Today’s Top 10 Cricket News – 29th September 2026: Asian Games, Sree Charani, CSK, Latest Updates
Today’s Top 10 Cricket News is led by major developments from the Asian Games, women’s cricket, India’s domestic pathway and franchise cricket. Persistent rain in Nagoya forced both men’s Asian Games quarter-finals scheduled for September 29 to be abandoned, sending Sri Lanka and Bangladesh into the semi-finals without a ball being bowled.
India also featured prominently in the latest ICC Women’s T20I rankings, where left-arm spinner Sree Charani set an all-time record with 817 rating points. Meanwhile, former India pacer Mohit Sharma is set to join Chennai Super Kings as their bowling coach for the next IPL season.
Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa suffered further injury setbacks ahead of the final match, while the UAE announced its squad for the upcoming Cricket World Cup League 2 assignment in the USA.
The day also brought significant developments from India’s Under-19 cricket and the women’s domestic game. Here are the 10 major cricket stories from September 29.
1. Sri Lanka Reach Asian Games Semi-Finals After Nepal Quarter-Final Is Washed Out
Sri Lanka advanced to the men’s cricket semi-finals at the 2026 Asian Games after their quarter-final against Nepal was abandoned because of persistent rain in Nisshin, Japan.
The match at Korogi Sports Park could not even reach the toss. Continuous rain and the wet outfield prevented any possibility of a shortened contest.
Under the Asian Games playing conditions, the higher-ranked team progresses if a knockout match cannot be played. Sri Lanka, ranked ninth in the ICC T20I rankings, therefore advanced ahead of Nepal, who were ranked 14th.
The result ended Nepal’s Asian Games campaign despite the team entering the knockout stage after a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the group phase.
Sri Lanka will now face defending champions India in the semi-final on October 1.
The washout was the third consecutive men’s Asian Games cricket quarter-final to be abandoned without a ball being bowled, highlighting the continuing impact of rain on the tournament.
2. Bangladesh Advance to Asian Games Semi-Finals After Malaysia Match Is Abandoned
Bangladesh also progressed to the Asian Games men’s cricket semi-finals without playing a ball after their quarter-final against Malaysia was washed out.
The match was scheduled at Korogi Sports Park on September 29, but persistent rain again prevented the contest from starting. The Asian Games organisers officially confirmed the abandonment of both scheduled cricket matches for the day because of weather.
Bangladesh advanced because of their higher seeding. Malaysia’s campaign therefore ended at the quarter-final stage without the team getting an opportunity to challenge Bangladesh on the field.
The result completed the men’s semi-final line-up. Bangladesh will meet Pakistan on October 1, while India will play Sri Lanka in the other semi-final.
The unusual knockout stage has been heavily affected by weather, with the quarter-finals producing no completed matches. Pakistan and India had already progressed from their respective quarter-finals on the previous day.
The tournament now moves towards the semi-finals, with the organisers hoping improved conditions allow the remaining matches to be played.
3. Sree Charani Sets All-Time ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings Record
India spinner Sree Charani has created a new record in the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings.
Charani reached 817 rating points in the latest rankings update, the highest rating ever achieved by a women’s T20I bowler. She surpassed the previous record of 806 points held by Australia’s Megan Schutt since November 2018.
The left-arm spinner is already ranked No. 1 in women’s T20I bowling and has been a key contributor to India’s recent success.
She took 12 wickets during India’s Women’s Asia Cup campaign, including 4/20 in the final against Sri Lanka. India subsequently won the women’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs.
Charani also recorded 4/10 against Japan during the Asian Games.
Her latest ranking milestone adds another significant achievement to a period in which she has played an important role for India across major T20I competitions.
4. Mohit Sharma Set to Join Chennai Super Kings as Bowling Coach
Former India pacer Mohit Sharma is set to join Chennai Super Kings as their bowling coach for the next IPL season.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that Sharma will join the support staff after being recommended by head coach Zaheer Khan. He will replace Eric Simmons in the bowling-coach role.
Sharma has previously represented CSK during two separate stints and played four seasons for the franchise. He has also represented Gujarat Titans, where he took 41 wickets across two seasons.
The 38-year-old retired from professional cricket in December 2025 after a career that included 26 ODIs and eight T20Is for India.
His IPL career includes 134 wickets from 120 matches, while his most productive IPL season came in 2014 when he won the Purple Cap after taking 23 wickets for CSK.
The appointment brings Sharma back into a franchise environment where he previously enjoyed considerable success as a player.
5. Australia Suffer More Injury Problems Ahead of South Africa ODI
Australia have suffered two further injury setbacks ahead of the third and final ODI against South Africa.
Nathan Ellis has been ruled out after suffering a left-side strain during the second ODI in Johannesburg. Joel Davies has also been ruled out after suffering a right hamstring strain while fielding in the same match.
Jack Edwards, who took a maiden five-wicket haul in the second ODI, is also being monitored after developing a hamstring concern.
Australia have already lost Billy Stanlake to a side strain during their earlier ODI series in Zimbabwe.
The injuries leave Australia with further selection concerns ahead of the final ODI against South Africa at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on September 30.
South Africa currently lead the three-match series 2-0 after victories in Durban and Johannesburg.
The latest injuries add to Australia’s workload-management and availability concerns with a Test series against South Africa also scheduled to follow the ODI leg.
6. UAE Announce 15-Player Squad for Cricket World Cup League 2 Tour
The United Arab Emirates have announced a 15-player squad for their upcoming Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in the USA.
Harpreet Singh will captain the UAE side, while 17-year-old batter Ayaan Misbah and left-arm spinner Awais Ali Shah have received their first senior call-ups.
All-rounder Basil Hameed has also returned to the squad after last playing an ODI for UAE in November 2024.
The tri-series will involve UAE, Namibia and the USA and will be played from October 3 to October 13 at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
The assignment is important for UAE’s 2027 Cricket World Cup qualification hopes. The team currently sits eighth in the eight-team League 2 table with eight wins from 28 matches.
Even if UAE finish outside the top four, there remains a route towards the global event through the Qualifier Play-off pathway.
The squad announcement therefore represents an important step in UAE’s remaining qualification campaign.
7. Lakshya Raichandani’s Double Century Puts India U19 in Strong Position
India Under-19 batter Lakshya Raichandani’s unbeaten double century has placed the hosts in a commanding position against Australia Under-19 in the first Youth Test in Rajkot.
Raichandani scored an unbeaten 210 from 256 balls, including 20 fours and four sixes. His innings helped India Under-19 reach 430/8 after Australia were dismissed for 217.
The 17-year-old shared a major partnership with captain Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan and later added an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand with Mohit Ulva.
India ended the second day with a 213-run first-innings lead.
Raichandani had already impressed during the preceding Youth ODI series against Australia, including a century in the third ODI.
His double century is now the standout individual performance of India’s ongoing Youth Test series and puts the hosts in a strong position heading into the later stages of the match.
8. WPL 2027 Retentions and Releases Set Up Major Auction
The WPL 2027 auction picture has taken shape after all five franchises finalised their retention and release lists.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru released Australian batter Grace Harris along with Linsey Smith, D Hemalatha and Gautami Naik. RCB retained 13 players, including Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry.
Perry, who was unavailable for the 2026 season, has made herself available for the upcoming edition.
UP Warriorz released nine players, including Deandra Dottin and Kiran Navgire, while Delhi Capitals released six players including Alana King. Mumbai Indians released six players, including G Kamalini and Saika Ishaque.
The 2027 WPL auction is scheduled for October 28 in Kochi. A total of 27 slots, including seven overseas slots, remain available across the five franchises.
The retention decisions provide the first major indication of how the franchises are shaping their squads for the fifth WPL season.
9. Ed Joyce Returns to Ireland Men’s Setup as High Performance Batting Coach
Former Ireland international Ed Joyce has returned to Cricket Ireland as the men’s High Performance Batting Coach.
Joyce will work with Ireland’s senior men’s team as well as the male talent pathway. He begins the role immediately.
The former batter represented Ireland 151 times and scored 5,552 international runs at an average of 40.82, including 10 centuries and 29 half-centuries. He also played 19 matches for England.
Joyce previously spent nearly six years as head coach of Ireland Women before stepping down from that position in February 2025.
His return moves him into a new role within the men’s programme, where he will focus on batting development and the wider high-performance pathway.
The appointment comes ahead of Ireland’s preparations for future international assignments, including the 2027 ODI World Cup qualification cycle.
10. Women’s Domestic Cricket Begins New WNCL Season in Australia
Australia’s 2026-27 Women’s National Cricket League began with a new season of domestic 50-over cricket.
The opening round includes a major rematch between New South Wales Breakers and reigning champions Queensland Fire. NSW entered the campaign after finishing top of the previous league stage before losing the rain-affected final to Queensland.
The 2026-27 WNCL season runs from September 29, 2026 through March 20, 2027.
September 29’s schedule also includes Victoria Women against South Australia Women at Junction Oval and Western Australia Women against Tasmania Women at the WACA Ground.
The competition remains an important pathway for Australia’s domestic women’s players and provides regular 50-over cricket ahead of the international season.
The opening round therefore marks the start of another long WNCL campaign, with several established international players involved across the teams.
Other Important Cricket Updates
- India A Women and Australia A Women have begun a four-day unofficial Test at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
- India A and Australia A have started their second unofficial Test in Puducherry, with the match scheduled from September 29 to October 2.
- The Asian Games men’s cricket semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, with India facing Sri Lanka and Pakistan meeting Bangladesh.
- South Africa and Australia will play the third ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, on September 30, with South Africa leading 2-0.
- India and West Indies will meet in the second ODI at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on September 30.
- Cricket Ireland has brought Ed Joyce back into its men’s coaching setup with immediate effect.
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