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Chandrakant Pandit on Saransh Jain (PC: X) India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka features a 33-year-old who forced the selectors’ hand through the sheer weight of his domestic performances. With Washington Sundar recovering from injury, Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain has earned his maiden Test call-up, stepping in as a specialist right-arm finger spinner to complement Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar. For Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who unlocked Jain’s potential over the last few seasons, the call-up is long-overdue validation. “It’s not only a happy moment for Saransh, but a happy moment for Madhya Pradesh as well as me as a coach,” Pandit told RevSportz. “Four years back, we thought about it. I mean, I didn’t know whether I was right or wrong, but he was not regularly part of the Madhya Pradesh team. He probably could play one or two games in a season. When I went there, I thought he’s got a different s...

Smriti Mandhana rescues Manchester Super Giants (PC: Hundred, ECB) A truly super giant-like performance from Smriti Mandhana saw her almost single-handedly guide Manchester Super Giants to a four-wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds in the ongoing Women’s Hundred. Chasing 143, the opener remained unbeaten on 88 off just 50 balls, striking at 176 while showcasing her range of strokes and power-hitting with precision. After managing only 17 runs in the tournament opener, and with the previous game washed out due to rain, all eyes were on Mandhana as she walked out to bat. It was a decent start for the visitors as they added 41 runs for the first wicket, with skipper Meg Lanning contributing 24. Mandhana, meanwhile, made a cautious start, particularly against India team-mate Deepti Sharma. Sunrisers Leeds captain Dani Gibson introduced the off-spinner early, and it paid off as Deepti kept Mandhana in check with four consecutive dot balls. But Mandhana quickly shifted gears, smashing Kate Cr...

Shakib al Hasan, PC: Vaibhav Tripathi Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue until the 2027 World Cup as long as they keep performing. Shakib, who resides in the USA, is hoping to return to Bangladesh with his family by the end of this year with the new government coming into power. The 39-year-old is currently plying his trade in the Lanka Premier League for Jaffna Kings. In an exclusive interaction with RevSportz at the team hotel in Kandy, the former Bangladesh captain opened up about the current Bangladesh team, especially the fast bowlers, backed Virat and Rohit to play in the 2027 World Cup, spoke about missing his former IPL franchise KKR, Gautam Gambhir’s man-management, the possibility of returning to Bangladesh, and more. Do you and your family miss Bangladesh? Is there a possibility of you returning to your country in the near future? Shakib Al Hasan: Yes, of course. We all miss Bangladesh. As far as returning to my coun...

Jasprit Bumrah and Saransh Jain ( PC- X) Saransh Jain has earned his maiden India call-up, as the selectors named a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka. That the off-spinner was in the reckoning was reported by RevSportz yesterday. With Washington Sundar nursing a hamstring injury, the 33-year-old from Madhya Pradesh has been given the nod.   Saransh went to Sri Lanka for the ‘A’ team series in June-July and accounted for seven wickets in two matches apart from scoring 70 not out in the second game. Against a Sri Lankan batting line-up that has an overload of left-handers, an off-spinner had to be picked. Washington is not in the squad, as the BCCI stated in the press release: “Washington Sundar was not available for selection for the first Test.”   This website reported that the update regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery from a knee sprain has been encouraging and he could be available for the full series. He has been picked “subject to fi...

Jasprit Bumrah (PC: BCCI) Jasprit Bumrah appears to be progressing well enough to be available for both the Tests in Sri Lanka next month. According to a source in the know, the update has been encouraging and there’s a “good chance” that he might be available for the full series. The two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka, which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC), starts on August 15 in Galle. The great fast bowler suffered a knee sprain ahead of the final ODI against England at Lord’s earlier this month. He is scheduled to check in at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru this week. The squad announcement is on Tuesday and the selectors are expected to get medical updates on the injured players. A series defeat in Sri Lanka will put paid to India’s chances of qualifying for the WTC final next year, and from that perspective, the team will like to have their best bowler for both games. The medical room, in fact, is overcrowded. Washingto...

Ibrahim Zadran on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (PC: Ibrahim Zadran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Insta) The upcoming three-match T20I series against India will be Ibrahim Zadran’s first as Afghanistan’s permanent T20I captain since succeeding Rashid Khan. Zadran was appointed captain by the Afghanistan Cricket Board following the team’s group-stage exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 24-year-old previously led Afghanistan in 11 T20Is between 2023 and 2025, winning five matches while losing five. He is currently representing the SC Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League. Following Jaffna’s convincing victory over the Kandy Royals,on Sunday, at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, the Afghanistan top-order batter took some time out for an exclusive interview with RevSportz. Here are the excerpts. Afghanistan are set to play a three-match T20I series against India. You must be looking forward to it…  Ibrahim Zadran: We have been preparing ourselves well. It...

Jasprit_Bumrah (PC: RevSportz/Debasis Sen) Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai Jasprit Bumrah is touch-and-go for the first Test against Sri Lanka, it is learnt. The fast-bowling maestro, who suffered a knee sprain ahead of the final ODI against England at Lord’s earlier this month, is likely to be included in the Test squad for the two-match series in the Island nation with an asterisk — subject to fitness clearance. The team selection is to take place “by Tuesday”. Bumrah, meanwhile, is set to report at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) this week. India will play two Tests in Sri Lanka, with the first match starting in Galle on August 15. So there’s still time for Bumrah’s full recovery. A question mark, though, remains over his availability in the first game. Also, his injury is not a case in isolation. In fact, the medical room is overflowing. Washington Sundar, too, is all but ruled out of the first Test. The all-rounder sustained a right hamstring injury during th...