Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir said he believes it is always the "captain's team". Terming captain Rohit Sharma as the 'General' of the team, Gambhir said, "There will be times when...we'll have disagreements on a lot of things. But then ultimately the final call will...be [Rohit's]." He added Rohit has got a lot of respect in the dressing room.

Final call will be Rohit's, he is 'General' of the team: Gambhir

Talking about MS Dhoni's IPL future, former India and CSK batter Suresh Raina said that the former CSK captain wants to play IPL 2025. "He should play. Every nation wants to see him. He scored a lot of runs last year," Raina said. Dhoni scored 161 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 220.55 in IPL 2024.

MS Dhoni wants to play IPL 2025, every nation wants to see him play: Suresh Raina

Afghanistan defeated South Africa by six wickets in the first ODI in Sharjah on Wednesday. This is the first time in international cricket history that Afghanistan have defeated South Africa. Afghanistan dismissed South Africa for 106 runs in 33.3 overs and chased down the target in 26 overs. Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took four wickets in the match.

Afghanistan beat South Africa in international cricket for the first time in history

Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian cricketer, has been declared fit by the NCA to play in the final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024 on September 19. With that, Suryakumar Yadav, who was earlier withdrawn from the tournament as a precautionary measure to take care of his thumb injury, will be replacing Sarafaz Khan in the India B squad.

Suryakumar Yadav declared fit to play final round of Duleep Trophy

Ahead of the first Test against India in Chennai, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said they will do what's "needed to win a match". "We will worry about the result in the final session of the fifth day. Before that, we will try to play according to our strengths," he added. Najmul stated the team isn't thinking about the outcome.

Will worry about result in final session of Day 5 vs India: Shanto

On Wednesday, September 18, AS Roma sacked their manager Daniele de Rossi just after four matches into the new Serie A season, winning none of it. The decision from the Italian club came after Daniele de Rossi’s team drew their previous Serie A match against Genoa 1-1 on the weekend, finding themselves in 16th place in the Serie A.

AS Roma sack Daniele de Rossi after four matches into new season

Essex avoided a points penalty after admitting systemic use of racist language and conduct, but were fined £100,000 by the Cricket Discipline Commission. A 2021 report had revealed that referring to players' racial and religious backgrounds was "entirely normalised and tolerated" in the club's dressing room from the 1990s to 2010s. ECB CEO Richard Gould welcomed the CDC's decision. 

Essex fined £100,000 for 'systemic use of racist language'

Kusal Mendis fell in bizarre circumstances, smashing a pull shot into short leg, only for midwicket to take the catch on the rebound. After being demoted to No.7 to accommodate Kamindu Mendis at No. 5, Kusal responded with a half-century, helping Sri Lanka to recover against New Zealand alongside Kamindu. The hosts ended the day on 302-7.

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis falls to freak rebound dismissal vs NZ

On Wednesday, September 18, Allah Ghazanfar, the Afghanistan spin bowler, picked up three wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Afghan teenager took the wickets of middle order batters Kyle Verreynne, Jason Smith, and Wiaan Mulder, to put South Africa firmly on the backfoot.

Who is Afghanistan's teen ODI star Allah Ghazanfar?

Rain might play spoilsport on the first-two days with 46% chances of showers in Chennai during the 1st Test between India and Bangladesh. The conditions on Thursday and Friday will remain cloudy while the Chepauk pitch is expected to keep low and assist the spinners by offering turn from Day 1. Bangladesh haven't won a Test vs India.