September 8, 2025 5:15 PM

India favourites to defend geopolitically-charged Asia Cup

Reigning 20-overs world champions India look overwhelming favourites to retain their Asia Cup title with Suryakumar Yadav leading a crack squad that can sweep aside rivals and any geopolitical distraction in the tournament beginning on Tuesday. The September 9-28 tournament had looked in limbo after four days of military conflict between tournament hosts India and bitter neighbours Pakistan in May this year. The eight-team competition was subsequently moved to the United Arab Emirates but the ...

August 7, 2025 12:47 PM

England’s Woakes ‘gutted’ he could not win single-handedly at Oval

All-rounder Chris Woakes is still processing the shock after England fell agonisingly short of a "fairytale" series victory despite his remarkable act of bravery in the fifth and final test against India. India levelled the five-test series 2-2 on Monday after prevailing in the cliffhanger at The Oval by six runs amid high drama in a fitting finale to an all-time classic series. Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder while fielding, himself provided some of the drama when he came out to bat with ...

August 5, 2025 9:52 AM

Stokes remains upbeat despite England’s painful loss to India

England captain Ben Stokes tried to focus on the positives after his team's agonising six-run loss to India in their riveting final test at The Oval on Monday. Stokes, who did not play in the match due to injury, watched on as the hosts collapsed from 301-3 to 367 all out to give India a share of the series. "Credit both teams. The amount of effort from both teams to end up here 2-2 is incredible," he told reporters. "The heart and passion and everything that was shown, especially in our seco...

August 4, 2025 7:00 PM

Team India’s Oval win lifts them to third in WTC standings

India’s thrilling six-run victory over England in the fifth Test at The Oval not only helped them draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2, but also gave their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 campaign a much-needed lift. With this result, India climbed to third place in the WTC standings, having earned 28 points from five matches with a points percentage (PCT) of 46.67. The win was hard-fought and dramatic. England started the final day needing just 35 runs with four wickets in han...

August 3, 2025 9:11 AM

England-India Oval test heading for thrilling finale

India ended a gripping third day that ebbed and flowed leading England by 323 runs in the final test at The Oval on Saturday with the game and series still hanging in the balance. After Yashasvi Jaiswal's patient 118 led the touring side to a total of 396, England were set a victory target of 374 with two days remaining. Mohammed Siraj bowled Zak Crawley with the final ball of the day to reduce the hosts to 50-1. India are favourites to secure victory and draw the series, but England, who rack...

July 28, 2025 12:27 PM

India have not ruled out Bumrah for the final test, coach says

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said they had not ruled out playing pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the final test against England at the Oval this week as they look to avoid a series defeat. Bumrah has already played three tests in the series, the maximum workload team management had targeted for the bowler after he spent three months on the sidelines with a back injury before returning to action in April. India snatched an unlikely draw in the fourth test at Old Trafford on Sunday but trail...

July 28, 2025 12:25 PM

Stokes ready to deal with increased workload despite feeling sore all over

With England seemingly reliant on Ben Stokes with bat and ball, the struggling skipper insisted "pain is just an emotion" as he plans to take to the field for his side's fifth and deciding test against India this week. The England captain struggled with cramp in his left leg and was feeling his shoulder as the hosts failed to bowl India out in their second innings at Old Trafford on Sunday and had to settle for a fourth test draw. Stokes took his first five-wicket haul for eight years in India...

July 28, 2025 9:35 AM

India’s Rishabh Pant to miss fifth test against England with fractured foot

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will miss the fifth test against England at the Oval due to a fractured foot, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Sunday. Pant retired hurt in India's first innings of the fourth test in Manchester, but re-emerged on day two, limping back onto the field to great applause from the Old Trafford crowd. Pant did not keep wicket in England's innings and was not needed to bat as India dug in to earn a hardfought draw and deny the hosts victory in ...

July 22, 2025 12:19 PM

Heated exchanges at Lord’s were fun, says England’s Harry Brook

England batsman Harry Brook said the tension with Indian players during the third test at Lord's was fun and put the visitors under added pressure as England secured a dramatic 22-run victory and a 2-1 lead in the series. Tension flared between the teams during the match, with India captain Shubman Gill sarcastically clapping England batters over delays, and Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj roaring in the face of England opener Ben Duckett after taking his wicket. Brook said England decided t...

July 22, 2025 12:19 PM

Liam Dawson back in England team after eight-year absence for fourth test vs India

England's Liam Dawson has been named in the team to play India in the fourth test of the series at Old Trafford, England's cricket board (ECB) announced on Monday, marking the spinner's first test appearance in eight years. The 35-year-old Hampshire left-armer, who replaces the injured Shoaib Bashir, is the only change to the team for the fourth test which begins on Wednesday. Dawson has not played a test match since earning his third test cap in July 2017. Dawson, an unused member of the 2019...