praised India’s fast bowlers for making a strong comeback after England got off to a good start in the Powerplay.&nbsp;"We had a good six or seven overs in the Powerplay before they put us under pressure. The way the fast bowlers came back and picked up wickets in the middle overs was tremendous to see," he said.&nbsp;The Indian captain also said he was happy to be back at Edgbaston, a ground he knows well from his time playing county cricket for Glamorgan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-lionel-messi-dedicates-argentina-s-win-over-england-to-diego-maradona-1784198122173">FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi dedicates Argentina's win over England to Diego Maradona</a>&nbsp;England captain Harry Brook said the team decided to bowl first after looking at the pitch.&nbsp;"There is a nice even spread of grass. Hopefully we can get a little bit of seam movement and swing up front," Brook said. "We just need to execute slightly better. We fought well in the last game to take it deep, and we want more of the same."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-why-did-icc-penalise-india-pacer-gurnoor-brar-1784199279505">IND vs ENG: Why did ICC penalise India pacer Gurnoor Brar?</a>&nbsp;England made two changes to their team, as Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood came in for Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson to add more pace to the bowling attack.&nbsp;India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna&nbsp;England Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood

India made one change to their playing XI for the second ODI against England, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for the unwell KL Rahul. England won the toss and opted to field first.

India made one change to their playing XI for the second ODI against England after wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was ruled out due to illness. Ishan Kishan replaced him in the side as England won the toss and chose to bowl first at Edgbaston. India captain Shubman Gill said his team would also have preferred to bowl first but was happy with the way they played in the first ODI. "We would have bowled first as well. We had a near-perfect game in the last match and hopefully we can do it again today," Gill said at the toss. "KL is sick, so he misses out, and Ishan Kishan comes back in." Gill also praised India’s fast bowlers for making a strong comeback after England got off to a good start in the Powerplay. "We had a good six or seven overs in the Powerplay before they put us under pressure. The way the fast bowlers came back and picked up wickets in the middle overs was tremendous to see," he said. The Indian captain also said he was happy to be back at Edgbaston, a ground he knows well from his time playing county cricket for Glamorgan. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi dedicates Argentina's win over England to Diego Maradona England captain Harry Brook said the team decided to bowl first after looking at the pitch. "There is a nice even spread of grass. Hopefully we can get a little bit of seam movement and swing up front," Brook said. "We just need to execute slightly better. We fought well in the last game to take it deep, and we want more of the same." Also Read - IND vs ENG: Why did ICC penalise India pacer Gurnoor Brar? England made two changes to their team, as Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood came in for Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson to add more pace to the bowling attack. India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna England Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood

India made one change to their playing XI for the second ODI against England, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for the unwell KL Rahul. England won the toss and opted to field first.

IND vs ENG: Why is KL Rahul not playing the second ODI?

Amid Team India’s ongoing horror UK tour, their star batters Ishan Kishan (1st rank) and Abhishek Sharma (2nd rank) have topped the batting charts in the latest T20I rankings. The two left-handers have featured in all games since the start of the tour, but have failed to guide the team home in any. In five contested matches thus far, one of which was abandoned due to rain, India has lost four games, two to Ireland and as many to England, conceding the series on both occasions. Despite all, the Indian batters continue to dominate the rankings for T20I batters.&nbsp;Abhishek has been the top scorer across both camps, smashing 112 in three innings, including two fifties. He also scored a fifty against Ireland in the series opener in Belfast. Kishan, on the other hand, has been far from his best, accumulating just 62 runs in three matches against England. He has hit seven fours and just one six at a strike rate of 121.57, whereas Abhishek’s strike rate reads a staggering 203.64.&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;Even though such numbers are enough for them to retain their spots on the T20I rankings for batters, they were not enough to help India cross the winning line.&nbsp; &nbsp;Such was the wrath they faced that India lost the recently concluded 3rd T20I in Nottingham by 125 runs – their biggest margin of defeat in this format.&nbsp; &nbsp;Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, who replaced Sanju Samson at the top, fell cheaply, with Abhishek and Kishan also failing to help India during the run chase.<h2>Iyer, Bethell among gainers</h2>While the newly-appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer was amongst the highest gainers following his 68 in the first T20I and 37 in the second game, jumping an astonishing 425 places to the joint 93rd position, England’s newest star Jacob Bethell jumped seven places to number eight. Bethell starred for England in the second T20I, scoring an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls to beat India by four wickets.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, all-rounder Sam Curran enjoyed a productive week by jumping 12 places to 108th position among batters and 12 to 71st in the bowling rankings. His overall exploits helped him jump six places to 13th among the all-rounders. &nbsp;Bristol will host the fourth T20I between India and England on Thursday (Jul 9).

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma top the ICC T20I charts despite India's nightmare UK tour and a crushing 125-run defeat against England in Nottingham.

Amid Team India’s ongoing horror UK tour, their star batters Ishan Kishan (1st rank) and Abhishek Sharma (2nd rank) have topped the batting charts in the latest T20I rankings. The two left-handers have featured in all games since the start of the tour, but have failed to guide the team home in any. In five contested matches thus far, one of which was abandoned due to rain, India has lost four games, two to Ireland and as many to England, conceding the series on both occasions. Despite all, the Indian batters continue to dominate the rankings for T20I batters. Abhishek has been the top scorer across both camps, smashing 112 in three innings, including two fifties. He also scored a fifty against Ireland in the series opener in Belfast. Kishan, on the other hand, has been far from his best, accumulating just 62 runs in three matches against England. He has hit seven fours and just one six at a strike rate of 121.57, whereas Abhishek’s strike rate reads a staggering 203.64. Also read| IND vs ENG, 4th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Even though such numbers are enough for them to retain their spots on the T20I rankings for batters, they were not enough to help India cross the winning line. Such was the wrath they faced that India lost the recently concluded 3rd T20I in Nottingham by 125 runs – their biggest margin of defeat in this format. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, who replaced Sanju Samson at the top, fell cheaply, with Abhishek and Kishan also failing to help India during the run chase. Iyer, Bethell among gainers While the newly-appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer was amongst the highest gainers following his 68 in the first T20I and 37 in the second game, jumping an astonishing 425 places to the joint 93rd position, England’s newest star Jacob Bethell jumped seven places to number eight. Bethell starred for England in the second T20I, scoring an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls to beat India by four wickets. On the other hand, all-rounder Sam Curran enjoyed a productive week by jumping 12 places to 108th position among batters and 12 to 71st in the bowling rankings. His overall exploits helped him jump six places to 13th among the all-rounders. Bristol will host the fourth T20I between India and England on Thursday (Jul 9).

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma top the ICC T20I charts despite India's nightmare UK tour and a crushing 125-run defeat against England in Nottingham.

Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma top T20I charts amid India's nightmare UK tour

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

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

Meet top 5 batters in the latest ICC T20I Rankings; check who tops the list

India’s Ishan Kishan has reached the top of the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings for the first time in his career. In the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday (July 1), Kishan overtook teammate Abhishek Sharma to claim the no. 1 position. Sharma’s impressive 11-month stint at the top came to an end following India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland. With this achievement, Kishan becomes only the fourth Indian batter to attain the no. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, joining an elite list that includes Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma.&nbsp;Kishan returned to the Indian T20I setup for the T20 World Cup 2026 after an outstanding domestic season, and his remarkable performances have driven his rise to the summit. The wicketkeeper-batter enjoyed a sensational T20 World Cup campaign, scoring 317 runs at a strike rate of more than 190. His standout knock came against Pakistan, where he was named Player of the Match after delivering a match-winning performance. He also played a crucial innings in the tournament final, smashing 54 runs off just 25 balls against New Zealand.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-germany-s-winning-goal-against-paraguay-was-ruled-out-fifa-finally-explains-controversial-var-call-1782904023470">Why Germany’s winning goal against Paraguay was ruled out: FIFA finally explains controversial VAR call</a>&nbsp;India continue to dominate the ICC batting rankings, with newly appointed vice-captain Tilak Varma occupying the sixth spot. Among bowlers, Varun Chakravarthy remains India’s highest-ranked player at no. 3, while Jasprit Bumrah is placed sixth. Hardik Pandya continues to hold the No. 2 position in the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings.&nbsp;Despite suffering a surprising 2-0 series defeat to Ireland, India retained the no. 1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings with 272 rating points, maintaining a 10-point lead over second-placed England. India and England are set to start their highly anticipated five-match T20I series later on Wednesday (July 1).&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Indian women’s cricket team, which recently secured qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics, remains third in the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings behind Australia and England. Among Indian women cricketers, Smriti Mandhana is ranked no. 5 among batters, Sree Charani continues to lead the bowling rankings, and Deepti Sharma is India’s highest-ranked T20I all-rounder at no. 5.

