• Rishabh Pant picked up a right shoulder injury and was off the field as India bowled in the final phase of Day 2 at the SSC in Colombo.
• Dhruv Jurel took over wicketkeeping duties, capping a superb day in which he also smashed an unbeaten 115.
• India declared their first innings at 503/9d and reduced Sri Lanka to 8/2 in three overs before stumps.
• Pant was hit on the right shoulder by an Asitha Fernando bouncer in the 94th over — a day after copping a blow on his left wrist off Lahiru Kumara.
• Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar picked up the two Sri Lankan wickets to fall by stumps; the hosts trail by 495 runs.

India ended Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo in complete control — but not without an injury cloud hovering over one of their star performers. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant picked up a right shoulder issue after being hit by a bouncer earlier in the day and stayed off the field as India came out to bowl in the closing overs. Fellow wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, fresh off an unbeaten 115, took over the gloves and manned the stumps as India reduced Sri Lanka to 8/2 in just three overs before stumps.

Jurel Confirms Pant's Shoulder Concern

Addressing the media after the day's play, Jurel confirmed that Pant was carrying a right shoulder problem and was under close monitoring by the team's physio. "He (Pant) got hurt on his right shoulder. Physio is monitoring him. Today, I kept wickets because he had pain in his right shoulder. Hopefully, he'll be fine tomorrow," Jurel said. The comment offered a measured update — cautiously optimistic but leaving the door open for further assessment overnight.

How Pant Picked Up the Injury

The specific blow that triggered Pant's shoulder issue came in the 94th over of India's first innings, when Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando cranked in a well-directed bouncer. Pant did not fully read the line and length and could do little more than take the blow flush on his right shoulder. The physio ran on to attend to him, applied an ice pack to the affected area, and Pant courageously carried on — going on to construct a spirited 63 off 89 balls before eventually falling.

Second Blow in Two Days

Monday's shoulder injury was, in fact, the second physical setback for Pant in the Test. On Day 1, he was struck on the left wrist by a short ball from Lahiru Kumara in the 58th over of India's innings. That blow required immediate medical attention — the physio applied ice, taping was done on the wrist, and Pant walked off the field unbeaten on 3, retiring hurt. His return later in the innings, and the fluent knock that followed, had already earned him widespread admiration for his grit.

Jurel's Century Steals the Show

While Pant's fight was the emotional subplot, the statistical showpiece of Day 2 was Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 115. The young wicketkeeper-batter continued his run of impactful red-ball performances with a composed, tempo-setting innings that pushed India into a match-defining position. His hundred, coupled with contributions across the order, powered India to 503/9d and forced Sri Lanka into a survival mindset even before they had faced a delivery.

Late Wickets Rock Sri Lanka

The Indian bowlers wasted no time in stamping their authority. Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar struck in the closing overs to remove opener Lahiru Udara and nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya, leaving the hosts reeling at 8/2 in three overs at stumps. Sri Lanka now trail by 495 runs — a mountain that grows steeper with every session lost.

Jurel's Second Job of the Day: Behind the Stumps

Perhaps the most striking image of Day 2 was Jurel switching from batting hero to wicketkeeping duty within hours. With Pant sidelined and KL Rahul available as an option, the decision to hand the gloves to Jurel reflects both the team management's confidence in him and the flexibility built into India's Playing XI, which features three wicketkeepers. It is a rare and enviable luxury in modern Test cricket.

Why It Matters: Pant's Availability Is a Big Question

For India, the immediate concern remains Pant's readiness for Day 3 and beyond. Beyond his individual value, the presence of a fit Pant behind the stumps also influences bowling plans, DRS decisions and lower-order stability. If he is unable to keep, Jurel is expected to continue with the gloves — a scenario the team is clearly equipped to handle, but one it would prefer to avoid on a match-defining Day 3.

Player Welfare: The Bouncer Question Returns

The two blows Pant absorbed in as many days also revive a familiar conversation in Test cricket — the physical toll of relentless short-ball tactics against batters who choose to take on the challenge rather than duck. Pant's willingness to counter-attack has always been his hallmark, and it is precisely that intent that made him such a difficult batter to bowl at during his 63. The trade-off, however, is the physical hits that come with it — a reminder of just how demanding Test-match keeping and batting can be over five gruelling days.

Match Context: India's Command

At the close of Day 2, India's dominance is not in doubt. A 503-run first innings, an early two-wicket burst, and a nightwatchman already removed — the visitors have set themselves up for a potentially decisive Day 3. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, must dig in for a long, patient survival job on a pitch that will only get more challenging for batting as the Test progresses.

The Day 3 Storyline

The narrative going into Day 3 is layered — will Pant recover in time to reclaim the gloves? Can India press home the advantage and rip through Sri Lanka's line-up in the first session? And how will Jurel back up his century, both in the field and, if needed, at the crease later in the game? The morning session at SSC could well decide the shape of the match, and possibly the series.

The Bigger Picture: Pant's Fearless Legend Grows

Injuries or not, Rishabh Pant's willingness to take blows, walk back on and still score at Test-match tempo continues to define his cricketing persona. Add to that Jurel's steady rise as a red-ball certainty, and India's wicketkeeper-batter pipeline is looking more secure than at almost any point in recent memory. In Colombo, it is that depth — of talent, temperament and toughness — that is quietly turning the second Test into an Indian showcase.

• India reached 419/6 in 112 overs at lunch on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo.
• Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 63 off 88 balls; Dhruv Jurel not out on 59 off 107 balls in an unbroken 112-run seventh-wicket stand.
• Pant retired hurt on 3 after a blow on his left wrist, then returned to counter-attack and dominate the Sri Lankan attack.
• One of Pant's pulls off Lahiru Kumara sailed over the stadium roof and damaged a solar panel — a replacement ball had to be sought.
• Asitha Fernando struck early with the second new ball, dismissing debutant Saransh Jain; ended the session with 4/60. Devdutt Padikkal earlier scored 117.

Wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel produced a session of grit, guile and audacity in Colombo on Sunday, joining hands in an unbroken 112-run stand to help India cross the 400-run mark and firmly wrest control back from Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club. At the lunch interval, India reached 419/6 in 112 overs — a scoreboard that flattered the visitors after a session of relentless Sri Lankan probing.

The Session in a Snapshot

Pant was unbeaten on 63 off just 88 balls, while Jurel walked back to the pavilion undefeated on 59 off 107 balls. The pair batted through a sweltering morning at SSC and effectively pulled the game out of the balance and into India's grip. Pant's 21st Test fifty came off a thumped pull to square leg, while Jurel raised his third half-century with a crisp pull through midwicket.

Sri Lanka's Early Strike With the Second New Ball

The session had begun on Sri Lanka's terms. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, extracting bounce with the second new ball, ambushed debutant Saransh Jain with a sharp round-the-wicket bouncer, and the leading edge was pouched safely at gully. Fernando's four-for anchored a disciplined new-ball spell that briefly threatened to unravel India's innings — until Pant walked in and shifted the tempo.

Pant's Retired-Hurt Return: Bruised but Unfazed

The morning's most compelling sub-plot belonged to Pant himself. Having earlier retired hurt on 3 after copping a blow on his left wrist, the left-hander walked back in and was immediately targeted with a barrage of short-pitched bowling by the Sri Lankan seamers. He absorbed two more painful hits — this time on his right shoulder — that required medical intervention on the field. Yet, in trademark fashion, Pant refused to retreat. A short ball down the leg side from Lahiru Kumara was dispatched over the stadium roof, damaging a solar panel and forcing officials to seek a replacement ball.

Jurel's Calm Counterpoint

If Pant provided the theatre, Jurel provided the ballast. Pristine in his drives and flicks, he read the length of the Sri Lankan seamers early, and when spin came on, he pulled Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha to the boundary with authority. His running between the wickets, defence against turn, and shot selection under pressure underlined why he is being groomed as a long-term red-ball option in India's middle order.

Pant's Craft: Paddle, Feet, Nudges

Pant, meanwhile, mixed his usual audacity with more considered craft. He used the paddle sweep to counter the spinners, danced down the track to disrupt their lengths, and worked edges intelligently along the ground to keep the scoreboard ticking. As Sri Lanka persisted with spin from both ends approaching lunch but failed to build consistent pressure, the two wicketkeeper-batters raised their 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket — a stand that has effectively put Sri Lanka on the back foot for the rest of the day.

Why It Matters: A Statement Innings for India's WK Depth

The unbroken stand between two current-generation wicketkeeper-batters is a statement in itself for Indian cricket's talent pipeline. With Pant reaffirming his match-defining ability post-injury and Jurel building a red-ball résumé, the Test XI is quietly resolving one of its trickiest selection puzzles — depth in the wicketkeeper-batter slot without compromising batting quality.

Match Context

Devdutt Padikkal's earlier 117 laid the foundation of the innings, and the 419-run vantage point now gives India ample runs to work with on a surface that will only get trickier for batting as the Test progresses. For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando (4-60) and Lahiru Kumara (1-61) have been the pick of the bowlers, but their spinners were unable to break the seventh-wicket resistance.

Brief Scores: India 419/6 in 112 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Rishabh Pant 63 not out, Dhruv Jurel 59 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-60, Lahiru Kumara 1-61) against Sri Lanka.

The Session Ahead

With Pant and Jurel set, and India eyeing a total north of 500, the post-lunch session becomes crucial for Sri Lanka. Another new-ball window is not far away, and unless the hosts strike early, this Test could quickly slide out of their reach.

“Mr Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection in the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. However, he can take the field as a concussion substitute, if required,” the BCCI stated in an official statement on Sunday.

Saransh received his Test cap in the team huddle before the toss, after which India elected to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground. A hamstring injury to off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar during India’s ODI tour of England had opened the door for Jain’s inclusion in the squad for the Sri Lanka trip.

Saransh, 33, has a strong domestic record, with 54 first-class matches in which he has scored 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75 and taken 188 wickets at an average of 27.30. He also performed well on the India ‘A’ tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, making an unbeaten 70 and taking a six-wicket haul.

