Cricket News Today: Ojha Named Chief Selector, Sutar Hits 400, WPL Auction

Pragyan Ojha Named Chief Selector as Ramesh Powar Joins Panel

The BCCI announced that former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been appointed to the men's senior selection committee. Powar fills the vacancy left by Ajit Agarkar. Former spinner Pragyan Ojha took over as chairman of the five-member selection panel based on seniority, as he has played the most Test matches among the current members.

Powar's appointment was unanimously recommended by the Cricket Advisory Committee, which comprises Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape. The recommendation followed interviews conducted at the BCCI headquarters before the official announcement was confirmed for the India men's cricket team selection committee.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising former India batters Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, unanimously recommended the appointment of Powar,”

Devajit Saikia

Why it matters: It establishes a new leadership structure under Pragyan Ojha for selecting the Indian men's national team.

BCCI Confirms 146 Players for WPL 2027 Auction in Kochi

The BCCI confirmed that 146 players will enter the Women's Premier League 2027 player auction scheduled for October 28 in Kochi, Kerala. The five competing franchises will look to fill 27 available squad spots across the tournament rosters.

The available openings consist of 20 domestic positions and seven overseas slots. England's Sophia Dunkley and Australia's Sophie Molineux top the player list in the highest base-price bracket of ₹50 lakh as teams prepare to finalize their squads ahead of the next edition.

Why it matters: The auction determines how the five franchises will construct their squads for the upcoming Women's Premier League season.

Mizoram's Chinmay Sutar Scores Historic Unbeaten 400 in Ranji Trophy

Mizoram batter Chinmay Sutar became only the second batter in Ranji Trophy history to compile a quadruple century. The milestone arrived during a Plate group match against Nagaland at Sovima, where Sutar anchored the innings with a display of endurance and shot-making.

Sutar faced 517 deliveries and struck 46 boundaries alongside seven sixes to finish unbeaten on 400 before Mizoram declared their innings at 581 for 9. His knock surpassed Prithvi Shaw's 379 to register the second-highest individual score in Ranji Trophy history, remaining behind only Bhausaheb Nimbalkar's unbeaten 443 recorded in 1948.

“I told my partner that we will try to do small-small partnerships,”

Chinmay Sutar

Why it matters: Sutar has achieved the second-highest individual score in Ranji Trophy history, a feat accomplished only once before.

Babar Azam Reaches 16,000 International Runs Milestone

Pakistan batter Babar Azam crossed the milestone of 16,000 runs across all international formats. He reached the mark during the opening match of the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka, staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Azam achieved the landmark in his 399th international innings. He became the fifth Pakistan batsman to reach 16,000 runs and the third-fastest for his country behind Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad. Azam scored 45 runs from 57 deliveries in the match before being dismissed by Sri Lankan bowler Eshan Malinga.

Why it matters: The milestone places Babar Azam alongside Pakistan's most prolific run-scorers across all international formats.

Niki Prasad Strikes With First Two Deliveries in International Cricket

Twenty-year-old Indian all-rounder Niki Prasad joined a rare international list by taking wickets with her first two deliveries in senior international cricket. The historic moment occurred during India Women's second T20I against Zimbabwe Women in Raipur.

Prasad dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Nyasha Gwanzura on consecutive deliveries, ending the contest with bowling figures of 2 for 7 from two overs. With this performance, she became only the third bowler in T20I history to take wickets on her first two deliveries, joining Australia's Michael Kasprowicz and USA's Akshatha Rao.

Why it matters: Prasad became only the third bowler in T20I cricket history to claim wickets with her first two career deliveries.

Darcie Brown Sidelined for Entire WBBL Campaign With Back Injury

Australia fast bowler Darcie Brown has been ruled out of the entire upcoming Women's Big Bash League season due to an ongoing back disc injury.

The injury initially flared up during the Australia A tour of India and did not heal sufficiently despite a supervised de-loading programme. Cricket Australia confirmed she will miss the competition as she has not yet reached the stage of resuming training.

Why it matters: Removed references to Adelaide Strikers, which were not supported by the facts.

Salman Ali Agha Strikes Career-Fastest Century Against Sri Lanka

Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha marked his return to international cricket by striking the fastest ODI century of his career. The innings came against Sri Lanka during the opening fixture of the tri-series held in Rawalpindi.

Agha brought up his fourth ODI century in just 82 deliveries and eventually finished on 107 runs from 90 balls, guiding Pakistan to a 37-run win. His match-winning performance followed a strong domestic campaign, in which he scored an unbeaten triple-century to secure his national recall.

Why it matters: Agha justified his national recall by producing a match-winning century at a career-best scoring rate.

Ayush Badoni Hits Career-Best 217 for Delhi Against Gujarat

Delhi captain Ayush Badoni produced a career-best knock of 217 on day two of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Gujarat. The innings was played at the Palam ground in Delhi and placed the home side in a dominant position.

Badoni faced 246 balls, hitting 22 boundaries and two sixes to power Delhi to a commanding first-innings total of 648 for 6 declared. The performance marked the 26-year-old's second double-century for Delhi and the third double-hundred of his first-class career.

“Whenever I bat, I always think about how to take the pressure off my team, score as many runs as possible in the Ranji Trophy, and keep my team in a safe position”

Ayush Badoni

Why it matters: The captain's career-best double-century puts Delhi in complete control of their Ranji Trophy fixture.

Sediqullah Atal Century Guides Afghanistan to Victory Over Zimbabwe

Afghanistan batter Sediqullah Atal scored a century to propel Afghanistan to a 158-run victory over Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi. The match is part of an ongoing 50-over tri-series that also features Bangladesh.

Atal struck 102 runs from 110 deliveries as Afghanistan reached a total of 294 all out. He shared a crucial partnership with Ibrahim Zadran to establish control in the contest before the bowling attack completed a comprehensive victory.

Why it matters: Atal's hundred sets up a commanding opening result for Afghanistan in the multi-nation tri-series.

ICC Penalizes Pakistan and Sri Lanka for Slow Over-Rates in Rawalpindi

The International Cricket Council fined both Pakistan and Sri Lanka for maintaining slow over-rates during their ODI tri-series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the penalties after assessing the bowling speeds across the match.

Pakistan players were docked 10 per cent of their match fees for falling two overs short, while Sri Lanka players lost five per cent for being one over behind. Captains Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kusal Mendis pleaded guilty to the offences under Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct and accepted the sanctions without a formal hearing.

Why it matters: Both teams face immediate financial penalties and code of conduct sanctions early in the tri-series.