Ishan Kishan ruled out of third India–New Zealand T20I
India have suffered a setback ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand, with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan ruled out of the October 27 match in Wellington. The BCCI confirmed that Kishan is recovering from a low-grade right adductor strain sustained during the opening match. He has yet to regain full match fitness, while Kumar Kushagra will continue with the squad as cover. India lead the five-match series 2-0 and will look to seal the series with another victory. Kishan’s absence could provide an opportunity for a change in India’s batting combination.
Gareth Batty joins CSK as assistant coach
Gareth Batty will join Chennai Super Kings as an assistant coach from the 2027 Indian Premier League season, leaving Surrey after five years as head coach during which he led the county to three consecutive County Championship titles. He will work under newly appointed CSK head coach Zaheer Khan.
Batty, who took charge of Surrey as head coach in 2022, guided them to the County Championship title in his first season before overseeing successful title defences in 2023 and 2024. Surrey finished runners-up in 2025, capping a dominant run in which they became the first team in nearly 60 years to win three consecutive titles in the competition.
Devdutt Padikkal falls short of double century
Devdutt Padikkal produced a superb innings for India A against New Zealand A in the first unofficial Test at Lincoln, scoring 199 before being dismissed just one run short of a double century. His knock helped India A recover after early wickets and included a crucial 215-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan, who scored 92. Padikkal also crossed 1,000 first-class runs for India A, reaching the milestone during his 16th appearance for the side. India A reached 488/8, establishing a lead of 284 runs and putting themselves in a commanding position in the match.
Saim Ayub released from Pakistan ODI squad
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that opening batter Saim Ayub has been released from the Men’s ODI squad for the remainder of the ongoing tri-series. Ayub requested to return to domestic cricket to focus on improving his batting form and rebuilding confidence. Following discussions with the head coach, Ayub expressed his desire to step back from international duty. The team management and the national selection committee respected his decision and mutually agreed to accept his request.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan hit centuries
Mumbai enjoyed a dominant day in their domestic red-ball contest against Haryana as openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan struck impressive centuries. Raghuvanshi scored 114, while Musheer made 109, laying the foundation for a massive opening partnership of 208 runs.
Their performances demonstrated Mumbai’s batting depth and offered encouragement after earlier challenges in red-ball cricket. The innings also highlighted the potential of two young batters looking to strengthen their credentials in domestic competition. Their contributions were among the standout individual performances in Indian domestic cricket on October 26.
Morne Morkel backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar to rediscover his best form
India bowling coach Morne Morkel has outlined his message to experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar following his return to the national setup after four years. Bhuvneshwar has enjoyed considerable success in the IPL, taking 17 wickets in the 2025 season and 28 in 2026. The challenge now is to translate that form into international cricket. Morkel’s approach centres on helping the veteran pacer regain confidence and focus on his strengths rather than placing excessive pressure on himself. Bhuvneshwar’s experience and ability to swing the new ball could prove valuable as India continue building their bowling options.
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