Cricket fans have a lot to follow at the moment. The IPL 2027 auction is already being discussed, while India are busy with their T20I series against Afghanistan. There is also a lot of talk around Abhishek Sharma after his aggressive batting performances.
At the same time, India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the Afghanistan T20I series and the 2026 Asian Games because of an injury. Yash Thakur has been named as his replacement.
India have also continued their strong run in T20I cricket and remain at the top of the ICC men’s team rankings.
Here is a look at the latest cricket updates, including the IPL 2027 auction date, retention list, India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and the latest ICC rankings.
IPL 2027 Auction Date: When Will the Auction Take Place?
The IPL 2027 auction date has not been officially announced by the BCCI yet. However, the mini auction is expected to take place in December 2026, before the start of the IPL 2027 season.
The previous IPL mini auction was held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, ahead of the 2026 season. If the current auction cycle continues, another mini auction is expected before IPL 2027.
Teams are already expected to start looking at their squads. Franchises will need to check which areas need improvement and which players could be released before the new season.
Overseas players will also be an important part of the planning. Teams will look at their overseas combinations and may also focus on young Indian players during the auction.
However, there is still no official confirmation about the exact IPL 2027 auction date or venue.
Fans may see different dates being shared on social media and other platforms. Those dates should not be treated as final unless they are confirmed by the BCCI or the IPL.
The exact auction schedule is expected to become clearer after the retention and trading process is completed.
IPL 2027 Retention List: When Will It Be Announced?
The IPL 2027 retention list has not been announced officially yet.
Before the mini auction, all franchises will have to decide which players they want to keep and which players they may release. These decisions will also affect how much money each team has available for the auction.
In the previous retention cycle, teams retained 173 players ahead of the 2026 mini auction. For IPL 2027, the final retention deadline and rules are still waiting for confirmation from the IPL Governing Council.
Because of this, reports about players being released, retained or traded should be treated carefully.
A player may be linked with another franchise in reports, but that does not mean the move has been confirmed. Fans should wait for an official announcement from the franchise or the IPL.
The retention period will be important for every team. Once teams know which players are staying, they can identify the positions where they need new players.
The trading window could also play a role before the auction. Some franchises may look to make changes through trades instead of waiting for the auction.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I: India Win by Seven Wickets
India continued their good run against Afghanistan by winning the second T20I by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 15, 2026.
Afghanistan batted first after being asked to do so and scored 159/8 in 20 overs.
India’s bowlers kept things under control during the Afghanistan innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy was among the players who made an impact with the ball.
India did not take much time in the chase. They reached 163/3 in only 14.5 overs and won the match by seven wickets.
With this victory, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Sanju Samson was one of the main highlights of India’s chase. He played an attacking innings of 57 runs from just 22 balls.
Abhishek Sharma also continued his attacking style and scored 39 runs from 19 balls.
India have now already won the series. The third T20I, scheduled for September 17, will give Afghanistan a chance to finish the series with a win.
India, meanwhile, will be looking to complete a clean sweep.
The BCCI schedule lists the three matches in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17.
Abhishek Sharma Continues His Aggressive Batting
Abhishek Sharma has once again become one of the biggest talking points in India’s T20I setup.
The Indian opener started the Afghanistan series with a brilliant innings in the first T20I. He scored 82 runs from only 32 balls and was named Player of the Match as India won by seven wickets.
It was another example of Abhishek’s aggressive batting. He attacked the bowlers from the start and helped India get off to a fast beginning.
He then made another quick contribution in the second T20I.
Abhishek scored 39 runs from 19 balls as India chased down Afghanistan’s 159-run total in just 14.5 overs.
After his performance in the first match, Abhishek said that he wanted to continue playing with an attacking mindset.
The ICC also reported on his approach and his plan to keep playing aggressively at the top of the Indian batting order.
His batting gives India another attacking option during the powerplay. He is comfortable taking risks and putting pressure on the bowlers early in the innings.
The Afghanistan series is therefore another good opportunity for Abhishek to build confidence before India’s upcoming international matches.
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Harshit Rana Injury Update: Yash Thakur Gets Replacement Call-Up
India have also received an injury setback during the Afghanistan series.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the Afghanistan T20I series and the 2026 Asian Games because of an injury.
According to the ICC, Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain while he was going through his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Rana was already recovering from an earlier injury. He had been included in India’s original Afghanistan squad subject to fitness clearance.
The latest injury means India will now have to wait for his recovery before bringing him back into action.
The BCCI has named Yash Thakur as Rana’s replacement in both India’s T20I and Asian Games squads.
For Yash Thakur, this is an important opportunity. The Vidarbha pacer now gets a chance to be around the Indian national team and make an impression.
India have several pace options, but Rana’s absence is still something the team management will have to consider while planning for the upcoming assignments.
ICC Rankings: India Remain No. 1 in T20I Cricket
The latest ICC rankings are also a major part of the current cricket news.
India remain at No. 1 in the men’s T20I team rankings. New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are among the teams following India in the rankings.
There has also been movement in the individual player rankings.
South African batters Connor Esterhuizen and Lhuan-dre Pretorius made big gains after their recent T20I performances.
Esterhuizen moved up 65 places to reach 25th position, while Pretorius climbed 61 places and reached 43rd.
Abhishek Sharma has also been one of the important names in the T20I batting rankings during 2026.
He had previously reached the No. 1 position in the T20I batting rankings. His recent performances against Afghanistan could have an effect when the next ranking update is released.
India’s continued strong performances have helped them stay at the top of the T20I team rankings.
India vs Afghanistan Series: What Happens Next?
India have already secured the three-match T20I series after winning the first two matches.
The opening match saw Abhishek Sharma score an impressive 82 off 32 balls. In the second match, Sanju Samson produced another attacking performance with 57 runs from 22 balls.
Afghanistan will now look to finish the series with a win in the third T20I.
For India, the final game is a chance to complete a 3-0 series win.
The third match could also give India’s team management an opportunity to look at different combinations and assess some players before the next international assignments.
India to Play Historic T20I Against Japan
There is also an important development coming up for Indian cricket.
The BCCI has confirmed that India will play Japan in a T20I in Sano. The match has been described as a historic meeting between the two men’s national teams.
For Japanese cricket, the match will be a major occasion. Playing against India will give the Japan team valuable international exposure.
For India, the game can also provide another opportunity for players in the wider T20 setup to get international experience.
The match will attract attention because India and Japan have very different levels of experience in international cricket.
Before that fixture, India’s immediate focus remains on Afghanistan.
India have already won the series, but the team will still want to finish the three-match contest strongly.
IPL 2027 and Team India: What Should Fans Watch Next?
The next few weeks could bring several important updates in both IPL and international cricket.
For IPL 2027, fans will be waiting for the official retention deadline, retained players, released players and possible trade activity.
The auction venue and the official IPL 2027 auction date will also be closely watched.
At the moment, there is no official confirmation of the exact auction date or final retention list. So, fans should be careful when reading rumours or unconfirmed reports about IPL 2027.
The mini auction is expected to give teams a chance to fill the gaps in their squads. Franchises could look for overseas players, young Indian talent and replacements for players who are released.
For Team India, the Afghanistan T20I series remains the main focus right now.
Abhishek Sharma’s batting will continue to attract attention after his 82 off 32 balls in the first T20I and 39 off 19 balls in the second match.
Sanju Samson’s 57 off 22 balls has also added to the excitement around India’s batting.
Harshit Rana’s injury is another point to watch. With Yash Thakur now named as his replacement, India’s pace-bowling combination could see some changes in the coming matches.
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Key Updates at a Glance
| Update | Latest Information |
|---|---|
| IPL 2027 Auction | Expected in December 2026 |
| IPL 2027 Auction Date | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Auction Venue | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Retention List | Not announced yet |
| India vs Afghanistan 2nd T20I | India won by 7 wickets |
| Series Result | India lead 2-0 |
| Sanju Samson | 57 off 22 balls |
| Abhishek Sharma, 2nd T20I | 39 off 19 balls |
| Abhishek Sharma, 1st T20I | 82 off 32 balls |
| Harshit Rana | Ruled out due to injury |
| Yash Thakur | Named as replacement |
| ICC Men’s T20I Ranking | India No. 1 |
| India vs Japan | Historic T20I in Sano |
Conclusion
There are plenty of cricket stories for fans to follow right now.
The IPL 2027 auction date is one of the biggest topics, but the BCCI has not announced the final date or venue yet. December 2026 is expected to be the window for the mini auction, but fans will have to wait for the official announcement.
The IPL 2027 retention list is also still pending. Teams will first need to decide which players they want to keep and which players could be released or traded.
In international cricket, India have already taken a 2-0 lead against Afghanistan. Abhishek Sharma has continued his attacking batting, while Sanju Samson’s 57 off 22 balls was another major highlight in the second T20I.
Harshit Rana’s injury has forced India to make a change, with Yash Thakur coming into the squad as his replacement.
India also remain No. 1 in the ICC men’s T20I team rankings.
With the Afghanistan series, the upcoming Japan T20I and the IPL 2027 auction process all in focus, there is plenty happening around Indian cricket. For IPL fans, the next major updates will be the retention list, player trades and the official confirmation of the IPL 2027 auction date.