Ishan Kishan becomes the ICC Men's T20I No.1 batter after a brilliant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as India retain top spot in team rankings

India’s Ishan Kishan has reached the top of the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings for the first time in his career. In the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday (July 1), Kishan overtook teammate Abhishek Sharma to claim the no. 1 position. Sharma’s impressive 11-month stint at the top came to an end following India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland. With this achievement, Kishan becomes only the fourth Indian batter to attain the no. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, joining an elite list that includes Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma. Kishan returned to the Indian T20I setup for the T20 World Cup 2026 after an outstanding domestic season, and his remarkable performances have driven his rise to the summit. The wicketkeeper-batter enjoyed a sensational T20 World Cup campaign, scoring 317 runs at a strike rate of more than 190. His standout knock came against Pakistan, where he was named Player of the Match after delivering a match-winning performance. He also played a crucial innings in the tournament final, smashing 54 runs off just 25 balls against New Zealand. Also Read: Why Germany’s winning goal against Paraguay was ruled out: FIFA finally explains controversial VAR call India continue to dominate the ICC batting rankings, with newly appointed vice-captain Tilak Varma occupying the sixth spot. Among bowlers, Varun Chakravarthy remains India’s highest-ranked player at no. 3, while Jasprit Bumrah is placed sixth. Hardik Pandya continues to hold the No. 2 position in the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings. Despite suffering a surprising 2-0 series defeat to Ireland, India retained the no. 1 position in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings with 272 rating points, maintaining a 10-point lead over second-placed England. India and England are set to start their highly anticipated five-match T20I series later on Wednesday (July 1). Meanwhile, the Indian women’s cricket team, which recently secured qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics, remains third in the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings behind Australia and England. Among Indian women cricketers, Smriti Mandhana is ranked no. 5 among batters, Sree Charani continues to lead the bowling rankings, and Deepti Sharma is India’s highest-ranked T20I all-rounder at no. 5.

Ishan Kishan becomes ICC Men’s T20I no.1 batter after a stellar World Cup as India retain top spot in team rankings ahead of England series

Ishan Kishan replaces Abhishek Sharma as world no 1 T20 batter in latest ICC T20I batting rankings

The wicketkeeper-batter reached his hundred in just 71 balls, smashing 14 fours and four sixes. It was his second ODI century and the third-fastest hundred conceded by Afghanistan in the format, behind only Eoin Morgan's 57-ball ton against them in 2019.Kishan eventually departed for 125 off 79 deliveries, adding three more sixes to cap off a dominant innings.&nbsp;The left-hander had not featured in India's ODI squad since the 2023 World Cup. However, strong performances in T20Is and the Indian Premier League earned him a recall for the Afghanistan series. Prior to this knock, Kishan's only ODI century was his record-breaking 210 against Bangladesh in 2022. At the other end, captain Shubman Gill also brought up his ninth ODI century, reaching the milestone in 77 balls as India dominated proceedings.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/social-media-erupts-after-messi-escapes-red-card-for-reckless-challenge-in-argentina-s-3-0-win-over-algeria-1781690795351">Social media erupts after Messi escapes red card for reckless challenge in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria</a><h2>Ishan Kishan crosses 1,000-run mark in ODI</h2>Meanwhile, with his match-winning knock, the left-hander also crossed the 1,000-run mark in ODI cricket, achieving the milestone in just 26 innings and joining an elite group of Indian batters. Earlier, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to field first, citing expected assistance for the spinners on a fresh Ekana Stadium surface. Opening the innings once again, Yashasvi Jaiswal endured a brief stay at the crease, falling for just four runs after being caught off Mohammed Saleem's bowling. His early dismissal brought captain Shubman Gill to the middle in only the third over of the innings.&nbsp;India made three changes to their playing XI, handing pacer Prince Yadav his international debut, while Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to the side. The hosts came into the second ODI with a 1-0 advantage in the three-match series after securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the opener.<h2>What is the highest team score in ODI?</h2>The highest team score in One Day International (ODI) cricket was made by England cricket team against the Netherlands. The Three Lions posted a mammoth score of 498/4 on June 17, 2022, in Amstelveen.<h2>What is India’s highest score in ODIs?</h2>Centuries from Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan propelled India into a commanding position against Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday. India's highest-ever ODI total remains 418/5 against West Indies in Indore in 2011, a match remembered for Virender Sehwag's blistering maiden double century. The former opener also played a starring role in India's second-highest ODI total of 414/7 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot in 2009, scoring a magnificent century.&nbsp;Overall, India's 418/5 is the 12th-highest team total in ODI history. The world record belongs to England, who smashed 498/4 against the Netherlands in 2022. India eventually breached the 400-run barrier against Afghanistan, finishing on 402 all out. However, the hosts fell short of surpassing their own record for the highest ODI total.<h2>India’s highest team totals in ODIS</h2><ul><li>418/5 against West Indies in Indore, 2011</li><li>414/7 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot, 2009</li><li>413/5 against Bermuda in Port of Spain, 2007</li><li>410/5 against Netherlands in Bengaluru, 2023</li><li>409/8 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, 2022</li></ul>

Ishan Kishan scored a blazing 125 off 79 balls, including a 71-ball century, on his return to India’s ODI team against Afghanistan. Captain Shubman Gill also registered his ninth ODI hundred

The wicketkeeper-batter reached his hundred in just 71 balls, smashing 14 fours and four sixes. It was his second ODI century and the third-fastest hundred conceded by Afghanistan in the format, behind only Eoin Morgan's 57-ball ton against them in 2019. Kishan eventually departed for 125 off 79 deliveries, adding three more sixes to cap off a dominant innings. The left-hander had not featured in India's ODI squad since the 2023 World Cup. However, strong performances in T20Is and the Indian Premier League earned him a recall for the Afghanistan series. Prior to this knock, Kishan's only ODI century was his record-breaking 210 against Bangladesh in 2022. At the other end, captain Shubman Gill also brought up his ninth ODI century, reaching the milestone in 77 balls as India dominated proceedings. Also Read: Social media erupts after Messi escapes red card for reckless challenge in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria Ishan Kishan crosses 1,000-run mark in ODI Meanwhile, with his match-winning knock, the left-hander also crossed the 1,000-run mark in ODI cricket, achieving the milestone in just 26 innings and joining an elite group of Indian batters. Earlier, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to field first, citing expected assistance for the spinners on a fresh Ekana Stadium surface. Opening the innings once again, Yashasvi Jaiswal endured a brief stay at the crease, falling for just four runs after being caught off Mohammed Saleem's bowling. His early dismissal brought captain Shubman Gill to the middle in only the third over of the innings. India made three changes to their playing XI, handing pacer Prince Yadav his international debut, while Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to the side. The hosts came into the second ODI with a 1-0 advantage in the three-match series after securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the opener. What is the highest team score in ODI? The highest team score in One Day International (ODI) cricket was made by England cricket team against the Netherlands. The Three Lions posted a mammoth score of 498/4 on June 17, 2022, in Amstelveen. What is India’s highest score in ODIs? Centuries from Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan propelled India into a commanding position against Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday. India's highest-ever ODI total remains 418/5 against West Indies in Indore in 2011, a match remembered for Virender Sehwag's blistering maiden double century. The former opener also played a starring role in India's second-highest ODI total of 414/7 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot in 2009, scoring a magnificent century. Overall, India's 418/5 is the 12th-highest team total in ODI history. The world record belongs to England, who smashed 498/4 against the Netherlands in 2022. India eventually breached the 400-run barrier against Afghanistan, finishing on 402 all out. However, the hosts fell short of surpassing their own record for the highest ODI total. India’s highest team totals in ODIS 418/5 against West Indies in Indore, 2011 414/7 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot, 2009 413/5 against Bermuda in Port of Spain, 2007 410/5 against Netherlands in Bengaluru, 2023 409/8 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, 2022

Ishan Kishan celebrated his return to India’s ODI side with a 71-ball century against Afghanistan in Lucknow, scoring 125 off 79 balls, while captain Shubman Gill also hit a hundred

IND vs AFG: Ishan Kishan smashes 71-ball ton in ODI comeback, Gill hits ninth ODI ton

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

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

After SRH’s victory against Chennai Super Kings, skipper Ishan Kishan praised the team’s young and relatively inexperienced bowling unit for stepping up under pressure, while also pointing out that the batting group needs more discipline in shot selection. Thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH posted a competitive total of 195. The young pace attack, featuring Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge and Nitish Kumar Reddy, along with spinner Shivang Kumar, then successfully defended the score. Although Praful was expensive during the powerplay, the bowling group tightened things up in the latter stages to restrict CSK and seal a 10-run win.&nbsp;Speaking after the match, Ishan said he was pleased to see the young bowlers developing confidence and executing their plans. He emphasised the importance of backing them despite inexperience, noting their steady improvement in training sessions.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Lovely when you have a bunch of young bowlers coming up with their plans. Looking at them, look at them getting better day by day at training, you have to trust them,” said Kishan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-likely-to-extend-agarkar-s-tenure-as-chief-selector-ahead-of-2027-world-cup-1776578734343">BCCI likely to extend Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ahead of 2027 World Cup</a>&nbsp;He also admitted the batting unit fell short by around 30–40 runs and stressed the need for smarter shot choices. Ishan added that the team is not focusing on the points table and prefers to take things one game at a time.&nbsp;"I felt we were 30-40 short, need to be a lot better in our shot selection. Not looking at the points table, need to keep our head down, we will take it one match at a time and see how it goes," he added.&nbsp;Player of the match Eshan, who took crucial wickets of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matt Short and Sarfaraz Khan, also said during the post-match presentation, "Before the match we had a good plan, and we know the Hyderabad wicket, after 10 overs it reverses.&nbsp;Actually, Ishan was coming for me, he asking me - what kind of deliveries you are going to bowl. At the bowling crease, I decide what to bowl. The reverse is very important for me and the other bowlers. It's a good wicket-taking delivery." SRH has now jumped to fourth spot in the points table, with three wins and three losses.CSK is at the seventh spot, with two wins and four losses.CSK put SRH to bowl first, and half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (59 in 22 balls, with six fours and four sixes) and Heinrich Klaasen (59 in 39 balls, with six fours and two sixes) took SRH to 194/9. During the run-chase of 195, CSK was in contention courtesy of knocks from Ayush Mhatre (30 in 13 balls, with five fours and a six), Matthew Short (34 in 30 balls, with three fours) and Sarfaraz Khan (25 in 16 balls, with three fours), but spells from Eshan (3/29), Nitish (2/31), Sakib Hussain (1/32) and Shivang Kumar (1/18) kept the pressure on CSK during the second half, leaving them 10 runs short.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies



Speaking after the match, Ishan said he was pleased to see the young bowlers developing confidence and executing their plans. He emphasised the importance of backing them despite inexperience, noting their steady improvement in training sessions. 

After SRH’s victory against Chennai Super Kings, skipper Ishan Kishan praised the team’s young and relatively inexperienced bowling unit for stepping up under pressure, while also pointing out that the batting group needs more discipline in shot selection. Thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH posted a competitive total of 195. The young pace attack, featuring Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge and Nitish Kumar Reddy, along with spinner Shivang Kumar, then successfully defended the score. Although Praful was expensive during the powerplay, the bowling group tightened things up in the latter stages to restrict CSK and seal a 10-run win. Speaking after the match, Ishan said he was pleased to see the young bowlers developing confidence and executing their plans. He emphasised the importance of backing them despite inexperience, noting their steady improvement in training sessions. “Lovely when you have a bunch of young bowlers coming up with their plans. Looking at them, look at them getting better day by day at training, you have to trust them,” said Kishan. Also Read - BCCI likely to extend Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ahead of 2027 World Cup He also admitted the batting unit fell short by around 30–40 runs and stressed the need for smarter shot choices. Ishan added that the team is not focusing on the points table and prefers to take things one game at a time. "I felt we were 30-40 short, need to be a lot better in our shot selection. Not looking at the points table, need to keep our head down, we will take it one match at a time and see how it goes," he added. Player of the match Eshan, who took crucial wickets of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matt Short and Sarfaraz Khan, also said during the post-match presentation, "Before the match we had a good plan, and we know the Hyderabad wicket, after 10 overs it reverses. Actually, Ishan was coming for me, he asking me - what kind of deliveries you are going to bowl. At the bowling crease, I decide what to bowl. The reverse is very important for me and the other bowlers. It's a good wicket-taking delivery." SRH has now jumped to fourth spot in the points table, with three wins and three losses.CSK is at the seventh spot, with two wins and four losses.CSK put SRH to bowl first, and half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (59 in 22 balls, with six fours and four sixes) and Heinrich Klaasen (59 in 39 balls, with six fours and two sixes) took SRH to 194/9. During the run-chase of 195, CSK was in contention courtesy of knocks from Ayush Mhatre (30 in 13 balls, with five fours and a six), Matthew Short (34 in 30 balls, with three fours) and Sarfaraz Khan (25 in 16 balls, with three fours), but spells from Eshan (3/29), Nitish (2/31), Sakib Hussain (1/32) and Shivang Kumar (1/18) kept the pressure on CSK during the second half, leaving them 10 runs short. With inputs from agencies

Speaking after the match, Ishan said he was pleased to see the young bowlers developing confidence and executing their plans. He emphasised the importance of backing them despite inexperience, noting their steady improvement in training sessions.&nbsp;

'When you have a bunch of young bowlers': SRH skipper Ishan celebrates win over CSK

Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has always been a timing-oriented player rather an all-out attacker. It changed in IPL 2023 when he played for CSK, where he played more freely than ever and as a result, his strike rate jumped well over 150-mark in the season. Ever since 2023, Rahane has been constantly batting at higher strike rates but still faces the critics questioning him regularly. Former New Zealand player Simon Doull, meanwhile, has come to Rahane rescue and has said that the batter has been performing better than Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who are known foe their aggressive batting style. While Rahane (172) certainly did better in terms of strike rate than Rohit (133) and Kishan (143) in IPL 2023, he's been on par with both batters if not better from 2024-2026 in the tournament.<h2>Doull says Rahane's strike rate better than Rohit and Kishan</h2>"His numbers in the last four years have not been that bad. He averages 30 and strikes at 148 over 30-odd games. People are talking about dropping him. It’s a better record than what Rohit has got in the last four years. It’s an equal record to Ishan Kishan in the last four years. You are not talking about dropping any of those blokes," said Doull while talking to ESPNCricinfo.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammed-shami-aims-to-continue-ground-level-hard-work-amid-prolonged-india-snub-1775629661960">Mohammed Shami aims to continue 'ground-level hard work' amid prolonged India snub</a><h2>How has been Rahane's strike rate since IPL 2023 compared to Rohit and Kishan?</h2>In IPL 2023, Rahane played 14 matches for CSK and scored 326 runs at 172 - his career high. Things have slowed down since but still better his IPL career average of 125. In 2024, Rahane scored 242 runs for CSK at 124. In 2025, Rahane joined KKR and scored 390 runs in 13 matches at 148 and in IPL 2026, he has scored 83 runs so far at 148.As for Rohit (MI), he scored 332 runs in IPL 2023 at 133, 417 runs in IPL 2024 at 150, 418 runs in IPL 2025 at 140, 118 runs in IPL 2026 so far at 169. Kishan, on the other hand, played for MI in IPL 2023 and 2024, scoring 454 &amp; 320 runs at 143 and 149, respectively. He then joined SRH, scored 354 runs in IPL 2025 at 153 and has scored 95 runs in IPL 2026 so far at 186.

