Maharashtra batter Prithvi Shaw was involved in a heated argument with Mumbai’s Musheer Khan during Day 1 of the warm-up match between Maharashtra and Mumbai. The on-field spat broke out after Musheer teased Shaw and while this moment was unpleasant, it almost developed into a physical fight, with Shaw swinging his bat with displeasure and nearly reaching out for Musheer's collar, but umpires jumped in and prevented anything from happening.

The incident took place shortly after Shaw had played a brilliant innings of 181 runs off 219 balls, forming a massive triple-century stand with Arshin Kulkarni. However, after being dismissed by Musheer Khan, the Mumbai spinner sarcastically said “Thank You” to Shaw, which triggered the altercation. The fiery confrontation between the two players has now reached the level of both state associations, who are looking into the matter.

In light of the controversy, the cricket associations have appointed Dilip Vengsarkar to lead an investigation into it. He is a former India captain known for his firmness and discipline, hence the counseled disciplinary process is likely to be fair and transparent in the inquiry.

Investigation Underway into On-Field Altercation

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Abhay Hadap confirmed that the matter will be discussed during the Mumbai Ranji team’s selection committee meeting. He stated, “There will be a selection committee meeting on Thursday, so we will ask them, the Mumbai captain, coach, and the player, about what happened. We will be getting a report during our meeting, and former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who is our Advisor, will speak to them.”

See Also: WATCH: Prithvi Shaw fight with Sarfaraz Khan’s brother and Mumbai players in Ranji Trophy warm-up match

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has also decided to look into the matter from their end. Secretary Adv Kamlesh Pisal stressed the importance of discipline, saying, “I’m still awaiting the report. I will be obtaining detailed information about the incident and, depending on the gravity of the situation, we will speak to both players. Discipline among players is a very important aspect.”

Both boards are expected to release an official statement once the inquiry is complete. The cricketing community now awaits the outcome of this investigation, which could lead to disciplinary action against either or both players if misconduct is confirmed.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced that a life-size statue of former India captain and selector Dilip Vengsarkar will be installed at the Wankhede Stadium. The decision was taken during the Apex Council meeting held on Wednesday. Vengsarkar’s statue will be the third to adorn the iconic venue, following those of cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

An emotional Vengsarkar expressed his gratitude to the MCA for the honour. “It’s a great moment for me and I have no words to express my feelings. The MCA has given me everything, it made me who I am today,” he said. “I started my cricket journey at the age of 12 and played for several clubs and teams. Mumbai has always provided me with the platform and encouragement throughout my career. My journey is incomplete without my teammates and coaches. I’m deeply thankful to the MCA for this recognition.”

Vengsarkar, one of India’s most stylish and consistent batsmen, represented the country in 116 Tests and 129 ODIs, amassing 6,868 and 3,508 runs respectively. A member of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad, he also captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and remains the only overseas batter to score three consecutive centuries at Lord’s, a feat achieved in 1979, 1982, and 1986. He retired from international cricket in 1992 after a distinguished 16-year career.

Beyond his playing days, Vengsarkar served as chairman of selectors, vice-president of the MCA, and a member of the BCCI Apex Council representing the Indian Cricketers’ Association. As a selector, he is credited with spotting and fast-tracking Virat Kohli into the national setup. The MCA had earlier honoured him by naming a stand after him at Wankhede Stadium.

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MCA to install Dilip Vengsarkar’s statue at Wankhede and announce new cricket and relief initiatives

MCA president Ajinkya Naik said the decision to install the statue was part of a broader effort to celebrate cricketing excellence and social responsibility. “Honouring Dilip Vengsarkar with a statue at Wankhede is a tribute to one of Mumbai’s greatest cricketing icons. His contributions, as a player, selector, and administrator, have been immense. He continues to follow grassroots cricket closely and remains passionate about nurturing young talent,” Naik said.

The Apex Council also approved several other initiatives. To strengthen grassroots cricket, the association increased the cricket promotion subsidy for maidan clubs to ₹10,000 per match and will provide essential ground equipment to improve playing conditions. The MCA will also establish cricket academies across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to offer world-class training and infrastructure to budding players.

In a humanitarian gesture, the MCA announced a donation of ₹1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to aid farmers affected by unseasonal rains across Maharashtra. Mumbai cricketers will contribute an additional ₹25 lakh towards the same cause.

With this tribute, Dilip Vengsarkar joins the pantheon of Mumbai cricket legends immortalized at Wankhede, an enduring reminder of his stellar contributions to Indian cricket both on and off the field.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has criticized star batsman Shreyas Iyer for taking a six-month break from red-ball cricket. Vengsarkar was shocked when Iyer quoted fitness concerns for red-ball cricket but being perfectly fit for white-ball cricket. The 30-year-old Iyer has played 14 Tests for India, making 811 runs with an average of 36.86, including one century and five half-centuries.

Iyer played his last Test in February 2024 before being dropped on grounds of form and fitness issues. He has since played numerous red-ball games in domestic cricket. He was recently appointed captain of India A for the four-day series against Australia A but left the second game after participating in the first.

He was also expected to feature in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup and was in line for a potential return to the Indian Test team for the home series against the West Indies. However, Iyer requested a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to back concerns, which the BCCI approved. Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the period would allow Iyer to build endurance and work on fitness levels.

Vengsarkar Questions Red-Ball Break

Despite the BCCI’s approval, Vengsarkar is unhappy with Iyer’s decision. Speaking to Mid-day, he said, “To be honest, it’s a dilemma for me, because he [Iyer] says that he is unfit for red-ball cricket but is fit for the white-ball cricket. I don’t understand the difference between red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket. I feel that if you are fit for white-ball cricket, you are obviously fit for red-ball cricket too. Choosing red-ball or white-ball and such things are beyond my comprehension.”

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Meanwhile, with Rohit Sharma recently sacked as India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill was elevated to captain for the Australia tour, and Iyer was named his deputy. Legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh praised Iyer’s return to a leadership role, calling him an impact player. “I’m very happy for Shreyas Iyer. He’s one of those guys who hardly gets the credit he deserves. We talk about that World Cup in India, he scored back-to-back centuries, and with what pace! He’s an impact player; when he gets going, he makes things easy for the dressing room and the other batters. I’m happy he’s back in the scheme of things, not just as a player but with a bigger responsibility as vice-captain. I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the table in terms of ideas and how he and Shubman Gill take this team forward,” he added.

The former chief selector of the Indian side, Dilip Vengsarkar, has failed to understand on which basis the former captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were picked by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under. Neither played any comparative cricket since the end of IPL 2025.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat retired from the shortest and longest formats of the game in a span of a year and have the sole focus of being part of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Vengsarkar claimed that playing one format would be incredibly difficult for any player.

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“Rohit and Virat have been great players over the years, but if you are playing just one format of the game, I believe the selectors need to take a call on this. I feel you cannot know or judge the form and fitness of such players because they’ve had a long layoff after the last game they played. It’s very difficult to assess their form and fitness.” Vengsarkar expressed.

Dilip Vengsarkar surprised at Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s selection for Australia ODIs

There are, however, question marks if both Rohit and Kohli would feature in the upcoming 50-over World Cup, as Vengsarkar wonders if the selectors would continue to back the veterans or give their spots to players who are active across formats.

“Rohit and Virat have possibly been picked because of their great records. They have been great players and have done yeoman service to Indian cricket, having won many matches in all formats of the game. But since they have not been playing Test match cricket as well as T20s, and are playing only one format, one-day matches, which is not very often played during the season, it’s very difficult to gauge their form and fitness.” The former selector addressed.

“It’s really up to the selectors whether they want to stick with Rohit and Virat or look ahead and give opportunities to those players who are available for all formats of the game. It depends on how they look at Indian cricket going ahead.” Vengsarkar concluded.

