India A squads for two four-day matches against South Africa A have been announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Rishabh Pant, who has been on a long injury break, will lead the side in both the matches. Names such as Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar have been included in both squads and provide a good core to the series.

The selectors have selected some players for both games, while others are distinct in each game. It is an effort to help young players gain experience in the first game while providing older Test players with an opportunity to play in the second game. The first game is scheduled to begin on October 30, while the second game will start on November 6. Both games will be hosted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The team will also serve as a launching ground for new players to demonstrate their talent against stiff competition. By combining young blood with experience, India A is trying to offer competitive cricket while giving selectors an opportunity to evaluate players for future international games.

Young Talent and Test Stars in Focus

For the first unofficial Test, 18-year-old Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre has been included. Ayush Badoni, who was part of India A during the Australia series, has retained his place, while Rajat Patidar will play only in the first game. N Jagadeesan is the second wicketkeeper, with Anshul Kamboj and Yash Thakur leading the pace attack. Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain has been drafted in after taking six wickets against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 opener.

See Also: WATCH: Indian cricketers send heartfelt diwali wishes amid challenge in Australia and World Cup 2025

The second four-day game will feature experienced Test players such as KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Mohammed Siraj. Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to the squad after his impressive performance against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy. The pace attack for this match will include Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Khaleel Ahmed, giving India A a strong and balanced side for the second encounter.

India A Squads for South Africa A Series

1st Four-Day Match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Ayush Mhatre, N. Jagdeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, Ayush Badoni, Saransh Jain.

2nd Four-Day Match: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.

It was another toss between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, but it was a big toss as they were playing in the tournament Final. While it is the first Asia Cup Final meeting between India and Pakistan, we experienced a very strange incident at the toss. 

There is a tension between India and Pakistan in the entire Asia Cup 2025 due to the present tense situation between the two countries. The relation between the two cricket teams has also been affected in this tournament, as there are no handshakes, which the Indian team has decided to maintain away from the Pakistan team. 

Once again, the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav maintained no handshake status with the Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha in the Asia Cup 2025 Final toss on Sunday (September 28) at Dubai. After the Indian captain SKY won the toss, he confidently chose to bowl first. But then we experienced a very strange incident.

Asia Cup 2025 Final, India vs Pakistan - Toss: Ravi Shastri interviewed Indian captain; Waqar Younis interviewed Pakistan captain

While the Indian captain Suryakumar gave the interview to the former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri, the former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis interviewed the Pakistan skipper Salman Agha. We always experience that only one anchor, generally a reputed commentator, takes both captains' interviews at the toss. But the Asia Cup 2025 Final has experienced this rare incident where both captains gave the toss interviews to different commentators. 

Asia Cup 2025 Final: Hardik Pandya missing the Final

During the toss, the Indian captain brought the harsh news for the Indian cricket fans, as the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya would miss the Asia Cup 2025 Final due to an injury. Apart from Pandya, India have all other strong names for the Final, while Rinku Singh joined the playing XI in the absence of Pandya. Meanwhile, Pakistan have named their usual strong side for the tournament Final. 

Ex-India cricketer and analyst Sanjay Manjrekar praised MS Dhoni, emphasizing his exceptional leadership skills and influence on the team’s success. According to him, Dhoni had a rare gift of inspiring and guiding his players, no matter the situation.

Manjrekar pointed out how Dhoni had the ability to transform even an average-looking side into a team of champions. His calmness and trust in his players often brought the best out of them, which played a key role in India’s numerous triumphs under his captaincy.

The former batter also admired Dhoni’s temperament in big games. He noted that he consistently handled pressure with ease, especially in finals, making the difference when it mattered the most for the team.

See Also: ‘Cameras were shut off….’ Lalit Modi drops shocking revelation Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth’s famous slapgate controversy

Sanjay Manjrekar Highlights MS Dhoni’s Leadership Qualities:

Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking on Stalin Mathias’ YouTube channel, highlighted MS Dhoni’s unmatched record as captain. Manjrekar noted that Dhoni guided India to landmark wins: the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.

Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted Dhoni’s calm nature and smart decision-making, noting they played a crucial role in turning high-pressure tournaments into historic, unforgettable victories for Indian cricket.

He said, “ I would rank Imran Khan from the days gone by, and after that, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as to what he was able to do as a captain. I thought he single-handedly raised the bar for the team and got even, maybe an average team sometimes, an inexperienced team, for example, in that 2007 T20 World Cup to go and win titles..”

He further said, “ And I think he was different when it came to performances on the big stage. He played the final just like he would play one of the earlier league matches. I think the moment, just that whole stay that you have for the big finals, can get to a lot of players and definitely gets to a few captains as well. MS was different in that regard.”

Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Virat Kohli’s Brilliance in 2014 Australia Tour:

Sanjay Manjrekar also praised ex-India skipper Virat Kohli for his fearless approach during the 2014 Australia series. He hailed Kohli as a “mentality monster” for his fighting spirit and consistency, highlighting his four centuries in tough conditions. Manjrekar, in the same video, credited Kohli’s performances for setting new standards in Indian cricket.

He said, “ Virat Kohli, for me, is at the top. Indian cricket have had greats, mentally strong, who are not demonstrative it was not obvious to see. They all had their aggression from Sunil Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Kapil Dev. It was not that visible.”

He further said, “ Virat Kohli was one of the first guys that I saw, and that was during the 2014 trip to Australia after England, where he had a difficult time at the battle. He went to Australia and got four 100s. And I remember him taking on the Australian players head-on and gave it back to them verbally, and he walked the talk as well.”

He added, “ And I thought at that time that it was great because Indian cricket didn’t have any leading figure being like this. Pakistan in the past used to have a Javed Miandad who did that to take on Denis Lilly, and the things that he did, plus a great batter.”

He concluded, “ So, that was nice to see. I mean, it’s not really about how you get runs, it’s about how many runs you get. That’s the real value. But he did both Virat Kohli and, I remember feeling very very proud at the time.”

Virat Kohli showcased his brilliance in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring a remarkable 692 runs across eight innings. Averaging 86.50, he dominated the Australian attack with consistency and class, proving why he was regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation.

Just before the beginning of the CPL 2025, the record four-time CPL champions Trinbago Knight Riders announced their new captain. Nicholas Pooran has replaced Kieron Pollard for the captaincy role of the side. 

Pooran now become the third Trinbago Knight Riders captain, after Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard led the team in 70 and 67 games, respectively. The former West Indies white-ball captain Pooran previously experienced CPL captaincy during the 2021 edition for Guyana Amazon Warriors in 11 games, where his team recorded five wins and five losses. 

It means a lot: New Trinbago Knight Riders captain Nicholas Pooran

In the CPL 2025, Pooran will lead Trinbago Knight Riders for the first time. The Caribbean cricketer is ready for the new challenge, as he wishes to carry on the legacy of the franchise.  

That's a lot of experience I can bank on

Last season, Trinbago Knight Riders were eliminated from the Eliminator round, which they qualified for after finishing the third position in the points table. While the CPL 2025 will start on August 14, the Trinbago Knight Riders will start their tournament journey on August 17 with the match against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.

The seventh leading run-scorer in CPL history, Pooran has scored 1112 runs in 50 matches for Trinbago Knight Riders, as he is the fourth most run-scorer for the franchise. 

After the end of the thrilling England vs India five-match Test series, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, which ended in a 2-2 draw under the new Test leadership of Shubman Gill, the focus of Indian cricket is slowly shifting towards the Asia Cup 2025, which will run in September. While the tournament is a month away from beginning, there is some big news on the Indian captaincy for the competition. 

Asia Cup 2025: India will face Pakistan in group stage

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the Asia Cup 2025, which will be the 17th Asia Cup and the third T20 Asia Cup tournament. This is the first time that eight teams will participate in the Asia Cup, which will run between September 9 and 28, 2025. Apart from the ICC Full Members or Test-playing nations, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, the other three qualified teams for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup will be UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. 

India and Pakistan will face each other in Group A of the Asia Cup 2025 along with Oman and the UAE. While India can face Pakistan three times in the tournament, if both teams reach the Final, they can also face Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan at least in the Super 4.

So, there is no doubt about the competition in the forthcoming T20 Asia Cup, where the non-Test playing members also have something to prove on the field. The Men in Blues are expected to go with a strong T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup tournament, and the captaincy role is a significant topic for them.

See Also: Afghanistan Announces T20 Preliminary Squad for Asia Cup and Tri-Nation Series

Suryakumar Yadav is recovering after surgery, started batting

Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav had a sports hernia surgery in Munich, Germany, last June. Since then, there hasn't been much news about his fitness. Some recent reports claimed that he would be doubtful for the T20 Asia Cup, and the BCCI was looking for an alternative skipper for the forthcoming Asia Cup tournament. 

However, according to a recent ESPNcricinfo report, the Indian T20I captain already experienced his first batting session after surgery in late July at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The 34-year-old is currently under the observation of the BCCI medical team. While the Indian cricket team is expected to travel to the UAE in early September for the Asia Cup 2025, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to be fit to lead the national team in the tournament. 

