November 12, 2025 12:07 PM

Team India banks on old recipe of spin and first-innings heft against South Africa

India will look to reprise their home template of big first-innings totals and sustained spin in the short two-test series against South Africa beginning in Kolkata on Friday. Shubman Gill's side sit third in the World Test Championship rankings after beginning their 2025-27 cycle with a 2-2 draw in England followed by a 2-0 sweep at home against West Indies. Reigning world champions South Africa forced a 1-1 draw in Pakistan but the squad, despite being bolstered by the return of their fit-ag...

October 27, 2025 2:54 PM

Bavuma back to captain South Africa for tests in India

Captain Temba Bavuma will return to the South Africa test squad for a two-match series against India next month after a calf injury kept him out of the series in Pakistan this month. Bavuma will lead a 15-man squad for tests in Kolkata from November 14-18 and Guwahati from November 22-26. Bavuma replaces David Bedingham, who is dropped, while the only other change to the touring party to Pakistan sees spinner Prenelan Subrayen drop out of the squad. “We’ve kept the bulk of the squad that ...

October 14, 2025 2:38 PM

Gambhir lauds Gill’s captaincy after sweeping West Indies series

India head coach Gautam Gambhir heaped praise on Shubman Gill's leadership following their 2-0 test series sweep against West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. The seven-wicket victory was the perfect birthday gift for Gambhir, who turned 44, at his home ground where the former India batter has a stand named after him. Gill's captaincy received a baptism of fire when he led the side out for the first time in a five-match series in England, which India split 2-2 despite the test re...

September 25, 2025 4:37 PM

Bumrah unlikely to be rested as India balance Asia Cup with Windies test prep

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to be rested for the remainder of the Asia Cup despite a two-match home test series against the West Indies starting early next month. Bumrah's workload has been managed this year due to back problems and the 31-year-old featured in only three of the five tests during India's tied 2-2 series in England. India, the defending champions at the Twenty20 tournament, will face Sri Lanka on Friday and are likely t...

August 14, 2025 1:53 PM

Root plans to use his experience to end Ashes win drought in Australia

England batter Joe Root said his experience of 158 tests makes him better equipped than ever to end a victory drought in Australia, as he ramps up preparations for the upcoming Ashes series. Root, who moved to second on the all-time test run-scorer charts during England's five-match series against India, which was drawn 2-2 earlier this month, has accumulated 13,543 runs in tests, trailing only India great Sachin Tendulkar (15,921). Despite his prolific record, the 34-year-old Root has yet to ...

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...

July 10, 2025 10:54 AM

Pant flays ‘irritating’ Dukes ball in England test series

India vice captain Rishabh Pant said the Dukes balls being used in the current test series against England are losing their shape very quickly and cannot be good for the game. India captain Shubman Gill was the first to criticise the balls after his team levelled the five-match series with a comprehensive victory in the second test at Edgbaston. "I feel it's a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape," Pant told reporters on the eve of the third test at Lord's beginning on Thursday...