With his debut, Saransh becomes the first off-spinner to make his Test debut for India since Washington Sundar in January 2021. He is the 320th men’s Test player for India and the fifth from Indore to play red-ball cricket for the country, after Narendra Hirwani, Rajesh Chauhan, Naman Ojha and Rajat Patidar. Jain is also the oldest India player to debut in Tests after turning 33 since Robin Singh in 1998.

The victory marks North Delhi’s second consecutive win in as many matches, propelling them to the top of the tournament standings.

Shivi Sharma Anchors First-Innings Total

Opting to bat first, North Delhi Strikers posted a target of 141/4 in their allotted 20 overs, driven by a dominant half-century from middle-order batter Shivi Sharma.

Sharma paced her innings with technical precision, finishing unbeaten on 71 off 54 deliveries in an effort punctuated by nine boundaries. She anchored two crucial partnerships: first alongside opening batter Upasana Yadav, who contributed a steady 43 off 42 balls, and later with team captain Ayushi Soni, who added a quickfire 17.

Despite disciplined spells from the South Delhi bowling unit, Sharma’s late-overs acceleration provided North Delhi with a defendable total on a surface offering balanced bounce for seamers and spinners alike.

South Delhi Chase Stalls Despite Middle-Order Fightback

In reply, South Delhi Superstarz endured a disastrous start to their run chase. Wicketkeeper-batter Nishika Singh was dismissed for a three-ball duck in the opening over, putting early pressure on the top order.

Opening batter Priya Punia and Tanishqa Singh attempted to rebuild, putting together a 36-run stand before Punia fell for 10 off 18 balls. Tanishqa then took on the anchor role, top-scoring for her side with a crisp 46 off 44 balls featuring six boundaries. She found support in captain Shweta Sehrawat, who chipped in with a brisk 27 off 23 balls, including two boundaries and a six.

However, North Delhi’s bowling attack maintained tight line-and-length discipline, consistently breaking partnerships just as South Delhi began to accelerate.

Left-arm spinner Nazma delivered the decisive spell of the second innings, picking up 2/28 from her four overs. Reshika Beniwal, Apeksha Anand, and Priya Mishra each claimed a wicket to restrict South Delhi’s scoring options during the middle overs.

Tight Death Bowling Seals Match

The match swung decisively in North Delhi’s favor in the 14th over when Tanishqa was dismissed with the score at 72/3. Sehrawat fell shortly after at 94/4, leaving South Delhi’s lower-middle order with an escalating required run rate.

When Ekta Bhadana was dismissed for four, South Delhi required 28 runs from the final two overs. Despite an unbeaten 24 off 19 balls from Tanisha Singh and a brief nine-run cameo from Disha Nagar, North Delhi's death bowlers held their nerve, restricting South Delhi Superstarz to 131/5 at the end of 20 overs.

With two wins from two fixtures, North Delhi Strikers now lead the points table as the tournament progresses through its group stages in New Delhi.

Chasing a daunting fourth-innings target of 372, the hosts crumbled for 206 on the final afternoon. Suthar led the bowling charge with a destructive spell of 6 for 55, capping off a remarkable match haul of 10 for 101. The performance sealed a 1-0 lead for the visiting side in the two-match series while marking a triumphant celebration of India's milestone 600th Test match.

Breakout Performances Anchor Indian Dominance

Padikkal, who was drafted into the crucial number three spot following a right foot injury to B. Sai Sudharsan, anchored India's first-innings total with a marathon 167 before adding a fluent 44 in the second essay.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gill emphasized the tactical importance of Padikkal's heavy scoring and Suthar's immediate adaptation to subcontinental Test conditions.

"He [Suthar] has been bowling magnificently, even in his earlier outings and throughout this match," Gill remarked. "He looks like a very promising player and someone who can serve India for a very long time. As for Devdutt, he was magnificent to watch. Getting a hundred is crucial, but converting it into a massive score creates the real buffer between a tight game and a dominant position. His ability to dictate terms against their spinners in both innings gave us complete control."

Milestone Win Keeps WTC Ambitions on Track

The victory holds broader significance for India's ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. Addressing the weight of leading the national team in its 600th red-ball fixture, Gill noted that navigating variable weather forecasts and third-innings batting turbulence added to the satisfaction of the outcome.

When asked about India's mini-collapse in their second innings—where the visitors were bowled out for 193 while pushing for quick runs—the skipper brushed off concerns regarding batting stability.

"Honestly, it isn't a major worry," Gill explained. "We were aiming for a lead near 400. The surface was deteriorating, and we wanted to accelerate to ensure we had enough overs to bowl them out, especially given the unpredictable weather windows on Days 4 and 5. Losing early wickets was a byproduct of that aggressive intent, but structurally we were always in a comfortable position."

"Winning our country's 600th Test match is deeply special," Gill added. "Securing Test wins away from home requires immense effort, and our ultimate goal remains reaching the World Test Championship final."

Sri Lanka Ruin Toss as Surface Deteriorates

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva acknowledged that losing the toss on a surface that degraded sharply over the final 48 hours severely compromised his side's tactical plan.

"The pitch was excellent for batting across the first three days," de Silva stated during his post-match assessment. "Once India won the toss and posted a formidable first-innings total through Rahul and Padikkal, we were constantly chasing the game. Batting in the fourth innings at Galle is notoriously difficult, and losing early wickets in our chase placed us under insurmountable pressure."

