DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:47:05 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/cricket/robinson-sears-among-9-intl-players-named-in-nz-a-squads-for-sl-tour-667325.html Christchurch March 31 Nine players with international experience have been named across the New Zealand A NZ A squads to tour Sri Lanka later this month The tour comprises three 50over matches and two fourday matches across Galle and Hambantota starting April 5 Eight BlackCaps feature in the NZ A 50over squad in Muhammad Abbas Adithya Ashok Kristian Clarke Mitch Hay Ben Lister Rhys Mariu Ben Sears and Tim Robinson Abbas Ashok Clarke and Sears will depart the A tour to join the ODI squad in Bangladesh with Robinson also departing after the first redball game to join the BlackCaps T20I squad The redball squad will be bolstered by four pacebowlers in New Zealands latest Test debutant Michael Rae Otagoâs Jarrod McKay and Canterburyâs Fraser Sheat along with allrounders Auckland Acesâ RyanâHarrison and Wellington Firebirdsâ Peter Younghusband Maiden NZ A callups have been earned by Harrison McKay Sheat and Younghusband as well as Auckland Acesâ Rohit Gulati after impressive performances for their provinces throughout the season Selection Manager Gavin Larsen said it was exciting to reward players with opportunities to continue their development âBeing able to offer some of our best performing domestic players opportunities to work on their game overseas is crucial to the success of ourâhighâperformanceâprogramme âWeâve seen some incredible successes during the summer with series wins against England the West Indies India away and South Africa all while relying heavily on our stocks in our domestic system he saidThe 50Over squad depart to Sri Lanka on Friday 3 April followed by the fourday squad members on 10 April SquadsNZ A to Sri Lanka 50over Muhammad Abbas Adithya Ashok Matthew Boyle Max Chu Kristian Clarke Rohit Gulati Mitch Hay Curtis Heaphy Simon Keene Ben Lister Rhys Mariu Dale Phillips Tim Pringle Tim Robinson Ben SearsNZ A to Sri Lanka fourday Matthew Boyle Max Chu Rohit Gulati Ryan Harrison Mitch Hay Curtis Heaphy Simon Keene Ben Lister Rhys Mariu Jarrod McKay Dale Phillips Tim Pringle Michael Rae Tim Robinson Fraser Sheat Peter Younghusband IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/robinson-sears-among-9-intl-players-named-in-nz-a-squads-for-sl-tour-667325.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/psl-ball-tampering-scandal-rocks-lahore-karachi-clash-shaheen-fumbles-for-answers-667176.html New Delhi March 30 In another controversial turn of events the Pakistan Super League 2026 match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings was rocked by a balltampering scandal Lahore skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi appeared to struggle for answers when questioned about the incident during the postmatch presentation ceremony The incident took place at the start of the last over of the Kings chase when onfield umpire Faisal Afridi took the ball from Haris Rauf for inspection after it had exchanged hands between Shaheen Shah Afridi and FakharFaisal indulged in a lengthy discussion with Sharfuddoula the other onfield umpire and the two decided to bring in a replacement ball deeming it to have been tampered withDuring the postmatch presentation Pakistan great Ramiz Raja questioned Afridi about the events leading up to the final over The Lahore skipper looked visibly unsettled and struggled to provide a clear explanationI dont know about this and well see if its there in the camera and discuss what it is Actually five runs taken and we cant do anything Shaheen said at the postmatch presentationRamiz however continued to probe Shaheen on the balltampering allegations You have to ask the umpires why they changed the ball When we asked them why they changed the ball they told us to go away When they were making the decision the umpires requested us even the captain to return to our fielding positions he explainedTo this Afridi replied I can only speak about myself There was never any attempt on my part to change the condition of the ball or even to try All I remember is that when I was trying to dry the ball and make it shine the umpires asked us not to dry it under the shirt Who they are accusing unless we dont see the proof I think its a big decision I have not been called for an enquiryAs a result of the incident Kings were awarded five penalty runs and their batters Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan were allowed to select the replacement ballPCB further said that Fakhar Zaman has been charged with a levelIII offence which carries a minimum ban of one match and a maximum of two for a first violation in a PSL season Match referee Roshan Mahanama will conduct a hearing in the next two days and Fakhar will contest the charge IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/psl-ball-tampering-scandal-rocks-lahore-karachi-clash-shaheen-fumbles-for-answers-667176.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/csk-players-dont-roam-as-5-time-champions-happy-to-be-a-part-of-that-culture-samson-667201.html New Delhi March 30 Sanju Samson is stepping into unfamiliar territory this IPL season but the transition to the Chennai Super Kings already appears to have settled him On the eve of their 2026 campaign opener against his former side the Rajasthan Royals Samson offered an unfiltered glimpse into his early days with the fivetime champions touching on culture transition and what lies ahead âFeels really good feels really excited to be a part of a champion franchise Lots to learn lots to observe and really excited really very calm I think this is something which I relate to very much I think I am a very chilledout person very calm but when it comes to business I think we give our everythingâ he said in a video shared by the franchiseFor Samson the appeal lies not in the weight of CSKâs legacy but in how lightly it is worn Despite the franchiseâs success he pointed to a dressing room environment that mirrors his own temperament calm composed and quietly focusedâI can see in the dressing room people are calm people are chilled out They dont roam around as 5time IPL champions I think they dont roam around as the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen But thats what I really like to be a part of and I am very happy that I am part of that kind of culture And still early days still looking forward to a lot of exciting thingsâ he saidHe also hinted at a broader transition underway within the squad suggesting that the current phase is part of a carefully thoughtout rebuild as he said âI think I would like to call it very well planned actually So yeah very excited to play RR looking forward to itâThe immediate test however comes against familiar opposition Facing Rajasthan Royals straight away adds an emotional subplot and Samson expects the crowd dynamic particularly in Guwahati to once again tilt heavily in CSKâs favourâI think last time when we played RR vs CSK in Guwahati it didnt feel like an RR home game It was yellow all over the stadium So thats what we can expect again this time And also I think the passion of the crowds â I think they bring up a lot of energy I think very passionate crowds in Guwahati are what I expect And I think hopefully the wicket also plays well and we get a good game of cricketâ he mentionedBeyond the occasion Samson shed light on the squad composition emphasising the influx of young attacking talent brought in through the auction stating âOur management and all the staff including Stephen and a lot of people have done really great work for the auction We have picked up some really exciting talents from the auction âCSK is definitely in a building phase and thats what our recruitment has also been So the number definitely the age is definitely much less But in the amount of sixes these guys are hitting they dont actually look like youngsters anymore So I think thats what the character of the mindset is its required in this format and in this hype Just be free and go out there and express yourself with a lot of fearlessness I think thats what youngsters bring in and we all are very excited to play with themâWhile CSKâs identity has long been associated with experience Samsonâs remarks point toward a shift one that blends youth with an aggressive fearless approach suited to the modern T20 game Yet as much as the cricketing aspects matter Samson framed the IPL as something larger particularly for CSKâs expansive fanbaseâI think we all are ready for another festival season So I dont have to say that we are going to do this or we are going to do that I think definitely two months of IPL cricket for Chennai fans all over the world Its a great festival So let us all come together and enjoy a great festival season of cricket And we will try our best to put some smiles on your faces by winning a few gamesâ he concludedCSK are set to face RR on Monday in the third match of the tournament in Guwahati IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/csk-players-dont-roam-as-5-time-champions-happy-to-be-a-part-of-that-culture-samson-667201.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-hosts-fielding-coaches-workshop-at-coe-laxman-dilip-address-participants--667071.html New Delhi March 29 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI said on Sunday that it conducted a comprehensive fielding coaches workshop at its Centre of Excellence CoE facility in Bengaluru The programme combined inclass sessions and onfield modules offering participation coaches a holistic view of modern fielding techniques from both technical and tactical aspectsâHere is a round up from the Fielding Coaches Workshop conducted at the BCCI CoE The sessions included inclass and onfield modules The participants had the opportunity to upskill themselves by hearing from some of the top fielding professionals who delivered the modulesâ wrote the BCCI on its âXâ account The BCCI also posted pictures of head of cricket VVS Laxman current India menâs team fielding coach T Dilip womenâs side fielding coach Munish Bali and U19 Menâs World Cup winning team fielding coach Shubhadeep Ghosh addressing the participants in the workshop Earlier this month former India leftarm pacer Zaheer Khan and offspinner Harbhajan Singh had conducted specialist camps at the CoE The threeday Zaheerled highperformance camp held at the start of March was for fast bowlers who featured at India A and U19 levels and was centered around readiness to play redball cricketThe Harbhajanled camp which happened last week was all about sharpening skills and sharing tactical insights with the pool of offspinners in the country Mumbaiâs offspin allrounder Tanush Kotian his teammate Himanshu Singh and Madhya Pradesh offspinner Saransh Jain were a part of the specialized camp led by Harbhajan Zaheer was part of the Indian team winning the 2002 Champions Trophy jointly with Sri Lanka and the 2011 ODI World Cup where he was also the joint highest wickettaker Harbhajan meanwhile was a member of the Indian team winning the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-hosts-fielding-coaches-workshop-at-coe-laxman-dilip-address-participants--667071.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/debutante-reyneke-hits-last-ball-six-to-seal-thrilling-odi-win-for-sa-over-nz-667074.html Christchurch March 29 Kayla Reyneke struck a lastball six on her ODI debut to seal a dramatic twowicket victory for South Africa over New Zealand in the series opener at the Hagley Oval on Sunday Player of the Match Kayla finished unbeaten on 42 off 32 balls and guided the Proteas home after Ayabonga Khakaâs careerbest 656 had restricted the hosts to 268 Annerie Dercksen topscored with 72 from 93 deliveries while Sune Luus added 53 which kept the chase alive before Kayla took them home New Zealand asked to bat first under overcast skies were being led to safety by Georgia Plimmer 28 and Amelia Kerr 36 before Khaka and Chloe Tryon struck in quick succession to reduce the home side to 1124 after 28 overs Maddy Green anchored the innings with her 10th halfcentury sharing an 80run stand with Izzy Gaze 37 and later adding 92 runs with Jess Kerr 24 in the final overs Khaka returned to claim four late wickets as the White Ferns were bowled out in the 50th overSouth Africaâs reply faltered early as Jess Kerr and Bree Illing removed Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt to leave the visitors at 302 in six overs Annerie and Sune rebuilt with a 123run partnership but New Zealand hit back through Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr who dismissed the set batters in successive overs along with Sinalo Jafta and Chloe falling cheaplyAt 1906 the chase looked in trouble but Nadine de Klerk 39 combined with Kayla to add 48 runs before Rosemary Mairâs late strikes left the match finely poised With 22 needed off the final 13 balls Kayla along with Tumi Sekhukhune six not out cleared the ropes twice in the last over including on the final delivery to hand South Africa a thrilling win and a 10 lead in the threegame seriesBrief Scores New Zealand 268 Maddy Green 85 Izzy Gaze 37 Ayabonga Khaka 656 lost to South Africa 2698 Annerie Dercksen 72 Sune Luus 53 Amelia Kerr 231 by two wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/debutante-reyneke-hits-last-ball-six-to-seal-thrilling-odi-win-for-sa-over-nz-667074.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ben-stokes-return-to-cricket-delayed-further-after-cheekbone-injury-surgery-666958.html New Delhi March 28 England captain Ben Stokes has confirmed that his return to competitive cricket has been delayed until May due to complications from a cheekbone injury The 34yearold allrounder who was hit by a ball during a training session with Durhamâs academy players in early February underwent surgery a week later to repair the fractured cheekbone Stokes had originally intended to return during Durhamâs County Championship opening game against Kent this Friday However the club is still waiting for final medical approval from specialists Durhams head coach Ryan Campbell suggested that Stokes probably wont play until the matches against Worcestershire on May 8 and then against Kent at Beckenham on May 15 If Stokes is unable to return before then those games could represent his only redball action before Englands first Test of the summer against New Zealand which begins on June 4Campbell described the injury as a close call âThe incident could have been horrific So so much worse than what you think A couple of centimetres a different way it hits him in the eye and it could have been different The ball was hit so hard We are just lucky he got away with itâ he was quoted by the BBCStokes has not played since Englands disappointing Ashes campaign during which he was hindered by an adductor injury that he sustained in the penultimate Test in Sydney Despite the series loss Stokes remains Englandâs captain and both coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key have retained their positionsReflecting on his leadership Stokes described the last few months as âthe hardest periodâ of his tenure but voiced confidence in the current coaching regime backing them to steer the team forwardâHe has been training so hard to be ready He has a lot to prove You dont have to be a rocket scientist to know the Ashes didnt go so well and he is a proud man who wants England to be the best team in the world He as a professional is working at getting it right and ready to goâ he added In addition to his redball duties Stokes has expressed his intention to play in this summers OneDay Cup for Durham While the competition runs concurrently with The Hundredâwhere county sides typically field secondstring playersâStokes decision to opt out of the T20 tournament and his absence from Englands whiteball squad means that the OneDay Cup will offer him a chance to play limitedovers cricket between the Test seriesStokes has not participated in 50over cricket since Englands 2023 World Cup campaign in India and has not featured in the OneDay Cup for Durham since 2014 Following the conclusion of the New Zealand Test series in late June England will take on Pakistan in a threematch Test series starting on August 19 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ben-stokes-return-to-cricket-delayed-further-after-cheekbone-injury-surgery-666958.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/focus-will-be-on-virat-aakash-chopra-backs-kohli-for-stellar-ipl-season-over-dhoni-and-rohit-666798.html New Delhi March 27 Former India opener Aakash Chopra has backed Virat Kohli to be the standout performer in IPL 2026 ahead of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma citing the righthanded batterâs fitness and consistency as decisive factors Kohli played a pivotal role in RCBs titlewinning campaign last year scoring 657 runs at a strike rate of 14471 and an average of 5475 including eight fifties âThe focus will be on Virat Kohli again because the guy is so fit Yes there are gaps between series and he felt the pinch of those gaps in Australia but once he started scoring runs he found a way to be super consistent for monthsâSo the kind of fitness that he has achieved over a period of time makes him the best suited also because he is an opener So he has more time to work himself into form The same is true for Rohit Sharma as well but between the two of them I still feel Virat Kohli has it a little easier just because of himself That is the price he has to pay for the kind of fitness and legacy he has builtâ said Chopra on JioStarHe also explained why Dhoni may find it tough to hit the ground running in IPL 2026 âIt is a little difficult for Dhoni as well because he is on the wrong side of 40 For him to not play anything for 10 months turn up for the IPL and switch on and also play at a number where he gets only 1012 balls is the toughest thing to do Then there are also 20 overs of keeping so his job is perhaps the toughestâChopra further noted that Rohit is expected to continue his aggressive approach at the top of the order and set the tone for other Mumbai Indians batters to get going âWhen you are part of the batting order that the Mumbai Indians have it is mandatory to set the tone for Rohit Sharma Rohit does want to bat a certain way He has already made his opinion very publicBut if you are part of a setup where there is Quinton de Kock at the other end followed by Tilak Surya Hardik Will Jacks or Sherfane Rutherford and then Naman Dhir what else is the option You need to maximise the 20 overs which basically means maximising the first six oversSo yes Rohit would be expected to bat the same way see the ball hit the ball that is what I am thinking for the entire Mumbai Indians setup unless the pitch is asking you to play a slightly different brand of cricket he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/focus-will-be-on-virat-aakash-chopra-backs-kohli-for-stellar-ipl-season-over-dhoni-and-rohit-666798.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nicola-carey-aims-for-womens-t20-wc-spot-after-return-to-australian-set-up-666806.html St Kitts March 27 Australiaâs seambowling allrounder Nicola Carey is aiming to seal a place in the squad for the 2026 ICC Womenâs T20 World Cup to be played in England from June 12 to July 5 after making a return to the national side on the ongoing tour of West Indies Nicola played key roles in Australiaâs triumphs at the 2020 T20 World Cup and 2022 ODI World Cup before turning down a Cricket Australia CA contract due to lack of game time Three years after that Nicola was recalled during the recent home series against India and was retained for the tour to the CaribbeanI obviously havent been here for a while but coming back in theres a lot of familiar faces which is always nice When youâre out of it you sit back and think I donât know how they do it not being at home that often But when youâre in it you just do it Itâs quite fun being around the group Nicola was quoted as saying by ICC on FridayWith the T20 World Cup looming Nicola admitted playing in the tournament is a major motivational factor for her Itâs a massive tournament Everyone here would want to be a part of that Thatâs the carrot dangling at the end of this Everyoneâs trying to put their best foot forward Iâm sure weâll find out soonâ she saidAustralia won the T20I series 30 and now turn their attention to the ODIs against the West Indies their final assignment before the T20 World Cup takes place The absence of Annabel Sutherland rested to manage her workload has opened opportunities for others including NicolaBelsey is massive for this team and when you take her out that sort of leaves a couple of gaps both batting and bowling Thereâs that many allrounders floating around so I guess thatâs opportunities for different people to step upâIts been nice to sort of try different things and open the bowling You havent done a lot of that even back home so its been cool to experience different things within this teamâ said NicolaReflecting on the teamâs transition from T20Is to ODIs Nicola signed off by saying Australiaâs plans were coming together Itâs nice to change up the location here in St Kitts obviously coming off the back of those three T20IsThereâs a fair bit we can take out of that We had a lot of discussion around how we wanted to go about it I think we saw that come to fruition which was really pleasing to seeâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nicola-carey-aims-for-womens-t20-wc-spot-after-return-to-australian-set-up-666806.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/slc-to-hold-egm-in-april-with-new-playing-conditions-for-domestic-competition-as-key-agenda-report-666821.html New Delhi March 27 Sri Lanka Cricket SLC will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting EGM on April 6 with a set of resolutions set to be tabled before members for approval said a report According to SLC Secretary Bandula Dissanayake a few tweaks to the constitution will be up for discussion at the EGM The headline item on the agenda will be the introduction of new playing conditions for SLCconducted domestic tournamentsAt present promotion and relegation in the top two domestic competitions are decided purely on performances in the threeday format But SLC is now looking to level the playing field aiming to give all three formats equal relevanceWe want to make whiteball cricket more competitive Dissanayake told Telecom Asia Sport What we have seen is teams loading up for the threeday competition and then taking their foot off the pedal when the oneday tournament comes around By June several players head to England for league cricket which leaves the whiteball competitions shortchangedââThis is part of a longterm blueprint to ensure we are producing players who can hold their own in whiteball cricketâ he addedUnder the proposed system performances across all three formats will count towards promotion and relegation rather than just the redball gameHowever the longer format will still carry the most weight 51 per cent while the oneday competition will account for 25 per cent and T20s for 24 per centIn whiteball tournaments where knockout stages come into play quarterfinalists and semifinalists will earn equal points â a move aimed at rewarding consistency and reducing format biasAt the business end the side finishing with the lowest tally will be relegated In the event of a tie on points threeday performances will serve as the tiebreaker underlining the continued importance of the traditional formatSLC has been actively working to streamline domestic cricket in recent years The FirstClass scene resembled an overcrowded outfield with 24 teams holding status The introduction of a relegation system has since reduced the number of teams with underperforming sides losing FirstClass statusEven traditional heavyweights like SSC boasting a squad full of Sri Lanka internationals found themselves relegated last season However they bounced back immediately to regain their FirstClass status IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/slc-to-hold-egm-in-april-with-new-playing-conditions-for-domestic-competition-as-key-agenda-report-666821.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/psl-turns-into-a-colour-chaos-akmal-says-kits-dyed-at-dupatta-gali-fans-upset-with-poor-quality-broadcast-666827.html New Delhi March 27 As the 2026 Pakistan Super League PSL opening match between the Lahore Qalandars and the Hyderabad Kingsmen unfolded at Gaddafi Stadium all eyes briefly shifted from the players to the ball itself which mysteriously began to take on a pink hue It appeared when fielders were polishing the ball against their clothing to preserve its shine it led to an unusual complication the maroon pigment from the Hyderabad Kingsmenâs jerseys began transferring onto the white ball turning it into pinkThe clips from the incident quickly made social media light up with jokes memes and playful theories as former cricketer Kamran Akmal poked fun at the bizarre sight saying it looked like the kits had been dyed at some local dupatta colouring shopI genuinely thought Hyderabad Kingsmen got their kits dyed at some dupatta lane back home the kind where they recolour white clothes for bargain rates Kamran Akmal on a YouTube channelA fan said Did they get knockoff kits instead of authentic ones International league or gullylevel experimentA user said Spent all the money on buying the team i think A fan even raised serious concerns and said that the dye could cause skin cancer after making contact with players skin Think about the players skin Gonna contract skin cancer and getting treated with the PSL moneyAnother user wrote Very tough competition between third class quality of bowling and kitFollowing the Lahore Qalandars victory the Hyderabad Kingsmen took to X to offer a witty acknowledgement of the days mishap The franchise congratulated their opponents on winning what they jokingly dubbed the first pinkball game in PSLCongratulations to the opposition on winning their first pinkball game the franchises official account postedNot only that but after 4K video resolution was promoted many viewers expressed dissatisfaction over the broadcasts poor quality citing shaky cameras and fuzzy footage Additionally a lot of people complained about the audio and video being out of syncAfter watching the opening match of the Pakistan Super League the fan experience feels really disappointing Poor camera quality weak branding and subpar audio production it just doesnât match the standard fans expect We deserve better a fan saidCamera work is very ordinary Stream should be bit brighter very dull colour a fan wrote on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/psl-turns-into-a-colour-chaos-akmal-says-kits-dyed-at-dupatta-gali-fans-upset-with-poor-quality-broadcast-666827.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/keen-to-play-all-three-formats-we-can-make-it-work-says-cummins-on-workload-and-commitments-666678.html New Delhi March 26 Australia captain Pat Cummins has acknowledged the growing strain between international commitments and franchise cricket warning that the balance may become harder to sustain for future players even as he remains determined to represent Australia across all formats for as long as possible Several of Cumminsâ longtime teammates including Steve Smith Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have already stepped away from ODIs while Mitchell Starc has given up T20Is in an effort to extend their careers Cummins however is still committed to playing all three formats even if that requires carefully managed rest periodsStill very keen to play all three formats and at the moment I think we can make it work I love Test cricket Hopefully Im in a cadence where I can keep doing that for three four five years and dont have to forgo Test cricket Cummins told the Business of Sport podcastDespite ongoing back concerns Cummins has maintained a strong presence in Test cricket missing just two matches in a packed schedule between mid2023 and the start of the recent home summer At the same time he has largely stepped back from whiteball internationals since Australiaâs recent World Cup campaignsBeyond the IPL Cumminsâ global franchise footprint is expanding He has already signed a longterm deal with a Major League Cricket team and expressed interest in eventually featuring in Englandâs Hundred competition These commitments highlight the financial and professional pull of franchise leagues worldwideReflecting on the broader landscape Cummins admitted the sport is approaching a critical junctureI think its at a tension point It has been for a while but I think its only growing As each of these franchise leagues get well capitalised get more sophisticated â some of these Indian franchise owners are now branching out and owning different leaguesâsHe noted that while countries like Australia and England continue to draw strong crowds and attention for Test cricket the same cannot be said universally creating uneven pressures across the global gameWhat we experience in Australia and in England is Test cricket is very well supported the Test summer has big crowds and a lot of attention Thats not the same for every other international side Every country has slightly different challenges As Australian captain something we speak about is how do we make sure weve got our best Australian guys to choose from when were picking a Test side or an ODI side because there is so much demand for them elsewhereEven the way we contract players and talk about whether we let players go or not has evolved a lot in the last five or so years because we donât want to lose them so youve got to give them a little more leash than maybe you did previouslyâ he addedCummins also pointed to a telling example later this year Australiaâs twoTest series against Bangladesh scheduled during the Hundred window Several Australian players are expected to forgo significant earnings to prioritise national duty a decision he believes may not always be the case in the futureThe interesting point is big Ashes series all the main guys want to play that series But for example during the Hundred this season weve got two Test matches against Bangladesh All our guys that will play in that Test series have opted out of going into the Hundred auction â but thats not going to be the case foreverSome of our guys are saying no to a half a million pounds for 20 days work to go and play those two Tests matches against Bangladesh â so I think it is a tension point This is the essence our guys are so keen to play for Australia that theyre happy to forgo that but I dont think we can just accept thats always going to be the case foreverâ he notedWhile acknowledging the financial rewards available to Australian internationals Cummins cautioned against assuming that loyalty to national teams will indefinitely outweigh the appeal of global leaguesIf youre playing all three formats in Australia youre very well compensatedâ he mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/keen-to-play-all-three-formats-we-can-make-it-work-says-cummins-on-workload-and-commitments-666678.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/read-the-speculations-and-smiled-lsg-owner-goenka-debunks-rumours-around-pants-captaincy-666684.html New Delhi March 26 Sanjiv Goenka owner of Lucknow Super Giants LSG dismissed rumours about Rishabh Pantâs captaincy following âfake reportsâ that suggested the wicketkeeperbatter was losing his leadership role at the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 season and wished the 28yearold luck for the tournament The LSG captain faced intense scrutiny for his subpar performances during IPL 2025 There were high hopes for the lefthanded player after he was bought for an impressive Rs 27 crores in last years mega auction but he could not rise to the occasion Ahead of the 19th edition of the tournament rumours about replacing him as captain began to circulateHowever Goenka debunked all such speculations and lauded his âcharacter and commitmentâ before wishing for him to have âa great seasonââHeading into the season I had read the speculations around RishabhPant17s captaincy and smiled Weâve spent enough time together to know his character and commitment Have a great season Capâ Goenka wrote in an X post on Thursday A similar news story surfaced during the IPL 2025 when Pant took control of the situation An X user suggested that Pant might be dropped before the 2026 IPL season because LSG owners believe his price is unjustified The LSG skipper responded to this user urging them to exercise some sensibility and credibility before spreading false narrativesI understand fake News gives more traction to content but letâs not build everything around it Little sense and credible news will help more rather making fake news with agenda Thanks have a good day Letâs be responsible and sensible what we put out on social mediaâ he had written on XPant scored only 269 runs in the 13 matches he played last season at a poor average of 2445 His form will be observed closely when LSG start their IPL 2026 campaign against the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow their home ground on April 1 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/read-the-speculations-and-smiled-lsg-owner-goenka-debunks-rumours-around-pants-captaincy-666684.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/where-talent-meets-opportunity-uncapped-debutants-who-are-ready-to-seize-ipl-2026-spotlight-666704.html New Delhi March 26 Since its inception in 2008 the Indian Premier League IPL has evolved into more than just a cricket tournament it embodies the intersection of talent ambition and opportunity The IPL trophy has an inscription on it in Sanskrit Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi which translates to where talent meets opportunity The motto represents the tournaments purpose of providing a platform for talent to thrive The tournament throws up new talents every season IANS takes a look at uncapped debutants who are expected to make a mark in the leagueAuqib Nabi Dar Delhi CapitalsA swing bowler with impeccable line and length and the ability to move the ball both ways Aquib Nabi became the toast of the nation after two breathtaking Ranji Trophy seasons where he picked up 104 wickets across the 202425 and 202526 seasons He was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 840 crore at the auction his first bid at the IPL In the 202526 Ranji Trophy he finished as the seasons highest wickettaker 60 wickets in 17 innings at 1265 as Jammu and Kashmir won a historic maiden Ranji title Nabi was the architect of JampKs season and was named the player of the tournament Kartik Sharma Chennai Super KingsA serial sixhitter and wicketkeeper from Bharatpur in Rajasthan Kartik Sharma became the jointmost expensive uncapped Indian player at an IPL auction when Chennai Super Kings CSK scooped him up for Rs 142 crore He was the jointhighest sixhitter in the first phase of the 202526 Ranji season and the highest sixhitter in the 202425 Vijay Hazare Trophy After training with CSKs wider squad during IPL 2025 he broke into their main side for IPL 2026 Mangesh Yadav Royal Challengers BengaluruThe pivotal moment in his career occurred during the Madhya Pradesh T20 League when Mangesh took 14 wickets in six matches with an impressive average of 1200 After playing for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket alongside RCB captain Rajat Patidar he finally received the longawaited call from Royal Challengers Bangalore when he was identified as a likeforlike replacement for Yash DayalMangesh can also pitch in with the bat down the order and though the sample size in domestic cricket is small RCBs scouting network believes that he is good enough to slot into RCBs XIIPrashant Veer Chennai Super KingsA leftarm spinner who can hit sixes down the order Prashant Veer caused a stir in the IPL 2026 auction and joined Kartik Sharma as the jointmost expensive uncapped Indian player when CSK snapped him up for Rs 142 croreAfter impressing at a CSK trial in Chennai and in the BCCI Under23 tournament Veer was picked by the franchise as a potential replacement for Ravindra Jadeja who was traded to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026He finished the UPT20 league with 320 runs at a strike rate of 155 and pitched in with eight wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/where-talent-meets-opportunity-uncapped-debutants-who-are-ready-to-seize-ipl-2026-spotlight-666704.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-irfan-pathan-picks-lsg-playing-xi-slots-pant-at-no-3-spot-666716.html New Delhi March 26 Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has picked his playing 12 for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League IPL which is set to commence on March 28 LSG which finished in seventh position last season made a lot of changes to their squad ahead of IPL 2026 LSG improved their bowling which was under attack in IPL 2025 by adding Mohammad Shami and Arjun Tendulkar through trade and purchasing Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje in the Auction Despite reports claiming that captain Rishabh Pant can open the innings for the team Pathan suggested that LSG should not alter the Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening pair who performed well in the last yearAccording to the former allrounder Pant is best suited for the number 3 position as it will give him the opportunity to assess the wicket before coming into play and he can also stabilise the innings if one of the openers falls early Pathan has put Nicholas Pooran at number 4 and also raised concerns about his poor form He has gone with all the Indian lower batting lineup with Ayush Badoni Himmat Singh Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul SamadMarkram and Marsh are very important because both of them are overseas openers For this reason I wish Lucknow put up some good seaming wickets in home matches so that the overseas openers find it comparatively easier to play A refreshed Rishabh Pant at No 3 Nicholas Poorans graph has gone downwards he has not really performed well in the last year but he loves playing for Lucknow Pathan said on his YouTube channelAyush Badonis graph has gone up he got an Indian callup as well You then have Abdul Samad Himmat Singh and Shahbaz Ahmed in the lower middleorder You can also consider M Siddharth as well if you feel that seven batters are enough he addedThe 2007 T20 World Cup champion has selected Mohammad Shami and Avesh Khan as fast bowlers and Digvesh Rathi as the spinner Ahmad and Badoni could also support the bowling Pathan has gone with five options for impact player which include Mayank YadavAnrich NortjeMohsin KhanNaman Tiwari and Prince YadavIrfan Pathans playing XIAiden Markram Mitchell Marsh Rishabh Pant Nicholas Pooran Ayush Badoni Abdul Samad Himmat Singh Shahbaz Ahmed M Siddharth Mohammad Shami Avesh Khan Digvesh RathiImpact Player Mayank YadavAnrich NortjeMohsin KhanNaman Tiwari Prince Yadav IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-irfan-pathan-picks-lsg-playing-xi-slots-pant-at-no-3-spot-666716.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-delhi-capitals-aim-for-breaking-title-drought-through-familiar-and-new-faces-666717.html New Delhi March 26 Banking on a mix of familiar players and fresh recruits Delhi Capitals look stronger than ever to end their long wait for an Indian Premier League IPL title Despite a strong start last year by winning their first four matches DC faltered in the second half of the campaign and finished fifth to miss out on the playoffs for the fourth successive time When the 2026 season gets underway on March 28 DC will be aiming to finally break their playoffs hoodoo and go all the way to that elusive silverware IANS does a SWOT analysis of DC one of IPLâs perennial trophy contenders who have often promised much but fallen short when it mattered mostStrength DC has the most formidable spin bowling attack in IPL 2026 At the heart of that confidence is Kuldeep Yadav The wristspinner finished IPL 2025 as DCs leading wickettaker with 15 wickets and alongside captain Axar Patel who will be on top of his bowling game after a finger injury prevented him from doing so last year as well as legspin bowling allrounder Vipraj Nigam present DC have spinners that most rivals would envyDCâs batting story centers on KL Rahul whose 539 runs in IPL 2025 made him the sideâs top runscorer and a permanent return to the opening slot where his numbers have historically been most authoritative is of great advantage Below him Tristan Stubbs provides the sort of midinnings acceleration that changes while Ashutosh Sharma offers the chance to finish off games well in DCâs favourWeakness In IPL 2025 DCs seamers took the fewest wickets of any side in the competition with their powerplay and death overs bowling being their weak links Whether new additions in the seambowling department can address it especially with Mitchell Starc yet to get the NoC remains to be seenAt the top of the order DC had the lowest opening partnership average and cycled through seven different opening combinations in search of stability that never arrived While Rahuls return alleviates some of that anxiety his partner and an ideal settled top three needs to be figured out before last yearâs script repeats it Opportunity DCâs management moved decisively to enhance their batting strength by adding David Miller Nitish Rana Ben Duckett and Pathum Nissanka ahead of the upcoming season All four batting options provide flexibility and the capacity to absorb pressure at different points of an innings which in turn can make DCâs batting returns brighterIPL 2026 is also a huge platform for Jammu amp Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi to firmly etch himself into the minds of cricket fans Being the lead star of Jammu amp Kashmirâs Ranji Trophy winning campaign via taking 60 scalps consistent good showings from Nabi could help him nail a regular spot in DCs lineupThreat With only four overseas slots available DC faces a selection puzzle that has no easy solution deploying Miller and Stubbs alongside Starc and Lungi Ngidi leaves DC with a potentially thin Indian bowling lineup while prioritising batting depth means sacrificing an overseas pace bowling optionDC is one of only âOGâ IPL sides to have competed in every season of the competition without lifting the trophy Whether that history brings motivation or add psychological weight on the players and team thinktank is something to keep a watch out for Moreover DCs winning rate at the Arun Jaitley Stadium stands at 441 percent and if they want to enter the playoffs and go all the way to the trophy they need to have more wins at home IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-delhi-capitals-aim-for-breaking-title-drought-through-familiar-and-new-faces-666717.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-players-returning-after-missing-2025-season-666732.html March 26 The Indian Premier League IPL has been pivotal in transforming modern franchise cricket influencing not only India but also the international scene Besides its commercial achievements it serves as a significant platform for showcasing new talent enhancing the reputation of domestic players and making many of them wellknown worldwide Every season a few highprofile players are absent due to injuries or dips in form This year too many players have been ruled out before the start of the tournament due to injury or availability concerns forcing the franchises to look for replacements But several players will be returning to the highintense setup after having missed the previous edition With this in mind here are five players who missed IPL 2025 but are expected to return in the 2026 tournament which starts on Saturday Cameron Green Kolkata Knight RidersFastbowling allrounders continue to be among the most soughtafter assets in the IPL and this season marks the return of one of Australiaâs finest Cameron Green After missing the previous edition due to a back injury Green is back in the spotlight as the most expensive overseas signing in IPL history having been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a staggering Rs 2520 croreGreen made his IPL debut with the Mumbai Indians in 2023 playing a key role in their playoff run He scored 452 runs across 16 matches at an impressive strike rate of 16028 highlighted by a commanding unbeaten century against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final league match at the Wankhede StadiumHe followed that with another strong season at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024 further cementing his reputation as a dependable performer in the league However injury concerns kept him out of the 2025 campaign and he did not participate in that yearâs mega auction Now 26 Green joins Eden Gardens as a marquee signing for Kolkata with high expectations despite a tough recent Ashes series His return not only bolsters KKRâs squad but also provides a potential gamechanger capable of affecting matches with both bat and ballSarfaraz Khan Chennai Super KingsSarfaraz Khans career has been marked by sharp turns from early promise to times on the fringes He first gained notice during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru where his performances were good enough to secure retention ahead of the 2018 megaauction However maintaining consistency proved difficult in the following years and subsequent spells with Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals did little to secure his place ultimately leading to his release before the 2024 season and a couple of years without an IPL contractDespite his absence from the league Sarfaraz continued to build an impressive reputation in domestic cricket His outstanding performance in the 2025â26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy highlighted his T20 skills as he scored 329 runs at an average of 6520 and an exceptional strike rate of 2038 A blazing 73 off just 22 balls on the morning of the auction further emphasised his valueThose performances earned him a return to the IPL with Chennai Super Kings securing his services for Rs 75 lakh While competition for places in a crowded batting lineup may limit immediate opportunities conditions at Chepauk could play to his strengths against spin and his inventive strokeplay adds depth to the sideHaving already achieved a longawaited Test debut for India before slipping out of contention again Sarfaraz now faces another crucial moment A strong IPL campaign could not only restore his credentials in the format but also rekindle hopes of a return to the national teamJason Holder Gujarat TitansJason Holder has long been a familiar figure in the IPL representing multiple franchises with his most recent appearance for the Rajasthan Royals in 2023 Despite his experience and allround capabilities he remained unsold in the following two seasons and instead participated in franchise cricket elsewhere including a stint with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League in 2025Since then Holder has regained strong form on the international stage delivering impactful performances for the West Indies He also impressed as captain of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League demonstrating both leadership and consistencyHis resurgence did not go unnoticed as the Gujarat Titans secured his services for Rs 7 crore ahead of the 2026 season Backed by a strong performance in the recent World Cup Holder now returns to the IPL with renewed energy and the potential to play a vital allround role for the TitansPrithvi Shaw Delhi CapitalsPrithvi Shaw burst onto the IPL scene as an exciting teenager in 2018 showcasing his attacking flair while representing Delhi Daredevils He soon became a key figure in the sideâs resurgence after they transitioned into the Delhi Capitals with his rise reflected in his rapid elevation to Indiaâs national team across formatsHowever that early momentum proved difficult to maintain A prolonged decline in form combined with fitness and discipline issues caused Shaw to fall out of favour After two disappointing IPL seasons Delhi released him and his struggles worsened when he lost his place in Mumbaiâs domestic teamA fresh start with Maharashtra seems to have reignited his game Consistent performances across formats in domestic cricket signal a return to form prompting Delhi Capitals to resign him for Rs 75 lakh ahead of the 2026 season Returning to a franchise where he previously thrived forming effective opening partnerships with players like Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner Shaw now has an opportunity to rebuild his reputationAt 26 he faces a pivotal moment A successful run at the top of the order could signal a major resurgence potentially realigning his career and sparking renewed debates about his role in Indian cricketUmran Malik Kolkata Knight RidersUmran Malik made an immediate impact when he emerged for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021 attracting attention with raw pace that often exceeded 150 kmph His breakthrough season reached its peak in 2022 when he took 22 wickets and received a callup to the Indian team highlighting his potential as one of the countryâs fastest bowlersSince then injuries have hindered his progress affecting both his appearances and effectiveness After being released before the 2025 auction Malik was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders but another injury setback ruled him out of the seasonNow fully fit and having completed a full domestic campaign with Jammu and Kashmir in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Malik returns with renewed purpose With Kolkataâs pace attack depleted following the exits of key bowlers he has a clear opportunity to reestablish himselfMalikâs focus will now be on rediscovering the form and rhythm that once made him one of the most exciting fastbowling prospects in the league A strong showing this season could not only strengthen his role at KKR but also revive his chances of making a comeback to the national sideFinn Allen Kolkata Knight RidersFinn Allen had a quiet start to his IPL journey spending time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2021 and 2022 without making an appearance despite being regarded as a promising hardhitting openerSince then his reputation in T20 cricket has risen considerably Known for his explosive style at the top of the order Allen has become one of the most dangerous batters in the format demonstrated by a remarkable strike rate of 1966 in 2025His rise was further cemented on the global stage when he scored a breathtaking 33ball century against South Africa in the semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup the fastest hundred in the tournamentâs history Now returning to the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders Allen brings with him a reputation built on fearless strokeplay and even a glimpse of that form could make him a gamechanging presence this season IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-players-returning-after-missing-2025-season-666732.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/leg-spinner-rahul-chahar-to-rejoin-surrey-for-final-eight-county-championship-games-666749.html London March 26 India legspinner Rahul Chahar will return to Surrey for their final eight matches in the upcoming County Championship season the club said on Thursday Chahar 26 made a stunning debut for Surrey last year claiming 10 wickets in a victory over Hampshire including secondinnings figures of 851 They are also the best figures by a debutant bowler in the clubâs history breaking William Mudieâs 166yearold record of figures of 761 in 1859 Chahar has represented India seven times in whiteball cricket and will be available from June 7 when Surrey face Hampshire at The Oval after his commitments with fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings CSK in IPL 2026 are overâIâm so excited to be coming back to Surrey this season I really enjoyed my short spell in 2025 and jumped at the opportunity to come back this season when I spoke to Alec Stewart Surrey is a successful club and I want to help the team achieve its goals in 2026â said Chahar in a statementChahar has taken 101 wickets in 27 firstclass matches and was part of the Mumbai Indiansâ IPLwinning squads in 2019 and 2020 He previously played for Rising Pune Supergiants Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL before being acquired by CSK at last yearâs auction in Abu DhabiSurreyâs director of cricket Alec Stewart said âRahul came in last year and did an excellent job at Hampshire showing his qualities Weâre looking forward to welcoming him back to the group and seeing how he can contribute to winning games of cricket for SurreyâSurrey won the County Championship Division One title from 2022 to 2024 and finished as runnersup last season behind champions Nottinghamshire They will open their 2026 campaign against Warwickshire in Birmingham on April 3 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/leg-spinner-rahul-chahar-to-rejoin-surrey-for-final-eight-county-championship-games-666749.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/5th-t20i-amelias-century-powers-nz-to-4-1-series-win-over-sa-666512.html Christchurch March 25 A brilliant allround display led by Amelia Kerrâs 105run knock and a twowicket haul guided New Zealand to a commanding 92run victory over South Africa in the fifth WT20I here at Hagley Oval sealing the fivegame series 41 Batting first riding on Amelias 105 off 55 the hosts posted 1946 in their allotted 20 overs their fourthhighest team total In response the Proteas were restricted to 1029 in front of sensational New Zealand bowling suffering their thirdworst loss in T20Is by runsOpting to bat first New Zealand were powered by a sensational innings from Kerr who struck 105 off just 55 balls Her knock laced with 19 fours and a six formed the backbone of the innings and ensured the hosts maintained a high scoring rate throughoutShe found support from Georgia Plimmer 27 and Brooke Halliday 26 while late contributions from Maddy Green and others helped push the total close to the 200run mark Despite picking up three wickets Ayabonga Khaka could not prevent New Zealand from finishing stronglyIn reply South Africaâs chase never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals The visitors were reduced to 404 inside the powerplay putting them firmly on the back footAnnerie Dercksen topscored with 23 while Sune Luus 13 and Laura Wolvaardt 9 failed to convert their starts The lack of substantial partnerships hurt South Africa as they struggled to cope with New Zealandâs disciplined bowling attackKerr capped off an outstanding outing by claiming two wickets while Sophie Devine also struck twice to dent the middle order Lea Tahuhu and Flora Devonshire chipped in with crucial breakthroughs as New Zealand maintained control throughout the inningsSouth Africa eventually limped to 1029 in 20 overs falling well short of the target as New Zealand completed a comprehensive victoryBrief Scores New Zealand 1946 in 20 overs Amelia Kerr 105 Georgia Plimmer 27 Ayabonga Khaka 332 Tumi Sekhukhune 332 beat South Africa 1029 in 20 overs Annerie Dercksen 23 Sune Luus 13 Lea Tahuhu 326 Amelia Kerr 26 by 92 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/5th-t20i-amelias-century-powers-nz-to-4-1-series-win-over-sa-666512.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-pant-is-a-prisoner-of-his-own-reputation-says-aakash-chopra-666515.html New Delhi March 25 Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that Indias wicketkeeper batter and Lucknow Super Giants LSG captain Rishabh Pant is a prisoner of his own reputation of playing unorthodox shots and needs to reassess his approach especially in the whiteball format as he gears up for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League IPL which will commence on March 28 Chopra pointed out that Pantâs tendency to play risky shots has often worked against him and recommended that he should return to fundamental techniques in order to regain his position in the Indian T20I setupâThe scrutiny around Rishabh Pant is justified He is a prisoner of his own reputation for playing unorthodox shots and rarely looks to grind out runs when the situation demands it Last season despite opportunities to take time and rebuild his form he continued to play risky shots which drew criticism Chopra said on JioHotstarHaving been part of Indiaâs T20 World Cupwinning squad in Barbados he is now completely out of the conversation for the national side The selectors and management went from selecting a middleorder keeper to an opener keeper and a keeper who can bat at three While the IPL is massive representing India remains the ultimate priority and losing that spot means itâs time for him to go back to the drawing board he addedChopra also highlighted that Pants unique way of viewing the game has set him apart He also revealed that Pants batting approach despite bringing good results in test was not liked by former Indian coach Rahul DravidâWe sometimes fail to understand what Rishabh Pant brings to the table and how he sees the game unfold In Test cricket he had conversations with Rahul Dravid when he was the Head Coach Rahul bhai was not very happy with Pantâs batting approach To give credit where itâs due Pant sees the game very differently from most of us who see it conventionally he saidChopra added that Pants willingness to seek guidance from former all rounder Yuvraj Singh is a positive sign indicating his intent to evolve and improve the gameThe most heartening thing for me is his acceptance that he needs to change something in his game He needs to look for a blueprint Something is not going right He knows he is that good The fact that he has approached Yuvraj Singh for help shows he acknowledges that he needs guidance help and assistance That is a great sign With the quality talent and skills he has it is a travesty that he is not killing it in whiteball cricketâ he notedPant scored just 269 runs in the 13 matches he played last season at an poor average of 2445 His form will be in focus when LSG begin their campaign in IPL 2026 against Delhi Capitals at their home ground Ekana Stadium on April 1 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-pant-is-a-prisoner-of-his-own-reputation-says-aakash-chopra-666515.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-pacers-surge-in-t20i-rankings-after-sa-series-shake-up-666532.html Dubai March 25 A strong showing from New Zealandâs pace attack has headlined the latest update to the ICC Menâs T20I Bowling Rankings with four seamers from New Zealand making notable gains The ongoing T20I series between New Zealand and South Africa has delivered fluctuating results and performances across the first four matches have led to significant movement in the rankings for players from both sidesExperienced quick Lockie Ferguson was one of the biggest beneficiaries His matchwinning spell of 19 in Auckland which earned him the Player of the Match award propelled him up 12 places to joint 39th among T20I bowlersHe was not alone as fellow pacers Ben Sears who jumped 20 spots to 59th Kyle Jamieson rising five places to 76th and Zakary Foulkes up eight spots to 81st also climbed the ladder following consistent displaysSouth Africaâs bowlers also made gains with standin skipper Keshav Maharaj rising five spots to 47th Teammates Ottneil Baartman up seven places to 66th and Gerald Coetzee up 46 places to 88th were rewarded for their efforts during the seriesAmong allrounders George Linde continued his impressive run edging up one position to 22nd after valuable contributions with both bat and ballAt the top of the T20I allrounder rankings Sikandar Raza retained his place while the batting charts saw minimal changesIndiaâs Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the T20I batting rankings staying ahead of compatriot Ishan Kishan Indiaâs T20I World Cupwinning captain Suryakumar Yadav however climbed two places to move up to seventhElsewhere Tim Seifert and Dewald Brevis slipped down the order after missing matches in the ongoing seriesNew Zealand opener Tim Robinson was among the few batters to make progress rising two spots to 34th following his knock of 32 in Wellington IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-pacers-surge-in-t20i-rankings-after-sa-series-shake-up-666532.