While Rahane (172) certainly did better in terms of strike rate than Rohit (133) and Kishan (143) in IPL 2023, he's been on par with both batters if not better from 2024-2026 in the tournament.

Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has always been a timing-oriented player rather an all-out attacker. It changed in IPL 2023 when he played for CSK, where he played more freely than ever and as a result, his strike rate jumped well over 150-mark in the season. Ever since 2023, Rahane has been constantly batting at higher strike rates but still faces the critics questioning him regularly. Former New Zealand player Simon Doull, meanwhile, has come to Rahane rescue and has said that the batter has been performing better than Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who are known foe their aggressive batting style. While Rahane (172) certainly did better in terms of strike rate than Rohit (133) and Kishan (143) in IPL 2023, he's been on par with both batters if not better from 2024-2026 in the tournament. Doull says Rahane's strike rate better than Rohit and Kishan "His numbers in the last four years have not been that bad. He averages 30 and strikes at 148 over 30-odd games. People are talking about dropping him. It’s a better record than what Rohit has got in the last four years. It’s an equal record to Ishan Kishan in the last four years. You are not talking about dropping any of those blokes," said Doull while talking to ESPNCricinfo. Also Read - Mohammed Shami aims to continue 'ground-level hard work' amid prolonged India snub How has been Rahane's strike rate since IPL 2023 compared to Rohit and Kishan? In IPL 2023, Rahane played 14 matches for CSK and scored 326 runs at 172 - his career high. Things have slowed down since but still better his IPL career average of 125. In 2024, Rahane scored 242 runs for CSK at 124. In 2025, Rahane joined KKR and scored 390 runs in 13 matches at 148 and in IPL 2026, he has scored 83 runs so far at 148. As for Rohit (MI), he scored 332 runs in IPL 2023 at 133, 417 runs in IPL 2024 at 150, 418 runs in IPL 2025 at 140, 118 runs in IPL 2026 so far at 169. Kishan, on the other hand, played for MI in IPL 2023 and 2024, scoring 454 & 320 runs at 143 and 149, respectively. He then joined SRH, scored 354 runs in IPL 2025 at 153 and has scored 95 runs in IPL 2026 so far at 186.

While Rahane (172) certainly did better in terms of strike rate than Rohit (133) and Kishan (143) in IPL 2023, he's been on par with both batters if not better from 2024-2026 in the tournament.

IPL 2026 | Ex-NZ player Doull says Rahane playing better than Rohit and Kishan since 2023 - Here's what numbers tell

Top 5 batters in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 – check who’s on top

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may have missed out on the services of Mustafizur Rahman after a controversial call from the franchise, but he was hardly missed in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) contest against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (April 2). Called in as a late replacement for Rahman, Blessing Muzarabani was right on the money on his home debut as he scalped the wickets of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma in the same over.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝗜.𝗖.𝗬.𝗠.𝗜 🎥 Rinku Singh making it look easy in the field 😏 He now has the most catches for <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKRiders</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> 🫴 🫡 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7">https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KhelBindaas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KhelBindaas</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvSRH</a> <a href="https://t.co/RQW52NAKE4">pic.twitter.com/RQW52NAKE4</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2039729066736324800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>KKR blessed with Blessing Muzarabani</h2>With SRH 111/1 after 8.1 overs, things were very much heading in the right direction for the home side before Muzarabani was called in to action. The Zimbabwe pacer first scalped Ishan (14 off 9) on the second ball of the ninth over before getting the better of Abhishek (48 off 21). While Abhishek’s dismissal looked controversial with the ball possibly touching the ground, he was given out by the third umpire. With Abhishek’s wicket on the fourth ball, Muzarabani scalped both Indian batters who recently won the T20 World Cup in a span of three balls to make a statement.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>What happened in SRH innings?</h2>In the very next over, spinner Anukl Roy removed Aniket Verma (1) as Hyderabad slumped to 123/4 after the end of the 10th over. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the ship for their side as Hyderabad posted 168/4 in 15 overs. During the 18th over, Kartik Tyagi conceded 16 runs as Hyderabad reached a commanding position of 200/4. In the very next over, Vaibhav Arora took back-to-back wickets of Nitish Reddy, who scored 39 off 24 balls, with five boundaries and Salil Arora for a golden duck.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Klaasen slammed 52 off 35 balls, with five boundaries, as Hyderabad posted a challenging total of 226/8 in 20 overs. For KKR, speedster Muzarabani picked up a four-wicket haul.

