Indian cricket finds itself at the centre of several major developments ahead of a busy international season. While Rohit Sharma has resumed training and appears on course for the Afghanistan ODI series, Hardik Pandya has suffered yet another injury setback and will miss the assignment. Manav Suthar earned a County Championship stint after a dream Test debut. Elsewhere, Sri Lanka have confirmed venues for their upcoming Test series against India. Beyond Indian cricket, England will be led by Joe Root against New Zealand after Ben Stokes was sidelined amid an ongoing ECB investigation.
No Hardik Pandya in IND vs AFG ODIs
Hardik Pandya’s return to international cricket has been delayed yet again after the all-rounder suffered a mild leg sprain while completing his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Although he had recently received fitness clearance and was set to make his ODI comeback against Afghanistan, the fresh injury has ruled him out of the three-match series. The setback is not considered serious, but medical staff have advised him to avoid strain for the next few weeks. India will now need a replacement, while Pandya targets a return for the England series in July. Read more here.
Rohit Sharma is back
Rohit Sharma has begun preparations for the Afghanistan ODI series and looked fit during India’s optional training session in Mohali after recently completing fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. The veteran opener started cautiously in the nets and was troubled early by India’s young pacers but gradually found his rhythm during an extended batting session. He later spent time against the spinners and also participated in fielding drills, showing no visible signs of discomfort from his recent hamstring issue. While Rohit returned to action, several players involved in the Afghanistan Test, including Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, skipped the optional session. Read more here.
Pakistan at Asian Games
Pakistan have named Sahibzada Farhan as captain for the Asian Games 2026, continuing their recent trend of leadership changes in white-ball cricket. The 15-member squad features several fresh faces, including uncapped players Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood, while Abdul Samad has been appointed vice-captain. Notably, senior stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah have all been left out. The move signals Pakistan’s focus on youth and experimentation, especially after their disappointing Super 8 exit at the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year. Read more here.
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Ben Stokes OUT, Joe Root captain again
England will be without captain Ben Stokes for the second Test against New Zealand after the ECB deemed him unavailable amid an ongoing investigation into an alleged nightclub altercation that also involves Gus Atkinson. In Stokes’ absence, former skipper Joe Root has been handed the captaincy, with vice-captain Harry Brook overlooked despite being the designated deputy. Jordan Cox and Jofra Archer have been drafted into the squad as replacements. Archer returns after an IPL commitment ruled him out of the first Test, while Cox provides additional batting cover as England reshuffle their ranks for the Oval. Read more here.
Manav Suthar joins County
Fresh from a dream Test debut against Afghanistan, Manav Suthar is set for his first taste of English conditions after signing with Warwickshire for two County Championship matches. The left-arm spinner, who claimed seven wickets on debut, will feature against Yorkshire and Somerset before returning to India commitments. The stint offers Suthar a valuable opportunity to develop his game overseas ahead of India’s Sri Lanka tour later this year, where he is expected to be in contention. Meanwhile, fellow Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat has rejoined Sussex, continuing a successful county stint that has already yielded 42 wickets in 10 matches. Read more here.
IND vs SL Tests are confirmed!
India’s long-awaited return to Test cricket in Sri Lanka is set to begin in Galle, with the two-match series expected to start on August 15 and conclude in Colombo on August 27. The tour marks India’s first Test series in Sri Lanka since 2017 and a step in their World Test Championship campaign after a lengthy gap from WTC cricket. With only a handful of current players having Test experience in Sri Lankan conditions, the series will present a massive challenge for Shubman Gill’s evolving side. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s request for additional T20Is remains unresolved due to a packed international calendar and logistical constraints. Read more here.
Cricket
Rohit Sharma starts IND vs AFG ODI preparations, shows no signs of injury in Mohali practice session