Since the end of the fifth Test of the five-match Test series at Kennington Oval against England, Jasprit Bumrah has faced several criticisms for missing the decider. Many reckoned that due to playing the IPL 2025 for the Mumbai Indians, they were tired by the end of the seven-week tour. Bumrah, as the head coach highlighted, played three Tests at Leeds, Lord’s, and Manchester of the series.

The former batter, Dilip Vengsarkar, has debated around the pacer’s workload. He reckoned that the BCCI, the selectors, and the management could have convinced the franchise to let Bumrah skip the IPL to stay fresh for the red-ball series in England. He felt that had the Ahmedabad-born played all the games, they could have won the series comfortably.

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“Considering the importance of the India versus England Tests series and his fragile back, Bumrah should have been told by the BCCI, selectors, and the Indian team management to miss IPL-2025. It was very important that we had a fully fit and refreshed Bumrah for this iconic series.” Dilip Vengsarkar expressed in The Times of India.

“Jasprit Bumrah’s back is vulnerable, and we must be cautious with him.”- Dilip Vengsarkar

The Gujarat pacer had an incredible IPL 2025 where he finished with 18 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 17.55 and an economy rate of 6.67, thanks to the best bowling figures of 4/22 in an innings. He finished the England trip with 14 wickets in five innings, including two five-wicket hauls at Leeds and Lord’s.

“If I were the Indian chief selector, I would have convinced Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians owner) and Bumrah that it was important for Bumrah to miss the IPL for the England series, or play a lesser number of matches in the IPL. I’m sure that they would have agreed to do so.” He added during the same interaction.

“You can’t blame Bumrah for missing matches at times. We must remember that Bumrah has undergone back surgery. His back is vulnerable, and we must be cautious with him. You can’t question his commitment to the country. He has given his all whenever he has played for India.” He concluded.

Playing in England is a significant challenge, as conditions are tough for both batters and bowlers. The Indian team has witnessed some high-class and legendary performers who have showcased solid temperament and technique in the past, enabling them to sustain themselves in challenging English conditions. Indian cricket has produced some class performers, be it the bowlers or the batters, who have stood firm in tough English conditions.

In this piece, we discuss three Indian batters who have highlighted their calibre through their determined and gritty temperament and rock-solid technique to score centuries in English conditions. The batters mentioned in the list possessed different techniques, and their stroke play varied depending on their strengths of playing on different wickets and their approach against different bowlers, but these batters showcased tremendous mental as well as physical toughness to score big hundreds in what are considered the most challenging playing conditions.

These batters approached different situations depending on their temperament and had specific plans while facing different bowlers during different situations, but they showcased a resolute approach to score big hundreds. We take a look at these legendary batters in detail:

1.Rahul Dravid (6 Centuries in 13 Tests)-

''The Wall," as he was called during his playing career, showcased resoluteness in challenging English conditions with his calm temperament, patience and rock-solid technique. Arguably amongst the greatest test players in Indian cricketing history, Dravid showcased why he was considered technically strong with his effortless stroke play and his ability to score centuries consistently in conditions that favour the bowlers.

The former India skipper and coach scored 6 centuries in the 13 tests he played in England. His 217 at Kennington Oval will be remembered for generations. His timing and placement were pure class. The former right-hander will always be respected for his kind and helpful nature alongside his cricketing talent..

2. Sachin Tendulkar (4 Centuries in 17 Tests)-

"Master Blaster" Sachin Tendulkar showcased tremendous adaptability in different playing conditions in England in tests. His strokeplay also varied, keeping in mind the wickets in England that helped him score big centuries in England. The former India captain is a humble personality who is known to help others through his social work alongside his legendary cricketing skills.

 Tendulkar showcased fearless stroke play combined with his ability to play the ball late on English wickets, even though the wicket offered seam movement. When the ball swung late, Tendulkar depended on back-foot punches and classic drives. The former right-hander scored 4 centuries in the 17 tests he played in England. His straight drives will be remembered in England. His 193 at Headingley in 2002 and 177 at Trent Bridge in 1996 were classic.

