Rajat Patidar has exited India's squad for the forthcoming ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup due to an injury setback. In his place, the BCCI has appointed Ayush Badoni. Rinku Singh will serve as the vice-captain alongside Captain Tilak Varma in a competitive Group B that includes the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Pakistan A.

India A established a solid position against New Zealand A, posting a total of 464 runs. Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Varma, and Washington Sundar contributed significantly to the first innings with their half-centuries. After declaring their innings, India A's bowlers made early breakthroughs, leaving New Zealand A struggling at 36/2. Prasidh Krishna returned to the team and made an immediate impact by dismissing the openers.

In his autobiography, Usman Khawaja reveals that the entire Australian cricket team was aware of the ball-tampering incident during their 2018 tour of South Africa. He addressed claims that he kept this information hidden for personal benefit, emphasizing his desire for collective accountability. Khawaja voiced disappointment in teammates unwilling to accept shared responsibility. His comments have reignited crucial discussions surrounding the scandal that rocked Australian cricket's reputation.

Gurnoor Brar made waves in the second ODI against New Zealand, achieving remarkable bowling figures of 4/30. This stat positions him as the second-best Indian fast bowler in ODIs in New Zealand history. The match, disrupted by rain, saw India bowl out New Zealand for only 134 runs, and although they struggled at first, they clinched a four-wicket victory, making Brar's performance a notable highlight of the series.

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar endorsed the decision to promote Axar Patel during the second ODI against New Zealand. India faced early challenges while chasing a modest target of 135 after losing key wickets. Axar was sent in at No. 5 but scored only seven runs, leading to criticism of the move. KL Rahul later steadied the innings after Axar's dismissal, contributing to India's eventual DLS victory.

Dodda Ganesh has raised eyebrows over India's choice to position Axar Patel at the fifth spot in the batting lineup. He expresses that this approach limits KL Rahul's potential to elevate his batting status. In the second ODI versus New Zealand, India's middle order faced challenges under pressure following early wicket losses.

During the second ODI, Rohit Sharma set a new record for the most sixes hit against New Zealand in One-Day Internationals, breaking Shahid Afridi’s previous record by launching two sixes off Kyle Jamieson. Although rain interrupted play, India managed to secure a narrow four-run victory using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Sharma’s significant contribution helped anchor the innings, giving India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Ricky Ponting's run record against New Zealand in ODIs. He moved past Ponting during the second ODI in Wellington, scoring 1,975 runs overall. Kohli's performance included a valuable innings of 74 in the first ODI. India's bowlers excelled, bowling out New Zealand for just 134 runs in a rain-affected match. Gurnoor Brar was particularly impressive, taking four wickets to lead the attack.

Yashasvi Jaiswal shone brightly in the third Test with his remarkable second consecutive first-class century. Despite weather delays, India A ended the day strong at 227 for two. Jaiswal dazzled with a powerful 102 runs, displaying his prowess with several boundaries and two sixes. Sai Sudharsan supported him well, remaining not out at 77, while Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Prasidh Krishna geared up for future Test series.

With the publication of Usman Khawaja's autobiography, the spotlight has returned to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket. Khawaja reveals that discussions about tampering were commonplace among players during their time in South Africa. In response, Michael Vaughan sarcastically remarked that these suspicions were already widely acknowledged in the cricketing world. Cricket Australia, however, reaffirms its findings regarding player knowledge, keeping the scandal alive in cricket history.

Morne Morkel has acknowledged Mohammed Shami's contributions as he retires from Test cricket after 12 years. Shami played a significant role in helping Morkel adjust to the Indian team culture during his early days. With 229 Test wickets, Shami concludes a notable career but will remain active in limited-overs formats. Morkel expressed satisfaction with Shami continuing to bowl extensively in domestic cricket for Bengal.

Mohammed Shami has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of a distinguished twelve-year journey. Over his career, he participated in 64 Tests, claiming 229 wickets for India, with standout performances particularly against South Africa and Australia. Manoj Tiwary, his fellow cricketer, honored Shami's impact on the sport, calling him a true warrior. Shami plans to remain active in limited-overs formats.

Usman Khawaja has shed light on the extent of discussions regarding ball tampering among Australian cricketers. He revealed that these conversations were not only prevalent but also conducted openly during their contentious 2018 tour in South Africa. This revelation casts doubt on the integrity of Cricket Australia's previous investigation, which insists it considered all pertinent information before drawing its conclusions.

Shubman Gill, captain of the Indian cricket team, emphasizes the importance of the ODI series against New Zealand, seeing it as a crucial preparation for the World Cup. He’s arrived early to adapt to the red ball for enhanced performance. India currently leads the series and is eager to clinch a win in Wellington, while New Zealand eyes a robust comeback.

Venkatesh Iyer praised Gautam Gambhir for his pivotal influence on the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 IPL season. He elaborated on Gambhir's ability to foster a culture that emphasized readiness and ferocity among the players. This high level of expectation motivated the batters to be proactive and deliver their best, which ultimately contributed to KKR's stellar performance and their triumph in clinching the third IPL title under Gambhir's leadership.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved a significant milestone by being appointed as the East Zone vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy, a testament to his talent. However, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has voiced reservations about Sooryavanshi taking on such a crucial leadership role at a young age. With only eight red-ball matches under his belt, Tendulkar advised him to gather more experience before stepping into the spotlight.

Australian cricketer Chris Lynn has been suspended for one month after testing positive for cocaine. His positive test occurred following the T20 Blast Finals Day on July 18, where he played for Northamptonshire. Lynn confirmed he used cocaine outside of competition and completed a substance abuse treatment program. His suspension was initially proposed for three months but reduced after treatment.

Subhadeep Ghosh, India's fielding coach, lauded the team's dedication in their recent ODI triumph over New Zealand. They effectively confined New Zealand to 185 runs, demonstrating exceptional fielding prowess. Key contributions came from senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who displayed remarkable anticipation and agile movements. Ghosh emphasized the need to adapt to varying overseas conditions for top-notch fielding.

Kris Srikkanth has raised concerns regarding Chennai Super Kings' recent trades involving Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards. He contends that Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged as the true winners of the four-player exchange ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Srikkanth examined Livingstone's potential role in CSK's squad and expressed skepticism over acquiring Edwards, noting that existing overseas talents may hinder Livingstone's chances, ultimately favoring Sunrisers Hyderabad in the deal.

Venkatesh Iyer experienced significant online backlash from Kolkata Knight Riders supporters after Shubman Gill's release. Fans would often criticize him on social media whenever Gill performed well. He revealed his thoughts about his situation ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, mentioning his previous approach to Shah Rukh Khan. After being released, Iyer moved on and joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he noticed the strong fan connection.