India pick Saransh Jain for Sri Lanka Tests; PCB relaunch Champions Cup — cricket digest 28 Jul 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

India hand Saransh Jain first Test call-up for Sri Lanka as Bumrah returns, fitness checks pending

India have called up Madhya Pradesh offspin allrounder Saransh Jain for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka in August, with Washington Sundar unavailable for the first Test after a hamstring injury. Jasprit Bumrah is back in the squad, while his and Sai Sudharsan’s availability will depend on fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.

Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from tennis elbow and returns, but there is no place for Harsh Dubey. The squad is led by Shubman Gill with KL Rahul as vice-captain, and includes Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar among the spin options, plus Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and uncapped seamer Gurnoor Brar. If Sudharsan doesn’t get the all-clear, Devdutt Padikkal is an option at No. 3. India play a four-day practice match in Colombo from August 7 before the Tests at Galle (Aug 15) and Colombo (Aug 23).

PCB brings back Champions Cup branding for compact one-day tournament in Multan

Pakistan’s premier domestic 50-over competition has been rebranded again as the Champions Cup, with seven matches between four teams scheduled from August 11 to 18 at Multan Cricket Stadium. The event will be a single round-robin followed by a final, and is being positioned as part of preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan will captain the four sides — Pakistan Gold, Greens, Whites and Blues. Some players will miss out due to red-ball commitments, with Pakistan’s Test squad in England at the time, while Abrar Ahmed will also be absent as he is playing The Hundred for Sunrisers Leeds.

Bangladesh rue Nahid Rana injury ahead of first Australia Test tour in 23 years

Bangladesh chief selector Habibul Bashar said the side strain that ruled out fast bowler Nahid Rana from the upcoming two Tests in Australia came despite the board being “extra cautious” with his workload. Bashar pointed to GPS-based monitoring and said Rana had been managed through Australia’s June tour of Bangladesh, but was injured during the Zimbabwe white-ball leg after being rested for the one-off Test.

Bashar added that injuries are difficult to avoid for quicks and stressed Bangladesh must move forward with the remaining pace group, including Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain, for the Tests in Darwin (Aug 13-17) and Mackay (Aug 22-28). He also said a lack of opening options contributed to Soumya Sarkar being brought back into the Test set-up for the tour.

Sooryavanshi caps India’s Zimbabwe sweep with 81 as Laxman praises his game awareness

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi top-scored with 81 as India beat Zimbabwe by 90 runs to complete a 3-0 T20I series clean sweep, earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for twin half-centuries. Head coach VVS Laxman highlighted the teenager’s ability to assess conditions and adjust, noting how he handled a big ground and a slow surface while Zimbabwe’s bowlers targeted him with plans.

Laxman also said Sooryavanshi’s maturity has accelerated over the past six months, while flagging fitness as an area to build carefully given his age. He added that India were encouraged by how Sooryavanshi bounced back after a difficult start to his international career in England, where he faced sustained short-pitched bowling.

In brief

  • Will Jacks made 54 as MI London edged Southern Brave by three wickets off the last ball at the Utilita Bowl in The Hundred men’s competition.
  • Southern Brave stayed unbeaten in The Hundred women’s competition after Lauren Bell held her nerve at the death to seal a one-run win over MI London, despite Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 52 not out.
  • Keaton Jennings’ 135 set up Lancashire’s 21-run Metro Bank One-Day Cup win over Leicestershire after 383 for 4 proved just enough against 362 for 8.
  • Warwickshire captain Sam Hain has been ruled out of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a knee injury, while Nottinghamshire have signed George Munsey after injuries to Jack Haynes and Ben Slater.
  • Tom Alsop will leave Sussex at the end of the season after agreeing a three-year deal with Gloucestershire.
  • West Indies led Pakistan by 155 runs in the first Test at Tarouba after a 14-wicket third day that saw West Indies bowled out for 311 and Pakistan dismissed for 282.
  • Mohammad Ali’s career-best haul against West Indies at Tarouba was the latest reward for his persistence and process in red-ball cricket.
  • Shan Masood’s latest Test innings at Tarouba ended 12 runs short of a century in his first match since being removed as Pakistan’s Test captain.
  • Matthew Mott reflected on his time as England’s white-ball coach, saying he was “in the crosshairs” after a poor World Cup, while discussing his new role with Manchester Super Giants.
  • Ben Duckett’s 141 against India last week was confirmed as the highest individual ODI score at Lord’s.
  • A round-up of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s career highlighted the age and speed records he has set since debuting in senior domestic cricket and then for India.
  • The World Test Championship 2025-27 series schedule was updated with competition details.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo