Today’s Top 10 Cricket News – 26th September 2026: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Asian Games, Latest Updates
Today’s Top 10 Cricket News features several major developments from international and domestic cricket on September 26, 2026. India’s preparations for the West Indies ODI series dominated the headlines, with Shubman Gill cleared to play after his elbow scare and Virat Kohli confirming that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his final World Cup for India.
The Asian Games men’s cricket competition also produced a major qualification update after rain washed out the Nepal-Japan fixture, confirming the quarter-final line-up. India will face Afghanistan, while Nepal will meet Sri Lanka.
England made a change to its squad for the Sri Lanka ODI series decider after Jos Buttler was ruled out with a hamstring injury. In women’s cricket, India A produced a remarkable chase of 363 against Australia A, while the County Championship entered a decisive stage with Warwickshire closing in on the title.
Here are the biggest cricket developments from September 26.
1. Virat Kohli Confirms 2027 ODI World Cup Will Be His Last for India
Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be his final World Cup appearance for India.
Kohli made the statement ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against West Indies, which begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. The veteran batter said his focus is on giving everything required to help India win the tournament.
The 2027 World Cup is scheduled to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kohli, who retired from T20Is and Test cricket earlier, now represents India only in the 50-over format.
He has scored 14,941 ODI runs and has 54 ODI centuries, placing him second on the all-time ODI run-scoring list behind Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli’s announcement gives additional context to his return for the West Indies series. He and Rohit Sharma are both back in India’s ODI setup, with the series forming part of the team’s preparation for the next World Cup.
The three-match series will therefore also provide an opportunity to assess how the experienced pair fits into India’s longer-term ODI plans.
2. Shubman Gill Cleared to Play First ODI Against West Indies
India captain Shubman Gill has been cleared to play the opening ODI against West Indies after his elbow injury scare in the nets.
Gill was struck on his right elbow by a rising delivery from Mohammed Siraj during India’s practice session in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. He received treatment for around 20 minutes before returning to the nets.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak subsequently said that Gill was fine and expected to open the innings.
The confirmation is significant because Gill is leading India in the three-match ODI series. The first match is scheduled for September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Gill’s availability means India can proceed with its planned leadership combination for the series, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also returning to the ODI side.
The team management will nevertheless continue to monitor the captain ahead of the opening game following Friday’s blow.
3. India to Face Afghanistan in Asian Games Quarter-Final
India’s men’s cricket team will face Afghanistan in the quarter-final of the 2026 Asian Games after the final Group A fixture between Nepal and Japan was abandoned because of rain.
Nepal had already defeated Afghanistan by five wickets on September 25. On September 26, Nepal scored 149/4 in a rain-reduced 15-over innings against Japan, but further rain prevented Japan from beginning its chase.
The washout gave Nepal the top position in Group A and eliminated hosts Japan from the competition. Afghanistan advanced as the second-placed team.
India will now meet Afghanistan in the quarter-final on September 28 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Nepal will face Sri Lanka in the other quarter-final involving the Group A teams.
The knockout line-up means India’s next Asian Games match will be against Afghanistan rather than a lower-ranked Group A opponent. The quarter-final is particularly important because the winner advances to the semi-finals.
4. Nepal-Japan Match Abandoned as Rain Ends Japan’s Asian Games Campaign
Rain played a decisive role in the final Group A match of the Asian Games men’s cricket competition as Japan’s contest against Nepal was abandoned.
Nepal, batting first after being asked to bat, scored 149/4 from 15 overs. Sundeep Jora made an unbeaten 57 off 32 balls, while Lokesh Bam scored 52 not out from 22 deliveries.
Nepal’s total put Japan under significant pressure, but heavy rain returned immediately after the innings and prevented Japan from batting.
Because Nepal had already beaten Afghanistan, the washout was enough for Nepal to finish first in Group A. Afghanistan advanced in second place, while Japan were eliminated.
The result also means Nepal will face Sri Lanka in the quarter-final, while Afghanistan will meet India.
5. Jos Buttler Ruled Out of England’s ODI Decider Against Sri Lanka
England have made a squad change ahead of the third ODI against Sri Lanka after Jos Buttler was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Dan Lawrence has replaced Buttler in England’s squad for the series decider at The Oval on September 27. The three-match series is currently level at 1-1.
Buttler sustained the injury during England’s second ODI defeat to Sri Lanka at Headingley. He scored 69 in that match but suffered the hamstring problem while running between the wickets.
The England-Sri Lanka series will now conclude without Buttler, with Lawrence brought into the squad as his replacement.
