The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could step in to fund next year's scheduled Women's Test in the West Indies as it looks to ensure England's preparations for the Women's Ashes remain on track. ECB chair Richard Thompson said the board was prepared to examine the financial implications of England's multi-format tour of the Caribbean, which is scheduled for April and May. The tour is expected to include one Test, three T20Is and three ODIs and will be an important part of England's preparations for the Women's Ashes. England are aiming to win the Women's Ashes for the first time since the 2013-14 series. The possibility of ECB financial support comes after Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at addressing its financial difficulties. The measures include a 25 per cent reduction in player retainer fees and the suspension of the men's Super50 tournament and women's T20 Blaze. CWI chief executive Chris Dehring described the decisions as "not ideal" but said they were necessary to move the organisation towards greater financial stability. He also revealed that intra-island travel alone had cost CWI more than US$80 million over the past 15 years. There are currently no formal discussions between the ECB and CWI over funding the Women's Test. However, a precedent exists. Earlier this year, Australia's scheduled Women's Test against West Indies was cancelled, although the white-ball matches in the series went ahead. Speaking at the launch of new ECB initiatives aimed at expanding cricket across more than 1,700 state secondary schools and supporting over 3,500 teachers, Thompson stressed the importance of England having a red-ball fixture ahead of the Ashes. England's first Women's Ashes match will be a Test at Headingley in June, making the West Indies Test particularly valuable as preparation. "We will definitely look at it," Thompson said. "Look what we did with Zimbabwe two years ago. We want that Test match to play out. It's very important for us because our first women's match in the Ashes is the Headingley Test match. So we need a good red-ball warm-up." "We've got to be playing somewhere, and I think we'd much prefer to be playing in the West Indies," he added. Thompson's comments referenced the ECB's decision to pay Zimbabwe a tour fee for their one-off men's Test in England, an arrangement that could provide a possible model for supporting the West Indies fixture. CWI's financial difficulties have also been linked to a US$16 million loan secured from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in July. According to Dehring, the loan will be released in three instalments beginning this month, with repayment dependent on the board meeting certain "critical metrics". Thompson expressed sympathy for West Indies cricket and said the ECB hoped the wider cricketing community could help the region overcome its financial challenges. "We all have a huge sympathy with the West Indies. We really want to see a successful West Indian nation. They have very unique challenges, and I hope through ICC and others we can find a way through," he said. The financial pressures facing West Indies cricket have highlighted wider concerns about the growing disparity between cricket boards. Similar questions were raised during England's 2026 home summer, particularly during Pakistan's 3-0 Test series defeat, when the difference in resources and competitiveness between the two sides became increasingly apparent. Despite those concerns, Thompson played down suggestions that England's 2026 summer had been disappointing overall. He instead pointed to the strong performance of recreational cricket across England and Wales. More than 260,000 fixtures were completed during what was the country's driest summer since records began. The inaugural Knight-Stokes Cup, a new national competition for state secondary schools, attracted 1,084 entries from 750 schools and culminated in a Finals Day at Lord's. "It's the biggest recreational summer we've ever had," Thompson said, highlighting the scale of participation across the country. He also pointed to the £520 million raised through the ECB's sale of stakes in the eight Hundred franchises as a major opportunity to invest in the future of the game. The ECB has already unveiled initiatives including "Cricket for Teachers" and "Secondary Countdown Cricket", which Thompson said were made possible by the funds generated through the Hundred's equity sale. "These probably wouldn't have happened without the Hundred. It's an opportunity to reboot the game in a way that we never thought was imaginable," he said. For now, the status of the Women's Test in the Caribbean remains uncertain. But with England's Ashes campaign approaching, the ECB appears willing to explore financial support to ensure the crucial red-ball fixture goes ahead.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the head coach of Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The franchise confirmed the appointment through a social media post on Tuesday, formalising a move that had been widely anticipated. Ganguly is expected to be joined by former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who is likely to take up the role of batting coach. However, Delhi Capitals have not yet made an official announcement regarding Yuvraj's appointment. The coaching overhaul comes after Delhi Capitals finished sixth in the 2026 IPL season. The franchise is set to move on from the coaching team that had been in place for the previous two seasons, which included team director Venugopal Rao, head coach Hemang Badani, bowling coach Munaf Patel and assistant coach Ian Bell. "Delhi Capitals is a franchise very close to my heart, and one that I have shared a strong relationship with over the years," Ganguly said after his appointment. "I have worked closely with the owners, management, support staff and players, which makes this an exciting responsibility for me." "We have a talented group and have played a good brand of cricket in the recent past. I am looking forward to working with the squad, the new season, and building a strong and fearless team," he added. Ganguly has maintained a close association with Delhi Capitals and its ownership group over the years. He joined JSW Sports as its director of cricket in 2024 and had previously served as Delhi's mentor during the 2019 IPL season, before taking over as BCCI president. His appointment also marks another step in his coaching career. Ganguly served as head coach of Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 during the 2025 season, his first major coaching assignment. He