The 2025-26 Ashes was frenetic, dramatic and sometimes truly indescribable.
Now, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and Indian Premier League in the rear-vision mirror, Test cricket is set to return for Australia with an intense period of 14 matches in just seven months.
The Sporting News outlines everything you need to know about Australia’s upcoming Test schedule.
When does Australia play its next Test match?
Australia’s red ball squad is about to reassemble for a two-Test winter series against Bangladesh to be held in northern Australian venues in August 2026.
The matches will be played in Darwin and Mackay, with Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay set to become Australia’s 12th Test venue.
When is Australia’s next away Test tour?
Following the Bangladesh series, Australia will tour South Africa and play three Test matches against the reigning ICC World Test Champions in October 2026 as well as three ODI matches.
It will be the first time Australia has toured South Africa for a Test series since the infamous ‘sandpaper gate’ match of 2018.
Who does Australia play next summer 2026-27?
Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand will tour Australia next summer playing four Tests in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney between November 2026 and January 2027.
All four Tests against the Kiwis will be played as day matches and there will be no Test held in Brisbane.
Australia Men’s Test Match Schedule for 2026
When
Opponent
Venue
13-17 August 2026
Bangladesh (First Test)
Marrara Stadium, Darwin
22-26 August 2026
Bangladesh (Second Test)
Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
9-12 October 2026
South Africa (First Test)
Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
18-22 October 2026
South Africa (Second Test)
St. George's Park, Gqeberha
27-31 October 2026
South Africa (Third Test)
Newlands, Cape Town
November 2026
New Zealand (First Test)
Perth Stadium
December 2026
New Zealand (Second Test)
Adelaide Oval
26-30 December 2026
New Zealand (Third Test)
Melbourne Cricket Ground
January 2027
New Zealand (Fourth Test)
Sydney Cricket Ground
Following the New Zealand home series, Australia will travel to India for a five-Test away series in January and February 2027 competing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
They will then return to Australia for the one-off 150th Anniversary Test Match against England at the MCG from 11-15 March 2027.
The three-match ODI series between England and India resumes at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday, with the tourists holding a 1-0 lead.
Having ended a miserable run of results with a commanding six-wicket win at Edgbaston, Shubman Gill's side can seal the series with a game to spare, while England must win to force a decider at Lord's on Sunday.
The picturesque Welsh venue, home to Glamorgan, has staged international cricket since 1999 and hosted marquee events including the 1999 World Cup, the 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy, and the 2019 World Cup.
Sophia Gardens pitch report: Is it a batting or bowling wicket in Cardiff?
The pitch at Sophia Gardens offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Fast bowlers can extract swing and bounce early, especially under cloudy skies, before the surface slows and spinners come into play as the innings progresses.
The record slightly favors the chasing side. India themselves illustrated the point in the venue's most recent India fixture, and both sides will factor the toss carefully into their thinking on Thursday.
What is the average ODI score at Sophia Gardens?
Sophia Gardens has generally been a ground for competitive rather than colossal totals, with a score around 280 to 300 considered par. The venue has, however, produced several 300-plus totals in high-profile fixtures.
The most recent ODI here underlined its scoring potential. In June 2025, the West Indies posted 308 before England chased it down, reaching 312 for 7 to complete one of the higher successful pursuits seen at the ground.
The highest team total at the venue is England's 386 for 6, posted against Bangladesh during the 2019 World Cup. England won that contest by 106 runs, and the total remains comfortably clear of their own 342 for 8 against Australia in 2018.
Lowest score by a team at Sophia Gardens in ODIs
The lowest completed team total is Afghanistan's 125 all out against South Africa during the 2019 World Cup. Sri Lanka features next on the list, having twice been dismissed cheaply here, for 136 and 138, both against New Zealand.
Highest individual score at Sophia Gardens in ODIs
The individual batting record belongs to England's Joe Root, whose unbeaten 166 against West Indies in June 2025 powered a memorable chase. Jason Roy's 153 against Bangladesh in 2019 and Shaun Marsh's 131 for Australia in 2018 sit next on the list.
Most runs at Sophia Gardens in ODIs
Root also leads the run-scoring charts at the ground, having amassed 469 runs in 11 matches at an average of 46.90. Jos Buttler is close behind with 443 runs from 10 games, while Jason Roy is third with 407 runs across just five appearances.
Most wickets at Sophia Gardens in ODIs
England's Adil Rashid holds the record for the most wickets at the venue, claiming 14 in seven matches between 2016 and 2025 at an economy of 6.19. Liam Plunkett is second with 12 wickets, with Pakistan's Hasan Ali third on 10.
Best bowling figures at Sophia Gardens in ODIs
India's Ravindra Jadeja produced the finest match figures at the ground, taking 4 for 28 against England in August 2014. South Africa's Imran Tahir matched the four-wicket haul with 4 for 29 against Afghanistan during the 2019 World Cup.
India's record at Sophia Gardens
India boasts a flawless ODI record at the venue, winning both their matches here. They beat South Africa by 26 runs in the 2013 Champions Trophy and defeated England by 133 runs in 2014, a strong omen as Gill's side chase a series-sealing victory.
Rohit Sharma's powerplay strike rate has fallen from 122.57 to 86.13 since October 2025.
His powerplay boundary percentage has dropped from 20.9 to 15.5 in that span.
The slump has intensified scrutiny over his place ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma before and after Champions Trophy and his declining ODI form since CT 2025 listed
Rohit Sharma's laboured 11 from 21 balls at Edgbaston reignited a debate that has followed India's veteran opener for months. As fans called for his retirement and for Yashasvi Jaiswal to take his place, the numbers behind his recent decline came sharply into focus.
A graphic shared by Cricbuzz laid the shift out in stark terms. It contrasted Rohit's powerplay output across two periods, from January 2023 up to the 2025 Champions Trophy and everything since October 2025, and the drop-off is impossible to ignore.
The most striking change is in his intent. Rohit built his modern ODI reputation on tearing into the new ball, yet the aggressive powerplay opener who defined India's approach appears to have vanished, replaced by a far more cautious version of himself.
Between January 2023 and the Champions Trophy, Rohit was among the most destructive openers in world cricket.
Across 36 innings, he plundered 1,146 runs from 935 balls at an average of 67.41, striking at a blistering 122.57 with a powerplay boundary percentage of 20.9.
The picture since October 2025 is dramatically different. In 13 innings, Rohit has scored 267 runs from 310 balls, a return that reflects both reduced output and a sharply slower tempo at the top of the order for India.
His strike rate has collapsed from 122.57 to just 86.13, a fall of more than 36 runs per hundred balls. The powerplay boundary percentage has similarly dipped from 20.9 to 15.5, evidence that the early aggression which powered India's starts has all but evaporated.
The one number offering mitigation is his average, which has held at a respectable 44.50. Rohit is still occupying the crease and contributing runs, but the manner in which he is scoring them has changed beyond recognition since the Champions Trophy.
The context makes the slump difficult to dismiss. Rohit turns 39 this year, plays only ODI cricket for India, and is building towards a 2027 World Cup in conditions where a quick start against the new ball carries enormous value for the side.
His defenders will point to that steady average and to a stellar career record, including a fifty in his final ODI against Afghanistan. One quiet series does not erase two decades of excellence, and India's think tank has shown no inclination to move him on.
Yet the trend is the concern rather than any single innings. An opener whose entire value was built on fearless powerplay batting is now among the slowest in that phase, and with Jaiswal scoring heavily and waiting, the pressure on Rohit will only intensify from here.
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Ravi Shastri, Michael Vaughan, and others gave England World Cup semi-final predictions.
All four backed England to beat Argentina in Wednesday's Atlanta semi-final.
Shastri memorably merged Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham into one name.
Ravi Shastri, Michael Vaughan and ex-cricketers drop FIFA World Cup semi-final predictions
Cricket and football rarely collide as neatly as they have this fortnight. As England's cricketers prepare to chase an ODI series against India, the nation's footballers stand on the brink of history, facing reigning champions Argentina in a World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The occasion was too good for the Stick to Cricket show to ignore. The popular cricket podcast messaged a string of well-known figures from the game to ask for their scoreline predictions ahead of the meeting between Harry Kane's England and Lionel Messi's Argentina.
The responses ranged from the confident to the comically confused, but they shared one overwhelming theme. Every single respondent backed England to reach only their second World Cup final and their first since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1966.
Ravi Shastri delivered the most memorable answer of the lot, correctly picking a winner while spectacularly merging two of England's biggest stars into a single player. "2-1 England. Kane Bellingham for England. Messi Argentina," the former India head coach replied.
We asked friends of the show for their England v Argentina predictions! 🏴 🇦🇷
Michael Vaughan kept his prediction simple and characteristically bullish about his country's chances. Asked for the score in the big game, the 2005 Ashes-winning captain replied "3-2 to England," backing a high-scoring victory in Atlanta.
Phil Tufnell could not resist a nod to England's tortured penalty history against Argentina, having lost the 1998 shootout in Saint-Etienne. "2-2 pens, England wins," the former spinner wrote, imagining a dramatic route to the final that few England fans would welcome.
Mark Wood offered the tightest scoreline and a cheeky assist for his fellow pundit. "1-0. Tuffers, penalty," the fast bowler replied, jokingly casting Tufnell as the man to convert a decisive spot kick for the Three Lions on the night.
The optimism is not entirely without foundation. According to Opta, England advance in 52.3 percent of the supercomputer's simulations, with Kane and Jude Bellingham having scored six goals each, the first time two players from one nation have hit that mark in a single World Cup.
Argentina, however, arrives as the tournament's form side. Messi has scored eight goals in six matches, and La Albiceleste have won all six of their games while chasing the feat of becoming the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
The rivalry needs no embellishment, taking in Diego Maradona's Hand of God in 1986 and David Beckham's red card in 1998. For all the cricketing bravado, England's players know Thomas Tuchel's side must end a 60-year wait to make the panel's predictions come true.
