Tilak and Nitish lift India to four-wicket win over New Zealand

Tilak and Nitish lift India to four-wicket win over New Zealand

Mumbai Indians appointed Kieron Pollard as head coach for the 2027 IPL season, replacing Mahela Jayawardene. Pollard, who has been associated with the franchise since 2010 and served as batting coach for four seasons, was part of all five of MI’s IPL title-winning campaigns. The team last won the title in 2020.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has set January 23, 2027, for the PSL 12 player auction and opened a direct-signing window running from October 23 to November 23, 2026. Each franchise can directly sign one marquee player who did not play in either of the previous two PSL seasons.

South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje will miss the third Test against Australia because of a groin injury sustained while bowling in the first innings at Gqeberha. Scans confirmed the injury, and South Africa have retained the rest of their squad for the Newlands decider, scheduled to begin on October 27.

Afghanistan climbed to seventh in the ICC men’s ODI rankings after beating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the tri-series final at Sharjah. The team now has 94 rating points, one ahead of England, and has matched its highest-ever ranking.

India A were dismissed for 113 in 39.3 overs on the opening day of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln. Five batters made ducks, including KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar. Yash Rathod top-scored with an unbeaten 44.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored four from eight balls in his return to India’s playing XI for the second T20I against New Zealand. The 15-year-old, brought in for injured Ishan Kishan, was dismissed by Nathan Smith, with Daryl Mitchell taking the catch at cover.

Pratika Rawal hit an unbeaten 100 as India Women beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the first ODI in Vadodara. India chased 198 in 27.1 overs, winning with 137 balls to spare and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ishan Kishan missed the second T20I against New Zealand with a low-grade right adductor strain sustained in the series opener. The BCCI added wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra to the squad as cover.

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf said teams need to consider scoring 350 in ODIs as run rates rise. He said defending 300 was encouraging but added that bowlers must keep taking wickets in the middle overs to limit opposition scoring.

Australian umpire Ben Treloar officiated in the Delhi-Gujarat Ranji Trophy match at Palam as part of an exchange programme between Cricket Australia and the BCCI. The 44-year-old, from Sydney, is in India for the first time and is due to stand in two Ranji Trophy matches.

South Africa’s win over Australia by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha highlighted the team’s rise under coach Shukri Conrad, according to Hindustan Times. The victory levelled the series after South Africa lost the first Test and followed a comeback led by Temba Bavuma’s century and a strong bowling performance.

Pakistan wants to host matches at the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup that do not involve India, with the UAE being considered as a neutral venue for India’s games. The ICC has announced that the 12-team tournament will run from September 7 to October 1, 2028, with Pakistan as the principal host.

A Pakistan Cricket Board source said the board would ask the ICC to follow the hybrid arrangement used at the 2025 Champions Trophy, and the ICC has not yet finalised the neutral venue for India’s matches.