Also Read: Top 5 players with the most catches in Test Cricket

3.Dilip Vengsarkar (4 Centuries in 13 Tests)-

Vengsarkar showcased all-around stroke play on all sides of the wicket that enabled him to score centuries with consistency in England. The former India captain's effortless and elegant strokeplay was praised in England when he looked at his best. The former right-hander scored 4 centuries in 13 tests in England.

Whether it was playing the square cuts, pulls, driving the ball or playing a straight drive, Vengsarkar was simply brilliant with his strokeplay. His front-foot punches against some of the best English bowlers helped him score heavily in England. "Colonel", as he was fondly called during his playing days, scored a brilliant 157 at Lords in 1982 that is unforgettable.

Yashasvi Jaiswal began the England tour on a high note, smashing a brilliant century in the first innings of the opening Test at Headingley. However, his form dipped in the following matches, managing just one half-century in his next five innings, raising concerns about consistency.

During the third Test at Lord’s, Jaiswal struggled against Jofra Archer, who dismissed him in both innings. His second-innings dismissal attracted heavy criticism, as he attempted a risky pull shot early in the innings while India was chasing 193 on a challenging pitch. The ball took the top edge and was easily caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, putting India under pressure right from the start.

Amid this lean patch, Jaiswal has been offered crucial guidance from a veteran World Cup-winning player. The experienced cricketer suggested that the young batter should improve his shot selection and adjust to match conditions more wisely, which will help him recover his form and perform better in the upcoming matches of the series.

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Dilip Vengsarkar’s Remark on Yashasvi Jaiswal:

Veteran Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar praised Yashasvi Jaiswal's talent but advised him to control his aggressive approach. He emphasized the importance of patience, suggesting that Jaiswal should focus on playing each delivery based on its merit rather than going for risky shots too early, especially in challenging conditions like those in England.

Speaking to RevSportz, Dilip Vengsarkar said, “ Jaiswal is a good player with a lot of potential, but he needs to curb his aggressive instincts at times. In Test cricket, you have to play each ball on its merit. A slight mistake and you’re out. Since his hundred, he hasn’t been among the runs, but consistency is key at the highest level. I expect a lot from him in Test cricket.”

Across the three Test matches so far, Yashasvi Jaiswal has managed to score 233 runs. However, his performance dipped at Lord’s, where he couldn’t find his touch, managing just 13 runs in the first innings and getting dismissed for a duck in the second.

The third Test between England and India at Lord’s was the first instance of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal not scoring a half-century across two innings of a Test match against the Ben Stokes-led side since the start of his red-ball career. The southpaw nailed a fine century during the opening game at Leeds before putting 87 runs in the first innings of Edgbaston.

The former Indian top-order batter, Dilip Vengsarkar, has come out to give a few suggestions to the left-handed batter on how he could get better in the future with the runs and technique. He revealed that it would be important for the Mumbai batter to curb his aggressive instincts at times rather than always going hard at the batters.

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Jaiswal is a good player with a lot of potential. But he needs to curb his aggressive instincts at times. In Test cricket, you have to play each ball on its merit. Since his hundred, he hasn’t been among the runs. But consistency is key at the highest level. I expect a lot from him in Test cricket.’ Vengsarkar expressed during a recent interaction on Revsportz.

Dilip Vengsarkar gives key suggestions to Yashasvi Jaiswal before fourth ENG vs IND Test

In the first innings of the Lord’s Test, the eyes were on the battle between the two Rajasthan Royals’ batters, Yashasvi and Jofra Archer. The entire week was built on the Barbados-born, who was making a comeback in the longest format after four years. It was a crazy scene as Jaiswal smashed Chris Woakes for three fours in the opening over of the innings.

But Archer was hard to survive against. He squared up the Mumbai batter in the first innings as he got an outside edge into the hands of the slip fielder. In the second innings, he was hurried by the pace and miscued the pull shot in the air for a simple catch to the fielder. The battle will continue for the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.

