Jayawardene and Mumbai Indians split as franchise seeks fresh start

Jayawardene exits Mumbai Indians after eight-year association

Mumbai Indians and Mahela Jayawardene have parted ways, ending a coaching relationship that began in 2017 and delivered three IPL titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020. The break comes after a 2026 season in which the five-time champions finished ninth in a ten-team league, their second disappointing campaign in three years after a 2020 title run that has since yielded only two playoff appearances in six seasons. Owner Nita Ambani called his contribution "significant," but the franchise has decided significance is not enough to pull them out of a prolonged slump.

According to Times of India, Mumbai's hierarchy has already identified multiple candidates for a replacement, with interviews expected in the coming week and no role envisaged for Jayawardene elsewhere in the setup. The move lands just ahead of a key retention deadline, with trade speculation around Hardik Pandya still unresolved; franchise sources are describing the allrounder's situation as status quo for now but have not ruled out late movement closer to that cut-off, leaving any new coach to inherit a roster in flux as much as a misfiring XI.

Rain threat looms over India West Indies decider after Indore run-fest

India took a 2-1 lead in the T20I series with a 14-run win in the third match at Holkar Stadium in Indore, posting 223 on the back of Abhishek Sharma's 69 off 30 balls, including six fours and five sixes. West Indies replied with 209 for 7 as Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 44 and bowled Shai Hope, and the visitors have since levelled the series at 2-2.

That set up a deciding fifth T20I in Bengaluru with the score at 2-2, only for persistent rain at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to delay the toss. Forecasts suggest the chances of showers rising to around 80 percent by 10 p.m., deep into a potential second innings, raising the prospect of a shortened game despite the venue's highly rated drainage.

Niki Prasad shines on debut as India women escape Raipur scare

India's women recovered from 19 for 4 chasing 115 against Zimbabwe in Raipur, debutant Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma adding 82 for the fifth wicket to complete a four-wicket win. The rescue act came after India's top order collapsed inside four overs in pursuit of a modest target of 115, leaving the pair to rebuild and then close out the chase.

Deepti later said it did not feel like a debut for Prasad, praising the composure of her new partner in a match that also marked the first women's international ever played at the Raipur venue. For Prasad, it was a statement introduction to international cricket after steering India home under pressure alongside one of the side's most experienced allrounders.

Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka launch Rawalpindi tri-series as World Cup trial

Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka open a one-day tri-series in Rawalpindi on Sunday, October 18, with the hosts facing Sri Lanka in the first match before England begin against Pakistan on the Tuesday. The tournament will follow a double round-robin format, with the top two teams meeting in the final in Lahore on October 31, and has been framed explicitly as preparation for next year's ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

England arrive without injured captain Jos Buttler and rested fast bowler Jofra Archer, but they come into the series on the back of three straight ODI series wins, two against Sri Lanka and one against India. Harry Brook has spoken about using the competition as a useful measure of his squad as all three teams look to refine combinations ahead of the global tournament.

Ashwin blasts selectors over Jaiswal omission despite hot ODI numbers

Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly criticized India's selectors for leaving Yashasvi Jaiswal out of both ODI squads for the upcoming New Zealand series, including the final two matches for which Shubman Gill is being rested. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin called the decision "unfair," arguing that if Gill is not playing the last two ODIs, Jaiswal "should definitely get that spot," and warning that a lack of international game time is damaging the young batter's confidence.

He averages 71.25 in six ODIs with two centuries, his most recent innings in the format an unbeaten 110 against Afghanistan in June, yet he finds himself outside both New Zealand squads. Ashwin has even suggested that Jaiswal might only get his opportunity after Rohit Sharma retires following the 50-over World Cup and that before that happens they might bring in Vaibhav Suryavanshi because of his current form.

Shaheen Afridi draws format line as he backs Babar Azam in ODIs

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has offered firm public backing to Babar Azam ahead of the Rawalpindi tri-series, calling the senior batter "the backbone" of the ODI side despite scrutiny of his Test form and captaincy. Babar managed just 58 runs in four domestic innings after a winless Test tour of England, but his last five ODI scores read 102 not out, 34, 69, 16 and 40, a sequence Shaheen has leaned on to insist there is no pressure on his place in the 50-over setup.

Shaheen has effectively separated formats in his assessment, acknowledging the noise around Babar's Test captaincy while stressing that Pakistan's focus in the tri-series is on building towards the World Cup through a player who continues to score consistently in ODIs. His comments are a pointed attempt to quieten debate as Pakistan reset for a tournament where conditions are expected to favor their fast bowlers.