With SRH 111/1 after 8.1 overs, things were very much heading in the right direction for the home side before Muzarabani was called in to action. The Zimbabwe pacer first scalped Ishan (14 off 9) on the second ball of the ninth over before getting the better of Abhishek (48 off 21).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may have missed out on the services of Mustafizur Rahman after a controversial call from the franchise, but he was hardly missed in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) contest against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (April 2). Called in as a late replacement for Rahman, Blessing Muzarabani was right on the money on his home debut as he scalped the wickets of Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma in the same over.

With SRH 111/1 after 8.1 overs, things were very much heading in the right direction for the home side before Muzarabani was called in to action. The Zimbabwe pacer first scalped Ishan (14 off 9) on the second ball of the ninth over before getting the better of Abhishek (48 off 21).

IPL 2026: Mustafizur who? Blessing Muzarabani scalps Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma in one over for KKR

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season may have kicked off on Saturday (Mar 28), but we might already have the “Catch of the Season” contender after Phil Salt produced a magical moment. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the season opener, Salt clutched a low diving one-handed stunner to dismiss Ishan Kishan at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Netizens were seen applauding the English star who had earlier taken another stunner in the match.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT. 🥶 - Phil Salt has produced one of the greatest catches on Day 1 of IPL 2026. 🤯<a href="https://t.co/qdcVniVfWR">pic.twitter.com/qdcVniVfWR</a>&mdash; Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/2037920146182840389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Salt pulls of stunner</h2>Fielding at the deep midwicket region, Salt took an exceptional catch while the ball was bound for a six. The catch took place on the sixth ball of the 16th over with Ishan batting on a well-made 80 off 37 before he was caught. The catch was applauded by everyone in the stadium as fans were left stunned after the catch was completed.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>What happened in the match?</h2>RCB's chase began with a couple of boundaries in the first over off the bat of Phil Salt, but he fell early, in the very next over, for eight runs. However, Kohli looked in sublime touch from the first ball. He anchored the innings with a brilliant 69 off 38 deliveries, including five sixes. He became the first batter to score 6000 runs in the T20s. Kohli also became the first batter in IPL history to cross 4000 runs in chases.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;However, it was Devdutt Padikkal who stole the show in the middle overs. Padikkal played with a strike rate of 234.62, bludgeoning 61 runs off just 26 balls, including four sixes and seven fours. His assault on the SRH spinners took the game away from the visitors entirely. Brief cameos from Rajat Patidar (31 off 12) and Tim David (16) ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB cruised to 203/4 in just 15.4 overs.

Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the season opener, Phil Salt clutched a low diving one-handed stunner to dismiss Ishan Kishan at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season may have kicked off on Saturday (Mar 28), but we might already have the “Catch of the Season” contender after Phil Salt produced a magical moment. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the season opener, Salt clutched a low diving one-handed stunner to dismiss Ishan Kishan at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Netizens were seen applauding the English star who had earlier taken another stunner in the match.

Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the season opener, Phil Salt clutched a low diving one-handed stunner to dismiss Ishan Kishan at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Watch: Phil Salt clutches unbelievable one-handed stunner to dismiss Ishan Kishan in IPL 2026 opener

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