Hardik Pandya ruled out of India A series, India-West Indies over-rate fines — cricket digest 05 Oct 2026
Hardik Pandya’s latest injury rules him out of India A ODIs; Shedge drafted in
Hardik Pandya will miss India A’s three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry after a fresh injury setback. He had been named in the original squad subject to fitness clearance, but is understood not to be pain-free while bowling, extending an absence that began during IPL 2026 in May.
Suryansh Shedge comes in as his replacement. India A have also made a change with Anukul Roy replacing Naman Dhir, who has been picked in India’s T20I squad for the West Indies series. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain India A, with Devdutt Padikkal as vice-captain; Australia A have added Riley Meredith and Will Sutherland, replacing Jack Edwards and Aaron Hardie.
India and West Indies fined for slow over-rates after New Chandigarh ODI
India and West Indies have been penalised for slow over-rates in the third and final ODI in New Chandigarh on Saturday. India were found to be four overs short once time allowances were applied and have been fined 20% of their match fee, while West Indies were two overs short and fined 10%.
The ODI series finished 2-1 to India, with West Indies signing off with a five-wicket win in the decider after Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 in a successful chase of 351. The teams now switch formats for a five-match T20I series starting in Lucknow on October 6.
West Indies call up Amir Jangoo as cover after Jewel Andrew’s finger injury
West Indies have added wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo to their squad for the India T20Is as cover for Jewel Andrew, who injured a finger during the third ODI. A fracture has been ruled out, and Andrew has not been ruled out of the T20I series, with the medical team continuing to monitor him.
Andrew was hurt taking a catch at cover to dismiss Naman Dhir and did not bat in the chase. The five-match T20I series begins in Lucknow on Tuesday, with further games in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Bracewell moves to a casual NZ contract to pursue BBL option; Nick Kelly earns first central deal
Michael Bracewell will shift to a casual contract for New Zealand’s 2026-27 season as he looks to take up an opportunity in the Big Bash League. New Zealand Cricket confirmed Nick Kelly will replace him on the central contracts list, giving the 33-year-old top-order batter his first national contract 11 years after his first-class debut.
Bracewell joins Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert among the casually contracted players. Kelly, who debuted in March 2025 and has 15 international caps, is in the mix for the home T20I series against India starting October 22 in Christchurch.
England add a 50-over warm-up at the WACA ahead of Australia ODI series
England will play a 50-over tour match against a Western Australia XI at the WACA on November 7 as part of their build-up to the three-match ODI series against Australia. The ODIs begin at Perth Stadium on November 13, before matches in Adelaide (November 15) and Hobart (November 18).
The ODI leg precedes a five-match T20I series running from November 21 to December 2. England are expected to take a close-to-full-strength ODI squad, with some Test players likely to be managed ahead of a Test tour of South Africa.
Raghuvanshi returns from rehab and posts a double century in red-ball tune-up
Angkrish Raghuvanshi is back on the field after a concussion and finger injury ended his IPL 2026 stint with Kolkata Knight Riders early. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been preparing for the domestic season via the KSCA’s K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy and a four-day game for Rest of India against Under-23 champions Tamil Nadu in Chennai.
Raghuvanshi followed a first-innings 51 with 203 off 281 balls in the second, underlining his fitness after a difficult spell that has also included a back stress fracture and finger surgery. He credited guidance from his childhood mentor and KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar, and said KKR fielding coach Dishant Yagnik played a key role in his transition to wicketkeeping.
In brief
- Rest of India beat Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs in the Irani Cup in Srinagar, with Mukesh Kumar taking 6 for 33 in the fourth innings and Ravichandran Smaran making 135 in the second.
- A feature traced the parallel journeys of Bihar quicks Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, who have played together for Bengal and were reunited in the Irani Cup.
- KL Rahul’s innings in the third ODI against West Indies was highlighted for blending a rebuild with late-overs acceleration.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad’s scratchy 57 in the third ODI against West Indies was framed as a missed chance, with a return to India A seen as part of his push to stay in ODI contention.
- Australia A allrounder Liam Scott was profiled as a rising option ahead of the one-day series against India A.
- Marnus Labuschagne made 111 in Australia’s warm-up draw with a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom, while Neil Brand struck 152 for the hosts.
- Neil Brand’s century in the Potchefstroom warm-up against Australia was noted as another step in his late-blooming red-ball story.
- Anrich Nortje said he would be excited to play Test cricket again as he targets a place in South Africa’s squad for the upcoming home series against Australia.
- Nic Maddinson spoke about being ready to make the most of an unexpected return to Australia’s Test squad after 19 months away from first-class cricket.
- A retrospective revisited the 2018 Sandpapergate series as Australia return to South Africa for their first Test tour there since that trip.
- The Sheffield Shield season previewed South Australia’s bid for a third straight title, with attention also on top-order batting depth across the competition.
- Sri Lanka recalled Avishka Fernando for the ODI tri-series in Pakistan involving Pakistan and England, brought in Sahan Arachchige for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, and left out Charith Asalanka.
- Pakistan seamer Kainat Imtiaz retired from international cricket to pursue work as a match referee, following the path of her mother, Saleema Imtiaz.
- A round-up listed current and upcoming international series and domestic tournaments on the calendar.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo