The Cricket Bulletin: Major Talking Points | April 25, 2026

Amol Muzumdar backs Deepti Sharma ahead of fourth T20I against SA

Indian Women coach Amol Muzumdar backed Deepti Sharma despite a recent dip in her form. In her last five T20Is, Deepti has gone wicketless and conceded runs at an expensive economy rate of 9.25. In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, she is yet to pick a wicket with South Africa already leading the five-match series 3-0. Speaking ahead of the fourth T20I at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday, April 25, Muzumdar said, “Look, I don’t want to beat around the bush, I just want to say that yeah, it’s a bit of a concern as far as Deepti is concerned.”

He continued, “For all champion players are, form is, you know, temporary, class is permanent, it’s a cliche, but it applies to all the players, and she’s a class player, there’s no doubt about it, we have seen it in the World Cup, in bigger tournaments, in pressure situations, she has stood up for India.”

A 15-year-old boy can also block: Harbhajan Singh on providing Test opportunities to Sooryavanshi

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said India will have to nurture the teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi carefully if he is to develop into a Test cricketer. He highlighted that young players will go through ups and downs, but backing them with the right opportunities helps them shape their career eventually. “They will eventually learn, even through the ups and downs. But if a 15-year-old boy can hit the ball, he can also block. It is about the mindset; if you give him the opportunity, he will adapt to that.”

He further stated, “I would make a strong recommendation that Test cricket should be the priority, because that is where you get the best cricket and the cricketers. In Test cricket, you get to see the best competition as it lasts for five days and every day, the challenge becomes different.”

There will definitely be some massive learnings: NZ coach after losing ODI series to Bangladesh

Even after claiming a 1-0 lead, New Zealand ended up losing the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. New Zealand were without many of their senior players who are away at the IPL or PSL and the Kiwis had to play fringe players who wrapped up the series amidst the Chattogram summer. Speaking of the same, Rob Walter, the New Zealand coach said, “There’s no downside to that type of experience for the players – whether they do well or poorly.”

He added, “Because there’s so much to learn from it. So, the skills get put under pressure by a good team. You either find your way through or not…but whatever happens as long as you’re learning individually and as a collective, there will definitely be some massive learnings around those guys who have sat in the wings or waited for opportunities and then exposed to a quality opposition in testing conditions.”