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-hand-maiden-call-up-to-knight-for-south-africa-wodis-666206.html Christchurch Mach 24 Kayley Knight has been included in the 13strong squad to take on South Africa in the ODI series starting on Sunday Amelia Kerr will lead a similar looking squad with the exception of Suzie Bates Flora Devonshire and Georgia Plimmer who have each returned from injury and will replace Emma McLeod Polly Inglis and Bella James while Knight comes in for Molly Penfold Knight made her T20 international debut last month against Zimbabwe taking 225 on debut just a week after she claimed 220 for Northern Brave in the domestic oneday finalThe 22yearold helped the Brave claim their maiden Hallyburton Johnstone HBJ Shield title and finished as the teamâs secondhighest wickettaker of the competitionKnight made her T201 debut during the recently concluded home series against Zimbabwe picking up two wickets in two games She isnt part of New Zealands squad for the ongoing T20ls against the Proteas women but got a call up for hlthe ODI legHead coach Ben Sawyer said he was excited to call Knight into the squad Itâs great to call Kayley up for her first ODI series Kayleys got good pace and control and a short ball that regularly challenges battersâShe was an integral part of the Braveâs titlewinning HBJ campaign and has shown she has the tools to hold her in good stead in the international game Sawyer was quoted as saying in NZC releaseCaptain Melie heads into the series on the back of a dominant performance against Zimbabwe where she claimed 16 wickets across three matches including two fivewicket hauls and the White Fwrns best ODI figures in history 734The series marks the White Ferns final home summer matches for the 202526 season with the first game kicking off at Hagley Oval on March 29 followed by the final two outings at Cello Basin Reserve on April 1 and 4Saywer said the team were keen to finish the season on a highâComing off the back of a T20s series win I know the team are eager to back it up in the ODIs Itâs been a packed backend to the summer for the White Ferns and weâre looking forward to wrapping the season up with another competitive seriesNew Zealand squad Amelia Kerr c Suzie Bates Flora Devonshire Izzy Gaze Maddy Green Brooke Halliday Bree Illing Jess Kerr Kayley Knight Rosemary Mair Nensi Patel Georgia Plimmer lzzy Sharp IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-hand-maiden-call-up-to-knight-for-south-africa-wodis-666206.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-t20i-australia-seal-series-whitewash-with-40-run-dls-win-over-west-indies-666208.html St Vincent March 24 Australia completed clean sweep in the threematch T20I series with a rainaffected 40run victory over the West Indies in the third anf final match at Kingstown powered by a stunning century from Georgia Voll Asked to bat Australia piled up an imposing 2117 built almost entirely around Vollâs explosive maiden T20I hundred The 22yearold opener produced a fearless display reaching the triplefigure mark in just 52 deliveries one of the fastest centuries by an Australian in the formatHer innings studded with nine fours and six towering sixes set the tone early as she took on both pace and spin with authorityVoll signalled her intent from the outset using her footwork to dismantle the spinners and repeatedly targeting the boundary straight down the ground She brought up her landmark with a boundary in the 17th over before falling shortly after bowled by Hayley Matthews who was the standout performer for the hosts with her spell of 329While Australiaâs top order struggled to build partnerships around her late acceleration ensured the total crossed the 200run markCaptain Sophie Molineux provided the finishing push with a brisk cameo striking crucial boundaries and a pair of sixes in the closing overs Contributions from Nicola Carey further strengthened the total helping Australia post one of their highest T20I scoresIn reply the West Indiesâ chase never gained momentum Megan Schutt struck with the second ball to remove Qiana Joseph setting the tone for a disciplined bowling effort The hosts slipped to 333 inside the Powerplay with debutant Lucy Hamilton also impressing with key breakthroughsMatthews and Deandra Dottin attempted to stabilise the innings briefly counterattacking with a couple of sixes but sustained pressure and regular wickets left the Windies struggling at 613 after 10 oversRain then intervened and with no further play possible the result was decided by the DLS method sealing a comprehensive 30 series win for AustraliaBrief Scores Australia 2117 in 20 overs Georgia Voll 101 Sophie Molineux 25 Hayley Matthews 329 Jahzara Claxton 237 beat West Indies 613 in 10 overs Hayley Matthews 30 Eboni Brathwaite 18 Ellyse Perry 11 Megan Schutt 111 by 40 runs DLS method IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-t20i-australia-seal-series-whitewash-with-40-run-dls-win-over-west-indies-666208.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-batter-latham-ruled-out-of-fifth-t20i-vs-south-africa-with-thumb-injury-666265.html Christchurch March 24 New Zealand batter Tom Latham has been ruled out of the fifth and final T20I against South Africa at the Hagley Oval on Wednesday with a thumb injury Latham was struck on his left thumb by South African fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena during the third T20I at Eden Park on Friday NZC said that scans revealed a minor fracture to the tip of his thumb and he is expected to return to training in twotothree weeks timeTom Blundell who came into the squad as toporder battingwicketkeeper cover in the third T20I after Latham injured his finger will remain with the squad as coverLatham struck in the fourth over of the New Zealand chase continued batting finishing with 63 not out as the Black Caps won by eight wickets Medical staff at the ground assessed Lathamâs thumb postmatch and he was subsequently flown to Christchurch the morning after the match for scansIn Lathamâs absence James Neesham took charge of the team at Eden Park marking the first time in his decadelong international career that the allrounder captains New Zealand in T20Is making him the countryâs 12th player to do soEarlier in the series Ish Sodhi and Bevon Jacobs were ruled out owing to a broken thumb and a left knee injury respectively Jacobs left the ground on Sunday during the first T20I after falling on his left knee while fielding Subsequent scans revealed bone bruising on the side of his knee and Katene Clarke joined the squad for the second T20I in Hamilton as coverOn the other hand Sodhi was hit on the thumb while bowling at team training at Bay Oval ahead of the series opener and a subsequent scan revealed a break which will require at least four weeks of rehabilitationLockie Ferguson was added to the squad for the second and third matches in Hamilton and Auckland The fivematch series is currently 31 in favour of the hosts IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-batter-latham-ruled-out-of-fifth-t20i-vs-south-africa-with-thumb-injury-666265.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/11-seats-at-chinnaswamy-stadium-to-remain-empty-forever-rcb-ceo-rajesh-menon-666292.html Bengaluru March 24 Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB CEO Rajesh Menon said that throughout all domestic and internationals games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium 11 seats will be kept empty to honour the lives of those who died in the stampede following their title victory last season Menon also said that players will wear jersey No 11 in practice matches throughout the season and don black armbands in all their matches in this editionâIn memory of the 11 fans who we lost on June 4 the players will be wearing jersey number 11 for the practice on the game day on the practice time before the match So all the players will have jersey number 11 on the back not for the game but for the practice Apart from that they will be also wearing a black armband on that day We are also looking at having 11 permanent seats empty in Chinnaswamy Stadium forever This is for the 11 fans who will be with us forever Thatâs a quick update on what we are doing this yearâ Menon told the media during a press conference on TuesdayHe further stated that several changes have been made this season as part of precautionary measures and necessary safety steps are being implemented and discussions will be held on what more can be done for the victims families in the futureOn June 4 2025 a tragic stampede took place outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru amid RCBâs victory celebrations The disaster resulted in 11 fans losing their lives and over 50 sustaining injuries caused by severe overcrowding with approximately 300000 people present The Karnataka government held RCB the Karnataka State Cricket Association and event partners responsible for not obtaining the required approvals and for creating a disturbance The franchise subsequently announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the families of each deceased individualChinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any RCB games since the tragic stampede Now with government approval RCB will play five matches at Chinnaswamy while two home games will be held in Raipur as previously announced by the franchise IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/11-seats-at-chinnaswamy-stadium-to-remain-empty-forever-rcb-ceo-rajesh-menon-666292.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-this-feels-really-good-have-been-waiting-for-this-for-a-long-time-says-dubey-after-being-included-by-kkr-666309.html New Delhi March 24 For Vidarbha pacer Saurabh Dubey the wait has finally been worth it Dubey the leftarm fast bowler with a height of six feet and five inches arrived at the Kolkata Knight Riders KKR camp as a net bowler when the threetime champions began their preparations for the tenteam competition Cut to now he now finds himself in the main squad as a replacement for injured India pacer Akash Deep who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a stress reaction in his lower back âThis feeling is really good Like I came here as a net bowler After that I got to know late on Saturday that they have chosen me as a replacement for Akash Deep I have been waiting for this chance for a long time So it feels really good I will give my best and do wellâ Dubey told IANSThe callup caps is a remarkable turnaround for Dubey who went unsold at last years IPL miniauction in Abu Dhabi and had no expectation of earning a contract when he first reported to the KKR camp in a netbowling capacityâI didnt come with any expectations I just wanted an opportunity to go somewhere and play Like wherever I go I wanted to get an opportunity to play and thats why I came here as they called me for being a net bowlerâPreviously I bowled in their preseason camp in Mumbai for two days Then I got to bowl more in practice sessions here in Kolkata one intrasquad match and two net sessions So they saw what I did and decided to rope me in based on thatâ he saidIt is Dubeys second shot at playing in IPL cricket after the first chance came to an abrupt end Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH for IPL 2022 after having an impressive time in the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy a back injury cut short his stint before he could even be in the frame for making his debutThe irony that he now replaces a player sidelined by a back complaint is not lost on those who have followed his journey in Vidarbhaâs cricketing circles which got a big push after being spotted by former India pacer and national selector Subroto BanerjeeâIts quite rare to get a chance to be in an IPL team again My journey started with tennis ball and my elder brother Gaurav was the main reason behind me going from tennis to leather ball bowling I think many people in Vidarbha know that my journey started with tennis ball before moving to leather ball in 2016âThere was a tournament in Wardha city where I played and many seniors were attracted to my height and the way I was bowling There is a coach in Wardha named Ravi Lunga he sent my videos to Prashant Vaidya the VCA ChairmanâHe sent me to Nagpur to see Subu sir I was practicing in Nagpur at a ground called SBCA Subu sir saw and picked me up for Vidarbhaâs residential academy programme From there I came to represent the stateâ recalled Dubey who has played eight List A games and three T20 matchesDubey went on to represent India A at the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup where current India menâs batting coach Sitanshu Kotak served as head coach of that side Despite making whiteball appearances for Vidarbha Dubey remained on the fringes of being on the big stage till the news of him being drafted by KKR for IPL 2026 changed that notionDubey knows the opportunity he has been chasing for years is finally in his hands and now time is ripe for him to shine for KKR âYes now it will get better Hopefully I will perform to the best of my abilities and this is what I want to do for the rest of the seasonâ he signed off IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-this-feels-really-good-have-been-waiting-for-this-for-a-long-time-says-dubey-after-being-included-by-kkr-666309.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/kal-somani-led-consortium-buys-rajasthan-royals-for-usd-163-billion-666342.html New Delhi March 24 Indian Premier Leagues IPL inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals RR have been sold to the Kal Somaniled consortium for USD 163 billion Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle shared a post on X Rajasthan Royals is sold for 163 billion USD Purely for comparison London Spirit the most expensive team was valued at USD 370 million when there was a stake sale in The 100Somani is a USbased entrepreneur who has held a minority stake in Rajasthan Royals Over the past 15plus years hes founded and led ventures focused on edtech data privacy AI governance and sports tech His association with sport also includes coownership of Motor City Golf Club and earlystage investment in ventures such as TMRW Sports and the TGL Golf LeagueAs per NDTV Profit report the deal has been signed and is expected to be closed after the 2026 IPL season The takeover will be completed after the 2026 tournament The consortium is also backed by Rob Walton of the Walmart family and the Hamp family which holds majority ownership of the Detroit Lions Additionally Sheila Ford Hamp a member of the Ford family is also associated with the groupThe report further claimed that defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB who are also officially on sale are close to their deal being completed The parties interested are a consortium of Blackstone Aditya Birla Group and David Blitzer a Ranjan Pailed Manipal Consortium including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Temasek and Swedish private equity firm EQTEarlier the report by the State of Play claimed that nine parties have submitted bids ranging from USD 1 billion to USD 18 billion indicating serious interest in RCB with Manchester Utds Glazer brothers bid positioning them among the highest bidders for the franchiseIn January pharma tycoon Adar Poonawalla said he would make a strong and competitive bid for securing the ownership of RCB IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/kal-somani-led-consortium-buys-rajasthan-royals-for-usd-163-billion-666342.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nzc-to-pursue-nz20-franchise-league-as-preferred-option-for-domestic-t20-competition-666057.html Auckland March 23 New Zealand Cricket NZC will pursue the proposed NZ20 franchise league as the preferred option for its domestic T20 competition to revitalise its 21yearold Super Smash tournament The NZC Board said it has made an inprinciple decision to support the establishment of the new league subject to the satisfactory resolution of key commercial structural and governance mattersWhile not a final commitment the decision allows NZC to focus resources on advancing discussions toward a potential licence and a binding commercial arrangement with the NZ20 league it said NZC Board chair Diana PuketapuLyndon said recognising NZ20 as the preferred option was a significant step in a process that carefully weighed the pros and cons of the two main opportunities She said the board thoroughly debated the choice between potential expansion into Australias WBBL and the NZ20 concept addressing all central issues involvedThere was extensive discussion on the merits of these proposals but the Board concluded that nowâs the right time to revitalise our 21yearold Super Smash competition This followed broad consultation particularly within our cricket network and careful consideration of a wide range of information and advice including the Deloitte Report The next steps include working with NZ20 to agree on terms and seeking support from our membersâSeveral changes to the original NZ20 proposal needed to be negotiated before a final decision was made In particular we want to work with NZ20 to ensure it incorporates and supports the womenâs domestic T20 competition and that it maintains a level of prominence and visibility consistent with NZCâs strategic commitment to the womenâs game Ensuring regional representation of NZ20 teams so fans and aspiring young cricketers can see their heroes in action is also very important to the Board as is the question of ownership and control including equity in the competitionShe noted that the NZC brand carried significant global value bolstered by the impressive performances of its national teams in ICC events The White Ferns are the current T20 World Cup Champions and the BLACKCAPS were recent finalists in the menâs versionThis is an exciting time for cricket in New Zealandâ said PuketapuLyndon We owe it to everyone to negotiate an outcome that best serves the interests of the game here and were confident weâre heading in the right direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nzc-to-pursue-nz20-franchise-league-as-preferred-option-for-domestic-t20-competition-666057.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-dc-have-enough-backups-for-every-slot-except-for-axar-amp-kuldeep-opines-chopra-665954.html New Delhi March 22 Former India opener Aakash Chopra has backed Delhi Capitals DC to end their long wait for an IPL title adding the franchises 2026 squad look as a very strong unit and that he would keep his fingers crossed for them to win the trophy this year DC are one of only two franchises to have never won the IPL title despite featuring in every season since the leagueâs inception in 2008 âAnybody who has won multiple trophies even Gujarat Titans who reached the finals twice and won a trophy in their first two years you will find that consistency and stability allowed them to succeedâIPL is designed in a way that gives you the chance to reboot After every three years there is a big auction coming up Kudos to Delhi because since 2019 they have consistently been there or thereabouts and made the final in 2020âThe womenâs team has reached the final in all four WPL seasons They have got their auctions right and this year I feel they have a very strong unit So fingers crossed that this could be their yearâ said Chopra on JioStarHe also pointed out the importance of stability in leadership and team selection pointing to DCâs improved auction strategy last year as a key factor âAnybody who has won multiple trophies even Gujarat Titans who reached the finals twice and won a trophy in their first two years you will find that consistency and stability allowed them to succeedâWhere there is no success teams keep chopping and changing in a bid to find it thinking that once they succeed they will become stable Then it becomes a chickenandegg situation That has been the issue with both PBKS and DC One team has had 15 captains the other has had 17âSo if you want to change your present stability is nonnegotiable We have often seen that the better teams arrive at their best combination in the first or second match itself while teams that keep chopping and changing using around 22 out of 25 players finish closer to the bottom than the topâ he saidAssessing DC and PBKS Chopra added âOn paper I think Delhi is a more complete unit with enough backups for almost every slot except the two spinners but you wonât find backups for Axar Patel and Kuldeep even in the entire countryâFormer India leftarm pacer Irfan Pathan spoke about the challenge DC faced with identifying talent during the early 2010s âI was with Punjab and Delhi for three years each When I was at Delhi Eric Simmons who is now with CSK as the bowling coach was the coach and there was an effort to bring stabilityâBut when you let go of players like AB de Villiers and you had Andre Russell starting from scratch is not easy I played alongside Russell in the same dressing room and there were a lot of discussions about giving him more opportunities But they just couldnât find a place for him consistently in the XI So identification of talent is very important and I feel Delhi used to fall short in that areaâPathan also spoke about how the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting has been the key difference for PBKS from IPL 2025 âLeadership has played a huge role in Punjabâs turnaround You win half the IPL at the auction table Big purses donât necessarily mean you will always get what you want but they did and they reached the finalâEven in the miniauction they took bold but important calls like letting go of players who were not performing such as Glenn Maxwell They were a bit unfortunate with the Josh Inglis situation given he would miss most of the season but then you see another team going after him for a huge price In that respect they are taking a lot of right decisionsâLook at the backup players in the past Punjab struggled with that when the focus was entirely on building the first XI but now you see allrounders like Azmatullah Omarzai Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis along with a young Indian batting core Apart from that they went allout for Shreyas Iyer after deciding he would be the captain So there is clarity of thought and I feel Punjab have started to move in the right directionâ he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-dc-have-enough-backups-for-every-slot-except-for-axar-amp-kuldeep-opines-chopra-665954.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/maharashtra-crowned-champions-of-bcci-womens-under-23-one-day-trophy-elite-202526-title-665978.html Ranchi March 22 Maharashtra Women delivered a dominant allround performance to clinch the BCCI Womenâs Under23 One Day Trophy Elite 2025â26 title defeating Karnataka by a comprehensive margin of 75 runs in the final held at Ranchi After losing the toss and being put in to bat Maharashtra posted a formidable total of 2868 in their allotted 50 overs The innings was brilliantly anchored by Bhavika Ahire who played a matchwinning knock of 109 runs off 100 balls She was ably supported by Ishwari Sawkar 61 and Ishwari Awasare 36 ensuring a strong foundation for the teamIn reply Karnataka were bowled out for 211 as Maharashtraâs bowlers delivered a disciplined and clinical performance Akshaya Jadhav starred with the ball returning figures of 439 in 9 overs while Isha Pathare 343 and Khushi Mulla 222 provided crucial breakthroughs to seal a convincing victoryFor her outstanding performance Bhavika Ahire was adjudged both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament This victory marks a historic milestone for Maharashtra Women as it is their third title in the current season This triumph further underlines Maharashtraâs dominance in the current BCCI domestic seasonIn the 2025â26 season Maharashtra has emerged as one of the topperforming state associations in the country having won three BCCI tournaments and finishing as runnersup on three occasions This is the highest overall performance record achieved by any State Cricket Association in India this season reflecting the depth consistency and excellence of Maharashtra cricket across formatsThis is also the first instance of any state association womenâs team in India winning three titles in a singleseason Maharashtraâs exceptional performance throughout the season reflects the growing strength depth and bright future of womenâs cricket in the stateMCA administrator Justice G A Sanap said This is the third title won by the Maharashtra Womenâs team in a single season which is a matter of immense pride for the entire state The consistent efforts taken by the Maharashtra Cricket Association towards the development of womenâs cricket along with the introduction of the Maharashtra Womenâs Premier League WMPL are now clearly yielding results Every player member of the support staff and the selection committee has contributed significantly to this achievement I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of themâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/maharashtra-crowned-champions-of-bcci-womens-under-23-one-day-trophy-elite-202526-title-665978.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-t20i-devines-allround-effort-takes-nz-to-2-1-series-lead-over-sa-665753.html Auckland March 20 Sophie Devines 55 not out after her brilliant bowling effort powered New Zealand to a sixwicket win over South Africa in the third T20I here at Eden Park on Friday and took a 21 series lead in the fivematch series with two games to go After opting to bat first the Proteas women were restricted to 1497 with Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates picking up a couple of wickets each In response Devineâs halfcentury led the chase with support from Amelia Kerr 30 and Maddy Green 34 as the hosts chased down the target in 184 overs to take a 21 lead in the seriesBatting first South Africa got off to a disastrous start as they were reduced to 92 within three overs when Rosemary Mair removed opener Tazmin Brits in the second over and Jess Kerr joined the party in the next over to dismiss Sune LuusAnnerie Dercksen and skipper Laura Wolvaardt stitched together a crucial 51run stand for the third wicket to steady the innings after early setbacks The partnership however was broken by Sophie Devine who dismissed Dercksen for 27 Then Suzie Bates removed Chloe Tryon before Sophie Devine struck again dismissing Nadine de Klerk as the visitors slipped to 1015 in 15 overs leaving them in a spot of botherKayla Reyneke 34 not out off 20 provided late momentum in the death overs smashing two sixes and a four straight down the ground in the last over to lift South Africa to 1497Chasing 150 New Zealand lost their openers Georgia Plimmer 4 and Isabella Gaze 17 in the powerplay The Devine and Amelia stitched a 30run stand for the third wicket But South Africa tightened up though and the wickets of Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in the 10th over left the chase in a tense situation New Zealand needed 82 off 60 with six wickets in hand Devine was 13 off 10 But Sophie Devine and Maddy Green signalled the shift in momentum with an unbeaten 84run stand for the fifth wicket When the partnership brought up its fifty Green had contributed just 12 off 15 balls with Devine doing the bulk of the scoring from the other end She carried that dominance through to the finish as New Zealand wrapped up the chase with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-t20i-devines-allround-effort-takes-nz-to-2-1-series-lead-over-sa-665753.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dinesh-karthik-and-wife-dipika-pallikal-welcome-baby-girl-raaha-665657.html New Delhi March 19 Former India wicketkeeperbatter Dinesh Karthik and celebrated squash star Dipika Pallikal have announced the arrival of their baby girl Raaha Pallikal Karthik marking a heartwarming expansion of their family The couple shared the news in a social media announcement that expressed their gratitude and joy as they introduced their baby girl as the younger sister of their twin sons Kabir and ZianâWith blessings in our hearts and gratitude beyond words we joyfully welcome our precious girl into this world Kabir and Zian are thrilled to introduce their baby sister Raaha Pallikal Karthik Love Dipika amp DineshâThe couple tied the knot on August 25 2015 in traditional Hindu and Christian ceremonies and welcomed their twins in 2021 Karthik a former Indian international cricketer enjoyed a distinguished career behind the stumps and with the bat before transitioning into coaching and commentary roles following his retirement from competitive play Over more than two decades he featured in Tests ODIs and T20 Internationals and later served as a mentor and batting coach for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League IPLDipika meanwhile etched her name in Indian squash history as the first Indian woman to break into the worldâs topâ10 rankings A recipient of the Padma Shri and multiple medals at Commonwealth and Asian Games she remains one of the countryâs most decorated athletesShe last competed at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October 2023 where she secured a gold medal in mixed doubles After returning from maternity leave in early 2022 she made a successful comeback capturing two titles at the World Doubles Squash Championships and earning a bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth GamesKarthik is currently part of RCBâs coaching staff He serves as the teamâs batting coach and is part of a highly experienced team that includes Andy Flower as head coach and Omkar Salvi as bowling coach The support staff also features Richard Halsall as assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan as spin bowling coach and player identification manager Basu Shanker as strength and conditioning coach Evan Speechly and James Pipe as the team physios Navnita Gautam as the athletic therapist and Dr Shikha Dhaundiyal as the team doctor IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dinesh-karthik-and-wife-dipika-pallikal-welcome-baby-girl-raaha-665657.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/available-and-looking-forward-says-australia-captain-molinuex-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-wi-t20is-665494.html St Vincent March 18 Australia skipper Sophie Molineux has confirmed she is fit and eager to return to action ahead of the teamâs upcoming whiteball tour of the Caribbean against the West Indies but the exact nature of her involvement has yet to be confirmed as she continues to manage a back injury The allrounder had been sidelined recently due to a back injury which forced her to miss the latter part of Australiaâs ODI series at home against India However she is now nearing full fitness and is expected to feature in the threematch T20I series starting this weekWith the ICC Womenâs T20 World Cup in England just under three months away Molineux shared an encouraging update on her recovery while speaking to the media in St Vincent But she did not clarify what role she would play beyond her availability saying she would be assessed across the sixgame whiteball tourIm looking forward to playing a role and getting back out there â well see how we go especially towards that back end with the onedayers well just keep assessing Im looking forward to getting back out there again with the girls it was hard to watch that Test especially not being a part of Alyssa Healys last game for AustraliaTo be able to get my feet in behind the desk and lead the group Im looking forward to making the most of those opportunities and especially just getting away and jumping on a plane together and connecting as a group again after whats been a big few months in Australia Molineux told reportersAlthough she is set to participate in the T20Is it remains uncertain whether she will play all six matches on the tour The leftarm spinner indicated she could sit out the subsequent ODI fixtures to carefully manage her workload and ensure she is fully prepared for the World CupThere is also some uncertainty about her bowling readiness even though she has already resumed batting and fielding during training sessionsAustraliaâs tour of the West Indies represents their final international assignment before the T20 World Cup making it a crucial phase of preparation Molineux emphasised the importance of maximising this opportunity to build momentum and strengthen team cohesionâIts an important series for all of us as we havent got a whole lot of games before that T20 World Cup Each game we have together is really important and make sure were building towards that And I suppose to be able to get my feet in behind the desk and lead the group âIm looking forward to making the most of those opportunities and especially just getting away and jumping on a plane together and connecting as a group again after whats been a few months in Australia Its going to be really good for usâ Molineux added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/available-and-looking-forward-says-australia-captain-molinuex-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-wi-t20is-665494.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/available-and-looking-forward-australia-captain-molinuex-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-wi-t20is-665496.html St Vincent March 18 Australia skipper Sophie Molineux has confirmed she is fit and eager to return to action ahead of the teamâs upcoming whiteball tour of the Caribbean against the West Indies but the exact nature of her involvement has yet to be confirmed as she continues to manage a back injury The allrounder had been sidelined recently due to a back injury which forced her to miss the latter part of Australiaâs ODI series at home against India However she is now nearing full fitness and is expected to feature in the threematch T20I series starting this weekWith the ICC Womenâs T20 World Cup in England just under three months away Molineux shared an encouraging update on her recovery while speaking to the media in St Vincent But she did not clarify what role she would play beyond her availability saying she would be assessed across the sixgame whiteball tourIm looking forward to playing a role and getting back out there â well see how we go especially towards that back end with the onedayers well just keep assessing Im looking forward to getting back out there again with the girls it was hard to watch that Test especially not being a part of Alyssa Healys last game for AustraliaTo be able to get my feet in behind the desk and lead the group Im looking forward to making the most of those opportunities and especially just getting away and jumping on a plane together and connecting as a group again after whats been a big few months in Australia Molineux told reportersAlthough she is set to participate in the T20Is it remains uncertain whether she will play all six matches on the tour The leftarm spinner indicated she could sit out the subsequent ODI fixtures to carefully manage her workload and ensure she is fully prepared for the World CupThere is also some uncertainty about her bowling readiness even though she has already resumed batting and fielding during training sessionsAustraliaâs tour of the West Indies represents their final international assignment before the T20 World Cup making it a crucial phase of preparation Molineux emphasised the importance of maximising this opportunity to build momentum and strengthen team cohesionâIts an important series for all of us as we havent got a whole lot of games before that T20 World Cup Each game we have together is really important and make sure were building towards that And I suppose to be able to get my feet in behind the desk and lead the groupâIm looking forward to making the most of those opportunities and especially just getting away and jumping on a plane together and connecting as a group again after whats been a few months in Australia Its going to be really good for usâ Molineux added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/available-and-looking-forward-australia-captain-molinuex-gives-fitness-update-ahead-of-wi-t20is-665496.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nsw-rope-in-ex-australia-wicketkeeper-brad-haddin-as-new-mens-head-coach-665498.html New Delhi March 18 Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been named the new head coach of New South Wales NSW The 48yearold replaces Greg Shipperd whose stint ended early despite having a year remaining on his contract Haddin whose decorated career as a wicketkeeper batter for Australia NSW and the Sydney Sixers earned him Cricket NSW Life Member status in 2024 will commence in the role in June His appointment signifies a return to the state setup more than ten years after his last appearance for the Blues in November 2014Haddin brings international coaching experience having served as an assistant and fielding coach for Australia under Darren Lehmann and Justin Langer will oversee all aspects of the Blues program building on the strong foundations in place to embed a distinctive playing style develop FirstClass and Australian players and challenge for further titlesâNSW cricket has been an integral part of my life and to rejoin the fold as Blues head coach is a proud moment for myself and my family I am looking forward to working with our current crop of talented players to bring back an aura to NSW cricket and to have a team with a formidable and distinctive style of play we can all be proud of Wearing the baggy blue was incredibly special and gave me some of the greatest memories of my careerâ Haddin said in an NSW statementHaddinâs appointment as NSW Head Coach will see him pull on a Blues uniform for the first time in almost 12 years having last represented the state in November 2014 during his final summer of FirstClass and ListA cricketLee Germon Cricket NSW CEO said âI am delighted to welcome Brad Haddin back to Cricket NSW to drive our Blues program forward and challenge for further titles Brad is a highly regarded coach with experience at international and franchise level plus a deep understanding of the NSW way of playingHaddin is currently part of Ricky Pontingâs coaching staff at Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League IPL and has also worked with Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside maintaining a presence in the media as a punditWhile Haddin will lead the Blues his duties will not extend to the Big Bash League sides Sydney Sixers or Sydney Thunder Both franchises are in the process of appointing new head coaches after parting ways with Greg Shipperd and Trevor Bayliss with James Hopes and Shane Watson among those linked to the vacancies IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nsw-rope-in-ex-australia-wicketkeeper-brad-haddin-as-new-mens-head-coach-665498.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/if-i-were-with-kkr-id-ask-for-a-spin-friendly-eden-pitch-for-varun-amp-narine-faf--665501.html New Delhi March 18 Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB skipper Faf du Plessis has weighed in on Kolkata Knight Ridersâ prospects for the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 season highlighting the crucial role their spin attack could play after a disappointing campaign last year KKR threetime IPL champions are looking to regroup and rediscover their winning formula According to du Plessis much of that success will hinge on how effectively they utilise their two premier spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine particularly in home conditions at Eden GardensâIf I was part of the KKR team management I would ask the groundsman at Eden Gardens to make the wicket spinfriendly KKR are blessed to have two absolute cannons in Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine They are two of the best T20 spinners in the game right nowâ du Plessis told JioStarâBoth Varun and Narine have to be in the game If they play on surfaces where they are not in contention then you are losing those two cannons and your superpower Yes they can bowl well on any wicket and trouble batters But for KKR to be successful this IPL Varun and Narine need to fire The pitch should be prepared keeping those two players in mindâ he addedBeyond spin du Plessis also turned his attention to KKRâs squad composition particularly the inclusion of Cameron Green who has been brought in as a highprofile allround optionâCameron Green is a highly talented guy who has a lot of potential in him to succeed He is the multiskilled marquee buy for KKR and the replacement for Andre Russell Green is sixfoot tall a massive guy he bowls well has a good bouncer and yorker can hit the ball out of the stadium easily and is a proper batter he saidHowever he also pointed out that expectations will be high especially given the players price tag In short he is a complete package He balances KKRâs team very well In terms of IPL cricket Green has a lot of potential But form has not been on his side recently With a price tag of INR 252 crores there is a big price tag pressure he will carry There is a lot of weight on his shoulders The team will expect a lot from him It will be interesting to see how he goesâ he addedDu Plessis further assessed KKRâs potential opening combination suggesting a dynamic pairing at the top could strengthen their batting lineup He pointed to Finn Allen and Tim Seifert who have opened together for New Zealand in T20Is noting that their aggressive approach aligns well with modern T20 demandsâIf KKR can find a way to fit Finn Allen and Tim Seifert together in the playing XI as openers it will be really good for them It will make their batting very strong Allen and Seifert know each other quite well and have an established opening partnership between each other since they open for New Zealand in T20Is We all saw the carnage they displayed in the T20 World Cup That counts as a massive factorHaving both of them opening the innings is perfect for the way T20 cricket is played now They both go hard from the first ball and attack in different ways So if KKR can fit them together at the top it will be really nice for the team said du PlessisHe did however flag concerns around the teamâs bowling depth particularly in light of injury issues But the question mark is their bowling With the injuries they have they almost need to pick an experienced player from the unsold list and bring that required experience into their bowling attack IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/if-i-were-with-kkr-id-ask-for-a-spin-friendly-eden-pitch-for-varun-amp-narine-faf--665501.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-aim-is-to-maintain-my-mindset-and-win-as-many-games-as-i-can-for-kkr-says-angkrish-raghuvanshi-665533.html New Delhi March 18 Angkrish Raghuvanshi is wellaware the T20 game is rapidly evolving Since entering the Kolkata Knight Riders KKR camp in their triumphant 2024 season where he wowed everyone with his ramp reversesweep and scoop shots to make 163 runs in ten matches Raghuvanshi had a productive IPL 2025 â making 300 runs in 12 games With IPL 2026 now 10 days away the element of surprise that served Raghuvanshi who hit a rapid 54 off 27 balls on his tournament debut so well will be replaced by something more demanding â expectation of stepping up more frequently with the bat when the season begins Ask Raghuvanshi about his goal heading into IPL 2026 and the answer from the softspoken righthanded batter is very simpleI think my mindset is still the same Its always to win games for my team and it will always continue to be that As for the role Im asked to play that Ill find out during this IPL and I will give my 100 percent for it But my aim is to maintain my mindset and win as many games as I can for the team said Raghuvanshi in an exclusive conversation with IANS facilitated by JSW SportsLife after IPL 2025 hasnât been straightforward for Raghuvanshi â he was absent from Mumbaiâs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in the recent domestic season But in the Vijay Hazare Trophy he underlined his worth finishing as Mumbaiâs secondhighest runscorer behind Sarfaraz Khan with 280 runs in seven outingsHis redball opportunities with Mumbai have been scarce just four firstclass appearances so far and is coming off playing for the U23 team in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy But Raghuvanshi the leading rungetter in Indiaâs 2022 U19 World Cup triumph has nothing but gratitude for the chance to constantly play the sport he loves the mostI think I love this sport and Im just grateful for the opportunity that I get to play this sport So I dont take too much pressure on myself Im just enjoying the journey and trying to do as well as I can he saidIf there is one relationship that has shaped Raghuvanshiâs life and career it is with Abhishek Nayar who is taking charge as KKRâs head coach after being in an assistant role for a long timeRaghuvanshi first encountered Nayar at his academy as an 11yearold at Wilson College Gymkhana in Mumbai after coming from New Delhi and that bond has just gone stronger with every passing year That famous post IPL 2024 trophy photograph with Nayar pinned on his Instagram profile says it all It was a dream come true for me I got an opportunity to practice at his academy and Id been practicing there for a month Then he showed up and he started coaching me I guess he felt that I was dedicated and I wanted to learn as much as I could He could see how much love I had for the sport I guess he decided to take me on thenHes taught me how to be a better cricketer and a better person Just everything Ive learned in life Ive learned from him So I think hes a great cricketing mind and a great person and we will have a great season under him Raghuvanshi saidOn the technical front Nayars influence shows up clearly in Raghuvanshis willingness to play the usual and unorthodox shots that require both skill and nerve The methodology behind it is straightforward as per RaghuvanshiIts because Abhishek sir makes me practice as hard as anyone can His main motto is that if you practice very hard put yourself under pressure in practice and you train as hard as you can then matches become easy and thats what I also felt worked for me he saidAsk Raghuvanshi on what is the secret behind the dynamic environment in KKR and he points not to the stars in the dressing room or coaching staff but to the franchiseâs academy that keeps players connected through the yearIts largely because of the KKR academy as well because we practice with each other throughout the year So I think when the tournament finally comes around we all know each other very well I think its one of the environments where everyone wants each other to do well Its a very rare environment and its a great amazing atmosphere to be a part ofâEveryones motivated and want to do well this season In every game we just try to do as well as we can Every game we give it our all and obviously its different outcomes for every game But for every game the mindset is the same that is to try to help the team to win and whatever the team needsâ he saidThe biggest takeaway from Raghuvanshiâs IPL experiences has been about not stagnating as a player My biggest learning is that everyone is growing and learning all the time so you always have to improve Every day you go out to play or go out to practice you just always learn and try to get better because everyone around you is always getting better he saidIPL 2026 will bring new international teammates for Raghuvanshi at KKR and he has already identified the people he wants to learn from a lot about cricket Finn Allen Rachin Ravindra and assistant coach Shane Watson are all on his radarIm just looking forward to working with every one of them so I can pick their brains as to how they go about their cricket and I can learn from them and get better Theyve done well a lot of times and thats why theyre one of the best players in the world he saidThrough all of this the support structure at home remains a constant for Raghuvanshi â his father Avneesh played tennis while mother Mallika represented India in basketball Add to it his brother Krishang dabbled into professional tennisI think my parents are both very supportive and I cant thank them enough for it Im very grateful for it They just know that I enjoy the sport and they motivate me to work hard and just continue loving the game he saidRaghuvanshi draws inspiration from Shubman Gill and AB de Villiers but itâs Cristiano Ronaldoâs work ethic that fuels him the most Ive been a big Cristiano Ronaldo fan growing up because Im also a Manchester United fan So I love Cristiano Ronaldo and I love how motivated he is always to do well just his offthefield habits is something that every youngster like myself can learnTime will tell if KKR who still face questions over their fastbowling resources are able to bounce back after a subdued 2025 season For now the IPL spotlight on Raghuvanshi will become brighter if runs keep coming for him if he continues to follow his mantra of staying grounded always improving and helping KKR win matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-aim-is-to-maintain-my-mindset-and-win-as-many-games-as-i-can-for-kkr-says-angkrish-raghuvanshi-665533.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-rankings-mehidy-climbs-to-no-2-among-odi-all-rounders-santner-gains-big-in-t20i-665549.html New Delhi March 18 Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz has made significant gains in the ODI charts following a string of impressive performances against Pakistan in the recently concluded threematch ODI series at home Mehidy climbed nine places to move to joint seventh in the ODI bowlersâ rankings while also improving two spots to rise to second in the ODI allroundersâ listMehidy was among Bangladeshs best performers during the recent threegame ODI series against Pakistan at home with the allrounder collecting five wickets across three matchesBangladeshs prime batter Tanzid Hasan who scored his maiden century against Pakistan also surged 31 places to 55th while Litton Das moved up 10 spots to 82nd Among bowlers Taskin Ahmed climbed 12 places to 28th and Mustafizur Rahman gained 13 positions to reach 47thDespite losing the series Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha jumped nine places to joint ninth in the ODI batting rankings He also improved three spots to be placed joint 10th among ODI allrounders Shaheen Shah Afridi advanced four places to be tied for 25th in the ODI allroundersâ list after contributing with the ballIn T20Is New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner registered the biggest gains continuing his strong form from the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup into the ongoing home series against South AfricaSantner who has picked up three wickets and scored 35 runs in the opening two matches of the fivegame series climbed 11 places to 13th in the T20I bowlersâ rankings He also moved up two spots to joint seventh in the T20I allroundersâ list achieving a careerbest ratingAmong his teammates Lockie Ferguson rose 18 places to 51st in the T20I bowling rankings while Devon Conway gained four spots to reach 70th among batters Indiaâs Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the T20I batting rankingsSouth Africa also saw movement with George Linde climbing 11 places to 23rd in the T20I allroundersâ list after his contribution of 33 runs in the second match Fellow pacer Ottneil Baartman jumped 23 places to 73rd in the T20I bowlersâ rankingsIndian opener Abhishek Sharma maintained his top spot in the T20I batters rankings with Varun Chakaravarthy also continuing in the second spot in the T20I bowling chart IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-rankings-mehidy-climbs-to-no-2-among-odi-all-rounders-santner-gains-big-in-t20i-665549.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ish-sodhi-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-t20i-series-against-sa-665345.html Hamilton March 16 New Zealand have suffered a blow with spinner Ish Sodhi being ruled out of the remainder of T20I series against South Africa due to a broken thumb Sodhi hurt his thumb while bowling at training on Saturday and scans have since revealed a break in the affected area and a rehabilitation period of up to four weeksThat will see the rightarmer that played three matches at the recent ICC Mens T20 World Cup miss the remainder of the home series against South AfricaHowever New Zealand havent named a replacement for Sodhi with speedster Lockie Ferguson to join the team for the second and third matches of the series following an easy sevenwicket victory for the Spith Africa in the opening fixture in Mount Maunganui on SundayIt will leave Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie as the main spin options in New Zealands squad and head coach Rob Walter believes they have enough depth to cover the loss of SodhiâIsh is very passionate about playing for New Zealand and we know he was looking forward to turning out in front of home fans after the T20 World Cup campaignâ Walter saidâHe is hugely experienced in the T20 format and so will be a big miss for the remainder of the seriesâWeâre confident with Lockie coming in as well as Mitch Santner and Cole McConchie that we have appropriate cover for the next two matches before the squad transitions for the last two matchesâOn Saturday in the first T20I a clinical bowling display followed by a measured chase helped South Africa secure a comfortable sevenwicket win over New Zealand in the opening T20I of the fivematch seriesChasing a modest target of 92 South Africa reached 923 in 164 overs with Connor Esterhuizen anchoring the innings with a composed 35 not out off 44 balls The righthander fittingly sealed the win with a six off Kyle Jamieson giving the visitors a 10 lead in the seriesNew Zealand squadMitchell Santner c Katene Clarke Josh Clarkson Dane Cleaver wk Devon Conway wk Lockie Ferguson Zak Foulkes Bevon Jacobs Kyle Jamieson Nick Kelly Tom Latham wk Jayden Lennox Cole McConchie Jimmy Neesham Tim Robinson Ben Sears Nathan Smith IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ish-sodhi-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-t20i-series-against-sa-665345.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-mumbai-indians-begin-training-session-ahead-of-season-opener-665356.html New Delhi March 16 Fivetime champions Mumbai Indians have begun preparing for the upcoming Indian Premier League IPL 2026 season Head coach Mahela Jayawardene led the first training session as the team gets ready for its opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the famous Wankhede Stadium on March 29 The franchise shared glimpses of the early preparations on social media The first batch of players attending the camp includes Shardul Thakur Mayank Markande Allah Ghazanfar Dhir Raja Angad Bawa Robin Minz Sharma Mayank Rawat Malewar Mohammad Izhar and Ashwani KumarJayawardene oversaw the onfield session with a strong support staff that included bowling coaches Paras Mhambrey and Lasith Malinga along with fielding coach Carl Hopkinson The teamâs strength and conditioning and physiotherapy staff were also present as the squad began organized preparations for the new campaignâThereâs always something special about the first day of preseason You see the players walk in the energy builds and the objective is to start strongâ Jayawardene said âWeâve got the boys who know this franchise inside out and we have got some exciting new faces coming in Day one sets the tone for the entire campaign We wanted everyone to feel the intent from the very first session in how we train how we prepare and how we show up for each otherâHe added that the opening session marks the beginning of serious work ahead of the tournament âThe first session is always exciting but itâs also the start of something serious and we know what weâre building towardsâ he saidThe session began with a structured fitness and conditioning block as the strength and conditioning staff put the players through movement drills agility routines and fitness assessments to gauge readiness ahead of the demanding seasonThe remainder of the squad is expected to join the camp in the coming days as preparations intensify ahead of the new IPL campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-mumbai-indians-begin-training-session-ahead-of-season-opener-665356.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/lines-of-legacy-kkr-unveils-new-jersey-ahead-of-ipl-2026-665188.html Kolkata March 14 Threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders KKR have unveiled their new jersey ahead of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 designed in the theme of Lines of Legacy At the heart of the design are the defining moments that have shaped KKRâs journey over the years From the unforgettable opening night when Brendon McCullum smashed 158 back in 2008 to Rinku Singhâs five sixes in the final over KKR have produced many such moments that have become part of IPL folklore Each iconic moment forms a line in the franchiseâs starstudded story and when these lines come together they create the initials K K R in the style of abstract linear art This season those lines are not just remembered they are woven into the jersey itself allowing fans to wear a piece of the teamâs story KKR said in a statementSpeaking on the jersey reveal Venky Mysore Chief Executive Officer Knight Riders Sports said The Lines of Legacy captures the essence of KKRs storied history and celebrates the journey of the team over the years Each line represents a pivotal moment of brilliance reflecting the energy and spirit that weaves together to form our identity We are proud of this legacy that we have built and want to carry it into the upcoming season while creating more memories for our fans to cherishâAs per the first 20match schedule released by the BCCI Kolkata Knight Riders will start their campaign in an away game against the fivetime champions Mumbai Indians to be played at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29 Their first home game is against Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH on April 2 The iconic Eden Gardens can be expected to be painted purple with tons of fans pouring in with their jerseys to show their supportThe team will play their third match against the 2025 IPL runner ups Punjab Kings at the same venue on April 6 The team will play their third consecutive home match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 9KKR have strengthened their squad during the IPL 2026 auction The team secured marquee players including Cameron Green Matheesha Pathirana and Finn Allen while also signing West Indies allrounder Rovman Powell to fill the gap left by Andre Russell IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/lines-of-legacy-kkr-unveils-new-jersey-ahead-of-ipl-2026-665188.html Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wi-name-unchanged-squad-for-womens-t20is-against-australia-665038.html St Johns Antigua March 13 Cricket West Indies CWI has announced womenâs squad for the T20I series against Australia set to take place from March 19â23 at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines The West Indies will use the same 15 players that were in action during their recent T20I series against Sri LankaThe squad blends proven matchwinners with exciting young talent Senior stars Stafanie Taylor Deandra Dottin and captain Hayley Matthews bring experience and firepower while wicketkeeperbatter Shemaine Campbelle stands on the verge of a milestone expected to earn her 150th T20 International cap during the series Emerging prospects Eboni Brathwaite 17 and Jahzara Claxton 19 add youthful energy as the West Indies look to challenge Australiaâs dominance and build momentum in a pivotal year of whiteball cricketThe series forms a key part of the teamâs buildup to the ICC Womens T20 World Cup later this year in the United Kingdom offering the perfect opportunity for the regional side to test their strength against one of the gameâs most dominant teamsHead Coach Shane Deitz welcomed the opportunity to face the worldâs best in Caribbean conditionsâWere really excited about the opportunity to play the number one ranked ODI and T20 team in the world Its just before the World Cup so its a great opportunity to see where we are in our preparation Playing against the best team in the world we can see where our deficiencies are and where things are working well as we look forward to the tournament in June in England Deitz saidâIts going to be a very tough series but the players are up for the challenge We havent played them in a competitive match since October 2023 so itll be good to see the progression of the team since that last meeting namely in how much weve improved in certain areas and where we still need to improve moving forward he addedFollowing the T20Is the teams will travel to Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis for a threematch ODI seriesWest Indies squad Hayley Matthews c Chinelle Henry Aaliyah Alleyne Eboni Brathwaite Shemaine Campbelle Jahzara Claxton Deandra Dottin Afy Fletcher Jannillea Glasgow Shawnisha Hector Zaida James Qiana Joseph Mandy Mangru Karishma Ramharack Stafanie Taylor IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wi-name-unchanged-squad-for-womens-t20is-against-australia-665038.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rajasthan-royals-to-begin-pre-season-training-camp-in-jaipur-from-march-17-665046.html Jaipur March 13 Rajasthan Royals will commence their first preseason training camp in Jaipur from March 17 for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season The squad will assemble at Pink City kicking off the camp with training fitness and nets sessions at Sawai Mansingh Stadium marking the first time the Royals full squad including new recruits like Jadeja and Sam Curran coming together ahead of the seasonUnder the guidance of Head Coach and Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara the camp will focus on fostering team bonding intensive training and planning along with strength and training sessionsEarlier a smaller group of players including Ravi Bishnoi Vaibhav Sooryavanshi SandeepSharma and recently Ravindra Jadeja had attended a short camp cum fitness assessment session at franchiseâs High Performance Centre in NagpurInaugural champions Rajasthan Royals who will be led by captain Riyan Parag in the upcoming season will play their first three home matches of the IPL 2026 season at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati their alternate home groundThe franchise is likely to travel to Guwahati on March 26 for its season opening matchup against CSK on March 30 as per the fixtures announced by the IPL Governing CouncilRoyals will then travel to Ahmedabad for their second match where they will face the Gujarat Titans on April 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium The clash against the Titans will be the Royalsâ first away game of the seasonThey will return to Guwahati for their third and fourth matches of the season where they will take on the Mumbai Indians and reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 7 and 10 respectivelyOnly 20 fixtures till April 12 have been revealed on account of the upcoming elections The rest of the 2026 Indian Premier League schedule will be announced laterRoyalsâ fixtures at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur will be announced with the next trench of the schedule IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rajasthan-royals-to-begin-pre-season-training-camp-in-jaipur-from-march-17-665046.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/everything-thats-positive-also-has-negative-to-it-ramit-tandon-on-pressure-home-advantage-and-peaking-for-the-asian-games-664863.html New Delhi March 12 As the 2026 Indian Open approaches Indiaâs squash star Ramit Tandon is gearing up to showcase his skills on home soil Scheduled from March 18 to 22 at Mumbaiâs Brabourne Stadium the tournament is crucial in Tandonâs busy year which also includes preparing for the 2026 Asian Games a major event that doubles as a pathway to the Olympics In an exclusive interview with IANS Tandon reflected on the current state of Indian squash the pressures and perks of playing at home and what success looks like for him at this stage of his career With a unique perspective bridging past and future generations of Indian squash Tandonâs insights highlight not only his personal journey but also the growing ecosystem of support that is propelling Indian squash to new heightsWith just over a week to go before the Indian Open Tandon is in his taper phase where training intensity decreases to allow peak performance during the tournamentâPreparations have been good so far I have another week and a half before the event so Im kind of in my taper phase But yeah its been a good few weeks Its been good to be home Normally Im competing in different parts of the world so my training camps are also in those countries But the few times we get to play in India we get to be home and be pampered So its been good so farâ Tandon told IANSThe home environment allows Tandon to focus on recovery minimise travel stress and finetune his game with his full support team by his side The Asian Games is Tandonâs main target this year offering both prestige and a chance to qualify for the OlympicsâIt is the most important event of the year Firstly it is the Asian Games that garners its own respect But apart from that obviously its the qualification for the Olympics which is an addition for squash because we have not been in the Olympics before So not only for me for every Asian player in the top four top eight in Asia we are looking at that as an entry into the Olympics So its definitely the most ambitious not ambitious but the most important goal for the year And obviously my team is aware of it I have a team when I talk about my plans and my training plans Im just a follower The orders come to me from my coaching team So we are aware of it as a team We have made it a point that the goal would be to peak at the Asian Games and everything else is designed around thatâEvery tournament including the Indian Open is part of a carefully mapped plan to ensure Tandon is at his best when it matters most Tandon believes that he belongs to the generation that bridges past legends and rising stars Squash has beenâevery phase we have had strong players Im kind of stuck in between The previous phase was obviously a sort of Ghoshal Harinder Sandhu phase but those guys are a good five six years older than I am And then Im the one in between that is part you know I didnt see their complete journey but I was towards the end of their journey and towards the start of this journeyBut having said that its a very unfair way to look at it to compare generations In cricket when you look at it when you look at Virat Kohli you say Sachin Tendulkar has played a big role in making Virat Kohli And Virat Kohli is playing a big role in making maybe a Shubman Gill or someone else So you know as a sport we work as one teamIf there were no Saurav Ghosal there probably would not be a pipeline of players below that If there were no Joshna or Deepika there probably would not be an Anahat today So youve got to give them credit Credit is due when it is right in these situations And having said that we are at a good As a country today we are at a very strong phase You know we have four men in the worlds top 50 which is not the norm for Indian squashAnahat is doing extremely well Joshna is still around And youve got to also be aware of the support systems today right Like what Saurav and Harinder Sandhu or Joshna and Deepika didnt receive back in the day we are receiving today So fair enough we should be better and we should outperform the previous generations Because if we dont then its not on us Its showing the support system that the country is not working well enough for us to outperform So Indian squash is in a good placeâCorporate firms are backing squash which is a big step forward for us as squash players Squash making the Olympics we have like tops the government scheme we have been included in that which again is a big boost So Im very hopeful that in the years to come the current generation and future generations will outperform what our ancestors left behind for us I dont think ancestors would be a bad term Im not counting Saurav as an ancestor laughs Im talking about like the generations of squash playersâTandon believes that Indian squash today has stronger infrastructure funding and visibility than ever before which is a vital factor in nurturing future championsThe Indian Open offers the rare opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd For Tandon this is both comforting and challengingâIts extremely important Two reasons obviously as I mentioned before you have like the most number of players in the top 50 of the world More Indian players in the top 50 in the world today than we have ever had before which means you need to also step up the level of competition and bring international competitions of this magnitude to the countryâGives us home advantage gives us advantage of the conditions gives us a month of being home with our families and competing in our own country in front of the people who have supported us So also means fewer flights the one two times a year we get to play at home which is a big thing with the Asian Games coming about its not only about competing its also about being rested and being injuryfree As you mentioned at the 2022 Asian Games I had a hamstring issue and couldnt make it right So similarly like having events at home obviously gives me the sense that my team is home I have physios at my service at home which is hard to do when youre on the roadâHe added that international tournaments at home inspire the next generation showing young players the level of competition they can aspire toâBeyond me and beyond the top players in the country in terms of creating a culture for the upcoming generations for the eightyear 10yearolds who are going to be watching and looking at squash at the international level its just creating a level where they would see beyond what we used to when we were kidsâPlaying at home brings expectations but the 33yearold sees it as a test of resilienceâEverything thats positive also has a negative to it right And playing at home obviously youre comfortable The climate favours you a little bit but at the same time theres a lot of pressure Youre around people who want you to do really well Theres a lot of expectation and youve got to deal with that as well which is important as an athlete You know you cant run away from pressureâYou need to deal with and breathe through these situations And it just makes you tougher as a squash player right Every competition the way we look at it as Indians we are very resultoriented you know Like when we talk to someone about the board exams the first thing we ask is how much did you get right And its the same thing in our sport you know We only look at the result and we ask like Oh are you going to win or loseâBut what you also have to look at is like whats making you better as a sports person Whats making you better as an individual And going through these situations definitely adds value you know And you might not see the benefit of it in this tournament but that mental toughness might come through in the Asian games you know And so overall its good to put yourself through these situationsâSquashâs inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is historic and Tandon sees it as a major milestone for Indian squashâIts the biggest thing for world squash as a whole you know Like weve tried a bunch of times and havent made it And then finally making it to the Olympics for LA 2028 is probably the biggest achievement my sport has had as a whole And Indian squash being part of world squash as a byproduct I being a squash player IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/everything-thats-positive-also-has-negative-to-it-ramit-tandon-on-pressure-home-advantage-and-peaking-for-the-asian-games-664863.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-media-fans-slam-team-after-humiliating-defeat-to-bangladesh-664828.html Dhaka March 12 Pakistanâs cricket team faced sharp criticism from fans and media after suffering a humiliating eightwicket defeat against Bangladesh in the first ODI here Chasing a modest target of 115 Bangladesh comfortably reached 1152 in just 151 overs Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim led the charge with an unbeaten 67 while Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed 27 as the hosts sealed an emphatic victoryPakistan did get an early breakthrough when captain Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed opener Saif Hassan for 4 in the third over offering a brief moment of hope for the visitors However Tamim and Shanto stitched together a solid partnership that ensured Bangladesh chased down the target with easeEarlier Pakistanâs batting lineup collapsed for just 114 in 304 overs after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field first Fast bowler Nahid Rana produced a sensational spell claiming a fivewicket haul to dismantle Pakistanâs batting orderPakistanâs innings began steadily with debutants Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adding 41 runs for the opening wicket Rana then triggered the collapse by dismissing Farhan before removing Shamyl Hussain for 4 with the score at 47The pacer continued his dominance dismissing Sadaqat 18 Mohammad Rizwan 10 and Salman Agha 5 to complete his fivewicket haulMehidy Hasan Miraz also played a crucial role with the ball picking up three wickets including Abdul Samad for a duck Hussain Talat 4 and Shaheen Afridi 4Faheem Ashraf showed some resistance with a fighting 37 off 47 balls to help Pakistan cross the 100run mark but he was eventually dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman Taskin Ahmed wrapped up the innings by removing Mohammad Wasim Jr for a duckFollowing the defeat Pakistani fans took to social media to express frustration over the teamâs poor batting performance and lack of fightâ114 all out against Bangladesh is simply unacceptable This team has no consistencyâ one fan wrote on XAnother supporter criticised the batting lineup saying âExcept for one or two players no one looks capable of building an innings This is embarrassingâSome fans also questioned the selection decisions and the inclusion of several inexperienced players in the playing XIâExperimenting is fine but the team still needs basic batting discipline This collapse shows serious problemsâ another fan postedPakistani media outlets also described the defeat as a âshocking collapseâ and highlighted the dominance of Bangladeshâs bowling attack led by Nahid Rana IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-media-fans-slam-team-after-humiliating-defeat-to-bangladesh-664828.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-matthew-hayden-joins-gujarat-titans-as-batting-coach-664689.html Ahmedabad March 10 The Gujarat Titans have appointed former Australian opener Matthew Hayden as their batting coach ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season the franchise confirmed on Tuesday A twotime ICC Cricket World Cup winner and one of the most formidable openers of his generation Hayden brings extensive international experience and a deep understanding of modern T20 batting to the Titansâ coaching setup His addition strengthens the teamâs support staff as the 2022 champions prepare for the new seasonDirector of Cricket Vikram Solanki said the former Australian starâs appointment comes at an important moment for the franchiseMatthewâs appointment comes at a pivotal phase in our journey As a franchise committed to excellence and longterm success we are constantly focused on strengthening our cricketing ecosystem His experience at the highest level coupled with his ability to mentor emerging talent will be instrumental in shaping our batting identity for the seasons aheadâ Solanki saidHayden meanwhile expressed his excitement about taking on the role and outlined the standard he hopes to instil within the sideâs batting unit Commenting on his appointment the Aussie great said âGood batting applies pressure Great batting owns the game Thatâs the standard we want to set at Gujarat TitansâDuring an illustrious international career with Australia Hayden featured in 273 matches across formats and scored more than 15000 runs Renowned for his aggressive yet technically sound approach he played a significant role in shaping the powerplay dominance that defines modern whiteball cricketHayden also left a notable mark on the IPL during his stint with Chennai Super Kings between 2008 and 2010 Across 32 appearances he scored 1107 runs at an average of 3690 and a strike rate of 13752His standout season came in 2009 when he claimed the Orange Cap after amassing 572 runs Known for his imposing presence at the crease Hayden famously wielded the distinctive âMongooseâ bat in 2010 including during a blistering 93 off 43 deliveries against Delhi Daredevils now Delhi CapitalsHe capped his IPL journey on a high by helping Chennai Super Kings secure their maiden league title in 2010 leaving a lasting legacy through both his performances and his fearless approach to T20 batting IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ipl-2026-matthew-hayden-joins-gujarat-titans-as-batting-coach-664689.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jess-jonassen-steps-down-as-queensland-and-brisbane-heat-captain-664693.html New Delhi March 10 Australian allrounder Jess Jonassen has stepped down from her leadership roles with Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat Women bringing to an end a fiveyear stint as captain across domestic competitions Jonassen who informed Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson of her decision last month is set to reach another milestone this week when she plays her 100th match in the Womens National Cricket League on Saturday at Allan Border FieldThe experienced spinner had led both sides since taking over from Kirby Short in 2020 captaining Brisbane in 81 matches in the Womens Big Bash League and Queensland in 30 WNCL fixturesJonassen recently returned to competitive action against New South Wales Breakers after recovering from shoulder surgery that prematurely ended her WBBL campaign in December During her absence wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne stepped in as standin captain and will continue to lead the Fire for the remainder of the WNCL season while Jonassen focuses solely on her playing responsibilitiesExplaining her decision Jonassen said the choice followed a period of reflection in recent weeksâI did have every intention of wanting to lead again this season but the NSW trip helped open my eyes to a number of things and has helped me come to this decision I am very grateful for the past five years and to those who showed faith in me being the person to help lead these teams forwardâ she was quoted as saying by Queensland CricketâWhen I sat down and thought hard about what was best for the future I realised I could no longer give my all in the role I know this is the best decision for both me and the team Iâm very much looking forward to finishing my career as a senior player who leads from within and will support whoever gets the opportunity to lead these teams next We have some impressive leaders in our group and I will give them whatever assistance they needâ she addedThe veteran allrounder also expressed gratitude to the coaching staff and administrators who supported her during her captaincyâA huge thank you to the coaches Mark Sorell and Jeff Thomas and all their support staff for the past few seasons And similarly our CEO Terry Svenson and the Board and Staff of Queensland Cricket for backing me and supporting the team throughout My wife Sarah and my family helped me arrive at this decision when I was wrestling with what I wanted to do and their love and support means I know I have made the right callâLooking back as a kid I never thought Iâd ever call myself a captain of Queensland but itâs something Iâm proud of and I hope Iâve made a difference somewhere in my timeââ Jonassen saidMeanwhile the Fire are preparing for a crucial pair of WNCL fixtures against Victoria Women at Allan Border Field on Thursday and Saturday The results could determine whether Queensland secure a place in the final against the New South Wales Breakers in Sydney later this month IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jess-jonassen-steps-down-as-queensland-and-brisbane-heat-captain-664693.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-to-announce-ipl-2026-schedule-for-first-20-days-by-march-12-saikia-664701.html New Delhi March 10 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI will release the schedule for the first 20 days of the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 by March 12 said secretary Devajit Saikia The 19th edition of the IPL will run from March 28 to May 31 after the initial window was between March 26 and May 30 We plan to announce the IPL 2026 schedule by March 12 For now we are going to announce the IPL schedule for the first 20 days Saikia told IANS on Tuesday It is understood the remainder of the tournamentâs schedule will come later as the BCCI aims to avoid a clash with assembly elections in West Bengal Assam and Tamil NaduNevertheless teams have already begun their preseason preparations Fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings started their training on March 1 at their HighPerformance Centre in Navalur with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni among those presentDefending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru held a small preparation camp at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 10 while 2022 champions Gujarat Titans held practice sessions twice at the Miraj International Cricket Stadium in NathdwaraPunjab Kings trained in Abu Dhabi in early February and are currently running a practice camp in Dharamsala while 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad began their camp on March 1 with their domestic players Fivetime winners Mumbai Indians have also started their training for the upcoming season2008 winners Rajasthan Royals are expected to assemble for a practice camp in Jaipur from March 15 while threetime champions Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their preseason camp on March 18 Delhi Capitals recently did one in Hyderabad and are expected to have one in New Delhi while Lucknow Super Giants had held a preparatory session in Lucknow IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-to-announce-ipl-2026-schedule-for-first-20-days-by-march-12-saikia-664701.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-calls-off-board-meetings-in-doha-amid-west-asia-conflict-report-664708.html New Delhi March 10 The International Cricket Council ICC has reportedly called off its board and committee meetings in Doha due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia that have disrupted travel in the region The meetings were scheduled to take place from March 25 to 27 bringing together ICC Board Directors Chief Executives committee members and senior leadership as part of the organisationâs ongoing governance calendar providing an important opportunity to deliberate over key matters pertaining to the present and future of the global gameAccording to ESPNcricinfo the ICC is still keeping the option open to hold inperson meetings in April although that will depend on normal functioning of regional airspace to allow safe travel for board membersThe report said that that among the major topics expected to be discussed were the future of global broadcast rights after the current deal expires in 2027 early talks regarding the next Future Tours Programme FTP and the qualification process for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 OlympicsThe Doha gathering would have marked the first time the ICC planned to host its board meetings in Qatar a country that has recently reported a significant rise in cricket participationSince 2020 overall participation in cricket in Qatar has grown by an impressive 447 per cent driven largely by initiatives aimed at introducing the sport to new and younger audiences Central to this growth has been cricketâs inclusion in the Qatar Olympic Committeeâs School Olympic Programme which has helped embed the game within schools across the country Meanwhile the ongoing crisis in West Asia has also begun to affect international cricket schedules The limitedovers series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka which was scheduled to take place in the UAE from March 13 to 25 is now likely to be postponed indefinitelyAn earlier series between Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions was also cancelled midway due to the same crisis IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-calls-off-board-meetings-in-doha-amid-west-asia-conflict-report-664708.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/vaishnavi-adkar-credits-bopanna-after-breakthrough-run-in-itf-w35-kalaburagi-664713.html Kalaburagi March 10 Just after winning the ITF W35 Kalaburagi title completing an impressive run in Karnataka that included finishing as runnerup at the ITF Womenâs Open W100 Bengaluru in February Indiaâs Vaishnavi Adkar attributed her improved performances to the guidance of Grand Slam champion Rohan Bopanna âWe spoke about a few things and that made me realise that the move could be the right one for me Having someone with that level of experience someone who has been world number one and competed at the highest level for so many years is really valuable Getting inputs from him and learning from that experience along with working with the team at the academy has been very helpful for me as I look to improve and move forward in my careerâ she saidAdkar also thanked the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association KSLTA for giving her a wildcard entry at the ITF Womenâs Open W100 Bengaluru 2026 There she became the first Indian woman to reach the final of a W100 or higherlevel tournament since Sania Mirza in 2009 This achievement boosted her ranking from No 690 to a careerhigh of No 466 and she is expected to enter the top 400 next week once the points from her victory in Kalaburagi are added âIâm really grateful to KSLTA for giving me the wildcard opportunities I wasnât really expecting it so it meant a lot that they showed that belief in me Iâm happy that I was able to make the most of the opportunity and it really helped my ranking as wellâAdkar has been named to Indiaâs team for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup AsiaOceania tournament scheduled for next month in New Delhi âTennis is mostly an individual sport so getting the chance to be part of a team event like the Billie Jean King Cup and representing India is very special Iâm really looking forward to it and I hope I can contribute to the team in whatever way possibleâ she said of her selectionIn recent months Adkar has focused on improving important elements of her game âTwo of the main things we have been working on are the serve and the return because those are the shots that start every point At the same time the physical aspect of the game has become very important in modern tennis so Iâve been focusing a lot on improving that as wellâ she notedShe also emphasised that her approach to the game has significantly changed saying âThis year I told myself that I just want to enjoy playing more and have fun on court because thatâs the reason I started playing this sport in the first place When I was able to play with that mindset and not put too much pressure on myself the results started comingâ She attributed her early development to her parents who gave her the freedom to pursue the sport without feeling pressured âMy parents have been supportive throughout Even when the results werenât coming early on they never put any pressure on me They always told me that as long as I was enjoying what I was doing that was the most important thingâ Her junior career faced a major setback when an injury temporarily interrupted her progress Speaking of the same Adkar said âI had an ACL tear right after winning my first ITF juniors title It happened the very next week in another tournament I had to undergo surgery and was out for about eight months and that was a very tough period mentally because it came at a time when I needed to keep earning points and progressingâ However Adkar believes that the recovery period ultimately helped her come back stronger âComing back from surgery is always difficult psychologically because that fear is there But during my recovery we worked a lot on my strength and fitness and when I returned to competition I was physically stronger than before In a way it turned out to be a blessing in disguiseâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/vaishnavi-adkar-credits-bopanna-after-breakthrough-run-in-itf-w35-kalaburagi-664713.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-seamer-lea-tahuhu-retires-from-odi-cricket-664336.html Wellington March 8 New Zealand seamer Lea Tahuhu has announced her retirement from Womens ODIs drawing curtains on her 15year career in the format She will continue to be available for selection in T20Is NZC said Tahuhu will be part of the White Ferns squad for the T20I series against South Africa which will be named on TuesdaySince making her ODI debut as a 20yearold against Australia in Brisbane in the 2011 Rose Bowl series Tahuhu has gone on to represent New Zealand in 103 ODIs and steps away from the format as New Zealands alltime leading ODI wickettaker with 125 wicketsâItâs always been a privilege and honour to pull on the WHITE FERNS shirt in ODI cricket To get one game was an amazing feeling To have been able to wear the shirt and represent my country and my family over 100 times in ODI cricket is something I never could have dreamt of âIâll treasure every moment and walk away from the ODI game incredibly proud of what Iâve been able to achieve in the format Tahuhu said in a statement shared by NZCTahuhu who made what was her final ODI appearance for New Zealand against England at the 2025 ICC Womenâs Cricket World Cup in India said she was excited for what was to come in the T20 formatâThereâs plenty of exciting things ahead and Iâm looking forward to continuing to contribute to this team in the T20 format Winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 was a huge achievement and Iâm really motivated to be over in England later this year to help this team defend our title she saidThe 35yearold pacer is one of 12 players to have played over 100 ODI matches for the White Ferns and featured at four World Cups including the 2022 Womenâs Cricket World Cup on home soil in New Zealand She has consistently been ranked inside the top ten ODI bowlers was widely regarded at her peak as the worldâs fastest bowler and in 2023 was named in the ICC Womenâs ODI Team of the Year after a stellar seasonHead coach Ben Sawyer said Tahuhuâs contributions to the ODI game had been significantâLea has operated at the top of the womenâs ODI game for 15 years which is a huge achievement for a pace bowler Leaâs pace has always been a strength but her competitiveness and drive to push this team forward have stood out and that has rubbed off on the younger bowlers who are now coming through and learning their craft in the ODI gameâLea has been the senior member of the ODI bowling group for some time and leaves the group in a great place moving into the next fouryear cycle which is a testament to her leadership said SawyerSawyer said Tahuhuâs ODI numbers speak for themselves âStepping down from a format as your countryâs alltime leading wickettaker is some achievement that Lea should be very proud of Lea has scaled the heights of the ODI game and has set new bowling standards in the format for the White Fernsâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nz-seamer-lea-tahuhu-retires-from-odi-cricket-664336.html Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-fitting-farewell-for-healy-as-australia-crush-india-by-10-wickets-seal-multi-format-series-12-4-664368.html Perth March 8 Alyssa Healy didnt get a chance to bat one final time but Australia women ensured her international career ended on a winning note as they beat India to register a commanding 10wicket win on Day 3 of the oneoff Test at the WACA Ground on Sunday With this victory Australia also clinched the multiformat series with an unassailable 124 lead over India India had started the tour on a positive note by winning the T20I series 21 However the hosts bounced back strongly with a clean sweep in the ODI series They then extended their lead and sealed the overall series by winning the oneoff Test With this result India finished their tour of Australia with just two winsIndia resumed their second innings at 1056 at the start of Day 3 Pratika Rawal and Sneh Rana looked in good touch and were striking the ball wellPratika brought up her maiden halfcentury on debut in the 34th over reaching the milestone in 105 balls Australia finally got the breakthrough in the 41st over when Ashley Gardner bowled Sneh Rana who scored 30 runs off 54 ballsIndia suffered another setback in the next over when Alana King dismissed Kashvee Gautam With the team struggling at 1348 Pratika continued to attack from the other end and helped take the total close to the 150 markAustralia wrapped up Indiaâs innings with the wickets of Sayali and Pratika within three deliveries India were bowled out for 149 Thanks to Pratikaâs fighting knock of 63 runs India reduced the deficit and set a small target of 25 runs for AustraliaAustralia chased down the target in just 43 overs without losing a wicket Georgia Voll remained unbeaten on 16 while Phoebe Litchfield stayed not out on 11 as Australia completed an easy winEarlier after losing the toss India scored 198 in their first innings with the help of a halfcentury from Jemimah and a knock of 35 from Shafali Annabel Sutherland was the top wickettaker for Australia with four wickets while Lucy Hamilton picked up threeIn reply Australia posted 323 in their first innings powered by a matchdefining knock of 129 from Sutherland Allrounder Ellyse Perry also scored 76 as the hosts took a 125run lead which proved too much for the struggling Indian sideBrief Scores India women 198 amp 149 Pratika Rawal 63 Sneh Rana 30 Lucy Hamilton 332 Ashleigh Gardner 28 lost to Australia 323 amp 28 Georgia Voll 16 Phoebe Litchfield 11 by 10 wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-fitting-farewell-for-healy-as-australia-crush-india-by-10-wickets-seal-multi-format-series-12-4-664368.html Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-sutherland-unbeaten-on-93-perry-hits-76-as-australia-take-the-lead-664219.html Perth March 7 Annabel Sutherlandâs unbeaten 93 and Ellyse Perryâs composed 76 steered Australia into ascendancy on day two of the oneoff pinkball Test against India as the hosts reached 2174 in 58 overs at tea with their lead sitting at 19 runs at the WACA Ground on Saturday Resuming from 963 Australia controlled the morning session as Ellyse and Annabel consolidated their overnight stand Both raised their respective halfcenturies with authority and kept the scoreboard moving against Indiaâs attack under searing heatEllyse who last passed fifty in July 2023 looked set for a hundred before falling lbw to Deepti Sharma on review Her dismissal came after she crossed 1000 career Test runs overtaking Karen Rolton to become Australiaâs leading runscorer in the format and the first woman to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 30 wickets in TestsAnnabel dropped on 90 by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh pressed on with confidence and is closing in on her fourth Test century Beth Mooney reprieved twice early in her innings â once at silly point and again in the slips â dug in to provide support and remained not out on 19Their 128run partnership ensured Australia not only go past Indiaâs firstinnings score of 198 but move ahead in the game with six wickets still in hand Indiaâs spinners struggled to extract turn from the surface while the seamers laboured without penetrationMissed chances in the field added to their frustration as India now find themselves under pressure to strike regularly in the second session and prevent Australia from taking a commanding leadBrief Scores India 198 in 624 overs Jemimah Rodrigues 52 Annabel Sutherland 446 trail Australia 2174 in 58 overs Annabel Sutherland 93 not out Ellyse Perry 76 Sayali Satghare 238 Deepti Sharma by 19 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-sutherland-unbeaten-on-93-perry-hits-76-as-australia-take-the-lead-664219.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-a-look-at-new-zealands-record-in-ahmedabad-ahead-of-final-664226.html Ahmedabad March 7 New Zealand are now just one win away from completing a remarkable turnaround After suffering a disappointing groupstage exit in the 2024 edition the BlackCaps have staged an impressive comeback at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 Recording five victories and only two defeats so far New Zealand have surged into the final and stand on the brink of securing their firstever title Standing between them and that historic triumph is Team India the very side that denied them silverware in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final exactly a year ago As the two teams prepare to meet once again on the biggest stage New Zealand will be eager to turn the tables and complete their redemption storyIn front of hundreds of thousands of people two teams India and New Zealand will cross swords with history beckoning for both sides Before the summit clash letâs dissect the Kiwisâ history at the worldâs largest stadiumNew Zealand have played only two matches at the venue in the T20I format and are still in search of their firstever win in Ahmedabad having lost both the previous encounters Of their two T20I games at the venue one came during the T20 World Cup this season when they faced South Africa in a group stage clash where they faced their first major test against an unbeaten Proteas sideEarly aggressive plays by Marco Jansen caused problems for the opposition reducing their score to 583 within the powerplay Mark Chapmanâs smooth 48 off 26 balls combined with Daryl Mitchellâs reliable 32 from 24 deliveries enabled the Black Caps to regain control and reach a total of 1757New Zealand played their firstever T20I at this venue in February 2023 against the hosts India produced a commanding allround display to crush the Kiwis by 168 runs after piling up an imposing 2344 in 20 oversAfter losing Ishan Kishan early India were powered by a superb unbeaten century from Shubman Gill Gill smashed 126 off just 63 balls striking 12 fours and seven sixes at a blistering strike rate of 200 He received strong support from Rahul Tripathi who made a quickfire 44 off 22 balls as the pair helped India race along in the powerplay Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya further boosted the total with Gill sharing a crucial 103run partnership with PandyaChasing a daunting target New Zealandâs innings never recovered after a disastrous start that saw them slump to 74 inside three overs Daryl Mitchell topscored with 36 but wickets kept falling Pandya led the bowling effort with 416 while Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik claimed two wickets each as New Zealand were bowled out for 66 in 121 oversNew Zealandâs record in Ahmedabad in T20IsPlayed 2Won 0Lost 2New Zealadâs record in Ahmedabad at T20 World Cup 2026Played 1Won 0Lost 1 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-a-look-at-new-zealands-record-in-ahmedabad-ahead-of-final-664226.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-it-was-just-really-nice-to-be-out-there-says-perry-on-becoming-australias-highest-test-run-scorer-664227.html Perth March 7 Veteran seambowling allrounder Ellyse Perry said she was relishing her time in the middle after becoming Australiaâs leading runscorer in womenâs Tests during day two of the oneoff pinkball match against India at the WACA Ground on Saturday Ellyse 35 overtook Karen Roltonâs tally of 1002 Test runs by crossing the 1000run milestone with a single before driving a boundary to claim the record She was eventually dismissed lbw by Deepti Sharma for 76 leaving her with 1006 runs in the longer formatâIt feels like Iâve been around for a long time now But it was a really enjoyable session out there batting with Annabel Sutherland Sheâs just so classy Being at the other end watching her do her thing was absolutely awesomeâIn the bigger scheme of the match it was a really good session for us to put ourselves in a strong position Hopefully the rest of the day goes really well for us It was just really nice to be out thereâ said Ellyse in a chat with broadcasters at tea breakEllyse and Annabel added 128 for the third wicket a stand that shifted momentum firmly towards Australia as they got a 19run lead at the end of the first session âI think last night there was a tricky patch and I felt like we just started to build a little bit of momentum towards the back end of the eveningâWe knew this morning it might be tough to start but then it could get a bit nicer to score runs The quicks bowled a lot of overs last night so it felt like we might get more chances today to settle into the rhythm of the innings As I said Annabel was phenomenal in that partnership It was really nice to build that stand together and we had a lot of fun out thereâConditions Ellyse noted were more forgiving than what it was on day one âIt probably didnât seam around quite as much today The odd ball still nipped a bit but last night it felt like every single ball was going one way or the other â it was almost impossible to pickâToday it just felt a little bit truer You could trust your shots a bit more Thereâs also a bit more spin in the wicket now which is great because it should set up a good contest for the rest of the match But overall it just felt a bit more reliable to play your shotsâEllyse who has 39 Test wickets to her name is now the only woman to have scored more than 1000 runs and taken more than 30 wickets in the format Looking ahead Ellyse said Australiaâs batting depth could help them press home their advantageâWeâve got such a deep batting order as well Itâll be interesting to see how we set this up Hopefully over the next couple of sessions we can put down a really strong marker that gives us a good chance to be attacking with the ball later on But exciting times for Annabel â and hopefully the next session goes really well for usâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-it-was-just-really-nice-to-be-out-there-says-perry-on-becoming-australias-highest-test-run-scorer-664227.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-ahmedabad-braces-for-historic-showdown-as-ind-nz-cross-swords-664250.html New Delhi March 7 Two cricketing giants one historic final India stand on the cusp of a record third T20 World Cup title while New Zealand eye their maiden crown After a thrilling and unpredictable campaign both teams have reached the ultimate showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad a venue that promises a grand stage for whatâs set to be an epic contest Indiaâs lethal pacers will go headtohead with New Zealandâs explosive openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen Allen the fastest T20 World Cup centurion has been in blistering form boasting the highest strike rate of the tournament Meanwhile Seifert has piled up 425 T20I runs against India the secondbest tally for a BlackCaps batter But they will face their biggest challenge yet in the form of Indiaâs bowling attack Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have dominated the powerplay and death overs with India boasting the best economy rate 75 in the first six overs of this campaignIndiaâs allrounder Hardik Pandya has been in scintillating form with 199 runs and eight wickets He is on the verge of becoming the first Indian to score 200 runs and take 10 wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition His allround brilliance could prove vital in this highstakes finalSanju Samson has been on a roll delivering matchwinning performances against the West Indies and England With backtoback Player of the Match awards heâs played a key role in Indiaâs run to the final However New Zealandâs Matt Henry will be hoping to stop Indiaâs inform No 9 with his deadly bowlingSuryakumar Yadav Indiaâs captain is one win away from defending the title he helped secure in 2024 With 526 runs at an average of 5844 he has been Indiaâs standout batter against New Zealand and heâll be keen to deliver one more big innings against the team he relishes facingOn the other hand New Zealand may look to bring back Ish Sodhi who has been a key figure in their T20I success against India with 30 wickets to his nameIndia have never beaten New Zealand in T20 World Cups and the recent history of ICC events in Ahmedabad hasnât been kind to the Men in Blue Can India become the first team to win backtoback titles Can they make history by lifting the T20 World Cup on home soil Or will the BlackCaps end their long wait for a T20 titleThe stage is set for a thrilling final and Ahmedabad braces for a showdown that promises to be one for the agesWhen Sunday March 8 700 PM ISTWhere Narendra Modi Stadium AhmedabadWhere to watch Star Sports Network for Live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streamingSquads India Suryakumar Yadav c Ishan Kishan wk Abhishek Sharma Tilak Varma Hardik Pandya Shivam Dube Rinku Singh Washington Sundar Arshdeep Singh Varun Chakaravarthy Jasprit Bumrah Sanju Samson wk Mohammed Siraj Kuldeep Yadav Axar PatelNew Zealand Tim Seifert wk Finn Allen Rachin Ravindra Glenn Phillips Mark Chapman Daryl Mitchell Mitchell Santner c Cole McConchie Matt Henry Ish Sodhi Lockie Ferguson Jacob Duffy James Neesham Kyle Jamieson Devon Conway IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-ahmedabad-braces-for-historic-showdown-as-ind-nz-cross-swords-664250.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-back-the-player-or-chase-the-title-indias-abhishek-sharma-dilemma--664123.html New Delhi March 6 When the stakes are at their highest every selection decision becomes a talking point As India prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup finale a heated debate has taken over the cricketing world should the team continue backing Abhishek Sharma despite his lean run or make a bold change by bringing in Rinku Singh With the trophy on the line the question has split fans and experts alikeAbhisheks numbers in the tournament make for uncomfortable reading In seven matches the lefthander has managed scores of 0 0 0 15 55 10 and 9 a total of just 89 runs at an average of 1271 Apart from one halfcentury vs Zimbabwe consistency has eluded him raising doubts about whether India can afford to persist with him in the finalThe debate has exploded across social media platforms particularly on X where fans are fiercely divided over what the team management should doâYou canât take risks with a person who is consistently flopping This is the final and we must go with full strength without any weak linkâ wrote one fanAnother supporter argued that opposition teams have already figured out a way to dismiss the youngster âAbhishek has become so predictable New Zealand will make sure he doesnât score either Rinku should come inâYet there is another school of thought that believes the young batter could still produce something special when it matters the most âAbhishek can be our X factor in the final There is a big inning due from him He might deliver big in the finaleâ another fan commentedFor team management this is a classic dilemma trust the process and back a player through tough times or take a pragmatic call in pursuit of the titleAll eyes are now on head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav Will they stick to the combination that carried India to the final or opt for a lastminute change by drafting in RinkuWhile the chances of a change appear slim the final decision will reveal whether India values continuity over caution or if the pressure of a finale forces a rethink India vs New Zealand finalDate amp Time India will face New Zealand in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday March 8 The match will begin at 700 PM ISTVenueNarendra Modi Stadium AhmedabadLive Telecast Star Sports NetworkLive Streaming JioHotstar app IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-back-the-player-or-chase-the-title-indias-abhishek-sharma-dilemma--664123.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dravid-ashwin-to-acquire-scottish-t20-franchise-in-etpl-reports-664135.html New Delhi March 6 Former India cricketers Rahul Dravid and Ravichandran Ashwin are reportedly among the investors to acquire a franchise in the European T20 Premier League In January this year ETPL announced Amsterdam Edinburgh and Belfast as the first franchise cities to join the competition which is scheduled to begin at the end of August this year According to a BCC report Dravid and Ashwin are part of an Indian consortium who have agreed a deal to buy the Glasgowbased franchise in the sixteam tournament taking place this summerThe ETPL are also poised to sell the second Dutch franchise based in Rotterdam to a group of South Africa investors fronted by exProteas players Faf du Plessis Heinrich Klaasen and Jonty Rhodes the report addedAmsterdam will be owned by a group led by Australian cricket great Steve Waugh alongside fivetime World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer and by former CEO of the Centre for AustraliaIndia Relations and former Partner at KPMG Australia Tim ThomasEdinburgh will be owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills a former New Zealand fast bowler and former ICC No1 ODI bowler Meanwhile Belfast will be owned by Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell with Rohan Lund a former Group CEO of NRMAThe report further claimed that ETPL are also poised to sell the second Dutch franchise based in Rotterdam to a group of South Africa investors fronted by exProteas players Faf du Plessis Heinrich Klaasen and Jonty Rhodes Moreover rhe only ETPL city franchise yet be sold is the one based out of Dublin for which there has been interest from the owners of at least two teams in The HundredThe ETPL is being run in collaboration with the cricket boards of Ireland Scotland and the NetherlandsBollywood actor and film producer Abhishek Bachchan is a partowner of the league in conjunction with Rules Sport Tech a private Indian company IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dravid-ashwin-to-acquire-scottish-t20-franchise-in-etpl-reports-664135.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-hamilton-picks-three-on-stunning-debut-as-australia-keep-india-to-1848-664138.html Perth March 6 Australia debutant pacer Lucy Hamilton claimed three wickets on a memorable first day as India were restricted to 1848 in 57 overs at the dinner break in the oneoff pinkball Test at the WACA Ground on Friday India resuming at 994 in the first session lost Deepti Sharma early to Annabel Sutherland before Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh stitched together a promising 23run stand off 62 ballsTheir resistance was shortlived however as Richa fell to Ashleigh Gardner and Jemimah who looked at ease while hitting 52 â her fourth fifty in Tests and second against Australia flicked off Lucy to square leg and gave the teenager her second scalpLucy struck again to remove Sneh Rana cheaply and complete a threewicket haul on debut Indiaâs lower order survived nervy moments with Kashvee Gautam dropped by Beth Mooney on 16 sparing the visitors from deeper trouble Kashvee is unbeaten on 22 while Sayali Satghare is not out on sevenBut the session was all about how Australiaâs bowlers maintained relentless pressure with the pink ball exploiting bounce and seam movement on the lively WACA surface leaving the hosts firmly in command heading into the final sessionPreviously Australiaâs pace attack ripped through Indiaâs top order in the opening session and reduced the visitors to 994 in 27 overs at tea Annabel Lucy Hamilton and Darcie Brown kept the hosts firmly in control in what is also Australia skipper Alyssa Healyâs final international gameIndia are trailing 84 in the multiformat series and are playing Tests for the first time since mid2024 They handed debut caps to Kashvee Sayali Pratika Rawal and Kranti Gaud Brief scores India 1848 in 57 overs Jemimah Rodrigues 52 Shafali Verma 35 Lucy Hamilton 331 Annabel Sutherland 338 against Australia IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-hamilton-picks-three-on-stunning-debut-as-australia-keep-india-to-1848-664138.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dy-patil-t20-cup-mandals-all-round-show-leads-canara-bank-into-final-against-mumbai-customs-664152.html Navi Mumbai March 6 Ajay Mandalâs allround show helped Canara Bank beat DY Patil Red by three runs in the semifinal of the 20th DY Patil T20 Cup at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday Mandalâs impressive showing meant Canara Bank will take on Mumbai Customs in the final after the latter sealed a fivewicket win over DY Patil Blue Mandal anchored Canara Bankâs innings by hitting 46 as they posted 1819 in 20 overs DY Patil Redâs leftarm pacer Naman Tiwari 433 grabbed a hattrick in the final over dismissing Mandal Lavish Kaushal and KB PawanChasing 182 DY Patil Red looked well placed at 1323 but the dismissal of skipper Krunal Pandya triggered a collapse and they finished three runs short Mandal 322 Kaushal 220 and Shreesha Achar 230 were the standout bowlers for Canara BankMeanwhile at the DY Patil University Ground Chinmay Sutar powered Mumbai Customs with a 44ball 74 including six fours and five sixes to chase down DY Patil Blueâs 1569 in just 153 oversFast bowler Mayank Yadav 229 bowled well for DY Patil Blue but Customs were never in trouble Earlier veteran pacer Sandeep Warrier 428 was the standout for Customs with the ball Mumbai Customs will face Canara Bank in the final to be held later on Friday nightBrief scoresAt DY Patil Stadium Canara Bank 1819 in 20 overs Ajay Mandal 46 MG Naveen 36 Naman Tiwari 433 Suyash Sharma 222 beat DY Patil Red 1789 in 20 overs Atharva Kale 47 Aman Khan 35 Ajay Mandal 322 Shreesha Achar 230 by three runsAt DY Patil University DY Patil Blue 1569 in 20 overs Shashank Singh 42 Anand Bais 31 Sandeep Warrier 428 Daksh Kamra 223 lost to Mumbai Customs 1575 in 153 overs Chinmay Sutar 74 Prasad Pawar 38 Mayank Yadav 229 by five wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dy-patil-t20-cup-mandals-all-round-show-leads-canara-bank-into-final-against-mumbai-customs-664152.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-perry-sutherland-take-australia-to-963-trail-india-by-102-runs-at-stumps-664157.html Perth March 6 Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland shared an unbroken stand of 38 to guide Australia to 963 in 27 overs at stumps and trail India by 102 runs on day one of the oneoff pinkball Test at the WACA Ground on Friday After bowling out India for 198 Australia were forced to negotiate a tricky session under lights Phoebe Litchfield fell cheaply to debutant pacer Kranti Gaud while skipper Alyssa Healy managed only 13 in what could be her penultimate international inningsDebutant pacer Sayali Satghare struck to remove Alyssa and Georgia Voll as India managed to make early inroads Ellyse and Annabel then steadied the innings by looking increasingly assured against the Indian bowlersEllyse barely put a foot wrong since arriving at the crease to be unbeaten on 43 off 62 balls laced with seven boundaries while Annabel made 20 not out off 29 balls studded with three boundaries India will need to be at their best on Saturday to prevent Australia from taking a significant firstinnings leadThe final session began with Australia not conceding a boundary in four overs before Annabel had Sayali topedging a pull to Beth Mooney while Darcie Brown ended Indiaâs innings two runs short of 200 when Krantiâs halfhearted pull was caught by first slipIn response to Indiaâs 198 Australia lost Georgia early Sayali produced a sharp inswinger that breached her defence and bowled her for two Ellyse joined Phoebe Litchfield and looked fluent in driving Sayali through cover for four but India struck again when Phoebeâs scratchy stay ended at nine as Jemimah Rodrigues took a brilliant low catch at backward point off KrantiSkipper Alyssa Healy playing in her final international game received a standing ovation from the Perth crowd but could not make it count as she edged away from the body of Sayali to Jemimah at backward point for 13 At 583 Indiaâs seamers had their tails up with Sayali and Kranti making the ball talkEllyse however grew in confidence cutting and driving with authority while Annabel shone from the outset with her crisp drive through extra cover and a pull behind square being the standout shotsIndia went allpace until the final over when Sneh Rana was introduced but Annabel and Ellyse negotiated her comfortably Despite the early breakthroughs India will rue not making deeper inroads leaving Australia well placed to push for a firstinnings lead on SaturdayBrief scores India 198 all out in 624 overs Jemimah Rodrigues 52 Shafali Verma 35 Annabel Sutherland 446 Lucy Hamilton 331 lead Australia 963 in 27 overs Ellyse Perry 43 not out Annabel Sutherland 20 not out Sayali Satghare 224 Kranti Gaud 128 by 102 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-perry-sutherland-take-australia-to-963-trail-india-by-102-runs-at-stumps-664157.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-sutherland-hamilton-help-australia-seize-upper-hand-against-india-664163.html Perth March 6 Australia seized the upper hand in the oneoff pinkball Test against India at the WACA Ground in Perth by ending day one at 963 and trailing by 102 runs after debutant Lucy Hamilton and Annabel Sutherland starred with the ball on Friday Skipper Alyssa Healy in her farewell international game won the toss and sent India in to bat first under scorching heat That decision paid off as Annabel found magnificent swing and seam to pick 446 while Lucy was accurate and found movement in taking 331 as India were bowled out for 198Darcie Brown 241 and Ashleigh Gardner 139 also chipped in to tighten the screws on Indiaâs batting lineup For India Jemimah Rodrigues scored a composed 52 and that was the only notable contribution while debutant Kashvee Gautam added a useful 34 not out off 54 ballsIndiaâs innings was marked by them being unable to adapt to the rigours of Test match cricket especially this being their first game in the longer format after June 2024 Australiaâs reply was tested under lights as Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud reduced them to 583 But Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland steadied things by sharing an unbroken stand of 38 and looking increasingly assured against the Indian bowlers Ellyse barely put a foot wrong since arriving at the crease to be unbeaten on 43 off 62 balls laced with seven boundariesAnnabel backed up her stellar bowling show by making 20 not out off 29 balls studded with three boundaries India will need to be at their best on Saturday to prevent Australia from taking a significant firstinnings leadThe final session began with Australia not conceding a boundary in four overs before Annabel had Sayali topedging a pull to Beth Mooney while Darcie Brown ended Indiaâs innings two runs short of 200 when Krantiâs halfhearted pull was caught by first slipIn response to Indiaâs 198 Australia lost Georgia early Sayali produced a sharp inswinger that breached her defence and bowled her for two Ellyse joined Phoebe Litchfield and looked fluent in driving Sayali through cover for four but India struck again when Phoebeâs scratchy stay ended at nine as Jemimah Rodrigues took a brilliant low catch at backward point off KrantiSkipper Alyssa Healy playing in her final international game received a standing ovation from the Perth crowd but could not make it count as she edged away from the body off Sayali to Jemimah at backward point for 13 At 583 Indiaâs seamers had their tails up with Sayali and Kranti making the ball talkEllyse however grew in confidence cutting and driving with authority while Annabel shone from the outset with her crisp drive through extra cover and a pull behind square being the standout shotsIndia went allpace until the final over when Sneh Rana was introduced but Annabel and Ellyse negotiated her comfortably Previously Indiaâs innings began shakily after Smriti Mandhana survived a probing first over from Darcie Brown She looked shaky before being undone in the sixth over by Lucy who claimed her maiden Test wicket with a sharp nipbacker that castled the India vicecaptain through the gateShafali Verma looked positive by hitting six boundaries in making 35 off 48 balls before edging Annabel behind to Beth Mooney while playing a drive sans footwork Debutant Pratika Rawal looked scratchy in her 18 off 43 balls and was dismissed after drinks when she slashed at a wide delivery from Sutherland only to be caught at gullyIndia skipper Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to counterattack with four boundaries but was beaten by late movement from Dracie that breached her defence and bowled her for 19Jemimah got a thick edge off Lucy for four to begin her stay at the crease before presenting the full face of the bat past midon to get a boundary and end a session where India failed to show the patience needed for surviving the rigours of Test match cricketThe second session began with India losing Deepti Sharma early to Annabel Sutherland before Jemimah and Richa Ghosh stitched together a promising 23run stand off 62 ballsTheir resistance was shortlived however as Richa fell to Ashleigh and Jemimah who looked at ease while hitting 52 â her fourth fifty in Tests and second against Australia edged off Lucy to square leg and gave the teenager her second scalpLucy struck again to remove Sneh Rana cheaply and completed a threewicket haul on debut Indiaâs lower order survived nervy moments with Kashvee dropped by Beth Mooney on 16 before she and Sayali stayed unbeaten till dinner break arrivedAfter that though Indiaâs innings ended swiftly and they took out three Australian wickets the hosts ensured they did enough to maintain their upper hand in the final game of the multiformat seriesBrief scores India 198 all out in 624 overs Jemimah Rodrigues 52 Shafali Verma 35 Annabel Sutherland 446 Lucy Hamilton 331 lead Australia 963 in 27 overs Ellyse Perry 43 not out Annabel Sutherland 20 not out Sayali Satghare 224 Kranti Gaud 128 by 102 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pink-ball-test-sutherland-hamilton-help-australia-seize-upper-hand-against-india-664163.