Washington Freedom vs MI New York (WAS vs NY) will be played in the MLC 2025 Final on Sunday evening, July 13 (starting at 05:30 on July 14) at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie in Dallas.

MLC 2025, Final: WAS vs NY Probable XIs

Washington Freedom Predicted Playing XI: Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Owen, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell (Captain), Jack Edwards, Glenn Phillips, Ian Holland, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Netravalkar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Lockie Ferguson

MI New York Predicted Playing XI: Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Tajinder Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Tristan Luus, George Linde, Rushil Ugarkar

See Also: MLC 2025, Final: Probable Playing XI for WAS vs NY

MLC 2025, Final: WAS vs NY Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Monank Patel: USA cricketer Monank Patel is the second leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025 with 450 runs in 12 innings with an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 143.31, including four half-centuries. His last five innings were 56, 13, 6, 33, and 49 runs, respectively.

Mitchell Owen: Australian youngster Mitchell Owen has scored 313 runs and taken 14 wickets in 11 matches in the MLC 2025. Apart from two half-centuries, he has recorded one fifer in this season.

Glenn Maxwell: Australian star Glenn Maxwell, the Washington Freedom skipper, has scored 237 runs and also picked up nine wickets in 11 matches in this MLC season. He has recorded one century in this tournament, but also won two Player of the Match awards for his bowling performances. 

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Nicholas Pooran: MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran has scored 339 runs in 12 innings in the MLC 2025 with an average of 37.66 and a strike rate of 135.60, including one century and two half-centuries. His last seven innings were 108*, 8, 62*, 30, 12, 1, and 52*

Trent Boult: New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult has taken 13 wickets in 11 matches this MLC season. He has recorded one four-wicket haul this tournament. 

Kieron Pollard: Former Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard has scored 317 runs and also taken six wickets in the MLC 2025. He has recorded two half-centuries in this tournament, and his last five innings were 70, 14*, 50, 5, and 47* runs, respectively. 

In the Challenger of the MLC 2025, Texas Super Kings vs MI New York (TEX vs NY) will be played at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie will be played on Friday evening, July 11 (starting at 05:30 IST on July 12). 

MLC 2025, Challenger: TEX vs NY Probable XIs

Texas Super Kings Predicted Playing XI: Smit Patel (wk), Faf du Plessis (Captain), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shubham Ranjane, Marcus Stoinis, Donovan Ferreira, Calvin Savage, Akeal Hossain, Zia Ul Haq Muhammad, Noor Ahmad, Adam Milne

MI New York Predicted Playing XI: Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Tajinder Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Tristan Luus, George Linde, Rushil Ugarkar

See Also: MLC 2025, Challenger: Probable Playing XI for TEX vs NY

MLC 2025, Challenger: TEX vs NY Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Faf du Plessis: Former South African cricketer Faf du Plessis is the leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025, having scored 409 runs in nine innings with an average of 51.12 and a strike rate of 175.53, including two centuries and two half-centuries. His scores in the last six innings were 100, 69, 12, 103*, 1, and 91 runs, respectively. 

Monank Patel: USA cricketer Monank Patel is the second leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025 with 401 runs in 11 innings, with an average of 36.45 and a strike rate of 145.81, including four half-centuries. His last four innings were 56, 13, 6, and 33 runs, respectively.

Adam Milne: New Zealand cricketer Adam Milne has taken 14 wickets in only five innings in the MLC 2025. In this tournament, he has recorded one five-wicket haul and two three-wicket hauls. 

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Kieron Pollard: Former Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard has scored 270 runs and also taken six wickets in the MLC 2025. With the bat, he has scored two half-centuries in this tournament, and his strike rate is 173.07. 

Trent Boult: New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult has taken 13 wickets in 10 games in the ongoing MLC season. In this tournament, he has recorded one four-fer and one three-wicket haul with the ball. In the Eliminator, he won the Player of the Match award for his two wickets and match-winning 22 not out. 

Marcus Stoinis: Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has scored 103 runs and taken eight wickets in nine matches in the MLC 2025. In the last four innings, he picked up at least one wicket. 

On Wednesday evening, July 9 (starting at 05:30 IST on July 10), San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York (SF vs NY) will be played in the MLC 2025 Eliminator at Grand Prairie Stadium in Grand Prairie in Dallas.  

MLC 2025, Eliminator: SF vs NY Probable XIs

MLC 2025, Eliminator: SF vs NY Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Matthew Short: Australian cricketer Matthew Short is the third leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025 with 354 runs in seven innings, with an average of 50.57 and a strike rate of 166.19, including five half-centuries. Also, he picked up three wickets in a match. 

