India all-rounder Washington Sundar

New Delhi: India all-rounder Washington Sundar was on Wednesday ruled out of the five-match T20 series against New Zealand due to a side strain.

Washington had experienced discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand. Subsequently, he was ruled out of the three match ODI series.

Now, it has been determined that he won’t be able to recover in time for the five match T20 series beginning in Nagpur on January 21.

“Washington Sundar has been ruled out from T20 series vs NZ due to side strain,” a BCCI official told PTI.

Washington’s injury puts question mark over his participation in the T20 World Cup, beginning February 7.

Tilak Varma too is out of the first three T20s versus New Zealand due to a groin injury that required surgery.

Ranchi (PTI): Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi went berserk en route to a blistering 84-ball 190, including hitting 15 sixes, while reaching the three-figure mark in just 36 balls for Bihar in their Vijay Hazare Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh here on Wednesday.

With his sustained, brutal onslaught against an attack that was pedestrian in terms of quality, the 14-year-old opener lit up what would otherwise have been a normal opening day of the 50-over domestic tournament.

Suryavanshi’s ton is the second-fastest hundred by an Indian in List A cricket. The Indian record is held by Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh, who struck a 35-ball hundred against the same opposition in 2024.

Besides his 15 maximums, Suryavanshi also smashed 16 fours during his stay in the middle, only three days after his failure in the final of the U19 Asia Cup against Pakistan in the UAE.

The list of the quickest hundred in this form of the game is topped by Jake Fraser-McGurk (29 balls) for South Australia against Tasmania in the 2023-24 season and the great AB de Villiers (31 balls) for South Africa against West Indies in Johannesburg.

Suryavanshi, though, now holds the record for the youngest List A centurion.

Bihar chose to bat after winning to toss.

Sanju Samson

New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals are likely to trade their captain Sanju Samson for star Chennai Super Kings all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026.

Samson has spent a majority of his IPL career with the Royals whom he has also led since being named their full-time captain in IPL 2021.

A senior official from five-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings confirmed to PTI that the franchise is interested in roping in the 30-year-old Samson, who has also been a regular member of the Indian T20I side.

“Everyone knows we are interested in getting Sanju. We have expressed our interest of procuring him in this trading window. RR is yet to confirm as their management said they are weighing the options. We are hopeful Sanju will play for CSK,” a senior CSK official said on condition of anonymity.

Samson has represented RR, the winners of the inaugural IPL in 2008, for 11 years and after the conclusion of this year’s edition, the wicketkeeper-batter had admitted that he was looking for a change and wanted to be released by the franchise.

Jadeja, who was a member of the Rajasthan Royals in the first two IPL editions, has spent a majority of his career at Chennai Super Kings where he has not just been one of their frontline players, but was also promoted to captaincy when MS Dhoni stepped away from the role before the 2022 edition.

The 27-year-old England all-rounder Curran has been a part of CSK as well as Punjab Kings franchises.

For the trade off to proceed, both RR and CSK will be required to provide expression of interest to the IPL governing council and once the players provide their written consents, the two teams will have to work out the final agreement, which also would be ratified by the governing body.

Dubai: In an unprecedented turn of events, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in his capacity as the chairman of Asian Cricket Council (ACC), denied the Indian cricket team the Asia Cup Trophy, after it refused to accept the silverware from him.

It was 90 minutes of pure drama at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India won the Asia Cup beating Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling final here on Sunday.

However, what happened after a high-octane game of cricket overshadowed the performance on the 22 yards.

The Indian players were soon out on the field with some of the players being accompanied by their respective families. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s wife Devisha, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s wife and daughters were on the ground as everyone was in good spirits.

Exactly 20-25 yards from where the ‘Men In Blue’ gathered, another melee was formed with ACC and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi standing with his coterie.

It is learnt that BCCI had informed their ACC points-person that the team won’t take the award from Naqvi, who has a pronounced anti-India stance.