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-you-can-measure-runsbut-the-real-stat-here-is-intent-says-sachin-after-india-edge-out-england-in-sf-664028.html New Delhi March 6 After defending champions India edged past England by seven runs to advance to the T20 World Cup final legendary batter Sachin hailed the Men in Blues intent in the highscoring thriller and said its the mindset they needed in the knockout matches After Sanju Samson led the charge to take India to 2537 the home team survived a spirited challenge from England to register a sevenrun win in a highscoring semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday The two teams scored 499 runs between them the most in a mens T20 World Cup matchYou can measure runs partnerships and strike rates but the real stat here is intent Loved the positive approach with the bat and the cool heads in the field Thatâs the mindset you want in knockout cricket Sachin shared on XSamson was adjudged Player of the Match for his explosive batting Tendulkar hailed the wicketkeeperbatters impressive show with the bat Great to see Sanju Samson carry his form into this match and set the tempo early Eyes on the final he addedIndia 2537 is the fourthhighest by a team in T20 World Cup history and the highest ever in a knockout game in the tournament The only other instance of a team scoring 200 in a knockout game before today was West Indies 2054 against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the 2012 semifinal In Sundays title clash India are chasing a few firsts as they take on New Zealand in Ahmedabad They are aiming to become the first host team to win the T20 World Cup the first team to defend the title and the first to lift three T20 World Cup trophiesIndia have made it to the final for the fourth time in T20 WCs the most for any team Moreover India is the first team to enter the final as defending champions IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-you-can-measure-runsbut-the-real-stat-here-is-intent-says-sachin-after-india-edge-out-england-in-sf-664028.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhishek-continues-reign-at-no-1-ishan-bumrah-rise-663836.html New Delhi March 4 Abhishek Sharmas position as the top T20I batter has weakened as Pakistans Sahibzada Farhan advanced in the latest ICC Mens T20I Player rankings inching closer to the top spot However Ishan Kishan has jumped another spot to rise to fourth place Farhan made history as the first player to score two centuries in a single ICC Mens T20 World Cup achieving a superb hundred against Sri Lanka in Pallekele This performance helped him climb one spot in the T20I batting rankings to second position reaching a new careerhigh rating in the latest updateAbhishek now leads Farhan by 26 points at the top of the batter rankings The Pakistan opener moved ahead of Englands Phil Salt and narrowed the gap with his Indian counterpart after scoring a total of 383 runs at the T20 World CupThe latest rankings show significant changes after the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup Indiaâs Ishan Kishan moved up to fourth and Tilak Varma rose to sixth among T20I batters Additionally South Africaâs Dewald Brevis gained one spot now ranked eighthZimbabwes star performer Brian Bennett climbs six spots to 11th overall tallying 292 runs in the tournament Meanwhile South Africans Ryan Rickelton advances two places to 13th and Aiden Markram moves up four spots to 16th as both continue to improve their standingsIts a similar story at the top of the T20I bowler rankings with India spinner Varun Chakravarthys lead now reduced to just 18 rating points as the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup approachChakravarthy has taken 12 wickets so far in the tournament and maintains a narrow lead at the top of the rankings Meanwhile Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed moves up two spots to third overall closing the gapIndia celebrates progress with Jasprit Bumrah moving up one spot to seventh and Arshdeep Singh climbing six places to 13th Englandâs Liam Dawson advances nine positions to tie for 14th while South Africas Lungi Ngidi improves six spots to reach 20thZimbabwes Sikandar Raza continues to lead the T20I allrounders rankings with Indian star Hardik Pandya now his nearest rival after moving up one position to surpass Pakistans Saim Ayub and secure second placeAnother significant rise among T20I allrounders was Jason Holder the West Indies veteran who climbed eight spots to reach 11th after a strong T20 World Cup with both bat and ball IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhishek-continues-reign-at-no-1-ishan-bumrah-rise-663836.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dy-patil-t20-cup-atharva-taide-luvnith-sisodia-take-canara-bank-into-semi-finals-663845.html Navi Mumbai March 4 Atharva Taide and Luvnith Sisodia shared a 122run opening stand as Canara Bank beat Reliance by six wickets to reach the semifinals of the 20th DY Patil T20 Cup on Wednesday Reliance put in to bat at the DY Patil Stadium made 1519 with Mayank Rawat topscoring via 54 off 41 balls laced with five fours and two sixes He also got decent support from seambowling allrounder Raj Angad Bawa who made 30 not outIn the chase Vidarbha batter Taide replied with a blistering 76 off 37 deliveries with 12 boundaries and two sixes while Karnataka wicketkeeperbatter Sisodia finished unbeaten on 53 off 41 balls laced with eight boundariesSkipper KV Siddharth added 21 not out to see Canara Bank home after a brief wobble happened post the TaideSisodia stand Rawat also impressed with the ball taking 423 though it ended in vainMeanwhile at the DY Patil University Ground Rugved More struck 64 off 35 balls laced with seven fours and three sixes as Mumbai Customs defeated Jain Irrigation by six wickets Jain Irrigation posted 1818 in their 20 overs as Jay Bista topscored with 38 but Customs chased down the target in 184 oversBrief ScoresAt DY Patil Stadium Reliance 1519 in 20 overs Mayank Rawat 54 Raj Angad Bawa 30 not out Shrestha Achar 316 Lavish Kaushal 330 lost to Canara Bank 1554 in 17 overs Atharva Taide 76 Luvnith Sisodia 53 not out Mayank Rawat 423 by six wicketsAt DY Patil University Ground Jain Irrigation 1818 in 20 overs Jay Bista 38 Madhav Tiwari 34 not out Aishwarya Surve 338 lost to Mumbai Customs 1824 in 184 overs Rugved More 64 Parag Khanapurkar 41 Madhav Tiwari 229 by six wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dy-patil-t20-cup-atharva-taide-luvnith-sisodia-take-canara-bank-into-semi-finals-663845.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/experience-of-being-around-seniors-changes-mindset-says-yash-dhull-on-transition-from-age-group-to-senior-level-663789.html New Delhi March 4 For India U19 2022 World Cupwinning captain Yash Dhull the jump from agegroup cricket to the senior domestic circuit has been as much about mental growth as onfield performance The young Delhi batter believes that sharing a dressing room with seasoned professionals has significantly reshaped his approach to the game helping him evolve both as a player and as a person The transition from agegroup cricket to senior domestic cricket including the Ranji Trophy brought new challenges and perspectivesâYour mindset definitely changes a bit When you lead as a captain and then move into senior domestic cricket where youâre sharing a dressing room with experienced players itâs a completely different environment Being around seniors gives you confidence and that experience changes your game and your mindsetâ Dhull told IANS in an exclusive interviewWith India on the brink of another T20 World Cup final Dhull backed the teamâs balance and confidenceâThe match against West Indies was crucial and they won it very well Sanju Samson played brilliantly Right now the team is in a very good mindset Iâm confident that India will win the final this timeâ he saidHe singled out Ishan Kishan for special praise âThe way he made a comeback and is now performing in the World Cup is impressive And the way Sanju made a comeback and won the match for India both of them can help India even moreâThe 23yearold believes that his matchwinning hundred in the U19 World Cup 2022 semifinal remains a defining moment of his young career one that reshaped his mindset as both a batter and a leaderâScoring a hundred in the semifinal was like a dream for me because thatâs such a crucial stage First of all I never even thought I would become captain Then to score 100 in a semifinal of such an important match maybe it was Godâs plan and Iâm grateful for thatâ he saidHis seamless switch to the senior circuit highlighted by a century on his Ranji debut came during what he describes as a special phaseâThereâs a phase in everyoneâs life when things just fall into place When you keep playing and performing everywhere thereâs a certain vibe wherever you play youâre enjoying yourself and performing consistently At that time in my life everything was going wellâ he saidHaving opened and also batted in the middle order Dhull made it clear where he sees himself long term saying âI see myself as a team member first It depends on what the team needs and where I can contribute the most I prepare according to thatâBut when pressed on his preferred slot the Delhi batter was candid âIâve been batting at onedown for Delhi and that position suits me a lot I enjoy playing the new ball So for me number three is good one down is my preferenceâDhull impressed in both formats last season striking at 167 in the DPL while also finishing as Delhiâs secondhighest runscorer in the Ranji TrophyAsked about it he said âYou just have to stay mentally prepared because sometimes youâre playing redball cricket and sometimes whiteball cricket During practice we switch between red ball and white ball sessions Itâs all about mental adjustmentâHe believes each format offers a unique thrill âIn T20 the game can change in just one over In oneday cricket momentum keeps shifting In Tests sometimes you donât even know until the fourth day what the result will be Every format has its own funâThe Delhi batter also opened up about the heart condition and surgery he underwent as a child a phase he describes as transformativeâThat phase was tough but it helped me a lot in life I understood myself better what mistakes I was making how I could become mentally stronger Things were going smoothly and suddenly there was a setback My motivation was to recover quickly and come back in better formâ he saidReassuringly he added âTouchwood everything is fine I stopped taking medicines more than a year ago I live a completely normal life like any other personâDhull who harbours his own India ambitions believes comeback stories carry lessons beyond cricket as he said âWhen you interact with people who have made such comebacks you understand how tough life can be And when someone makes a comeback after that the feeling is something different you canât really describe it Only the person who has gone through it can truly feel itâFor Dhull the journey from U19 glory to senior ambition is still unfolding but clarity of role adaptability and resilience already define the road ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/experience-of-being-around-seniors-changes-mindset-says-yash-dhull-on-transition-from-age-group-to-senior-level-663789.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-what-will-happen-if-eng-vs-ind-semi-final-is-washed-out-663799.html New Delhi March 4 India will face England in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium on Thursday Led by Suryakumar Yadav India secured a commanding victory over the West Indies to advance despite starting their Super 8 campaign with a loss to South Africa In the other semifinal South Africa will compete against New Zealand at Kolkatas Eden Gardens As fans eagerly anticipate the matches concerns about the weather persist leaving many wondering what will occur if the games are cancelled due to rainIf the India vs England match is washed out the International Cricket Council ICC has scheduled a reserve day If there is a delay officials have an additional 90 minutes on Thursday and 120 minutes on Friday to ensure at least a fiveover match is playedIf the match is abandoned the outcome will be determined depending on the teamsâ position in their respective groupâs Super 8 points tableIn that scenario England will advance to the final since they finished higher than India in their Super 8 group England topped their group with 3 wins remaining unbeaten with six points to their name while India finished second with 2 wins and four pointsIf both semifinals are cancelled South Africa and England will advance to the T20 World Cup final having topped their respective Super Eights tableThe upcoming match in Mumbai continues an exciting semifinal sequence In 2022 England stopped Indias run in the penultimate stage before defeating Pakistan to win the trophyTwo years later the script flipped Led by Rohit Sharma India beat England in the 2024 semifinal and carried that momentum into the final where they defeated South Africa in Barbados to win the titleNotably in recent editions the team that wins the IndiaEngland semifinal has subsequently become the world champion a pattern that makes Thursdays match even more interesting to watch out for IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-what-will-happen-if-eng-vs-ind-semi-final-is-washed-out-663799.html Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/plimmer-ruled-out-of-zimbabwe-wodis-nz-name-bella-james-as-replacement-663661.html Wellington March 3 New Zealand batter Georgia Plimmer has been ruled out of the WODI series against Zimbabwe with a shoulder injury She sustained the injury while training during the T20I series which the White Ferns won 30 against Zimbabwe and subsequently missed the second and third T20IsNew Zealand Cricket said Bella James who was called in as injury cover for Plimmer before the third T20I last Sunday will remain with the squad as Plimmerâs replacement for the ODI seriesâGeorgia is a key player for us at the top of the order and the energy she brings into the group is something we really value so itâs a shame to have her miss this next series head coach Ben Sawyer saidJames made her ODI debut against Australia in December 2024 and played two matches against them She was also part of the ODI World Cup last year but didnt feature in playing XISawyer believes James is a natural fit to come into the side âBella is a great cricketer whoâs played nearly 100 ListA matches in her career so far That experience is extremely valuable and sheâll fit straight back into the side seamlesslyâNensi Patel and Izzy Sharp have also been named in the group and will make their respective ODI debuts should they be selectedNensi starred with five wickets in the T20Is against Zimbabwe while Sharp made 18 not out and 22 not outThe three ODIs from March 5 are part of the 2025â2029 ICC Womens Championship cycleNew Zealand ODI squad v ZimbabweMelie Kerr Izzy Gaze Maddy Green Brooke Halliday Bree Illing Polly Inglis Bella James Jess Kerr Emma McLeod Rosemary Mair Nensi Patel Molly Penfold Izzy Sharp IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/plimmer-ruled-out-of-zimbabwe-wodis-nz-name-bella-james-as-replacement-663661.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-we-werent-good-enough-says-head-on-australias-poor-performance-663710.html Adelaide March 3 Australias T20I vicecaptain Travis Head has admitted that the team werent good enough at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 Heads admission comes after Australias poor stint in the tournament where the 2021 champions were eliminated from the group stage for the first time in the history of the multiformat tournament After an early exit from the World Cup Head will now take part in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia Head spoke to the reporters ahead of the tournament where he again asserted that Australia is fully committed to the T20I formatI think there are a lot of people who draw long bows when Australian cricket teams dont win There needs to be a reason People want a reason Sometimes there is and sometimes its a bit harder to explain than that he told reporters ahead of the Sheffield Shield startWe werent good enough so everyone can draw their own conclusions but we know as a team that were fully committed and they come around pretty quickly he addedHead also explained that like tests Australias preparation for any big tournament starts very early and they are already gearing up for the upcoming 2027 World Cup in South AfricaWe have a oneday World Cup next year They come around too quickly And weve already been talking about that World Cup for probably the last 12 months So a lot of planning goes into them as weve seen in the Test format Theres a lot of commitment to win everything Head explainedAustralia were placed in Group B at the T20 World Cup with Zimbabwe Sri Lanka Ireland and Oman but they won only two games against Ireland and Oman At the same time losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe paved the way for their exit from the T20 World Cup IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-we-werent-good-enough-says-head-on-australias-poor-performance-663710.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mandhana-king-attain-top-spot-in-odi-rankings-663731.html Dubai March 3 India batter Smriti Mandhana and Australia spinner have climbed to the top of the Womens ODI bowling and batting rankings respectively in the latest update released by the ICC on Tuesday The pair made the move in the three ODIs within the week of action with Mandhana making notable scores of 58 and 31 in the week which was enough to move past Laura Wolvaardt 790 who will have the opportunity to reclaim the spot when the Proteas take on New Zealand across March and AprilMeanwhile King 775 ended Englands Sophie Ecclestones near fouryear reign at the top of the bowlers rankings Across the week King claimed seven wickets at an average of 1671 claiming 433 from 10 overs in the third ODI helping the hosts to a 185run victory It propelled her to her first No 1 rating with her rating of 775 also a career highKing is joined by four Australian bowlers in the top eight â Ash Gardner third Annabel Sutherland fifth Megan Schutt seventh and Kim Garth eighthThere were a number of other performers from the series to enjoy rankings boostsAfter losing two of the three T20Is on home soil Australia bounced back to claim the three ODIs as part of the multiformat series and found success through Beth Mooney Ash Gardner and Alyssa Healy the latter calling time on her ODI careerMaking a century in her final match in the format Healy signs off in fourth place on the rankings 744 wedged between Mooney 749 and Gardner 724 Despite losing all three matches there was joy for India skippper Harmanpreet Kaur 652 who moved four spots back into the top 10 for batters ninth thanks to scores of 53 54 and 25Gardner 516 meanwhile holds the No 1 spot in the ODI AllRounder Rankings almost 100 rating points ahead of the West Indies Hayley Matthews 418 in secondAnnabel Sutherland 408 made a twospot move on the AllRounder Rankings while youngster Georgia Voll 534 made a 23spot jump to 34th in the Batting Rankings after averaging 54 in the three ODIsAnnabel Sutherland 408 made a twospot move on the AllRounder Rankings while youngster Georgia Voll 534 made a 23spot jump to 34th in the Batting Rankings after averaging 54 in the three ODIs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mandhana-king-attain-top-spot-in-odi-rankings-663731.html Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-to-host-afghanistan-for-one-off-test-three-odis-in-june-bcci-663545.html New Delhi March 2 Afghanistan will tour India for a oneoff Test and three ODIs in June said the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI on Monday The series to be held soon after the 2026 Indian Premier League IPL ends will mark Afghanistanâs first bilateral series against India after their last faceoff happened via a threegame T20I series in January 2024 As per a statement by secretary Devajit Saikia the Test match will be played at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh from June 6 to June 10 The ODI series will commence on June 14 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala with the subsequent matches scheduled to happen at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow and MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 17 and 20 respectively The last time Afghanistan played a Test against India it marked their debut in Test cricket in June 2018 In that match Afghanistan lost to India by an innings and 262 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in BengaluruThe threegame ODI series will see batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to action for India with both former captains now featuring only in 50over international games after retiring from Tests and T20Is In the 50over format India and Afghanistan have met four times with the former winning three games while the other meeting ended in a tie in the 2018 Asia CupAfter the series against Afghanistan Kohli and Rohit will be seen in action in the whiteball tour of England which comprises five T20Is and three ODIs starting from July 1 The ODI leg of the series will commence on July 14Recently Afghanistan appointed Richard Pybus as their new head coach for all formats and he will join the team ahead of the whiteball series against Sri Lanka happening in the UAE next month Pybus who coached Pakistan and Bangladesh previously has taken over from Jonathan Trott who left once their T20 World Cup campaign ended in the league stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-to-host-afghanistan-for-one-off-test-three-odis-in-june-bcci-663545.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ind-v-aus-india-opt-to-bowl-against-australia-in-3rd-odiw-663317.html Hobart Mar 1 India Women won the toss and elect to bowl first against Australia in the third ODI of the multiformat series here at Bellerive Oval on Sunday India made three changes in the line up with Kranti Goud Vaishnavi Sharma and Amanjot Kaur making way for Harleen Deol Renuka Singh and Sneh Rana Australia meanwhile have made two changes with 19yearold leftarm quick Lucy Hamilton set to make her ODI debut while legspinner Georgia Wareham also comes into the XIMegan Schutt has been ruled out due to illness and Darcie Brown also misses out Tasmania opener Rachel Trenaman has joined the group for the day as a subfielder After winning the toss India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said The pitch looks a bit drier so three spinners think they will do the job for usOn the other hand Australia captain Alyssa Healy said Weve got a lovely debutant today so lets make it more about her and sort of a nice little peek into the future Yeah obviously Lucy Hamilton is coming into the side and Georgia Wareham as well But Im really excited for Hamo Its been a whirlwind couple of weeks for her sort of coming in late but getting an opportunity Im really thrilled for her and looking forward to seeing what she can do laterThe multiformat series hangs in the balance as Australia leads India 64 heading into this final ODl at Bellerive Oval After Indias strong start in the T20ls Australia has roared back with two clinical wins in the 50over formatFor lndia it is a vital opportunity to level the overall points at 66 and keep their hopes of a series victory alive before the final Test match in PerthPlaying XIsAustralia Alyssa Healyc Phoebe Litchfield Georgia Voll Beth Mooneyw Annabel Sutherland Ashleigh Gardner Tahlia McGrath Georgia Wareham Nicola Carey Alana King Lucy HamiltonIndia Smriti Mandhana Pratika Rawal Harleen Deol Harmanpreet Kaurc Jemimah Rodrigues Richa Ghoshw Deepti Sharma Sneh Rana Kashvee Gautam Shree Charani Renuka Singh Thakur IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ind-v-aus-india-opt-to-bowl-against-australia-in-3rd-odiw-663317.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/all-new-and-all-for-you-csk-unveil-new-jersey-ahead-of-ipl-2026-663352.html New Delhi Mar 1 The fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings CSK have unveiled their new jersey ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League IPL 2026 which is likely to commence on March 28 CSK set social media abuzz on Saturday with a cryptic post teasing a major announcement at 707 AM IST on Sunday a time and number deeply associated with the franchise and its talisman MS Dhoni The anticipation was soon rewarded as CSK released a slick hype video that delivered a double surprise for fansThe video confirmed Dhoniâs arrival at the CSK camp ahead of the new season and also offered the first look at the franchiseâs IPL 2026 jerseyThe 2026 jersey has maintained CSKâs identity while introducing subtle design updates the camouflage pattern which was earlier seen on the sleeves but now been reimagined as bold stripes across the front giving the kit a refreshed and distinctive lookAbove the CSK crest sit five stars symbolising the franchiseâs five Indian Premier League titles 2010 2011 2018 2021 and 2023Meanwhile CSK had a poor run in the last season In 14 matches CSK lost 10 and finished last in the IPL 2025 points table Ahead of the 2026 season CSK made some big changes in their squad for the upcoming season with the most notable one being the trade of allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran for the wicketkeeper batter Sanju SamsonCSK has also roped in youngsters like Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue to lead the team as they aim for their sixth title CSK will kick start their IPL preparation from Sunday About 15 players all Indians are expected to attend the preparatory camp that will be held at the franchises highperformance centre in Chennai India internationals like Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube who are part of the Indian team and currently competing in the T20 World Cup will join the camp after the completion of the marquee event Shreyas Gopal who was part of the Karnataka team that played in the justconcluded Ranji Trophy final will also report later IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/all-new-and-all-for-you-csk-unveil-new-jersey-ahead-of-ipl-2026-663352.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/2nd-odi-vaishnavi-handed-debut-as-india-elect-to-bat-against-australia-molineux-ruled-out-662993.html Hobart Feb 27 India have won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the second ODI at the Bellerive Oval on Friday The multiformat scoreline is currently tied at 44 after Australia won the first ODI at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane India have opted to rest Shafali Verma and Renuka Singh Thakur with Amanjot Kaur included and leftarm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma handed her ODI debut in a bid to bolster their bowling stocksFor India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who won her fifth straight toss in ODIs is fit to take the field after sitting out for Indias entire fielding innings in Brisbane due to a left knee issue Im fine now my left kneewhile playing I just got a niggle she saidAustralia made one change bringing in Nicola Carey who is based in Hobart for Sophie Molineux who has been ruled out of the series due to a lower back injury A statement from Cricket Australia CA said Sophie will be monitored ahead of Australias tour of the West Indies next monthIt comes as a worrying aspect for Australia as the injuryprone Sophie is set to take over as fulltime skipper across all formats in the West Indies Getting first crack with the ball on a wicket with a little bit of live grass might help us out We know if we get it right we can restrict them and its not an easy place to defend scores said skipper Alyssa HealyPlaying XIsIndia Smriti Mandhana Pratika Rawal Harmanpreet Kaur captain Jemimah Rodrigues Amanjot Kaur Richa Ghosh wk Deepti Sharma Kashvee Gautam N Sree Charani Kranti Gaud and Vaishnavi SharmaAustralia Alyssa Healy captain Phoebe Litchfield Georgia Voll Beth Mooney wk Annabel Sutherland Ashleigh Gardner Tahlia McGrath Nicola Carey Alana King Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/2nd-odi-vaishnavi-handed-debut-as-india-elect-to-bat-against-australia-molineux-ruled-out-662993.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/purani-dilli-6-trials-for-delhi-premier-league-2026-on-march-5-amp-6-662880.html New Delhi Feb 26 Purani Dilli 6 have announced open trials ahead of the upcoming Delhi Premier League DPL 2026 The trials will be conducted on March 5 and March 6 at St Stephenâs Ground Mori Gate After an impressive showing in Season 1 Purani Dilli 6 experienced a challenging Season 2 Determined to bounce back stronger the franchise is now focused on identifying fresh talent and rebuilding momentum for DPL 2026The trials are open to aspiring cricketers aiming to showcase their abilities and earn a chance to represent Purani Dilli 6 in the Delhi Premier League 2026 The reporting time is 800 AM Trials are the foundation of every successful team We are looking for players with skill discipline and the hunger to perform under pressure Purani Dilli 6 is committed to providing a platform where talent meets opportunity said head coach Vijay Dahiya Akash Nangia owner of Purani Dilli 6 expressed confidence ahead of the trials and said Season 1 showcased the potential and fighting spirit of Purani Dilli 6 While Season 2 did not go as planned it has only strengthened our resolve These trials are an opportunity to discover new matchwinners and build a squad that reflects the pride and passion of Purani DilliThis trial will be conducted under the guidance of Vijay Dahiya a veteran coach who is an IPL franchise coach too and former Indian cricketer whose experience and leadership continue to inspire young talents IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/purani-dilli-6-trials-for-delhi-premier-league-2026-on-march-5-amp-6-662880.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-all-the-stats-from-englands-two-wicket-win-over-pakistan-in-super-8s-662625.html New Delhi Feb 24 Skipper Harry Brook pulled off a remarkable rescue act with a breathtaking 100 off 51 deliveries batting for the first time at No 3 as England qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan by wickets in the Group 2 match of the Super 8s at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy Sri Lanka on Tuesday Promoted up the order for the first time in his T20I career Brook responded with authority smashing 41 of Englandâs 53 Powerplay runs and keeping the contest alive almost singlehandedly becoming the first skipper in T20 WC history to score a centuryWith this Brook became the first captain to score a T20 World Cup century and with that has lifted England to their fifth consecutive semifinal a feat no one has achieved beforeEngland restricted Pakistan to 1649 in 20 overs built on Sahibzada Farhans 63 and Fakhar Zamans 25 Liam Dawson claimed 324 while Jamie Overton picked 226 for England Chasing the modest total England rode on Brooks 100 and Will Jacks 28 to reach 1668 in 191 overs and win the match Shaheen Shah Afridi kept Pakistan in the hunt with 430 while Usman Tariq took 231 But in the end their effort was not enoughNumbers game from the Pakistan vs England match2 Sahibzada Farhan 63 became the second batter after Babar Azam to have three or more 50plus scores in a World Cup edition Babar Azam scored four fiftyplus scores in the 2021 edition10 The number of halfcenturies scored by Sahibzada Farhan 63 in 45 T20Is It was his second in 6 T20WC matches13 The number of sixes hit by Sahibzada Farhan in this T20 World Cup 2026 This is the most for Pakistan in a single edition of the T20 WC Farhan bettered the record of Mohammad Rizwan who hit 12 sixes in the 2021 edition62 The number of runs scored by Jos Buttler at an avg of 1033 in the current WCHis worst performance in an ICC tournament6 Phil Salt recorded his 6th duck in 58T20Is It was his first against Pakistan in 11 matches1st Shaheen Afridi became the first Pakistani bowler to pick a wicket off the first ball of a T20WC inningsIst In the history of T20WCs Harry Brook 100 became the first captain to hit a century Earlier Chris Gayle set the record when he scored 98 v India at Bridgetown in the 2010 edition100 Playing in his 61st T20Is Harry Brook 100 recorded his highest score bettering his previous best of 81 also against Pakistan in Karachi in Sep 2022Compiled by Manoj Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-all-the-stats-from-englands-two-wicket-win-over-pakistan-in-super-8s-662625.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-skipper-brooks-century-guides-england-to-semifinals-edge-pakistan-by-two-wickets-662627.html Pallekele Feb 24 Skipper Harry Brook pulled off a remarkable rescue act with a breathtaking 100 off 51 deliveries batting for the first time at No 3 as England qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan by two wickets in the Group 2 match of the Super 8s at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday Promoted up the order for the first time in his T20I career Brook responded with authority smashing 41 of Englandâs 53 Powerplay runs and keeping the contest alive almost singlehandedly becoming only the first skipper in T20 WC history to score a centuryDrama unfolded with the very first delivery of the chase Shaheen Shah Afridi with the new ball got the desired inswing ending Phil Saltâs stay who edged inside the line to Usman Khan for a golden duckShaheen struck again with an outswinging delivery to Jos Buttler who underedged it for 2 runs continuing his poor run of form 26 21 3 3 7 2 through this tournament during which he has not scored a boundary since he left MumbaiJacob Bethell briefly threatened Shaheen but was dropped by Usman Tariq at short fine leg on the 6run only to be bowled out by Shaheen as he took a total of 3 wickets in the Powerplay Despite limited swing the hard length and relentless accuracy that Shaheen produced were vital in his success and he had now taken eight wickets in his first over throughout the T20 World Cup equalling that of Angelo MathewsBrook however flourished against spin He launched Mohammad Nawaz for four four and six in a single over and later hammered Shadab Khan for a 96metre straight six followed by a boundary over longon At one stage he appeared to be winning the game on his ownEarlier choosing to bat first Pakistan had a terrible start in the powerplay as they lost two early wickets Saim Ayub who has been out of form in the tournament yet again failed to impress with the bat After being tested with multiple bouncers early Jofra Archer got rid of him on a runaball sevenSkipper Salman Ali Agha 5 got out in the third over as Liam Dawson struck in his first over Despite the setbacks Pakistan remained in the contest at 462 thanks to a fluent start from Sahibzada Farhan who found the fence four times while Babar Azam signalled positive intent with two crisp boundaries before the breakThe introduction of spin was key in slowing things down Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson worked together getting grip and variation from the pitch Their disciplined lines and slight changes in pace forced the batters to play cautiously Pakistan found themselves stalled and needed to accelerate in the second half of the inningsFakhar Zaman shifted gears dramatically using his feet to Will Jacks and launching him straight back over his head for a towering six Farhan piled on the pressure in the same over smashing a massive 100metre hit over midwicket as the 14th over yielded 16 runs Farhan backed his century in the last match with a gritty and hardfought fifty in 37 deliveries but was undone by Overton for a 45ball 63Dawson made an impressive play to dismiss Fakhar Zaman at a key moment Fakhar misjudged consecutive googlies from Rashid and sent the second one high towards the leg side off a thick top edge Dawson dashed to his right from short fine leg and executed a fantastic tumbling catch on his backUsman Khan took advantage of another England misfield to get off the mark with two runs before confidently slogsweeping over midwicket for six Dawson returning for his second spell got rid of Usman after being hit for a four off a misfield and then followed it with the wicket of Mohammad Nawaz on the next delivery ending his spell at 3 for 24Usman Tariqs double strike in the middle overs left England struggling at 58 for 4 and later at 103 for 5 However Brook would not give up He tore apart Pakistans bowling attack scoring a remarkable hundred in just 50 balls He hit Afridi for six over cover and then followed it up with a four through midoff Although he was bowled by a precise yorker he left the field to a standing ovation with only 10 runs neededEngland almost threw away their advantage by losing two wickets to Mohammad Nawaz dragging the game into the final over Jofra Archer then powered Salman Mirza through midwicket to secure the win This victory guaranteed England a spot in the semifinals with a game left to play making it their fifth consecutive mens T20 World Cup semifinalPakistan despite Sahibzada Farhans impressive 63 needed to beat Sri Lanka and hope for favourable results elsewhereBrief scoresPakistan 1649 in 20 overs Sahibzada Farhan 63 Fakhar Zaman 25 Liam Dawson 324 Jamie Overton 226 lost to England 1668 in 191 overs Harry Brook 100 Will Jacks 28 Shaheen Afridi 430 Usman Tariq 231 by two wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-skipper-brooks-century-guides-england-to-semifinals-edge-pakistan-by-two-wickets-662627.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-to-host-bangladesh-for-test-series-after-23-years-in-august-662662.html Sydney Feb 25 Australia will host Bangladesh for a Test series for the first time since 2003 from August 13 22 Cricket Australia said on Wednesday The opening Test will commence on August 13 at Marrara Stadium in Darwin It will be the first time a Test has been held in Darwin since Australia hosted Sri Lanka in 2004 Darwin hosted Bangladesh in 2003 and Sri Lanka in 2004 but Australia had not played an international there since 2008 until South Africa played two T20Is there on a dropin pitch in August last yearThe twoTest series to close from August 22 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay Notably Mackay will host a Test for the first time becoming the 12th venue to do so in Australia Bangladesh have not played Australia in longform cricket since notching their maiden Test win over them in Dhaka in 2017 The series will be part of the World Test Championship 2025 to 27 cycle in which Australia are leading with seven wins in eight matchesâWeâre delighted to bring Test cricket to northern Australia and look forward to a fantastic series against BangladeshIt is no secret the international calendar is now crowded and we are fortunate to have world class facilities available in August ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg saidMarrara Stadium and Great Barrier Reef Arena have been outstanding venues for international cricket in recent seasons he addedAfter the Bangladesh series Australia will move to South Africa for a threematch Test series Pat Cummins team will then host New Zealand for four match test series at the end of the yearSeries scheduleFirst Test August 1317 Marrara Stadium DarwinSecond Test August 2226 Great Barrier Reef Arena Mackay IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-to-host-bangladesh-for-test-series-after-23-years-in-august-662662.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhishek-maintains-no-1-spot-ishan-enters-top-5-in-t20i-batter-rankings-662717.html Dubai Feb 25 Indiaâs T20I contingent has made a strong statement in the latest International Cricket Council ICC Menâs T20I Player Rankings with opener Abhishek Sharma maintaining his top spot AND wicketkeeperbatter Ishan Kishan breaking into the top five At the top of the batting rankings Abhishek retained his No1 position despite a relatively quiet start to the T20 World Cup He maintains a comfortable 62point lead over Englandâs Phil Salt Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan currently the tournamentâs leading runscorer jumped two spots to third achieving a careerbest ratingKishan climbed three places to move to fifth in the T20I batter rankings continuing his impressive run in the shortest format His surge headlines a productive week for India with multiple players making gains in the updated chartsIndiaâs presence in the top 10 has grown stronger with Kishanâs rise complemented by notable gains from other international performers South Africaâs Dewald Brevis vaulted 10 places to ninth while Afghanistanâs Ibrahim Zadran 13th West Indies skipper Shai Hope 14th and England captain Harry Brook 18th also registered significant progressIn the allroundersâ list Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza reclaimed the No1 spot after playing a key role in guiding his team into the Super Eights He overtook Pakistanâs Saim Ayub in what has become an increasingly competitive race at the top Indiaâs Shivam Dube also made gains rising two places to seventh while Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi moved up to eighthIndians continue to feature prominently in the bowling rankings as well Spinner Varun Chakravarthy held on to the No1 position despite a costly outing against South Africa at the World Cup Meanwhile Proteas pacer Corbin Bosch surged 21 places to third after standout performances including a threewicket haul against the UAE and figures of 212 versus IndiaFurther down the list West Indies quick Matthew Forde seventh and India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah eighth made notable advances South Africaâs Marco Jansen West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie and England leftarm spinner Liam Dawson also enjoyed upward movement after productive weeks IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhishek-maintains-no-1-spot-ishan-enters-top-5-in-t20i-batter-rankings-662717.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/1st-odi-pratika-returns-healy-back-at-helm-for-australia-as-india-opt-to-bat-662455.html Brisbane Feb 24 India won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the first ODI of the threegame series here at The Gabba on Tuesday The stage changes but the focus stays on the same marquee names as the two sides square off India head into the 50over contest on the back of a 21 T20I series win powered by standout individual displays Smriti Mandhana topped the run charts with 129 runs while Georgia Voll impressed for Australia with 116 With the ball India enjoyed the upper hand as Arundhati Reddy claimed eight wickets to lead the tally and Shree Charani added five crucial scalpsThe spotlight now shifts to the ODI arena a format where Australiaâs legacy looms large Seventime world champions with a commanding headtohead record over India they have traditionally set the benchmark in oneday cricket India however will aim to carry forward the momentum and belief gained from their T20I successThis series also marks Australian skipper Alyssa Healys last of her career with the ace wicketkeeperbatter set to bow out of international cricket after the conclusion of the home series Winning the toss India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said â I think batting first will be a better option for us today So thatâs why as a group we decided that letâs bat first I feel opportunity because last day when we played the World Cup we all had really a lot of fun and hopefully today also weâll have fun We do have a few changes Kashvee is back in the side And Iâll give you my playing list so you can just go through itâMeanwhile Healy said âHappy days I would have loved to bowl first So weâve got a desired result but weâve obviously got to start really well and make use of this fresh wicket Itâs been very very unusual I will say that but also really enjoyable to sort of you know watch whatâs going to unfold in a couple of gamesâ time anyway So itâs nice to be back nice to be put under the pressure by the Indian side Theyâve started really well in the series so you know weâre going to have to fight really well in this ODI series to wrestle back some momentum I just think starting really well in this series Weâve prided ourselves on our oneday game We like these conditions and we play really well in these conditions So hopefully we can remain consistent to that in what we do really well and hopefully that throws the first punch No Perry no Garth Got some injuries picked up in the third T20 Thatâs probably the two notable changesâPlaying XIs India Smriti Mandhana Pratika Rawal Shafali Verma Harmanpreet Kaur c Jemimah Rodrigues Richa Ghosh wk Deepti Sharma Kashvee Gautam Sree Charani Kranti Gaud Renuka SinghAustralia Alyssa Healy c Phoebe Litchfield Georgia Voll Beth Mooney wk Annabel Sutherland Ashleigh Gardner Tahlia McGrath Sophie Molienux Alana King Megan Schutt Darcie Brown IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/1st-odi-pratika-returns-healy-back-at-helm-for-australia-as-india-opt-to-bat-662455.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-final-jampk-opt-to-bat-first-against-karnataka-662459.html Hubli Feb 24 Jammu and Kashmir have won the toss and opted to bat first against eighttime champions Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final here at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Tuesday Jammu amp Kashmir have qualified for their maiden Ranji Trophy Notably the last team to win their maiden Ranji Trophy title was MP in the 202122 seasonWhile Paras Dogracaptained JampK have a maiden title up for grabs Devdutt Padikkalled Karnataka are chasing their first crown in well over a decade JampKâs only defeat in this season came in a 35run loss to Mumbai in October and they have not looked back since thenKarnataka endured a campaign filled with twists and turns They were in a strong position before the tournament paused for the whiteball leg but the restart brought a significant setback in the form of a heavy defeat to Madhya Pradesh That result left them with little room for error and with weather interruptions and resistance from Punjab adding to the tension their path to qualification grew increasingly narrowStepping up when it mattered most newly appointed captain Padikkal produced an unbeaten 120 steering his side into the quarterfinals as daylight ebbed away From there momentum gathered pace a strong victory over Mumbai was followed by a dominant display against Uttarakhand securing their place as hosts for the finalPlaying XIsJammu and Kashmir Paras Dogra c Qamran Iqbal Yawer Hassan Shubham Singh Pundir Abdul Samad Kanhaiya Wadhawan wk Abid Mushtaq Auqib Nabi Yudhvir Singh Sahil Lotra Sunil KumarKarnataka KL Rahul Mayank Agarwal Devdutt Padikkal c Karun Nair Smaran Ravichandran Shreyas Gopal Kruthik Krishna wk Vidyadhar Patil Vijaykumar Vyshak Shikhar Shetty Prasidh Krishna IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-final-jampk-opt-to-bat-first-against-karnataka-662459.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aus-vs-ind-ellyse-perry-kim-garth-ruled-out-of-odi-series-due-to-quad-injuries-662465.html Brisbane Feb 24 Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry and ace pacer Kim Garth have been ruled out of the threematch ODI series against India owing to the quad injuries that they picked up during the third and final T20I in Adelaide on Saturday Their availability for the Test match will be determined after the ODI series depending on their rehab progress Garth underwent scans on Monday and was officially ruled out on Tuesday with skipper Alyssa Healy confirming during the toss that the two players had been sidelined âNo Perry no Garth Got some injuries picked up in the third T20â Healy said after India won the toss and elected to bat Megan Schutt and Lucy Hamilton have been drafted into the ODI squad strengthening Australiaâs options ahead of the series Schuttâs return adds experience and firepower to the pace unit while Healy is set to partner Phoebe Litchfield at the top of the order as she begins her farewell tour Meanwhile T20 opener Georgia Voll has been slotted into a middleorder role for the 50over formatSchuttâs addition to the XI worked wonders for the home team as the veteran pacer dismissed India opener Pratika Rawal who was making her first international appearance since the injury that she picked up during the sideâs victorious ODI World Cup campaign Schutt struck off just the second delivery of the game and trapped Rawal lbw to send her back to the dugout for a twoball duck Seventime World Cup champions Australia have long set the pace in oneday cricket and maintain a strong overall record against India Meanwhile India playing their first ODI since winning the Womenâs ODI World Cup in November 2025 aim to transfer the confidence gained in the T20Is into the longer format The first ODI at The Gabba will set the tone for the series influenced by recent form tested reputations and the subtle reminder that in 50over cricket patience and precision remain crucial IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aus-vs-ind-ellyse-perry-kim-garth-ruled-out-of-odi-series-due-to-quad-injuries-662465.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sebastian-korda-claims-third-atp-tour-title-with-delray-beach-open-crown-662283.html Florida Feb 23 Sebastian Korda captured the third ATP Tour title of his career producing a composed performance to defeat fellow American Tommy Paul 64 63 in the final of the Delray Beach Open Having fallen just short as runnerup at the same tournament in 2021 Korda returned to lift the trophy this time becoming the ninth American man to triumph at the Florida event The 25yearoldâs victory propels him to No 40 in the ATP Live RankingsâIt means a lot Iâve been through some stuff the past couple of months years Iâve lost a lot of finals and now to get one here in Delray â this is where I made my first ATP final â so itâs like a fullcircle day Iâm just happyâ Korda saidBattling gusty afternoon winds Korda played assertive tennis from the baseline controlling rallies with clean confident ballstriking He seized the opening set with a timely break at 54 and was especially effective behind his first serve claiming 83 per cent of those points ATP reportsThe second set brought late drama Serving for the championship Korda fell behind 040 but refused to yield saving four break points in the game before sealing the win after one hour and 22 minutesâIt was tricky We were both struggling out there it was super windy I was just trying to put the ball in the court I was born and raised in Florida so Iâm used to the wind a little bit but this was extreme for sureâ Korda said Kordaâs path to the title was anything but straightforward He eliminated three of the tournamentâs top five seeds including second seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and third seed Flavio Cobolli in the semifinalsThe championship clash marked the second allAmerican final of the season following the showdown in Dallas With the win Korda improved his ATP Head2Head record against Paul to 52 The two had not met in nearly 20 months since their encounter at Queens Club Championships in 2024For Paul 28 the defeat denied him a fifth career ATP Tour title Kordaâs triumph represents a significant milestone in his resurgence Last season he was sidelined from Roland Garros through WinstonSalem while recovering from a stress fracture in his right shin a setback that required the use of a protective boot and crutches Now healthy again Kordaâs breakthrough in Delray Beach signals a return to form and perhaps the start of another upward climb IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sebastian-korda-claims-third-atp-tour-title-with-delray-beach-open-crown-662283.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-didnt-realise-the-new-ball-would-be-the-biggest-challenge-pollocks-view-on-what-went-wrong-for-india-662353.html New Delhi Feb 23 Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock gave his analysis of Indias Super 8 stage loss to the Proteas and stated that the cohost didnt adapt well to the conditions in Ahmedabad and failed to realise the new ball challenge with the seam moving around South Africa snapped Indias 12match unbeaten streak at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup as they handed the defending champions a 76run defeat at the Narendra Modi Stadium on SundayAfter India dominated early as Jasprit Bumrah produced a stellar opening spell of 27 the Proteas scripted a comeback through a 97run partnership off 51 balls between David Miller and Dewald Brevis A late charge from Tristan Stubbs who knocked off an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls took South Africa past the 180markâIndia didnt adapt well to the conditions in Ahmedabad South Africa had played three matches here already so they knew what to expect Yes they struggled at first when they lost the wickets of Quinton de Kock Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton early but they did not stop adjusting as per the conditions It was only when Brevis and Miller batted together that things worked for them Tristan Stubbs put his batting power to good use in the end to help South Africa reach 187 Indiaâs chase would have been simple had they played carefully in the beginning Pollock In response India failed to launch in the first six overs and were already in trouble at 313 after the powerplay South Africa kept a lid on the explosive and deeprunning Indian batting lineup as the Men in Blue were bundled out for 111 in 185 oversThe first six overs was the toughest because the ball wasnt coming onto the bat nicely Instead they went after the bowlers from the very first over You cant do that on this kind of a pitch while chasing a big total They lost two early wickets and were under pressure right away Sometimes you have to be smart and patient India didnt change their approach They didnt realise that the new ball would be the biggest challenge with the seam moving around he addedThe defending champions will now have to win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to stay in contention for the semifinals especially with their net run rate now at 38 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-didnt-realise-the-new-ball-would-be-the-biggest-challenge-pollocks-view-on-what-went-wrong-for-india-662353.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-to-return-to-south-africa-for-first-test-tour-since-sandpaper-gate-662380.html New Delhi Feb 23 Australia will tour South Africa for a landmark threeTest series in 202627 marking their first redball visit to the country since the infamous 2018 balltampering episode in Cape Town Cricket South Africa unveiled their international schedule for the 202627 season confirming a marquee contest between the two most recent World Test Championship winners The series will culminate at Newlands in Cape Town the venue where the 2018 scandal unfolded and triggered one of the most turbulent chapters in Australian cricket historyThe tour will begin with a threematch ODI series in September with matches slated for Durban Johannesburg and Potchefstroom Australia will then shift focus to the longer format with Tests scheduled in Durban Gqeberha and Cape Town A warmup fixture in Potchefstroom is also part of the itinerary Australia are also expected to play limitedovers matches in neighbouring Zimbabwe before crossing into South AfricaSeveral members of the current Australian squad including captain Pat Cummins Steve Smith Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood were part of the 2018 touring party While some have since returned to Cape Town for whiteball fixtures Australia have not undertaken a full Test tour of South Africa in the eight years since that seriesDavid Warner who alongside Smith received a 12month ban for his involvement in the 2018 incident has since retired from international cricket as have former Test skipper Tim Paine and opener Usman Khawaja Cameron Bancroft who served a ninemonth suspension is unlikely to featureFor South Africa the series signals a renewed commitment to hosting Test cricket after a reduced home schedule in recent seasons due to financial pressures and the growing footprint of the SA20 league during the peak summer window The Proteas have not staged a home Test since January 2025 but are set to host Bangladesh and England in the upcoming southern summerThe Australia series could prove pivotal in shaping the next World Test Championship final Australia currently lead the standings with one defeat in eight matches but face demanding away tours of South Africa and India alongside a fourTest home series against New ZealandBefore heading to Africa Australia are scheduled to host Bangladesh in northern Australia in August rounding out a packed calendar that will test their depth across formatsODI SeriesFirst ODI September 24 Kingsmead Stadium DurbanSecond ODI September 27 Wanderers Stadium JohannesburgThird ODI September 30 JB Marks Oval Potchefstroom DNWarmup MatchOctober 34 JB Marks Oval PotchefstroomTest SeriesFirst Test October 913 Kingsmead Stadium DurbanSecond Test October 1822 St Georgeâs Park GqeberhaThird Test October 2731 Newlands Cricket Ground Cape Town IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-to-return-to-south-africa-for-first-test-tour-since-sandpaper-gate-662380.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/healy-set-for-careers-final-odi-series-mooney-to-keep-wickets-662385.html Brisbane Feb 23 Australia have turned their attention to the 50over format as they seek a response in the multiformat contest against India with retiring captain Alyssa Healy set to headline several changes for Tuesdayâs first ODI in Brisbane After conceding the T20I leg 2â1 the hosts are poised to reshuffle their XI for the 50over games Healy will return to the top of the order replacing Georgia Voll and is expected to partner with regular opener Phoebe Litchfield Legspinner Alana King is also in line for her first appearance of the series likely coming in for fellow wristspinner Georgia Wareham while Grace Harris has not been included in the ODI squadIn a notable move Healy is not expected to resume wicketkeeping duties during her farewell series Instead Beth Mooney will continue with the gloves a decision understood to have been made for continuity after Mooney kept throughout the T20Is and with an eye on Australiaâs upcoming Caribbean tourHealy who holds a worldrecord 275 dismissals as a wicketkeeper and has been Australiaâs firstchoice glovewoman since 2014 has not kept since the end of WBBL11Speaking to reporters Monday at the Allan Border Field Healy reflected on her time away from the group during the T20I leg saying âIts already been a little bit weird watching to be completely honest I havent probably played as many of the T20 series over the last few seasons but being removed from the environment for the last couple of weeks and watching it all unfold has been a little bit weird and coming back in midway through a series has been a bit oddâThe 35yearold who will captain Australia through the three ODIs and the subsequent daynight Test in Perth before stepping away from international cricket insisted her focus is firmly on the team outcome rather than a personal sendoffâIm just really excited to play in what is a big series â its not so much about going out in in style its more about winning this seriesâ Healy saidAustralia trained on an optional basis at Allan Border Field as selectors weighed further decisions Vicecaptain Tahlia McGrath left out during the T20Is remains under consideration despite a lean ODI World Cup campaign earlier in the cycle Nicola Carey recalled after a threeyear absence is another option to bolster the XISophie Molineux who will assume the captaincy across formats following the series will serve as deputy during the onedayers and the TestFor Healy the Brisbane opener carries added personal significance Although she did not feature in Sydney her adopted home the Queensland fixture offers a different kind of homecoming Born on the Gold Coast she expects a strong turnout of family and friendsIts interesting how everything panned out she said I didnt get a game in Sydney but ironically to get a game here in Queensland where Ive got more family and friends from where we originated is a really special thingI think Uncle Ian Australia great Ian Healy has been in charge of roping them all together IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/healy-set-for-careers-final-odi-series-mooney-to-keep-wickets-662385.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-from-scenic-kathar-to-playing-final-in-hubbali-the-making-of-sunil-kumar-662394.html New Delhi Feb 23 On February 17 in Kalyani many felt Bengal were assured of entering the Ranji Trophy final after bagging a slender lead over Jammu amp Kashmir A big second innings score and that would have been enough for Bengal to get into the title clash against Karnataka But cricket is a great leveller and brings its own twists and turns beyond oneâs imagination The exact same thing happened when Bengal folded for 99 giving JampK a target of 126 which they chased down to get into the title clash starting in Hubbali on TuesdayApart from Auqib Nabi taking a sensational fourfer his new ball partner Sunil Kumar also grabbed four scalps to put JampK in the driverâs seat for entering their firstever Ranji Trophy final Now against Karnataka and a formidable batting lineup featuring KL Rahul Devdutt Padikkal Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal leftarmer Sunil is ready for the biggest game of his life after having his comingofage moment in KalyaniIt has been very good to bowl with Nabi There is no pressure when bowling alongside him because all the pressure is coming through him The way he bowls it feels like he is bound to get a wicket on every delivery When that happens then your job is to not give runs from the other side as they will get out to him and you just have to contain the runs from your sideWhen Vanshe Vanshaj Sharma hit that sixer I was sitting at the back of the dugout It was a very good and unforgettable moment for all of us It was clear before that we were going to play the final but then that feeling of entering the title clash was just unbelievable We have now forgotten that victory since we reached Karnataka The entire focus is on the final said Sunil in an exclusive conversation with IANS from HubbaliThe bowling plan for Karnataka Sunil feels will be no different from the one that has worked all season and the one that dismantled Bengal inside two sessions in ways even the JampK camp hadnât anticipatedThe plan was simple we wanted to get them out as soon as possible But we didnt think that they would get out in one or two sessions We thought that even if they got out in three or four sessions we would get a day to chase whatever total they would postâBut as soon as we got the wickets quickly we thought it could be easily chased down The bowling plan was the same we wanted to hit our basic line and length again and again so that they would make a mistake But we didnt think that they would suddenly get out in one or two sessions he recalledSunil hails from Kathar a scenic village nestled 35 kilometres from Akhnoor district in the Jammu region The son of an Army man Sunil played with a cosco ball as he fared better in cricket than his peers in the village who believed he had the capabilities to make a career out of playing the sportThere are a lot of swing bowlers who I watched a lot When I started watching cricket I would take notice of India leftarm pacers Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan I really liked Irfan Pathans bowling action and I used to try to copy it So by copying him my action became like this I also used to like the bowling of Dale Steyn and James Anderson said SunilWhen Pathan played for JampK as playercummentor from 2018 to 2020 Sunil had a chance to meet him âI went for a trial and thats where I met him once He asked me for my age and told me that I bowl very well and that I have a lot of time in handâ he saidAn intercollege tournament first introduced him to leatherball cricket Trials followed and then a talent hunt around 202122 brought him to the attention of JampK head coach Ajay Sharma Before I came to college I used to play with a cosco ball The first time I played leatherball based cricket was through an intercollege tournament and thats where my journey started Gradually I came to know about trials and attended it There I came to know that yes I am fine and I can play cricket professionallyâLuckily I also did well in the talent hunt and we were called for a T20 camp and Ajay sir came there for the first time I was first picked by the selectors from the talent hunt When Ajay sir was there I was playing in the C or D team So the next team match was A or B team and they said to put me in either of the two teams and make me bowl with the new ball So thats how it started and where I am playing now its because of that talent hunt If it wasnt for that I wouldnt have been able to achieve anythingâ he saidThe commute from Kathar to JampK Sports Hostel and Science College ground where the JKCA camps were held was a daily test of commitment in itself I had to travel 65 to 70 kms via scooty and if the camp was set up for 10am then I had to leave at 815am so that I could reach by 945 to 950am If camp ran till 2pm I would then leave at 230pm and reach home by 4 or 430pm he saidHis family he says never stood in the way âI didnt take cricket just because I wanted to pursue it My family knew that I play cricket In terms of playing a game when you want to achieve something really good then its not that you want to get some return from it You play for the love of that thingâI started like that and Im still playing with the same mindset So their support was that they never stopped me for anything I was good in studies used to pass exams well and get good marks So I told them that Im studying and playing and they were okay with itBowling coach P Krishnakumar who has overseen JampKs pace attack for three seasons identified Kumar early as a project worth investing in Its a very very big thing for him He comes from Akhnoor which is a very small place He didnt have a pitch to bowl and what he has done was he has made a pitch in his own home In the offseason he calls and asks me on improving his bowlingâWe discuss and I tell him to do this and that When he started he was more of an outswing bowler He never had a good inswing and I have developed his inswing I have developed his bowling from down the stick So whatever I could do I have done with him He is very calm like Auqib and is ready to work hardâIn the first year only of me coming here in the lunch and tea sessions we used to do specific skill sessions and he also has picked up very quickly and that is why he is performing because a bowler can only perform if teer hai uske tarkash mein there are many arrows in his quiver Then only he can compete with that If a batsman has more arrows he will win but if you have more than him so you will win and its very simple he said to IANSSunil also acknowledged the role of Krishnakumar in his development as a bowler âThe coaching staff is very helpful Krishna Kumar has done a lot of hard work in getting a lot of basic things right that were previously bad for meâHe has worked a lot on my mental side as well He always says that the more you keep your basics right and the simpler you keep your plans the better it is He has helped me in the offseason a lot to become a lot better with my bowlingâIn eight matches of this season Sunil has claimed 29 wickets at an average of 151 including two fourwicket hauls and as many fivefors His first fifer came in Jammu against Hyderabad a moment he describes as the highlight of his first fullfledged domestic seasonPlaying in this season feels really good This is my first season of playing domestic cricket and the performances have been fine so I feel good about it It was a very special moment to get my first fifer at our home ground and then get the second fivewicket haul against Himachal Pradesh in Amtar he saidAt 28 Sunil speaks with the measured certainty of someone who has had to wait long enough to know what patience in sports really means If you really want to do well in this game then you have to work on yourself with small improvements to be made every dayâEven if you find it boring or basic and start to think what will even happen through it you have to keep doing it One day God will give you the result as he sees the hard work you put in every day he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-from-scenic-kathar-to-playing-final-in-hubbali-the-making-of-sunil-kumar-662394.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jemimah-rodrigues-completes-2500-t20i-runs-662182.html Adelaide Feb 21 India batter Jemimah Rodrigues completed 2500 runs in the T20 Internationals achieving the feat during her outing with the willow against Australia in the final and deciding T20I of the threegame series at the Adelaide Oval Before walking into the crease at No 3 for the third T20I Rodrigues had accumulated 2492 runs in 104 innings Playing her 118th T20 International the Delhi Capitals skipper went past the 2500run landmark with a boundary off Kim Garth in the fifth over of the first innings having opted to bat first Rodrigues became only the fourth female Indian cricketer to reach the landmark in womenâs T20Is after skipper Kaur vicecaptain Smriti Mandhana and opening batter Shafali Verma The India opener also Rodriguesâ teammate at Delhi in the Womenâs Premier League WPL reached 2500 T20I runs earlier this week while scoring a quick 29 off 23 balls at the top of the order in the Canberra T20I During the same match Kaur set an impressive record by becoming the mostcapped international player in womenâs cricket On February 19 in her 356th international game the Indian World Cupwinning captain overtook New Zealand legend Suzie Bates to secure the record for the most international appearances by a womanFollowing Kaur and Bates Ellyse Perry who made her historic 350th international appearance for Australia on Saturday ranks third among women cricketers with the most appearancesThe allrounder made history by becoming the first Australian woman to reach 350 international games celebrating her 20th year at the highest level Speaking of the series so far the visitors dismissed the Aussies for 133 at the SCG in the first match then quickly reached 501 in 51 overs before rain interrupted India were significantly ahead of the DLS par score and managed to seal a win to take a 10 lead in the series Australia made a strong comeback at the Manuka Oval in Canberra Sent in to bat again they achieved a higherthanaverage total thanks to Georgia Volls aggressive 88 They faltered slightly near the end of their innings but India responded with a quick start Nevertheless the Australian bowlers changed their pace effectively causing a collapse that allowed the hosts to defend their total convincingly and level the seriesThe two sides are currently locked in the third and final game of the T20I leg of Indiaâs tour with the Women in Blue reaching 1011 in 12 overs courtesy of Mandhanaâs powerful halfcentury and Rodriguesâ firepower IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jemimah-rodrigues-completes-2500-t20i-runs-662182.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-jacks-rashid-shine-as-england-crush-sri-lanka-to-clinch-51-run-win-662255.html Colombo Feb 22 IANS England produced a clinical allround display to crush Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their ICC Mens T20 World Cup Super Eights clash bundling out the hosts for just 95 runs in 164 overs after posting 1469 in a gripping encounternbspDefending a modest total on a bowlerfriendly surface Englands spinners turned the contest into a onesided affair with a relentless middleovers squeeze that left Sri Lanka gasping The chase never recovered from a dramatic powerplay collapse as the hosts slumped to 345 their secondlowest powerplay score in this edition among full member sidesJofra Archer set the tone early dismissing Pathum Nissanka with a wellset trap at deep midwicket before removing Kamil Mishara But it was Will Jacks who broke the backbone of the inningsThe offspinner struck twice in the fourth over including the prized wicket of Kusal Mendis caught and bowled and then added Dunith Wellalage to finish with outstanding figures of 322 becoming the first England spinner to claim three wickets in the powerplay of a T20IWith spin operating from both ends Liam Dawson joined the act His drift and control accounted for Kamindu Mendis and later produced a sharp caughtandbowled dismissal A bizarre hitwicket from Dushan Hemantha further underlined Sri Lankas unravelling under pressureAt 536 the contest was effectively over despite a brief counterattack from skipper Dasun Shanaka The righthander struck two sixes in his 30 off 24 balls attempting to revive hopes with aggressive intent However Adil Rashids guile proved decisive The legspinner removed Shanaka with a stunning relay catch effort in the deep and then cleaned up the tail with his trademark wrong unRashid fittingly sealed the win bowling Dilshan Madushanka through the gate to trigger celebrations as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 95 their lowest total against England in T20 World CupsEarlier England themselves had struggled to build momentum after being sent in Phil Salts 62 off 40 balls anchored the innings but disciplined spells from Wellalage 326 and Maheesh Theekshana 221 restricted them to 1469That total however proved more than enough as Englands spinners suffocated the chase with precision and control extending their dominance over Sri Lanka with a 12th consecutive T20I victory in the headtohead rivalryBrief scores England 1469 in 20 overs Phil Salt 62 Dunith Wellalage 326 Maheesh Theekshana 221 beat Sri Lanka 9510 in 164 overs Dasun Shanaka 30 Will Jacks 322 Adil Rashid 213 Jofra Archer 220 by 51 runsIANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-jacks-rashid-shine-as-england-crush-sri-lanka-to-clinch-51-run-win-662255.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/gulmarg-set-to-showcase-real-impact-of-khelo-bharat-niti-during-kiwg-2026-661900.html Gulmarg Feb 19 The upcoming edition of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg is poised to become a realworld example of the governmentâs ambitious Khelo Bharat Niti with a visible surge in tourism local economic activity and national participation ahead of the February 2326 competition window Launched by the Union sports ministry in July last year the Khelo Bharat Niti aims to strengthen Indiaâs sporting ecosystem while leveraging major events to drive economic growth By promoting infrastructure development talent identification and international competitiveness the policy also seeks to boost allied sectors such as tourism manufacturing and sports technologyThat vision is already taking shape in Gulmarg one of Kashmirâs premier winter destinations where tourist interest has risen sharply in the leadup to the Games With Indiaâs top skiers including Winter Olympians set to compete the event has generated enthusiasm across the region particularly among those whose livelihoods depend on sports tourismLocal businesses have seen a clear uptick in activity Abeed a hotelier at Sheen Woods Tangmarg said bookings had surged weeks before the eventâFor us this is more than just tourism It is our identity When the Games happen Gulmarg feels like the heart of the countryâ he says pointing to a lobby filled with athletes from Madhya Pradesh Haryana Kerala Telangana and Jammu amp KashmirâYou hear different languages at breakfastâ he says âIt feels like a country in one roomâThe growth of the Winter Games in Gulmarg reflects a steady upward trajectory The inaugural edition in 2020 saw 1123 athletes compete across 13 disciplines with Jammu amp Kashmir topping the medal tally Participation rose to 1208 athletes in 2021 with the host region winning 18 gold medals The 2023 edition marked the peak with 1395 athletes as Jammu amp Kashmir secured 26 gold 25 silver and 25 bronze medals Though the 2024 and 2025 editions featured fewer events and participants competition intensified with teams such as the Army Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka delivering strong performancesNow as the sixth edition approaches the focus has shifted from experimentation to legacybuilding especially in reviving tourism after a challenging period Following the April 22 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam domestic tourist arrivals to Kashmir dropped significantly to around 1047 lakh in 2025 compared to approximately 26 lakh in 2024 However officials from the tourism department said visitor numbers have rebounded this year driven by the New Year rush and growing anticipation around the Winter Games Gulmargâs 2300 hotel and hut beds are already over 50 per cent booked for the event periodBeyond hotels and resorts the Games are also providing crucial income opportunities for seasonal workers On the slopes of Kongdoori sledge pullers Altaf Hussain and Muhammad Rafiq are preparing for the influx of visitorsâThis is our seasonâ Hussain says adjusting the ropes over his shoulders âWhen the games start Gulmarg comes aliveâThe duo typically earn between Rs 500 and Rs 1500 per tourist depending on distance and time with daily earnings ranging from Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 during peak periods a stark contrast to lean days when tourist footfall is minimalThe 2026 edition will feature four medal disciplines ski mountaineering alpine skiing Nordic skiing crosscountry and snowboarding attracting athletes and spectators from across the countryAs Gulmarg prepares to host another major winter sporting spectacle the Khelo India Winter Games are emerging as more than just a competition They represent a tangible demonstration of how sports policy can energise local economies strengthen national sporting culture and reaffirm Gulmargâs place as Indiaâs winter sports capital IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/gulmarg-set-to-showcase-real-impact-of-khelo-bharat-niti-during-kiwg-2026-661900.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-manifested-this-moment-ever-since-canada-qualified-for-t20-wc-yuvraj-samra-on-record-ton-against-nz-661762.html Chennai Feb 17 At just 19 Yuvraj Samra announced himself on the biggest stage with a breathtaking 110 to power Canada to 1734 against New Zealand here at the M A Chidambaram Stadium on Monday Walking out for his very first T20 World Cup appearance the teenager played with poise beyond his years combining elegance with authority in a 58ball century that rewrote record books At 19 years and 141 days he became the youngest batter to score a fifty in T20 World Cup history and went on to register the first hundred by a player from an Associate nation in the tournament Moreover his 110run knock was the highest individual score for Associate teams in T20 World CupsReflecting on the milestone innings Samra speaking to the broadcasters after the first innings said âHonestly I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup Every single day I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage To do it here in my first appearance and as the youngest player in this World Cup itâs truly a dream come trueâCanadaâs innings began cautiously against the newball pair of Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy but Samra quickly found his rhythm He pierced gaps with precision and launched an 87metre six to signal his intent while captain Dilpreet Bajwa provided steady support The duo stitched together a 116run opening stand the highest by an Associate team against a Full Member in T20 World Cup history laying the platform for a formidable totalSamraâs hundred studded with 11 fours and six sixes also carried emotional weight Named after Indian great Yuvraj Singh he surpassed his idolâs highest T20 World Cup score in the processâIt feels incredible There are so many emotions right now I canât really put them into words Yuvraj Singh is someone Iâve looked up to since I was a kid so to even be mentioned in the same breath is special I just wish my dad was here today watching me from back home this oneâs for himâ he notedSamra was equally measured in his assessment of the surface in Chennai âThe wicket was a bit slow and the ball was sticking slightly I felt it was important to pick the right deliveries to attack and not force shots Once I got set I focused on timing rather than power I think bowling into the pitch and mixing the pace will be key on this surface itâs not the easiest track for freeflowing strokeplay so youâve got to adaptâ he saidDespite late strikes from Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson quick contributions from Harsh Thaker and Dilon Heyliger ensured Canada finished strongly setting up a compelling contest under the Chennai lights IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-manifested-this-moment-ever-since-canada-qualified-for-t20-wc-yuvraj-samra-on-record-ton-against-nz-661762.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-stoinis-renshaw-guide-australia-to-1826-against-ireland-661463.html Colombo Feb 11 A 61run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis helped Australia reach 1826 in 20 overs against Ireland in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday Coming to bat after winning the toss Australia were off to a bad start as their standin captain Travis Head was run out on the seventh ball of the innings after a mixup with his opening partner Josh Inglis Head scored just six runs off seven balls he played and hit one fourAfter an early wicket Inglis and Cameron Green played with positive intent and attacked Ireland bowlers fiercely The duo forged a partnership of 49 runs off just 23 balls before Green was out on the last ball of the fifth over trying to hit a six against Mark Adair Green scored 21 runs off just 11 balls and provided momentum to the batting side with two sixes and one fourInglis continued the attack by hitting two boundaries in the next two overs but was eventually caught by Paul Stirling at cover in the seventh over The wicketkeeper batter scored 37 runs off just 17 balls Inglis also hammered six boundaries and one sixAustralias experienced allrounder Glenn Maxwell tried to steer the innings but was dismissed cheaply in the tenth over after edging out against Lorcan Tucker Maxwell scored just 9 runs in nine ballsAustralia were at 904 during the midinnings interval and as Ireland were hoping to do more damage Renshaw and Stoinis forged a 61run partnership which was helped by Irelands sloppy fieldingThe duo adopted a boundaryless approach at the start as they were continuously rotating the strike putting pressure on the opposition who were looking for a wicketIreland finally got the breakthrough in the 17th over when Matthew Humphreys clean bowled Renshaw who departed after scoring 37 runs in 33 ballsStoinis who was dropped by Delany in the next over continued to attack but missed a welldeserved fifty when he was finally caught by Benjamin Calitz in the 18th over Stoinis scored 45 runs in just 29 balls and hammered two fours and one six which guided Australia to a challenging totalAdair was the most successful bowler for Ireland as he finished with good figures of 244 While Matthew Humphreys George Dockrell and Harry Tector took one wicket eachBrief Scores Australia 1826 in 20 overs Marcus Stoinis 45 Matt Renshaw 37 Mark Adair 244 Harry Tector 124 against Ireland IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-stoinis-renshaw-guide-australia-to-1826-against-ireland-661463.html Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-zimbabwe-choose-to-bowl-against-oman-in-campaign-opener-661277.html Colombo Feb 9 Zimbabwe have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Oman in their Group B clash of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground SSC in Colombo on Monday After winning the toss Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza said Were going to have a bowl first We looked at the wicket as well and it looked like theres early movement as well and with the wind going on as well I think the wicket is going to look to get better from what I can see Give our seamers the best chance to make the ball talkZimbabwe and Sri Lanka share a very good relationship so they were very kind enough to allow us to come a week before and we were in Hambantota for a week And then we have been here for five odd days as well So certainly those 1012 days have certainly helped us to prepare And adjust to the conditions and we couldnt wait to get the show on the road he addedWhile after losing the toss Oman captain Jatinder Singh said Absolutely Itâs a good surface and it definitely settled down a bit in the second innings The preparation has been excellent We arrived in Sri Lanka quite early and had a really strong buildupWe played a couple of games and since the conditions here are very different it was important for us to get used to them Itâs also much more humid compared to Oman so overall the preparation has been spot on Based on the wicket I think around 160 to 165 would be ideal Anything in that range should be competitive he addedPlaying XIsZimbabwe Brian Bennett Tadiwanashe Marumani Dion Myers Brendan Taylor wk Sikandar Raza c Ryan Burl Tashinga Musekiwa Brad Evans Wellington Masakadza Richard Ngarava Blessing MuzarabaniOman Jatinder Singh c Aamir Kaleem Hammad Mirza Wasim Ali Karan Sonavale Jiten Ramanandi Vinayak Shukla wk Sufyan Mehmood Nadeem Khan Shah Faisal Shakeel Ahmed IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-zimbabwe-choose-to-bowl-against-oman-in-campaign-opener-661277.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-muzarbani-ngarava-and-evans-take-three-wickets-each-as-zimbabwe-bowl-out-oman-for-103-661302.html Colombo Feb 9 The fast bowling trio of Blessing Muzarabani Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans picked three wickets each as Zimbabwe bowled out Oman for 103 runs in 195 overs in their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Monday Being put to bat after losing the toss Oman were off to a disastrous start as Muzarbani clean bowled skipper Jatinder Singh 5 with a good length ball on the first ball of the second overOmans experienced batter Hammad Mirza followed suit as he was dismissed in the next over by Richard NgaravaAs the pressure increased on the batting side Muzarbani came back for his second over and sent Aamir Kaleem who became the oldest player to feature in a T20 World Cup match At 44 years and 81 days of age Kaleem broke the record of Ryan Campbell who played at 44 years and 34 daysZimbabwes star bowler edged out Karan Sonavale who went for a duck in the same over Oman lost their fifth wicket at the score of 27 when Wasim Ali was clean bowled by the skipper Sikandar Raza after the powerplayAs the Oman team were heading towards an early allout wicketkeeper batter Vinayak Shukla and Sufiyan Mehmood showed some fightback The duo forged a 42run partnership the teams highest in the innings which helped the team cross their lowest total markHowever their resistance didnt last long as Vinayak was undone by Ngarava in the 15th over Vinayak scored 28 runs and hit four boundaries during his stay at the crease Ngarava took his third wicket in the same over as Jiten Ramanandi edged a shortpitched ball which was caught by wicketkeeper Dion MyersSufyan continued the charge but got out in the 17th over trying to pull a slower delivery He scored 25 runs off 39 balls and hit two foursNadeem Khan provided a late push with a brisk 20 off 18 but was dismissed by Evans in the last over putting an end to Omans inningsFor Zimbabwe Muzarbani Ngarava and Evans were the most successful bowlers Muzarbani finished with the figures of 3 for 16 while Ngarava finished with 317 Brad Evans also took three wickets while giving out 18 runs Skipper Raza took one wicket in his four oversBrief Scores Oman 10310 in 195 Vinayak Shukla 28 Sufyan Mehmood 25 Blessing Muzarbani 316 Richard Ngarava 317 Brad Evans 318 against Zimbabwe IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-muzarbani-ngarava-and-evans-take-three-wickets-each-as-zimbabwe-bowl-out-oman-for-103-661302.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-zimbabwe-register-dominant-eight-wicket-win-against-oman-in-campaign-opener-661314.html Colombo Feb 9 Zimbabwe began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion registering a dominant eightwicket victory over Oman as they chased down a modest target of 103 in just 133 overs in the eighth match of the tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground SSC in Colombo on Monday Coming in to chase an easy target Zimbabwe were off to a strong start as both openers struck the ball fluently with the team scoring at a run rate of over 10 runs per over in the first three oversOman finally got their breakthrough in the fourth over when Sufyan Mehmood dismissed Tadiwanashe Marumani who was looking in excellent touch and scored 21 runs off just 11 balls including five boundariesSufyan provided another wicket to Oman in the same over when he sent Dion Myers back to the pavilion for a duckAfter the backtoback wickets Zimbabwe wicketkeeper batter Brendan Taylor forged a matchwinning partnership with opener Brian Bennett who rotated the strike wellThe duo followed a boundaryless approach at the start and took singles and doubles as they gradually increased pressure on the oppositionBrian missed out on a welldeserved halfcentury as he remained unbeaten on 48 He hammered seven fours during his fine innings Taylor scored 31 runs off 30 balls including three boundaries before retiring hurt at the end of the 13th over Captain Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs as Zimbabwe chased down the total in just 133 overs For Oman Sufyan was the only bowler to pick up wickets finishing with figures of 3 for 12 in three oversEarlier the fast bowling trio of Blessing Muzarabani Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans picked up three wickets each as Zimbabwe bowled out Oman for 103 runs in 195 overs after choosing to bowl firstOman were off to a disastrous start as Muzarabani clean bowled skipper Jatinder Singh 5 with a goodlength delivery on the first ball of the second over Omanâs experienced batter Hammad Mirza followed suit as he was dismissed in the next over by Richard NgaravaAs pressure mounted on the batting side Muzarabani returned for his second over and sent Aamir Kaleem and Karan Sonavale back to the pavilion in the same over As Oman headed towards an early collapse wicketkeeper batter Vinayak Shukla and Sufiyan Mehmood showed some resistance The duo forged a 42run partnership the teamâs highest of the innings which helped Oman cross the 100run markBrief Scores Zimbabwe 1062 in 133 overs Brian Bennett 48 Brendan Taylor 31 Tadiwanashe Marumani 21 Sufyan Mehmood 212 beat Oman all out for 103 in 195 Vinayak Shukla 28 Sufyan Mehmood 25 Blessing Muzarbani 316 Richard Ngarava 317 Brad Evans 318 by eight wickets IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-zimbabwe-register-dominant-eight-wicket-win-against-oman-in-campaign-opener-661314.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/new-guard-new-grades-bcci-contracts-signal-indian-crickets-big-shift-661351.html New Delhi Feb 9 Indian cricket just got a glimpse of its future â and itâs wearing fresh names at the top The Board of Control for Cricket in Indiaâs 2025â26 annual player contracts arenât just about retainers and grades They tell a bigger story a generational handover is well and truly underwayFor years Indian cricket revolved around the twin pillars of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Now while both remain centrally contracted their move to Grade B underlines a shift from automatic leadership status to experienced support rolesTaking their place in Grade A are Shubman Gill â Now officially seen as the face of Indiaâs batting future Jasprit Bumrah â Still the attack leader and the only fast bowler in the top tier Ravindra Jadeja â The everreliable threedimensional assetGillâs promotion feels symbolic The stylish opener has moved from âpromisingâ to âpillarâ and the board has stamped that belief in inkBumrahâs presence in the top bracket once again proves Indiaâs pace plans still orbit around his fitness and skill Jadeja meanwhile continues to be cricketâs ultimate utility cricketer â bat ball field all eliteBeing in Grade B doesnât diminish the stature of Kohli or Rohit â it redefines itThey now sit alongside key multiformat players like KL Rahul Mohammed Siraj Hardik Pandya Rishabh PantThis tier now looks like the experienced engine room â players who can still win matches but are no longer the longterm blueprintThe longest list belongs to Grade C and thatâs exactly how selectors want itNames like Rinku Singh Tilak Varma Ruturaj Gaikwad and Arshdeep Singh highlight Indiaâs growing whiteball depth while youngsters such as Dhruv Jurel and Sai Sudharsan are being groomed as the next longterm investmentsThis isnât just a backup pool anymore â itâs a parallel production lineWomenâs contracts Stability at the top surge belowIn the womenâs setup the leadership core remains solid in Grade A Harmanpreet Kaur Smriti Mandhana Jemimah Rodrigues Deepti SharmaBut what stands out is the expanding middle tier Players like Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh reflect Indiaâs aggressive fearless new batting identity while several new names entering the contract list show how quickly the womenâs talent pool is wideningThis is less about transition and more about rapid expansionThis yearâs list isnât just administrative â itâs directional India is planning beyond legends Youth is no longer âemergingâ itâs âestablishedâ Depth is now a strategy not a luxuryThe message from the BCCI is crystal clear the next Indian era isnât comingItâs already here IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/new-guard-new-grades-bcci-contracts-signal-indian-crickets-big-shift-661351.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-all-the-stats-from-zimbabwes-dominant-8-wicket-win-over-oman-661352.html Colombo Feb 9 Zimbabwe began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion registering a dominant eightwicket victory over Oman as they chased down a modest target of 103 in just 133 overs in the eighth match of the tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground SSC in Colombo on Monday The fast bowling trio of Blessing Muzarabani Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans picked up three wickets each as Zimbabwe bowled out Oman for 103 runs in 195 overs after choosing to bowl firstComing in to chase an easy target Zimbabwe were off to a strong start as both openers struck the ball fluently with the team scoring at a run rate of over 10 runs per over in the first three oversOman finally got their breakthrough in the fourth over when Sufyan Mehmood dismissed Tadiwanashe Marumani and Dion MyersAfter the backtoback wickets Zimbabwe wicketkeeper batter Brendan Taylor forged a matchwinning 68run partnership with opener Brian Bennett who rotated the strike well With this Zimbabwe achieved the target easily in just 133 oversHeres a look at all the key stats from the Zimbabwe vs Oman Match9 Zimbabwe recorded their 9th win in the T20 World Cup matches To date they have played 21 matches won 9 and lost 11 while 1 match produced no result8 Oman suffered their 8th defeat in the 11th World Cup matches3 Brendan Taylor was retired hurt in the 13th over of the innings when he was playing In the last 5 T20 innings this was the 3rd instance when he was retired hurt103 103 in 195 overs is Omans 3rd lowest total in the T20 World Cup Before this they scored 47 v England in North Sound in 2024 and 65 for 9 v Bangladesh in Dharamsala in the 2016 World CupAamir Kaleem of Oman became the oldest player to feature in a T20 World Cup match At 44 years and 81 days age Kaleem broke the record of Ryan Campbell who played at 44 years and 34 daysLowest totals against Zimbabwe in the T20 World CupTotal Overs For Venue Year103 195 Oman Colombo 20261169 20 UAE Sylhet 20141298 20 Pakistan Perth 20221326 20 Scotland Hobart 2022136 194 Scotland Nagpur 20161389 20 Australia Cape Town 2007 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-all-the-stats-from-zimbabwes-dominant-8-wicket-win-over-oman-661352.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-penalty-or-sanction-for-bcb-icc-issues-statement-661358.html Dubai Feb 9 The International Cricket Council ICC Pakistan Cricket Board PCB and Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB have concluded an open constructive and congenial dialogue This dialogue covered several matters including but not limited to the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 and the broader outlook for cricket in South AsiaWhile reflecting on the Bangladesh cricket teamâs unfortunate absence from the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup the global governing body for cricket reaffirmed BCBs position as a valued Full Member with a proud cricketing history and a vital role in the growth of the global game The ICC also reiterated its continued facilitation of growth in one of cricketâs most vibrant markets with more than 200 million passionate fans to ensure that the national teams nonparticipation in ICC Mens T20 World Cup does not have any longterm effects on Cricket in the countryThe highlights of the dialogue set out below reflect a forwardlooking alignment reached in good faith and are intended to provide clarity on the current position of the stakeholders They do not alter qualify or detract from the ICCâs constitutional autonomy governance framework or established decisionmaking processes all of which remain fully applicableIt is agreed that no financial sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matterIt is acknowledged that BCB retains the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee DRC should it choose to do so This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains intactThe ICCâs approach is guided by its principles of neutrality and fairness and reflects the shared objective of facilitative support rather than punishmentAs part of this understanding an agreement has been reached that Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the ICC Menâs Cricket World Cup 2031 subject to the usual ICC hosting processes timelines and operational requirementsThis reflects confidence in Bangladeshâs capability as a host and reinforces the ICCâs commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities across its membership to develop cricket in the countryThe ICC PCB and BCB along with other Members remain committed to continued dialogue cooperation and constructive engagement in the best interests of the sport All stakeholders acknowledge that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and preserve unity within the cricket fraternityICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said âBangladeshâs absence from the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup is regrettable but it does not alter the ICCâs enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation Our focus continues to be on working closely with key stakeholders including BCB to ensure the sport grows sustainably in the country and that future opportunities for its players and fans are strengthened Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of longterm investment in its development competitiveness and global integration and is not defined by shortterm disruptionsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-penalty-or-sanction-for-bcb-icc-issues-statement-661358.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-hopefully-uae-get-wins-this-time-and-go-a-long-way-says-sharafu-661243.html New Delhi Feb 9 The United Arab Emirates UAE are all set to make their third appearance in the 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup when they open their Group D campaign against New Zealand in Chennai on Tuesday evening The Gulf nation qualified for the mega event after finishing third in the AsiaEAP regional qualifiers and marked their return to the tournament for the first time since 2022 where they secured their maiden T20 World Cup victory over NamibiaRighthanded batter Alishan Sharafu has been in strong form since the last T20 World Cup in 2024 accumulating 1105 runs in 37 innings at an average of 325 and a strike rate of 134 In an exclusive conversation with IANS Sharafu talks about his batting the UAEâs aims in the tournament and the influence of captain Muhammad Waseem and head coach former India opener Lalchand RajputQ Youve been in exceptional form post2024 scoring over 1000 runs with 10 fiftyplus scores Whats clicked for you during this period and how do you maintain that consistencyA Im just glad that Ive been able to score a few runs and its been fun so far batting at the top for UAE in T20Is and Im glad that Ive had a couple of good games and helped the team in winning games especially in important tournaments like the Asia Cup qualifiers and the T20 World Cup qualifiers So thats been fun and hopefully it keeps going wellQ Your strike rate against pace 147 is significantly better than against spin 118 What specific work are you doing to improve your game against spinners ahead of playing in Indian conditionsA About the strike rate yes I do enjoy playing a bit of pace early on when I go in to bat in the innings and I fancy taking my chances against the fast bowlers in the power play and then obviously in the middle overs thats the time where you have to consolidate and play around with the other batters So I do enjoy playing spin and taking my chances against spin but if I have to say then Ill probably say that I enjoy playing pace a little bit moreQ Playing alongside and against some of the worlds best in the ILT20 â which players have you learnt the most from and what specific aspects of their game have you tried to incorporate into yoursA Yes ILT20 has been a massive platform for all of us UAE cricketers and Ive been especially lucky enough Ive been playing for the Knight Riders for the last three years and theyve fully trusted in what I do and Im grateful for the opportunities theyve givenIve played every single game for them and fortunately enough Ive done decently well for them So that experience has been invaluable and Ive fully enjoyed my time over there and the environment there and getting to spend quality time with the worldclass cricketers there has been quite a good experienceQ Youve always been a toporder batter but youre now adjusting to middleorder responsibilities as well How challenging has that transition been and whats the biggest difference in mindset between the two rolesA Yes Ive always batted at the top but it was in ILT20 where I first started batting in the middle order and I enjoyed that challenge quite a bit and something different and new But you have to learn to adapt to different situations and roles in the teamSo Im glad that I had a bit of experience doing that and in franchise cricket Now that Ive sort of started doing a similar role for the UAE I hope I can channel my batting in the same frequency and hopefully consolidate in the middle overs and try and bat as deep as possibleQ Can you talk us through how you developed your powerhitting game Was it natural ability or hours of specific trainingA Thats been the plan especially going into this World Cup and in recent times Power hitting yes Ive always tried to incorporate an aggressive brand of cricket Growing up like every other kid I loved watching people hit sixes and obviously hit sixes myself too So it was something that I dont know if it was natural or yes Ive worked a bit towards specifics for power hitting But Ive always enjoyed that brand of cricketQ Youve only batted once in your previous World Cup appearance How much are you looking forward to making a bigger impact this time aroundA Yes at the last World Cup I only played the last game which we won against Namibia and that was a special experience making my first appearance at a World Cup This time around its a different bunch of players a different team and a different role too Im quite looking forward to this one and wherever I can contribute to making the team win Id be glad and hopefully I can put my hand up and help the UAE win a few games hereQ The UAE have never progressed past the group stage Realistically what does success look like for this team at this World CupA Yes the last World Cup like I said was the first time we marked our first World Cup victory So you always want to do better than what you did last time Hopefully we win a few games this time and you never know if we win a couple of games we have a pretty good shot at making it into the next round So obviously the mindset has to be positive and thats what were going to collectively aim for as a teamSo hopefully we have a couple of good games and you never know on the day Its T20 cricket and if we go out there and express ourselves and play a positive brand of cricket Im pretty confident that if we do that we can change things and go a long way in the tournamentQ Whats it like being part of a UAE team with players from different cultural backgrounds How does that diversity strengthen the group Also a word on support from Captain Waseem and Coach RajputA Yes I think thats one thing about our team weve got people from different backgrounds weve got a diverse bunch of players and Im quite happy with how gelled we are as a team and I dont think theres ever been a time where weve thought that Oh this persons from here or This persons from this background because weve pretty much played with each other all our lives in the UAE and I think were really comfortable with each other and its a really good environmentYes our coach and captain have been really supportive and obviously Waseem Bhai has been phenomenal with performances and as a teammate so its quite fun being out there on the field with him and I quite enjoy batting with him myselfIts been fun so far and hopefully we have a few good knocks at this World Cup and obviously our coach too hes always been big on preparing really hard It becomes a lot easier when you go out there into a match Im really glad to have these people around and a huge thanks to both of them for all the support and I quite enjoy being around them IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-hopefully-uae-get-wins-this-time-and-go-a-long-way-says-sharafu-661243.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-madushan-approved-as-replacement-for-malinga-in-sri-lanka-squad-661137.html Colombo Feb 6 The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday approved Pramod Madushan as a replacement for Eshan Malinga in the Sri Lanka squad Madushan a mediumfast bowler who has played 13 ODIs and eight T20Is was named as a replacement after Malinga was ruled out following a shoulder injury sustained during the bilateral T20I against England on 1 February ICC said in a statementThe replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee ETC before the player can be officially added to the squadMadushan 24 years old and previously played for the Sri Lanka national cricket team in eight T20Is has taken 12 wickets at an average of 863 runs per over Madushan last played in an international T20I on April 28 2023With the pace bowling attack of Madushan together with his team mates Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera Sri Lanka will compete against Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium Colombo on February 8Sri Lanka squad Dasun Shanaka c Pathum Nissanka Kamil Mishara Kusal Mendis Kamindu Mendis Kusal Janith Perera Charith Asalanka Janith Liyanage Pavan Rathnayake Wanindu Hasaranga Dunith Wellalage Maheesh Theekshana Dushmantha Chameera Matheesha Pathirana Pramod Madushan IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-madushan-approved-as-replacement-for-malinga-in-sri-lanka-squad-661137.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jemimah-joins-harmanpreet-smriti-deepti-in-womens-central-contracts-grade-a-report-661140.html New Delhi Feb 7 Allformat skipper Harmanpreet Kaur star batter Smriti Mandhana and allrounder Deepti Sharma have been retained in Grade A while Jemimah Rodrigues has been promoted from Grade B in the womens central contracts as per reports In the topmost category a player earns Rs 50 lakh annually while those in the B and C categories are paid Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectivelyThe BCCI has awarded central contracts to 21 players in the womenâs category according to a Dainik Jagaran reportEight players Pratika Rawal Kranti Goud Shree Charani Harleen Deol Kashvee Gautam G Kamalini Vaishnavi Sharma and Tejal Hasabnis are the new entrants in the central contract listYastika Bhatia Radha Yadav Arundhati Reddy Amanjot Kaur Uma Chetry and Sneh Rana have all retained their central contractsThe report stated that Renuka Thakur Shafali Verma Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana have all been slotted in grade B while grade C includes Radha Yadav Amanjot Kaur Pratika Rawal Kranti Goud Uma Chetry Arundhati Reddy Shree Charani Yastika Bhatia Harleen Deol Kashvee Gautam G Kamalini Vaishnavi Sharma and TejalAccording to the 202425 contracts list announced in March 2025 Renuka Singh Jemimah Rodrigues Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma have all been retained in Grade B while Yastika Bhatia Radha Yadav Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar join them in Grade C in the central contracts list from the 202223 season Shreyanka Patil Titas Sadhu Arundathi Reddy Amanjot Kaur and Uma Chetry were the fresh faces who made the cut for the retainershipAfter their maiden ODI World Cup crown the Women in Blue are gearing up for the multiformat series against Australia starting from February 15Meanwhile the BCCI will discuss possible changes to the India menâs central contracts system at its next Apex Council meeting as per proposals from the Ajit Agarkarled selection committee IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/jemimah-joins-harmanpreet-smriti-deepti-in-womens-central-contracts-grade-a-report-661140.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-announces-cash-award-of-rs-75-cr-for-u19-mens-wc-winning-team-661141.html New Delhi Feb 7 The BCCI have announced a total cash award of Rs 75 crore for the U20 Mens Cricket World Cup winning team technical staff and the selection committee the boards secretary Devajit Saikia told IANS on Saturday India beat England by 100 runs to win the ICC Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup final at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Friday claiming a recordextending sixth U19 World Cup crownA cash award of Rs 75 crore will be given to the Indian team who won the U19 Mens Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia We are working on the details of the prize amount breakup for players technical staff and the selection committee but Rs 75 crore is the total reward for them from the BCCI Saikia told IANSA staggering century from 14yearold Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fired India to ICC U19 Menâs Cricket World Cup glory Captain Ayush Mhatre 53 and wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu 40 also made valuable contributions as India racked up 4119 England made a promising start in reply but a middleorder collapse proved costly with Caleb Falconerâs brilliant 115 in vain as India clinched their sixth U19 Menâs Cricket World Cup crownThis title triumph completed a rare double with India currently holding both the ICC Under19 Menâs and Womenâs World Cup titles Saikia further said that BCCI will soon announce the central contracts for senior men and women players Also an official statement will come out very soon on the central contracts for senior mens and womens players he addedEarlier Saikia congratulated Indian youth on their recordextending sixth U10 World Cup title This outstanding achievement is a testament to the strength of a robust system built on longterm player development competitive domestic structures quality coaching programmes supported by dedicated technical staff and a strong talent identification processAgegroup cricket remains a key priority and the BCCI will continue to invest in and strengthen these foundations for the future Well done boys The nation is immensely proud of you he posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-announces-cash-award-of-rs-75-cr-for-u19-mens-wc-winning-team-661141.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-shastri-smith-bishop-to-headline-star-studded-commentary-panel-661090.html Dubai Feb 6 Highlyrenowned commentators Ravi Shastri Nasser Hussain Ian Smith and Ian Bishop headline commentary panel during the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup that commences in India and Sri Lanka on February 7 An impressive list of former greats and current stars also features former T20 World Cup winners Aaron Finch Dinesh Karthik Kumar Sangakkara Samuel Badree Robin Uthappa Carlos BrathwaiteThe ICC said that current player and reigning ICC World Test Championshipwinning captain Temba Bavuma of South Africa will be heard on commentary while 2014 T20 World Cup winner Angelo Mathews is also included in an impressive list of commentators that will be utilised across the 55 matches at the tournamentTeam India is entering the tournament as defending champions and will aim to become the only team to win the trophy for the third time and also to defend the titleIndia are a popular pick as tournament favourites coming off scintillating form that has seen them win 48 of their last 56 T20I games dating back to October 2023 And more recently producing a dominant series win against New ZealandThe Men in Blue will kick off their campaign on February 7 with a groupstage match against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in MumbaiList of commentators for ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 Ravi Shastri Nasser Hussain Ian Smith Ian Bishop Aaron Finch Dinesh Karthik Kumar Sangakkara Samuel Badree Robin Uthappa Carlos Brathwaite Eoin Morgan Wasim Akram Sunil Gavaskar Matthew Hayden Ramiz Raja Dale Steyn Michael Atherton Waqar Younis Simon Doull Shaun Pollock Katey Martin Harsha Bhogle Mpumelelo Mbangwa Natalie Germanos Danny Morrison Alan Wilkins Ian Ward Mark Howard Nick Knight Athar Ali Khan Kass Naidoo Bazid Khan Raunak Kapoor Niall OâBrien Preston Mommsen Andrew Leonard Russel Arnold Roshan Abeysinghe Angelo Mathews Temba Bavuma IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-shastri-smith-bishop-to-headline-star-studded-commentary-panel-661090.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-batting-firepower-all-round-resources-spinners-hold-the-key-in-indias-title-defence--661095.html New Delhi Feb 6 India begin their Menâs T20 World Cup title defence on Saturday through a Group A clash against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai With unmatched batting depth enviable allround resources and spinners in their prime India has everything in their arsenal to become the first nation to win consecutive T20 World Cups and claim the trophy on home soil Captain Suryakumar Yadavs side are coming on the back of a commanding 41 series victory over New Zealand boasting of the best win percentage among the top ten teams since the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados IANS takes a closer look into Indiaâs title defence chances through an indepth SWOT analysisStrengths Ahead of the World Cup India are dominating all the rankings â they are the topranked T20I team as well as possess the number one batter and bowler in Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy Their ultraaggressive batting approach has resulted in them having a great run rate and posting tall scores with immaculate easeAs per Cricket21 in the postWorld Cup 2024 phase India has the highest run rate of 99 In terms of balls per boundary BPB India are again leading the charts with an impressive 44 Indiaâs dominance is further highlighted in the tally of 200plus totals they have amassed 13plus such scores since 2024 Menâs T20 World Cup â 12 of which have come batting firstApart from Abhishek India also have destructive batters in Ishan Kishan skipper Suryakumar Yadav Tilak Varma Rinku Singh as well as allround trio of Hardik Pandya Axar Patel and Shivam Dube lending great balance Apart from Chakaravarthy Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are making for a great fast bowling combinationWeaknesses Despite many brilliant performances Indias toporder remains fragile more so due to the side yet to figure out the opening partner for Abhishek Ishan Kishans recent good form is in contrast with Sanju Samsons struggles With the side still mum on their opening combination it can be a pocket of weakness for opposition to exploitIn terms of powerplay bowling India have been expensive at times while struggling to pick wickets in that phase as well as in death overs and that could bring about their downfall in highpressure games Who occupies the number eight spot is also a dicey one as it depends on the team management wanting either batting or bowling depthOpportunities After winning the Menâs T20 World Cup in 2007 India broke the long drought by winning it in 2024 and are the defending champions now With everyone calling them as overwhelming favourites India have the chance to get three historic feats defend the title win it for the third time and break the jinx of a team never winning a final at homeThreats Washington Sundar remains doubtful for the T20 World Cup participation after missing the entire New Zealand series due to side strain If Washington is not available for the tournament in time it means they will have one less allround player and that can affect their flexibility especially if someone from the firstchoice eleven picks up an injuryA fully fit Hardik Pandya is arguably a very precious asset for India going into the tournament and many will be hoping that heâs fit and firing on all cylinders in the tournament considering how his absence in the second half of the 2023 ODI World Cup affected the team balance IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-batting-firepower-all-round-resources-spinners-hold-the-key-in-indias-title-defence--661095.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-very-happy-with-indias-progress-hopes-are-really-very-high-to-retain-the-title-says-mhambrey-661097.html New Delhi Feb 6 Having lifted the Menâs T20 World Cup trophy for the first time in 2007 before breaking a long drought to clinch the crown in 2024 defending champions India are aiming to become the first team to achieve three milestones retain the crown win it three times and clinch a World Cup in the shortest format on home soil The cohosts enter the tournament as the topranked side and boast of the number one ranked batter and bowler in Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy respectively With their ultraattacking batting template and pinpoint precision with the ball India have the best win percentage among the top 10 T20I teams since winning the 2024 editionParas Mhambrey Indiaâs former bowling coach was a part of the setup during the 2024 triumph under Rohit Sharma and believes the side has the depth and leadership to retain the title Before India launches its title defence against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday Mhambrey spoke exclusively to IANS on the sideâs chances of retaining the title Suryakumar Yadavs captaincy the influential factors in play when featuring in a mega event at home and more ExcerptsQ We are just a day away from the 2026 T20 World Cup commencing this time on home soil How do you analyse Indias chances of retaining the trophy won in 2024A Im very happy and sure of it In the way Ive seen in the last few years the way the team has progressed the kind of cricket theyre playing â thats fabulous Just to see the last series that we played and even the last game that we played the warmup game against South Africa â its fabulous to watch just the way everyones going about itHappy to know and see that the core is still there from the last two years Its so important to actually have that core playing the World Cup One is the experience bit â theres so much experience out here and just the skill sets that are available to us When youre entering a big tournament like this you want all your top players to be availableIts good to see that Tilak Varma is back in the team getting an opportunity and playing a fabulous innings out there Overall we are very happy with the way things have progressed for us Now its one day at a time But just the way the Indian team is playing I think hopes really are very highQ Take us back to June 2024 â what are the moments from that victorious 2024 World Cup campaign that give you goosebumps to dateA Its the tag of world champions I think any team that plays cricket and any individual that represents the country â I think the tag of being a world champion is always special Thats something that will stay with that individual and the team Im no different from anyone else out here As a player I know the value and the importance of representing your country and especially the World Cup is so special because it comes every four yearsWe didnt have the T20 tournament and we always kind of looked at the 50over tournament and the World Cup was special So getting an opportunity out there and then again just shifting it from one side of the rope to the other and getting an opportunity to be part of that dressing room â its something that as a player I always wanted to be and experience the whole journey if I can say thatIts so special because it takes a lot The tenure of the tournament is a week or so 15 days But there are a couple of years of real real hard work that went into it and when you see that finally bear fruit I cant explain that I think the tag of being world champions is specialQ That 2024 World Cupwinning squad had a special chemistry How much of that has carried forward into this 2026 team in your opinionA It is the case â you can see it on the ground Everyone is so professional in terms of being very clear about their roles Good to see that each and every individual has delivered at some point or other It was so important to go into the tournament and not only deliver I thought they won the game for the team and thats so important You are ticking the right boxes out here and everyone is fitSo good to see that they are coming and you have the best 15 available to choose from and its so important The core is always important because thats where your experience lies You have been through that situation and they have experienced that To a certain extent they are a little better prepared to deal with the tournament because some of the individuals have not played and not experienced thisThey played the bilaterals and other series but especially the World Cup is different I am sure by the time the first game comes â and much before it right now â I think everyone will get the hang and feel of what the World Cup is especially when its a domestic oneWherever you go they will be reminded There will be hoardings out there and billboards around People in the lift the watchmen also saying Jeetna hai jeetna hai You have to win you have to win So they will feel how important it is not only for the players but for the whole country aroundQ Suryakumar Yadav is leading this Indian side while also being one of the most destructive batters in world cricket and discovering form at the right time How do you see him balancing those dual responsibilities in this mega eventA He is doing it wonderfully I thought he had settled down well He is very well settled in his role right now Whatever you say that shift is a little different even though you dont want to think about it and feel it may not affect you But its always going to be at the back of your mind that you are captain and that adds a little bit of responsibility on your shoulders â not only for the others but also for yourselfYour expectations also are high up there because you want to deliver and then you are playing a dual role right You are also focusing on importantly your game So its difficult now He has to find the balance and I am very happy with the way he is shaped up because its very difficult to find the balance between yourself and the teamNow he has to look after all the 10 other players on the ground not only himself So it takes a little while but Im happy with the way he is shaped up as a captain â just the way others have warmed up to it and just that you can see on the ground for sureQ Playing a World Cup at home comes with its own pressures and advantages What do you think will be the biggest factor â the crowd support familiarity with conditions or just the form they are inA All three â you touched the right points You cant beat the home crowd You have that when you go in and know that everyone is going to be rooting for you When chips are down you still have people supporting you Its so important sometimes As an opponent you are not in a game and you dont really realise that you are on top of the game right now because of so much support that you haveSo thats incomparable anyway but conditions definitely because you play on these wickets you know exactly how the wickets behave â like the red soil and black soil â because you played out there and just generally from your past you can draw from your past experiences and then work on your gameThe most important bit is the form I thought it was important to have everyone contributing and its good to see that not only did everyone contribute but at some point they all won games Maybe on an individual basis â like a spell a knock or a few balls â its so important to do that In all three aspects I think you are really up there and I am happy because all three bases are covered for usQ Without asking for predictions which team do you think poses the biggest tactical challenge for India in this tournamentA Oh thats a mystery question you asked me You got me thinking about it Its just I feel in a tournament like this from past experiences I can tell you that whenever you go with the favourites I think people have got it wrong If you look at the way just look at the way the last game was the last World Cup final was against South AfricaIts just one scenario â they were favourites to win at one time We went in that didnt work and its just the way the game went and everyone thought This is going to be South Africa You have someone like you dont take away from Sri Lanka in these gamesIf you look at the last few games that theyve played theyve been playing decent cricket and with their home conditions youre going to play some games there similar to out here because a lot of these guys play in the IPL â the bowling bit So they would be competitive and maybe a couple of teams like this But as I said you really cant go in with the favourite side as sometimes youve got it wrongQ On a scale of cautiously optimistic to supremely confident where does this Indian team stand heading into the World CupA Ill put my neck out here and say supremely confident Its just the way theyre playing and what kind of cricket theyre playing â it gives you a lot of confidence Availability of players is again a big factor for me Variety is available as spinners and seamers â a big factor thats been touched We covered all our bases as well as we could and Im supremely confident in just the way they have played in the past â so fingers crossed IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-very-happy-with-indias-progress-hopes-are-really-very-high-to-retain-the-title-says-mhambrey-661097.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-10-players-who-could-shape-the-tournament-661114.html New Delhi Feb 6 The ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 is here with India and Sri Lanka cohosting The tournament will feature a strategic battle Indiaâs battingfriendly pitches are expected to encourage aggressive batting and high scores while Sri Lankaâs slower more challenging pitches will require patience adaptability and spinbowling skill T20 World Cups are seldom won solely through depth Instead they hinge on key moments such as an explosive powerplay a crucial spell that stifles the middle overs or a masterful performance in the death overs under intense pressureHistory shows that a few standout players often shape the tournaments story Here are 10 cricketers who look primed to leave a lasting imprint on the 2026 editionAbhishek Sharma IndiaIndiaâs evolution in T20 cricket has been driven by a clear intent exemplified by Abhishek Sharma As an opener he views the powerplay as an opportunity rather than a risk leveraging pace and true bounce conditions common in India His talent for breaking down bowling attacks early can give him the potential to disrupt entire tournaments With a string of confident performances he could make Indiaâs top order exceptionally formidableTravis Head AustraliaFew batters can push opposition teams on the back foot as quickly as Travis Head His aggressive scoring not only comes fast but also unsettles the bowlers often leading them to adopt defensive fields early and prompting captains to abandon plans sooner Headâs experience playing in subcontinental conditions enhances his versatility making him even more formidable In a format where maintaining momentum is crucial he continues to be one of Australiaâs most lethal weaponsWanindu Hasaranga Sri LankaIf the conditions favour Sri Lanka Hasaranga is likely to be a key player A wristspinner known for taking breakthroughs he is effective both with the new ball and during the middle overs which is exceptional in T20 cricket His sharp cricketing mind and subtle variations make him especially dangerous on slow pitchesPlus his improving ability to hit lowerorder shots makes Hasaranga a versatile matchwinner in home conditionsHardik Pandya IndiaBig tournaments require players who can manage chaos and Hardik Pandya has built his career on thriving in such environments Whether heâs finishing an inning bowling a key over or energising the fielding side his impact often extends beyond just statisticsFor India Hardikâs importance is in maintaining balance he offers versatility in team setup while taking on leadership roles during stressful moments In close knockout matches his calmness could be invaluableQuinton de Kock South AfricaFew batters combine elegance and brutality as effortlessly as Quinton de Kock His comeback to international cricket reestablishes authority at the top of South Africaâs batting lineup De Kockâs key strength is his capacity to control powerplays with composure making bowlers work hard for breakthroughs early on When he bats deep into an innings South Africaâs prospects of setting or chasing large totals improve significantlyVarun Chakaravarthy IndiaVarun Chakaravarthyâs comeback stands out as one of Indian cricketâs more understated successes Once labelled just a âmystery spinnerâ he now skilfully blends deception with control and strategy His distinctive strength lies in his performance during the powerplay a period when most spinners focus on damage control On turning wickets his variety of deliveries can be pivotal especially against aggressive openersRashid Khan AfghanistanRashid Khan continues to set the benchmark for T20 bowling His extensive experience in franchise cricket worldwide has enhanced his adaptability and his statistics reflect consistent excellence over time More than simply taking wickets Rashid manages the gameâs flow induces mistakes and excels under pressure For Afghanistan he is not only their top player but also their key pillar of strengthPhil Salt EnglandEnglandâs assertive T20 strategy is well exemplified by Phil Salt As an opener eager to take charge immediately Salt seldom gives bowlers a chance to settle Although slower Sri Lankan pitches might challenge his shot choices his bold style suits Englandâs game plan If he survives the initial overs the match can swiftly turn in Englandâs favorAzmatullah Omarzai AfghanistanAfghanistanâs success in global tournaments relies on versatile cricketers and Azmatullah Omarzai exemplifies this As a strong middleorder batsman and a capable pace bowler he provides both balance and strategic options When facing toptier teams players like Omarzai frequently make crucial impacts by contributing in various parts of the gameâan ability that could prove essential for Afghanistanâs ongoing campaignJasprit Bumrah IndiaEven in a format mostly centered around batters Jasprit Bumrah stands out as a master of control His ability to vary length angle and pace lets him command the game during both the powerplay and the death overs which are the most unpredictable parts of a T20 match When playing in familiar conditions his impact increases further As the game tightens and margins become thinner captains increasingly rely on Bumrah as their goto bowlerThe 2026 T20 World Cup promises to be a clash of contrasts featuring power against precision aggression versus adaptability Although teams will be filled with talented players these ten individuals emerge as possible creators of pivotal momentsIn a tournament where one over can alter the course of the game their performances could determine the eventual championsThe marquee event gets underway on Saturday and will run till March 8 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-10-players-who-could-shape-the-tournament-661114.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/they-have-refused-our-flight-is-booked-sky-reflects-on-pakistan-boycotting-t20-wc-match-660995.html Mumbai Feb 5 Skipper Suryakumar Yadav broke silence on Pakistan boycotting the ICC Mens T20 World Cup match against India and stated that his team is ready to fly to Colombo on February 15 for the game at the R Premadasa Stadium Pakistan will not play India in their scheduled Menâs T20 World Cup match in Colombo on February 15 after their government approved the Men in Greens participation in the World Cup on the condition that they will not play the match against India India and Pakistan are in Group A alongside Namibia Netherlands and the United States of America USA All of Pakistans matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka which is cohosting the tournament with India India will open the campaign against the USA on February 7 the tournaments first day at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai Meanwhile Pakistan will kickstart their campaign against the Netherlands on the same dayWe havent refused to play against Pakistan They have refused I think mindset is pretty clear We have not said no to playing the match It came from the other side ICC has given the official fixtures BCCI and the government have decided on a neutral venue along with ICC Our flight is booked for Colombo So we are going for sure The team discussion is that we are playing first on February 7 then we will go there Suryakumar told reporters in the T20 World Cup 2026 Captains Day Press Conference on Thursday Pakistans stance of not playing India follows the ICCs decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the T20 World Cup Bangladesh were excluded after they refusing to play their matches in India citing security concernsThe Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed on Wednesday that their senior mens cricket team will not play India in the forthcoming Mens T20 World Cup which will be cohosted by Sri Lanka and India We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we wont play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field We have taken a very considered stance and we should completely stand by Bangladesh and I think this is a very appropriate decision We are with Bangladesh he addedEarlier the International Cricket Council ICC expressed serious concerns over the Pakistan governmentâs decision to instruct its cricket team to boycott its fixture against India saying This position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event scheduleâWhile the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide including millions in Pakistan The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and longterm implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem which it is itself a member and beneficiary of it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/they-have-refused-our-flight-is-booked-sky-reflects-on-pakistan-boycotting-t20-wc-match-660995.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/batc-india-women-crush-myanmar-5-0-in-opener-660832.html Qingdao Feb 4 Defending champions India women began their Badminton Asia Team Championship campaign in commanding fashion registering a dominant 50 victory over Myanmar in their Group Y opener at the Qingdao Conson Gymnasium on Wednesday The Indian team suffered a big blow before the start of the tournament as twotime Olympic medallist PV Sindhu played a major part in Team Indias triumph in 2024 withdrew from competition due to a niggleAfter Sindhus exit all the focus was on 17yearold prodigy Tanvi Sharma who was part of Indias titlewinning squad in 2024 and she did not let down Tanvi won the first match comfortably It took her just 32 minutes to beat Myanmars Thet Htar Thuzur 2113 2116 in the opening matchAfter a strong start Rakshita Sree Santosh and Malvika Bansod also sealed points with straightset wins against the visitorsIn the doubles game the pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra got the better of Su Latt and Thet and beat the Myanmar combination in straight sets 2115 2116In the final match the duo of Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand crushed Htet and Phoo with a straightset victory of 218 216Defending champions India will now play against last years runnersup Thailand in the next match which will be played on ThursdayIn the tournament each groupstage tie comprises five rubbers which include three singles and two doubles with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinalsThe tournament also serves as Asias qualifying event for the Thomas and Uber Cup finals scheduled to be held in Horsens Denmark in AprilMayIndias women are the defending champions while China are the reigning mens winners Indias men have claimed bronze medals twice in 2016 and 2020 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/batc-india-women-crush-myanmar-5-0-in-opener-660832.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-t20i-rankings-kishan-gains-32-spots-saim-ayub-becomes-no-1-all-rounder-660836.html New Delhi Feb 4 Indian wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan has jumped 32 positions in the latest ICC Mens T20I batter rankings after an impressive comeback series against New Zealand where the lefthanded player scored 207 runs in just three matches which also includes his maiden T20I century Kishan is now placed at the 32nd spot in the rankings released just before the upcoming T20 World Cup which will commence on February 7Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav has also moved past Pakistans Sahibzada Farhan to come in sixth place While opener Abhishek Sharma continued his dominance at the topMeanwhile Pakistans opener Saim Ayub has grabbed the top spot in the T20I allrounders ranking after an impressive run in the recently concluded Australia series which Pakistan won by 30 The 23yearold scored 119 runs and claimed three wickets during the series which helped him dethrone Sikandar Raza from the No 1 spotPakistans main spinner Abrar Ahmed also made significant gains as he moved to the second spot The rightarmer is just 28 points behind Varun Chakravarthy who holds the top spotPakistans allrounder Mohammad Nawaz who took a fivewicket haul in the series moved eight spots to be placed at seventh in the bowlers rankingWhile England legspinner Adil Rashid moved up two places to fourth and New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner jumped eight spots to equal 23rd in the rankingThere were also other movements inside the top 10 for T20I batters Englands former captain Jos Buttler moved up to third Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka climbed to fifth and New Zealands Tim Seifert advanced to ninthOther than that South Africas opener Ryan Rickleton moved 42 places to the 40th spot and Australian allrounder Cameron Green climbed 16 spots to 14 Proteas star Quinton De Kock who scored a brilliant hundred has gained 15 places to sit at 22nd IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-t20i-rankings-kishan-gains-32-spots-saim-ayub-becomes-no-1-all-rounder-660836.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-time-of-upsets-is-in-past-for-netherlands-aim-to-get-in-final-four-says-logan-van-beek-660845.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Netherlands have won more matches in the Menâs T20 World Cups than any other associate nation Twin victories over England twice while taking down South Africa and Zimbabwe have underlined their ability to beat topranked sides But as they gear up to compete in their seventh T20 World Cup the Netherlands are keen to shed their reputation of being giantkillers and make a serious push to get into the closing stages of the tournamentSeambowling allrounder Logan Van Beek was born in Christchurch New Zealand but holds a Dutch passport through his father and has been a constant presence in Netherlands setup since 2014 Menâs T20 World Cup In an exclusive conversation with IANS van Beek talks about the Netherlands aspirations in the tournament preparation reliance on data analytics and more ExcerptsQ How have you adjusted to the pitches which will be on offer in India and Sri Lanka during the sideâs recent camp at Super Kings Academy in ChennaiA Yes its my first time of actually understanding the difference between red soil black soil and then the combo of black and red They all have differences depending on what time of day you play If youre playing a morning game it might be a little bit stickierIn the afternoon itâs a little bit drier and then come the evening dew might play a factor Its just trying to understand the different soils and sometimes it dictates what ball you might go to more often in your spellQ Given the Netherlands history of making upsets in recent tournaments how do you foresee the sideâs chances in the mega eventA I think the times of upsets is kind of in the past for us Were here to reach the final stages of the tournament Weve been together as a group for two or three years now Weve won some big games which has given us confidence But were here to get to the final four and see if we can push for the trophyQ Beyond the smaller talent pool what additional challenges do Associate teams face in competing at this levelA Obviously theres the financial kind of problem that associate teams have the lack of resources the lack of extra coaching throughout the season and the leadin periods Theres also the number of players that we often have to choose fromSo you really have to upskill the guys that are in your kind of 20man squad But again its something that we just have to deal with and get on with it Our kind of motto is just to try and get as much as we can out of each individual and then come together as one as we walk onto the fieldQ To what extent does the Netherlands rely on data and analytics in T20 cricket and how does it shape your preparationA Were a big fan of data analytics Were not afraid of a long meeting and discussion amongst the group and really understanding what guys are thinking and what each person has seen with the data Weve got a coaching staff who really look into the numbers and try to find that little outlier or something that can give us a slight advantage going into the gameI think its something that we need to do as a group just to have something oneup against the opposition because when we go up against the likes of Australia India New Zealand Man for man obviously theyre very good cricketers and we need to find ways to find little gaps in their games that we can exploit or just ways to try and get a little opportunityIf we can open that up that doesnt really make sense but if we can find a way that we can find some information that is unique use it and if we can gain that little opportunity to take advantage of and see if we can run with it T20 cricket is one of those games where there are small advantages The game can happen very fast and momentum can shift very quickly So thats what were trying to do is to try and create a moment to try and turn that into momentumQ Having beaten South Africa previously as well as England and Zimbabwe what do such victories mean for Associate players like youA First and foremost its a great memory Some of my greatest memories with the Dutch team are beating those top tier nations and the most enjoyable part of those games is the way that weve gone about it In preparation weve stood tall guys have had special performances within those games but weve done it as a groupIts something that we thrive on in terms of being and winning together So now going into this tournament having had those little successes in the past its about can we do that in these first four games and try and get those three winsQ You continue to play domestic cricket in New Zealand and England How does that experience help your own game and in adapting to different conditionsA I just love playing cricket all year round I guess getting a little bit older I want to make sure that Im playing cricket I dont necessarily want to be indoors training The more cricket I can play whether it be New Zealand or England I just want to make sure that as long as this body is fit I want to be playing cricketIt obviously gives you good experiences coming against different types of players slightly different pitches Its also exciting because youre trying to evolve your game constantly Young guys are coming in and doing some really special different thingsIts good to get that experience and then when you go into tournaments like this you can rely on that experience If you see something you can and you do go well so Ive done well by doing this against this Im going to trust that and definitely adds to the toolboxQ The Netherlands will play matches in Colombo New Delhi Chennai and Ahmedabad How significant will it be to adapt to the conditions on offer closer to game daysA Weve played in Delhi against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup and so we know that venue Its a rapid outfield and quite a small ground Australia had a bit of a day out that day But for me its exciting Ahmedabad is a huge stadium Im hoping that theres going to be 130000 people there just for that atmosphere against IndiaIve never been to Sri Lanka Ive always wanted to play in Colombo So thats going to be a really cool experience Then Chennai Ive personally played a game there for New Zealand A But weve watched plenty of IPL cricket and weve seen the Super Kings do so well there Its just going to be an awesome experience Playing cricket in India in general is just an amazing experience doesnt matter which ground youre atQ You were born and raised in Christchurch but represent the Netherlands through family heritage How do you balance this dual identity and more importantly carrying Dutch cricket forwardA I am me really Its like Logan van Beek is a mixture of being half Dutch My grandfathers a West Indian from Trinidad and Tobago I was born and raised in New Zealand Im kind of a bit of a mixing pot of different nationalities and thats unique to me Im super proud of each and one of those nationalities that I representIve been fortunate enough to play and represent the Netherlands in the last 12 years Its something that Im very very proud of each time I get to do it Its the main thing just trying to inspire the next generation of Netherlands cricketersIf we can throughout this World Cup get one or two of them watching seeing how we play together how much fun were having and doing some xfactor performances then hopefully we create some young cricketers who want to pick up a cricket bat instead of a hockey stickQ Your grandfather Sammy Guillen played Tests for both West Indies and New Zealand How much does that family history influence your own cricketing journeyA It is 100 percent Hes the reason why I play cricket He taught me how to hold a bat and play the game in the right spirit He was my biggest fan and my biggest critic Every time I play cricket a lot of the times Im playing for him I know that hes up there watching me But he was a massive influence and I definitely wouldnt be playing cricket if it wasnt for him and his passion for the game IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-time-of-upsets-is-in-past-for-netherlands-aim-to-get-in-final-four-says-logan-van-beek-660845.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-reveals-broadcast-details-for-mens-t20-world-cup-2026-660938.html Dubai Feb 5 The ICC has unveiled the broadcast plans for the Menâs T20 World Cup featuring 20 teams and 55 matches running from February 7 to March 8 Cohosted by India and Sri Lanka the tournament will be accessible worldwide through TV digital audio and emerging platformsAlongside the main tournament official warmup matches will be broadcast on select TV and digital platforms allowing fans to get an early look at the teams before the opening gameIn India JioStar will broadcast the tournament to fans via Star Sports on linear TV and through the JioHotstar digital platformAll fixtures will be accessible in five languagesâEnglish Hindi Tamil Telugu and Kannadaâon JioStarâs TV and digital coverage with additional regional feeds in Bengali Bhojpuri and Haryanvi available on JioHotstarCoverage in Marathi and Indian Sign Language will also be provided for all team India matches semifinals and the final on JioHotstarBuilding on the success of earlier ICC events a vertical live feed will be offered in English and Hindi on JioHotstar catering to mobilefirst viewersIn addition on JioHotstar viewers will also have the option to enjoy the games in 360 view and via the Multicam feature which allows engagement with the live match from specific POVsvantage points including Hero Stump Battery Field view and MultiViewJioStar has partnered with PVR â Inox for nationwide screenings of multiple matches during the T20 World CupStar Sports will also be accessible to viewers in Sri Lanka Bangladesh Nepal Bhutan and the Maldives through its distribution partners across the subcontinentFor cohost Sri Lanka Dialog TV will serve as the official broadcast partner offering extensive coverage across the island This includes live telecasts on linear TV the ThePaparecom website and the Dialog Play mobile appAdditionally Dialog TV will provide a Sinhala language feed for all matches on both their linear and digital platformsCoverage will be further expanded through Dialog TVâs freetoair partner TV Supreme as well as Sri Lanka Telecoms PEO TV platformFans in the United Kingdom and Ireland can watch the action on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event with digital streaming through NOW Sky Sports will also offer Hindi commentary for the semifinals and the finalFurthermore since Italy is participating in their first ICC Menâs T20 World Cup Sky Italia will broadcast all Italy matches along with the semifinals and the final live on their platformsProteas fans can catch all the live action through SuperSportâs extensive TV and digital services across subSaharan AfricaIn Australia coverage will be on Prime Video with an extra Hindi commentary feed accessible for all India matches semifinals and the finalFans in New Zealand can watch the matches on SKY Sport which will also provide Hindi commentary for all India games including the semifinals and the finalIn Pakistan coverage will be provided by PTV and Myco with support from digital partners Tamasha ARY Zapp and Tapmad Additionally the ICC will create an Urdu commentary feed for Pakistan matches which will be broadcast on PTV Home and streamed by digital partnersWillow TV will continue providing live coverage of ICC events in the United States and Canada All 55 matches will be streamed in both English and Hindi with free access to all USA matches for viewers in the US and Canada These matches will also be available free of charge on Willowâs official YouTube channelCommentary in English and Hindi will be accessible via Willow DTC and CricBuzz DTC platforms while other Willow platforms will carry only the English commentary In partnership with popular social media personality Jomboy Willow will offer fans an alternative commentary option for the USA vs India and USA vs Pakistan matchesIn the UAE and the larger MENA region the tournament will be broadcast on CricLife Max which is accessible via StarzPlay Moreover fans throughout the Middle East can watch StarzPlayâs coverage of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup on the big screen thanks to partnerships with VOX UAE KSA Kuwait Qatar Bahrain Oman Reel UAE Roxy Cinepolis Star UAE Mukta Bahrain and Epix Cinema BahrainESPN will broadcast all matches live in the Caribbean Islands while the Disney app will stream the event across Latin America Additionally some matches will feature Portuguese commentary on ESPNâs linear TV platforms in BrazilTotal Sports Management Bangladesh will broadcast the event via leading linear channels T Sports amp Nagorik TV as well as on the digital platform RabbitholeAdditional broadcasters include PNG Digicel Pacific Islands Hub Sports 4 Singapore and Lemar TV Afghanistan which will also offer commentary in Pashto and Dari In Nepal Kantipur TV will air the tournament with some matches produced locally in NepaliThe Nepali commentary will also be accessible in certain regions through ICCtv expanding reach to Nepalispeaking viewers In the Netherlands NOS will live stream all matches involving the Netherlands catering to cricket fans in the countryFor viewers in Malaysia and Hong Kong matches can be watched on the CricBuzz channel through their partnerships with Astro Cricket and PCCWAdditionally the tournament will be available inflight and at sea on Sport 24 allowing fans to stay up to date on the action while travellingAll remaining territories will be streamed live and free via the ICCâs own platform ICCtv Besides live match coverage ICCtv will offer commentary in multiple languages including Japanese and Bahasa with some matches also available live on the ICCâs official YouTube channelBesides live video the ICC mobile app will also offer worldwide access to commentary in English In the UK and Ireland BBC will broadcast radio coverage while in Australia listeners can tune into ABC and SENFor Indian audiences All India Radio will offer live audio commentary and in Sri Lanka Derana FM will provide live ballbyball commentary for all matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-reveals-broadcast-details-for-mens-t20-world-cup-2026-660938.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-women-rally-behind-the-mens-team-ahead-of-t20-world-cup--660966.html New Delhi Feb 5 As the Indian menâs cricket team gears up for the T20 World Cup 2026 the support from their female counterparts is pouring in Members of the Indian womenâs team who made history by clinching the ICC Womenâs ODI World Cup in 2025 have sent heartfelt messages to the menâs team wishing them all the best as they look to defend their title in the upcoming tournament With the Indian mens team entering the tournament as the defending champions having won the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa in a thrilling final the encouragement from their female counterparts serves as a reminder of the unity and camaraderie within Indian cricketHarmanpreet Kaur the Indian womenâs captain led the charge by sending a powerful message of support âWishing Team India all the best for T20 World Cup Play with full of your heart enjoy and we all know you are going to win this Wishing all the luckâ she said exuding confidence in the teamâs abilitiesSmriti Mandhana one of the brightest stars in womenâs cricket and the vicecaptain of her team also shared her best wishes and said âWishing the best for the Indian Team looking really good we all are looking forward to another cup But no pressure and hopefully we can play some good cricketâ she stated acknowledging the high expectations surrounding the menâs teamDeepti Sharma who played a crucial role in Indiaâs ODI World Cup victory and was named Player of the Series expressed excitement about the upcoming event in India adding a touch of emotional significance to her message âWishing all the very best this is going to happen in India and it will be very special Go get the cup homeâ the allrounder said highlighting the pride and passion that accompany a home World CupRicha Ghosh the dynamic wicketkeeperbatter for India also sent her best wishes to the menâs team recognising the significance of the World Cup for both teams âWishing you all the very best for the Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 good luck guysâ she expressed sending her encouragement ahead of what promises to be an exciting tournamentThe Indian womenâs team which made history by winning the 2025 ICC Womenâs ODI World Cup for the first time since the tournamentâs inception has shown that the spirit of Indian cricket is united regardless of format or gender While the Men in Blue gear up to kick off their campaign against the USA on Saturday members of the womenâs team are preparing for their multiformat tour of Australia starting on February 15 The Women in Blue will begin their tour with a threegame T20I series followed by as many ODIs and a oneoff Test IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-women-rally-behind-the-mens-team-ahead-of-t20-world-cup--660966.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mcc-announces-new-edition-of-laws-of-cricket-for-2026-effective-from-oct-1-660710.html London Feb 3 The Marylebone Cricket Club MCC is set to amend the Laws of Cricket by allowing a wider range of bats a move aimed at easing the financial burden on amateur players as the cost of traditional English willow continues to rise As part of a new edition of the Laws due to take effect on October 1 2026 the MCC has introduced an amendment to Law 58 titled Categories of bat The change is one of 73 revisions announced by the gameâs lawmakers and will permit the use of laminated bats known as Type D bats in openage recreational cricket for the first timeUntil now Type D bats which are constructed from up to three pieces of wood have been restricted to junior cricket Under the revised Laws they will be permitted more broadly to address the rising global cost of batsLaminated bats typically feature an English willow face supported by cheaper lowergrade willow such as Kashmir willow By contrast Types A B and C bats are made from a single solid piece of willow The MCC expects elitelevel cricket to continue using these traditional onepiece designsThe law change also opens the door for manufacturers to use nonwillow materials behind the batâs faceMCC Laws manager Fraser Stewart said extensive testing had been carried out alongside bat makers and suggested that any competitive edge from laminated bats would be negligibleâIt is important that we announce these changes now as part of the Clubâs global commitment to the game giving officials from all over the world the chance to learn under the new Laws ahead of them coming into force in October Cricket is a fastevolving sport and this edition is drafted with the modern game in mind as we are constantly looking to ensure that the Laws which the Club has administered since being founded in 1787 are fit for all levels of cricket across the globeâ Stewart said in a statement by MCCâThe Laws subcommittee meets several times each year to shape the Laws and debate what changes are required to every area of the edition The changes announced today represent the way the game continues to evolveâ he addedThe decision follows a conference hosted by the MCC at Lordâs last year where stakeholders from across the game examined the future of bat production A key concern was cricketâs heavy dependence on English willow a resource that has become increasingly scarceDemand from South Asia has driven prices sharply upwards with bat costs reportedly tripling in recent years and some premium models now approaching Â1000The MCC is also understood to be investigating alternative bat materials though officials remain cautious about maintaining the balance of the game and avoiding heightened injury risks Researchers at the University of Cambridge have previously proposed bamboo as a potential substitute for willow while graphitebacked bats outlawed in 2006 and later abandoned by manufacturers have resurfaced in discussionsOther changes to the LawsIn addition to equipment reforms the MCC confirmed that the latest version of the Laws will eliminate gendered language and include clearer wording to assist nonnative English speakersA significant onfield change impacts multiday matches Law 1252 will be revised so that if a wicket falls in the final over of the day play will not end immediately Instead the over must be finishedThis doesnt save time which is the case at lunch and tea as the remaining balls need to be made up the next day and it takes the drama out of the game the MCC saidBall regulations are also changing Under Law 41 junior and womenâs cricket balls will now fall within stricter standardised size and weight limits The game will operate with three defined ball sizes 1 2 and 3 to ensure greater consistencyAdditional amendments includeLaw 1952 now bans socalled âbunny hopâ boundary catches by limiting fielders to a single airborne touch after returning from beyond the boundary Any further contact must be made entirely within the field of playLaw 2731 permits wicketkeepers to have their gloves in front of the stumps during the bowlerâs runup provided they are fully behind the stumps at the moment of releaseRevised wording in Laws 151 and 152 prevents captains from declaring the final innings of a matchClarifications to Laws 1851 and 1852 mean batters may abandon a run without penalty unless the act is deemed deliberately deceptive In such cases the fielding side is awarded a penalty and chooses which batter faces the next deliveryLaw 198 now distinguishes intentional throws at the stumps classed as overthrows from ordinary misfields which no longer count as suchLaw 20111 gives umpires greater discretion in calling the ball dead allowing it to be deemed settled when stationary or held by any fielder not just the bowler or wicketkeeperSince 1787 the MCC has overseen and safeguarded the Laws of Cricket and these recent updates aim to strike a balance between tradition and the needs of a changing more sustainable affordable and clear global game IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mcc-announces-new-edition-of-laws-of-cricket-for-2026-effective-from-oct-1-660710.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-just-ran-out-of-time-says-cummins-on-missing-t20-world-cup-660651.html New Delhi Feb 3 Australiaâs fastbowling spearhead Pat Cummins has revealed that he came very close to being part of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad but a minor delay in his recovery ruled him out of the final 15team squad Cummins was replaced by Ben Dwarshuis in Australiaâs squad for the mega tournament which begins on February 7 due to an ongoing back issue The rightarm pacer said he was feeling good physically but simply did not have enough time to complete his recoveryIt was really unfortunate I feel pretty good just a minor setback and just ran out of time really Ill rest up for a few weeks and go from there Cummins said to AAP as quoted by the ICCThe Australian captain explained that after the Adelaide Test the medical team felt his back needed between four and eight weeks of rest before he could build up his workload againWe knew after the Adelaide Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up Initially we thought it might only be four weeks because I was feeling really good but just had a followup scan he saidThey thought it probably needed another couple of weeks so the timeline just became a bit too tight he addedCummins is now hopeful of returning to competitive action during the Indian Premier League IPL in March but stressed that his main focus is being fully fit for a busy test calendar later in the yearAustralia has a packed schedule ahead with home tests against Bangladesh an away series in South Africa followed by multiple matches against New Zealand and India before the current World Test Championship cycle endsWe thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket thats coming up Well get it right then hopefully that will mean you wont have to worry about it and you can just go out and play all those Test matches he explainedWhereas if youre not careful with it now and it flares up youre chasing your tail a bit Cummins addedDespite missing the World Cup Cummins backed Australia to perform strongly in the tournament He said the recent T20I series loss to Pakistan does not reflect the true quality of the squadIt wasnt our greatest few games in Pakistan but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash and a couple of guys are coming back from injury for the World Cup Cummins saidMorale is good Chatting to a few of the boys from afarâ they know how big it is theyre desperate to get started and get into it he addedThe 2021 T20 World Cup champions will face Ireland Zimbabwe Oman and cohosts Sri Lanka in their groupstage matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-just-ran-out-of-time-says-cummins-on-missing-t20-world-cup-660651.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-plays-the-way-we-do-ishan-kishan-backs-alcaraz-in-australian-open-final-660465.html Thiruvananthapuram Feb 1 India wicketkeeperbatter Ishan Kishan has backed Carlos Alcaraz to win the menâs singles final against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2026 saying the young Spaniardâs attacking instincts and fearless shotmaking closely resemble the way Indian cricketers approach their game âI personally want Alcaraz to win because I feel that the way he plays is very much like how we playâ Kishan said in a video released by BCCI on X âHeâs a bit quick Whenever thereâs a gap he tries to hit it He doesnât lookâ he doesnât show that much patienceâ he addedKishan believes Alcarazâs natural aggression and willingness to seize opportunities make him an exciting prospect in big matches even against a seasoned champion like Djokovic He also said that Alcaraz is aiming for his first Aus Open title so he should win itâSo that is with Alcaraz Itâs very important for Alcaraz to win because heâll have his first Australian Open So I am with Carlito he saidContrary to Kishan Indias fast bowler Arshdeep Singh wants Djokovic to win the title clash I am supporting Iceman Djokovic he saidThe Australian Open final sets up a highstakes clash between two generations with Alcaraz and Djokovic both chasing a historic milestone of their ownVictory in Melbourne would see the 22yearold Spaniard complete a rare career Grand Slam having already won the French Open Wimbledon and the US Open He will also become the youngest man ever to achieve this feat eclipsing the record held by his compatriot Rafael Nadal who completed the set at 24Standing in his way is Djokovic who is not just playing for another title he is seeking to stand alone as the most successful Grand Slam player in the history of the sport male or female A victory would secure Djokovics 25th Grand Slam title moving him past Margaret Court 24 for the most major singles titles in history The final will be played at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne on SundayMeanwhile Kishan and Arshdeep were both the standout performers for India in the fifth T20I played at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday While Kishan played a magnificent knock of 103 runs Arshdeep took a fivewicket haul which helped India secure a 46run win against New Zealand IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-plays-the-way-we-do-ishan-kishan-backs-alcaraz-in-australian-open-final-660465.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/usman-tariq-trolls-cameron-green-after-chucking-gesture-in-pakistan-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-660477.html Lahore Feb 1 Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq responded sharply on social media after Australian allrounder Cameron Green appeared to question his bowling action during the second T20I match played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday Tariq posted a meme on Instagram on Sunday suggesting that Greenâs reaction was driven by frustration following his dismissal Though he did not mention Green by name the timing and message of the post were widely seen as a clear response to the onfield incidentThe incident occurred in the 11th over of Australiaâs chase when Green was dismissed while trying to play an aggressive shot against Tariq As he walked back to the pavilion Green was caught on camera making a hand gesture that many interpreted as an accusation of âchuckingâ The gesture quickly became a talking point among fans on social media with some demanding a ban on the Pakistan bowlerTariq is known for an unusual bowling action that includes a brief pause before releasing the ball He has faced scrutiny in the past and was reported twice for a suspect action during the Pakistan Super League PSL However on both occasions he was later cleared after undergoing testingTariq was also embroiled in a chucking row ahead of the ILT20 final in the United Arab Emirates forced to defend his unconventional action which he claimed fell within all allowable 15degree parameters of elbow straighteningSpeaking of the match coming to bat after winning the toss Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 198 runs in 20 overs with the help of skipper Salman Aghas knock of 76 and wicketkeeper batter Usman Khan who scored 53 runsAustralia looked clueless throughout the chase and was bundled out for just 108 runs in 154 overs Green was the lone player to cross the 30run mark With this win Pakistan has clinched the threematch series by winning the first two matches IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/usman-tariq-trolls-cameron-green-after-chucking-gesture-in-pakistan-vs-australia-2nd-t20i-660477.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-icc-announces-24-match-official-for-group-stage-660292.html Dubai Jan 30 The International Cricket Council ICC on Friday announced the match official for the group stage of the Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 beginning February 7 In total 24 officials will serve as onfield umpires and six will be match referees during the group stage of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026The officials for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be announced laterKumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will be the onfield umpires for the opening match between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in ColomboThis match will mark Knightsâ first appearance at an ICC Menâs T20 World Cup while Dharmasena continues to add to his extensive tournament experienceDharmasena was part of Sri Lankaâs ICC Menâs Cricket World Cupwinning team in 1996He has officiated in 37 matches at the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup including the finals in 2016 and 2022 This achievement places him fourth on the alltime list for matches officiated in the competitionKnights will also reach a significant milestone during the Group A match as he officiates his 50th T20 International as an onfield umpire On the opening day in Kolkata Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will take charge of the Group C match between Scotland and the West IndiesMenon was part of the onfield umpire team for the first semifinal of the 2024 Menâs T20 World Cup between Afghanistan and South Africa Nogajski officiated four group matches at the previous edition including Indiaâs match against the USAIndia and the USA will meet later on 7 February in Mumbai with Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker appointed as the onfield umpiresTucker holds the record among officials for most matches officiated at the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup with 46 appearances so far He is set to reach his 50th match during the tournament The Australian will also officiate matches such as England versus Nepal India against Namibia and South Africa versus the United Arab EmiratesChris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth who worked together in the 2024 final will reunite for the Group B match between Australia and Ireland on 11 February Illingworth will also be onfield with Dharmasena for the important groupstage match between India and Pakistan in Colombo on 15 FebruaryMatch RefereesDean Cosker David Gilbert Ranjan Madugalle Andrew Pycroft Richie Richardson Javagal SrinathUmpiresRoland Black Chris Brown Kumar Dharmasena Chris Gaffaney Adrian Holdstock Richard Illingworth Richard Kettleborough Wayne Knights Donovan Koch Jayaraman Madanagopal Nitin Menon Sam Nogajski KNA Padmanabhan Allahuddien Paleker Ahsan Raza Leslie Reifer Paul Reiffel Langton Rusere Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Gazi Sohel Rod Tucker Alex Wharf Raveendra Wimalasiri Asif Yaqoob IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-icc-announces-24-match-official-for-group-stage-660292.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-under-19-team-interact-with-tendulkar-ahead-of-key-wc-clash-against-pakistan-660340.html Bulawayo Jan 30 The India under19 menâs side virtually interacted with legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar ahead of their decisive Super Six clash against Pakistan in the ongoing U19 World Cup England secured a semifinal berth with a 65run victory over New Zealand on Friday while Afghanistan also progressed to the last four stage with a 191run win over Ireland It means Sundayâs contest between India and Pakistan is now a virtual knockout with only one team from Group 2 set to progress to the knockoutsâIn what was an invaluable experience the next generation got insights and perspectives on the important ingredients for success and longevity in an ever evolving sport not just limited to technical skills and remaining fit but also the importance of staying focused disciplined humble and rooted in successâ wrote the BCCI on its âXâ account on FridayThey also posted pictures of the entire U19 team being together along with the entire support staff â head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar bowling coach Sunil Joshi and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh with Tendulkar in the background Apart from the coaches VVS Laxman former India cricketer and Head of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE was spotted in the picturesWith the Indian U19 team in Zimbabwe for the U19WorldCup Hungry focused and eager to learn Embracing the challenge growing with every session and proud to represent the country on the world stageâ wrote Laxman on his âXâ accountIndia led by Ayush Mhatre registered a whopping 204run victory over Zimbabwe in their first Super Six game held earlier this week at the Queens Sports Club The sideâs victory was set up by a splendid century from Vihaan Malhotra and a fine fifty from Abhigyan KunduPakistan meanwhile have suffered a major blow ahead of the crucial clash against India as wicketkeeperbatter Mohammad Shayan has been ruled out of the tournament after being struck on the nose while keeping to a fastbowler during a scenariobased practice match Following the blow Shayan was taken to hospital where Xrays confirmed a fracture IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-under-19-team-interact-with-tendulkar-ahead-of-key-wc-clash-against-pakistan-660340.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-under-19-team-interacts-with-tendulkar-ahead-of-key-wc-clash-against-pakistan-660341.html Bulawayo Jan 30 The India under19 menâs side virtually interacted with legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar ahead of their decisive Super Six clash against Pakistan in the ongoing U19 World Cup England secured a semifinal berth with a 65run victory over New Zealand on Friday while Afghanistan also progressed to the last four stage with a 191run win over Ireland It means Sundayâs contest between India and Pakistan is now a virtual knockout with only one team from Group 2 set to progress to the knockoutsâIn what was an invaluable experience the next generation got insights and perspectives on the important ingredients for success and longevity in an ever evolving sport not just limited to technical skills and remaining fit but also the importance of staying focused disciplined humble and rooted in successâ wrote the BCCI on its âXâ account on FridayThey also posted pictures of the entire U19 team being together along with the entire support staff â head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar bowling coach Sunil Joshi and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh with Tendulkar in the background Apart from the coaches VVS Laxman former India cricketer and Head of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE was spotted in the picturesWith the Indian U19 team in Zimbabwe for the U19WorldCup Hungry focused and eager to learn Embracing the challenge growing with every session and proud to represent the country on the world stageâ wrote Laxman on his âXâ accountIndia led by Ayush Mhatre registered a whopping 204run victory over Zimbabwe in their first Super Six game held earlier this week at the Queens Sports Club The sideâs victory was set up by a splendid century from Vihaan Malhotra and a fine fifty from Abhigyan KunduPakistan meanwhile have suffered a major blow ahead of the crucial clash against India as wicketkeeperbatter Mohammad Shayan has been ruled out of the tournament after being struck on the nose while keeping to a fastbowler during a scenariobased practice match Following the blow Shayan was taken to hospital where Xrays confirmed a fracture IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-under-19-team-interacts-with-tendulkar-ahead-of-key-wc-clash-against-pakistan-660341.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-was-protecting-them-brook-admits-to-lying-about-teammates-during-nz-nightclub-incident-660378.html Colombo Jan 31 England skipper Harry Brook has changed his version of a latenight incident in Wellington last year when he was struck by a nightclub bouncer admitting that other players were also present with him during the altercation after previously claiming he was alone However in a new statement he released on Friday Brook admitted that other players were with him admitting he had misled reporters to protect the players from being drawn into a situationâI accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge others were present that evening I regret my previous comments and my intention was to protect my teammates from being drawn into a situation that arose as a result of my decisions I have apologised and will continue to reflect on the matter said Brook as quoted by the BBCThis has been a challenging period in my career but one from which I am learning I recognise I have more to learn regarding the offfield responsibilities that come with leadership and captaincy I remain committed to developing in this area and to improving both personally and professionallyâ he addedBrooks comments came after a report in the Telegraph revealed that Brook Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were all under investigation by the ECBBrookâs revised stance contrasts sharply with comments he made last week when he portrayed the incident as a solitary lapse in judgment and distanced his teammates from the episodeâThere was no intention of going out no intention of putting ourselves in a tricky situationâ he had said âI took it upon myself to go out for a few more and I was on my own there I shouldnât have been there I was trying to get into a club and the bouncer just clocked me unfortunately I wouldnât say I was leathered Iâd had one too many drinksâ he said to the media ahead of the Sri Lanka tourMeanwhile the England cricket team started their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 on a high as they beat the cohosts Sri Lanka in the first match of the T20I series in Pallekele Cricket Stadium on FridayThe T20 World Cup will be the first time Brook will be captaining the side in an ICC event IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-was-protecting-them-brook-admits-to-lying-about-teammates-during-nz-nightclub-incident-660378.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/if-i-take-kohlis-wicket-i-will-touch-his-feet-says-pbks-new-recruit-vishal-nishad-660401.html Udaipur Jan 31 Punjab Kings new recruit Vishal Nishad highlighted the influence of Indias charismatic batter Virat Kohli on his journey and also spoke about his reaction if he gets the opportunity to take the wicket of his idol saying he would touch his feet A massive fan of Kohli Nishad spoke about how the former Indian captain inspired him to take up the sport âMy idol is Virat Kohli I am inspired by his attitude and his drive hes my favouriteâ Nishad saidHowever with the prospect of facing his idol on the pitch Nishad was asked how he would celebrate if he managed to take Kohlis wicket âIf I take his wicket Ill touch his feet because hes my idolâ he replied displaying the unique blend of ambition and humility that defines the Punjab Kings spiritA standout product of a local T20 league and as a testament to perseverance Nishad joined the Kings following a journey marked by grit and family sacrificeâThere were tough times I used to go with my father and help him with work I even thought Iâd quit cricketâ Nishad recalled âMy mother told me to leave it and learn something else because becoming a cricketer is so difficult But I didnt give up I told her âMom I will definitely do itâ Once they saw my resolve my family stood behind meâOriginally a tennisball player Vishal was prompted to transition to professional cricket by a friend who was impressed by his natural âball throwingâ skillsâInitially I played tennisball cricket A friend watched me throw and suggested to try the leather ball because he liked my action After that I decided to practice seriously Thats how it all startedâ he revealedHe added âMy coach didnât charge me fees for three years Eventually I played in a local T20 tournament in Uttar Pradesh and performed well After two years of playing in the tournament I landed up here with Punjab KingsâExplaining his choice to become a bowler Nishad noted how his background in tennisball cricket played a pivotal role âAs I was practicing with the tennis ball initially I got used to making it spin I adapted my tennisball skills to the leather ball which played a major role in me becoming a bowlerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/if-i-take-kohlis-wicket-i-will-touch-his-feet-says-pbks-new-recruit-vishal-nishad-660401.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/anahat-stages-stunning-comeback-to-enter-squash-on-fire-sf-in-washington-660405.html Washington Jan 31 Teenage star Anahat Singh fought back from 20 down to beat No 2 seed Sana Ibrahim and reach the Squash on Fire Open semifinals on Saturday The Indian world No 31 and seventh seed fought her way back into the contest overturning a 65 deficit in both the third and fourth games to edge out the Egyptian world No 17 811 811 117 118 117 in the PSA Bronzelevel eventAnahat 17 has already made a name for herself on the PSA Tour this season most notably reaching the semifinals of the Silverlevel Canadian Womenâs Open in October climbing up inside the worldâs top 30 soon afterwardsShe is now one win away from her biggest career final but she had to do things the hard way on quarterfinals day in Washington DC falling two games behind to Ibrahim in the dayâs penultimate matchBut with a full crowd watching on â a crowd which included her coach Greg Gaultier and plenty of vocal support for her â Singh clawed her way back into the contest overturning a 65 deficit in both the third and fourth gamesKey to her turnaround was undoubtedly her composure at crucial moments an impressive trait for a player so young and she continued to play with her fluid attacking style throughoutAt 67 down in the fifth she had little room for error but errors were not on her radar reeling off the next five points on the bounce to close out the comeback win turning to the crowd and letting out a huge roar of emotionShe will now face the inform Sabrina Sobhy for a place in the final after the American ended the impressive run of the unseeded Jana Swaify with a 30 winMeanwhile Veer Chotrani lost 811 116 1412 119 to the sixth seed from England Declan James in the menâs quarterfinal IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/anahat-stages-stunning-comeback-to-enter-squash-on-fire-sf-in-washington-660405.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/south-africa-have-a-chance-to-go-all-the-way-in-mens-t20-world-cup-says-duminy-660117.html New Delhi Jan 29 South Africa have a chance to âgo all the wayâ to winning the 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup title when the mega event begins on February 7 said former allrounder JP Duminy The Proteas are yet to win a title and their best result in the tournament has been as runnersup in the 2024 edition where they lost in the final to India by seven runs in Barbados The side is currently playing against West Indies in three T20Is before heading to India for their Menâs T20 World Cup gamesSouth Africa will begin their Group D campaign against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 9 before taking on Afghanistan New Zealand and the UAE in the group stageâWe have been playing really good cricket over the last year or so particularly in whiteball formats and the squad we have certainly gives us a chance to go all the way Thereâs always that elusive thought of when South Africa will win a whiteball competition and I think we give ourselves a good chance going into this oneâ Duminy told IANS on ThursdayThe upcoming tournament will be the first whiteball competition South Africa will play under Shukri Conradâs coaching after he took over as the allformat coach in July last year Duminy who played six T20 World Cups for South Africa pointed to the form of the captain Aiden Markram as a key factor in how the side fares in the competitionMarkram is coming on the back of making 309 runs in nine games for Durbanâs Super Giants in the recent edition of SA20 and struck an unbeaten 86 in the first T20I where South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets in PaarlâWhat stands out for me is the form of the players especially the captain From a batting point of view the form heâs in is important and if he plays well we give ourselves a very good chance as a teamâ he addedCurrently featuring in the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa Duminy said being in the competition has been a rewarding experience âItâs been great You get to see familiar faces youâve played with and against over the years Being part of a tournament like this playing the game we love and bringing people together is really awesomeâHe signed off by saying the competitive spirit remains strong among former players âThe competitive nature never disappears Everyone still wants to play at a level that gives them the best chance of winning games Beyond that itâs the camaraderie the change room the banter that you miss and coming together to play the game again brings all of that backâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/south-africa-have-a-chance-to-go-all-the-way-in-mens-t20-world-cup-says-duminy-660117.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-dubey-picks-6-37-as-vidarbha-take-upper-hand-over-up-in-must-win-clash-660154.html Nagpur Jan 29 Vidarbha captain Harsh Dubey claimed 637 in 195 overs to bowl out Uttar Pradesh for 237 in 685 overs on the opening day of their mustwin Elite Group A clash in the Ranji Trophy 202526 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday By the time stumps were called Vidarbha reached 33 for loss in 12 overs to take early honours in a game they needed to win outright to enter the knockouts Electing to bat first UP were struggling at 1096 before Dhruv Jurel 96 and Shivam Mavi 47 added 92 runs for the seventh wicket to help UP cross the 200run markAt the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground Salem Sukirt Pandey struck an unbeaten 73 and Ninad Rathva made 66 as Baroda reached 2475 against Tamil Nadu Electing to bat Baroda were reduced to 724 after offspinner J Hemchudeshan claimed three wickets in his first four overs and captain R Sai Kishore took one scalpBut Rathva and Pandey steadied the innings once the pitch eased adding valuable runs with measured strokeplay Pandey and skipper Atit Sheth 45 not out shared an unbroken 90run stand for the sixth wicket thus ensuring Baroda ended the day in a strong position after Tamil Naduâs early strikesAt Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Sovima Chetan Bist struck a commanding unbeaten 160 as Nagaland reached 3226 in 90 overs against Andhra Nagaland were in trouble at 594 before Bist led a remarkable recovery adding 167 for the fifth wicket with Dega Nischal who made 74 from 188 ballsThe wicketkeeperbatter struck 23 fours and a six in his 217ball stay dominating the innings and keeping Nagaland in control Though Nischal was dismissed late in the day and Imliwati Lemtur fell cheaply Bist found support from Nagaho Chishi who remained unbeaten on 37At Barabati Stadium in Cuttack Odisha ended day oneâs play at 2426 in 92 overs against Jharkhand with Swastik Samal 79 and Govinda Podder 64 scoring halfcenturies Jharkhand the only side that can deny Vidarbha qualification for knockouts were kept at bay by Odishaâs gritty batters IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-dubey-picks-6-37-as-vidarbha-take-upper-hand-over-up-in-must-win-clash-660154.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/virat-kohlis-instagram-account-reinstated-after-brief-disappearance-660201.html New Delhi Jan 30 Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohlis official Instagram account was reinstated on Friday morning following a brief disappearance that left fans baffled and buzzing online On Thursday night Virats official Instagram account which boasts a whopping 274 million followers suddenly became inaccessible leaving millions of fans wondering whether the profile was deleted deactivated or temporarily suspendedUsers attempting to visit Kohliâs verified handle were met with an error message stating that the page was unavailableThe unexpected development quickly triggered a wave of speculation especially given Kohliâs massive global following and his reputation as one of the most active athletes on social media His Instagram presence known for blending cricket updates brand collaborations fitness routines and family moments has long been a key connection point with fansWithin minutes of the account vanishing hashtags related to Kohli began trending across platforms Supporters flooded X and fan forums with screenshots and theories ranging from a possible voluntary break from social media to a technical issue on Instagramâs end Some even speculated about a hacking incident though there has been no evidence to support such claimsKohli one of cricketâs most recognisable figures worldwide commands one of the largest followings among athletes globally His digital influence extends far beyond the cricket field making the sudden absence of his account all the more noticeableHe recently reclaimed the No 1 ICC ODI batting ranking after a masterful 124run knock against New Zealand earlier this month his 54th ODI century before moving to second before Daryl Mitchell went past the Indian legend to be on top of the ODI chartKohli etched his name in the record books by becoming Indiaâs highest runscorer against New Zealand in ODI historyAcross 35 ODIs against the Kiwis Kohli has amassed 1773 runs at an impressive average of 554 including six centuries and 10 halfcenturies with a highest score of 154 He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar who scored 1750 runs in 42 matches at an average of 4605 with five hundreds and eight fifties IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/virat-kohlis-instagram-account-reinstated-after-brief-disappearance-660201.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-skipper-salman-agha-confirms-he-will-bat-no-3-in-t20-wc-660214.html New Delhi Jan 30 As Pakistan provided hints to a newlook top six during the first T20I against Australia captain Salman Ali Agha has confirmed he will bat at No 3 for the side during the upcoming ICC Mens T20 World Cup Ali Agha has predominantly batted later in Pakistans top six across his T20I career but most recently has taken it upon himself to move up to the crucial No 3 position in order to provide a more attacking option for his sideThe righthander appeared in good touch at first drop against Australia in the opening T20I of their threematch series in Lahore on Thursday when contributing a quickfire innings of 39 as Pakistan recorded an impressive 22run triumph just days out from the start of the T20 World CupYes Ill be batting at No 3 in the future We expect to face a lot of spin and I believe I can dominate spin during the Powerplay Thats why I moved up and that is where Ill stay Ali Agha was quoted by ICCAli Aghas promotion up the order means Babar Azam will most likely also face a new role with the former Pakistan skipper managing 24 runs from 20 deliveries against the Aussies after coming into bat at No 4Pakistan successfully defended their 168run total in the first of the three T20Is against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday eveningIn reply the Aussies lost six wickets to spin in reply as their run chase fell 22 runs short of the targetSpeaking about the game Ali Agha said We started well with the bat but couldnt finish the way we wanted It became challenging after the first 10 overs as the ball stopped coming onto the bat but I think we were outstanding with the ballTo be honest I felt 170 was enough Given how we were placed after 10 overs we probably could have scored 15 more but I knew 170 would be plenty on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstandingThe second and third matches of the series will be played on Saturday and Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-skipper-salman-agha-confirms-he-will-bat-no-3-in-t20-wc-660214.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sophie-molineux-named-australian-womens-all-format-captain-660032.html Melbourne Jan 29 Sophie Molineux has been appointed captain of the Australian Womenâs Team taking the reins from Alyssa Healy who will retire from all formats in March Cricket Australia said on Thursday Having made her international debut in March 2018 the Molineux has been vital to Australiaâs whiteball success She was part of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup winning squads in 2018 and 2020 Over the last eight years she has played three Tests 17 ODIs and 38 T20Is for AustraliaThe 28yearold leftarm spinner will make her national captaincy debut in three T20Is as part of the upcoming multiformat Womenâs International Series against India starting on February 15âItâs a real honour to be named Australian captain and something Iâm incredibly proud of especiallyfollowing on from Alyssa whoâs had such a huge impact on this team and the gameâWeâve got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through and Iâm really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level while staying true to the identity that makes this team so special Molineux saidIâm incredibly grateful for the trust thatâs been shown in me and Iâm excited to grow alongside this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia Ash and the rest of the team she addedMeanwhile Healy will captain Australia for the last time during the three ODIs and Test match with Molineux her deputy Allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has been elevated to vicecaptain alongside Tahlia McGrath across all formatsâSophie is an outstanding leader and we are thrilled for her to take on the role Sophie is highly respected within Australian cricket and her resilience composure and proven domestic leadership makes her the right person to lead the team into a new eraâWe will continue to manage Sophieâs workload prioritising key tournaments and major international series following injury challenges in recent seasons National Selector Shawn Flegler saidâTahlia McGrath remains vicecaptain recognising her significant leadership contribution under Alyssa Healy Tahlia has acted as standin captain on 16 occasions across formats providing consistency and stabilityâAsh Gardner has been elevated to vicecaptain alongside Tahlia strengthening the teamâs leadership group Ash and Tahlia provide complimentary skills in support of Sophie and are also both capable of leading the team as standin captain if required he addedAustralia also announced the squads to face India next month including a GovernorGeneralâs XI to take on the visitors ahead of the seriesAllrounder Nicola Carey is in line to play her first international match since 2022 while leftarm quick Lucy Hamilton has been named in her first Australian squadâNicola has had an impressive past couple of years in domestic cricket and has also performed well overseas in both England and India She is an experienced player with a strong skill set and she will get an opportunity to test those skills as we build towards the T20 World CupâLucy is an exciting leftarm fast bowler who offers something different with the ball She has worked hardon her game over the past few years and is someone we believe has a big future while also benefiting from being around the group at this level Flegler saidLegspinner Alana King has been omitted from Australiaâs T20 squad with Megan Schutt missing out on selection in the ODI sideâIt was also a tough call with Megan but at her best she remains an important part of the side particularly with the T20 World Cup on the horizon Flegler saidHiwever Phoebe Litchfield has been named in all three squads despite being ruled out of the remainder of the Womens Premier League season with a quad injuryThe GovernorGeneralâs XI match will see some of Australiaâs most promising domestic stars face the oneday World Champions in a T20 fixture under lights at North Sydney OvalThe team will be led by Queenslandâs Charli Knott and features Australian Defence Force cricketer Corporal Frances Whittaker alongside Australian players Tess Flintoff Kim Garth Alana King and Georgia VollA member of the Royal Australian Air Force Whittaker is a wicketkeeper and toporder batter with her selection continuing a longstanding association with the Australian Defence Force that provides the opportunity for eligible serving personnel to participate in the annual fixtureâThis multiformat series will be an important test across all three formats and a crucial part of ourpreparation as we look ahead to the ICC Womenâs T20 World Cup in England in June Flegler addedAustralia ODI squad Alyssa Healy c Sophie Molineux vc Darcie Brown Nicola Carey Ashleigh Gardner Kim Garth Alana King Phoebe Litchfield Beth Mooney Tahlia McGrath Ellyse Perry Annabel Sutherland Georgia Voll Georgia WarehamAustralia Test squad Alyssa Healy c Sophie Molineux vc Darcie Brown Ashleigh Gardner Kim Garth Lucy Hamilton Alana King Phoebe Litchfield Beth Mooney Tahlia McGrath Ellyse Perry Annabel Sutherland Georgia Voll Georgia Wareham IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sophie-molineux-named-australian-womens-all-format-captain-660032.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-beth-mooneys-fifty-and-tanuja-kanwars-late-blitz-lift-gujarat-giants-to-1749-against-dc-659970.html Vadodara Jan 27 Beth Mooneyâs composed halfcentury and N Shree Charaniâs timely strikes shaped an eventful first innings as Gujarat Giants posted a competitive 174 for 9 against Delhi Capitals in the 17th match of the Womens Premier League WPL 2026 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday Batting first for the first time the Giants took advantage of Mooneys composure at the top of the order until the last set of the innings when Tanuja Kanwar came out to bat The opening pair for Gujarat was Sophie Devine and Mooney but Devine only faced the third over before getting out to Marizanne Kapp for 13 runs Anushka Sharma batting at No 3 struck a couple of boundaries within the first 20 balls of the game showing early aggressionMooney hit out a few singles to get used to the pitch By the end of the Powerplay the Giants had built themselves solidly to 53 runs for the loss of one wicketAnushka Sharma kept the Giants scoring towards the middle of the game had one chance in the eighth over on 39 runs and had it taken from her almost immediately as Shree Charani took her wicket in the very next delivery swinging the momentum back to DelhiAfter that the Giants had another success when captain Ashleigh Gardner hit the ball towards deep midwicket only to get out for 2Mooney remained calm through everything that happened and reached her fifty runs during her innings with just 39 deliveries holding the entire innings together while losing wickets all around herCharani claimed her second wicket when she bowled Georgia Wareham out for 11 in the 15th over Delhi increased the pressure on the Giants in the next over when Chinelle Henry dismissed Bharti Fulmali for 3 leaving the Giants in a precarious position And when she finished her innings at 58 from 46 balls in the 17th over the Giants chances for a strong finish seemed bleakThe Giants poor finish continued as Delhi shut them down during the final overs of the match Just when Gujarat appeared to be limping to the end of their innings Tanuja Kanwar added an important contribution as a No 9 batter scoring 21 runs off 11 balls just before the end of the inningsKanwars effort raised the Giants total to 174 runs for 9 wickets from 20 overs giving the Delhi Capitals a competitive target despite Delhi not being at their best during the final phase of the inningsBrief scoresGujarat Giants 1749 in 20 overs Beth Mooney 58 Anushka Sharma 39 Sree Charani 431 Chinelle Henry 238 against Delhi Capitals IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-beth-mooneys-fifty-and-tanuja-kanwars-late-blitz-lift-gujarat-giants-to-1749-against-dc-659970.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-world-cup-india-pakistan-set-for-key-clash-after-big-wins-remain-on-course-for-semis-spots-659983.html Bulawayo Jan 27 India moved to the top of the Group 2 points table with a convincing win over Zimbabwe in the ICC Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup Meanwhile Pakistan also took a step towards the semifinals with a solid win over New Zealand The Group 2 standings after the recent fixtures have set up an enticing contest between India and Pakistan on Sunday Pakistan proved they are a force to be reckoned with at the ICC Under19 Menâs Cricket World Cup with a comprehensive eightwicket win over New ZealandIn a dominant allround display Pakistan chased down a modest target of 111 inside 171 overs The big win kept Pakistan in the hunt for a semifinal spot Though they are currently third in the standings behind England and India they have notched a healthy net run rate of 1484 which may come in handy if thereâs a logjam at the top of the tableElecting to field first Pakistan pacers made the most of the seaming conditions at the Harare Sports Club Ali Raza got the ball rolling as he trapped Marco Alpes leg before the wicket While Raza claimed three wickets for 36 runs in seven overs Abdul Subhan produced a matchwinning spell of 411 from his quota of 63 oversFor New Zealand opener Hugo Bogue notched the highest score a quickfire innings of 36 which included six fours and two maximums However the Pakistan bowling attack ensured that the Black Caps didnt have any partnerships goingIn the second innings rising star Sameer Minhas led the chase with a second straight halfcentury in the competition Minhas scored an unbeaten 76 and took Pakistan over the finish line with an emphatic six down the groundIndia rode on a splendid century from Vihaan Malhotra to register a whopping 204run victory over Zimbabwe to reclaim their top spot in Group 2 standingsAfter being asked to bat first Indian openers Aaron George and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stitched together a quickfire 44run opening stand Georges departure didnt deter Sooryavanshi as he continued with the onslaught to bring up his halfcenturyZimbabwe clawed back some initiative sending the 14yearold and Vedant Trivedi back in the hut within the space of five oversMalhotra and Abhigyan Kundu then settled into a fine batting rhythm to steer India clear of any potential danger The former fired Indias first century at the tournament while Kundus 61 off 62 deliveries set India on the course for a big score Khilan A Patels 12ball 30 added to the late fireworks as India finished with 3528 from their 50 oversChasing a daunting total Zimbabwe lost their openers Nathaniel Hlabangana Dhruv Patel and Brendon Senzere early in the chase Kian Blignaut and Leeroy Chiwaula attempted to rebuild the Zimbabwean innings with the latter also bringing up a resilient halfcenturyBut Ayush Mhatre and Udhav Mohan snapped up three wickets each helping India curtail the Zimbabwe challenge to 148 after a lowerorder collapseThe victory means only three teams from Group 2 India England and Pakistan remain in the hunt for the semifinals spots with a huge bearing on Sundays blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-world-cup-india-pakistan-set-for-key-clash-after-big-wins-remain-on-course-for-semis-spots-659983.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-players-make-significant-strides-in-rankings-amid-womens-t20-wc-qualifier-659934.html Dubai Jan 27 Bangladeshâs women cricketers have emerged as the major beneficiaries of the latest T20I rankings following a string of impressive performances at the Womenâs T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal The Asian side remains unbeaten in the tournament and is edging closer to securing qualification for the Womenâs T20 World Cup set to be held in England and Wales later this year Their dominant run at the qualifier has been underpinned by strong contributions across departments reflected in notable climbs in the individual rankingsAt the forefront is toporder batter Sharmin Akhter who has enjoyed a prolific tournament With 156 runs from four innings Sharmin is currently the secondhighest runscorer at the qualifier Her tally includes two halfcenturies coming against the USA and Ireland and those performances have propelled her 22 places up the T20I batting rankings to joint 35thShe is not the only Bangladeshi batter to make progress Sobhana Mostary has also reaped rewards for her consistency climbing 11 places to joint 52nd after producing four solid innings during the eventElsewhere in the batting rankings Ireland captain Gaby Lewis has moved up one place to joint 15th while the Netherlandsâ batter Sterre Kalis has jumped six positions to 48th following her own strong showingBangladeshâs bowlers have also made significant strides Offspinner Rabeya Khan has inched up to 14th in the T20I bowling rankings after claiming seven wickets in her sideâs first four matches Fellow spinner Fahima Khatun has risen six spots to 30th on the same listThe rankings update also reflects standout performances from other teams at the qualifier Scotlandâs 20yearold allrounder Katherine Fraser has surged 17 places to joint 44th among bowlers and leapt an impressive 39 spots to 25th in the allroundersâ rankings after contributing with both bat and ball Thailand spinner Sunida Chaturongrattana has also made gains moving up nine places to joint 46thAs the qualifier progresses Bangladeshâs upward momentum on both the field and the rankings table underlines their growing stature in womenâs T20 cricket IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-players-make-significant-strides-in-rankings-amid-womens-t20-wc-qualifier-659934.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-everybody-has-got-a-certain-x-factor-about-them-says-morne-morkel--659967.html Visakhapatnam Jan 27 India bowling coach Morne Morkel has emphasized the depth flexibility and matchwinning ability of the national team He stated that clear communication and understanding of roles are key to the teams strategy as they prepare for major tournaments Speaking about the squadâs strength Morkel stressed that selection is driven by conditions and balance rather than fixed roles âWith the 11 that we can pick on match day weâve got 11 match winners Everybody has got a certain âXâ factor about them They know that thereâs no guarantee of being the 11 Itâs about whoâs suited best for the conditions and how we can help the team win at the end of the dayâ he saidMorkel expressed great appreciation for fast bowler Jasprit Bumrahs talent calling him the best in the worldâJasprit is the best bowler in the world But at the end of the day everybody needs somebody to talk to Thereâs always a lot of expectation on him to go and bowl that magical spell and win the game for us Sometimes that burden can take its tollâ Morkel explainedMorkel highlighted that the bowlers need more than just technical advice to help them be successful they also need to communicate frequently with experienced playersâHaving played the game and knowing a lot of the greats in the past that I played with we all just need somebody to communicate with I always check in with Bumrah to make sure heâs comfortable and if he agrees with the plans weâve madeâ he saidMorkel used his own career as an example of how helpful it is to talk frequently with senior bowlers âHeâs like a Ferrari car If you can get the engine the oil and all of that running well the car will performâMorkel recognised that a variety of approaches would give India an advantage on the field in important tournaments âItâs a luxury that we have a handful of bowlers that can bowl in every situationâ he said âPart of the thinking for us leading into the World Cup was to look at different sorts of combinations We donât want teams to have set plans against usâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-everybody-has-got-a-certain-x-factor-about-them-says-morne-morkel--659967.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bbl-maxwell-re-signs-with-melbourne-stars-for-another-two-years-659839.html Melbourne Jan 27 Australian star allrounder Glenn Maxwell has re signed with Melbourne Stars with another two years the Big Bash League BBL club said on Tuesday Since joining the Stars in BBL 2 Maxwell has played 123 matches and made 3193 runs in green establishing himself as one the leagueâs greatest ever playersMaxwell who is the thirdhighest runscorer in BBL history endured a poor season where he made just 76 runs in eight innings and claimed two wicketsWhile the 37yearold was out of contract at the end of BBL15 he said it was an easy decision to continue his career in greenâThe Melbourne Stars have been a massive part of my cricket career and Iâm really passionate about this team having successâ Maxwell saidâI think this current group is building towards something special and Iâm confident weâre in a place to contend for the title in the next two seasons he addedâWeâre really happy with how our list is coming together for BBL 16 We felt like the group took some big steps forward this season so weâre excited to have that core coming together againâGlenn has obviously been one of the best T20 players in the world for a long period of time and his commitment to the Stars is really valuable to us Melbourne Starsâ T20 High Performance Manager Clint McKay saidThe Stars have also extended young gun Campbell Kellaway for another two years The lefthanded batter played all 11 games this season and showed a glimpse of the future for Stars fansâSigning Campbell was just as important as he adds some great stability to our top orderâHe proved himself at the level this season and Iâve got no doubt he will make a lot of runs for us for many years to comeâWeâre also excited to see another year of development in Austinâs gameâHeâs a bright young talent who will benefit greatly from another year in our programâPrior to the BBL Player Movement Window opening on Wednesday 20yearold Austin Anlezark has added one more year to his contract with the Stars as wellBBL clubs will be able to trade players and sign eligible free agents from January 28 to February 5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bbl-maxwell-re-signs-with-melbourne-stars-for-another-two-years-659839.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aussie-pacer-kane-richardson-retires-from-professional-cricket-659851.html New Delhi Jan 27 Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has called time on his professional cricket career drawing the curtain on a 17year journey that spanned international success domestic titles and franchise leagues around the world A member of Australiaâs victorious 2021 T20 World Cup squad Richardson departs the game as one of the most accomplished bowlers in Big Bash League history Across 15 BBL seasons he claimed 142 wickets placing him fifth on the competitionâs alltime menâs wickettaking listHe represented three clubs during that time Adelaide Strikers Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers leaving a lasting imprint at each stopRichardson earned 25 oneday international and 36 T20 international caps for Australia while domestically he played a key role in the Renegadesâ championship triumph in BBL08His impact in Melbourne was particularly significant with 104 wickets in 80 matches he remains the Renegadesâ leading menâs wickettaker in the competitionâs historyThe Victorian productâs T20 journey began in 2009 with South Australia during the original statebased Big Bash competition When the BBL was launched Richardson featured in the Strikersâ inaugural match in BBL 1 and went on to play 36 games for the club across six seasons A move to the Renegades followed in the BBL 7 where he enjoyed the most productive period of his domestic T20 careerIn recent seasons injuries took an increasing toll The 34yearold finished his playing days with the Sydney Sixers in BBL 15 appearing in two matches during his final campaignRichardson announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday prompting tributes from across the cricketing community Close friend and longtime teammate Adam Zampa reacted to the news writing on his Instagram story âMy friend has played his last game of professional cricket 18 years in the game wouldnt be the person I am without himâBeyond the shortest format Richardson also carved out a solid red and whiteball rÃsumà He played 34 firstclass matches taking 102 wickets and featured in 98 List A games for 153 dismissalsHis 201match T20 career took him well beyond Australiaâs shores Richardson played in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru Rajasthan Royals and Pune Warriors featured in England with Kent and Birmingham Phoenix and turned out for Dubai Capitals in the UAE IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aussie-pacer-kane-richardson-retires-from-professional-cricket-659851.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sri-lanka-to-play-six-match-white-ball-series-in-west-indies-from-feb-20-659857.html Colombo Jan 27 Sri Lankaâs womenâs team is set to travel to the West Indies for a sixmatch whiteball tour spanning late February to early March The itinerary features three OneDay Internationals and three T20 Internationals scheduled between February 20 and March 3 All fixtures will take place at the Grenada National Stadium in Grenada The ODI leg begins on February 20 with the remaining matches on February 22 and 25 Attention then shifts to the T20Is starting on February 28 followed by games on March 1 and 3The T20I contests carry added significance as both sides step up their preparations for the 2026 Womenâs T20 World Cup to be held in the UK later this year The West Indies and Sri Lanka are grouped together in Group 2 alongside England New Zealand and two teams yet to qualifyâThe Sri Lanka National Womenâs Team will tour the West Indies during FebruaryâMarch 2026 to play a threematch ODI series and a threematch T20I series The tour will begin with the ODI series followed by the T20I series which will be played in Grenadaâ the SLC said in their official statementSri Lanka will be eager to end a T20I series drought that stretches back to their Asia Cup success in 2024 Meanwhile the West Indies enter the series with strong home form having secured T20I series victories against Bangladesh and South Africa in their most recent outingsThe two teams last met in the Caribbean in 2024 when Sri Lanka dominated the ODI series with a 3â0 sweep while West Indies responded by winning the T20I series 2â1Sri Lanka are currently the sixthranked ODI team in the Womens Rankings with the West Indies in ninth In the T20I Rankings the Windies occupy sixth place while the Lankans are placed seventh IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sri-lanka-to-play-six-match-white-ball-series-in-west-indies-from-feb-20-659857.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/yuvraj-harbhajan-members-of-cricket-fraternity-mourn-the-demise-of-ex-bcci-chief-is-bindra-659727.html New Delhi Jan 26 Former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh former spinner Harbhajan Singh and members of the Indian cricket fraternity paid tribute to former Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra who passed away at his residence on Sunday at the age of 84 Bindra served as BCCI president from 1993 to 1996 He was a key figure in Indian cricket administration and led the Punjab Cricket Association for many years His association with the PCA spanned over three decades from 1978 to 2014âSaddened to hear about the passing of IS Bindra sir A great administrator of the game whose influence I witnessed from a very young age His vision and contribution to Indian cricket will always be remembered My condolences to his familyâ Yuvraj wrote on XâA stalwart of Indian cricket administration Our deepest condolences on the passing of former BCCI and PCA President IS Bindraâ IPL franchise Punjab Kings wrote on their social mediaâI S Bindra sir was a remarkable administrator who served with distinction in the Indian government and earned respect across every sphere of society He was a massive pillar of Punjab cricket â without his vision guidance and unwavering support Punjab cricket would never have reached where it is today His contribution to Indian cricket as a whole was just as significant He was always there for his players â ready to help to support and to guide them at every stepOn a personal level he was like a father figure to me someone who constantly encouraged me to do the right thing in life His wisdom and kindness shaped not just careers but lives This is a deeply personal loss There will never be anyone who can truly replace you sir You may be gone but the impact you have left on all of us will last forever Rest in peace sirâ former India and Punjab cricketer Harbhajan Singh penned on XFormer India and Karnataka cricketer Dodda Ganesh wrote âDeeply saddened by the passing of Shri IS Bindra A visionary cricket administrator whose leadership and dedication played a vital role in shaping Indian cricket His contributions to the game will always be remembered Heartfelt condolences to his family Om ShantiâFormer BCCI President and current ICC chair Jay Shah had confirmed the news on Sunday writing âDeepest condolences on the passing of Mr I S Bindra former BCCI president and a stalwart of Indian cricket administration May his legacy inspire future generations Om ShantiâPunjab Cricket Association PCA mourned Bindraâs passing as they wrote âThe Punjab Cricket Association mourns the passing of I S Bindra a visionary administrator and former president of the BCCI and PCA His leadership foresight and unwavering commitment played a pivotal role in shaping the growth and governance of Indian cricket His legacy will continue to inspire generations within the cricketing fraternity Our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones May his soul rest in peaceDuring his tenure as an administrator Bindra significantly impacted cricket management and infrastructure locally and beyond In 2015 he was honoured by having the PCA Stadium in Mohali renamed the IS Bindra Stadium in acknowledgement of his contributions to cricketBesides his administrative responsibilities Bindra gained recognition for his outspoken opinions on governance in Indian cricket He was especially critical of the handling of the IPL 2013 corruption scandal by N Srinivasan and the BCCI raising concerns about the transparency and accountability of that processAs a senior bureaucrat Bindra played a key role in establishing Indiaâs position in world cricket during the 1990s Alongside Jagmohan Dalmiya he identified commercial opportunities in television rights leading to private broadcasters entering the scene This shift transformed the games financial structure and boosted Indiaâs global presenceInternationally Bindra was instrumental in securing ICC rights to host major events in India Subsequently he served as a key adviser to the ICC President showcasing his importance in cricket governance IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/yuvraj-harbhajan-members-of-cricket-fraternity-mourn-the-demise-of-ex-bcci-chief-is-bindra-659727.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/young-players-have-become-more-mature-says-pbks-shashank-ahead-of-ipl-2026-659732.html Mumbai Jan 26 Punjab Kings PBKS officially started their preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League IPL season with their first preseason camp in Udaipur held from January 16 to 20 The fiveday session featured a blend of experienced players and promising young talent Key squad members attended the camp including IPLâs top wickettaker Yuzvendra Chahal and middleorder batter Shashank Singh They were joined by promising young players such as Priyansh Arya Pyla Avinash Suryansh Shedge Vishal Nishad and Pravin Dubey The management emphasised team bonding and clarified roles in preparation for the upcoming seasonShashank recently recovered from a minor injury highlighted the camps importance for reconnecting with teammates and welcoming new membersThe core focus was mostly on the bonding because obviously we met after so long Shashank said The energy was superb We were all very positive just like last year The place where we had the camp was lovely perfect weather conditions and a perfect ground setup We really enjoyed it and got exactly what we wanted from this campShashank became a vital contributor to the team last season scoring 350 runs in 14 matches with an average of 50 and a strike rate of 1535 With 21 players retained from the previous season the franchise aims to capitalise on their momentum from last yearDuring the camp the aggressive batter was especially impressed by the progress demonstrated by the teamâs emerging starsThere are so many young players in our teamâSuryansh Priyansh Pyla and Vishal It was so good to be with them he shared They young players have become more eager more mature and more excited for this year It helps to share my experience with them because they keep asking questions Getting to know their thoughts and talking about our strengths has been amazingOn a personal note Shashank utilised the sessions to restore his rhythm and acknowledged the franchiseâs medical team for their unwavering support throughout his rehabilitationFor me this game is more about the mental setup This camp really helped me get into a better mental space said Shashank I am just getting into the groove and trying to be fitter I feel Iâll be matchfit in a week or twoShashank concluded with a message for the loyal âSher Squadâ promising a season full of entertainment and fighting spiritI want to thank our fans for always supporting us I feel our fans are the best fans I am pretty sure that this year in all the games that red and golden vibe will be there on the ground he concluded We will make sure that we entertain you and when you leave the ground you will have a smile on your face IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/young-players-have-become-more-mature-says-pbks-shashank-ahead-of-ipl-2026-659732.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/return-to-indian-t20i-team-is-what-i-had-been-waiting-for-says-ggs-bharti-fulmali-659734.html New Delhi Jan 26 Seven years is a long time in cricket For Bharti Fulmali it felt even longer The bighitting middleorder batter from Amravati had made her India T20I debut against England in Guwahati in 2019 She impressed early by charging down the pitch to hit Laura Marsh for a boundary on her third ball in international cricket but managed only 18 and 5 in two outings before being left out As the years rolled by Bharti who holds a job with the Income Tax Department resigned herself to the fact that her international career might be over before it had truly begun But on January 17 when the Gujarat Giants landed in Vadodara after wrapping up their Navi Mumbai leg of WPL 2026 the BCCI named Bharti in Indiaâs squad for the T20I series in Australia in February a development which took her by surpriseWe just boarded the bus after landing in Vadodara and thats when my teammates came and shouted behind me Congratulations and then I got to know that this happened I actually didnt even know before that such a team was to be announced or that I had been selectedI am feeling very good because this has come after a very long period of seven years This is what I had been waiting for and has happened now So I am very grateful and this feels stupendous Bharti recalled in an exclusive conversation with IANS ahead of the franchise facing Delhi Capitals in a decisive clash on TuesdayThe current version of Bharti who will board the plane to Australia is a vastly different player from the one who played briefly for India in 2019 Her national comeback has arrived on the back of exceptional performances in the ongoing WPL where she has scored 111 runs in six innings at a blistering strike rate of 16323 for GGLast season was equally impressive â 133 runs in four innings at 17272 â a significant leap from her 2024 seasons numbers of 64 runs at a strikerate of 12075 India after unsuccessful trials with Kiran Navgire and Sajeevan Sajana will bank on Bhartiâs WPL form so that she can join Richa Ghosh as a reliable finisher ahead of this yearâs T20 World Cup in EnglandThere are a lot of changes now from what I played in 2019 to now The role that the team has given me as a finisher I try to contribute in that and how to finish the game and help my team to get into a good position So this is my priority added BhartiThis evolution didnt happen by accident Bharti made a conscious decision to reinvent herself after recognising that the pathway back to international cricket required someone who has serious lowerorder batting muscleI also wanted to bat as a batter in the top order But as I saw the lot of changes happening in cricket I started to think on top of that â like what is the need Like if I want to play internationally the WPL and be at a higher level then what is the need there So there mostly I saw middleorder and lowerorder batters are neededThere I saw the state team struggling a little So I decided from there that if I want to play then this place will be perfect for me I will have to work a little hard and there will be a little different skills but I was okay to do all of thatI worked on that because you need power hitting there for the finisher â because you will only get 5 or 10 balls you have to perform in that margin only and I started training in that way It happened just 45 years ago when I started to apply those changes to my role in the Vidarbha team elaborated BhartiItâs no surprise that Bharti credits the WPL for her career resurgence Unsold in the first WPL auction she joined GG in 2024 as Harleen Deolâs injury replacement â a move that proved pivotal My cricket has transformed a lot after WPL came into the picture It has played a very big role and especially Gujarat Giants have a big role in it because they have given me an opportunity to play on this platformâThey showed that confidence and gave me chances to play and then I put out great performances So GG and WPL have a very big role in upping my game for the next level she saidWorking with GG head coach Michael Klinger and batting coach Dan Marsh has proved crucial to her development as a powerhitter When I came here in the first year I discussed with them about what I can and cant do So I went back to the ground level and practiced mostly hard hitting I used to practice on center wickets and open grounds I did a lot of match simulations because I have put a lot of emphasis on myself to get the team out of tough situationsKlinger also told me to practice against a tennis ball Its like if you clear the boundary while batting against a tennis ball then you will be able to play in the same way against the leather ball in a match So I practiced against that and did those drills and I am getting the fruitful results now added BhartiHer performances this season after GG used her RTM card to get her for Rs 70 lakh have included knocks that showcased her finishing abilities â 36 not out and 39 against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are evidence of it In last yearâs season Bharti left everyone stunned by smashing her maiden WPL fifty off just 22 balls to give MI an almighty scareHer approach as a finisher and being unflustered comes from her admiration for the legendary MS Dhoni I have definitely imbibed a lot of qualities of him in myself because my natural nature is very calm When I used to watch Dhoni sir play on TV he used to come in the same situation as a finisher just like how I am doing right nowâHe has played a very good role there and won us the ODI World Cup as a finisher by scoring a six So he inspires me a lot I try to follow him a little bit and thats where all of this has come from said BhartiThat calmness under pressure by observing Dhoni has become Bhartiâs trademark too That is handled well because I always focus on my process I have put myself in these situations even in practice sessions Even when I play for the state I play under the same pressure Obviously there is no crowd thereBut if you think so much about the crowd and all these things then you will not be able to play well So when you play all these things get out of your mind Your focus is on the ball and what you have to do is on you So thinking all these things helps things become a little easier when your focus is on that one thing to play wellBhartiâs support system starts at home in Amravati where her father first introduced her to cricket His pride in her achievements remains a driving force for her I started playing cricket because of him in my childhood So he is very happy and he feels very proud that our daughter is playing and performing at this big level He feels really good on seeing me in action she saidBharti stays connected to her roots in Amravati through regular talks with childhood coach Sandeep Gawande at Sant Gajanan Cricket Academy while training at Nagpur Cricket Academy when away from homeWhenever I go to Amravati I still go to that ground and practice We have a very good bond We talk to each other daily If I have any doubts we still talk on the phone Their guidance is very important He my father and my family are the main pillars for meTheres even a nickname that has stuck with Bharti by her friends from Amravati â âLady Gayleâ Itâs a moniker which reflects in the bighitting prowess she has become known for now They still like calling me this a lot Whenever I go to Amravati they give me the centre wicket for practiceâBefore that they used to tell me that we will bowl and you hit the ball for six They would say bas tu maar You just hit the ball They have encouraged me a lot They have a lot of love for me and this is a way of expressing that They have supported me a lotSeven years away from the national team setup taught Fulmali invaluable lessons about discipline and perseverance I have realised discipline is very important I have worked with a lot of patience and discipline in the seven years I was away from the Indian team setupâYour diet is very important as are workouts on a regular basis It is very important to practise all these things daily I have maintained it and thats what is helping me she saidFor now Bhartiâs immediate focus will be to get GG into the playoffs The table is completely open now So we will try to play good cricket and I will also try to give my best I will fully try to fulfill the teams needs We will definitely try to display good cricket on the field and I am hopeful that we will win in the remaining games and definitely look to qualify for the playoffsHer advice to young cricketers stems from her own perseverance in the last seven years to get a chance at playing for India again I just want to say do what you like As a woman no doubt there are a lot of difficulties and challenges but you have to face it Dont look at it as a struggle accept it as a challenge and learn from it Do what you like work hard and you will definitely get the result IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/return-to-indian-t20i-team-is-what-i-had-been-waiting-for-says-ggs-bharti-fulmali-659734.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ind-vs-nz-shreyas-to-continue-as-varmas-replacement-for-remaining-two-t20is-659749.html Mumbai Jan 26 Shreyas Iyer a temporary pick for the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand due to Tilak Varmas fitness problems has been kept in the squad for the remaining matches He will accompany the team to Visakhapatnam and later to Thiruvananthapuram for the final two games of the fivematch seriesIyer was named as a replacement for Tilak for the first three matches but the youngster wont be returning for this series now The 23yearold needed surgery in Rajkot earlier this month during a Vijay Hazare match He is currently at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru has begun rehab and will join the squad in Mumbai for the T20 World Cup starting on February 7 once he is fully fitâIndia batter Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence However he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing fivematch T20I seriesâ the BCCI said in a statementâTilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February ahead of Indiaâs warmup match for the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 The Menâs Selection Committee has recommended that Shreyas Iyer will continue as Tilak Varmaâs replacement for the remaining matchesâ the statement further readIyer the vicecaptain in ODIs has not secured a spot in the playing XI for the current series which India won by taking an unassailable 30 lead on Sunday He has not appeared in a T20I since December 2023Indiaâs updated T20I squad Suryakumar Yadav C Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson WK Shreyas Iyer Hardik Pandya Shivam Dube Axar Patel VC Rinku Singh Jasprit Bumrah Harshit Rana Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakaravarthy Ishan Kishan WK Ravi Bishnoi IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ind-vs-nz-shreyas-to-continue-as-varmas-replacement-for-remaining-two-t20is-659749.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-mourns-demise-of-former-president-is-bindra-659753.html New Delhi Jan 26 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI on Sunday expressed deep sorrow at the passing of former BCCI President Inderjit Singh Bindra who died in New Delhi on Sunday at the age of 84 One of the most influential figures in Indian cricket administration Bindraâs vision and leadership played a defining role in shaping the governance of the sport in the country and strengthening Indiaâs standing on the international stage His association with cricket administration spanned more than four decades during which he served the game with distinction at both the national and state levelsDuring his tenure as BCCI president from 1993 to 1996 Bindra played a key role in consolidating Indiaâs position within the international cricketing fraternityHe also served as president of the Punjab Cricket Association for an extended period from 1978 to 2014 where his focus on infrastructure development and grassroots growth left a lasting legacy In recognition of his immense contribution the PCA Stadium in Mohali was renamed the IS Bindra Stadium in 2015Bindra along with former BCCI presidents the late NKP Salve and the late Jagmohan Dalmiya played a pivotal role in bringing the 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup to the subcontinent marking the first time the tournament was hosted outside EnglandThe DalmiyaBindra era later ensured that India hosted the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup further cementing the countryâs central role in world cricketTogether they laid the foundation for Indian cricketâs commercial growth and unlocked the full potential of broadcast rights during the rise of the satellite television era a transformation that reshaped the media and broadcasting landscape across the countryBCCI president Mithun Manhas described Bindra as a visionary leader who played a defining role in shaping Indiaâs stature in world cricket and building enduring institutions for the gameâIS Bindra was a visionary administrator whose leadership helped redefine Indiaâs role in world cricket His contributions went far beyond governance as he helped build systems and institutions that continue to serve players administrators and the game itself to this day The BCCI mourns the loss of a true stalwart of Indian cricket administrationâ he said in a release by the BCCI on SundayBCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Indian cricket had lost one of its most influential architects and expressed condolences to Bindraâs family and the wider cricketing fraternityâIndian cricket has lost one of its most influential architects Bindraâs commitment to the game his administrative foresight and his passion for creating enduring infrastructure have left a legacy that will be remembered with deep respect across the cricketing fraternity On behalf of the BCCI I extend our deepest sympathies to Bindraâs family friends and the entire cricketing fraternity during this time of profound griefâ he saidBCCI vicepresident Rajeev Shukla highlighted Bindraâs role in strengthening Indian cricket financially through sound governance and forwardlooking commercial strategiesâBindra had a clear understanding of what it would take to make Indian cricket financially strong and sustainable His focus on sound governance and smarter commercial structures helped lay the foundation for the gameâs longterm growth He set a high benchmark for administrators through a forwardlooking approach that continues to benefit the sportâ he saidBCCI joint secretary Prabhtej Bhatia underlined Bindraâs belief in building strong systems across all levels of the gameIS Bindraâs impact on Indian cricket went well beyond the roles he held He believed in building strong systems from the grassroots to the highest level and his work continues to shape how the game is run and experienced across the countryâ The joint secretary saidBCCI treasurer A Raghuram Bhat recalled Bindraâs emphasis on professionalism balance and high administrative standardsâIS Bindra brought clarity balance and a steady hand to every position he held His legacy lives on not just in the milestones achieved but in the professional standards he helped establish within Indian cricket Those values continue to guide the way the game is administered at every levelâ A Raghuram said IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bcci-mourns-demise-of-former-president-is-bindra-659753.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/isl-2026-kerala-blasters-rope-in-french-player-kevin-yoke-on-free-transfer-659767.html Kochi Jan 26 Threetime finalists Kerala Blasters roped in French star player Kevin Yoke on Monday ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League 202526 ISL which will commence on February 14 Yoke was plying his trade in Super League 2 in Greece where he made nine appearances for PAE Chania The 29yearold French international attacker born 23 June 1996 in Clamart France primarily operates as a left winger but is equally capable on the right flank offering versatility across the front lineThe left winger has joined the Blasters on a free transfer for the 202526 season He is the second addition to the team ahead of the new season The club has previously signed German attacking midfielder Marlon Roos Trujillo for the whole season These two signings will strengthen the team which will eye a comeback in the tournamentâKevin is a player with qualities that suit the way we want to play His ability to take on defenders his movement in wide areas and his experience at the professional level will add strength to our attacking unit Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee said in a release by the clubYoke also reacted to joining the Indian club I am very happy to join Kerala Blasters and canât wait to meet the squad and get started I am ready to give everything to meet the challenge that awaits us he saidBlasters FC has established itself as one of the most supported clubs in the ISL famously reaching the finals three times 2014 2016 and 2021â22 but failing to secure the title on each occasionIn the 2024â25 season the team endured a particularly difficult campaign finishing in 8th place with 29 points from 24 matches Despite flashes of brilliance such as a recordbreaking 8â0 win over Mumbai City in the Durand Cup they managed only 8 wins in the league and ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/isl-2026-kerala-blasters-rope-in-french-player-kevin-yoke-on-free-transfer-659767.