Australia face packed schedule ahead of India tour as CA unveils 2026-27 calendar | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Australia face packed schedule ahead of India tour as CA unveils 2026-27 calendar | Cricket News – The Times of India


Australia face packed schedule ahead of India tour as CA unveils 2026-27 calendar | Cricket News – The Times of India
Sam Konstas, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Mitchell Starc of Australia pose for a photo (Photo: Getty Images)

Cricket Australia has revealed its international schedule for the 2026-27 season, outlining a demanding calendar that leaves minimal recovery time ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, likely to start in mid or late January.The five-match Test tour of India is expected to be a defining stretch for an experienced Australian side led by Pat Cummins, with several senior players facing one of the toughest assignments of their careers.

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In total, Australia are scheduled to play 10 Tests within a 14-week span from December to March, making it one of the most intense periods in the team’s history.The home summer begins in August 2026 with a two-Test series against Bangladesh and runs through to March 2027, ending with a landmark day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate the 150th anniversary Test against England national cricket team.A four-Test home series against New Zealand national cricket team has been squeezed into just over a month, adding further pressure to an already tight schedule. Before that, Australia will tour South Africa national cricket team for a three-Test series that runs until the end of October, followed by an eight-match white-ball series against England in November.According to CA, the India tour represents a significant challenge for senior players such as Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, all of whom are yet to win a Test series in India.“That Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, a final frontier for the likes of Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, who have never won a series in India, will also be a quick-fire campaign given CA’s anniversary Test begins back in Melbourne on March 11,” CA said in a statement.The board also indicated a cautious approach to workload management, pointing out that the decision to rest key fast bowlers like Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood for the early stages of the Indian Premier League reflects concerns over sustaining them through the packed season.“The call to hold back all three of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood from at least the first few rounds of the soon-to-begin IPL shows CA is wary of getting their trio to the finishing line of the intense 2026-27 run,” the statement added.Australia’s packed Test itinerary includes:August: Two Tests vs Bangladesh (home)October: Three Tests vs South Africa (away)December-January: Four Tests vs New Zealand (home)January-March: Five Tests vs India (away)March 11-15: 150th anniversary Test vs England (home)Looking further ahead, Australia could feature in the World Test Championship final in June if they qualify, before embarking on a five-Test tour of England between June and August.

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‘Favourites tag doesn’t come easy’: Shubman Gill’s bold Team India message | Cricket News – The Times of India
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‘Favourites tag doesn’t come easy’: Shubman Gill’s bold Team India message | Cricket News – The Times of India


‘Favourites tag doesn’t come easy’: Shubman Gill’s bold Team India message | Cricket News – The Times of India
Shubman Gill (Pic credit: Gill’s X post)

NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill delivered a powerful message after being named the winner of the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for 2025, underlining the weight of expectations that come with representing one of the world’s top sides.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking after receiving the honour at the BCCI’s Naman Awards, Gill highlighted the collective effort behind India’s rise as a dominant force, while stressing that their reputation as favourites has been hard-earned.“It’s efforts by everyone — whether it’s Gauti bhai, the batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach; they all work tirelessly to make this group what it is today. That’s why we are recognised as one of the most fearless teams in the world, and wherever we go, we are looked upon as favourites. That tag doesn’t come easy,” Gill said.

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The 26-year-old also reflected on the significance of joining an elite list of past winners, calling the recognition deeply special.“Obviously, it feels quite amazing to be recognised among cricketers, among the legends and idols that have won this award before me. It’s truly a great honour every time you step on the field to represent your country… and to do well in that sport and be recognised by the BCCI is an immense honour,” he added.Shubman Gill credits Gambhir and support staffGill credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and the wider support staff, including the Centre of Excellence, for shaping the team’s fearless approach.Reflecting on the past year, Gill termed it an “amazing journey,” pointing to India’s resilience during the England series. “Going into the England series and coming back to draw the series from where we were after the first Test match… it’s been a truly great year,” he said, also referencing strong outings in the West Indies and the Asia Cup.Looking ahead, Gill acknowledged the importance of the upcoming Test calendar, with crucial series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia set to define India’s World Test Championship hopes.“We’ve got some really crucial Test series coming up. Hopefully we are able to win most of our matches and qualify for the finals,” he said.Despite the accolades, Gill downplayed discussions around legacy, focusing instead on team identity. “We want to be looked upon… as a team that doesn’t give up easily. We want to instil that kind of character,” he noted.

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Perennial dark horses, really? Why world cricket keeps forgetting New Zealand’s World Cup pedigree | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Perennial dark horses, really? Why world cricket keeps forgetting New Zealand’s World Cup pedigree | Cricket News – The Times of India


T20 World Cup: Mitchell Santner press conference before IND vs NZ

NEW DELHI: In the Stick to Cricket podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan recently said: “Pound for pound, they (New Zealand) might be the best team.”Vaughan is right.Since the inception of the ODI World Cup in 1975, New Zealand have reached the semi-finals nine times and finished runners-up twice. In the T20 format, the BlackCaps have made the semi-finals five times and will play their second final on Sunday.

T20 World Cup: Mitchell Santner press conference before IND vs NZ

Yet despite this consistent record, they continue to be labelled as ‘dark horses’.New Zealand are perhaps the most condescended-to team in world cricket. In almost every tournament preview, they are described as the “dark horses” or the side that “punches above its weight.”

Perennial dark horses?

New Zealand won the ICC Knockout Trophy, the tournament that was later renamed the Champions Trophy, in 2000. 21 years later, they defeated India again, this time in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in Southampton. They also reached successive ODI World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, finishing runners-up despite not losing to England in either regulation play or the Super Over. They were also beaten in the finals of the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2021 T20 World Cup, both times by Australia.

We are a very proud sporting nation. It is not only in cricket that we do well for a small country. Whether it is the Olympics, sailing, rugby or even football now, we are doing quite well. And we are very proud of our sporting abilities

Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand fast bowler

Cricket is not the number one sport in the island nation. Not even the second most popular. They have only six first-class teams, yet New Zealand have consistently produced competitive international sides.“It’s the New Zealand way, I think. There’s an in-built confidence, although it is not always loudly expressed. But we have confidence in our abilities,” Lockie Ferguson had told TimesofIndia.com during the ILT20.“We are a very proud sporting nation. It is not only in cricket that we do well for a small country. Whether it is the Olympics, sailing, rugby or even football now, we are doing quite well. And we are very proud of our sporting abilities,” Ferguson added.

Net Sessions - ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026

Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner of New Zealand during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 of New Zealand net session at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Punching above their weight?

Not for the first time in recent years, New Zealand are in the knockout stages of a global tournament. Standing between them and the trophy are the hosts, India.At the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup, New Zealand were not even most people’s top-four picks, let alone ones for the title. Now they have defeated tournament favourites South Africa in the semi-final and on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad they will take on defending champions India.

I would not mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once

Mitchell Santner | New Zealand captain

Interestingly, India have never defeated New Zealand in T20 World Cups. New Zealand lead this head-to-head 3-0.India know too well the sting in New Zealand’s tail, having suffered defeats against them in several major global tournaments, including the two finals New Zealand have won and the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Manchester. Mitchell Santner, in the pre-match press conference, made it clear that they would not mind breaking a billion hearts.“Everyone knows we are probably not the favourites. But we do not mind,” he said.“I would not mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once.”New Zealand do not waste time complaining about conditions or searching for excuses. They confront every challenge head-on with quiet confidence and unwavering focus. They go about their business with little fuss. There is not much razzmatazz about them. That is the New Zealand way. It always has been.

ICC Men's T20 WC Final_ IND vs NZ-Training.

New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner during a training session ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

“It’s easy to say it’s just another game, but everyone knows it’s probably not,” Santner said.“But the way you go about it has to be the same. Whether it is your preparation or what it looks like on the day leading up to the game. It always comes down to a couple of moments.“Especially in T20 cricket, where if you can squeeze the opposition or take advantage in those moments. I think we saw that the other night.“It often comes down to fielding at some stage. If you can be consistent in the way you approach the game, while recognising a couple of moments where you might need to be a little more ruthless, that is important.“You do not have to reinvent the wheel.

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Do you believe New Zealand is truly a ‘dark horse’ in global cricket tournaments?

“You are making a final and coming up against another team that is also playing very good cricket. So it is never that easy.”

New Zealand cricket

New Zealand’s players during a training session ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

New Zealand are not punching above their weight. This is their weight. The time for pundits and fans alike to acknowledge that has passed but even if they lose this, their credentials only get stronger for the future.


Former Pakistan captain who beat India in 2017 Champions Trophy final in line to become head coach | Cricket News – The Times of India
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Former Pakistan captain who beat India in 2017 Champions Trophy final in line to become head coach | Cricket News – The Times of India


Former Pakistan captain who beat India in 2017 Champions Trophy final in line to become head coach | Cricket News – The Times of India

Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is on the verge of taking charge as the head coach of Pakistan’s Test side, with the role lying unoccupied for nearly five months. In the interim, Azhar Mahmood oversaw the team during the recent Test tour of South Africa.As reported by Geo News, Sarfaraz is expected to assume the position ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh in May. He is currently with the Pakistan Shaheens in the UAE, where they are engaged in T20 and one-day fixtures against the England Lions. An official confirmation from the board is anticipated shortly.

India arrive for final net session before T20 World Cup semifinal

Sarfaraz’s growing credentials as a coach were strengthened after he guided Pakistan’s Under-19 side to an Asia Cup title. During that campaign, several supporters reportedly approached PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, urging him to entrust the senior red-ball team to the former captain.Pakistan presently sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings, following their drawn home series against South Africa in October. Their next assignment in the cycle begins on May 8, when they host Bangladesh for a two-Test contest.In his playing days, Sarfaraz featured in 54 Tests, amassing 3,031 runs with four centuries and 21 half-centuries. He led Pakistan in 13 of those matches, securing four victories, including a famous win at Lord’s against England in 2018. His most recent Test appearance came against Australia in Perth in 2023.Across white-ball formats, he represented Pakistan in 117 ODIs, scoring 2,315 runs with two hundreds and 11 fifties, and played 61 T20Is, compiling 818 runs. As captain, he achieved notable success, most prominently steering Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy title. He also led the side at the 2019 ODI World Cup, where Pakistan narrowly missed out on a semi-final berth despite winning five of their nine league matches. In T20 internationals, he maintained an impressive win rate of 78.37 per cent as skipper.


T20 World Cup: South Africa coach’s ‘cupcake’ jibe after another ‘chokers’ reminder | Cricket News – The Times of India
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T20 World Cup: South Africa coach’s ‘cupcake’ jibe after another ‘chokers’ reminder | Cricket News – The Times of India


T20 World Cup: South Africa coach’s ‘cupcake’ jibe after another ‘chokers’ reminder | Cricket News – The Times of India
South Africa’s Marco Jansen and teammates (ANI Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: South Africa are on an unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup. Except for the double Super Over against Afghanistan, they’ve steamrolled top teams, including India, whom they beat by 76 runs. On a seven-match winning streak, South Africa hopes to shed their ‘chokers’ tag.The legacy of that tag has followed the Proteas for the past two decades. It started with the 1999 World Cup loss to Australia and persisted until the 2024 T20 World Cup, losing the final to India in the Caribbean.

T20 World Cup: Ashwell Prince press conference before SA vs ZIM

Now, the reigning World Test Championship winners are the team to beat in the T20 World Cup being played in India and Sri Lanka. Their winning run continued with a 5-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Sunday. Coach Shukri Conrad was asked if this brings pressure and the much-dreaded reminder of being chokers?“There’s always pressure. I think it’s what you do with that pressure and how you shift the pressure. As for the C-word [chokers], I think there’s another one for that – ‘cupcakes.’ I’m sure we kind of enjoyed that,” said Conrad.The cupcake reference relates to a TV advert in the lead-up to the India vs South Africa Super Eight match where an Indian fan jokingly told a South Africa supporter about “repeating history” from the 2024 T20 World Cup while teasing them over a cupcake. But after South Africa’s resounding win against India in Ahmedabad, that dig flipped on its head.“No, there’s always pressure and it’s really about embracing that pressure. And we don’t do things any differently. We’re going to prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand. Whether we start as favourites? Probably because we’re the only unbeaten side in the competition. But I don’t know if that adds to the pressure,” continued Conrad.“I think the semi-final is pressure enough. Playing a tough side in New Zealand is pressure enough. So there’s no added pressure.“I’m glad that we’re favourites because I always felt that as a South African team you want to be able to play as a favourite because it’s easy being an underdog. The expectation isn’t that much. But if we can continue doing what we’re doing then we need a little bit of luck along the way as well.“Hopefully that will give us the result on Wednesday and then on to our ‘home ground’ in Ahmedabad,” he finished cheekily.