test tour of england

New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra has departed the Kolkata Knight Riders midway through the IPL 2026 season. He returns home to commence preparations for his national side's upcoming three-match Test series against England. Ravindra was acquired by KKR for his base price but did not feature in any matches this season.

There is still no confirmation on the three T20 Internationals that were earlier expected to be part of the tour.

India national cricket team slipped to sixth in the World Test Championship standings after Bangladesh national cricket team swept Pakistan 2-0 and climbed to fifth. India, led by Shubman Gill, have won four of nine Tests in the current cycle. Australia national cricket team continue to lead the WTC table, while Pakistan remain eighth after another series defeat.

In a historic move, the BCCI has appointed three former India women cricketers – Nooshin Al Khadeer, Sunetra Paranjpe, and Vellaswamy Ramu Vanitha – as specialist coaches for women's cricket at its Bengaluru Centre of Excellence. This significant development aims to bolster the future of Indian women's cricket by building bench strength and providing expert guidance.

Rishabh Pant has been replaced as Test vice-captain by KL Rahul and dropped from the ODI squad. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are rested for workload management and a knee niggle respectively. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya await fitness clearance for the ODI series. New faces Gurnoor Brar and Manav Suthar earn Test call-ups.

Replays showed the ball striking the glove rather than the pads.

Rachin Ravindra returns home from IPL early. He feels ready for New Zealand's Test matches in Ireland and England. Ravindra gained valuable insights from top players like Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. He believes these conversations and training sessions have prepared him for challenging conditions. The experience has boosted his confidence for the upcoming red-ball assignments.

National selectors convene in Guwahati to discuss workload management post-IPL 2026, with Afghanistan series on the agenda. Key pacers Bumrah and Siraj's fitness will be scrutinized. Emerging talents like Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan are in contention, potentially filling gaps if senior bowlers are rested. Kohli and Sharma's return also noted.

Rishabh Pant faces career challenges, losing Test vice-captaincy and ODI spot to Ishan Kishan. Despite selector praise for his Test potential, Pant's recent IPL form has been underwhelming. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson and Kishan are excelling. KL Rahul is named Shubman Gill's deputy. Auqib Nabi's strong Ranji performance was overlooked for Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav.

England captain Ben Stokes made a strong return to cricket after a cheekbone injury, bowling 20 overs and taking two wickets for Durham. This comeback, his first match since January, offers a significant boost to England's bowling options ahead of a busy summer of Test cricket, including upcoming series against New Zealand and Pakistan.

Cricket Australia has publicly backed its veteran pace trio for the 2027 ODI World Cup, prioritising experience despite fitness concerns. In stark contrast, Team India faces uncertainty regarding Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja's futures, hinting at a significant transition phase for the national team as the next World Cup looms.

The BCCI medical team is clearing players for the Afghanistan Test, with a full-strength batting lineup expected. However, workload management will likely see changes in the bowling department, potentially giving opportunities to new faces. The No. 3 batting position remains a concern ahead of upcoming tours.

While the selectors will pick squads for a one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan, the blueprint for the 2027 ODI World Cup will be finalised on May 19. There are no question marks over Virat Kohli's position but Rohit Sharma is on a sticky wicket, and Ravindra Jadeja needs to punch above his weight to remain in contention.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli is “very sensitive to criticism” despite often saying he ignores outside noise. Manjrekar revealed Kohli sometimes became “cold” towards him after negative remarks. He added criticism may motivate Kohli to perform better. Manjrekar also praised Kohli’s aggressive leadership in Test cricket, calling him one of India’s greatest captains during his successful tenure.

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins is reportedly set for a significant contract extension. Cricket Australia is offering a deal that could see him earn nearly AUD 4 million annually until 2029. This move aims to secure top stars amidst the growing allure of global franchise leagues.

England's summer of cricket promises excitement with the Women's T20 World Cup and a historic one-off Women's Test at Lord's. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her dream of playing at the iconic venue. The match is already breaking attendance records, highlighting growing interest in women's cricket.

India announced their squad for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, with Yastika Bhatia returning after ACL surgery and Pratika Rawal missing out on the T20 setup despite making the Test squad. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. Bharti Fulmali, Nandini Sharma and Shree Charani earned places, while Radha Yadav retained her spot. Kashvee Gautam and Amanjot Kaur were unavailable due to injuries.

Virat Kohli and the cricket fraternity mourned the untimely demise of former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill, who passed away at 36. Gill, an ex-India U-19 pacer, represented Punjab and was part of the inaugural IPL season with Kings XI Punjab. Tributes poured in from former teammates and the Punjab Cricket Association.

New Zealand's white-ball captain, Mitchell Santner, faces a month-long layoff after a grade-three shoulder injury sustained during the IPL. The all-rounder's setback rules him out of upcoming Tests against Ireland and England, with his availability for later matches to be reassessed. Mumbai Indians have signed Keshav Maharaj as his replacement.