The decider carries added significance because Sri Lanka levelled the series by winning the second ODI by 16 runs after scoring 321/6. England had won the opening match by 89 runs.
The third ODI at The Oval will therefore determine the series winner.
6. India A Women Chase 363 to Beat Australia A and Win Series 2-1
India A Women produced one of the biggest batting performances of the day by chasing 363 against Australia A Women to win the third unofficial ODI by four wickets.
Australia A posted 362/9 in their 50 overs, with Charli Knott scoring 109 and Courtney Webb contributing 95. India A then completed the chase at 364/6 in 48.2 overs.
Minnu Mani was the key performer in the chase, finishing unbeaten on 88 from 56 balls. Niki Prasad scored 76 and also contributed four wickets, while Anushka Sharma made 58.
The victory gave India A a 2-1 series win. The chase was also reported as the second-highest successful chase in women’s 50-over cricket, behind Bengal’s 390-run chase against Haryana in the 2024 Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy.
India A’s result was particularly notable because the team recovered after losing three early wickets for 85 runs. The middle and lower order then maintained the required scoring rate to complete the chase with 10 balls remaining.
7. Morne Morkel Highlights Value of Kohli and Rohit’s Experience
India bowling coach Morne Morkel has spoken about the value of having Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma back in India’s ODI setup ahead of the West Indies series.
Morkel said India’s younger players can benefit from the experience and game knowledge of the two senior batters.
Kohli and Rohit are returning to India’s ODI side for the three-match series against West Indies, with Shubman Gill leading the team.
The first ODI will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, followed by matches in Guwahati and New Chandigarh.
The series is part of India’s preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. It also gives the team management an opportunity to assess the combination of experienced players and younger members of the squad.
Morkel’s comments came during India’s pre-match preparations in Thiruvananthapuram on September 26.
8. Warwickshire Move Closer to County Championship Title
Warwickshire entered the final round of the 2026 County Championship with a significant advantage at the top of Division One.
Before the final round, Warwickshire led the table with 203 points, ahead of Somerset on 192 and Nottinghamshire on 188. The title race therefore centred on Warwickshire’s final match against Leicestershire at Edgbaston.
Warwickshire posted 372 in their first innings, with Sam Hain making 142 and Ed Barnard scoring 88. Leicestershire were bowled out for 125 in their first innings.
Warwickshire’s position left them needing only to complete the match without a major setback to secure the title. Their strong first-innings performance put them in control of the decisive fixture.
The match is particularly important because Warwickshire are seeking their ninth Division One County Championship title.
9. Olly Stone Takes Five Wickets as Yorkshire Fight Back Against Nottinghamshire
Olly Stone produced a five-wicket haul for Nottinghamshire against Yorkshire in the final round of the County Championship.
Stone took 5/51 as Yorkshire were dismissed for 179 in their first innings at Trent Bridge. George Hill top-scored for Yorkshire with 58 after the visitors had slipped to 124/8.
Stone’s fifth wicket of the innings was also his 50th first-class wicket of the season. However, he subsequently left the field with a hamstring injury.
Nottinghamshire had scored 251 in their first innings and reached 55/3 in their second innings, holding a 127-run lead at the end of the second day.
Yorkshire still had an opportunity to fight back in the match, but Stone’s five-wicket performance was one of the individual highlights of the County Championship’s final round.
10. CSA T20 Challenge Begins Its First Full Round of Action
The CSA T20 Challenge moved into its opening weekend after two matches were played on September 25.
North West Dragons defeated Warriors by seven wickets after chasing 129, while Titans beat Western Province by five wickets after successfully chasing 187.
The competition features South Africa’s provincial and emerging sides and is scheduled to run through November 14.
The next match on September 26 is Northern Cape against Border at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley. The match is scheduled as the fourth game of the tournament.
The opening results have already provided the first points-table movement of the competition, while the tournament will continue with multiple matches across the coming weeks.
The CSA T20 Challenge is one of the major domestic T20 competitions on the South African cricket calendar and also provides opportunities for players competing for higher-level selection.
Other Important Cricket Updates
- Nepal’s progression as Group A winners confirmed a quarter-final against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games.
- Afghanistan will meet India in the Asian Games men’s quarter-final on September 28.
- The England-Sri Lanka ODI series decider will be played at The Oval on September 27 after the series was levelled at 1-1.
- India A Women will next play Australia A Women in a four-day match beginning September 29 in Mohali.
- Northern Cape will face Border in the next CSA T20 Challenge fixture on September 26.
- India’s first ODI against West Indies is scheduled for September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricketwebs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Legal Disclaimer: All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Cricketwebs does not promote betting or gambling.