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New stages have been introduced in the T20 World Cup.
The number of teams competing in the second stage of the tournament has been increased from 8 to 10
Additional eliminators to enhance the consequences until the final stage of the tournament
ICC plans to expand the T20 World Cup
The International Cricket Council has approved the most significant overhaul of its flagship men's tournament in years, reshaping the structure of the T20 World Cup.
The changes are designed to inject greater competitiveness and consequence into every stage of the tournament. The team number effectively remains unchanged, but the routes to the semifinals have been comprehensively redrawn.
The reforms arrive at a pivotal moment for the global game, with cricket returning to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 and the ICC keen to broaden the sport's appeal in new and emerging markets worldwide.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will continue to feature 20 teams but undergo an equally substantial redesign. The first round will now comprise five groups of four teams, replacing the previous four groups of five, with the top two from each advancing. Those ten sides enter a new Super 10 stage, split into two groups of five.
The group winners qualify directly for the semifinals, while the second and third-placed teams from opposite groups contest two eliminators for the two remaining semifinal berths. That Eliminator concept is the standout addition, introducing knockout jeopardy earlier in the competition.
It ensures that finishing at the top of a Super 10 group carries a tangible reward, while still offering a safety net to the next best-placed teams.
The Board also endorsed a proposed 16-team global tournament for associate members, conceived as a precursor to the T20 World Cup. Final approval remains subject to a review by the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee in November.
The qualification pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup was confirmed, too. Scotland enters directly into the Europe Regional Final, while the remaining non-qualifiers from the 2026 edition advance to the Global Qualifier, with eight further teams progressing through regional tournaments.
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The ODI World Cup will adopt a new four-stage format featuring a new Super 7 round.
ICC plans to expand ODI World Cup.
14 teams will compete in the ODI World Cup going forward.
ICC plans to expand the ODI World Cup
The International Cricket Council has approved the most significant overhaul of its flagship men's tournament in years, reshaping the structure of the 50-over World Cup.
The changes are designed to inject greater competitiveness and consequence into every stage of the tournament. The team number effectively remains unchanged in both events, but the routes to the semifinals have been comprehensively redrawn.
The reforms arrive at a pivotal moment for the global game, with cricket returning to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 and the ICC keen to broaden the sport's appeal across new and emerging markets around the world.
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will retain its 14 teams but move to a four-stage structure. A new opening Super Series round, featuring the sides ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th, will determine a single qualifier for the main competition.
That qualifier then joins the top 11 teams in two groups of six. The top three from each group, along with the next best-ranked side, progress to a seven-team Super 7 round-robin stage that forms the heart of the revamped tournament.
The top four teams from the Super 7 will advance to the semifinals before the final. The ICC believes the design guarantees greater jeopardy from the opening fixture and sustains a stronger competitive narrative throughout the event.
The direction of travel is unmistakable. By adding new stages, the ICC has engineered more matches between elite sides, protecting the broadcast revenue that leans heavily on fixtures involving India and the other major nations.
There is genuine merit in the competitive logic. Previous World Cups often featured dead rubbers and predictable group stages, and the Eliminators in particular should manufacture the kind of high-stakes drama that a straightforward round-robin rarely delivers.
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LUCKNOW: A suspected online betting network has come to light in several district premier leagues organised across Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns over the exposure of young players to illegal activities.
The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) office-bearers admitted that they have information about such illegal activities, but claimed that no action could be taken in the absence of a formal complaint.
According to officials and sources associated with district cricket bodies, a pattern has emerged in which event management companies approach district associations with proposals to organise franchise-style leagues.
These events are promoted on the lines of the UPT20 League and the Indian Premier League (IPL), with player trials, hotel-based auctions, team branding, live streaming and sponsorship packages.
Office-bearers of a few district cricket associations claimed that some sponsors or their associate companies were linked to online betting platforms.
“While the leagues are projected as professional exposure opportunities for budding cricketers, the real financial gains are being generated through betting activity around the matches,” an office-bearer of a cricket association said.
District leagues are organised in Kanpur, Ayodhya, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Ghaziabad.
These tournaments draw young cricketers hoping to be noticed for the UP T20 League, which has become a recognised pathway for players aspiring to reach bigger professional platforms, including the IPL.
Another office-bearer of a district cricket association alleged that event management companies were functioning as intermediaries for betting-linked sponsors.
“District league event companies work like agents of betting companies. They connect with district associations to organise district premier leagues, bring sponsors and handle hosting plans. Some sponsors also have sister companies involved in online betting. This is a planned operation, and the same event company is involved in holding multiple district leagues,” he said.
“The model begins with trials where aspiring players are charged Rs 500-Rs 1,000 each for trials in which thousands turn up. The events are then packaged for digital visibility, with team names, match schedules and live scoring being used by betting platforms to attract online wagers,” the office-bearer added.
TOI came across digital material indicating that teams from a district league appeared on a betting website. Sources claimed that the sponsor company and the betting platform were linked through a common parent or associate entity. Such connections, if established, would raise serious questions about the integrity of the tournaments.
Senior office-bearers of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association have also received informal reports about betting activities and movement of money between entities operating betting websites. However, officials said no action was taken in the absence of a formal complaint.
UPCA secretary Prem Manohar Gupta said the association was keeping a watch on the activities of the district leagues. “District leagues are becoming a serious concern for UPCA. Whether it is irregularities surrounding District Premier League trials or complaints of online betting, such issues from some districts have come to our notice. However, no formal complaint has been received so far,” he said.
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“This is a serious matter and harmful to the cricketing environment. If required, strict steps will be taken. Punitive action may also be taken against anyone found guilty,” Gupta said.
ICC has signed off on sweeping structural changes to its two biggest men's tournaments, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
These changes were finalised by the ICC Board following its annual meetings held in Edinburgh, based on recommendations put forward by the organisation's Chief Executives' Committee.
According to the ICC, the revamp is designed to make matches more meaningful and ensure greater stakes are attached to every stage of these global events.
2027 ODI World Cup format explained
The 50-over World Cup will continue to feature 14 participating nations, but the pathway to the final will now look considerably different. The tournament will open with a newly introduced Super Series round, involving the three lowest-ranked qualifying teams, numbers 12, 13 and 14.
These sides will compete in a round-robin format, with only the top-performing team advancing further. From there, Round 2 will consist of two groups of six teams each, with the top three finishers from each group, plus the next-best team overall across both groups, progressing into a newly created Super 7 stage.
This Super 7 phase will also follow a round-robin format, with the top four teams booking semi-final spots, arranged as 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3, before the tournament concludes with the final.
"The structure has been designed to strengthen the competitive narrative across every stage of the event, with matches from Round 1 and Round 2 carrying higher consequence, with a highly competitive Super 7 stage witnessing 7 qualifying teams going through a round-robin stage to qualify for the semi-finals," the ICC said in a release.
"The increased consequence and enhanced competitive intensity promise to enhance the overall experience for fans while continuing to provide emerging teams with the opportunity to compete on cricket's biggest stage."
Round 1: Teams 12, 13, 14 — Round-robin 'Super Series'; top team progresses to Round 2
Top 3 teams qualify for Super Six
Round 2: Two groups of 6 (30 matches); top 3 teams from each group plus next highest-placed team overall qualify for Super 7
Super Six — Two groups of three (9 matches)
Round 3: Super 7 — Round robin (21 matches); top 4 teams progress to semis
Top two teams from each group progress to semis
—
Semifinals (2 matches)
Semifinals (2 matches): 1 vs 4 & 2 vs 3
Final
Final
New format for 2028 T20 World Cup
While the T20 World Cup will hold steady at 20 teams overall, its middle phase is getting bigger with the old Super Eight setup makes way for a Super 10 stage instead.
As for the group stage, teams will now be split across five groups of four each, with the top two from every group moving through to the next round.
The Super 10 stage will then be split into two groups of five teams apiece, with the top-placed team in each group securing direct qualification into the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the second and third-placed sides from both Super 10 groups will face off in newly introduced eliminator matches to determine the two remaining semi-final spots.
"This promises to expand the representation of cricket’s emerging nations in the Super 10 stage while also delivering higher competitive standards," the ICC said.
"The addition of ‘eliminators’ where the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams from groups in the Super 10 stage compete against each other for spots in the semi-finals also then adds significant consequence to the closing matches of the Super 10 stage."
Previous Format
New Format
Group Stage — 40 matches
Group Stage — 30 matches
4 groups of 5 teams each
5 groups of 4 teams each
Two teams from each group progress
Two teams from each group progress
Super Eights — Two groups of four (12 matches)
Super 10 — Two groups of five (20 matches)
Top two teams from each group progress to semis
Top team in each group confirms semifinal spot; 2nd-placed teams play Eliminator against 3rd-placed teams from the opposite group
—
Eliminators (2 matches)
Semifinals (2 matches)
Semifinals (2 matches)
Final
Final
T20 World Cup 2028 qualification structure
Alongside the ODI World Cup changes, the ICC Board has also approved the qualification structure leading into the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028.
Scotland has been granted direct entry into the Europe Regional Final, a decision made in recognition of the unusual circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 edition.
Meanwhile, teams that featured in the 2026 T20 World Cup but failed to secure automatic qualification will move straight into the Global Qualifier stage. The remaining eight spots in the Global Qualifier will be determined through regional qualifying pathways, with Africa, Asia and Europe each receiving two allocated places, while the Americas and East Asia-Pacific regions will each receive one spot.
Once the Global Qualifier concludes, the top-ranked team from each region, combined with the next three highest-placed teams overall, will secure qualification for the 2028 tournament, provided they meet the ICC's minimum performance criteria.
Category
Details
Direct entry to Europe Regional Final
Scotland (due to exceptional circumstances around 2026 participation)
Direct entry to Global Qualifier
Teams that played in the 2026 T20 World Cup but did not secure automatic qualification
Additional Global Qualifier spots via regional pathways
8 teams total
— Africa
2 places
— Asia
2 places
— Europe
2 places
— Americas
1 place
— East Asia-Pacific
1 place
Qualification for 2028 T20 World Cup
Highest-placed team from each region at the Global Qualifier + next 3 highest-placed teams overall (subject to minimum performance criteria)
England's search for a new Test coach has taken on a distinctly IPL flavour, with several of the world's most accomplished franchise coaches emerging as leading contenders to replace Brendon McCullum following his dismissal.
Former England coach and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower heads a nine-man shortlist that also features ex-Chennai Super Kings boss Stephen Fleming, Lucknow Super Giants' Justin Langer and Tom Moody, underlining the ECB's preference for experienced coaches with proven records across international and franchise cricket.
As per Daily Mail report, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is aiming to appoint McCullum's successor well before the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19, although officials are prepared to take longer if required to secure the right candidate ahead of next year's Ashes.
IPL experience dominates ECB's thinking
Flower, who coached England between 2009 and 2014, is understood to be the preferred choice despite potential complications arising from his commitments with RCB in the IPL and London Spirit in The Hundred. The 58-year-old is also said to be weighing whether he wants to return to the pressures of one of international cricket's highest-profile coaching jobs.
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has re-emerged as a serious contender after ending his remarkable 18-year association with CSK. Fleming had previously turned down England's approach before McCullum's appointment in 2022 because of his long-standing IPL commitments, but his availability has reignited ECB interest.
Former Australia coach Justin Langer, currently associated with Lucknow Super Giants, is another high-profile name on the shortlist. Langer was considered during the previous recruitment process but was believed to be uninterested after guiding Australia to an Ashes triumph. His disciplined coaching style is now viewed as a potential antidote to England's recent struggles.
Lucknow Super Giants' global director of cricket Tom Moody, Rajasthan Royals' head coach and director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara, and former RCB director Mike Hesson also feature among the overseas candidates. Hesson, who is currently coaching Pakistan's white-ball sides, has reportedly attracted attention despite his ongoing international commitments.
Only two English candidates make the cut
Despite the ECB's emphasis on finding the best available coach regardless of nationality, only two former England internationals have made the shortlist.
Former England No. 3 Jonathan Trott has enhanced his reputation through a successful stint with Afghanistan, guiding the side to the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Trott has openly expressed his ambition to coach England.
Richard Dawson, the former England spinner, is the other domestic contender after impressing with Glamorgan, whom he led back to Division One of the County Championship.
Also on the shortlist is former Ireland and Hampshire coach Adi Birrell, while Indian great Rahul Dravid and England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff have reportedly not been included in the final list.
The ECB has already begun contacting candidates, but with England having lost seven of their last nine Tests, the board is prioritising a long-term appointment capable of rebuilding the side before the Ashes, even if it means naming an interim coach — potentially assistant Marcus Trescothick — for the Pakistan series.
Few sights in women’s cricket are as reassuring as Smriti Mandhana in full flow for India. The elegant left-hander was at her fluent best in India’s historic Test triumph at Lord’s, scoring twin half-centuries to help script a memorable victory over England.
In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old spoke about India’s landmark win at Lord’s, lessons from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL, and why she feels ready for the India captaincy if and when the opportunity comes. Excerpts...
What did it mean to be part of India’s first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s and contribute significantly to the win?
It was amazing to be part of the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s and, more importantly, to win it. Contributing to a historic victory for India was special. As kids, we all dreamt of playing Test cricket, so to do it at Lord’s made it even more memorable.
Yastika Bhatia credited you for helping her through her recovery after ACL surgery. What did you tell her?
Any knee injury is extremely difficult for a player. In Yastika’s case, it happened before a home World Cup, which made it even tougher. I told her how my own ACL injury in 2017 helped me grow both as a person and an athlete. Some of my best cricket came after that setback. I felt she would connect with that and stay motivated through the rehabilitation process.
Why do you think India exited the T20 World Cup early?
It’s important to introspect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we haven’t learnt enough from our past errors and have continued to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear roadmap until the 2028 T20 World Cup on how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.
There has been speculation about a captaincy transition. Are you ready to lead India if asked?
Yes, of course. I am ready.
Four seasons into the WPL, India’s T20 results haven’t improved significantly. Has the league delivered enough Indian talent?
I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and several players have made it to the national team. However, I feel they haven’t always been utilised to their best ability.
You have led RCB to back-to-back WPL titles. What is your leadership philosophy?
For me, creating a positive team culture is most important. Every player should feel comfortable expressing themselves and being who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they tend to perform better.
You’ve consistently delivered in major tournaments. Do big events bring out the best in you?
It’s been a work in progress. Over the last couple of years, I’ve felt much calmer about my cricket, whether it’s a big tournament or a bilateral series. That calmness has helped me focus on doing my job for the team.
As India’s premier batter, do you feel burdened by expectations?
We have a lot of quality batters in this team. Whenever you pick up the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I enjoy that pressure. After all, what’s the fun of playing sports if there’s no pressure?
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What role has ICC chairman Jay Shah played in the growth of women’s cricket?
Jay sir has been instrumental in the progress women’s cricket has made, not just in India but globally as well.
ICC plans a Club T20 tournament, a sort of revival of the failed Champions League concept.
Finding calendar space remains the biggest hurdle for the proposed event.
Bilateral white-ball series set to shrink, replaced by regional quadrangular tournaments in the next FTP.
ICC eyes global club T20 tournament amid packed calendar concerns
ICC gathered in Edinburgh last week for its annual conference, and plans for a tournament bringing together the strongest franchise sides from T20 leagues around the world appear to be gathering real momentum.
According to BBC Sport, the competition could realistically launch within the next couple of years, provided a suitable window can be carved out of an already crowded international calendar.
A meeting involving franchise executives from across the globe is scheduled later this year, which could offer clearer direction on how the concept might eventually take shape.
Much like how football's governing body, FIFA, operates its own Club World Cup, the ICC appears keen to establish a similar model, tapping into the growing commercial value of franchise cricket worldwide.
The ICC's Future Tours Programme remains locked in place until next year, with major events including World Cups, the World Test Championship, and marquee series involving England, India and Australia already scheduled all the way through to 2031.
This means any significant structural changes to accommodate a new global club event would likely have to wait until that cycle concludes.
A follow-up meeting has been pencilled in for August, where officials will attempt to finalise the remaining portions of the international calendar, followed by a final review in September.
Beyond the club tournament discussions, it also looks increasingly likely that the number of traditional bilateral white-ball series will decrease once the next FTP cycle begins.
In their place, the ICC appears to be favouring smaller regional quadrangular tournaments, likely featuring two teams drawn from each full member cricketing region. It will be a shift that could fundamentally alter how international white-ball cricket is structured in the years ahead.
Champions League T20: Reviving a concept that once failed
In many ways, this proposed World Club Championship would mark the return of the ill-fated Champions League T20. It was a tournament which was jointly run by the cricket boards of India, Australia and South Africa between 2009 and 2014.
That earlier venture folded after just six seasons, largely due to underwhelming commercial interest at the time.
While the appetite for franchise cricket has grown substantially since then, the central challenge remains largely unchanged. It is finding room in an already packed schedule dominated by domestic leagues and international fixtures alike.
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TimesofIndia.com in Birmingham: All-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar successfully guided Team India to a 259-run chase in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. The six-wicket victory ended India's three-week winless streak in the UK, where they had suffered a 0-2 defeat to Ireland and a 0-4 whitewash against England in the T20I series. The win also extended India's unbeaten run against England in ODIs to six consecutive victories while ending England's seven-match winning streak at Edgbaston.
The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory. In a matter of 20 minutes, India lost skipper Shubman Gill to cramps, Shreyas Iyer to a run-out, and KL Rahul, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps. India went from 149/2 to 160/4 in a jiffy, with the trio back in the hut. England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 balls) and Iyer (35 off 53 balls), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance. 'Wonderwall', 'It's Coming Home' and 'Hey Jude' echoed around the ground as the FIFA World Cup fever, fuelled by Harry Kane & Co.'s run to the semi-finals, blended with England's surge at Edgbaston.
With 99 runs still required, the challenge was less about the required run rate of 4.5 an over and more about handling the sudden pressure after the loss of three quick wickets. Both Axar and Washington had just arrived at the crease and faced a daunting task. Instead of being bogged down, the southpaws, the first left-handers in India's XI after the quartet of right-handers, tackled the situation with aplomb.
The duo saw off Will Jacks and Sam Curran, with the four overs yielding just nine runs. Adil Rashid's reintroduction allowed Washington to free his arms with a boundary and a nine-run over. The next two overs, as Curran and Jacks continued, yielded 18 runs, with the duo's confidence evidently growing.
Axar was the main man at this stage. A slog sweep off Jacks and consecutive boundaries off Jofra Archer meant the runs were starting to flow comfortably. At the other end, Washington enjoyed watching his teammate bat.
"The way he batted was magical and it was a treat for me to watch from the other end," he said at the post-match press conference.
The next four overs reflected the same level-headed approach. As the fifty-run partnership came and went, the duo collected nine runs in three overs while seeing off Archer's full quota of 10 overs. The following two overs produced another 19 runs, allowing Axar and Washington to slow things down again over the next three overs.
Having navigated the chase to perfection, the duo grew in confidence and momentum, fittingly capped by Washington's cracking shot in the 45th over that sealed the match. A floated delivery from Adil Rashid was too full and in the slot for the 26-year-old, who sent it soaring over the long-on boundary for a match-winning six.
"We were thinking that we are down a couple of wickets just now, we have to build a partnership right now. And after four, five overs, we'll think about what we have to do because the way we got the start, I think we are ahead of the game. So we have to just build the partnership and just finish the game," explained Player of the Match Axar Patel.
Skipper Gill, whose availability for the Cardiff ODI in two days' time remains uncertain, was pleased to see India's batting depth tested and come through successfully.
"When you see your middle order and lower middle order score runs like that and finish the job for the team, you get a lot of confidence as a captain and as a top-order batsman," Gill said at the presentation.
What the first ODI showed was India coach Gautam Gambhir's desire to have a left-hander bat ahead of KL Rahul. At Edgbaston, that role went to Washington. During India's Champions Trophy triumph last year, Axar was the preferred option to bat higher up the order. It has also helped that Rahul has adapted to the No. 6 role. Since 2025, he has scored 291 runs in that position at an average of 36.37 and a strike rate of 99.31. That is not to say he has not made a mark at No. 5. The same can be said of Axar, who has also been tested at No. 5 and delivered.
This selection dilemma could eventually resolve itself because only one of Axar or Washington may feature regularly in India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. If Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana regain full fitness, there may be room for only one spin-bowling all-rounder.
For now, Axar and Washington gave an excellent account of themselves, and India's road to the 2027 ODI World Cup is up and running on a positive note.
Mohammad Kaif credits senior stars' return for lifting India's energy in Edgbaston win.
Jasprit Bumrah becomes India's top ODI wicket-taker in England after sensational spell.
India aim to seal series in second ODI at Cardiff on Thursday.
Mohammad Kaif says seniors' aura, not just runs, powered India's Edgbaston win
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, believes that it wasn't just about the runs, but having Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah back in the fold brought something harder to measure.
Kaif noticed a visible lift in energy and belief that rubbed off on the whole dressing room during India's opening ODI win at Edgbaston against England.
Bumrah, on the other hand, didn't need any convincing arguments; he walked straight back into ODI cricket and reminded everyone why he ranks among India's very best on English pitches.
Marking his return after 968 days away from ODI cricket, Bumrah dismissed England captain Harry Brook to complete his 150th wicket in the format, a landmark that also saw him surpass Ravindra Jadeja's tally of 30 wickets in England. He now sits atop the list of leading Indian wicket-takers in ODIs on English soil, ahead of Jadeja (30), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (28), Madan Lal (27) and Mohammed Shami (26).
The dismissal also added another feather to his cap, making him the third-fastest Indian bowler to reach 150 ODI wickets by balls bowled, needing 4,605 deliveries to get there, a mark bettered only by Mohammed Shami (4,070 balls) and Kuldeep Yadav (4,513).
Kaif breaks down what changed in the Indian dressing room
Speaking about the shift in team dynamics in a chat with Cricbuzz, Kaif pointed out that India's T20I setup had been missing several key figures, including Gill, Rohit, Kohli and Bumrah, and their absence had clearly been felt.
He clarified that his point wasn't necessarily about runs scored by Kohli or Rohit individually, but rather the visible energy their presence brought to the field.
"There was a little bit of new energy too. Seniors had come back. In the T20Is, neither Shubman Gill, nor Rohit Sharma, nor Virat Kohli were there. Bumrah was also not there. Bumrah was a big factor if we talk about today's match," he said.
"So, the return of seniors... I am not saying that Virat Kohli made runs, Rohit Sharma made runs. Their presence on the ground... first of all, I noticed that energy. Virat Kohli is standing at the covers, diving, talking, saying, 'Come on, let's play hard.' They are talking in a huddle. So, having a senior... the two or three times they came together in this match, it made a difference."
Kaif also praised Gill's growing stature as both batter and captain, suggesting that this blend of experienced heads returning alongside a settled young core was central to India's performance in the opening match.
"Gill is a very strong batsman in ODIs. He is scoring in every match, has an average of 60, has scored a double century before," Kaif added.
"His captaincy is improving; he captained his team to the finals in the IPL. His batting is working. So, all these things coming back together, add Bumrah too, the benefit of this was seen in this match. They may have won the match comfortably, but with the seniors, because of the combination with the juniors, when you move forward... which happened in today's match."
Having taken a 1-0 lead in the series, India will now look to close things out when the two teams meet again in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Thursday, July 16.
Intangibles matter, but results will demand more from seniors
Kaif's observation about energy and presence is valid, that senior players often influence dressing rooms in ways that don't show up directly on a scorecard. They do have a profound impact, whether through communication, body language, or simply raising overall intensity.
That said, intangible contributions can only carry a team so far before consistent output becomes necessary, particularly from batters of Kohli and Rohit's stature.
Bumrah's tangible impact, by contrast, offers a clearer picture of what senior returns should ideally look like: immediate, match-defining influence backed by hard numbers.
If Kohli and Rohit, especially the latter, can't translate the renewed energy into runs soon, especially with a World Cup cycle underway, the conversation may shift from dressing-room presence to genuine selection concerns.
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Rohit Sharma made a laboured 11 off 21 balls in India's 259-run chase in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston.
Fans called for his retirement and demanded Yashasvi Jaiswal replace him as opener permanently before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Jaiswal has reportedly scored two centuries in his last three matches.
Rohit Sharma asked to make way for Yashasvi Jaiswal before 2027 ODI World Cup
India's ODI leg was supposed to be the great reset. After a humiliating 4-0 T20I whitewash, the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah promised experience, authority and a way out of the wreckage at Edgbaston.
The bowlers delivered handsomely, dismissing England for 258 with Axar Patel claiming four wickets. What followed with the bat, however, has sent Indian social media into open revolt against one of its most decorated servants.
Rohit crawled to 11 from 21 balls before edging Sam Curran to Harry Brook, departing with India 43 for 1 in the eighth over. In a chase of 259, the innings looked laboured, uncertain and for a growing section of supporters, unforgivable.
Fans demand Jaiswal replaces Rohit as India opener
The reaction was immediate and unsparing. One fan cut straight to the succession question and compared how abysmal Rohit's numbers have been to Yashasvi Jaiswal. "Btw Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored two centuries in his last three matches but is still not in the team due to Rohit Sharma," they wrote.
Btw Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored two centuries in his last three matches but is still not in the team due to Rohit Sharma. https://t.co/EzWhQdaPHn
— Honest Cricket Lover (@Honest_Cric_fan) July 14, 2026
Their argument is hard to dismiss, as Jaiswal has proved himself to be one of Team India's more consistent batters. On the other hand, one fan was considerably blunter about what should happen next. "Rohit Sharma is finished, and age is also not on his side," the supporter posted. "He should retire gracefully and make way for Jaiswal if he is really selfless and puts the team before himself."
Rohit Sharma is finished, and age is also not on his side. He should retire gracefully and make way for Jaiswal if he is really selfless and puts the team before himself. pic.twitter.com/H6AAojbkyS
Meanwhile, on the other end of the debate, one mentioned the strike rate as the core problem rather than the runs themselves. "Hard truth: If Rohit Sharma is going to crawl to 11 off 21 balls in a 259-run chase, he should take retirement and give Yashasvi Jaiswal a permanent spot in the playing 11," they wrote. "Keeping young talent on the bench for sluggish legacy performances is hurting the team."
Hard truth: If Rohit Sharma is going to crawl to 11 off 21 balls in a 259-run chase, he should take retirement and give Yashasvi Jaiswal a permanent spot in the playing 11. Keeping young talent on the bench for sluggish legacy performances is hurting the team.#RohitSharma… pic.twitter.com/KCusJWsVFz
For someone named the Hitman, a dropping strike rate is the worst thing that can happen to Rohit. Some framed it as a selection question with a 2027 deadline attached. "Rohit Sharma can't be India's main opener for the 2027 ODI WC in SA," one fan argued. "The sooner the BCCI realises this, the better it will be for the team and other deserving players!"
Rohit Sharma can't be India's main opener for the 2027 ODI WC in SA. The sooner the BCCI realizes this, the better it will be for the team and other deserving players! pic.twitter.com/RyERGh4DXa
Not everyone reached for the guillotine. One supporter offered a more measured verdict. "A very poor inning comes to end from Rohit Sharma. He looked under too much pressure; next 2 innings gonna be very crucial for him as regard to ODI WC in South Africa," wrote one supporter. The fan made a great point considering the amount of times Rohit has been the point of contention between India's wins and losses.
A very poor inning comes to end from Rohit Sharma. He looked under too much pressure, next 2 innings gonna be very crucial for him as regard to ODI WC in South Africa! pic.twitter.com/yzXkiw55Mz
However, despite his credentials, Rohit's declining form is not new. His performance in this season's IPL was also much more underwhelming than what fans are usually accustomed to seeing.
There is a legitimate cricketing argument buried beneath the noise. Rohit is 39, plays only one format, and this tour has offered little evidence that he can still dominate the new ball in English conditions, historically his happiest hunting ground overseas.
Yet the timing of the backlash sits awkwardly with the facts. Rohit averages 64.90 in ODIs in England, the finest record of any visiting batter, and made a half-century in his most recent ODI innings against Afghanistan. One failure in a low chase is thin evidence for a career verdict.
The genuine question is not whether Rohit deserves to be dropped today but whether India can afford a 40-year-old opener in South Africa. Shubman Gill said only this week that the seniors remain integral, and Kohli's lbw for five suggests the problem is not Rohit alone.
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CHENNAI : Alex Ferguson was the Manchester United manager for 26 years while Arsene Wenger did 22 with Arsenal. Stephen Fleming couldn’t beat their records, but 18 years is still a very long time in today’s sport. The former New Zealand skipper, who joined CSK as a player in 2008 and took over the coaching role a year later, finally brought an end to his tenure after three consecutive poor seasons in which the team couldn’t make the IPL play-offs. The fact that CSK’s other franchises, in Jo’Burg and Texas, haven’t done well in SA20 and MLC didn’t help Fleming’s cause either.
The entire top-brass of the franchise is currently in the USA for MLC, where the team finished last. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told TOI that “it was a decision that was taken after having a frank conversation with Fleming”.
“We do not want to go into the details of the conversation because that is between us. But we felt it was a good time to move forward,” Viswanathan said, adding that no decision has been made on the new coach. “That will take a couple of months’ time,” the CSK boss added, trying to play down Hemang Badani’s name, which is making the rounds.
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Fleming, on his part, said in a statement that it was a privilege to coach CSK. “Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport and I leave with nothing but gratitude. My time with CSK has been the privilege of my coaching career. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved. Together, we celebrated unforgettable victories, overcame difficult moments and built memories that will stay with me forever. CSK will always be close to my heart and I’ll be cheering the team on for years to come.”
Lord’s had staged Test cricket for 142 years, but never a women’s Test. On Monday, India made the longawaited ‘first’ emphatically their own. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side crushed England by 270 runs, adding a golden chapter to Indian cricket’s storied relationship with the ‘Home of Cricket’.
An aggregate attendance of 37,846 across the four days, a world record for a women’s Test, added to the sense of occasion. Putting the disappointment of their group-stage exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup firmly behind them, India produced a commanding allround performance. The team began the fourth and final day with a pep talk from batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who later watched history unfold from the stands alongside ICC chairman Jay Shah.
Fittingly, India’s triumph came on July 13, a date etched in Indian cricket folklore. Exactly 24 years earlier, Mohammad Kaif (87 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (69) had engineered India’s unforgettable NatWest Series final victory over England at Lord’s, prompting thencaptain Sourav Ganguly’s iconic shirt-waving celebration on the pavilion balcony after India chased down 326.
India also spoiled the farewell Test of England stalwarts Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight in emphatic fashion. The victory marked another landmark for Harmanpreet’s side, coming less than a year after they lifted India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup.
Set an improbable 457, England resumed the final morning at 130/6. India needed just over 90 minutes to claim the remaining four wickets, bowling out the hosts for 186 overs despite a defiant half-century from Sophie Ecclestone, 50 off 66 balls, with six fours.
Player of the match Kranti Gaud finished with match figures of 7/91 — 5/37 and 2/54 — while Sayali Satghare returned 4/64. Sneh Rana claimed 4/42 in the second innings, including the wickets of Amy Jones and Ecclestone on the final morning, to finish with match figures of 6/83.
England’s top scorer Jones, 54 off 80 balls, was the first to fall on the final morning, caught at midwicket off Rana. Ecclestone and Issy Wong, who made one off 33 balls, briefly delayed the inevitable before Deepti removed Wong and Lauren Bell in quick succession. Rana fittingly sealed the victory by bowling Ecclestone with a beauty, triggering jubilant celebrations on the field and in the Indian dressing room.
The foundations of India’s commanding victory had been laid by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s twin half-centuries, Yastika Bhatia’s maiden Test century and Gaud’s outstanding first-innings fivewicket haul. Bhatia became the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s while Gaud was the first woman to have her name added to a Lord’s Test honours board.
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Muzumdar backs women’s WTC
India women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar reiterated his support for the introduction of a Women’s World Test Championship, saying the growing number of Tests being played by the leading nations made the idea increasingly viable.
India and England begin a three-match One-Day International series on Tuesday at Edgbaston as two of cricket’s strongest batting lineups meet in Birmingham.
India enters the 50-over series with Shubman Gill serving as captain and veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to strengthen the top order. Kohli is set to make his 300th ODI appearance, while Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh give India several proven options with the ball. Harshit Rana will miss the series because of a hamstring injury, with Prince Yadav replacing him in the squad.
England will be led by Harry Brook and brings an experienced group featuring Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, and Adil Rashid. The hosts will look to carry their recent white-ball momentum into the longer format, while India will try to establish control early in a series that continues Thursday in Cardiff and concludes Sunday at Lord’s.
This is a great cricket matchup that you will not want to miss. Make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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Captains: Shubman Gill (India), Harry Brook (England)
Toss result: TBD
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network (India), Willow TV (USA, Canada), Sky Sports (UK, England)
Umpires and match officials: Kumar Dharmasena, Mike Burns (On-field umpires), Sam Nogajski (TV Umpire), Russell Warren (Reserve Umpire), Richie Richardson (Match Referee).
Match result: TBD
Player of the Match: TBD
India vs England 1st ODI live match Scorecard
Follow along with the latest live scorecard here as the match unfolds, or click here for key text commentary updates from the action.
India vs England 1st ODI 2026 Live Score Updates
Toss result: The toss is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time and 3:00 p.m. IST.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the live blog for the India vs. England first ODI 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
India vs England 1st ODI 2026: Predicted Playing XI
India predicted playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shegde, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
England predicted playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue
England vs India 1st ODI weather forecast: Rain chances in Birmingham
11:00 AM: 19°C (5% chance of rain)
12:00 PM: 21°C (5% chance of rain)
1:00 PM: 23°C (5% chance of rain)
2:00 PM: 24°C (5% chance of rain)
3:00 PM: 25°C (5% chance of rain)
4:00 PM: 25°C (5% chance of rain)
5:00 PM: 24°C (5% chance of rain)
6:00 PM: 23°C (5% chance of rain)
Key highlights and reactions: India vs England 5th T20I
New Zealand bounced back in the five-match ODI series with a five-wicket win over West Indies in the second match on Monday. Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox starred with the ball, taking 5 for 19 as the visitors bowled out West Indies for just 138 before chasing down the target with 104 balls to spare.
The victory was New Zealand's 400th win in one-day internationals and leveled the series 1-1 after West Indies had won the opener by seven wickets.
Jayden Lennox triggers dramatic collapse
West Indies were in a strong position at 63 without loss, but Lennox turned the match around with a brilliant spell. The hosts lost all 10 wickets for just 65 runs to finish on 138.
Playing only his seventh ODI after making his international debut at the age of 31, Lennox claimed his maiden five-wicket haul. His figures of 5 for 19 from eight overs were the third-best by a New Zealand spinner in ODI cricket.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
John Campbell top-scored with 43, while Akeem August made 18 during the opening stand. Amir Jangoo added 24, but no other batter could make a big impact as West Indies lost their last five wickets in just 10 overs.
Mitchell Santner also struck at crucial moments, removing Keacy Carty for 18 with a sharply turning delivery. Lennox then dismissed captain Shai Hope for seven after the West Indies skipper had scored an unbeaten 87 in the first ODI.
Latham anchors tricky chase
New Zealand's chase was far from easy on a pitch offering plenty of turn. The visitors slipped to 96 for 5 before Tom Latham steadied the innings with an unbeaten 37.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
Latham and Mark Bracewell, who remained not out on 18, shared an unbroken partnership to take New Zealand home.
Henry Nicholls made 17 and Will Young scored 28 in a positive opening stand of 35. However, New Zealand suffered a setback when Young was dismissed and Mark Chapman was run out for a duck in quick succession.
Nicholls departed with the score on 52 for 3 before Daryl Mitchell and Latham added 42 runs for the fourth wicket. Mitchell looked set to guide the chase but was stumped for 28 after charging spinner Khary Pierre. Pierre then bowled Dean Foxcroft to put New Zealand under pressure.
Latham and Bracewell, who also crossed 1,000 ODI runs during his innings, ensured there were no further hiccups as New Zealand completed the chase comfortably.
The third match of the five-match ODI series will be played in Guyana on Thursday, with both teams aiming to take a 2-1 lead.
Virat Kohli set to play his 300th ODI in likely final England ODI tour.
Brendon McCullum hails Kohli as a global cricket icon transcending the sport.
India aim to bounce back after suffering 4-0 T20I series defeat.
Virat Kohli's landmark 300th ODI arrives on what could be his last England tour
Virat Kohli steps into what may well be his farewell ODI tour of England when India take on the hosts in the series opener at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
It will be his 00th ODI in a storied career and ahead of the contest, England head coach Brendon McCullum offered warm words for Kohli, calling him one of the sport's finest ambassadors and someone whose impact will continue to be felt long after he eventually retires.
In a video shared by ECB, McCullum, who spent a season alongside Kohli in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room during the IPL, spoke fondly of his intense competitive streak and the way he throws himself fully into every contest.
"I had the privilege of playing with him for a year at RCB. I got to share the dressing room with him, got to know him and thoroughly enjoyed his company. He's a highly competitive person and leaves nothing out on the field. He plays with all his heart and is an immense cricketer," McCullum said.
Still, McCullum couldn't resist a joke that he'd still prefer Kohli score nothing this series, even while wishing him well and praising him as a true champion of the game.
"I'd still want him to make no runs in this series! But we wish him well. He's a fierce competitor and an absolute champion," he laughed.
However, he soon hailed Kohli as a cricketer who has drawn entire generations toward the sport and grown into a figure recognised well beyond cricket's usual boundaries, likening his global appeal to that of a celebrity.
"He's inspired generations of people to love cricket. He's one of those players who transcends the sport. He's become a real rockstar, not just in cricket or India, but around the world and across different sports. When his time is up, his legacy will live on long after he's played the game," he added.
India are are looking to put a difficult T20I campaign behind them after suffering a complete 4-0 series defeat in the shorter format.
With senior campaigners like Kohli and Rohit Sharma back in the fold, the visitors will be eager to lay down a strong marker early in their build-up toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, using this series as an opportunity to reset momentum and restore some confidence within the squad.
Kohli has just one century to his name in England but 12 half-centuries. He is chasing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries and a couple in this series will be a major boost to his ambitions.
Meanwhile, he needs just 68 more runs to overtake Rahul Dravid and become India's all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs played on English soil.
India vs England ODI series schedule
The responsibility for restoring India's prestige falls heavily on the two veterans, alongside the returning Jasprit Bumrah. The series takes in three of England's most storied grounds across a compressed six-day window.
Date
Match
Venue
July 14, 2026
1st ODI
Edgbaston, Birmingham
July 16, 2026
2nd ODI
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
July 19, 2026
3rd ODI
Lord's, London
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Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir were seen avoiding direct interaction during India's Edgbaston practice.
Gambhir is already under fire after back-to-back T20I series losses abroad.
Shubman Gill revealed World Cup planning talks with Kohli.
Cold vibes in Edgbaston: Kohli-Gambhir silence sparks rift speculation
India's training session ahead of the opening ODI against England was overshadowed not by preparation talk, but by the reported noticeable lack of interaction between star batter Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
According to Times Now,while Gambhir was seen engaging comfortably with several senior players, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, cameras and reporters at the ground failed to spot even a brief exchange between him and Kohli throughout the entire practice session.
Kohli instead spent most of his time locked into an extended net session, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stepping in to speak with him individually before later having a separate conversation with Gambhir.
The silence has once again reignited chatter about the fractured state of the relationship between India's biggest star and its head coach.
The England series marks Kohli's return to the Indian setup after missing the recent series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury picked up during the IPL 2026 final while playing for RCB. His comeback carries real significance for a team desperately searching for stability following back-to-back T20I series defeats to Ireland and England.
Amid the reported rift between Kohli and Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill addressed a separate conversation he'd had with the former captain ahead of the match, revealing that their discussion centred around long-term planning for the 2027 World Cup.
"As I said, we were talking about the combination. Which combination would be best for us in South Africa? Which players are there who may not be in the team now, but can help us in the future? Which bowlers are there? Which all-rounders? Which spinners? So, we were talking about all that," said Gill.
Nonetheless, the timing of this Cold War speculation couldn't be worse for Gambhir, whose tenure has already come under intense scrutiny following those embarrassing series losses.
Beyond results, he's also faced criticism over how he's managed the constant selection swings involving Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the UK leg of the tour, with several former players openly labelling the team management's approach as confused and lacking professionalism.
If things go wrong in the ODI series as well, Gambhir will be in a spot of bother.
Kohli-Gambhir rift: Harmful optics for the Indian team ahead of ODI series
Regardless of whether this is a genuine rift or simply a case of two individuals with different working styles, the optics alone are damaging at a time when India desperately needs unity after a series of successive losses.
Team dynamics thrive on visible cohesion, especially from senior figures, and any perceived distance between a head coach and the team's most influential batter risks trickling down into dressing room morale.
Gill stepping into territory usually reserved for coach-player discussions only adds to the sense of blurred lines within the leadership structure. With a crucial World Cup cycle beginning, India can ill afford unresolved tension at the top, real or perceived, especially when the team's recent form already offers little room for internal distraction.
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India begin their three-match ODI series against England at Edgbaston on Tuesday, desperate to salvage something meaningful from a tour that delivered a 4-0 T20I whitewash and cost them their world no. 1 ranking in the shortest format.
The complexion of the squad changes entirely for this leg. Shubman Gill takes the captaincy, while the returns of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah restore the experience that Shreyas Iyer's youthful T20I side conspicuously lacked in unfamiliar English conditions.
England, meanwhile, arrive with their tails up under Harry Brook. Fresh from dismantling India across five T20Is, they welcome back Joe Root and will fancy their chances of completing a clean sweep of the entire white-ball tour on home soil.
The first ODI between England and India will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Play is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. local time (BST), which translates to 3:30 p.m. IST for viewers in India.
England vs India 1st ODI team news, predicted lineups
Fresh from a 4-0 T20I whitewash, England welcome back Joe Root to a batting order brimming with confidence. Harry Brook leads a side in which Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue are expected to exploit the early seam and swing on offer at Edgbaston.
England predicted XI: Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer.
India's squad looks unrecognisable from the one humbled in the T20Is, with Shubman Gill taking the captaincy and Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all returning. Shivam Dube was drafted in for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi replaced Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.
Meanwhile, Kohli returns after missing the Afghanistan series with a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final and will slot in at number three between Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
India's historic victory in the one-off Women's Test at Lord's gained added significance with cricket great Sachin Tendulkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah watching from the stands on the final day in London. Their presence underscored the occasion as India completed a commanding 270-run win over England in the first-ever women's Test played at the iconic venue.
The visitors wrapped up the match on the fourth morning after bowling England out for 186 while defending a daunting 457-run target. England resumed at 130/6, hoping Amy Jones could extend the fight after her overnight fifty, but India quickly tightened their grip.
Sneh Rana removed Jones for 54 before Deepti Sharma dismissed Issy Wong and Lauren Bell. Rana then finished the match by bowling Sophie Ecclestone, who had earlier scored her maiden Test half-century.
— BCCI (@BCCI)
India laid the foundation for victory with an impressive all-round display across four days. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana starred with scores of 83 and 70, while Yastika Bhatia etched her name into the record books by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord's with a superb 113.
Richa Ghosh added an unbeaten 50 in the second innings to accelerate India's declaration, while young pacer Kranti Gaud made history by claiming the first five-wicket haul in a women's Test at Lord's.
Historic triumph at the Home of Cricket
The win was India's seventh in their last 11 women's Tests and extended their unbeaten record in Test cricket in England, adding another landmark achievement to the team's growing success in the longest format.
Before play began on the final day, Tendulkar met and addressed the Indian players, with Jay Shah, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia also present at Lord's.
Their attendance added to the occasion as India ensured the first women's Test in the venue's 142-year history ended with a memorable overseas triumph, one that will be remembered as one of the finest moments in Indian women's cricket.
Vitality T20 Blast 2026 season runs from May 22 to July 18, with 18 county teams participating in the North, Central and South groups.
Somerset are the defending champions following their win in 2025.
The finals is scheduled for Edgbaston on July 18 following the conclusion of the knockouts.
Vitality T20 Blast 2026 format and preview
With the 2026 season, the format of the Vitality Blast reverts to three divisions. The 18 teams are split evenly into North, Central & West and South groups, and each club facing the other teams within the same division in both home and away fixtures, plus some games outside their respective divisions.
The best teams from each division qualify for the knockout stage, culminating in the semi-finals and the final at Edgbaston. The reigning champions are Somerset, who won the trophy last year in 2025.
*2 points deducted for for breaching ECB financial guidelines
Vitality T20 Blast 2026 fixtures and results
The 2026 tournament is the 24th edition of England and Wales’ premier domestic T20 competition and features 115 matches across the league and knockout stages.
Knockout schedule
Date
Match
Venue
Start time (BST)
Result
July 15
Quarter-final 1: Hamshire vs Essex
Southampton
4:30 p.m.
July 15
Quarter-final 2: Notts Outlaws vs Surrey
Nottingham
4:30 p.m.
July 15
Quarter-final 3: Yorkshire vs Somerset
Leeds
4:30 p.m.
July 15
Quarter-final 4: Northamptonshire vs Gloucestershire
Lord's finally opened its doors to women's Test cricket last Friday, 142 years after the ground hosted its first men's Test in 1884. A parade of some 50 former England players rang the five-minute bell, and portraits of pioneers were unveiled in the Long Room beforehand.
The occasion demanded a performance worthy of it, and India duly delivered one. Harmanpreet Kaur's side seized control during the opening session and never once surrendered it, outplaying the hosts comprehensively across every discipline over four sun-drenched days in St John's Wood.
The result also carried enormous weight for England. They have not beaten India in a women's Test since 1995, and the manner of this thrashing, arriving five days after their T20 World Cup final heartbreak at the very same venue, made for a brutal fortnight.
India completed a historic 270-run victory after setting England a mammoth target of 457, the second-highest in women's Test history. Resuming on 130 for 6, England were bowled out for 186 inside the first session of day four.
Brief scores: India 285 (Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet 58, Deepti 57; Ecclestone 3-68) and 341/7 dec (Bhatia 113, Mandhana 70, Richa 50; Ecclestone 5-118) bt England 170 (Jones 52, Sciver-Brunt 44; Gaud 5-37) and 186 (Jones 52)
England vs India women's Test highlights
A day that goes down in the 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 📚#TeamIndia WIN the first-ever women's Test match at Lord's 🥳
Only India's own 347-run demolition of England at DY Patil in 2023, Sri Lanka's 309-run win over Pakistan in 1998 and England's 286-run victory against South Africa in 2024 sit above it.
A famous win for India, with the fourth-biggest winning margin in women's Test history 🙌 pic.twitter.com/wTie3r2ERu
Kranti Gaud became the first woman inked onto the Lord's Test honours board, the 22-year-old seamer ripping through England's top order with 5 for 37 as the hosts lost their final six wickets for just 39 runs and were dismissed for 170.
And with that, India seals a historic victory in the first ever Women's Test at Lord's against the home team england by a massive 270 runs. One for the history books, with two Indian names now etched on the Lord's Honours Board 🇮🇳🎖️ pic.twitter.com/vbCXxBeBMg
Yastika Bhatia then followed her onto the boards with the first women's Test century at the ground, a magnificent 113 from 145 balls containing 14 fours. It was a maiden international hundred, capping a tour that began with a fifty on her return from knee surgery.
Smriti Mandhana was imperious throughout the contest, scoring 83 in the first innings and 70 in the second, while Sophie Ecclestone provided England's one genuine bright spot with a 33.3-over marathon that yielded 5 for 118, putting her on the bowling honours board.
Amy Jones became the first wicketkeeper to score fifty-plus in both innings of a women's Test, while a world-record crowd of 15,243 attended day two. Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight both received guards of honour as they departed international cricket.
NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has bid an emotional farewell after ending his 18-year association with the five-time IPL champions.
On Monday, CSK announced that they had mutually decided to part ways with the long-serving coach.
Fleming had been with CSK since the inaugural IPL season in 2008, first as a player and then as head coach from 2009.
During his tenure, he guided the franchise to five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 trophies, while helping the team reach the playoffs 12 times and the final on 10 occasions.
