Gill confirms India’s top four and flexible plans for No. 5 and No. 6

Gill sets India’s top four for New Zealand ODIs

India captain Shubman Gill confirmed that he, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will make up the top four for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Gill said the team plans to keep the No. 5 and No. 6 positions flexible, with KL Rahul and Axar Patel available according to match needs.

Gill said Axar could be promoted when the team needs a left-handed batter, while Rahul could move up depending on the situation. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner identified India’s top order as a key challenge, highlighting Rohit’s attacking approach, Kohli’s role as an anchor and Gill’s form.

Glenn Maxwell retires from international cricket and Victoria first-class cricket

Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement from international cricket and from domestic 50-over and four-day cricket with Victoria, as reported by The Hindu and the Times of India. The 38-year-old made the announcement on The Final Word podcast, saying he wanted to invest more time in his fitness and prepare for the remaining tournaments in his career.

Maxwell played 149 ODIs, 130 T20 internationals and seven Tests for Australia, scoring 3,990 ODI runs and 2,897 T20I runs. He was part of Australia’s 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cup-winning teams and its 2021 T20 World Cup-winning side. He will continue playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.

Gill says Pandya’s return would balance India’s lower order

Gill said India’s No. 7 and No. 8 positions would be “sorted” when Hardik Pandya returns, pointing to the all-rounder’s batting and ability to bowl across different phases of a match. Pandya has been sidelined since the IPL with injuries, including a recent shin issue.

Gill said he had spoken with Pandya, who had been due to play India A matches before experiencing further niggles. The captain hopes Pandya will regain fitness, play domestic cricket and return to the India side.

Jaiswal and Rathod centuries earn India A a draw

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yash Rathod scored unbeaten centuries as India A drew the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval. Jaiswal made 155 from 162 balls and Rathod 100 from 122, sharing an unbeaten 247-run stand for the third wicket as India A reached 282 for 2, a lead of 204.

India A had lost Sai Sudharsan for 11 and Devdutt Padikkal for a duck before the pair began their partnership. Their centuries followed New Zealand A’s first-innings total of 424, which gave the hosts a 78-run lead.

India A and Pakistan name squads for Rising Stars Asia Cup

India A will be led by Tilak Varma at the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha from November 19 to 29, with Rajat Patidar as vice-captain. The squad includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana and Prince Yadav.

Pakistan, the defending champion, named a 15-player squad led by Abdul Samad. India A and Pakistan are in Group B with the United Arab Emirates and Nepal, and are scheduled to meet on November 22.

India-Pakistan World Cup match draws 8.4 million ticket requests

The India-Pakistan group match at the 2027 ODI World Cup has attracted nearly 8.4 million ticket requests, organisers said, for a fixture at Johannesburg’s Wanderers stadium, which holds 34,000 spectators. The teams are scheduled to meet on October 10.

The World Cup final, also scheduled for the Wanderers on November 21, has drawn nearly 7.9 million requests. The ICC has received more than 120 million ticket requests across the tournament, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Ireland’s Rebecca Stokell enters voluntary suspension over medication reporting breach

Ireland batter Rebecca Stokell accepted responsibility for an inadvertent breach of anti-doping reporting requirements involving prescription medication and entered a voluntary suspension while the ICC investigates. The ICC said a sample from an in-competition test on June 23, 2026, returned an adverse finding for a specified substance.

Cricket Ireland said the substance was not performance-enhancing. Stokell said she understood she was responsible for following the anti-doping guidelines and hoped to return to playing for Ireland.

Karnataka build 496 for 5 as Aneesh scores maiden first-class century

K.V. Aneesh made 142 not out and Aneeshwar Gautam scored 83 as Karnataka advanced from 180 for 2 overnight to 496 for 5 against Assam in the Ranji Trophy. Sportstar and The Hindu reported that it was Aneesh’s maiden first-class century.

Manvanth Kumar added an unbeaten 53. Karnataka had bowled Assam out for 135 on the opening day, with Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty taking five wickets apiece.

Sanghavi’s unbeaten fifty gives Maharashtra first-innings lead

Tanay Sanghavi scored an unbeaten 57 to help Maharashtra reach 207 for 9 against Bengal and take a 64-run first-innings lead. Maharashtra had been 102 for 7 before its lower order rallied, with Sanghavi and Pradeep Dadhe adding an unbroken 49 for the last wicket.

Bengal had been dismissed for 143. Bad light ended play early for the second consecutive day, according to The Hindu and Hindustan Times.

Paliwal’s unbeaten century leads Services recovery against Delhi

Services captain Rajat Paliwal made an unbeaten 111 to help his side recover from 44 for 4 and reach 266 against Delhi in their Ranji Trophy match. The Hindu reported that Paliwal shared a 69-run stand with Mohit Ahlawat and a 70-run partnership with Pulkit Narang.

Paliwal, 34, said he draws motivation from Paras Dogra, who led Jammu and Kashmir to the Ranji title last season. Sportstar and The Hindu also reported that Paliwal had the scoreboard operator keep his score hidden during his innings so he could maintain his concentration.

Sarfaraz Khan questions why he keeps pushing through the grind

Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan said he still asks himself why he should work harder, despite continuing his early-morning training routine. The Hindu reported that he scored a half-century against Railways after Mumbai lost three quick wickets.

Sarfaraz said his father, Naushad Khan, was the only person who had supported him. He said he continues to work for another opportunity in India colours while turning out for Mumbai in domestic cricket.

Prema Rawat sets women’s T20 record with 14-ball fifty

India leg-spinner Prema Rawat hit the fastest recorded fifty in women’s T20 cricket, reaching the milestone in 14 balls for Uttarakhand against Hyderabad in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. Her unbeaten 50 helped Uttarakhand post 187 for 2, and she followed up with 2 for 12 as Hyderabad finished on 98 for 8.

Rawat broke the previous 15-ball record, which had been shared by Fatima Sana, Marie Kelly and Laura Harris. Times of India reported that Fatima still holds the record for the fastest fifty in a women’s T20 international.

Atherton urges England to keep pressure on Australia

Former England captain Michael Atherton said England should use their upcoming white-ball tour of Australia to put pressure on the hosts and their selectors. Australia will face England in three ODIs and five T20Is, with the ODI series scheduled to begin on November 13.

Atherton’s comments came after Australia lost a Test series 2-1 to South Africa. Australia will be without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for the white-ball matches, with the fast bowlers being managed ahead of a busy Test schedule, Times of India reported.