Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has admitted that the period following his removal as India's captain and his absence from the national team has been challenging. However, the Mumbai batter says he is now focused on rediscovering his love and passion for cricket. Suryakumar Yadav has described the months following India's T20 World Cup triumph as a difficult phase in his career. Despite leading India to their second consecutive T20 World Cup title on home soil in March, Suryakumar subsequently lost the T20I captaincy and his place in the national team, with Shreyas Iyer being named skipper for India's next assignment. Speaking at a Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) event, the 36-year-old admitted that accepting the changes was not easy but revealed that the birth of his daughter in May helped him shift his focus and find happiness away from the cricket field. "Post the T20 World Cup, it has been a little difficult. I don't want to run away from the fact that if you're not honest with yourself, it's very difficult to lead a happy life. To be very honest, it has been very difficult," Suryakumar said. He added that the arrival of his baby girl during the IPL brought a positive change in his life. "The last few months since she was born have been very beautiful," he said. Suryakumar Yadav Looks to Rediscover His Passion for Cricket The Mumbai batter has not featured in top-level cricket since the IPL, where Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing campaign, finishing second from the bottom. He later represented Mumbai in the T20 League and also played club cricket but missed out on Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad due to insufficient preparation for red-ball cricket. Suryakumar is now preparing for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he will lead Mumbai. The tournament is scheduled to begin on November 14, with Mumbai set to play all their matches in Kolkata. Reflecting on his difficult period, Suryakumar revealed that conversations with his wife helped him reconnect with the passion he had as a 15-year-old aspiring cricketer dreaming of representing Mumbai. "The first two months after the IPL were difficult, but then I thought, why not think about how I was before? How I started my cricket, when I used to think I wanted to play age-group cricket for Mumbai and first-class cricket for Mumbai," he said. He further explained that his wife encouraged him to bring back the same enthusiasm and passion that motivated him during his early cricketing days. "She said the same thing: you need to bring back that love and passion for the game, what you had when you were a 15-year-old kid who wanted to represent Mumbai in age-group cricket," Suryakumar added. Winning the Championship for Mumbai Is the Main Goal Suryakumar said he has returned to his old training routine and is once again focusing on improving his game, contributing to his team and achieving success. According to him, concentrating on cricket rather than the setbacks has helped him regain his confidence and perspective. "The same thing I'm following right now: what I did 10-15 years ago – training again, following the same passion, same love for this game. Everything is back to normal," he said. The former India captain also made it clear that his immediate priority is to help Mumbai achieve success in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. "The main goal is what I used to think before – to win the championship for Mumbai," he concluded. With the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy around the corner, Suryakumar will be eager to lead Mumbai to silverware while rebuilding his rhythm and rediscovering the motivation that shaped his cricketing journey.

England Lions produced a sensational batting display, posting the fifth-highest total in List A cricket history before securing a massive 266-run victory over West Indies A in the second match of their five-game one-day series at Warner Park on Monday. The Lions piled up an imposing 487 for 5 in 50 overs, powered by a stunning 145 off just 65 balls from Durham batter Ben McKinney and an unbeaten century from Somerset's James Rew. In reply, West Indies A were bowled out for 211, handing England Lions a 2-0 lead in the series. McKinney stole the spotlight with a breathtaking innings, reaching his century in just 43 deliveries. The 22-year-old left-hander smashed 145 runs, including five sixes off left-arm wristspinner Vitel Lawes, and registered what is believed to be the second-fastest List A century by an English batter. Only Graham Rose's 36-ball hundred for Somerset against Devon in 1990 is faster. McKinney reached his half-century in just 27 balls before accelerating further to complete his second List A century. His explosive performance underlined his growing reputation as one of England's most promising batting prospects. He recently signed an England development contract after an outstanding County Championship season, scoring 1,044 runs at an average of 52.20 for Durham. James Rew provided an equally impressive finish, smashing an unbeaten 107 off 55 balls to record his second century in three days. Dan Lawrence contributed a quickfire 76 from 56 deliveries, while Ben Mayes remained unbeaten on 58. Rew and Mayes added an unbeaten 166-run partnership for the sixth wicket, ensuring England Lions crossed the 480-run mark. Rew finished in style by hitting sixes off the final two deliveries of the innings. West Indies A began their chase positively, with Kirk McKenzie scoring 67 and Carty contributing 75. The hosts reached 143 for 1 after 19 overs and appeared to have a chance of mounting a competitive response. However, the dismissal of McKenzie, taken by an excellent diving catch from McKinney, triggered a dramatic collapse. Hampshire fast bowler Eddie Jack led the bowling attack with outstanding figures of 5 for 42 in just six overs, dismantling the West Indies middle order. Mason Crane provided excellent support, claiming three wickets for 26 runs as the hosts were dismissed for 211. The comprehensive victory gives England Lions a commanding 2-0 advantage in the five-match one-day series, following their clean sweep in the preceding T20 series. With McKinney's explosive century, Rew's consecutive hundreds and Jack's five-wicket haul, England Lions delivered a dominant all-round performance and continued to showcase the depth of their emerging cricketing talent.