As of now, Jaiswal has punched the Three Lions for 945 Test runs in 15 innings at an average of 67.50 and a strike rate of nearly 80, shouldering three centuries and four half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 214 runs.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has called for two key changes in the Indian playing XI ahead of the fourth Test against England, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford. Vengsarkar backed the inclusion of left-arm duo Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, respectively, in a bid to strengthen India's bowling unit. Arshdeep, who earned his maiden Test call-up for this series, is yet to make his red-ball debut.

In the series so far, the team management has shuffled the third pacer's slot. At Headingley, Prasidh Krishna was preferred, followed by Akash Deep in the second Test when Bumrah was rested. With concerns around pacer workload and a long gap between matches, Vengsarkar believes it’s time to try Arshdeep, who can swing the ball both ways and offer something different. Kuldeep, despite India playing two spinners recently, has been left out, with Washington Sundar being preferred for his batting.

"I would drop Nitish Reddy and perhaps one more player to make room for Arshdeep. I think Siraj and Bumrah should keep their places, but Reddy could make way. Kuldeep Yadav could also replace someone like Washington Sundar. You need five bowlers in a Test match to win it. If your six batters can’t put up a good total, the bowlers need to take responsibility. You can’t win a Test match with part-time bowlers," Vengsarkar told RevSportz.

Arshdeep’s swing, Kuldeep’s spin, and Karun’s last chance?

The veteran further emphasized Arshdeep's suitability for English conditions. “I would pick Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. Arshdeep is a good left-arm bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the wicket, which is crucial in English conditions. He can also reverse swing the ball, which is important. I have seen him bowl,” he said, backing the youngster for a debut in Manchester.

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Vengsarkar also spoke about Karun Nair, whose place in the XI is under scrutiny after a string of low scores since replacing Sai Sudharsan at No.3. “Karun Nair is a good player. He has shown promise but needs to convert those 30s and 40s into big scores. He’s an experienced player and knows what he has to do. I’d give him one more Test match to prove himself. He’s capable of scoring a hundred, and I hope he does in the next match,” he added, giving the batter one last opportunity to deliver.

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has come down hard on the management of Jasprit Bumrah’s workload during the ongoing Test series against England. Following India’s narrow 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord’s, Vengsarkar questioned the rationale behind resting Bumrah for the second Test, especially after a seven-day gap post the series opener. Bumrah, who was rested at Edgbaston despite India trailing 0-1, is expected to feature in only three of the five Tests.

“What is important is playing for India, and if you are unfit, then don’t play at all. He had a gap of almost 7-8 days after the first Test match but still was not included for the second Test, which was not acceptable. Maybe it was acceptable for Agarkar and Gambhir,” Vengsarkar told RevSportz, referring to Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. He expressed disappointment in players being allowed to pick and choose games despite being on tour.

“I’m not in favor of bowlers picking and choosing Test matches. If you’re fit and available, you should play all the matches for your country. Bumrah is a world-class bowler, and he can win matches for India. But once you’re on tour, you need to play every match. There’s no question of selecting matches based on personal preference,” he added, underlining that fitness should dictate availability—not workload plans.

Bumrah shines, but India fall short at Lord’s

Despite missing one match, Bumrah remains India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the series, having taken 12 wickets in just two Tests at an average of 21.00, including two five-wicket hauls. However, his absence in the second Test drew criticism as India entered the match trailing and ultimately failed to level the series.

See Also: 'No One Talks About Him.... ' – Former India cricketer on Mohammed Siraj's workload amid Jasprit Bumrah chatter

Reflecting on India’s collapse while chasing 193 on Day 5 at Lord’s, Vengsarkar remarked, “Someone needed to take a risk, and Bumrah tried his best. Jadeja kept the hopes alive for us, but it wasn’t to be. Siraj tried, but you don’t expect your No. 11 to be around for a long time. Jadeja might have been absolutely shattered.” With the loss, England now leads the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth Test scheduled to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting Wednesday, July 23.