has also remained involved with Delhi Capitals' Women's Premier League setup. The latest development comes in line with the operational arrangement between DC's co-owners, GMR Sports India Pvt Ltd and JSW Sports. Following the 2024 IPL season, the two ownership groups agreed to alternate control of the franchise's operations in two-year cycles. Delhi Capitals chairman and co-owner Parth Jindal welcomed Ganguly's appointment, describing him as an integral part of the franchise's family. "Dada [Ganguly] is and has always been an integral part of the Delhi Capitals family. I am incredibly proud and honoured to announce that one of the greatest Indian captains and administrators is now stepping into coaching by taking over as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals," Jindal said. "I am excited to see him take on this role and I'm sure that under his guidance and visionary leadership Delhi Capitals will be best prepared to challenge for the IPL title," he added. GMR Sports founder and DC co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi also backed Ganguly's appointment, highlighting his understanding of the franchise and his experience in cricket administration. "Ganguly has played an important role in strengthening our cricketing structure. His deep understanding of the franchise, coupled with his experience and leadership, will be invaluable as we move forward," Grandhi said. The franchise has also made a major move in its playing squad ahead of IPL 2027, bringing back India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants. Pant returns to Delhi as part of a trade involving spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Pant spent nine seasons with Delhi Capitals from 2016 to 2024 and is now set for a reunion with the franchise. With Ganguly taking charge and Pant returning to the squad, Delhi Capitals will hope the changes can finally help them end their wait for a maiden IPL title.

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three international formats, bringing an end to a leadership tenure that saw India win their first-ever women’s ODI World Cup title last year. The 37-year-old announced her decision through an Instagram post on Tuesday, saying she was leaving the captaincy with a sense of peace and believed the Indian team was in a strong position for the future. Harmanpreet led India in five Tests, 51 ODIs and 155 T20Is. Her final assignment as captain came last month when she guided India to their second consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games in Nisshin. The announcement came a day after Harmanpreet, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and head coach Amol Muzumdar met BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in Guwahati to discuss the future roadmap of the Indian women’s team. ‘I Have Given Everything I Had’ Explaining her decision, Harmanpreet acknowledged the emotional weight of stepping away from the leadership role after years at the helm. “This is not an easy decision,” she wrote. “It carries years of memories, emotions, sacrifices, and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Harmanpreet said she had often placed the team’s interests ahead of her own ambitions and individual development during her time as captain. “I have given everything I had to this team and to Indian women's cricket - my blood, my sweat, my time, and many times, a part of my own game and personal ambitions,” she said. She also reflected on the difficult decisions she had to make as captain, saying her primary objective was always to create an environment in which other players could develop and perform at their best. “As a captain, I have had to make difficult decisions. Decisions that were not always understood, not always easy, and sometimes came at a personal cost. But every decision I made was with one intention - to make this TEAM better and to give other players the opportunity to grow, believe in themselves and become the best versions of themselves,” she added. Captaincy Change Had Been Speculated Speculation over a possible change in leadership had been growing for some time, particularly following India’s second consecutive group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup in June. The selection committee, headed by Amita Sharma, was reportedly divided over the captaincy question. Harmanpreet had previously expressed her desire to remain at the helm and lead India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, she has now decided to step aside and allow the team to move into a new phase under different leadership. “I leave the captaincy today with a heart full of emotions, but also with PEACE,” Harmanpreet said. “Because I genuinely believe My team is in a good place. A team with talent, character, belief and a future that I am incredibly excited to watch and be a part of.” Smriti Mandhana Emerges as Leading Successor With Harmanpreet stepping down, Smriti Mandhana is widely expected to be among the leading candidates to take over the captaincy. Mandhana has increasingly demonstrated her leadership credentials over the past few years. She has also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to WPL titles in 2024 and 2026, strengthening her case for the India captaincy. The left-handed opener has also spoken openly about her readiness to take on greater responsibility, adding further weight to speculation that she could become India’s next captain. A Successful Captaincy Era Harmanpreet first captained India in T20Is in 2012. She emerged as a serious contender for the full-time leadership role following India’s group-stage exit from the 2016 T20 World Cup on home soil. She eventually succeeded Mithali Raj as India’s full-time captain in 2018. Under her leadership, India reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals in the Caribbean that year and went on to finish runners-up at the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia. Her biggest achievement came last year when she led India to their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title, marking a historic moment in Indian women’s cricket. Despite giving up the international captaincy, Harmanpreet is not expected to walk away from T20 cricket. She is set to continue playing in the Women’s Premier League and is expected to lead Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season as the franchise looks to secure its third WPL title. For Harmanpreet, the captaincy may be over, but her international career and connection with Indian cricket continue. “Captaincy may end today, but my love for Indian cricket never will,” she said.

Pakistan Champions have withdrawn from the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the team’s participation in the tournament. The decision brings an end to a prolonged standoff between the PCB and the WCL organisers. The Pakistan board had previously taken a firm stance against participation in the tournament, accusing the competition of “hypocrisy and bias” and alleging that it had mixed politics with sport. In a statement last year, the PCB had announced a “blanket ban” on Pakistan’s participation in the WCL and made it clear that it would not condone future involvement in the competition. Despite the WCL organisers’ efforts to obtain the necessary NOCs, the PCB maintained its position. Pakistan Champions, who finished runners-up to South Africa in last year’s tournament, were consequently forced to withdraw from this year’s edition. “Pakistan Champions regret to confirm that the team will not be able to participate in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL), following the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to uphold its refusal to issue the required NOC,” the team said in a statement. The team’s owner, Kamil Khan, had formally requested the PCB to reconsider its decision and remained in discussions with the board regarding participation. However, the talks failed to produce a resolution. “We respect PCB's authority and its decision, while naturally being disappointed that our players will not have the opportunity to represent Pakistan Champions at this global gathering of cricketing legends,” the statement added. The WCL began on October 3 with a match between India and Australia. Pakistan’s opening fixture against Bangladesh was postponed as organisers attempted to reach an agreement with the PCB. The organisers were reportedly willing to reschedule Pakistan’s matches while discussions over the NOCs continued. However, with Pakistan scheduled to face Australia on Monday, it became increasingly clear that a resolution would not be reached in time. The Pakistan Champions squad was set to feature several former Pakistan stars, with Shahid Afridi expected to lead the side. Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz were among the other prominent names in the squad. PCB's Dispute with WCL The PCB’s opposition to the WCL intensified after India withdrew from two matches against Pakistan during last year’s tournament, including the semi-final. Pakistan were awarded a walkover in the semi-final, but the PCB was particularly unhappy after India’s withdrawal from a group-stage match resulted in India being awarded a point. The PCB described the decision as “an unacceptable message to the international sporting community” and subsequently took a strong stance against the tournament. Despite attempts by the WCL organisers to resolve the issue and facilitate Pakistan’s participation this year, the PCB ultimately stood by its earlier decision. As a result, Pakistan Champions will not take part in this year’s WCL, ending their campaign before they could take the field.

India A batter Sai Sudharsan has said he is not concerned about competition for places in the Indian team and remains focused on building his own career path. The 24-year-old made the remarks ahead of India A’s first one-day match against Australia A in Puducherry. Sudharsan missed India’s two-match Test series in Sri Lanka due to a toe injury, with Devdutt Padikkal taking his place at No. 3. However, the Tamil Nadu batter said he does not view the situation as a battle between players for a spot in the team. “I feel mentally we have to understand that we are all writing our own story rather than playing against each other,” Sudharsan said. “Having trust and belief in ourselves and divine timing will make everything pan out fantastically well.” Sudharsan is primarily an opener in white-ball cricket, having regularly opened for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Gujarat Titans in the IPL. With several players competing for top-order positions in the India A squad, his role in the upcoming one-day series remains a key talking point. Along with Sudharsan, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Devdutt Padikkal and Arshin Kulkarni are among the top-order options. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to bat at No. 4, a position he recently occupied for the senior Indian side in the ODIs against the West Indies. Sudharsan, however, said he is not thinking about where he needs to fit into the batting order. “I don't think I am looking at finding a place anywhere. I have always been opening in 50-over cricket and T20 cricket. So, I look at it that way and try to give my best and perform so that the team wins from a good position. That's what I'm focused on,” he said. The batter recently returned from injury during India A’s four-day matches. He scored a steady half-century on a challenging pitch in the opening game before making just 8 and 12 in the second match. He will now look to regain his rhythm in white-ball cricket against an Australia A side featuring several players with international experience. Sudharsan believes the intensity of A-team tours closely resembles international cricket and sees the series as an important opportunity to prepare for the challenges ahead. “The intensity on A tours is almost on par with international cricket,” he said. “As Bala Sir [India A head coach L Balaji] said, shadow tours help fine-tune our batting, bowling, and decision-making continuously.” With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaching, Sudharsan also highlighted the importance of A tours in helping players adapt to conditions and understand the environment they may encounter in Australia. “With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy coming up in a few months, these multi-day A games help us understand how pitches behave and how Australian culture operates. Tomorrow's game will feel like a proper international match,” he said. India A head coach L Balaji, meanwhile, praised the depth of Indian cricket and the opportunities available to players across formats. “Four teams were competing simultaneously - Rest of India in Srinagar, India A in Pondicherry, the main [ODI] team in the West Indies, and another in the Asian Games,” Balaji said. According to Balaji, the competition within Indian cricket is healthy and provides players with opportunities to develop across all three formats. “It's good to have healthy competition. Players have space to work across three formats. The mindset should be to make the most of these ample opportunities, and those performing are getting their due,” he added. For Sudharsan, the immediate focus is clear: make the most of his opportunity against Australia A and let his performances determine the next chapter of his career.

India’s bowling attack will face a fresh challenge when the five-match T20I series against West Indies begins on Tuesday, with Jasprit Bumrah absent and batting-friendly conditions expected to test the team’s young pace options. India bowling coach Morne Morkel believes the series will provide an important opportunity for fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav to continue developing as they gain experience at the international level. “They are both young and are still learning their trade,” Morkel said. “Sometimes the challenge is that you have them for a small window of time and then they go away. Although we keep in touch and stay connected, it is hard to keep your personal touch as a bowling coach on them.” Morkel added that the coaching staff would look to improve their work with the young pacers in the future. “I am excited to see how they go with this opportunity,” he said. Mayank looks to build on experience Tuesday will mark two years since Mayank Yadav made his India debut. However, injuries have restricted the express pacer to just five additional T20I appearances during that period. After returning from injury, Mayank showed encouraging signs during India’s T20I series in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Besides his raw pace, the 22-year-old has also worked on developing a slower delivery to add another dimension to his bowling. His variations were evident during the IPL, where he used a slower ball to outfox experienced batter Rohit Sharma. Morkel said Mayank’s ability to overcome setbacks and return to the international setup highlighted his attitude. “When you look at Mayank, immediately what comes to mind is his pace, his X-factor,” Morkel said. “For a young player to get through that and then again find himself in a situation to play for India just shows attitude.” Prince Yadav's rapid rise Prince Yadav has enjoyed a much quicker rise into the Indian team following an impressive IPL 2026 campaign. The young seamer impressed with his ability to swing the ball both ways, bowl effective short deliveries and consistently land yorkers. His dismissal of Virat Kohli during the IPL further underlined his ability to challenge top-class batters. Prince has since made six T20I and three ODI appearances for India. Morkel, however, admitted that the coaching staff has not had enough continuous time with either young bowler because of India's busy international schedule and split tours. “For me, Prince was a net bowler in the IPL a couple of years ago and is now playing for India,” Morkel said. “At the end of the day, you want guys in a squad or playing for India who have fantastic attitudes, who are keen to keep working hard, because those guys will deliver for the team.” Dube and Reddy provide extra bowling options India are also exploring additional four-over bowling options, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the players who could be called upon to contribute with the ball. Morkel said conditions at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, where the boundaries are relatively large, could increase the value of part-time seamers. “You never know, in certain conditions, the ball might grip a little bit more and it might suit one guy, and then they will become four-over bowlers,” Morkel said. He added that the team would assess pitch behaviour and boundary dimensions before deciding how to use its bowling resources. “We have got a luxury here that it is quite a big field, so these guys come into the conversation a lot more,” he said. Samson or Sooryavanshi to open? India also face a selection decision at the top of the batting order, with Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi competing to partner Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi opened during India’s recent tours of the UK and the Asian Games, while Samson was used as an opener during the T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi and the one-off match against Japan. Morkel suggested India could rotate the two players during the series. “I am pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate them,” he said, referring to head coach Gautam Gambhir. “The guys just came back from the Asian Games, so we want to see how everybody is feeling after jet lag, after travelling, and then from there make the plan.” Morkel urges Sooryavanshi to learn from senior players Even if Sooryavanshi does not feature in the opening game, Morkel believes the youngster can benefit enormously simply by being around India's experienced players. “If he is not getting that game time, he is still on a bus, in the dugout, in the hotel with guys with a lot of experience,” Morkel said. The bowling coach said he regularly encourages young players to closely observe how senior batters prepare and approach different situations. “I always challenge him. I say, ‘Watch what this guy is doing in training. How does he face his first 15 balls when the wicket is tough? What sort of game plan has he come up with?’” Morkel said learning from the dressing room environment can be just as valuable as playing matches. “For any young player, if he gets game time or if that game time is a little bit limited, it is still our job to make sure that these guys learn, they grow and they ask questions,” he said. He also revealed that he asks Sooryavanshi to reflect on what he has learned after training sessions. “I always ask him on the bus, ‘What is the one thing you have learned today? Tell me what you think about that guy’s batting.’ That makes him think, and I think next time he comes to the nets, the sort of things he will observe, he will adapt to his game.” India eye fifth straight win in Lucknow Sooryavanshi, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy were the only players who took part in India’s optional training session on Monday. India have an unbeaten T20I record at the Ekana Stadium and will look to make it five consecutive wins at the venue when they take on West Indies in the series opener on Tuesday.

Pakistan have announced their squads for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England, with significant changes to the leadership of the T20I side. Sahibzada Farhan has been appointed Pakistan’s new T20I captain, replacing Salman Ali Agha, who has been removed from the captaincy and dropped from the T20I squad. Farhan’s promotion comes after a strong run of performances in recent international tournaments, including his impressive campaign at the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs at a strike rate of 160. Farhan recently led Pakistan to a silver medal at the Asian Games. Although he did not replicate his earlier batting success during the tournament, Pakistan pushed India hard in the final before eventually losing by 19 runs. Hasan Nawaz has retained his place in the T20I squad after returning to the side during the Asian Games. Nawaz made a major impact in the final against India, scoring 96, and has now been given another opportunity after previously falling out of favour following a difficult Asia Cup campaign and a series of low scores. Fast bowler Naseem Shah also returns to the T20I squad. His last appearance in the format came during the T20 World Cup in February. Naseem has worked his way back to full fitness after suffering a knee injury during the Pakistan Super League in April and has since increased his bowling workload through domestic cricket and the Caribbean Premier League. Razaullah is another notable inclusion in both squads. The right-arm fast bowler impressed on his Test debut against England in September and also produced a valuable innings with the bat. Despite being uncapped in both white-ball formats, he has been handed an opportunity across the T20I and ODI series. There has been less change to Pakistan’s ODI setup, with Shaheen Shah Afridi retaining the captaincy. Babar Azam is included in the ODI squad, while Mohammad Rizwan has been left out of both squads amid an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings involving the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority. With Rizwan absent, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori is set to take on greater responsibility behind the stumps in the ODI side. Ghori made his Test debut against England at Edgbaston and has already played four ODIs. Khawaja Nafay is the only specialist wicketkeeper named in the T20I squad. The upcoming white-ball assignments will also mark the return of Shaun Tait as Pakistan’s bowling coach. Tait previously held the role from February 2022 for a year before taking charge of Bangladesh’s fast-bowling unit. During his time with Bangladesh, the country’s pace attack made significant progress, including important contributions in their 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan. Tait replaces Ashley Noffke, who stepped down as Pakistan’s bowling coach to become head coach of the Netherlands. Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka will begin on October 9, with all three matches scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi. The ODI tri-series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England will then begin on October 18, with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka in the opening match in Rawalpindi. Pakistan T20I squad vs Sri Lanka Sahibzada Farhan (captain) Abdul Samad Abrar Ahmed Arafat Minhas Fakhar Zaman Hasan Nawaz Muhammad Imran Randhawa Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper) Maaz Sadaqat Naseem Shah Razaullah Saim Ayub Mohammad Salman Mirza Shadab Khan Sufiyan Moqim Pakistan ODI squad for tri-series vs Sri Lanka and England Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain) Abrar Ahmed Salman Ali Agha Arafat Minhas Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf Fakhar Zaman Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper) Haris Rauf Hasan Nawaz Naseem Shah Razaullah Saad Baig (wicketkeeper) Saim Ayub Shadab Khan Sufiyan Moqim

India will look to continue their strong run in T20 cricket when they take on West Indies in the opening match of the five-game T20I series in Lucknow. The hosts enter the series with plenty of confidence after winning gold at the Asian Games in Japan, while West Indies will be hoping to carry the momentum from their impressive performance in the third ODI. The first T20I is also expected to provide India with an opportunity to settle their combination at the top of the batting order, with the availability of young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi adding an interesting selection dilemma. India face a selection call at the top India's Asian Games campaign saw Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi open the innings, with Sanju Samson batting at No. 3. However, the management could revert to a more familiar combination against West Indies, with Ishan Kishan likely to slot in at No. 3. Samson endured a below-par campaign in Japan but is expected to retain his place following consecutive half-centuries in the T20I series against Afghanistan. Abhishek Sharma is also expected to be a certain starter, leaving Sooryavanshi potentially waiting for his opportunity. The middle order is likely to feature established names such as captain Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy. With Jasprit Bumrah rested for the series, Arshdeep Singh is expected to lead the pace attack. Axar Patel, Dube and Reddy provide India with additional all-round options. Another selection battle could be between Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, both of whom have Lucknow as their IPL home venue. Kuldeep Yadav is also in contention after Ravi Bishnoi's indifferent outing at the Asian Games. India's probable XI Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson Ishan Kishan (wk) Shreyas Iyer (capt) Tilak Varma Shivam Dube Nitish Kumar Reddy Axar Patel Kuldeep Yadav Mayank Yadav/Prince Yadav Arshdeep Singh West Indies hope for a fresh start West Indies will enter the T20I series with several powerful additions to their squad, including Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd. The visitors will be keen to build on the confidence gained from their victory in the third ODI and challenge India over the next two weeks. However, West Indies have struggled in T20Is in India. They have won only one of their last 10 T20Is in the country, with their most recent victory coming in 2019. The fitness of captain Shai Hope will be closely monitored. Hope was seen cramping during the third ODI and missed training on the eve of the T20I. He is nevertheless expected to be fit enough to play. West Indies have also added Amir Jangoo as cover for Jewel Andrew, who suffered a finger injury during the third ODI. If Andrew is unable to recover in time, Kamil Pooran could make his T20I debut after an outstanding CPL season. Shamar Joseph is expected to lead the pace attack, with Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde and Shamar Springer providing further options. West Indies' probable XI Shai Hope (capt, wk) Kamil Pooran Shimron Hetmyer Rovman Powell Sherfane Rutherford Romario Shepherd Shamar Springer Akeal Hosein Gudakesh Motie Shamar Joseph Matthew Forde Ishan Kishan and Hetmyer in the spotlight Ishan Kishan has emerged as one of India's most consistent T20I batters since returning to the national side. He is the leading run-scorer in men's T20Is in 2026, with 1,005 runs in 29 matches at an average of 37.22 and a strike rate of 169.47. His record at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium makes him an even bigger threat. Kishan has scored three fifties and a century in nine T20 innings at the venue, averaging 66.57. For West Indies, much of the attention will be on Shimron Hetmyer. The left-hander enjoyed an outstanding CPL 2026 campaign, scoring 367 runs in 12 innings at a staggering strike rate of 197.31. After being given an extended recovery period following the CPL, Hetmyer returns to international cricket refreshed and will be eager to make an immediate impact. Pitch and conditions The match will be played on Pitch No. 5, the centre strip at the Ekana Stadium. The surface is a mix of red and black soil. Runs came freely at the venue during IPL 2026, and another high-scoring contest could be on the cards. Rain around Lucknow affected both teams' practice sessions on Monday, but there is no rain forecast for match day. Key numbers Akeal Hosein is set to become only the fourth West Indies player to play 100 T20Is. Ishan Kishan is the only batter in the world to have scored more than 1,000 runs in T20Is in 2026. India have won 20 of their 31 T20Is against West Indies. India are unbeaten in T20Is at the Ekana Stadium. With India arriving on the back of a successful Asian Games campaign and West Indies bolstered by several dangerous T20 specialists, the opening match promises an intriguing contest. For India, the biggest question will be how they accommodate their wealth of batting options, while West Indies will first hope their captain is fit enough to lead the charge.

West Indies have added wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo to their squad as cover for the injured Jewel Andrew ahead of their five-match T20I series against India. Andrew suffered a finger injury during the third ODI against India in New Chandigarh on Saturday. However, the 19-year-old has not been ruled out of the T20I series and remains under observation by the West Indies medical team. Andrew injured his finger while taking a catch to dismiss Naman Dhir at cover. He was subsequently taken to hospital for scans, which fortunately revealed no fracture. The young wicketkeeper did not bat during West Indies' successful chase in the third ODI. Andrew had been dismissed for a first-ball duck in the opening ODI and was left out of the second match before returning to the playing XI for the series finale. Jangoo returns to West Indies T20I setup Jangoo, 29, has been brought in as cover despite being considered more of a long-format specialist. He has played seven T20Is for West Indies since making his international debut in December 2024, scoring 163 runs at a strike rate of 120.74. His overall T20 record has been less impressive, with 163 runs in 34 matches coming at a strike rate of 104.25. However, Jangoo played an important role in the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons' successful CPL 2026 campaign. He scored 213 runs during the tournament and produced his most significant contribution in the final, smashing an unbeaten 57 off 34 balls, including four fours and three sixes. His innings helped the Falcons defeat Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets and claim the CPL title. Jangoo enjoyed strong ODI series against India Jangoo enters the T20I series in excellent form after a productive ODI campaign against India. He scored 58 not out, 114 and 67 across the three matches to finish with 239 runs, making him the third-highest run-scorer of the series. Only India's Shubman Gill, with 334 runs, and West Indies captain Shai Hope, with 278 runs, scored more runs than Jangoo. The five-match T20I series will begin in Lucknow on Tuesday, before moving to Ranchi on October 9, Indore on October 11, Hyderabad on October 14 and Bengaluru on October 17. India vs West Indies T20I schedule 1st T20I: Lucknow — October 6 2nd T20I: Ranchi — October 9 3rd T20I: Indore — October 11 4th T20I: Hyderabad — October 14 5th T20I: Bengaluru — October 17

Suryansh Shedge has been lined up to replace the injured Hardik Pandya in India A's squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry. Hardik was initially included in the India A one-day squad, subject to a fitness clearance, but a fresh injury setback has delayed his return to competitive cricket. The allrounder is understood to still be experiencing pain while bowling, extending his spell on the sidelines that began during the IPL 2026 season in May. Hardik has also been absent from India's ODI setup since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Shedge, a 23-year-old medium-pace bowling allrounder, has represented India in three T20Is and has featured prominently for India A in List A cricket. Nearly half of his 15 List A appearances have come for the A side. The Mumbai allrounder recently produced a career-best 72 off 66 balls while batting at No. 7 against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla in June. His innings came during a dramatic contest that was eventually decided by a Super Over. Changes to India A squads There has also been another change to the India A setup. Left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Anukul Roy will replace Naman Dhir in the one-day squad. Dhir has now moved into India's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies, taking the place of Washington Sundar. Washington, who was recently part of India's gold-medal-winning squad at the Asian Games, could feature for Tamil Nadu in their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan if selected. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain India A in the one-day series, with Devdutt Padikkal serving as his deputy. Padikkal previously made his India A captaincy debut during the preceding red-ball series. Australia A also make changes Australia A have made two changes to their squad ahead of the series. Fast bowler Riley Meredith and allrounder Will Sutherland have been added to the one-day side, replacing Jack Edwards and Aaron Hardie. Edwards left the Australia A squad last month to join Australia's senior team in South Africa, where he subsequently made his ODI debut. Hardie, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the series because of a minor knee injury. The first ODI will be played on October 6 as a day-night match, beginning at 2pm local time in Puducherry. The second and third matches are scheduled for October 9 and October 11, with both games starting at 9am. India A squad Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain) Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain) Priyansh Arya Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper) Rajat Patidar Prabhsimran Singh B Sai Sudharsan Anukul Roy Arshin Kulkarni Nishant Sindhu Suryansh Shedge Arshad Khan Gurjapneet Singh Vipraj Nigam Yash Thakur Australia A squad Mahli Beardman Nikhil Chaudhary Ben Dwarshuis Spencer Johnson Sam Konstas Nathan McSweeney Riley Meredith Todd Murphy Mitch Owen Josh Philippe (wicketkeeper) Tanveer Sangha Liam Scott Lachlan Shaw Will Sutherland