The two teams will now travel to Colombo for the second and final Test match, scheduled to begin next week.

After suffering series defeats in Ireland (2-0) and England (4-0), Iyer got his maiden series victory as India's T20I captain when the visitors sealed a clinical 35-run win in the third and final T20I over Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

“I think we were flawless, honestly speaking, throughout the series, barring the catches that we dropped. But phenomenal effort by each and every individual, including the support staff and whatever we mentioned in the team meeting, executing it to the best of the abilities was something that we always looked up to. 

“The approach was a notch above the others. So congratulations to each and every individual who have been part of this victory and thank you to VVS sir as well for motivating us and inspiring each and every day when we stepped onto the field. I think everything that you mentioned was apt and we could relate to it. So thank you so much and thank you to each and every individual,” said Iyer in a video posted on BCCI’s social media accounts on Monday.

VVS Laxman, who stepped in as India’s head coach for the series, lauded Iyer’s leadership and pointed out how the skipper bounced back after a tough start to his captaincy tenure to unite a largely fresh squad.

“Firstly, a big round of applause to everybody. We set out to win the series and that was what we aspired to do. I would like to congratulate Shreyas because he had a rough start to his captaincy career, but the way he came back and right from the first day when he joined us, one day before the first game, he was very optimistic.

“He was in fact looking forward to play with all of you. It's a new group of players. We know that only four or five were there in England, joined us on this tour. But he was so confident and I think a lot of credit for this victory should be given to the captain. The way he encouraged each one of us. It was again a very collective effort.”

Laxman further spoke on how the squad embraced a winning mentality from day one of assembling in Zimbabwe. “We had one thing which we wanted to achieve. We wanted to exhibit the winner's mindset. If you remember the first meeting we had before the first match, we said that as a team we can display the winner's mindset and I think through the three matches, each one of you have displayed that. 

“So congratulations on that. I would like to thank all the coaches, all the support staff and Amit and the manager for your efforts through the series. Sometimes we don't realise how important a role you all play. So thank you very much for your commitment towards making sure that our players were ready for this series and through the series. All of you have made sure that they are best prepared for each and every match. So thank you to each one of you.”

Samson spent 11 years with RR and captained them for five seasons, before moving to CSK through a high-profile trade ahead of IPL 2026. “Leaving Rajasthan Royals was a huge risk. Once you convey your feelings to the franchise, there is no going back. You could end up in a team you don't want to go to or even in the auction with no certainty. There were two reasons behind this decision.

“First, I was sure that 2025 would be my last season with RR. I had long conversations with my family and my wife. They kept asking me if it was an impulsive decision or if I was really sure. We discussed it for two or three weeks, and then we decided it was time. I was convinced it was the right call.

“Second, I am a confident person. I believe I can stand on my own. I am always ready to start from zero. Many people told me that my batting style might not suit the slow Chepauk wicket. Those thoughts did cross my mind. But then I told myself, 'You are 30 years old. Go out and find a way.' This IPL season, I went in with a lot of energy, thinking I had to achieve something. I discovered a new energy there, and it was working very well for me,” Samson said on JioStar's 'Superstars.’

His initiation at CSK, however, began on a tough note, with low scores in his first three outings amidst team defeats after becoming Player of the Tournament in India’s 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup triumph. Samson highlighted how the franchise's calm environment helped him navigate the slump.

“In T20 cricket, failure is common. In this format, you tend to fail more than you succeed. So, when you are going through a rough patch, you need people around you who understand that failure is part of the game. When I joined CSK, I failed in my first three games. We lost all three, and I didn't score runs.

“I had just come off playing in the World Cup final, but I wasn't able to carry that form into the IPL. In that situation, no matter how experienced you are, you know that the coach expects more, the captain expects more, and Mahi bhai is watching you. So I went to the nets, worked on my game, and stayed in my zone.

“I was more mature this time around and I knew what I had to do. But what really stood out was that the response from the team management and my teammates didn't change even one per cent. When I failed three matches in a row, their faith in me never wavered. That meant a lot to me.”

It was a succinct piece of advice from Dhoni that ultimately settled his nerves, clearing the way for a turnaround century against Delhi Capitals in the next match. “I still remember, Mahi bhai met me after the first three matches when we went for practice. I usually sit right behind him, facing him. So, we sat down, and he looked at me and asked if I was fine. I said, 'Bhaiya, I am fine.'

“Then I kept saying 'but' and 'yes' without even realising it. Then he told me, 'Don't get into but. Just focus on doing what you do best. Everything will be alright.' It was very subtle, but a huge lesson for me. He was telling me that everything is okay. Just because I was failing didn't mean I had to change my batting style, look like I was stressed, or practice for three extra hours.

“At that moment, I felt I really had to perform for them. Then I told Stephen Fleming, 'Don't worry, we'll be fine in the next game.' And in the next game, I scored a hundred against Delhi Capitals. From there, the momentum came back.”

