Latest Test cricket News & Updates

New Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS) India opener KL Rahul said he deliberately avoided curbing his natural strokeplay while making the transition from T20 cricket to the Test format, a mindset that helped him compile a patient century on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan.Rahul’s 100, along with captain Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 103 and Sai Sudharsan’s 81, powered India to a commanding 368/3 at stumps on Day 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.Reflecting…

New Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS) Rajasthan spin-bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar’s steady rise through the domestic ranks reached a defining milestone on Saturday when he made his Test debut for India in the one-off match against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.The 23-year-old left-arm spinner was named in India’s playing XI ahead of fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, ending speculation over who would get the nod as the team management looked to …

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) India’s newest red-ball debutant, Manav Suthar, expressed that words cannot fully capture how he felt on receiving his first Test cap. He described the moment as the ‘best feeling’ he has experienced so far while also stating that he was motivated while getting the cap from ‘a legend like Kuldeep Yadav.’India added Suthar to the XI for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. Before the game began on Saturday, all eyes were on India’s playing XI, with…

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Former England captain Nasser Hussain has criticised the Lord’s pitch as “substandard” and “not good enough” for Test cricket after 33 wickets fell in the opening two days of England’s first Test against New Zealand, reigniting debate over the quality of surfaces at the iconic venue.The contest at Lord’s has been mostly about the bowlers. England set New Zealand a target of 218 after being bowled out for a low score in their second innings. New Zealand bowl…

New Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS) Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz expressed that playing against India in the upcoming one-off Test is a long-held dream coming true as he described the chance to participate in red-ball cricket in India as a special milestone in his career. Watching Afghanistan’s early steps in Test cricket from a distance, Gurbaz acknowledged that this moment has deep personal importance as his team strives to make its mark in the longest format.”I feel amazing. I…

New Chandigarh, June 6 (IANS) With India preparing to switch from the frenetic pace of the IPL to the patience and discipline of Test cricket, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna believes the transition is no longer an unfamiliar challenge for modern-day cricketers. Ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday, the pacer said players have become accustomed to moving between formats throughout the year, making the ad…

New Chandigarh, June 5 (IANS) Less than a week after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 ended, Shubman Gill’s India are gearing up to return to traditional cricket when they host Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh starting on Saturday.Although this match does not count towards the World Test Championship cycle, India has stated they will treat it as seriously as any other Test.This match is India’s first Test since their series against South Africa in Novemb…

New Chandigarh, June 5 (IANS) Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide his team with a structured Test calendar, insisting that sporadic one‑off matches are not enough to sustain red‑ball cricket in the country.Afghanistan, which gained Test status in 2018, will play their second Test against India, starting on Saturday. “You come to India, and you play India in India, it’s one of the great challenges in world cricket, and it alway…

New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi on Friday hailed Rishabh Pant as the finest wicket-keeper batter India has ever seen in Tests, saying the southpaw’s match-winning knock at the Gabba in 2021 would remain etched in his memory forever. Pant, 28, is preparing to play his 50th Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh starting on Saturday. In 49 Tests, Pant has amassed 3476 runs at an average of 42.91 and strike-rate of 74.24, including hitting eig…

New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi said teenaged left-handed opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has to be rewarded with an India T20I cap, adding that he has ticked all boxes and could even one day terrorise Test match bowlers as well. Sooryavanshi, who was the Player of the Tournament in India winning the 2026 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, is poised to become the youngest cricketer in an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar’s debut in 1989. He …