'I leave with nothing but gratitude'
In a statement released by the franchise, Fleming reflected on his long journey with CSK and thanked everyone associated with the team.
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"Eighteen years is a lifetime in sport, and I leave with nothing but gratitude. My time with Chennai Super Kings has been the privilege of my coaching career. I am proud of everything we have achieved," Fleming said.
He also spoke about the memories he created with the franchise.
— ChennaiIPL (@ChennaiIPL)
"Together, we celebrated unforgettable victories, overcame difficult moments, and built memories that will stay with me forever. CSK will always be close to my heart, and I will be cheering the team on for years to come," he added.
CSK, the five-time champions, have failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
NEW DELHI: Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Andy Flower is the ideal candidate to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach following the end of the 'Bazball' era. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Sunday that McCullum will step down as Test coach after four years in charge but will continue to lead England's ODI and T20 teams.
McCullum's departure came after England lost the Ashes 1-4 in Australia and suffered seven defeats in their last nine Test matches, including a recent home series loss to New Zealand.
Hussain said England need someone with great attention to detail and believes Flower is the perfect fit.
"For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile. Flower took England to number one in the world. I love Flower's approach to coaching - he was meticulous in everything that he did," Hussain told Sky Sports News.
He added that those qualities have been missing from England's Test team in recent years.
"That's what's been lacking in this England Test match side. I would do anything if I was Rob Key (ECB Managing Director) and the ECB to go and get Andy Flower."
'Giving all the roles to McCullum was a mistake'
Hussain also questioned the ECB's decision to hand both the red-ball and white-ball coaching roles to McCullum.
"I don't think it was the right thing to do for Rob Key to give both the white-ball and the Test jobs to the same person. I think it's the right thing now for McCullum to focus on white-ball cricket. Giving McCullum [all the roles] was a mistake with the modern schedule"
He believes McCullum is better suited to the limited-overs format.
"[On Saturday], they won at Southampton, they are the number one T20 ranked team in the world - I think his coaching style is suited for white-ball cricket," he said.
Hussain praised McCullum for transforming England's Test side after taking charge in 2022 alongside captain Ben Stokes.
Under McCullum, England played an aggressive brand of cricket that became known as 'Bazball' and recorded memorable series wins over New Zealand and Pakistan, while drawing the 2023 home Ashes series 2-2.
However, Hussain believes recent performances made a coaching change unavoidable.
"No one is overly thrilled when a coach loses his job, and you do have to remember the great times that McCullum gave us," Hussain said.
"He is a coach that the brand of cricket - 'Bazball' - was named after. From where England were before him and Stokes, I think it would be wrong not to mention the way they played at the start. They were an absolute joy to watch. In the end, it's been a run of seven losses in the last nine Test matches, and with the manner of those defeats, I think it was about the right time," the former captain said.
Yastika Bhatia on Sunday became the first woman to score a Test century at the Home of Cricket as India closed in on a famous victory over England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s.
While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was unfortunate to be caught down the leg side off Lauren Bell for 70 (130b, 9x4, 1x6), the less-fancied left-hander Yastika produced a sublime maiden Test hundred, scoring 113 off 158 balls with 14 fours, as India declared at 341 for seven shortly before tea.
The visitors set England a daunting target of 457.
England, who had been bowled out for 170 in their first innings, ended Day Three reeling at 130 for six, still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.
India’s seamers once again led the charge. Kranti Gaud (2-40), fresh from her first-innings five for 37 that made her the first woman to claim a Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s, struck twice early. She bowled Tammy Beaumont for a firstball duck in the opener’s farewell Test before removing former captain Heather Knight (13), who was caught behind by Richa Ghosh after being given a guard of honour by the Indian players following her retirement announcement on Saturday.
Gaud has figures of seven for 77 in the match. Sayali Satghare (2-19) provided excellent support, trapping Maia Bouchier (2) lbw before claiming another wicket.
Earlier, Yastika produced an innings to remember.
Resuming on her overnight 39, the 25-year-old enjoyed an early reprieve when a Lauren Bell delivery clipped her leg stump without dislodging the bails. She responded immediately by driving Bell straight down the ground for four and soon completed her second Test fifty. Batting with elegance and assurance, the Baroda wicketkeeper unfurled crisp cover drives, authoritative pulls and deft late cuts while using her feet confidently against the spinners.
On 91, she struck back-to-back boundaries off Issy Wong before nudging a single to deep extra cover to bring up a landmark maiden Test century.
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Brief scores: India 285 & 341/ 7 decl (Y Bhatia 113, S Mandhana 70, R Ghosh 50*, S Ecclestone 5/118) vs England: 170 & 130/6 (A Jones 52, S Satghare 2/19, K Gaud 2/40)
English cricket’s fondness for Brendon McCullum’s acumen as a Test coach has ended with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sacking him on Sunday after four years in the job. ECB, however, has retained his services for the white-ball teams.
Sunday’s development is a culmination of a tumultuous eight months which saw Ben Stokes hang up his boots in strained circumstances a fortnight ago, and one which saw England suffer humiliation in the Ashes in Australia and a 1-2 defeat to New Zealand at home last month. McCullum’s ouster, thus, officially brings the curtains down on ‘Bazball’ – a manic brand of ultra-aggressive Test cricket initiated by McCullum and Stokes in 2022.
“Of course, I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the White Ball teams and helping England keep moving forward,” McCullum said in a release issued by ECB. ECB CEO Richard Gould stated this is the right time to make a change as they target an Ashes victory at home next summer.
English cricket’s fascination with McCullum can be traced back to 2015 when Eoin Morgan revived the team’s white-ball performances, capping it with the 2019 World Cup triumph, inspired by McCullum’s enterprising leadership that took New Zealand to the 2015 ODI World Cup final.
Bazball dared the cricket community at large, but its greatest achievement probably was winning over the conservatives of English cricket with edge-of-the-seat action thrillers over the conventional form of Test cricket. Not only did it pull England’s Test cricket out of a hole under Joe Root’s leadership, it liberated Root the batter himself. Batting with an intent to score at nearly 4.5-5 runs per over and chasing down scores of over 350 in the last innings of a Test match, McCullum worked on a principle of blurring the lines between all three formats of the game.
In its first year, outlandish wins over New Zealand and India at home followed by drubbing Pakistan on their nearconcrete pitches, disturbed the world order. From proud standard-bearers, the England team went to being bullish and then unbending about the brand of cricket they had begun to play. The players often referred to how they are the mercenaries of Test cricket. Resounding results, though, eluded them. In these four years, England failed to win against Australia and India besides falling out of contention for the World Test Championship title.
The cracks in their game started to appear last year when an inexperienced Indian team under a new captain Shubman Gill repeatedly challenged their ‘we-will-chase-down-anything’ approach in a series that ended with a 2-2 scoreline.
It was a brand of cricket that flirted with the boom-orburst model. It captivated the cricketing world when it came off, but consistency was always going to be rare. During India’s tour last year, Root and Stokes showed they were deviating from it with a more restrained approach as per match situation. Ashes was an implosion and now it is likely to be buried.
‘Bazball’ declared to the world that there is another way to play Test cricket. If only it understood it wasn’t the only way.
Cricket matches today: Scheduled games, betting odds and predictions for Monday, 13 July 2026
Match
Format
Venue
Team 1 Odds
Team 2 Odds
Estonia vs Turkey
Group B, T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier B
Brondby
1.45
2.70
Note: It has the top international and domestic fixtures with competitive odds worth watching. All odds are via Dafabetunless otherwise stated and correct at time of publish.
How to bet on Cricket matches in India, Step-by-step guide and best betting offers
1. Choose a trusted online betting site
First up: you’ll need to pick a solid, trustworthy bookmaker, one that welcomes Indian users, supports INR, and delivers a smooth experience on both desktop and mobile.
Here at The Sporting News, we work alongside a variety of trusted bookmakers, including some of the leading and most respected brands within the industry. You can follow links to their sites below!
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Signing up to a betting site in India — Quick & easy guide
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TimesofIndia. com in Birmingham: Before he was peppered with 'Mumbai Cha Raja' chants outside the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, former India captain Rohit Sharma had a lengthy stint in the sun on Sunday. As seven members of the ODI squad trained for the second day running ahead of the series opener on July 14, it was the 39-year-old's nearly an hour-long batting session that stood out.
Rohit started the two-hour session with fielding drills before moving on to the nets for batting activity. Assisted by fielding coach T Dilip, Rohit spent a considerable time on getting sharp for what will be long days in the sun.
As ODI skipper Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continued their own long batting stints in the nets, Rohit made his way to the sidelines and chatted with rest of the Indian contingent, including Kuldeep Yadav, who was waiting for his turn to bat.
When the trio of batters stepped away, Rohit walked across to occupy the net adjacent to Gurnoor Brar. After looking uncomfortable on the first string of deliveries, the ex-India skipper decided to switch ends.
Having looked in good touch after this move, Rohit asked the support staff for another change. With spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule involved in the practice session, the Indian throwdown specialists -- Nuwan Senaviratne, Dayanand Garani and Raghavendra aka Raghu -- worked in tandem with the Edgbaston ground crew to untangle the net webbing.
Rohit then spent the next half an hour playing in an open-net match simulation format. With fielders placed to his right on the off side, Rohit breached the gap on multiple instances and even sent the security team scurrying to fetch a ball that had crept underneath the outside fences.
Looking much more satisfied with his showing as things progressed, Rohit called off his batting session at quarter-past-four, three hours after the contingent arrived at Edgbaston.
Kohli in the groove
Earlier, 37-year-old Virat Kohli dealt with some sharp, stinging deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah, Brar and a young seamer from a local club in Birmingham.
Having devoted most of his opening batting session on Saturday to tackling the spin, Kohli started Sunday's session by taking on the seam bowlers as KL Rahul and Gill rotated responsibilities alongside him.
In the high-intensity batting session, Kohli looked jittery against the seamers before moving along to the spinners and finding his composed self.
For the second day running, after his practice session concluded, Kohli stood on the sidelines and shared his learnings. If it was Shubman Gill on Saturday, it was the turn of Brar on Sunday. The 26-year-old seamer asked for tips and the 'King' was more than willing to pass on the wisdom.
The team, including the members of the T20I squad who were in Southampton for the fifth T20I, will undergo its last practice session on Monday (July 13) before the series begins the next day. The three-match series will then move to Cardiff (July 16) and London (July 19).
India Women moved to the brink of a historic maiden Test victory at Lord's after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.
With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.
Yastika scripts history at the Home of Cricket
Resuming Day 3 with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.
However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 balls also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.
England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly and completed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.
Richa Ghosh provides late fireworks
Following Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.
Indian pacers rip through England's top order
India's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest.
Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a touching guard of honour from the Indian team as she walked off.
England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.
Jones, Villiers delay the inevitable
Just when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive.
The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.
Yastika Bhatia etched her name into the history books with a magnificent maiden Test century, becoming the first woman ever to score a Test hundred at Lord's Cricket Ground during the ongoing one-off Test against England.
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter reached the three-figure mark on Day 3 - July 12 with a composed single off Issy Wong before soaking in the applause from all corners of the iconic venue. She removed her helmet, raised her bat to acknowledge the crowd and her teammates, and bowed down to the pitch in an emotional celebration as her name was destined for the prestigious Lord's Honours Board.
Bhatia eventually departed for a superb 113 off 158 balls, laced with 14 boundaries, after Sophie Ecclestone induced a mistimed lofted shot that was safely caught by Mady Villiers at point. As she walked back, the Lord's crowd rose to its feet.
Historic feat for India
Bhatia's innings was not only her maiden Test century but also the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.
Highest scores in the third/fourth innings of a Women's Test for India:
113 – Yastika Bhatia vs England, Lord's (2026)
98 – Sandhya Agarwal vs New Zealand, Lucknow (1985)
83 – Sandhya Agarwal vs Australia, Wankhede (1984)
80* – Sneh Rana vs England, Bristol (2021)
75 – Gargi Banerjee vs England, Blackpool (1986)
72 – Gargi Banerjee vs Australia, Wankhede (1984)
Her century came at a crucial time for India, as the historic knock powered the visitors to a massive 400-plus lead. Supported by Smriti Mandhana's 70, India tightened their grip on the one-off Test after bowling England out for 170 in the first innings. Having begun their second innings with a 115-run lead, India continued to pile on the runs and now stand on the verge of winning their first-ever Women's Test at Lord's.
South Africa's teenage sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius has made his priorities crystal clear. Despite establishing himself in franchise leagues around the world, the 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter says he would gladly give up every other format if it meant enjoying a long and successful Test career for South Africa.
Currently representing the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC), Pretorius has been in sensational form. He recently smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 52 balls against MI New York, registering his maiden T20 century. The left-hander is also a part of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, having debuted in 2025 before being retained for the 2026 season. In South Africa's SA20 league, he emerged as Paarl Royals' leading run-scorer during his breakthrough 2024-25 campaign, while also representing the Titans in domestic cricket.
However, despite his rapid rise in white-ball cricket, Pretorius insists that Test cricket remains his ultimate ambition.
"Hopefully, I'm lucky enough to play a lot of Test cricket and be able to score 10,000 Test runs because that's a dream of mine. I'd give any format up or any cricket to play Test cricket for South Africa for as long as I can. There's nothing better than playing Test cricket. It's the pinnacle of cricket," Pretorius told Cricbuzz.
Historic start to his Test career
Pretorius has featured in just two Tests for South Africa, both against Zimbabwe in mid-2025, but has already announced himself as one of the game's brightest young talents. He has scored 235 runs in three innings at an average of 78.33, including a century and a half-century, with a career-best score of 153.
His debut innings was one for the record books. At 19 years and 93 days, Pretorius smashed 153 off 160 balls in Bulawayo to become South Africa's youngest-ever Test centurion, breaking a 61-year-old record previously held by Graeme Pollock.
The innings also saw him become the youngest player in Test history to score 150 on debut, surpassing Pakistan great Javed Miandad. His 150 came off just 157 deliveries, making it the fastest 150 by a South African in Test cricket.
Adding another feather to his cap, Pretorius joined the exclusive list of players to score a century on both their First-Class debut and Test debut.
England are on the hunt for a new Test head coach after Brendon McCullum was stood down from the role.
McCullum, who will remain in charge of England’s white-ball teams, has paid the price for the wretched Ashes in Australia in the winter and a chaotic 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand to start the Test summer.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will have to move quickly to appoint a replacement, with Pakistan due to visit for three Tests from 19 August.
With a home Ashes less than a year away, the new hire will have task of forging a quick and fruitful relationship with the individual that succeeds Ben Stokes as Test captain – with Harry Brook seemingly the leading option.
But who will the new skipper be working under? Here are five possible contenders to replace McCullum.
Andy Flower
Andy Flower has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Brendon McCullum (PA Archive)
Having already led England to No 1 in the world, could the Zimbabwean be persuaded back for a second stint in charge of the team? Flower was the hard taskmaster that arguably took England to their highest heights in Test cricket, overseeing series wins in Australia and India and combining well with Andrew Strauss. His tenure ended with relations fraying within the side, but Flower seems to have softened since, and has become one of the most highly-regarded T20 coaches on the franchise circuit, winning back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff is England Lions head coach (PA Archive)
Flintoff has sort of fallen into elite coaching, picking up part-time roles with England while recovering from a horror car crash in 2022. He has proved to be well-liked by those working under him and above him, though, during his time with the England Lions, bringing through a number of now Test regulars. Close to Rob Key, who remains as ECB managing director of men’s cricket, a promotion might be seen as hasty and perhaps not a total regime change – and Flintoff has just taken a role with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, too.
Jonathan Trott
(Getty)
There is a lot to like about way the former England batter has forged his coaching career, taking on a demanding role with Afghanistan and thriving despite not being able to visit the nation during his time in charge. It was in white-ball cricket that a team on the rise excelled under Trott, reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, but it was against the red ball that Trott was at his best as a player, and the role could well suit him. The 45-year-old has previously expressed a desire to coach England one day.
Gareth Batty
Surrey head coach Gareth Batty won three straight County Championship crowns (PA Wire)
The leading candidate from the County Championship, Batty’s Surrey may have relinquished their grip on the domestic game but the ex-England spinner is a shrewd operator. Would he leave the Oval? Perhaps not, with the Surrey set-up under Alec Stewart seeming to suit him well. Other contenders in the county game may include Richard Dawson, impressing with Glamorgan after a spell as an assistant with the national team, but the time for Peter Moores or Mickey Arthur has probably gone.
Justin Langer
Justin Langer formerly coached Australia (PA Wire)
Speculative, surely? Langer was not necessarily friendly with the entirety of the Australian dressing room during his time in charge, yet success was achieved under the sometimes-combative Western Australian. A smart cricketer and coach, Langer would be an intriguing introduction to an environment perhaps in need of a firmer hand at the tiller. His former teammate Jason Gillespie has long been linked with the role and has strong knowledge of the English game from spells at Sussex and Yorkshire.
The Indian cricket team is all set to embark upon a fresh series of matches beginning with a short T20I series in Ireland before heading over to England for a tour consisting of five T20Is and three ODI games.
In a change in the leadership of the T20I team, Shreyas Iyer gets the opportunity to lead the side in the shortest format. At the same time, the teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has received his first senior national call-up.
The selectors, under the chairmanship of Ajit Agarkar, met on Saturday, June 6, to pick the final squads for both tours. The same T20I squads have been named for both Ireland and England T20Is.
The squad for the ODI series was announced on June 21 as Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah returned to the ODI team.
On June 23, Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of action for the UK tour due to a left quadricep injury. The all-rounder will now undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for at least a month to aid his recovery. Later, Suryansh Shedge was named as Nitish Reddy's replacement for the Ireland and England tours.
On July 12, BCCI announced that Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi had joined the Indian ODI squad as late replacements for the injured Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.
On July 6, the selectors updated India's ODI squad for the ongoing England series. Powerful all-rounder Shivam Dube was drafted in as a replacement for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy, adding valuable batting depth to the fifty-over unit.
Shubman Gill (c)
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer (vc)
KL Rahul (wk)
Ishan Kishan (wk)
Washington Sundar
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Prasidh Krishna
𝙷̶𝚊̶𝚛̶𝚜̶𝚑̶𝚒̶𝚝̶ ̶𝚁̶𝚊̶𝚗̶𝚊̶
Arshdeep Singh
Gurnoor Brar
Shivam Dube
𝚅̶𝚊̶𝚛̶𝚞̶𝚗̶ ̶𝙲̶𝚑̶𝚊̶𝚔̶𝚛̶𝚊̶𝚟̶𝚊̶𝚛̶𝚝̶𝚑̶𝚢̶
Prince Yadav
Ravi Bishnoi
England vs India: Who will win?
England are favourites to win the ODI series at odds of 1.87, while the odds for India's win are 1.91, according to Dafa.
England vs India 2026 schedule
India's white-ball tour of England, beginning with the first of the five T20Is at Durham on July 1, and concluding with the third ODIs at Lord's on July 19.
Date
Match
Venue
July 1, 2026
1st T20I
Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street (Durham)
July 4, 2026
2nd T20I
Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
July 7, 2026
3rd T20I
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
July 9, 2026
4th T20I
County Ground (Seat Unique Stadium), Bristol
July 11, 2026
5th T20I
The Rose Bowl (Utilita Bowl), Southampton
July 14, 2026
1st ODI
Edgbaston, Birmingham
July 16, 2026
2nd ODI
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
July 19, 2026
3rd ODI
Lord's, London
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