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has backed Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Juhi Chawla’s suggestion to shift the Indian Premier League (IPL) from its traditional March-May window to the cooler months, proposing either a January start or a carefully structured October-April competition calendar. The debate over the IPL schedule gained attention after Juhi Chawla expressed concerns about players competing in extreme summer temperatures. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Chawla suggested that the tournament should consider moving to January to provide better playing conditions. "Why keep playing the biggest cricket tournament on the planet in the harshest heat? And if the calendar is being reconsidered, why not January instead of April-May? Better conditions. Better cricket. A better experience for everyone overall," she wrote. She further added that the IPL had evolved into one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world and its schedule should evolve accordingly. Lalit Modi Supports the Proposal Lalit Modi, widely credited as the architect of the IPL, strongly supported Chawla’s suggestion. He argued that the BCCI, as the owner and organiser of the tournament, has the authority to decide its schedule without needing approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC). According to Modi, international cricket commitments and player availability would need to be managed, but these factors should not prevent the IPL from choosing a more suitable window. He also highlighted the league's growing financial and commercial influence, stating that the IPL has become a global sporting powerhouse capable of shaping the wider cricket calendar. Two Possible Windows Suggested Modi proposed two alternatives for reconsidering the tournament's schedule: January start: Moving the IPL to January to avoid the extreme heat experienced during the traditional April-May period. October-April calendar: Introducing a carefully structured competition calendar spread across these months to create better playing conditions and commercial opportunities. He believes such a move could improve player performance, enhance the experience for spectators and create more valuable broadcasting opportunities. IPL's Growing Influence on World Cricket Modi compared the IPL's global position to the English Premier League (EPL), arguing that its financial strength, international appeal and commercial model have made it one of the most influential sporting competitions in the world. He also pointed out that IPL contracts represent a significant portion of annual cricket earnings for many international players, giving the tournament considerable economic influence. While the IPL has traditionally been held between March and May, its schedule was altered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. However, there has been no official announcement or formal discussion from the BCCI regarding a permanent change to the tournament's calendar. For now, shifting the IPL to January or adopting an October-April structure remains a proposal. Nevertheless, the comments from Juhi Chawla and Lalit Modi have reignited the debate over whether the world's richest T20 league should take greater control of the international cricket calendar.

