Karn Sharma retires; India-Sri Lanka ring in debutants; Starc’s 10-for flattens Bangladesh — cricket digest 23 Aug 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Karn Sharma announces retirement, set to finish after UP T20 stint

Karn Sharma has retired from international and Indian domestic cricket, bringing down the curtain on a career that included one Test, two ODIs and a T20I for India. The 38-year-old Railways legspinner made the announcement after a UP T20 League match between Kanpur Superstars and Meerut Mavericks, and will play on until his team’s final game of the Lucknow leg on August 25.

Karn leaves with a rare IPL calling card: three titles in three consecutive seasons with three different teams — Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016), Mumbai Indians (2017) and Chennai Super Kings (2018). Across 97 first-class matches he took 270 wickets and scored 2866 runs, having started out as an allrounder with a century on Ranji Trophy debut.

India bat first in Colombo as Saransh Jain and Kamil Mishara make Test debuts

India chose to bat after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with both captains indicating they would have preferred first use despite cloud cover and a hint of grass. The start was bright and humid, with rain in the forecast over the match and the surface expected to take turn as it wears.

India made one change: offspinner Saransh Jain debuted in place of Kuldeep Yadav, who was ruled out after not recovering from a viral illness. Sri Lanka handed a first Test cap to Kamil Mishara, while Pasindu Sooriyabandara kept his spot after featuring as a concussion substitute in Galle.

Gambhir pushes for more three-Test series, while Kuldeep’s role stays under scrutiny

Gautam Gambhir said he would “ideally” like to see more three-match Test series, arguing that two-Test contests don’t allow a side that loses the opener a realistic chance to win the series. Speaking in Colombo, the India coach pointed to how comebacks become part of the narrative only when there’s time for them to unfold.

Gambhir also reiterated that the management rates Kuldeep Yadav “very highly”, but stopped short of any selection guarantees, saying India would pick the attack best suited to conditions and focused on taking 20 wickets. He added that Kuldeep is not judged solely on wicket numbers, and urged him to concentrate on bowling good spells rather than chasing breakthroughs.

De Silva wants Sri Lanka’s seamers to find another gear — and more 140kph options

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva called on his fast bowlers to “raise their game a little bit” ahead of the Colombo Test, saying the side needs more genuinely quick options in the longer format. While Asitha Fernando has led the attack with consistency in the low-130kph range, de Silva said he would like “two or three” bowlers capable of operating above 140kph.

De Silva noted Lahiru Kumara’s pace makes him the best available partner for Asitha, but also referenced Kumara’s injury interruptions and modest returns in the first Test. He added that Sri Lanka have tried to ensure they field two seamers regularly under his captaincy, believing that if their quicks can take wickets at home, they can do it anywhere.

In brief

  • Mitchell Starc took ten wickets in the match as Australia beat Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in Mackay, the second-shortest Test ever played in Australia, to level the series.
  • Ricky Ponting said it was “well and truly time to look at somebody else” after another low score from Marnus Labuschagne in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, with other former players also questioning his place.
  • Mackay’s first day became a full-blown scramble as Mitchell Starc (6 for 12) and Shoriful Islam (six-for) spearheaded an 18-wicket day in the second Australia-Bangladesh Test.
  • Chris Woakes held his nerve as Warwickshire edged Sussex by one wicket in a tense County Championship Division One finish.
  • Olly Stone claimed a match ten-for as Nottinghamshire beat Surrey by 145 runs at The Oval to keep their title hopes alive.
  • Ben McKinney’s 140 and a Ben Stokes allround display powered Durham to a 338-run win over Derbyshire in Division Two.
  • Charlie Allison struck an unbeaten 105 as Essex, following on, fought back to lead Somerset by three runs with seven wickets in hand at Taunton.
  • George Hill starred as Yorkshire left Hampshire needing 172 more runs with seven wickets in hand in their Division One relegation battle.
  • Kiran Carlson’s 73 not out kept Glamorgan’s chase alive, but they still needed 131 more runs with five wickets down against Leicestershire at Grace Road.
  • Ricardo Vasconcelos made a century as Northamptonshire tightened their grip on Lancashire, who were set 446 and closed on 24 for 2.
  • Ekansh Singh’s 3 for 35 helped Kent push for a win as Middlesex, chasing 356, slipped to 186 for 4 at Merchant Taylors’ School.
  • Miles Hammond and Ollie Price dug in to put Gloucestershire 131 ahead of Worcestershire with seven wickets in hand after three days.
  • Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 20-ball 52 carried Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a five-wicket CPL win over Trinbago Knight Riders and lifted them to the top of the table.
  • Pakistan headed to London after their Leeds defeat with limited room to reshuffle ahead of the next Test against England.
  • Madhya Pradesh left-arm quick Arshad Khan said he wants to make his mark in red-ball cricket too, with the Duleep Trophy in his sights after only five first-class matches.
  • Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan’s rise has been shaped by old-school coaching at Sonnet Cricket Club, along with influences ranging from Virat Kohli’s example to meditation.
  • Sri Lanka went into the Colombo Test looking for their spinners to step up as they try to square the series with India.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo