Page 2 - Cricket News

Jurel reveals how Pant's advice helps him while batting alongside him

Dhruv Jurel's Instagram bio is simple yet catchy. It reads Mamba Mentality - a term coined by basketball legend Kobe Bryant to describe his efforts to become the best version of himself. Jurel's unbeaten 115 on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka here on Monday was a testimony of his devotion to that motto. At one end, Rishabh Pant, with whom he built a 112-run stand, was playing in his archetypal way for 63, but Jurel concentrated on his strengths to accumulate runs. Jurel explained his batting methods while batting alongside a sparkling shot-maker like Pant. "We all know Pant is such a terrific player and what he has done for India in Australia and England. So, whenever he is in, I only seek his advice, because he has so much experience. So, I always ask him for advice as, what I should do in a particular situation," Jurel said in the post-day press conference and dedicated his second Test hundred to his parents. But does he get tempted to copy the dominating way

Afghanistan appoint Ibrahim Zadran captain for T20I series against India

Ibrahim Zadran was on Monday named Afghanistan captain for their upcoming three-match T20I series against India, with the opener taking charge in his first assignment as the team's full-time T20I skipper. The series will be played at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi from September 13 to 17 and is Afghanistan's "home series". Afghanistan have also welcomed back veteran fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who returns to the national setup after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder. The injury had ruled him out of Afghanistan's T20I series against the West Indies and the T20 World Cup 2026. Naveen's comeback bolsters a pace attack that also features Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Afghanistan have opted for a full-strength squad, with experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib also returning to add depth to the middle order and provide another bowling option. Rashid Khan will lead an experienced spin-bowling group that also includes Noo

ICC penalises Jaiswal, Fernando with 25% match fee fine for heated exchange

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka seamer Asitha Fernando were on Monday fined 25 per cent of their match fee for an on-field altercation on day one of the second Test in Colombo. The duo was also handed a demerit point each. The players were involved in a confrontation after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal in the 17th over of India's first innings. Jaiswal walked towards Fernando and the two exchanged words, following which Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal. In response, Jaiswal leant in, resulting in their heads making contact. "Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for formal hearings," ICC said in a statement. "Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any

England crush Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in Headingley Test opener

England wrapped up an innings win over Pakistan inside three days in the first test on Friday, delivering a strong start to the post-Bazball era under returning captain Joe Root. Dismissed for 409 around 40 minutes into day three, England took a 238-run advantage into the second innings and skittled Pakistan for 135 in 37.3 overs before tea. England won by an innings and 103 runs for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second test starts on Thursday at Lord's. "Brilliant performance," Root said. "You look at the prep we had leading in, coming straight from the Hundred, the fact we're in a slight transition stage. I thought the way that we dealt with all of that, the clarity and the way the guys approached this week has been outstanding." England's battery of four seamers pestered consistently at a fuller length that's required at Headingley and Pakistan couldn't endure it. Jofra Archer removed the openers with the new ball, Ollie Robinson got three more wickets, Josh Tongue

Starc claims five wickets as Australia rattle Bangladesh in opening session

Mitchell Starc removed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam with the first ball of the match and the veteran Australian fast bowler took five wickets in the first session of the second cricket test Saturday. After Australia won the toss and decided to bowl, with captain Pat Cummins suggesting "the wicket looks pretty good, but if there is any moisture in it, it might be this morning," Starc proved Cummins correct. Islam was caught in the gully off a leading edge to give Starc his fourth career wicket on the first ball of a match. Starc removed Tanzid Hasan and had captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught lbw in the third over to leave Bangladesh, which surprisingly won the first test of the two-test series, reeling. Starc got his fourth wicket when Nathan Green made a grass-top catch to remove Mominul Haque for 9, the only Bangladesh batter to score a run among the first four batters Saturday. His fifth wicket came when he had Litton Das trapped lbw. At lunch Saturday, Bangladesh was 35 for

BCB chief Tamim Iqbal hints India series date shift, BPL unlikely this year

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal has said that the dates of a much-awaited home series against India could "move around" as the BCB reworks its calendar which may not feature its flagship T20 showpiece Bangladesh Premier league this year due to heavy financial losses. Speaking to reporters here, Tamim said the BCB will conduct a Game Development tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from August 28 to September 9 featuring players from Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 categories. "There are discussions regarding the India series, the dates may move around," said Tamim. "And this tournament is taking place in Mirpur, but if necessary, it can also move to the Bashundhara ground (Dhaka). Once the India series is fixed, we will schedule it accordingly," he was quoted as saying by 'Cricbuzz'. India have already scheduled a three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan in New Delhi from September 13 to 17. This has all but ruled out an ...

IND vs SL 1st Test: Suthar-Pant shine as India thrash Sri Lanka by 165 runs

The exceptionally gifted Manav Suthar gave India temporary deliverance from their red-ball turmoil, leading the 165-run dismantling of Sri Lanka in the first Test with a match haul of 10-wicket on the fifth and final day here on Wednesday. The visitors now lead the two-match series 1-0 and it became all the more special as it was India's 600th Test match. Once Suthar got his 10th scalp of Test, Shubman Gill must have heaved a sigh of relief as there was a heavy downpour within five minutes after the end of the game. This victory at a traditionally spin-ruled venue like Galle will give India oodles of confidence after their struggles against New Zealand and South Africa at home on rather similar pitches. Starting the final day from 84 for four needing a further 288 to cross an improbable line, Sri Lanka delayed the inevitable for a session and a bit but eventually folded for 206, succumbing to the guiles of the young Indian left-arm spinner. Suthar (6/55) ran through the Lankan la

IND vs SL live streaming: Where to watch 1st Test Day 5 action live?

Suthar was India's standout performer with the ball. The left-arm spinner claimed four wickets in the first innings and six in the second, finishing the match with 10 wickets

IND vs SL live streaming: Where to watch 1st Test Day 4 action live?

Pant hit 66 and Padikkal added 44 after his first-innings 167, helping India set Sri Lanka 372 - beyond Galle's highest successful fourth-innings chase.

WCL 2026: David Warner Joins Yuvraj, de Villiers, Dwayne Bravo for Season 3

The third season of World Championship of Legends (WCL) starting October 3 will feature former Australian opener David Warner alongside stars of yesteryears such as Yuvraj Singh, Dwayne Bravo and AB de Villiers to name a few, organisers stated in a release. While the venue is yet to be announced, the tournament is scheduled to be held from October 3-18. India Champions won the first season against Pakistan Champions, while South Africa Champions won the second season against Pakistan Champions. "Following two record-breaking seasons, WCL 2026 will have more star power, more intensity, more national pride and more unforgettable cricketing moments. The third season has already added Bangladesh Champions to the tournament," the release stated. "The WCL Season 3 promises some bigger names joining the squad, which includes the continuation of stars like Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, DJ Bravo, Shahid Afridi and Moeen Ali, with the addition of more stars like David Warner and Mahmudullah

IND vs SL live streaming: Where to watch 1st Test Day 3 action live?

The live streaming of the India vs Sri Lanka first Test will be available on the SonyLIV mobile app and website.

IND vs SL 1st Test: Siraj strikes early after India are bowled out for 462

India resumed Day 3 at 460 for nine but could add only two runs before their innings came to an end.

IND vs SL live streaming: Where to watch 1st Test Day 2 action live?

Devdutt Padikkal went past 150 as India recovered from two quick wickets to strengthen their position against Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

Historic day for Bangladesh! Tigers seal maiden Test win in Australia

Bangladesh scripted history in Darwin with their maiden Test win in Australia as Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud starred with the ball.

IND vs SL 1st Test: Padikkal's maiden ton puts India on top at Galle

Devdutt Padikkal struck an unbeaten 131 on his Test return as India reached 288 for two against Sri Lanka at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test in Galle.

India's 600th Test puts history, red-ball revival in focus at Galle

Gill-led side faces stern spin challenge against Sri Lanka as Gambhir looks to arrest recent Test slide

Virat's intensity inspires others to stretch limits when fielding: T Dilip

Former India fielding coach T Dilip says Virat Kohli's relentless intensity has a contagious effect on the team and pushes at least five other players to "stretch their limits" whenever they share the ground with him. Dilip, whose nearly five-year stint with the Indian team ended after the recent tour of England, also lauded Kohli's ability to maintain the same intensity in training and matches as one of the biggest influences on India's fielding standards. "When it comes to Virat Kohli, intensity is non-negotiable. You have seen him in the powerplay, how he is as a batsman, whether at cover or short mid-wicket, with his reflexes and with his dives, is admirable," Dilip told 'JioStar'. "Even in the last series, he was putting in those dives and was sharp, always at you all the time. "Even at this juncture of his career, he runs from long-on to long-on at either end during the death overs, and he is the first one to run out of the circle when the field is spread, and that's a fabulo

Gurnoor could be India's X-Factor in Jasprit Bumrah's absence: Maharoof

Former Sri Lanka allrounder Farveez Maharoof feels rookie pacer Gurnoor Brar could be the 'X-Factor' in absence of Jasprit Bumrah and says he would be tempted to hand the 26-year-old his Test debut in the two-match series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Galle on Saturday. Under pressure following home series defeat to South Africa, fifth-placed India will be without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah when they resume Test action with a two-match tour of Sri Lanka. Mohammed Siraj is expected to lead the pace attack but there is a speculation whether inexperienced Brar could make his Test debut replacing Prasidh Krishna who played in the last Test against Afghanistan. "The ability to reverse-swing the ball, especially with the older ball, is something Bumrah brings, and that is going to be a massive miss for India," Maharoof replied to a PTI query in a virtual media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network. "That is where I think they could lack some wicket-taking ability. Mohammed Si

Cricket Scotland, KNCB criticise ICC's changes to ODI World Cup format

Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) on Monday said the changes to next year's ODI World Cup format "risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket", questioning the process through which the changes have been introduced. While the 2027 ODI World Cup will have a total of 14 countries, the teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th will face off in a qualifying round from which only one team will progress to join the final 12 sides. These 12 teams will be further divided into two groups of six each for the main round. The two national boards issued a joint statement on Monday criticising the global governing body's decision to change the format with less than 18 months left for the competition, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. "Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association are deeply disappointed by the International Cricket Council's recent decision to implement significant structural changes to the ICC Men'

Sarfaraz Khan replaces injured Sudharsan in India squad for Sri Lanka Tests

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan on Sunday replaced injured Sai Sudharsan in the Indian squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15. The left-handed Sudarshan had suffered a toe injury during the India A tour last month and is recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. The BCCI said Sudarshan has made significant progress in his recovery and its medical team is closely monitoring his progress. "The men's Selection Committee has named Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka," BCCI said in a release. "He will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test match, starting August 15, 2026." The 28-year-old Sarfaraz has played six Tests for India, his last being a game against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2024. India's updated squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja