Cricket News

‘Too many World Cups, so it’s little bit of an overkill’: R Ashwin urges ICC to follow FIFA’s pattern to hold marquee event once in 4 years

January 1, 2026 18:40 IST

Ashwin said that having just one 50-over event, the World Cup every four years, could also be a possible option to revive the ODI format.

Australian spinner Todd Murphy in action. (FILE PHOTO: Reuters)

Ashes: Todd Murphy is hopeful for spinners having a big role in Sydney Test

January 1, 2026 18:13 IST

Murphy has picked 22 wickets in seven Tests thus far, all of which have come away from home.

England pacer Josh Tongue in action against Australia in fourth Test in Melbourne. (PHOTO: AP)

Stuart Broad heaps praise on Josh Tongue: ‘Has done himself the world of good being on this Ashes trip’

January 1, 2026 17:54 IST

Having missed out on the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane, Tongue made a serious impact ever since his inclusion in the playing XI in the Adelaide Test.

Kohli has been in top form in ODIs this year since retiring from Tests and has simply carried that form into the Vijay Hazare trophy, recording scores of 131 and 77 thus far. (Pic Credit: Virat Kohli instagram)

From Virat Kohli to Chris Gayle, how cricket stars rang in New Year 2026

January 1, 2026 17:06 IST

Cricketers took to social media to with their fans a happy new year and gave a snippet into how they celebrated the occassion.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action during first ODI vs South Africa in Ranchi. (PHOTO: AP)

R Ashwin worried about future of ODI cricket after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli retire

January 1, 2026 16:17 IST

Ashwin said that he feels Test cricket will continue to have its space even in the age of T20s, but he is not sure if fans want to see too much ODI cricket at the expense of either.

Khawaja was picked in Australia’s squad for the series finale and has made scores of 82, 40, 29, and 0 in his last four Test innings. (AP Photo)

Usman Khawaja to address a press conference ahead of 5th Ashes Test amid retirement talk: Reports

January 1, 2026 15:17 IST

A Sydney Morning Herald report stated that Usman Khawaja will speak to the media at 8:15 a.m. local time, amid speculation about his retirement.

Bailey said that Australia are expecting Cummins, Hazlewood and David to be back to full fitness in time for the 2026 T20 World Cup. (Express Photo by Nirmal Hareendran)

Recovering Pat Cummins, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood included in Australia’s provisional T20 World Cup squad

January 1, 2026 11:24 IST

Chairman of selectors George Bailey said that the injured players are recovering well and will be fit in time for the World Cup.

In 2025, two moments laid bare how far fans have slipped down the priority list — both ending in tragedy: a stampede in Bengaluru, then chaos in Kolkata (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Looking ahead at 2026: Fan experiences, lack of a Test No. 3, political instability – the messes, on and off field, that need cleaning up

January 1, 2026 10:18 IST

In this three-part series, The Indian Express team outlines what they look forward to in 2026

Vijay Hazare: Rishabh Pant fails to fire as Delhi suffer big defeat at the hands of Odisha

January 1, 2026 00:01 IST

With the national selectors set to announce the squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in first week of January, it was the charismatic India keeper-batter and Delhi skipper Pant, who was the focus of attention.

Smriti Mandhana Deepti Sharma Highest ODI run getters

Women’s ODIs in 2025: Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma top ODI charts for runs and wickets

December 31, 2025 21:06 IST

In the batting department, Mandhana finished as the top run-scorer for the second straight calendar year. Among bowlers, it was a year of spinners. Deepti, player of the tournament at the World Cup, finished with 39 wickets from 23 matches at an average of 27.1 and picking up a five-for.

England pacer Gus Atkinson in action during Brisbane Ashes Test. (PHOTO: Reuters)

‘Gus Atkinson needs to work on his body language,’ says Stuart Broad after a flat show in Ashes

December 31, 2025 20:38 IST

Atkinson has looked flat in the tour and has only picked six wickets at an average of 47.

Australia batter Travis Head in action during the first Ashes against England. (PHOTO: AP)

Emotionally drained Travis Head hints at skipping BBL, targets fresh start for 2026 T20 World Cup after Ashes

December 31, 2025 20:12 IST

Head is keen for a mental and physical break, which means he's highly unlikely to feature for his BBL franchise, the Adelaide Strikers.

Leading run getters in 2025: Shubman Gill highest run scorer in international & Tests; Joe Root leads chart in ODIs, Karanbir Singh in T20Is

December 31, 2025 18:51 IST

Gill pipped star West Indies batter Shai Hope by just four runs to finish the year as the leading run scorer.

Indian spinner Vaishnavi Sharma with captain Harmanpreet Kaur during fifth T20I vs Sri Lanka. (PHOTO: CREIMAS FOR BCCI)

Destiny’s child: Astrologer’s daughter Vaishnavi Sharma has the makings of a star

January 1, 2026 06:11 IST

The 20-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma took five wickets in her debut series against Sri Lanka; "When Vaishnavi was born, I made her horoscope... there were strong indications for sports and also for becoming a doctor," her father Narendra Sharma said.

He played 67 Tests for Australia from 1992 to 2006, scoring 4406 runs at 46.37 including 13 centuries. (AP Photo)

R Ashwin, VVS Laxman among members of cricket community wishing Damien Martyn speedy recovery

December 31, 2025 17:19 IST

Wishes have poured in for Damien Martyn, who has been hospitalised and is in an induced coma.

‘CSK should look at riding his purple patch by slotting him into the Playing XII surely?’: R Ashwin on Sarfaraz Khan

December 31, 2025 16:40 IST

Sarfaraz has been in electric form in the domestic circuit this season, scoring a century and three half centuries in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Indian team end 2025 year as the highest ranked ODI and T20I side. (PHOTO: PTI)

ICC Team Rankings: India end 2025 as highest-ranked ODI & T20I side; Australia dominate Test charts; Full rankings across format

December 31, 2025 15:57 IST

India have dominated the white ball cricket in 2025 and will end the year as the highest-ranked side both in One Day Internationals and in T20Is.

Afghanistan's run to the semi-final of the 2024 edition was among the standout stories of the tournament. (AP Photo)

Rashid Khan named captain as Afghanistan announce squad for 2026 T20 World Cup

December 31, 2025 15:25 IST

Afghanistan are the fifth squad to name their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, after India, Sri Lanka, Oman and England

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim against Premier League match vs Wolves. (PHOTO: AP)

Gary Neville blasts Ruben Amorim over Manchester United’s ‘appalling’ back-three reversion in Wolves draw

December 31, 2025 14:30 IST

Neville was particularly disappointed with Amorim's decision to play back three against Wolves, which cost them two crucial points.

Dhruv Jurel scored 160 against Baroda and helped UP continue the winning run in Vijay Hazare. (PHOTO: X)

‘Feels good when you go abroad and people call you a Test cricketer’: Dhruv Jurel already thinking of 2026 Sri Lanka series

December 31, 2025 14:16 IST

Dhruv Jurel has been among the top performers in the early exchanges of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

India captain Shubman Gill reacts after his injury on day 2 of the Kolkata Test. (Express Photo by Partha Paul).

More Sports

Sports Looking ahead at 2026: Fan experiences, lack of a Test No. 3, political instability – the messes, on and off field, that need cleaning up

Sports Looking ahead at 2026: From young guns at Asian Games to R Praggnanandhaa’s championship charge, will new year see new names emerge?

With Praggnanandhaa being the lone Indian representative at the Candidates, he carries the hopes of the country’s chess fanatics who fancy an all-Indian World Championship final. (AP/Lennart Ootes)

Sports Looking ahead to 2026: Can the big stars, from India’s cricket teams to Lionel Messi and D Gukesh, defend their crowns?

India have a golden opportunity in their hands to match what West Indies did in the 1970s, and Australia did in the 2000s; Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be giving what could be their final push for a FIFA World Cup

Sports Destiny's child: Astrologer's daughter Vaishnavi Sharma has the makings of a star

PHOTOS

In Pictures: Chaos at Salt Lake Stadium after Lionel Messi’s brief appearance sparks fan anger

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