Vaibhav Sooriyavanshi is enjoying one of the most extraordinary seasons not just of the IPL, not just of T20, and not just of cricket but of all sport and all time. He produced his most extraordinary effort of this extraordinary season in the Eliminator, narrowly missing out on one of the IPL’s most coveted records but putting Rajasthan Royals (RR) on course for what turned out to be a thumping win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Sooryavanshi, 15, swept past numerous records over the course of his innings – among them the most sixes by any batter in a T20 tournament – and he came within one shot of breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century (30 balls) only to top-edge an attempted uppercut to deep third to fall for 97 off 29 balls.

RR’s innings fell away after that innings and a 21-ball 50 from Dhruv Jurel, and they ended up seven short of the 250 that had at one stage seemed a formality. But it still proved more than sufficient thanks to yet another impactful new-ball burst from Jofra Archer. His spell against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday had been key to RR making the playoffs, and he followed up with three wickets in three powerplay overs to hold back a SRH top order that began the chase with an ominous flurry of boundaries.

A new draft peace proposal says Iran would fully restore commercial shipping through the Strait ⁠of Hormuz to ⁠pre-war levels within 30 days while the ⁠US ⁠would withdraw ⁠military forces from Iran’s vicinity and lift its ‌naval blockade.

The Revolutionary Guard says a renewed war with the United States is unlikely because of the “enemy’s weakness” but vows to make Iran’s southern territory a “graveyard for aggressors”.

[Aljazeera]

With the Women’s T20 World Cup looming into view, this three-match series across the green swards of Chelmsford, Bristol and Taunton shapes as ideal preparation for two teams with designs on the trophy.

For England, it is vital that they can hone their plans and approach – in particular, role definition – after the best part of a year without playing the format (before they took on New Zealand in Derby last week, their previous T20I had been against India in July 2025). That planning has been further hampered by the absence of captain Nat Sciver Brunt  through injury, though they overcame that disadvantage to see off New Zealand by a 2-1 scoreline.

High on England’s list of wants will be time in the middle for a new-look opening pair of Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey, as well as further opportunities for Dani Gibson  and Freya Kemp to establish their credentials as all-round options after injury. Three blemish-free performances in the field would also go down nicely.

India, the reigning 50-over world champions, won a historic first T20I series on these shores last summer and – in contrast to England – have been in regular action since, although they followed up victory in Australia at the start of the year with an unexpected 4-1 reversal on their most-recent tour, to South Africa in April.

Injuries to key allrounders have changed the balance of their side slightly, but they remain able to call on a formidable group of players as they seek to follow Australia in holding the women’s ODI and T20I titles at the same time. All but three of the squad have the experience of playing T20Is in England, while the new faces include uncapped seamer Nandani Sharma, who finished as joint-leading wicket-taker at the most-recent WPL.

Sophie Ecclestone ought to be one of England’s trump cards as they target a home World Cup win. Previously the No. 1-ranked bowler in women’s T20Is (she currently sits third), Ecclestone is closing in on becoming only the fourth woman to 150 wickets in the format. But she has made a quiet start to England’s international season, with one wicket in three outings against New Zealand (two T20Is, one ODI), which included getting thumped for 18 in an over by Sophie Devine in Derby. Figures of 1 for 11 from four suffocating overs in Hove on Monday hinted at a return to her best.

Talking of totemic forces, Smriti Mandhana once again shapes as key to India’s challenge. Still only 29, but already the second-highest run-scorer of all time in the format – Mandhana is currently 427 runs behind the soon-to-be-retired Suzies Bates – she will be hoping to replicate last year’s English experience, when she was the leading run-scorer on either side across five T20Is, which included notching a maiden T20I hundred at Trent Bridge. She only made 62 runs in three innings in South Africa, but topped the run charts at the WPL earlier in the year and has lots of good memories of touring in this part of the world.

England will welcome back Dani Wyatt Hodge from parental leave, although she won’t be available for the first T20I; Charis Pavely has been released to play for Warwickshire, but Maia Bouchier will remain with the squad. Lauren Filer will also be allowed to leave for Durham’s Blast game at The Oval on Wednesday, but will rejoin England for the rest of the series. Tilly Corteen-Coleman, the 18-year-old slow left-armer, awaits her debut in this format.

Amanjot Kaur was one of the stars of India’s victory in England last year but misses this tour with a back injury – as does her understudy Kashvee Gautam (knee). The top six is pretty much locked in, although Bharti Fulmali could provide an option if India want to pack the batting. Radha Yadav is also back in contention, having last played a T20I on the England tour, and could add all-round depth.

England (probable): Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Amy Jones (wk), Dani Gibson,  Charlie Dean (capt), Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lindsey Smith

India (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil/Bharti Fulmali, Arundhati Reddy,  Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani

[Cricinfo]