Sunil Gavaskar and Shubman Gill (Photos by Getty Images and PTI)

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar shared some important advice for batter Shubman Gill after he was left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The decision came as a surprise to many fans, especially since Gill was also removed from the role of vice-captain.

With Gill out, Axar Patel has been named India’s vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2026.Sunil Gavaskar believes that Gill should accept this setback with maturity. Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “I hope Shubman takes this in the right spirit. I wish him the best. Some of his injuries have been strange.” Gavaskar felt that Gill still has a bright future, and this decision does not mean the end of his chances.Gavaskar also feels that chief selector Ajit Agarkar would have personally spoken to Gill to explain the reason behind the call. He said, “Knowing Ajit Agarkar, I’m pretty sure he’ll be on the phone to Shubman, trying to explain to him why they took the call that they did.”According to Gavaskar, the team management is trying to correct its earlier decisions. When Gill returned to the T20 squad, Sanju Samson was pushed down the batting order. Earlier, Samson and Abhishek Sharma had formed a strong opening pair, using a left-right combination and attacking from the very first ball.Gavaskar explained this by saying, “And I think it’s a course correction. In the sense that when Shubman came into the T20 squad, Sanju Samson went down the order. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had formed a very good opening pair – a left-hand, right-hand combination – looking to hit the first ball of the game for a six and getting India off to fabulous starts.”“I think that is something Ajit will definitely speak to Shubman about, assuring him that he’s always going to be in the discussion. But for this particular tournament, considering the fact that he’s had some injuries and hasn’t been in the best of touch, they’ve left him out. That doesn’t mean he won’t be part of future teams,” Gavaskar said.Shubman Gill has not been in great form in T20 cricket recently. Since returning to the T20I side during the Asia Cup 2025, he has played 15 matches but failed to score even one half-century. Injuries have also affected his rhythm and consistency. Because of these reasons, the selectors decided to drop him from the squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Mohsin Naqvi presents trophy to U19 Asia Cup champions (screengrabs)

Pakistan beat India to clinch the U19 Asia Cup title in Dubai on Sunday. With Pakistan winning the trophy, the tournament managed to avoid what could’ve been a possible trophy-presentation controversy. The match was played at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, where Pakistan defeated India by a huge margin of 191 runs to lift the U19 Asia Cup for only the second time in their history.

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi was present at the stadium, which brought back memories of the drama that followed the senior Asia Cup final earlier this year. Watch Naqvi greeting players after the win here:At that time, the Indian team had refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who is also a minister in the Pakistani government. Because of that incident, many wondered if a similar situation would arise again during the U19 final.India had come into the match as favourites. They had a strong history in the U19 Asia Cup and had already beaten Pakistan comfortably in the group stage. Naqvi’s presence in the stands added to the tension, especially since there was no handshake between players during both the group match and the final.However, this time there was no controversy. Pakistan completely outplayed India and left no room for confusion during the trophy ceremony. Pakistan’s batting was led by Sameer Minhas, who played a stunning knock of 172 runs from 113 balls. His innings helped Pakistan post a massive total of 347 for eight in their 50 overs.India’s chase never got going. Their batters struggled against Pakistan’s fast bowlers, who used pace and bounce effectively. Ali Raza picked up four wickets, while Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan chipped in with two each. India were bowled out for just 156 runs in 26.2 overs.After the match, Indian players chose not to go on stage where Naqvi was present. Instead, they collected their runners-up medals separately from another ACC official. Naqvi then presented the winners’ medals to the Pakistan U19 players and posed for photos with them.Later, Naqvi stepped into his role as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and joined the team’s celebrations. He stood at the centre as the young players lifted the trophy and celebrated their victory.

Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has strongly criticised the chaos that took place during Lionel Messi’s public event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Speaking on Sunday, Bhutia called the incident unfortunate and said sports events should always be treated with importance, without unnecessary delays caused by politics or formalities.

He said fans come to stadiums to enjoy the sport and watch their favourite players, not to sit through long speeches or wait for VIPs to arrive. “I think when there is a sports event, sports should get priority,” he said. He also pointed out that this problem is seen often across India. According to Bhutia, many sporting events are delayed because organisers wait for politicians or chief guests. He said such practices only harm the experience for fans and players. “Many times across India, we see sporting events getting delayed because of political speeches, chief guest handshakes and all that. That is not necessary. Fans and players are coming to watch the sport, and the sport should begin rather than waiting for VIPs.” Talking about Lionel Messi’s recent G.O.A.T. Tour of India, Bhutia said the response from fans clearly showed what people really want. He said fans in Kolkata and other cities only wanted to see Messi and enjoy the sport, without any extra drama. “It was good to see not just in Kolkata, but across different cities, fans just wanted to see the sporting event, who just wanted to see Messi and nothing else.” Bhutia hopes that what happened in Kolkata will act as a wake-up call for organisers and authorities in the future. “I hope this is a lesson we will learn and that this trend will change,” he added. The promotional event featuring Lionel Messi turned chaotic due to poor planning and crowd control. Thousands of fans were disappointed as politicians, celebrities and officials surrounded Messi, limiting his interaction with the public. His time on the field was also cut short. Frustrated by the situation, some spectators created disturbances inside the stadium.

England coach Brendon McCullum (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Geoffrey Boycott, one of English cricket’s most outspoken voices, has launched a scathing attack on England’s ‘Bazball’ experiment following the team’s 3-0 thrashing in the Ashes in Australia. The former England batsman didn’t hold back in criticising the ultra-aggressive approach adopted under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Boycott said, “A lot of credit should go to Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes for what they have done for our cricket but it is obvious that Bazball has run its race.”

Boycott argued that the philosophy has become a case of hubris overtaking common sense. “Hubris has taken over from common sense and that cannot be allowed to carry on. Stokes and McCullum are like men digging a hole to nowhere. If what you are doing isn’t working then stop digging,” he wrote. The veteran insisted that change was necessary if England want to compete with the best sides in world cricket. “Change is absolutely necessary to step up to the next level. What would I do? Change the coach. We are tired of this duo talking a good game but not delivering against the best teams so Rob Key, it is time for you to assert yourself,” Boycott said, directly calling for McCullum to be replaced. He also suggested potential replacements, highlighting both domestic and international options. “Many people would cherish the England coach’s job because it is very high profile and exceptionally well paid. Jason Gillespie did a great job at Yorkshire, or they could go for an English coach like Alec Stewart,” he advised. At the heart of Boycott’s critique was his frustration with the attacking style of play that McCullum had championed. “I would like this ‘gung-ho’ batting to stop… Nobody wants dour, defensive cricket but let’s get back to textbook cricket with guys assessing the situation, thinking on their feet and batting with discipline. We were always told to use our brain. A thinking cricketer is a better cricketer,” he said. With the Ashes already out of reach, England will still get chances to salvage some pride in Melbourne and Sydney. But Boycott’s words reflect a broader sentiment that the team’s high-risk approach has failed to deliver when it mattered most.

Pat Cummins of Australia embraces Michael Neser of Australia (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

What began as pre-series bravado has ended in a familiar Ashes reality. The Australian side once labelled the “worst in 15 years” has wrapped up the urn with two Tests to spare, racing to a 3–0 lead over an England team that arrived with heavy hype and high expectations. Stuart Broad, who featured in England’s last Ashes series win in Australia in 2010–11, had set the tone before the series by calling this Australian group the weakest the hosts had fielded in 15 years. Eleven days of cricket later, the scoreboard tells a different story.

“It’s nice to be sitting where we are, 3–0 up,” said Marnus Labuschagne after Australia sealed the third Test at Adelaide. “The job’s not done yet. We want to make sure it’s 5–0 and really take that urn.” Australia completed an 82-run win at the Adelaide Oval, dismissing England for 352 as they chased a world-record target of 435. The series was effectively decided in just 11 days across Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Despite the defeat, the final Test attracted a cumulative crowd of 223,638, with the Barmy Army in full voice deep into the fifth day. Australia’s triumph has come despite constant disruption. Pat Cummins missed the first two Tests with a back issue, Josh Hazlewood was ruled out for the series, and Nathan Lyon was dropped before injuring his hamstring in Adelaide. Mitchell Starc was the only regular bowler available throughout the opening Tests. “We just found a way,” Starc said after taking three of the final four wickets in Adelaide. “Even at times where it’s not going our way, we can find a way to get ourselves over the line.” Starc now has 22 wickets in the series and 51 in the calendar year, leading an attack that has consistently out-thought England. Batting reshuffles followed. Steve Smith captained the side in Cummins’ absence but was ruled out of the third Test with vertigo. Usman Khawaja was rushed back into the XI, while Travis Head was promoted to open after Khawaja’s earlier injury. “You just kind of crack on,” Cummins said. “There’s always things that crop up, but the boys go, ‘OK, that’s happened, what’s next?’” Head, who scored a match-winning century in Perth and 170 in Adelaide, summed up life inside the dressing room simply: “Yeah, it’s bloody amazing.” With Melbourne up next and Cummins and Lyon uncertain, Australia’s depth will be tested again. But for now, the urn is already home — and the pre-series predictions lie in ruins.

Ishan Kishan’s road back to India’s T20 World Cup squad has been long and uncomfortable. Pushed out of the national setup in 2023 and left on the sidelines for months, Kishan has now forced his way back into contention with performances that were impossible to overlook. His return has been powered by a dominant Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. Leading Jharkhand, Kishan guided the side to its first-ever title in the tournament. He finished as the leading run-scorer with 517 runs from 10 matches at a strike rate of 197, underlining his impact with a match-winning 101 off 49 balls in the final against Haryana.

The numbers alone made a strong case, but the bigger story was the path Kishan chose. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin framed the comeback as something earned, not gifted. “Cricket has given Ishan Kishan a gift,” Ashwin said. “People on the outside can guess whether it was fair or unfair, but life comes back in a circle. The reason Ishan was not in the side and why he is in the team now is because of one thing: he gave cricket the respect it deserves.” Ashwin explained that Kishan never viewed domestic cricket as a step down, but as the only way back. “In first class, he even came to play the Buchi Babu Invitational,” Ashwin said. “A player like Ishan Kishan came to play the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai for Jharkhand.” From there, Kishan stayed involved throughout Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy preparations and delivered when opportunities came. “He was there for Jharkhand, he was number one in preparation, and in first-class cricket he scored runs,” Ashwin said. “In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led Jharkhand and performed. It is because of this.” Addressing the debate around Kishan’s removal from the team and contracts in 2023, Ashwin dismissed the idea that off-field factors played a role in his return. “It is not about Ishan Kishan the person,” Ashwin said. “It is about Ishan Kishan the cricketer who went through the yards of the game, respected the game, and hence succeeded.”

Scott Boland of Australia celebrates with team mates (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australia have retained the Ashes with two matches still to play after Mitchell Starc claimed three of the final four wickets to halt England’s valiant fightback on the fifth day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval. The hosts secured an 82-run victory, leaving England unable to chase the challenging target of 435—a total that would have required a world-record fourth-innings run chase. Australia began Day 5 needing just four wickets to confirm their hold on the urn, with England resuming at 6-207 and still 228 runs short. Captain Pat Cummins described the win as “pretty awesome,” praising the team’s effort in a tough, drawn-out contest. Cummins, returning from a back injury that sidelined him for the first two Tests, noted that Test cricket in Australia is often a grind and lauded his teammates for their persistence. Steve Smith had led Australia to eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane but missed the Adelaide Test due to vertigo, ruling him out just before the toss.

The day began with England pushing back, adding 102 runs in the morning session before Jamie Smith fell to Cummins for 60. England briefly narrowed the Ashes equation at lunch, leaving Australia needing three wickets to secure the series while the visitors required 126 runs to stay alive. No team in Test history has chased more than West Indies’ 418 in 2003 to win in the fourth innings. England skipper Ben Stokes admitted he felt his side could achieve a record chase, but Australia’s attack, led by Starc, proved decisive despite Nathan Lyon leaving the field with a hamstring injury. Starc removed Will Jacks (47), Jofra Archer (3), and set up Scott Boland to finish off Josh Tongue (1), leaving Brydon Carse stranded on 39 as England were all out for 352. Alex Carey was awarded player of the match for his crucial contributions—a century in the first innings, a half-century in the second alongside Travis Head’s 170, and seven dismissals behind the stumps. Stokes acknowledged the disappointment but praised his team’s resilience and urged them to focus on the remaining two Tests. Lyon’s injury, sustained while diving to stop a boundary, ruled him out for the rest of the match. England’s woes in Australia continue, with the team going 5,462 days without a Test win Down Under, extending a winless streak through series results of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0, and now 3-0. Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test on December 26, followed by the New Year’s Test in Sydney.