Naqvi had posted cryptic videos of Cristiano Ronaldo’s plane crash gesture celebrations, a reference to the Pakistani claims that six Indian jets were downed during ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Naqvi was also behind Pakistan’s demand that ICC charge Suryakumar with a Level 4 offence for standing by the Indian Army and showing solidarity with victims of Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian team had also maintained a ‘no handshake’ policy with regards to Pakistan during the tournament.

For the first one hour of the delayed presentation, none of the Pakistan players were on the ground for the ceremony.

It is learnt that the Indian team was game to receiving the trophy from anyone else among the dignitaries on the podium save Naqvi. Dubai Sports City Khalid Al Zarooni, who was also on the dais, was even expected to present India with the Asia Cup.

However, amid the BCCI’s clear stand, the Indian players didn’t want to go up on stage till Naqvi was around and the PCB chairman did not oblige.

“BCCI would have lodged official protest if Naqvi had tried to forcefully hand over the trophy,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

In this backdrop, post-match presenter Simon Doull made announcement for the individual sponsors’ awards as it is mandatory to acknowledge the stakeholders and investors of the event.

Once the individual awards were given and the Pakistan team collected their prizes from Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul, Doull announced: “I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”

As Naqvi got down from the podium and strode towards the exit gate, the ACC event staff, to everyone surprise also walked away with the trophy leaving everyone flummoxed.

BCB president Bulbul, who is seen to be a close ally of Naqvi (the last ACC meet that BCCI skipped was held in Dhaka), spoke to mediapersons stationed outside the stadium informing them that prize distribution ceremony had to be abruptly called off in the middle of the proceedings due to India’s refusal.

The Indian squad, along with support staff, gathered near the podium to celebrate briefly and also did a photo-session albeit without the trophy.

“We have decided not to take the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told select group of news agencies at the board headquarters in Mumbai.

He also asked Naqvi to return the Championship trophy and individual medals as soon as possible.

“But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals. So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”

When Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha was asked about it, he backed his chairman’s controversial move.

“Look he is the ACC chairman. He is well within his rights to give away the trophy.”

BCCI to gun for Naqvi ouster from ACC

The BCCI, which had its AGM on Sunday, is furious at the turn of events and will approach the ICC for some action as Saikia declared.

“There is an ICC conference in November in Dubai. In the next conference, we are going to launch a very serious and very strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson (Naqvi),” Saikia said.

Scheduling for next year’s World T20

The India vs Pakistan games are the proverbial cash cows in the global cricket’s broadcast ecosystem.

Hence efforts are always made to squeeze in as many games possible in multi-lateral events.

But the chain of events in Dubai on Sunday will certainly have a sour aftertaste and stakeholders will need to decide at what cost they want to have these games which increase animosity as was evident during the Asia Cup.

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin

Chennai: Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, bringing the curtains down on a 16-year-long association with the tournament within months of calling it quits from international cricket.

Ashwin made the announcement through a social media post.

“They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today,” Ashwin posted on X,

“Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years and most importantly the IPL and the BCCI for what they have given me until now. Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me,” he added.

The 38-year-old had retired from international cricket in December last year during the tour of Australia after a decorated career that saw him become India’s second-highest wicket-taker (537) in Tests behind Anil Kumble (619).

In the IPL, he was one of the brightest minds to play the game, making his debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2009. His last appearance too came in the yellow jersey in IPL 2025, after rejoining CSK for Rs 9.75 crore following a decade-long gap.

Overall, he featured in 221 IPL matches, taking 187 wickets at an average of 30.22 with best figures of 4/34. With the bat, he scored 833 runs with a highest of 50 and an average of 13.02.

Ashwin was an integral member of CSK’s title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011 and also turned out for the now defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals during his career in the league.

London Mohammed Siraj provided the first breakthrough to dismiss Zak Crawley as England reached 50 for one chasing 374 at the close of play on day three in the fifth and final Test, here on Saturday.