Scotland and Hampshire seamer Brad Wheal retires at 30

Scotland and Hampshire fast bowler Brad Wheal has retired at the age of 30, citing recurring injuries after four stress fractures in his back and recent knee surgery. He played 44 international matches for Scotland across ODIs and T20Is, taking 51 wickets, and said his body can no longer cope with the demands of fast bowling.

Wheal featured at four T20 World Cups, including the 2026 edition in India, and was part of Scotland teams that claimed landmark wins over Bangladesh and West Indies during his tenure. Announcing his decision, he reflected on representing his country with pride and thanked team-mates and supporters as he steps away from the professional game.

India tilt calendar toward Tests as WTC race tightens

India are recalibrating their schedule around Test cricket as they sit fifth in the 2025-27 World Test Championship table after already missing one WTC final in the previous cycle. With a difficult route back to the showpiece, the selectors have arranged for Shubman Gill and KL Rahul to leave the New Zealand ODI series after the first three games to prepare for the two home Tests against the same opposition starting November 19.

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested entirely from the ODIs so that he is fresh for that Test series, which begins only four days after the final ODI. The moves underline India's determination to correct recent red-ball stumbles as they juggle preparation for both the WTC and the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Delhi Capitals add Chaminda Vaas to heavyweight coaching group

Delhi Capitals have appointed former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas as their fast-bowling coach ahead of IPL 2027, filling the role held by Munaf Patel for the past two seasons. Vaas brings 355 Test wickets and 400 ODI wickets to the job, as well as World Cup-winning experience from 1996.

His arrival follows the appointments of Sourav Ganguly as head coach and Yuvraj Singh as batting and assistant coach, giving Delhi a high-profile, three-pronged coaching team. Vaas has prior experience as bowling coach in three separate spells with Sri Lanka and with Ireland at a T20 World Cup, and he also played IPL cricket with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers.

Washington Freedom break ground on 10,000-seat Maryland cricket venue

Major League Cricket franchise Washington Freedom has broken ground on a 10,000-seat stadium in Frederick, Maryland, with plans to open in 2027. The Sanjay Govil-owned team, which has reached three straight MLC finals and won the title in 2024, is building on a 24-acre former golf driving range site that will become the first cricket stadium in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic capable of hosting international matches.

Cricket West Indies chief executive Chris Dehring used the ceremony to float the possibility of West Indies facing India there one day, while Govil has spoken of wanting the venue tied in some form to the 2028 Olympics, when cricket returns to the Games. The project is pitched as a year-round community hub as well as the franchise's permanent home, with league officials casting it as a landmark for the sport's American growth.

BCCI selector candidates quizzed on Rohit Sharma's ODI future

Interviews to fill the fifth spot on India's men's selection committee have included direct questions about Rohit Sharma's ODI future, reflecting how central the issue has become to planning for the 2027 World Cup. The line of questioning comes amid Ajit Agarkar's exit as chair despite overseeing three ICC white-ball titles during his tenure.

Ramesh Powar and Salil Ankola have emerged as frontrunners for the vacancy, with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee driving a process that links the new selector's appointment to long-term calls on senior players and rising talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Ravindra Jadeja's 2027 World Cup chances hit by form, Axar Patel's rise

A Cricket Addictor report, citing a Times of India source, suggests Ravindra Jadeja is "not in India's scheme of things for the 2027 ODI World Cup," with Axar Patel now preferred as the left-arm spin allrounder. The same report notes that since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Jadeja has taken 14 wickets in 15 ODIs at an average of 47.92 and has not scored a half-century in the format for six years, numbers it argues have weakened his case as India plan their next 50-over cycle.

The same report outlines a view inside the setup that Axar offers greater wicket-taking potential and the versatility to bat anywhere from No. 4 to No. 7, while also matching Jadeja's fielding standards. Together with Jadeja's patchy recent returns, that assessment has left the veteran allrounder facing up to the prospect of missing a World Cup in a format where he has long been a mainstay.

Fraser-McGurk's 14-ball fifty sets Australian record but not world mark

Jake Fraser-McGurk has struck a 14-ball half-century for South Australia, the fastest by an Australian in any official match, on his way to 122 off 63 balls in a one-day game against Queensland. His innings, featuring heavy six-hitting from the top of the order, powered South Australia to a commanding total.

Even that surge could not match the global benchmark. India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still holds the world record for the fastest List A fifty, reaching the mark in 11 balls, leaving Fraser-McGurk's effort as another entry on a list that the Indian batter continues to top.