Having captained RR for five years, Samson explained why he didn't seek the leadership role upon joining CSK. “I really started enjoying captaincy at RR. It's a different skill, and I was getting better at it every year. By the fourth year of captaincy, I had a clear idea of what it takes to lead a side in IPL and T20s. I was enjoying it completely.

“But more than that, I wanted to enjoy cricket more. If the environment changes and doesn't suit you anymore, it's okay to move on. Captaincy is not something you should ask for. It's something that should be given to you because people believe you are the right person. Even at RR, I never asked for it.

“Manoj Badale sir, the owner of RR told me I was the next captain, and I said I was ready. I captained for five seasons and after that, I was confident enough to leave that role, start fresh, and enjoy my cricket again. But it was important to have the right people around me. Ruturaj was someone I knew I would enjoy playing under. I was ready to play under his captaincy and that was one of the thoughts that guided my decision of not demanding for captaincy after joining CSK.”

Addressing his perspective on national selection and individual milestones, Samson reiterated that he prefers focusing on his own processes rather than chasing accolades or pushing for spots. “I had already proven what I am in the IPL and I feel that if the Indian team needs me, I don't need to score big runs and win the Orange Cap.

“There have been many instances where I was very close to getting selected in the World Cup team and someone else was picked. But I am not the kind of character who will tell my leaders, 'Bhaiya, please select me, I will play.' I am always like, 'I am here. If you want me, call me.' I will keep doing my training, I will keep doing my processes.

“But when you feel that you need Sanju the most, that is the only time when my best will also come out. That is what happened in CSK as well, and in the World Cup too this time. It's always best to be where you are comfortable, instead of moving out of it, I feel,” he concluded.

England have already won the series via an unassailable 3-0 lead, and another victory over India will help them seal a clean sweep victory, as well as become the new top-ranked team in men’s T20Is.

India, meanwhile, will look to salvage some pride and conclude a difficult T20I leg on a high before heading into the three-match ODI series against England, starting on July 14 in Birmingham.

After winning the toss, skipper Shreyas Iyer, who’s won every coin flip so far on this tour, said Samson and Shedge have replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Washington Sundar in the playing eleven. "Today, based on the conditions, it's windy, and we had a chat before, and they said the wicket won't change that much, so we've elected to bowl first. 

"I just want to give 100 per cent effort today, irrespective of the result. I just want them to have a solid state of mind where they go in and just try to get the best out of themselves, rather than sulking or being in a situation where they're a bit ahead of the game. Be in the moment and just stop thinking about what's happened and what could happen."

England captain Harry Brook said left-arm spinner Liam Dawson has replaced leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in their playing eleven. “We’d have had a bat, so we’re pretty happy. If we win today, we go to world No 1, so that’s at the back of our minds. But, as we’ve done all series, we want to adapt to the surface and communicate well.”

Playing XIs: 

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Josh Tongue

Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers ran through the middle order after Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 83 in what was also her 300th international appearance. In the process of picking a three-for, Sophie also became England’s highest wicket‑taker across formats, going past Katherine Sciver-Brunt, and climbed to third overall behind Deepti Sharma and Jhulan Goswami.

England’s reply began shakily with Tammy Beaumont, who’s playing her farewell international game, falling for two in the fourth over. But Maia Bouchier (17 not out) and Heather Knight (one not out) steadied the innings till stumps were called on the opening day. Sneh Rana found turn in her solitary over late in the evening, a sign that India’s spinners could have plenty to work with on day two.

In what is also the first-ever women’s Test to be played at the iconic venue, England picked up three crucial wickets in an action-packed first session. Opting to bowl first, England found immediate movement off the ball via Lauren Bell. India suffered an early blow in the second over when opener Shafali Verma was completely squared up by a sharp, short-of-length delivery from Lauren Filer and nicked behind to wicketkeeper Amy Jones for a duck.

Yastika Bhatia (12) joined Smriti and started confidently with a flurry of boundaries, while also surviving a close leg-before-wicket review on umpire's call off Bell. However, Bell redeemed herself soon after, cleaning up Yastika with a brilliant inswinger that nipped away to hit the off-stump.

Jemimah Rodrigues then partnered with Mandhana to steady the innings, capitalising heavily on a wayward English bowling display that lacked discipline. Smriti looked in sublime touch, punishing the loose balls and welcoming premier spinner Ecclestone into the attack with a massive slog-sweep over midwicket for six to close out the first hour.

Smriti then brought up a sparkling run-a-ball half-century off just 50 deliveries in the 16th over and got the distinction of getting the first-ever Women’s Test fifty at Lord’s. The dangerous 64-run third-wicket partnership was eventually broken against the run of play when Jemimah (35) chopped onto her stumps while going for an expansive drive against Issy Wong.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (14 not out) then joined Smriti to safely navigate the remaining overs, ensuring India walked into the lunch break as the happier side. While the first session majorly belonged to India, England's bowlers roared back into the contest in the post-lunch session by showing discipline in their bowling and picking up the crucial wickets of set batters Smriti and Harmanpreet, who compiled 58.

Resuming from 122/3 in 25 overs, Smriti and Harmanpreet frustrated the hosts by taking India past the 150-run mark. Smriti was in splendid touch, using her feet elegantly against Sophie and executing crisp pulls off the fast bowlers.

At the other end, Harmanpreet battled intensely through physical discomfort and needed continuous medical attention from the team physio for troubles in her hand and hamstring. Scoring mainly through the off-side, Harmanpreet reached her second Test half-century off 99 balls with a drive off Mady.

However, England’s persistence soon broke the 79-run stand off 155 balls against the run of play. Issy, operating with supreme control, induced a faint outside edge from Smriti, as she fell 17 short of a historic century after being caught neatly behind by a diving Amy Jones standing up to the stumps.

England also burned two unsuccessful reviews during the session - one for a caught-behind off Smriti and another off Deepti. Just as the session seemed to be closing out evenly, Mady tossed one up beautifully outside off, and lured Harmanpreet into an expansive drive before turning sharply through the gate to castle the skipper and give England more delight at the stroke of tea break.

The final session saw India suffer a spectacular slide by losing their last seven wickets for just 95 runs to end 15 runs short of 300, as Sophie and Mady shared five scalps between themselves. Resuming the post-tea session from 202/5, India desperately needed stability. However, the visitors suffered an early setback when aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (13) was cramped by pacer Lauren Filer and top-edged a short delivery straight to fine leg.

Deepti, who played a gritty 57 off 87 balls, laced with seven boundaries, tried to courageously hold the innings together. She employed the sweep shot to fantastic effect against the spinners and brought up a well-deserved half-century off 70 balls. Unfortunately, she completely lacked support from the lower order.

Mady continued her highly impressive debut by trapping Sneh (13) plumb lbw and breaking a brief period of resistance. Sophie then took complete charge by cleaning up the tail with ruthless efficiency. She trapped Sayali (1) lbw, before ending Deepti’s valiant knock, as she was caught by mid-wicket.

Sophie ultimately wrapped up the innings by castling Kranti (1) and getting a glowing reception from 10,768 fans at Lord’s, as she walked off the field as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker across all formats.

After bowling out India for 285, Maia and Tammy faced a testing 11-over spell from the Indian new-ball bowlers. Sayali Satghare opened the attack for India, starting with a no-ball, but quickly adjusted her line to test Maia with subtle away movement.

The breakthrough came in the fourth over when Kranti delivered a superb, incoming back-of-a-length delivery that kept low. Tammy (2) was caught completely in the crease and trapped plumb in front. The veteran chose not to review, though it was eventually hit by the stumps via the umpire’s call.

Kranti nearly handed India a massive second breakthrough in the eighth over when she hit Heather Knight on the pads. The vociferous appeal was turned down by the umpire, and India decided against using the Decision Review System (DRS). However, replays later confirmed the ball would have crashed into the leg stump, handing Heather a major reprieve.

Maia, meanwhile, held her ground watchfully and broke the shackles in the ninth over, dispatching a rare loose delivery from Sayali through mid-wicket for the first boundary of the innings.

Harmanpreet introduced spin in the penultimate over through Sneh Rana, who bowled a tidy maiden over. In the final over of the day, Maia capitalised on a stray delivery from Kranti by clipping through fine leg to finish unbeaten on 17 alongside Heather, who’s unconquered on one.

Brief scores: 

India 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58; Sophie Ecclestone 3-68, Issy Wong 2-41) lead England 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17 not out; Kranti Gaud 1-8) by 264 runs

India once again endured a batting collapse before skipper Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. But no other Indian batter managed to make a significant contribution as the visitors finished on 158/7 in 20 overs.

Chasing a modest target of 159, England lost Jos Buttler early, but thereafter India had no answers as Brook and Salt stitched together an unbroken 151-run stand for the second wicket as England raced to 159/1 in just 13.5 overs, winning with 37 balls to spare.

This is the first time England have beaten India in a bilateral T20I series of two or more games. India have won five of the previous six, while one ended in a draw. India’s last two defeats in a bilateral series against England (any format) had come on the 2018 tour (by 2-1 in ODIs and by 4-1 in Tests). Post then, until before the ongoing one, they had won eight out of 10, with the last two Test series in the country ending in draws (both 2-2). 

"Again, it was a disappointing one. Definitely, 158 wasn't the perfect total on the board. And eventually we saw how quickly they chased down. When we came on to bowling, I just asked our bowlers to repeat the lengths as much as possible because top of middle-stump and leg-stump, it was very difficult to hit and score boundaries off that. So I think we fell a bit short in terms of our execution. And, yeah, we saw that when we were changing the pace, when we were trying something else, they scored off those loose balls, Iyer said after the match.

Shreyas Iyer rescued the innings with a fighting 80 off 49 balls. Walking in after the fall of early wickets, Iyer anchored the innings almost single-handedly, striking four fours and five sixes.  

Reflecting on his own performance, Iyer said personal performances mattered little without a victory. "Definitely happy with my performance, but see, if it's not on the winning cause, it just goes to the side. So disappointed on that aspect because whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins. But unfortunately, today wasn't that day. Definitely look forward in the next game," he said.

Iyer further said the Indian side is currently in transition phase and backed the players to learn from their mistakes. "See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realize how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions," said Iyer.

"It's important that you learn quickly from your mistakes so that the team also benefits eventually out of it. And I'm sure that there are quick learners in the team. I'm sure they will assess themselves and get back stronger in the next game," he conluded.

Before the ongoing season, India had won 11 of their last 12 bilateral T20I series, while the one in South Africa in December 2023 ended in a 1-1 draw.

England, who hold a 2-0 lead after the opening match was washed out, produced a record 125-run victory in the third T20I, India's biggest-ever defeat in the format, with the performances reflected in the weekly rankings update.

Jacob Bethell was among the biggest movers, climbing seven places to No. 8 in the T20I batting rankings after his unbeaten 76 off 46 balls guided England to victory in the second T20I.

Sam Curran enjoyed gains across all three disciplines after claiming 3/33 in the second match before smashing an unbeaten 41 in England's emphatic win in the third. He rose 12 places to No. 108 in the T20I batting rankings, climbed 12 spots to joint 71st among bowlers, and advanced six places to joint 13th in the all-rounders' list.

Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid moved up one place to No. 3 in the T20I bowling rankings after returning figures of 2/14 in the third T20I, while pacer Josh Tongue, who claimed four wickets in only his second T20I appearance, entered the rankings at joint 301st.

Will Jacks also made progress after contributing with the ball during the series, climbing six places to break into the top 10 of the T20I all-rounders' rankings at No. 7.

Despite India's difficult start under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, the batter made a massive leap of 425 places to joint 93rd in the batting rankings after scoring 68 in the rain-hit opening game and 37 in the second match.

In the Test rankings, Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Udara climbed 52 places to No. 85 after registering a career-best 188 against the West Indies in the second Test, while Kamindu Mendis moved up two places to sixth following his aggregate of 128 runs in the drawn match.

Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, who claimed the only five-wicket haul of the Test, advanced two places to No. 20 in the bowling rankings.

For the West Indies, Justin Greaves jumped 14 places to No. 49 after his fighting 180 helped the hosts secure a draw and seal the Sobers-Tissera Trophy, while Shai Hope rose six places to No. 51 following his century.

The ODI rankings also witnessed notable movement after Zimbabwe's opening win over Bangladesh in Harare. Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana climbed 17 places to No. 12 in the ODI bowling rankings after producing career-best figures of 6/21.

Zimbabwe's pace trio also reaped rewards for defending 141 successfully. Richard Ngarava improved one place to No. 19, Brad Evans jumped 17 spots to No. 111, while Blessing Muzarabani also climbed 17 places to No. 33 in the ODI bowling rankings.

The ICC Chair presented the trophy to captain Sophie Molineux, who lifted the T20 World Cup title just six months into her tenure as captain. After surrendering both the 20- and 50-over titles over the past two years, Australia reasserted themselves as the world's best team, securing their 14th white-ball title.

“Congratulations to Cricket Australia on winning their seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title with another incredible campaign. Huge credit to England cricket too - fantastic runners-up but champions in spirit. This tournament reminded us why women’s cricket is unmissable - power, passion, and pure class on display from start to finish. Thank you to both teams and everyone who made this World Cup so special. Women’s cricket is in a golden era,” Jay Shah posted on X.

In front of a 28,000-plus record crowd at the Lord's Cricket Ground, Australia wrapped up their invincible run at the tournament in style, restricting England to 150 after electing to bowl and then chased down the target in 17.1 overs with Beth Mooney leading the way scoring 64 runs.

An emphatic win to seal an emphatic tournament, as Australia returned to the summit of T20 cricket after three years. In doing so, they broke a streak of rotten luck at World Cups on UK shores dating all the way back to the 1993.

England, who were playing their first T20 World Cup final in eight years, previously won all four of the Women's World Cups (50-over and T20) they had hosted; but Australia had won all six of the finals (50-over and T20) the two nations had contested.

Ishan Kishan scored 49 and, along with skipper Shreyas Iyer (37) and Abhishek Sharma (43), helped India post a challenging 190/7 upon electing to bat first at Old Trafford on Saturday. However, England rode on an unbeaten 76 from Jacob Bethell to overhaul the target and reach 191/6 in 19 overs, recovering from a precarious 1/2 and 51/3 for a four-wicket win. The key to India's defeat was the 17th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi that cost 29 runs as the leggie finished with figures of 4-0-60-0.

Asked whether India needed an off-spinner to capitalise on the situation in the middle and lower-order, Ishan Kishan said the bowlers picked for the match were "quality bowlers," and all this talk was conjecture.

"No, I mean, we played for a perfect team, you know. It's just that when you don't win, there are a lot of thoughts coming in, a lot of ifs and buts are coming in. But at the same time, I feel all of them were very good bowlers who have done well in the past, who have made their team win in different situations. Even bowling on very flat tracks and still getting wickets. So, I don't think we could have done anything different looking at the team side," said Ishan Kishan in the post-match press conference.

Kishan, however, admitted that the team has to consider how it can improve its performance, taking the conditions into account.

"Yeah, like I said, we need to just understand what conditions are and how we can improve, what we can do better. You know, thoughts will keep coming in. But at the end of the day, we just need to understand the situation, like we are playing outside India, and what the pitch requires from us as a batter and as a bowler. Not only one batter or one bowler can, you know, just make the difference. But as a group, I feel we need to just understand more, like where we can get better," he added.

Kishan came in at one down as India went in with 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the second match. The first match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the second innings after India posted 189/7 in the rain-hit match.

Pointing out that the team has been losing momentum in the backend and falling short by 15-20 runs from what they could have in both times they batted in this series, the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter said the team has to improve, and said all batters would have to think about where they can score those 20-plus runs.

He said they will have to look at the hosts' batters to understand what they are doing better because they know the conditions better.

"100%, I mean, yes. Obviously, you know, they'll have the best choice of bowling, where to pick up, which bowler to put (under pressure), and which batsman to put (under pressure). They understand the condition better than we do. But at the same time, you know, as I said, I mean, everyone's answer is the same. Like, we are all looking to improve.

"We are all looking to understand what these guys are doing against us. Like, when we play in India, we have more ideas about the wicket. So, here, obviously, every batter needs to understand, as a team, like, where we can, you know, get those extra 20 runs, whether it's by scoring boundaries or, because it's a big ground, you need to take those, whether you have to target the gaps. So, these are a few things I feel we'll talk about as a group, we'll understand, and we'll get better with time," he said.

Leading the side in the series opener at Chester-le-Street, Iyer struck 68 off 47 deliveries to anchor India’s innings after the visitors were reduced to 6/2 inside the first two overs. His knock, along with Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 59 off just 24 balls and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 42 off 21 deliveries, helped India recover to post a competitive 189/7.

However, persistent rain after the completion of India’s innings prevented England from beginning their chase, forcing the match to be abandoned without a result.

Reflecting on Iyer’s innings, Parthiv said the India skipper displayed excellent awareness by complementing Abhishek’s aggressive approach instead of looking for big hits himself. “Those raising questions over Shreyas Iyer would have felt a lot more relieved after this innings. As a player, Shreyas Iyer doesn’t have to worry about anything. He’s a proven performer in this format. It was a very important innings because India had lost two early wickets, while at the other end, Abhishek Sharma was batting quite aggressively. So, Shreyas had to play the second fiddle rather than rely too much on hitting sixes, which is something every Indian player is so used to from playing in the IPL," Parthiv told Jio Hotstar.

“You have to rotate the strike, and score boundaries along the ground. I thought it was a masterclass from Shreyas Iyer, understanding the situation and the dimensions of the ground. That’s something both the captain and the Indian team would have learned from those two games against Ireland,” he added.

Patel also felt India’s batting display was an important step forward after an inconsistent start to the tour during the two T20Is against Ireland, saying the innings showed the team’s ability to adapt to different conditions.

“The way India’s first two games against Ireland went, it was important for India to produce this kind of batting performance. There were obviously doubts about whether India could adapt to certain conditions and whether they could change their game plan. Looking at those games in Ireland, in my opinion, this innings was necessary for India, where you see a complete batting performance.”

India and England will now clash in Manchester in the second T20I at Emirates Old Trafford, with the five-match series still level after the rain washed out the opener.

Kishan attained a new career-best rating to move ahead of Abhishek after the latest ICC rankings update released on Wednesday, following India's 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast.

The left-handed batter's rise to the summit has been fuelled by his outstanding performances at the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he amassed 317 runs at a strike rate of almost 200. His campaign included a Player of the Match-winning knock against Pakistan in Colombo.

Abhishek, who had occupied the No.1 spot for almost 12 months, now trails Kishan by just seven rating points. Kishan also joins an elite list featuring Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav as only the fourth Indian men's batter to achieve the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket.

Among other movers in the T20I batting rankings, Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker jumped four places to equal 77th, while Ross Adair climbed six spots to 84th after impressive performances against India.

Ireland seamer Matthew Humphreys moved up one place to 25th in the T20I bowling rankings after claiming four wickets in the series, earning a career-best rating. In the T20I all-rounders' rankings, India's Shivam Dube rose three places to seventh, while Ireland's Gareth Delany and Harry Tector climbed to 24th and 38th respectively.

There were significant changes in the ICC Test rankings as well, with Australia's Travis Head becoming the world's No.1 Test batter for the first time in his career.

Head replaced England's Harry Brook at the top after Brook and Joe Root endured modest returns in the Nottingham Test against New Zealand. Brook slipped to second while Root dropped two places to third

India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also regained sole possession of the No.1 ranking among Test bowlers after New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry slipped to second.

New Zealand's victory over England at Trent Bridge also resulted in major gains for several of their batters. Rachin Ravindra climbed two places to seventh, Daryl Mitchell advanced five spots to 11th, Devon Conway surged 14 places to equal 15th, and Tom Latham rose 12 places to equal 31st in the Test batting rankings.

New Zealand pacer Nathan Smith improved eight places to 38th in the Test bowling rankings, while England captain Ben Stokes moved up two places to finish his international career at No.3 among Test all-rounders following his mid-match retirement.

West Indies fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach were also rewarded for their performances in the victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua. Joseph climbed nine places to equal 14th in the Test bowling rankings, while Roach rose four spots to 17th.

--IANS