Crawley and Duckett had made a sedate start to take England to 50 but Siraj struck on the penultimate ball of the day. Siraj cleaned up Crawley for 14 for India’s first success.

Earlier, India were bowled out for 396 and set a target of 374 with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting 118, Akash Deep getting his maiden fifty to score 66 and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar scoring 53 each.

England need another 324 runs to win with two day’s play and eight wickets left, given Chris Woakes will not be able to bat.

Brief scores:

India 224 & 396 lead England 247 & 50/1 in 13.5 overs (Ben Duckett 34 batting; Mohammed Siraj 1/11) by 324 runs.

Manchester: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill struck fine hundreds as India secured a morale-boosting draw in the 4th Test here on Sunday.

The stalemate was achieved after Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107 not out), and Washington (101 not out) fired with the bat on a fifth day pitch after India started their second innings 311 runs in arrears.

England lead the series 2-1 heading into the fifth and final Test.

For skipper Gill, this was his fourth century of the ongoing rubber as he became the first Asian batter to cross 700 runs in a Test series in England.

Earlier in the day, opener Rahul was dismissed by Ben Stokes for a doughty 90, ending a 188-run partnership for the third wicket with Gill.

Resuming the day on 174 for two and with a deficit of 137 runs, overnight batter Gill completed his hundred before falling to Jofra Archer just before lunch at Old Trafford.

Brief scores:

India: 358 and 425/4 in 143 overs (KL Rahul 90, Shubman Gill 103, Ravindra Jadeja 107, Washington Sundar 101; Chris Woakes 2/67)

England 1st innings: 669 all out in 157.1 overs (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141, Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 4/143).

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly

Kolkata: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday said he has no issues with India being placed in the same group as Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup, asserting that while terrorism must end, sport must continue.

As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A and are set to face off at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14.

“I’m okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it’s in the past now. Sport must go on,” Ganguly told PTI.

The T20 tournament will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.

India will begin their campaign against UAE on September 10 and are expected to play all their matches in Dubai. India and Pakistan could also meet again in the Super Four stage on September 21.

Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will allow 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament, with matches scheduled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

While the BCCI is the official host, the tournament is being held in the UAE as India and Pakistan have agreed to play only at neutral venues till 2027 due to ongoing cross-border tensions.

The two countries had come close to the brink of war following the Pahalgam attack, to which India responded with Operation Sindoor.

Manchester: India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Monday confirmed Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the fourth Test beginning at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Bumrah, who has been earmarked to play in three Tests out of five due to workload management, had missed the second Test at Edgbaston that India won handsomely before returning for the following game at Lord’s which was lost by 22 runs.

With India trailing 1-2 and series on the line, former India captain Anil Kumble had recently spoken about the need to play the star pacer in the last two Tests.

Following the team’s first outdoor session in Manchester, Siraj at least cleared the suspense over Bumrah’s availability for the fourth Test.

“Jassi bhai will play as far as I know, our combination is changing day by day (due to injuries),” Siraj told reporters.

Asked about the plans specific to next game, he replied: “Our plan is to keep bowling in good areas considering how England play. We want them to play with patience like they played in the last match. We felt good about playing proper Test cricket,”

With Arshdeep Singh ruled out of the Manchester Test due to a hand injury, India have added seamer Anshul Kamboj to the squad. Nitish Reddy has also been ruled out of the entire series due to a knee injury, forcing the team to rejig its combination.

Akash Deep, nursing a groin injury, did not bowl in the main nets on Monday.

“Akash Deep, he has a groin issue, physios are examining. He bowled in the morning as well. Yet to get feedback from physio. Anshul has come in now that Arshdeep is injured. Good luck to him,” Siraj didn’t reveal much about the combination.

India’s pace spearhead Bumrah did not bowl long in the nets due to slippery nature of the surface before moving to the field of play for more overs under his belt.