Xavier Bartlett: Australian right-arm fast bowler Xavier Bartlett is the joint leading wicket-taker in the MLC 2025 with 17 wickets in 10 games, including two four-fers. In this tournament, he has recorded at least one wicket in eight out of ten innings. 

Nicholas Pooran: Caribbean cricketer Nicholas Pooran has scored 286 runs in 10 innings with an average of 35.75 and a strike rate of 135.54, including one century and one half-century. His last five innings scores were 108*, 8, 62*, 30, and 12 runs, respectively. 

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Trent Boult: New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult has taken 11 wickets in nine games in the MLC 2025, including a match-winning four-wicket haul that helped him to win the Player of the Match award. 

Monank Patel: USA cricketer Monank Patel is the second-leading run-scorer in the MLC 2025, as he has scored 368 runs in 10 innings in the tournament. In this tournament, his batting average is 36.80 and his strike rate is 151.44, while hitting four half-centuries. 

Kieron Pollard: Former Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard has scored 265 runs and taken five wickets in the MLC 2025. Apart from his batting average of 44.16, his batting strike rate in the tournament is 176.66, while the right-handed aggressive batter has hit two half-centuries. 

Rangpur Riders, winners of the first edition, are set to defend their title at the 2025 Global Super League, coming into Guyana with a strong and battle-tested squad for the July 10-starting tournament. The Bangladesh-based franchise wins over with a combination of the inaugural edition, bringing a strong mix of experience, international flair, and proven match-winners to the Providence Stadium in what promises to be another exciting season.

After a slow start in 2024, losing their first three matches, the Riders bounced back with style to win their last three matches and clinch the title. With the right ingredients of explosive batting, disciplined bowlers, and relentless leaders, Rangpur demonstrated why they are one of the most resilient and harmful teams in the competition.

Led once again by the inspirational leadership of Nurul Hasan, the team has retained important players such as Soumya Sarkar, last season's tournament top run-scorer, and Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who spearheaded the bowling effort. In preparation for the 2025 tournament, the Riders have strengthened their ranks with the best overseas stars like Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Ibrahim Zadran.

See Also: Global Super League 2025: Full list of players and captain for Dubai Capitals

Rangpur Riders Squad for Global Super League 2025

• Nurul Hasan (Captain)
  
• Soumya Sarkar
  
• Mohammed Naim Sheikh
  
• Mahidul Islam Ankon
  
• Kamrul Islam Rabbi
  
• Mohammed Saif Hassan
  
• Abu Haider Rony
  
• Rakibul Hasan
  
• Yasir Ali Chowdhury
• Kyle Mayers
  
• Tabraiz Shamsi
  
• Ibrahim Zadran
  
• Iftikhar Ahmed
  
• Akif Javed
  
• Harmeet Singh
  
• Khawaja Nafay
  

With a core group of experienced Bangladeshi players and the support of international match-winners, the Rangpur Riders are eyeing a successful title defense in the heart of the Caribbean.

The Dubai Capitals, the ILT20 champions, have revealed a powerhouse squad for the 2025 Global Super League, coming to Guyana from July 10 to 18. The Capitals are well-known for their explosive style; the Capitals are prepared to make a strong impression in this high-octane T20 tournament.

Leading the side will be Rovman Powell, ILT20 Final MVP and previous West Indies T20 captain. A hard-hitting legend with an aggressive style of captaincy, Powell will likely lead from the front as the Capitals  look to carry their form from the ILT20 to the Global Super League. His presence guarantees power and experience at the top of the order.

supporting Powell is a dynamic batting lineup that includes Kadeem Alleyne, Dominic Drakes, Farhan Khan, and Kaleem Sana-Ur-Rahman in the pace line. The spin bowling will be led by South African veteran Keshav Maharaj, while Niroshan Dickwella will share experience as wicketkeeper. With international stars like Sediqullah Atal and Gulbadin Naib on board, this team is balanced and ready to take on any challenge.

See Also: Global Super League 2025: Full list of players and captain for Central Stags

Dubai Capitals Squad for Global Super League 2025

• Rovman Powell (Captain)
  
• Farhan Khan
  
• Aryaman Varma
  
• Zeeshan Naseer
  
• Kaleem Sana-Ur-Rahman
  
• Said Shah
  
• Ibrahim Masood
  
• Sediqullah Atal
  
• Kadeem Alleyne
  
• Gulbadin Naib
• Keshav Maharaj
  
• Niroshan Dickwella (Wicketkeeper)
  
• Jesse Bootan
  
• Dominic Drakes
  
• Jordan Johnson
  

With firepower across all departments, the Dubai Capitals will start their tournament against Central Districts on July 10 with a desire to demonstrate their T20 supremacy on a new platform.