Starc has become the first member of Australia’s established bowling attack from the controversial 2018 series to publicly respond to the latest allegations. Khawaja’s autobiography, released on Tuesday, reportedly provides further details about the ball-tampering controversy, including events during the second Test in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. Speaking at the launch of Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket ahead of Australia’s home international season, Starc maintained that his recollection of the incident remained unchanged. "My recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021," Starc said, referring to the joint statement issued by Australia's four frontline bowlers — Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. The statement was released following Cameron Bancroft’s 2021 interview, in which the former Australian opener suggested that it was "self explanatory" that the bowlers knew about the ball-tampering plan. Responding to questions about whether the entire team was aware of the plan, Starc insisted that the bowlers had no knowledge of sandpaper being taken onto the field. "As far as our statement said, we weren't aware of anything being taken onto the field. We saw it on the big screen in Cape Town," he said. Starc also addressed Khawaja’s claims about the earlier Test in Gqeberha, where Australia reportedly generated significant reverse swing during a session. "That [Cape Town] is the first I was aware of any of that taking place. I'll leave that one for the author to explain," Starc added. The left-arm pacer admitted that he had not followed the controversy closely and suggested that he was unlikely to read Khawaja’s autobiography. He also revealed that he had not spoken to Khawaja in recent days. Asked whether the two would discuss the matter, Starc replied, "It's up to him." Warner Calls for Accountability as Cricket Australia Rules Out Fresh Investigation The controversy has resurfaced following the publication of Khawaja’s autobiography, which has reignited questions about the events surrounding Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa. Former Australia vice-captain David Warner has described the original investigation as "botched" and called for greater accountability and transparency. However, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said there was no compelling reason to reopen the investigation, which resulted in suspensions for Warner, Cameron Bancroft and former captain Steve Smith. The original investigation primarily focused on the events of the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town, where Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball. Khawaja has defended the timing of his autobiography, rejecting suggestions that its release was motivated by commercial interests. He said he did not need the money and insisted that the book was not intended to generate controversy or target former teammates. Alyssa Healy Comments on Khawaja-Starc Controversy Australia women's team captain and Starc's wife, Alyssa Healy, has also addressed the controversy, acknowledging that the situation puts her in a difficult position as a broadcaster. Speaking on the Keepin' It Cricket podcast, Healy joked about the criticism surrounding her husband following the publication of Khawaja’s book. She said she had been "scraping off bits of Mitch off the bitumen after the bus had just hit him" over the previous two days. Healy also expressed reservations about the timing of the revelations, describing it as "a little bit sticky". However, she made it clear that she had no concerns about sharing the commentary box with Khawaja or Warner during the upcoming Australian summer. "I'm not one to sit there and worry about sitting next to anyone in the commentary box, regardless of who it is. We're a team," she said. Mitchell Marsh Could Be Next to Address the Controversy The renewed debate comes just ahead of Australia's home international season, with the first ODI against England scheduled to take place in Perth on Friday. Starc admitted that the controversy was disappointing, particularly as attention was expected to focus on the upcoming cricket season. Meanwhile, Cameron Bancroft and Nathan Lyon are scheduled to feature in Sheffield Shield matches, while Steve Smith is expected to return to Sydney from New York next week. Australia's ODI captain Mitchell Marsh could become the next prominent player from the 2018 series to address the issue when he speaks to the media in Perth on Thursday. With Khawaja's revelations, Warner's demands for accountability and Starc's firm denial, the eight-year-old ball-tampering scandal has once again become a major talking point in Australian cricket.

India maintained their 2-0 lead in the ODI series against New Zealand after the third match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Hamilton on Tuesday. The washout also brought an end to New Zealand's remarkable 11 consecutive home bilateral ODI series victories. New Zealand, who entered the third ODI trailing 2-0, can now only aim to level the series by winning the remaining two matches scheduled for Friday and Sunday at Mount Maunganui. Rain began falling in Hamilton on Monday afternoon and continued throughout the match day, allowing only a brief window for the ground staff to prepare the pitch. During that short break, India won the toss for the seventh time in eight attempts on the tour and elected to bowl first in what was initially expected to be a 40-over contest. However, the rain returned before the toss interviews could even be completed and continued to disrupt proceedings. Despite the ground staff's efforts, conditions never improved enough to allow the match to begin. New Zealand have experienced an unusually wet spring, with their home summer schedule compressed to accommodate India's full tour before their upcoming trip to Australia. Although rain has affected the series, the teams managed to complete the first two matches, albeit in shortened formats. The weather forecast for Mount Maunganui, which will host the final two ODIs on Friday and Sunday, is considerably more promising, raising hopes of uninterrupted cricket. The third ODI also marked the final appearance in the series for India's Test captain Shubman Gill, who will now shift his focus to preparations for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer is set to take over the captaincy for the remaining ODI matches in Gill's absence. Meanwhile, New Zealand have decided to give fast bowler Matt Henry additional time with the national team's medical staff. Henry sustained an injury in a collision with Devon Conway on the eve of the series and will continue his recovery. With India firmly in control of the series, New Zealand face a challenging task in the final two matches as they look to avoid a series defeat on home soil.

Former Australia batter Usman Khawaja has made fresh revelations about the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, claiming that Australia had used sandpaper on the ball during the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha, then known as Port Elizabeth. In his newly released autobiography, Sabr, Khawaja has described how South Africa struggled against Australia's reverse swing during the final session of the second day at St George's Park. He revealed that South Africa lost four wickets for just 28 runs after the Australian team allegedly altered the condition of the ball using sandpaper. According to Khawaja, the incident took place before Australia were caught tampering with the ball during the third Test in Cape Town. He claimed that Cameron Bancroft had picked up the ball after the interval and worked on it with sandpaper before the Australian bowlers returned to the field. Khawaja recalled that Australia had struggled to generate reverse swing earlier in the innings, while South Africa managed to achieve it in fewer than 25 overs. He wrote that the Australian team had taken considerably longer to make the ball reverse swing and admitted that he had warned Bancroft about the large number of cameras monitoring the match. Describing the dramatic session, Khawaja wrote that the ball had become extremely effective after being worked on with sandpaper. He recalled that whenever the ball reached him at gully, he was surprised by how easily it was reversing. The Australian bowlers then took advantage of the altered condition, claiming four wickets for 28 runs. Khawaja also revealed that one of the Australian bowlers reportedly commented during a team huddle that the ball was moving excessively and warned teammates not to do anything further to it. The former batter, however, did not identify the bowlers involved. He also clarified that his intention was not to single out individual players, emphasising that the mistakes were made collectively and that the team had remained silent about the incident for years. South Africa Still Won the Port Elizabeth Test Despite Australia's impressive bowling spell, South Africa recovered strongly, thanks largely to a magnificent innings from AB de Villiers. De Villiers scored an unbeaten 126 off 146 deliveries, an innings Khawaja described as one of the great knocks he had witnessed. He admitted that watching de Villiers bat was particularly impressive considering the amount of reverse swing Australia were generating. Australia managed 239 runs in their second innings, leaving South Africa with a manageable target. The hosts eventually secured a six-wicket victory. Interestingly, Khawaja also claimed that South Africa's bowlers generated significant reverse swing during Australia's second innings, beginning after approximately 21 overs. He admitted that the Australian players were unsure how South Africa were achieving it, despite having used sandpaper themselves. Khawaja Was Not Interviewed During Cricket Australia's Investigation The revelations also raise questions about the scope of Cricket Australia's investigation into the ball-tampering scandal. The investigation primarily focused on the Cape Town Test, with its key findings identifying Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steven Smith as the three players with prior knowledge of the incident. Khawaja revealed that he was never interviewed during the investigation. In another section of his autobiography, he recalled being angry after an Australian bowler appeared on the television programme The Back Page and denied having any knowledge of the ball-tampering incident. Khawaja said that David Warner was particularly upset by the denial and had sent him a video clip of the interview. The former batter also revealed that he had considered speaking publicly about the incident before the fourth Test in Johannesburg, after the suspensions had already been announced. He approached then-head coach Darren Lehmann near the hotel swimming pool and expressed his frustration, arguing that the entire team should take collective responsibility. According to Khawaja, Lehmann listened to him but warned that making further public statements would not help the situation and could make matters worse. Lehmann, who resigned before the Johannesburg Test, recently told ABC Grandstand that he did not recall Khawaja's earlier dressing-room plea for the team to accept collective responsibility. However, he was not questioned about the subsequent conversation described in the autobiography. Khawaja Also Opens Up About the 2017-18 Ashes Apart from the South Africa tour, Khawaja has also discussed Australia's use of reverse swing during the 2017-18 Ashes series. He specifically referred to the Perth and Adelaide Tests, claiming that the Australian team had experimented with the ball's quarter seam to generate reverse swing. Khawaja recalled Mitchell Starc's memorable delivery to James Vince on the fifth day of the Perth Test, explaining that Australia had been able to generate reverse swing during the closing stages of the match. He also mentioned that achieving reverse swing with the pink ball in Adelaide was more challenging, but the team had discovered ways to make it happen by lifting the seam's flaps. Khawaja emphasised that his use of the word 'we' reflected the collective responsibility of the team, regardless of which individual had actually altered the ball. His revelations in Sabr have reopened one of the most controversial chapters in Australian cricket, offering a fresh account of events surrounding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and raising further questions about what happened during the South Africa tour.