The ILT20’s fifth season introduces a new ‘batter zone’ rule for determining Wides and extends the 60-second stop clock to batting teams. Batters must be ready within a minute, with five penalty runs for repeated delays after two warnings. Playing XIs must also include UAE, Afghanistan and Associate players. The tournament runs from November 21 to December 20.

KL Rahul proved to be a linchpin for India's ODI squad during the encounter against New Zealand. His unbeaten innings was pivotal amidst the early dismissals of his teammates, securing India’s victory through the DLS method. Meanwhile, New Zealand faltered at the crease, setting a modest target, while India's bowlers delivered with precision and vital wickets. Ultimately, India triumphed by a narrow margin of four runs despite challenging match conditions.

India narrowly edged out New Zealand in the second ODI, pushing their series lead to 2-0. Struggling initially, the hosts managed a total of only 134 runs before being dismissed. However, India's bowling duo, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi, delivered exceptional performances, troubling New Zealand's batsmen. As the series progresses, New Zealand's inconsistent batting raises concerns about their future performances.

India's low-scoring ODI thriller against New Zealand highlighted the challenges of batting on a seaming, bouncy pitch. Despite a modest 135-run target, India's top order struggled against Kyle Jamieson's aggressive bowling. The decision to promote Axar Patel ahead of KL Rahul also raised questions, while Rahul's composure stood out amid a collapse. The contrasting performances exposed India's batting vulnerabilities.

The conditions were helpful for the pacers, but the ball still needed to be put in the right areas, and Brar did the job with aplomb. He wasn't carried away by the extra bounce, movement in the air or nip off the surface. Instead, he adjusted well to the "trampoline"-like uneven bounce and carry from the playing surface and ran through the opposition with some serious heat.

India pacer Gurnoor Brar credited Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Umesh Yadav for their valuable guidance following his career-best 4/30 against New Zealand. He highlighted the importance of backing, discipline and learning from setbacks. Brar's impressive spell helped India bowl New Zealand out for 134, securing a rain-affected four-wicket victory and a 2-0 series lead.

India secured a narrow victory against New Zealand by four runs in the second ODI match. The Indian pace attack restricted New Zealand to a mere 134 runs in their innings. After a shaky start, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul helped stabilize India's chase before the rain interruption. The match concluded early due to rain, but India had managed to stay ahead on the DLS par score.

Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket, concluding a notable 13-year career. Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla expressed disappointment over Shami's inability to return to the Indian side. Shami last represented India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia. Despite retiring from Tests, Shami will continue to play white-ball cricket for Bengal in upcoming tournaments.

India's young bowlers produced an outstanding performance against New Zealand, dismissing them for just 134 runs. The match marked New Zealand's lowest all-out total at home against India in ODI history. Gurnoor Brar led India's attack with impressive bowling figures, claiming four wickets. New Zealand's top-order collapsed early, struggling to score runs against disciplined Indian bowling. A brief partnership struggled to stabilize the innings before India secured a convincing victory.

Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Ricky Ponting's run record against New Zealand in ODIs. He moved past Ponting during the second ODI in Wellington, scoring 1,975 runs overall. Kohli's performance included a valuable innings of 74 in the first ODI. India's bowlers excelled, bowling out New Zealand for just 134 runs in a rain-affected match. Gurnoor Brar was particularly impressive, taking four wickets to lead the attack.

Yashasvi Jaiswal shone brightly in the third Test with his remarkable second consecutive first-class century. Despite weather delays, India A ended the day strong at 227 for two. Jaiswal dazzled with a powerful 102 runs, displaying his prowess with several boundaries and two sixes. Sai Sudharsan supported him well, remaining not out at 77, while Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Prasidh Krishna geared up for future Test series.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is disappointed that Mohammed Shami did not get another chance in India's Test team before announcing his retirement from the format. Shastri said playing in the gym and bowling in an actual match were two different things. According to him, a bowler's ability to bowl 10-12 overs in a match should be a better test of fitness.

With the publication of Usman Khawaja's autobiography, the spotlight has returned to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket. Khawaja reveals that discussions about tampering were commonplace among players during their time in South Africa. In response, Michael Vaughan sarcastically remarked that these suspicions were already widely acknowledged in the cricketing world. Cricket Australia, however, reaffirms its findings regarding player knowledge, keeping the scandal alive in cricket history.

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh and Auqib Nabi made full use of the conditions and kept the New Zealand batters under pressure. India are leading the five-match ODI series 1-0.

Morne Morkel has acknowledged Mohammed Shami's contributions as he retires from Test cricket after 12 years. Shami played a significant role in helping Morkel adjust to the Indian team culture during his early days. With 229 Test wickets, Shami concludes a notable career but will remain active in limited-overs formats. Morkel expressed satisfaction with Shami continuing to bowl extensively in domestic cricket for Bengal.

Rishabh Pant is set to fly out to New Zealand next week and is likely to turn out for the first Test in Wellington from Nov. 19, TOI has learnt. On Thursday, Pant posted a video of himself training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, where he underwent rehab for a side strain. In the clip, he is seen batting in the nets without any discomfort.

Mohammed Shami has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of a distinguished twelve-year journey. Over his career, he participated in 64 Tests, claiming 229 wickets for India, with standout performances particularly against South Africa and Australia. Manoj Tiwary, his fellow cricketer, honored Shami's impact on the sport, calling him a true warrior. Shami plans to remain active in limited-overs formats.

Usman Khawaja has shed light on the extent of discussions regarding ball tampering among Australian cricketers. He revealed that these conversations were not only prevalent but also conducted openly during their contentious 2018 tour in South Africa. This revelation casts doubt on the integrity of Cricket Australia's previous investigation, which insists it considered all pertinent information before drawing its conclusions.

India's cricket team is experiencing a transition under coach Gautam Gambhir while maintaining stability in the ODI format. Senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play crucial roles in this transition. Former New Zealand bowler Kyle Mills commends Gambhir's tactical approach and acknowledges the scrutiny faced by the Indian team. New Zealand's cricket has improved significantly with upgraded infrastructure and a rich talent pool.