Shubman Gill told to focus on…..
Despite scoring 732 runs in IPL 2026, Shubman Gill has once again been left out of India’s T20I plans. The selectors have reportedly asked the India captain to focus on the bigger picture: the World Test Championship and the 2027 ODI World Cup. With nine Tests and around 35 ODIs scheduled before the World Cup, the BCCI is keen to avoid burnout and ensure Gill remains fit for the two major ICC events. While his T20I future remains open ahead of the 2028 World Cup, it isn’t an immediate priority since we already have Abhishek, Samson and Sooryavanshi. Read more here.
Shreyas Iyer’s message as India captain
Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that becoming India’s new T20I captain will not change who he is. Speaking after his appointment as skipper for the Ireland and England tours and the Asian Games, Iyer said he has no intention of copying anyone or leading under someone else’s influence. Instead, he wants to remain authentic and trust the approach that has brought him this far. The appointment caps off a remarkable comeback for Iyer, who had been out of India’s T20I setup since 2023. Strong performances in domestic cricket and another productive IPL season, coupled with his impressive leadership record in the IPL, convinced selectors to hand him the role. Read more here.
Why no Jasprit Bumrah?
Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned Jasprit Bumrah’s limited availability in T20I cricket, suggesting the star pacer could have been India’s captain had he committed to playing more regularly. With Suryakumar Yadav removed as skipper, Manjrekar felt Bumrah was a natural candidate given his leadership qualities and stature within the team. However, the BCCI has chosen to rest Bumrah from the Ireland and England T20I tours as part of a workload-management plan focused on the 2027 ODI World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. While Bumrah will feature at the Asian Games later this year, concerns over fitness and workload appear to have ruled him out of a full-time leadership role for now. Read more here.
Latest on Cricket
- India vs West Indies, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match live streaming details and more
![India vs West Indies, ICC Women's T20 World Cup warm-up match live streaming details and more]()
- No Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh as Australia announce squad for Bangladesh ODIs
![Travis Head to miss final last two T20Is vs India because of the Ashes]()
- DRS June 8: Shubman Gill gets BCCI’s command, why no Jasprit Bumrah & did Iyer take a dig?
![DRS June 8: Shubman Gill gets BCCI's command, why no Jasprit Bumrah & did Iyer take a dig?]()
IND vs AFG Day 2 – As it happened
After a batting-friendly opening day, the Mullanpur pitch offered far more assistance to bowlers on Day 2 as 10 wickets fell for 310 runs. India added 196 runs to their overnight score before declaring at 564/8, with Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar making contributions. Afghanistan pacer Mohammad Saleem Safi starred with a six-wicket haul, using reverse swing effectively. In reply, India’s bowlers took control. Debutant Manav Suthar impressed immediately, claiming three wickets with sharp turn, while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with two. Afghanistan struggled against the spin and pace combination, ending the day deep in trouble and still trailing India by 451 runs.
New BCB President
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has officially been elected as the new president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), taking charge for a four-year term after previously leading an interim committee. Tamim had been tasked with investigating allegations of political favouritism, malpractice and abuse of power that led to the dissolution of the previous board. Following his unanimous election, Tamim has promised transparency and accountability within the BCB while acknowledging that reforms would require support from the board’s wider membership. Read more here.
England’s opening Test win over New Zealand has reignited the debate around “Bazball”, but this time there are signs the team is finally showing greater maturity. After criticism for their reckless batting against India and Australia over the last year, England appeared far more adaptable at Lord’s. Batters were willing to leave deliveries, tighten their defence and respect difficult conditions instead of attacking every ball. Head coach Brendon McCullum praised the team’s ability to adjust to a bowler-friendly pitch, where England’s scores of 140 and 226 proved enough for a 115-run win. The performance suggested England are moving away from blind aggression and embracing a more balanced approach, something Michael Vaughan had previously described as “Bazball with brains.”
