Gill’s 223* seals India’s 2-0 lead, Bairstow joins Renegades, India-Pakistan final set — cricket digest 01 Oct 2026

· Cricombo Editorial

Gill’s unbeaten 223 powers India to record ODI chase and an unassailable 2-0 lead over West Indies

Shubman Gill struck an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls as India chased down 406 to beat West Indies by eight wickets in Guwahati, completing their biggest-ever ODI chase and moving 2-0 up in the series. Rohit Sharma made a 75-ball 101 and the pair put on 255 for the first wicket as India got home in 43.3 overs.

Gill said India broke the chase into “small parts”, targeting 75-80 without loss in the powerplay, and felt the pressure shifted after that. He also indicated India may look at giving opportunities in the final ODI to players yet to feature in the series, including Mohammad Siraj, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Asian Games: India crush Sri Lanka to reach gold-medal match against Pakistan

Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 lifted India to 169 for 7 before a combined bowling effort skittled Sri Lanka for 45, giving India a 124-run win in the second Asian Games men’s semi-final in Nisshin. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel were among the wickets as India booked a place in the final.

Pakistan will be the opposition in the gold-medal match after they chased down 112 in a shortened semi-final against Bangladesh, winning by six wickets with Abdul Samad unbeaten on 30 and Mohammad Nawaz making 27 not out.

Bairstow signs for Melbourne Renegades for first Big Bash season

Jonny Bairstow will play in the Big Bash League for the first time after signing with Melbourne Renegades for the full season. The 37-year-old had not previously featured in the BBL, after a proposed stint with Melbourne Stars in 2020 did not go ahead.

Renegades moved for a top-order wicketkeeper-batter following Tim Seifert’s departure to Sydney Sixers, and Bairstow’s deal continues the trend of high-profile England recruits for the tournament, with Ben Stokes returning for Adelaide Strikers and Zak Crawley heading back to Perth Scorchers.

Overton and Luff take top PCA honours as Baker and Corteen-Coleman win young player awards

Somerset’s Craig Overton and Sophie Luff were voted the PCA men’s and women’s players of the year at the annual awards in west London. Overton’s season included 734 Championship runs and 53 wickets, while Luff enjoyed a prolific summer after moving up to open the batting and was Somerset’s leading run-scorer in both the Blast and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Sonny Baker was named men’s young player of the year and Surrey left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman took the women’s young player award. Heather Knight received the outstanding contribution award, with Tammy Beaumont picking up the ECB’s special merit award.

Irani Cup begins on a green Srinagar pitch as J&K choose to bowl against Rest of India

Jammu & Kashmir captain Paras Dogra won the toss and opted to bowl against Rishabh Pant’s Rest of India in Srinagar, looking to make use of a fresh wicket at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium. Pant said he would also have bowled first on a surface with a covering of grass and early-morning moisture.

With Auqib Nabi away with the India squad, J&K brought in Umar Nazir Mir and Lone Nasir, while Rest of India’s XI included Sarfaraz Khan alongside Pant.

In brief

  • MI Emirates appointed Mark Boucher as head coach ahead of ILT20 2026-27, with Boucher taking over from Robin Singh on the eve of the Dubai auction.
  • Australia beat South Africa by 45 runs (DLS) in the rain-affected third ODI at Potchefstroom, with Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh making fifties before Adam Zampa featured in the win.
  • Australia’s six-match ODI tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa ended with questions around their middle order and middle overs after a 3-0 sweep in Harare was followed by a 2-1 defeat in South Africa.
  • Todd Murphy led Australia A’s control on day two against India A, with the hosts 122 for 5 at stumps and still 236 behind after Australia A made 358.
  • Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma took 6 for 52 as India A Women built a 322-run lead over Australia A Women after bowling them out for 176 and reaching 134 for 2 in their second innings.
  • Ireland allrounder Simi Singh announced his retirement from professional cricket after a career spanning 35 ODIs and 53 T20Is.
  • Hayley Matthews’ 118 and Shemaine Campbelle’s 96 helped West Indies Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 91 runs to clinch the ODI series 2-1.
  • Bangladesh kept Nigar Sultana as captain for the upcoming ODI series in Australia and included uncapped allrounders Disha Biswas and Habiba Islam in the squad.
  • Mohammad Rizwan was instructed to appear before Pakistan’s NCCIA on October 2 as the investigation involving him continues.
  • The ECB is set to grant NOCs for England players to feature in the Afghanistan Premier League T20, provided the competition receives ICC sanction.
  • Alice Capsey said she is targeting allrounder status, with her recent stint as a stand-in wicketkeeper adding to her options ahead of a busy 2027 that includes a home Ashes.
  • A Guwahati crowd piece captured the mood at Barsapara as India’s chase of 406 against West Indies became a night of milestones for Gill and Rohit.
  • John Campbell reflected on making a Guwahati ODI century for West Indies after returning to the format at a stage when opportunities are not guaranteed.
  • In the Potchefstroom ODI, Aiden Markram captained South Africa, who made five changes, rested key players including Temba Bavuma, and chose to bowl against Australia.

Sources: ESPNcricinfo