India Women’s cricket team will face their toughest challenge in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026 as they take on Australia Women in a must-win game in order to reach the semis. The poor record of the Women in Blue against the 6-time champions gives the latter an advantage in the contest. In men’s cricket, an scoring error during the IRE vs IND 1st T20I means Abhishek Sharma has been denied a half-century. Talking about India A’s unofficial Test against SL-A, Auqib Nabi shined, picking up four wickets on Day 3. On that note, let’s take a look at the top headlines from Saturday.
Abhishek Sharma denied fifty
A scoring correction later in the innings of the IRE vs IND 1st T20I revealed that one run credited to Abhishek Sharma had actually come as a leg-bye. The adjustment reduced his score from 50 to 49, meaning the left-hander walked back with 49 off 20 balls instead of what would have been one of the fastest fifties of his international career. That would not only have been the third-fastest T20I fifty against Ireland, but it would also have extended a remarkable record he already owns. Read more here.
IRE vs IND 2nd T20I: Selection headaches
Not many expected T20 world champions Team India to lose a match to Ireland, anywhere in the world. Yet, that became a reality when Ireland punished India for dropped catches, clueless bowling and timid batting with a 34-run win in the IND vs IRE 1st T20I. Now, Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir would want to avoid a historic clean sweep on Sunday in the 2nd T20I in Belfast. And India need to solve a few puzzles before that. Read more here.
Auqib Nabi’s remainder for selectors
J&K pacer Auqib Nabi might not be the express pacer that so many of the Indian fans might be looking for, but he might just be the skilled bowler, that the Test side should be looking for. The 29-year-old pacer showed once again, why his skill with the ball is second to none; on Saturday, on a placid Galle wicket, in his very first IND A outing, he bagged a four-fer against SL A, returning with figures of 4/58 in 19.4 overs. This performance, once again will put him under the spotlight, and ask the selectors a simple questions — ‘when is he getting his India Test cap?’ Read more here.
Latest cricket news
- No debut for Sooryavanshi, maiden caps handed to Prince Yadav & Suryansh Shedge in IND vs IRE 2nd T20I
![Prince Yadav with his debut cap]()
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s ‘only weakness’ that Harry Brook’s team can target in India vs England T20Is
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- Team India semifinal qualification scenarios explained: NRR to come into play, win not enough for Harman & Co.
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No Rohit Sharma for 2027 ODI World Cup?
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar wants a youngster to be picked in India’s ODI World Cup squad in 2027 in place of veteran Rohit Sharma. Manjrekar’s mantra is simple, as far as the selection of players for the World Cup is concerned. For him, a player who still has 5-10 years in him, should be selected. The Hitman will be in action again soon, as the team begins their ODI series against Ireland soon enough, from July 14. Read more here.
2028 Women’s WC teams decided
The semi-finalists of the T20 World Cup 2026 are yet to be decided, but the participants for the 2028 edition, that is to take place in Pakistan, have already come out. The teams finishing in the top 4 of Group A and Group B make it to the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2028. From Group A — Australia, India, South Africa and Bangladesh have qualified, and from Group B, England, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka go through. Read more here.
India face Australia roadblock
You look at the Indian team, they are a fine-fine unit; a team that can beat any side on their given day. But somehow, that doesn’t apply when it comes to the Australian team. On Sunday, it is time for IND vs AUS encounter at the Lord’s, and it is the last chance for Harmanpreet Kaur‘s team to seal their spot into the semis, of the Women’s World Cup 2026. India are nervous starters against Australia. Despite coming close to beating them a few times, the record is pretty lopsided between the two. In 37 meetings, we have just won 9 times, while the opposition has won a staggering 27 times. In the Women’s T20 World Cups, we have beaten them just once – way back in 2018, and the record is 1-5. Read more here.
IND W vs AUS W Live Score: Smriti Mandhana vs Lucy Hamilton to kick off match
