Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets India call-up
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise has reached an unprecedented height, with the 15-year-old earning a place in India’s T20I squad for the Ireland and England tours after a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign. If he plays, Sooryavanshi will become India’s youngest-ever international debutant, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. The Rajasthan Royals opener finished IPL 2026 with 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His selection shows how highly the BCCI rates his talent. Read more here.
Hardik Pandya injury update
India have received a major boost ahead of the Afghanistan ODI series, with Hardik Pandya reportedly receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. The all-rounder, who suffered a back injury during IPL 2026, underwent assessment after concerns over his availability. A positive report has now paved the way for his ODI return, having last played the format in March 2025. The clearance comes at an important time for India, especially with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managing fitness issues. While questions remain over Hardik’s ability to handle a full 50-over workload, he is now expected to feature in the series against Afghanistan. Read more here.
Virat Kohli replacement named
Virat Kohli has been ruled out of India’s ODI series against Afghanistan after sustaining a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final while playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed the setback and announced Yashasvi Jaiswal as Kohli’s replacement in the squad. The injury is not serious enough to require surgery, but Kohli is expected to need around six weeks of recovery, ending hopes of an immediate international return after a six-month break. While the BCCI remains optimistic about his availability for the England ODI series in July, a final assessment from the medical team is still awaited. Read more here.
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Shreyas Iyer replaces Suryakumar Yadav
India have ushered in a new era in T20I cricket by appointing Shreyas Iyer as captain for the Ireland and England tours, as well as the Asian Games 2026. The move ends Suryakumar Yadav’s stint as skipper despite him leading India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, with the selectors opting to look ahead to the next World Cup cycle and the Los Angeles Olympics. Iyer returns to the T20I setup after nearly three years on the back of impeccable performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, where he has also impressed as a leader. Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain. Read more here.
IND vs AFG Day 1 saw Gill’s century
India dominated the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, finishing at 368/3 thanks to an unbeaten century from captain Shubman Gill and a 100 from KL Rahul. After winning the toss on a batting-friendly surface in New Chandigarh, India recovered from an early setback through a 139-run partnership between Rahul and Sai Sudharsan, who impressed with a fluent 81. Rahul brought up his 12th Test hundred before departing, while Gill remained in complete control en route to an unbeaten 103. Rishabh Pant added a brisk half-century as India piled on 159 runs in the final session to take firm control of the match.
Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence
Suryakumar Yadav has reacted gracefully to losing India’s T20I captaincy and his place in the squad, publicly backing both the team and his successor, Shreyas Iyer. Speaking after a T20 Mumbai League match, Suryakumar said he was delighted for Iyer and proud that Mumbai has produced three successive India T20I captains. Despite leading India to Asia Cup and T20 World Cup triumphs during his tenure, Suryakumar paid the price for a prolonged dip in batting form. He also congratulated 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on his maiden India call-up, praising the youngster’s rise and saying he was excited to follow his journey in international cricket. Read more here.