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-pakistan-will-play-india-match-but-sources-after-naqvi-meets-pm-sharif-659780.html New Delhi Jan 26 The Pakistan Government has given a goahead to the National team to play against India in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup in Colombo Sources said the decision was arrived at after a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board PCB chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday Though PCB chairman Naqvi wrote in a social media post that a final decision on this matter will be announced by Friday or Monday sources told IANS that Pakistan will play India in the T20 World CupPakistan Cricket Board Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi met with Prime Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the ICC T20 World Cup and the current situation regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board a source told IANS on MondayThere were reports that Pakistan are likely to boycott their match against India if not the entire tournament to show solidarity with Bangladesh who have been replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup schedule after they refused to travel to India for their matches citing security fearsHad a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Briefed him on the ICC Matter and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday Naqvi wrote in a post on X after his meetingThough the Pakistan government has given its nod to play the ICC T20 World Cup and India match reports said they could make some form of protest before thatThe team could wear black armbands in the match or issue a statement in support of Bangladesh before it sources told Telecom Asia Sport wwwtelecomasianetNaqvi is also the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government thus the secondincommand after PM Sharif and by leaving the decision to him and the PCB the Pakistan government is hoping to pile on the pressure on the ICCSources also told IANS that PM Sharif has also directed the PCB to write a letter to the ICC on the Bangladesh issue Pakistan is the only board among the top affiliated national associations to come out in support of the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB during the ICC board meeting at which the global governing body for cricket decided to reject Bangladeshs request for a venue change IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-pakistan-will-play-india-match-but-sources-after-naqvi-meets-pm-sharif-659780.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/don-bradmans-1947-baggy-green-fetches-460000-dollars-at-gold-coast-auction-659783.html Gold Coast Jan 26 A prized Baggy Green cap once worn by Australian cricket icon Sir Don Bradman has been sold for an extraordinary 460000 Australian dollars approx Rs 292 crore at an auction on the Gold Coast on Monday setting a new benchmark for a cap belonging to one of the most celebrated batters of the game The cap dates back to the 1947â48 Test series against India and carries a special story beyond its sporting significance Bradman had personally gifted the cap to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni a gesture that added emotional and historical value to the rare itemSohoniâs family safeguarded the cap with remarkable care for more than seven decades preserving it across three generationsDespite its age the cap is in notably good condition This played a major role in pushing its value well beyond another Bradman cap sold in 2024 for AUD 311000 which showed visible signs of wear including fading and insect damage The newly auctioned cap bears the handwritten names âDG Bradmanâ and âSW Sohoniâ on the inside further enhancing its authenticity and appealThe winning bidder has chosen to remain anonymous Still Australian media reports suggest the cap will eventually be displayed at a museum allowing cricket fans to view one of the sportâs most treasured artefactsBradmanâs legacy in cricket remains unmatched Often described as the finest Test batter the game has ever known he played 52 Tests and finished with a staggering career average of 9994He scored 29 Test centuries including a record 19 against England in Ashes contests and registered 12 double hundreds another milestone that still standsIn one of cricketâs most famous moments Bradman needed just four runs in his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948 to retire with a batting average above 100 However he was dismissed without scoring ending his career just short of the threefigure markSir Don Bradman passed away in 2001 at the age of 92 but his memories remain in the minds of Australian fans IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/don-bradmans-1947-baggy-green-fetches-460000-dollars-at-gold-coast-auction-659783.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/don-bradmans-1947-baggy-green-fetches-460-000-dollars-at-gold-coast-auction-659785.html Gold Coast Jan 26 A prized Baggy Green cap once worn by Australian cricket icon Sir Don Bradman has been sold for an extraordinary 460000 Australian dollars approx Rs 292 crore at an auction on the Gold Coast on Monday setting a new benchmark for a cap belonging to one of the most celebrated batters of the game The cap dates back to the 1947â48 Test series against India and carries a special story beyond its sporting significance Bradman had personally gifted the cap to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni a gesture that added emotional and historical value to the rare itemSohoniâs family safeguarded the cap with remarkable care for more than seven decades preserving it across three generationsDespite its age the cap is in notably good condition This played a major role in pushing its value well beyond another Bradman cap sold in 2024 for AUD 311000 which showed visible signs of wear including fading and insect damage The newly auctioned cap bears the handwritten names âDG Bradmanâ and âSW Sohoniâ on the inside further enhancing its authenticity and appealThe winning bidder has chosen to remain anonymous Still Australian media reports suggest the cap will eventually be displayed at a museum allowing cricket fans to view one of the sportâs most treasured artefactsBradmanâs legacy in cricket remains unmatched Often described as the finest Test batter the game has ever known he played 52 Tests and finished with a staggering career average of 9994He scored 29 Test centuries including a record 19 against England in Ashes contests and registered 12 double hundreds another milestone that still standsIn one of cricketâs most famous moments Bradman needed just four runs in his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948 to retire with a batting average above 100 However he was dismissed without scoring ending his career just short of the threefigure markSir Don Bradman passed away in 2001 at the age of 92 but his memories remain in the minds of Australian fans IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/don-bradmans-1947-baggy-green-fetches-460-000-dollars-at-gold-coast-auction-659785.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-can-take-a-lot-of-confidence-from-how-i-have-gone-in-whole-tournament-says-bell-659789.html Vadodara Jan 26 Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB fast bowler Lauren Bell said she is focused on taking a lot of confidence in terms of how she has gone in the entire tournament so far Lauren has taken nine wickets in six games so far at an economy rate of 575 and has been a force to reckon with in powerplay âI think sometimes maybe I get a bit angry But even the other day my coach called me and was like âYouâre at your best when youâre smilingâ and I maybe lost my smile in the last game Iâm at my best when Im smiling I think obviously itâs very differentâIt might be a different opening partnership tonight and itâs a different pitch So thereâs a lot to assess and probably a lot of differences from the first game I guess I can take confidence from the whole tournament really with how Iâve been going Hopefully weâll put on a good performance tonightâ said Lauren in a pregame chat with broadcastersAsked on her preparation to bowl to Hayley Matthews Nat SciverBrunt and Harmanpreet Kaur Lauren said âIâm not massive on the whole analytics and stuff I obviously know these players Iâve bowled at Hayley lots Harman lots Nat lots Iâm big on backing my own strengths and what I do well and hopefully thatâs good enoughâQuizzed about her assessment of the nature of Vadodara pitch and her growing repertoire Lauren said âOn this pitch youâve just got to hit the stumps and try to be as straight as possible Thatâs a common theme for the batters as well Iâm not massive on that stuff but I know their strengths It was hard Obviously at the time I was playing international cricket so I was on the biggest stage while going through quite a big changeâIt was really tough but I had some of the best coaches around me and Iâve still got great support Technically I think weâre there but Iâm still grooving it I still want more consistency and there are still things to addâ she saidLauren also revealed she will bowl the inswinger when she feels confident about unleashing it âI havenât bowled an inswinger in about two years now so hopefully at some point that will come back Thereâs still so much to work on and I love training so hopefully Iâll just keep getting betterâI want my best ball to be as consistent as possible first thatâs the outswinger The inswinger is just another thing to add to the armoury when I feel ready and in the right place to push that onâThere are so many parts of bowling which is why itâs so exciting There are always different things to learn When I have time and a proper training period maybe Iâll get back to itâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-can-take-a-lot-of-confidence-from-how-i-have-gone-in-whole-tournament-says-bell-659789.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sainyam-gaurav-win-10m-air-pistol-trial-2-finals-659647.html New Delhi Jan 25 Sainyam of Chandigarh and Gaurav Kumar of Uttar Pradesh came out on top in the womenâs and menâs 10m Air Pistol Trail 2 finals respectively as the National Selection Trials 1 amp 2 concluded here at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range World Cup Final silver medallist Sainyam continued her good run of form finishing on top in the finals with a dominant final score of 2431 which is 54 points more than Rhythm Sangwan who finished second on 2377 Meenu Pathak once again finished in the top three in the finals finishing with 2185 pointsEarlier in qualification Suruchi Singh finished on top with an impressive 58731x but could only finish in eighth place in the finals Palak shot 57916x to finish second in qualification and shot 1782 in the finals to finish fifthThe experienced Shwetha Singh took the third spot in qualification with a score of 57818x and came back in the finals to finish in sixth place Meenu Pathak shot 57712x in qualification while Priya Muralidhar hit 57616x Rhythm Sangwan and Sainyam scored 57615x and 57613x while Divya T S completed the top eight with a score of 57519xGaurav Kumar improved on his secondplace finish in Trial 1 finishing on top in T2 in a tightly contested final Gaurav who qualified third for the finals with a score of 58421x shot 2455 in the finals to take the top spot ahead of Yogesh Kumar who finished second with a final score of 2446 after qualifying for the finals in fifth spot with a score of 58325xHarsh Swami of Uttar Pradesh took the third spot with a final score of 2219 after qualifying for the finals in second place with a score of 58526xEarlier in qualification Armyâs Ajendra Singh Chauhan shot an impressive 58821x to qualify in the top spot Udhayveer Singh of Punjab 58326x Kamaljeet Choudhary of Haryana 58320x Olympic medallist Sarabjot Singh 58223x and Armyâs Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve 58128x completed the top eight IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sainyam-gaurav-win-10m-air-pistol-trial-2-finals-659647.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rohit-sharma-harmanpreet-kaur-praveen-kumar-set-to-be-awarded-padma-shri-659671.html New Delhi Jan 25 Former India captain Rohit Sharma Indian women team captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Paraathlete Praveen Kumar are set to be honoured with the Padma Shri as the Padma Awards 2026 were announced on Sunday This recognition marks their significant contributions to Indian sports across different formats and generationsWhile the Padma Shri awards celebrated both current and former stars Indiaâs tennis icon Vijay Amritraj received the Padma Bhushan He is the only sportsperson to earn the countryâs thirdhighest civilian honor this yearAmritrajâs recognition adds to a notable career that has lasted for decades both on and off the courtHe had previously been awarded the Padma Shri in 1983 and the Arjuna Award in 1974 highlighting his lasting influence on Indian tennis and sports administrationRohit Sharma the former captain of Indian mens cricket team is a key figure in modern Indian cricket He is known for his leadership and impressive runscoring at the highest level and led India to second T20 World Cup trophy in 2024Harmanpreet Kaur captain of the womenâs team lead India to maoden womens ICC title after hosts India clinched Womens ODI World Cup 2025 has also played a vital role leading India to new successes and inspiring a generation of young cricketers with her bold batting and leadershipThe list of honored sports figures included Savita Punia the goalkeeper of the Indian womenâs hockey team whose consistency and leadership have helped India regain its place on the international stageBaldev Singh Bhagwandas Raikwar and K Pajanivel also received the Padma Shri for their achievements in sportsThe Padma Awards are among Indiaâs highest civilian honors and celebrate excellence and service in various fields With honorees from cricket tennis and hockey this year the 2026 awards showcased the growing strength and influence of Indian sports on the global stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rohit-sharma-harmanpreet-kaur-praveen-kumar-set-to-be-awarded-padma-shri-659671.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-all-teams-are-challenging-but-beating-australia-would-be-a-big-deal-says-omans-vc-vinayak-shukla--659674.html New Delhi Jan 25 Vinayak Shuklaâs rise in international cricket has been anything but conventional Growing up in the busy lanes of Kanpur in the early 2000s Shukla learned the game the way many Indian cricketers do on the streets where adaptability sharp reflexes and instinct matter more than textbook technique That streethoned style would later define him even as it led to him being overlooked in agegroup cricket echoing the early struggles once faced by the legendary Mahendra Singh DhoniDespite early promise spotted at the PAC Cricket Academy by coach Laikchand Rajput Shukla found himself repeatedly ignored at higher junior levels due to perceptions around his technical limitations A severe hamstring injury in 2018 sidelined him for nearly seven months becoming a defining moment in his careerAfter a brief overseas opportunity in Kenya was cut short by the COVID19 pandemic Shukla eventually found his footing in Oman Today he stands as one of the teamâs most reliable performers a clinical wicketkeeper instinctive batter and the vicecaptain of the national side heading into the World CupIn an exclusive conversation with IANS Shukla reflected on his journey learnings from Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya and Omanâs T20 World Cup ambitionsIANS From the streets of Kanpur to a near move to Kenya and eventually representing Oman how would you describe your journeyVS My journey has been filled with ups and downs I started playing in Kanpur and like any athlete I wanted to represent my country but the challenges I faced in India made it difficult Fortunately I got the opportunity to represent Oman and I thank God for it Itâs truly an incredible honour to represent a country like Oman and I feel proud and privileged to wear that red jerseyIANS Is it true that when you started wicketkeeping in Oman you were not handed the gloves immediatelyVS When I came to Oman there were about four keepers in the same team and since everyone is a good batter and contributes their part we typically have only one wicketkeeper My captain was also a wicketkeeper so I didnt get many chances to keep during matches or practice because if I kept the captain wouldnt sit out of the eleven I prefer fielding and doing my part that way For the first two years it was really tough to get out of those gloves because I didnt have the opportunity to keep Its a similar story to Dhonis I had to wait a long time before getting the gloves I spent quite a long time just fielding for my team but I must say the credit goes to the Oman coaching staff who finally gave me one opportunity and trusted me with the glovesIANS How has Omanâs preparation for the World Cup been so farVS This time our preparation has been quite focused with a strong leadup camp at our home base Our main emphasis has been on fitness and mental readiness Over the past few months weve been thoroughly preparing for the World Cup and itâs a significant tournament for us Our focus remains on refining technical skills and strengthening mental resilienceIANS How do you assess the squad heading into the tournamentVS I believe this squad is an ideal blend of experience and youth with three players having participated in numerous international events while the younger players are getting their first opportunity The experienced players will bring calmness to the team while the youngsters will add fearlessness Itâs great to have this mix of youth and experience I also think our main focus is on bowling which we see as our strengthIANS During the Asia Cup you had interactions with several Indian players including a long conversation with Suryakumar Yadav What stood outVS It was a great opportunity for all of us to interact with Suryakumar Yadav and other team members When we talk about Surya hes been really polite with us and has taught us that the conversation is only about the mental aspect how to take the game deep understand the game well and perform well under pressure Surya is not just a good batter but also the captain of the Indian team so he knows every aspect of the team The way he guided us and motivated us has been really amazing We have also been to the Indian dressing room to interact with a few players and we asked some of them how they understand the game how they handle pressure and how they perform in clinical situationsIANS Did you receive any specific advice from other Indian playersVS I talked with Hardik Pandya Hes such a polite guy and he helped me understand the game because he plays at the same spot where I play So we talked about him and how he sees the game He was pretty clear about it saying never to look for the opponent or the bowler but always keep an eye on the scoreboard Whenever you see a scoreboard it will give you a clear picture of the match and what you need to do in the coming overs That will help you make a plan that will be really helpful for you and the teamIANS What were the biggest learnings from the Asia CupVS For most of our team members this was their first global event as we are quite young aside from a few experienced players Participating in such a largescale event has been truly amazing Now the players are wellprepared understanding how to handle pressure and execute key movements that can turn the game Our current focus is on smaller details where we can make a difference and influence the outcome This mainly involves planning and strategising for matches against stronger opponents While mistakes can be overlooked when playing against lesserknown or associate countries they are unforgivable against Testplaying nations like India and Pakistan This experience has been a valuable learning opportunity boosting our confidence as we transition from the Asia Cup to the World CupIANS As vicecaptain how do you view your leadership roleVS I believe leadership always involves responsibility but to me its more of a privilege than pressure My role is clearly to support the captain and mentor the younger players I aim to ensure everyone is in a good mindset and wellprepared before they step onto the ground If someone has thoughts or strategies about the game I want them to feel comfortable sharing them with me My goal is to create an environment of openness and support that helps my team secure victoriesIANS This will be your fourth World Cup What changes this time aroundVS I believe experience plays a significant role and this time were smarter with our matchups clearer with our game plans and more adaptable to conditions during play Its not just about tactics but also about focusing on the mental aspect and paying attention to small details such as game awareness finishing and recognising moments to shift the momentum Ultimately its about combining our intensity experience and fearlessness to support the teamIANS How do you think that the experienced players on the side help the youngsters cope with losses and move aheadVS Winning and losing are part of the game When we win its a reason to celebrate everyoneâs success but losing can be difficult For seniors the key is how they communicate with juniors to improve outcomes We aimed to create an environment where everyone especially youth feels comfortable approaching us with suggestions on how to enhance resultsIANS Who do you see as Omanâs toughest opponent in the groupVS Honestly I feel every team in our group is challenging because everyone is a Testplaying nation and we are the only associate country But I feel its a blessing in disguise for us If we are going to win I hope we are going to win a couple of games from here and then its going to be like we beat a Testplaying nation which is going to be a big thing for the boys because its our first World Cup If we are going to beat some Testplaying nations then it will be really amazing In a T20 game its a pretty fast game and you know every team has their chance to win the game so you cant just say everyone is out of your hands to win a game But it will be within reach if you play well put in all the effort and click all the boxes You will definitely win We would like to win every game we are going to play but if we win a game against Australia it would be a big deal because Australia is a very big team and everyone knows the kind of cricket they bring to the world so it would be really amazing if we beat AustraliaIANS Youâre returning from injury just before the World Cup How important was rehab in this phaseVS When you get injured its a tough time because you are out of the ground and you cant move your body to get back into the ground and do the things you love most Rehab obviously tests my patience but it took me about 2 months to get back on the ground All credit goes to the medical staff especially our physio and our trainer Shiva These guys put a lot of effort into getting me back onto the ground and they make sure not just physically but also mentally that I am fit before I move out of that rehab phase and get back onto the ground Right now I am feeling pretty well and pretty fit with clarity about my plans and I am in a good mental state to go to the World Cup IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-wc-2026-all-teams-are-challenging-but-beating-australia-would-be-a-big-deal-says-omans-vc-vinayak-shukla--659674.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-players-to-back-pcb-governments-decision-on-t20-world-cup-participation-659690.html New Delhi Jan 25 Pakistan players showed solidarity with their government and cricket board on any decision they take regarding the teams participation in next months World Cup a report said All the top players met PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore Sunday afternoon and assured him that any decision taken by the government and PCB will have their support sources told TelecomasianetWe are all with our government and cricket board and back their stance of protesting what happened to BangladeshNaqvi met the players of the World Cup squad announced on Sunday to brief them on the teams participation in the T20I World Cup amid uncertainty following Bangladeshs elimination from the World Cup in an unjust decisionPakistans selector Aaqib Javed was questioned during the media briefing on the squad announcement about the teams chances of featuring in the mega event As players and management we are preparing for the World Cup and it is up to the PCB and government to take a final callSources said players were also discussing the chances of a pullout Players including skipper Salman Agha have discussed this and were slightly uncertain whether they should keep preparing for the World Cup or not and in this regard chairmans briefing will help themAfter Scotland was announced as a replacement following the rejection of Bangladeshs request to relocate its matches from India to Sri Lanka Naqvi caused a sensation in the cricketing world by saying that Pakistans participation hinges on government clearanceWhether we play in the T20 World Cup or not the decision will be taken by the government Naqvi said on SaturdayOur PM Shahbaz Sharif is out of the country when he comes we will take advice from him The decision by the government will be final and binding and if they say no then they ICC may invite any other teamNaqvi said PCB has alternate plans We have alternate plans A B C which we cane use when the times comes We have done this before during the Champions Trophy so nothing new for us and we know how to deal with such mattersPakistans withdrawal will be a crucial blow to the International Cricket Council as the match between Pakistan and India generates huge revenue reportedly amounting to 500 million dollarsBut Pakistan may face financial consequences in the event of a pullout as the ICC will deem their reason invalid since they are already playing at a neutral venue without any security concernsLast year the ICC decided that matches between India and Pakistan hosted by either country at ICC events during the 20242027 cycle will be played at a neutral venue a decision reached after months of a standoff ahead of last years Champions Trophy when India refused to travel to Pakistan over security fearsThe agreement extended to the ICC Womenâs Cricket World Cup 2025 hosted by India and the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup 2026 hosted by India and Sri LankaFormer Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has also urged the PCB to take a firm decisionIf Pakistan and India match dont happen 50 per cent of your World Cup is gone This is a great opportunity to challenge the existing cricket order Pakistan should say they stand with Bangladesh and refuse to play the T20 World Cup This is the time to take a stand You need a strong heart to do it Latif saidFormer PCB chairman Najam Sethi also backed any decision related to a withdrawal âIt would be a tough decision but I will back it Mohsin Naqvi understands the game and has a good grasp of all aspects Whatever decision he makes will be right and he should stick to itâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pakistan-players-to-back-pcb-governments-decision-on-t20-world-cup-participation-659690.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/former-bcci-president-is-bindra-passes-away-aged-84-659696.html New Delhi Jan 25 The International Cricket Council ICC chairman Jay Shah paid tribute to former Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra popularly known as IS Bindra who passed away at his residence on Sunday at the age of 84 Bindra served as BCCI president from 1993 to 1996 He was a key figure in Indian cricket administration and led the Punjab Cricket Association for many years His association with the PCA spanned over three decades from 1978 to 2014While serving in administrative roles Bindra made significant contributions to cricket management and infrastructure in the region and beyond ultimately being honoured in 2015 with the renaming of the PCA Stadium in Mohali to the IS Bindra Stadium in recognition of his contributions to cricketIn addition to his role as an administrator Bindra became known for his outspoken views on governance in Indian cricket and particularly was critical of the way N Srinivasan and the BCCI managed the IPL 2013 corruption scandal and questioned the lack of transparency and accountability in that processIn his role as a senior bureaucrat Bindra contributed to the establishment of Indiaâs place in world cricket during the 1990s along with Jagmohan Dalmiya by recognising the commercial opportunities for television rights that ultimately resulted in the entry of private broadcasters which transformed the financial structure of the game and increased Indiaâs global influenceInternationally Bindra played a major role in obtaining the rights for the ICC to hold major events in India later he was one of the primary advisers to the President of the ICC and demonstrated his significance within cricket administration IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/former-bcci-president-is-bindra-passes-away-aged-84-659696.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/its-a-very-big-moment-for-me-harmanpreet-kaur-on-being-honoured-with-padma-shri-659699.html New Delhi Jan 26 Indian womenâs team captain Harmanpreet Kaur described her Padma Shri honour as a âvery big momentâ in her career Kaur was announced as a Padma Shri awardee on Sunday joining eight other current and former sportspersons on the 2026 Padma Awards listKaur also revealed that her father was the first to receive the call from the Presidentâs House informing the family of the prestigious award in a video shared by Mumbai Indians on social mediaâMy dad got a call from the Presidentâs House that this year I am going to receive the Padma Shri Award So I think itâs a very big moment for me and I am happy that before me my parents got to know Kaur saud in a video posted by Mumbai Indians on InstagramFormer India captain Rohit Sharma too was named in the list of Padma Shri awardeeRohit known for his leadership and impressive run has scored runs at highest level and led India to second T20 World Cup trophy in 2024 along with ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2025Congratulating him Kaur said Many many congratulations to him as well â we have seen how hard he has been working and I think itâs a great moment for him From the moment I started playing cricket I have dreamed of winning the World Cup the Arjuna Award and then the Padma Shri This is a very big achievement for meâThe list of honored sports figures included Savita Punia the goalkeeper of the Indian womenâs hockey team whose consistency and leadership have helped India regain its place on the international stageBaldev Singh Bhagwandas Raikwar and K Pajanivel also received the Padma Shri for their achievements in sportsThe Padma Awards are among Indiaâs highest civilian honors and celebrate excellence and service in various fields With honorees from cricket tennis and hockey this year the 2026 awards showcased the growing strength and influence of Indian sports on the global stage IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/its-a-very-big-moment-for-me-harmanpreet-kaur-on-being-honoured-with-padma-shri-659699.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ms-dhoni-starts-net-practice-in-ranchi-ahead-of-ipl-2026-659574.html Ranchi Jan 24 Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has begun preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season The 44yearold will represent Chennai Super Kings for the 17th time and was seen padded up and batting in the nets in a video shared by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association on their social media platforms JSCA called Dhoni their pride and wrote âLook who is back Pride of JSCA Mahendra Singh Dhoniâ in the caption of their post on InstagramIn the clip Dhoni can be seen chatting with former JSCA secretary Saurabh Tiwary while gearing up for the netsDhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 except for the IPL where he continues to represent his beloved CSKDhoni is one of the most influential players in the CSK ranks and is a core member of the leadership group He has won five titles for the team during his captaincy stintCSK had a poor run last season The team finished last in the points table The fivetime champions were only able to win four matches out of fourteenDhoniâs performance was also disappointing throughout the season CSKâs finisher scored just 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 2450 and a strike rate of 13517 with a best score of 30 and even captained CSK in Gaikwadâs absence due to injuryDhoni is still one of the finest batters in IPL history with 5439 runs in 278 matches and 242 innings at an average of 3880 a strike rate of 13745 and 24 fifties with a best score of 84A modernday legend of Indian cricket wicketkeeperbatter Dhoni has led India in all three formats of the game A recipient of the Padma Bhushan 2018 Padma Shri 2009 and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2008 Dhoni represented India from 2004 to 2019 leading the country to the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ms-dhoni-starts-net-practice-in-ranchi-ahead-of-ipl-2026-659574.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dinesh-karthik-showers-praise-on-vikram-prabhus-cop-drama-sirai-659605.html Chennai Jan 25 Cricketer Dinesh Karthik has now showered praise on debut director Suresh Rajakumaris critically acclaimed Tamil film Sirai featuring actors Vikram Prabhu and LK Akshay in the lead Taking to his X timeline to share his thoughts on the gripping cop drama which went on to emerge a superhit Dinesh Karthik wrote Watched SIRAI yesterday Such a lovely movie So well shot Realistic and relatable with a heart warming love story Im sure the director wouldve done extensive research to get a movie like this right Loved the performances from Vikram Prabhu and his co actors Well done to all the technicians involvedActress and producer Khushbu Sundar too took to her social media timelines to praise the film which has already come in for widespread from both audiences and critics Khusbhu wrote Finally watched the much spoken about silent genuine winner of recent times Sirai A must watch Simple story told brilliantly Everyone has performed fantastically Especially iamVikramPrabhu So proud of you Vikram Your understanding of the character and delivering with so much restraint proves you are the new chip of the old block So proud of youShe also went on to praise the director of the film saying Director SureshRajakumari deserves a pat for the perfect starcast Actually everything is just perfect Not a lose scene not an unwanted scene or songs Congratulations to the entire cast and the crew on the humongous success Sirai successful deservesDinesh Karthik and Khushbu are the latest to praise Sirai It may be recalled that ace director Shankar and cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin too had praised the filmTaking to his X timeline Shankar who is considered one of the leading directors in the Tamil and Telugu film industries had said Sirai Such a good film Really moved me to tears in many places Loved all the characters and their performances which stayed with me after the filmThe director then went on to shower praise on each of the artistes who had done outstanding work in the film He wrote iamVikramPrabhu gave a staunch performance throughout the film LKAkshayKumar and AnishmaAnilkumarâs acting captured their characterâs innocence and emotions beautifullyShankar then went on to congratulate the films producer saying My heartfelt wishes to the producer SSLalitKumar for bringing us this gem Director SureshRajakumari imprisoned our hearts with his excellent debut The message in the last scene was solid and very relevant Tamil Cinema ending the year on a highnoteIt may be recalled that cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin too had praised the film last yearAshwin while talking about the film had said Really liked the film a lot It was a very gripping film In todays day and age watching a film without touching ones phone is a big thing I did not touch my phone while watching this film completely Fabulous acting actually be it Vikram Prabhu and Akshay Kumar and all the cast members The way they have built each character it didnt look like a heros film at all It looked like everybodys movie It was very nice Refreshing for Tamil cinema IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dinesh-karthik-showers-praise-on-vikram-prabhus-cop-drama-sirai-659605.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-shami-picks-five-as-bengal-beat-services-to-enter-knockouts-659612.html Kalyani Jan 25 Bengal stormed into the quarterfinals of 202526 Ranji Trophy after thrashing Services by an innings and 46 runs in their Elite Group C clash at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground on Sunday Resuming the proceedings on the final dayâs play Bengal needed barely 20 minutes to complete the formalities as Mohammed Shami returned with figures of 551 to hasten Servicesâ collapse on Saturday Services who folded for 166 in the first innings managed 349 in their second essay but still fell well shortAditya Kumar tried to put in some resistance but fell for 26 to Shahbaz Ahmed while Amarjeet Singh was dismissed for a 19ball duck by Akash Deep Jayant Goyat was left stranded on 68 not out as Services were bowled out for 287 in 75 oversBengal had piled up a commanding 519 thanks to veteran batter Sudip Chatterjee making 209 Their bowlers then sent down 129 overs across both innings to secure the 20 wickets required for a win with a bonus pointWith this emphatic win Bengal collected seven points to move to 30 from six matches ensuring a place in the knockouts as Group C toppers for now The race for the second spot now rests between Services Haryana and UttarakhandElsewhere at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow Jharkhand recorded one of the biggest wins of the season after thrashing Uttar Pradesh by an innings and 301 runsUP were bundled out for just 84 in their second innings with seamer Saurabh Shekhar returning dream figures of 516 in 74 overs The result has lifted Jharkhand to number two in Group A behind leaders VidarbhaBrief Scores Bengal 519 beat Services 186 amp 287 in 75 overs Rajat Paliwal 83 Jayant Goyat 68 not out Mohammed 551 Mukesh 256 by an innings and 46 runsJharkhand 5616 declared beat Uttar Pradesh 176 and 84 in 274 overs Aryan Juyal 24 Saurabh Shekhar 516 by an innings and 301 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-shami-picks-five-as-bengal-beat-services-to-enter-knockouts-659612.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-learning-from-defeats-key-to-dcs-turnaround-says-katey-martin-659622.html New Delhi Jan 25 The impressive ability of Delhi Capitals DC to adapt after losses and avoid repeat defeats has been central to their resurgence in the 2026 WPL said former New Zealand wicketkeeperbatter Katey Martin The franchises strategic shift since not having an ideal Navi Mumbai leg of the tournament has seen them climb to second place on the points table Their bowling unit has spearheaded the transformation as a disciplined performance led them to end the winning streak of an already qualified Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCBDelhi Capitals know what they must do to bounce back They have shifted their mindset after the Navi Mumbai leg of the WPL 2026 understanding what works here in Vadodara I think their bowlers have led this change Nandni Sharma the way she takes wickets at the death is key to their planThey played carefully and gave up chances in the chase against RCB but they wanted to finish within 18 overs to move into second place They have also not lost to the same team twice this season That shows they learn and adapt when they face an opponent again said Katey on JioStarShe also lauded DC skipper Jemimah Rodrigues for her proactive captaincy noting her tactical flexibility and effective communication with the bowling group to bowl out RCB for 109 on a slow pitchâIt was an interesting move by Delhi to open with mediumpacer Chinelle Henry instead of Marizanne Kapp who usually bowls the first over The bowling changes at certain moments were very good by captain Jemimah RodriguesâShe was constantly moving around the field and talking to her bowlers For a captain to keep the team balanced while doing that can be challenging but she kept things clear She backed the bowlers and they backed her plansâWe saw her energy in the celebrations too She kept thanking the bowlers even for helping with DRS calls I think there is more calmness clarity and comfort now in how she uses her different bowlersâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-learning-from-defeats-key-to-dcs-turnaround-says-katey-martin-659622.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-wc-boys-are-mature-enough-to-adapt-to-different-situations-says-mhatre-659624.html Bulawayo Jan 25 India captain Ayush Mhatre said his team is growing in confidence with each outing and have shown they are mature enough to adapt to different situations in the ICC Under19 Menâs Cricket World Cup India the fivetime champions extended their unbeaten run with a commanding sevenwicket win over New Zealand in a rainhit group stage clash on Saturday The result ensured they carried maximum points into the Super Six phase of the tournamentThe whole tournament has been really nice and the boys have really played well and shown the character that shows strong attitude also Because it was not easy for us also because the rain was interrupting the game against New Zealand but credit goes to the boys that they held to the game plan and bowled really nicelyThe boys are really mature enough to adapt to the different situations and they have played more cricket like this They are mature enough to take the situation and just back their basics Mhatre was quoted as saying by ICC on SundayIndia will face tougher tests during the Super Six stage when they take on cohosts Zimbabwe January 27 and archrivals Pakistan February 1 India will also take heart from skipper Mhatreâs timely return to form as the righthander topscored with 53 in the chase against New ZealandHis knock came after opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smacked a fluent 40 as the duo along with Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi guided the fivetime champions to their target of 130 with authorityFor Mhatre it was his first significant innings of the tournament following modest returns of 19 and six against the USA and Bangladesh Just watch the ball closely and just play as a merit of the ball That was simple plan he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-wc-boys-are-mature-enough-to-adapt-to-different-situations-says-mhatre-659624.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/babar-shaheen-return-as-pakistan-announce-squad-for-australia-t20i-659475.html Lahore Jan 23 The Pakistan Cricket Board PCB announced its 16member squad for the threematch T20I series against Australia on Friday which will commence on January 29 at Gaddafi Stadium Allrounder Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the team in the important bilateral series ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 which will start on February 7 Former captains Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have returned to the T20I squad after missing the threematch away series against Sri Lanka in JanuaryBabar was struggling for runs in the ongoing BBL season He scored just 202 runs in 11 games His low strike rate of 10306 was an area of concern for the team He left his franchise before the playoffs to join his national side He hopes to turn his fortunes playing at homePakistan boasts a strong batting lineup which includes the likes of Fakhar Zaman Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan who are in good form While wicketkeeperbatter Mohammed Rizwan has again been overlooked his T20I future remains uncertainShadab Khan will continue to build on his comeback in the previous T20I series and will form part of a strong spinbowling contingent along with Abrar Ahmed Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq While Shaheen Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Junior will lead the fast bowling attackPakistans premier T20I bowler Harris Rauf is also missing from the squad Rauf has performed well in the ongoing Big Bash League He has taken 20 wickets in just 11 matches and is also the leading wickettaker of the current seasonPakistan squadSalman Ali Agha captain Abrar Ahmed Babar Azam Faheem Ashraf Fakhar Zaman Khawaja Mohammad Nafay wk Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Salman Mirza Mohammad Wasim Jnr Naseem Shah Sahibzada Farhan wk Saim Ayub Shaheen Shah Afridi Shadab Khan Usman Khan wk and Usman TariqPakistan will start their campaign in the T20 WC on February 7 against the Netherlands The team will play all its group stage matches in Colombo IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/babar-shaheen-return-as-pakistan-announce-squad-for-australia-t20i-659475.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-wc-japans-kato-stafford-reflects-on-unbelievable-experience-of-being-in-competition-659476.html Windhoek Jan 23 Japan may have finished their second ICC Under19 Menâs Cricket World Cup group stage campaign without a win but skipper Kazuma KatoStafford chose to reflect on an âunbelievable experienceâ of featuring in the competition saying that itâs not everyday one gets to face higherranked nations Though Japan lost to Ireland Australia and Sri Lanka they had some standout performances to take positives from Hugo TaniKelly became the first Japan player to score a century at this level by making 101 not out against Sri Lanka while Timothy Moore claimed three wickets in the same matchAgainst defending champions Australia TaniKelly made 79 not out while KatoStafford returned with figures of 242 from nine overs Its not every day an Associate nation gets to come up against three full Test level nations and three of the best in the worldIt was absolutely huge An unbelievable experience Weve got a number of guys I think more than half the squad available for the next World Cup so its a really good experience for them especially playing under pressure playing against some world class players who I have no doubt will go onto big things KatoStafford was quoted as saying by ICC on FridayHe further expressed pride on how his side had handled pressure of being in a mega event Just being able to put Japan Cricket on the world stage is just a really good honour and hopefully its onto bigger and better things from here Weve learned how to handle a lot of pressure against usâA few teams got off to really good starts against us so being able to bounce back from that being able to use our different options Normally weve been reliant on a few bowlers through the middle but this time around weve been able to rely on a few other guysâWith the bat especially Ive been really happy that Ive been able to rely on a number of players who have really stood up for us so Ive been really happy with that Happy overall with the experience the fight weve shown and being able to play our Japan way elaborated KatoStaffordJapan will next face U19 Menâs Cricket World Cup debutants Tanzania on Saturday in a grading fixture with both teams seeking their first win of the tournament and sign off on a high IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/u19-wc-japans-kato-stafford-reflects-on-unbelievable-experience-of-being-in-competition-659476.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-faced-some-discomfort-injured-his-leg-childhood-coach-dinesh-lad-on-shardul-missing-mumbais-ranji-game-vs-hyderabad-659305.html Mumbai Jan 22 Shardul Thakurâs childhood coach Dinesh Lad revealed that the Mumbai captain sustained a minor leg injury leading him to skip the Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad on Thursday Thakur has been Mumbais captain since the start of the tournament guiding the team to three wins in five games with the remaining two ending in stalemates Nonetheless he was unable to participate in the ongoing match against Hyderabad with Siddhesh Lad donning the captain hatâShardul faced some physical discomfort and injured his leg Heâs recovering now and getting fit and will mostly be available for the next match I spoke to him and heâll be available when they play Delhi in Mumbaiâ Dinesh told IANS when asked why Shardul wasnât participatingDinesh Lad Siddheshâs father and an experienced coach who mentored former India captain Rohit Sharma in his childhood expressed pride in his sonâs Ranji Trophy performances for Mumbai after he was named the captain of the side for the Hyderabad encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International StadiumHe also mentioned that Thakur believes the 33yearold might soon earn his maiden India callup if he keeps performing similarlyI spoke to Shardul a while back and he feels that if Siddhesh keeps performing the way he does he might soon receive an India callup and Iâm hopeful if he scores a couple of centuries in the next 34 games he can get an India callâ Lad statedReflecting on Siddhesh taking over the leadership role from Thakur while he recovers from the injury Dinesh expressed his pride and shared a simple message for his sonIt feels good that Shardul led the team first and now Siddhesh is leading I feel really proud My only message to Siddhesh will be play good cricket and make the team proudâ he saidSiddhesh comes into the Hyderabad fixture in fine form In Mumbaiâs previous Ranji Trophy encounter against Puducherry the righthanded batter was named Player of the Match after scoring a commanding 170 off 285 balls in the first innings as Mumbai went on to register a massive inningsand222run victory IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-faced-some-discomfort-injured-his-leg-childhood-coach-dinesh-lad-on-shardul-missing-mumbais-ranji-game-vs-hyderabad-659305.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/injured-nz-quick-adam-milne-ruled-out-of-t20-wc-jamieson-named-replacement-659400.html Wellington Jan 23 Rightarm fast bowler Adam Milne has been ruled out of the ICC T20 World Cup with a torn left hamstring and will be replaced in the squad by Kyle Jamieson New Zealand Cricket NZC said on Friday Milne suffered the injury while bowling in the SA20 on Sunday with subsequent scans revealing the extent of the injuryâWeâre all gutted for Adam Heâd worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers Its unfortunate timing for Adam and we wish him a speedy recovery said head coach Rob WalterJamieson who is currently part of the whiteball tour of India has been added to the T20 World Cup squad after originally being named as the travelling reserve for the mega event in India and Sri LankaWalter said Jamieson was a worthy replacementâItâs great that Kyle is already with us here in India Heâs an integral member of our pacebowling group and has hit the ground running on this tourâHeâs a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him good stead for the tournament he saidMilne has been a part of New Zealandâs squad at multiple T20 World Cups including the 2012 2016 2021 and 2022 editions of the tournamentHe has played 11 matches at T20 World Cups and has taken six wickets for New ZealandThe 33yearold pacer has 65 wickets in 56 matches ever since his T20I debut for the Kiwis in 2010 Overall Milne has 258 scalps from 226 T20 matches at an average of 2323 and an economy of 789 in T20 cricketNew Zealand have been placed in Group D alongside South Africa Afghanistan UAE and Canada in the T20 World CupNew Zealand will begin their campaign on February 8 with a clash against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/injured-nz-quick-adam-milne-ruled-out-of-t20-wc-jamieson-named-replacement-659400.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/warner-signs-extension-with-bbl-club-sydney-thunder-659413.html Sydney Jan 23 Former Australian opener David Warner has signed a oneyear extension with Sydney Thunder the Big Bash League BBL club said on Friday After leading the Thunder to the BBL Final last season Warners side crashed back to earth in BBL 15 as they finished bottom of the table with just two winsThe 39yearold finished BBL 15 as leagues leading runâscorer with 433 runs at a strike rate of 154 despite missing two matches due to injury His standout season also earned him a second consecutive Team of the Tournament selection once again named captainThe former Australian Test opener has 1139 BBL career runs to his name and eager to add to that tally next seasonâIâm really excited to commit to another season with Thunderâ Warner saidâIt was certainly a challenging year for us we are a much better team than what we put on the field this season and were unable to put a consistent game together But the support from our fans â turning up in numbers every game â it played a massive role in my decision to stay Warner said in a statement shared by ThundersâI feel Ive got plenty more to give to this team and to this game I felt pretty comfortable with my performance and was proud to give the team a fighting chance Weâve already begun reviewing the season and putting the right plans in place to ensure we deliver a much stronger campaign in BBL 16 he addedThunder General Manager Trent Copeland said it was a no brainer to extend Warner after another huge seasonâWeâre stoked that Davey is staying on for another season Heâs had an incredible year not only is he one of the greatest T20 players in the world over the last 15 years but still very clearly one of the best batters in the BBL and his fitness levels are eliteâHis hunger and his drive as a leader to improve upon a disappointing season for the squad is as strong as everâMeanwhile Melbourne Stars have resigned experienced trio Hilton Cartwright Sam Harper and Peter Siddle for BBL 16Cartwright and Harper have both agreed to twoyear extensions with the Stars while Siddle will have at least one more season in greenHarperâs contract comes after a careerbest season where he won the BBL Player of the Tournament awardAlongside Harper Siddle made the BBL Team of the Tournament recognising the 41yearoldâs outstanding campaign with the ball IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/warner-signs-extension-with-bbl-club-sydney-thunder-659413.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-asked-girls-to-go-out-and-fight-hard-says-gg-coach-klinger-659422.html Vadodara Jan 23 Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger said his message for the team during the drinks break in their WPL 2026 clash against UP Warriorz was to really go out and fight hard something which spurred them to secure a 45run win at the BCA Stadium and move to second place in the points table The black soil doesnt bounce as much but it came onto the bat quite nicely So if Im being honest I thought we were probably 20 short with a bat even just a couple of sort of mistakes through the innings that we made that could have helped us get thereBut one thing we spoke about in the break was just asking the girls to really go out and fight hard We know theyve got two or three really key batters who have made the majority of their runs I think theyve made something around 75 to 80 of their runs for the tournamentSo we knew that if we get those key wickets we will be massively in the game Then some of the batters who hadnt batted as long throughout the tournament the pressure would have been on them and Im extremely proud of the group Our fielding has been a bit of a rollercoaster throughout the tournament but they were fantastic said Klinger in the postgame press conferenceThe move to bring in leftarm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad in place of Tanuja Kanwer paid off when she picked 316 to run through UPWs middle overs It was a really tough call TK has been a big part of our team for a few years now We felt like we definitely wanted to go in with an extra quick as an option In the end we didnt use it because our spinners bowled really wellâSo we went in with Happy Kumari but shell get an opportunity down the track in the next game to get some overs in But I think Raj probably gave us an option in the power play We felt maybe slightly more than TK not that TK isnt good at that in the power plays more so just Raj has bowled a few good overs for us already this seasonâIn the end we didnt use her in the power play but she did fantastically well through the middle to bowl four over straight from one end 316 that unbelievable effort and match winning spell that was So Im really happy for her I thought she filled it well too Shes been working really hard at training and shes done fantastically wellâ added KlingerReflecting on conditions and the slowness of the pitch where GG made 1538 Klinger said âI think it was under par The wicket was good felt it was probably a 170 to 180 par wicket We just probably didnt bat as well as we could have and then we obviously put a lot of pressure on the opposition with our bowling and fielding So I thought the groundsmen got the wicket quite niceâAsked if this will be the pattern seen in rest of the games at the venue Klinger said he hoped there were enough fresh wickets prepared for the business end of the competition âTough one I think its going to depend a little bit whether you play on the wicket the first time or the second timeâLike I felt two nights ago the match the second time it was played on was a bit lower So itd be interesting to see tomorrow Saturday night how this one plays whether it plays as well as it was here or whether its a bit lower than this game So thats going to be interestingâIm not sure if theyve got three or four wickets prepared but I think the more wickets they have here prepared the better for the rest of the competition because Im not sure you want to be playing third time on these wickets So maybe they can prepare four or five for the tournament to make sure we have good wickets right throughâOn the dew factor Klinger noted it was less disruptive than last season âWell it was but I think its a little bit different to last year I think it was here in Lucknow when there was dewâThe bowlers seemed to struggle to hold it and it was a little bit slippery whereas I think this year maybe its the spray theyre using Im not sure but it seems to be wet definitely when fielding but the bowlers seem to be able to get a good grip on it So maybe its not as bad as it was here last yearâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-asked-girls-to-go-out-and-fight-hard-says-gg-coach-klinger-659422.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-sarfaraz-khan-smashes-double-ton-for-mumbai-against-hyderabad-659434.html Hyderabad Jan 23 India batter Sarfaraz Khan struck a fluent double century off 206 balls for Mumbai against Hyderabad in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday Sarfaraz registered the fifth firstclass double hundred of his career as he was eventually dismissed for 227 off 219 deliveries His knock featured 19 fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 10365 including 45 runs taken off India pacer and Hyderabad skipper Mohammed Siraj in just 39 ballsHe also shared a 249run stand with standin skipper Siddhesh Lad 104 for the fourth wicket steering Mumbai past 500 after the side had slipped to 823 His innings has helped turn the match firmly in Mumbaiâs favour as Sarfaraz also went past 5000 firstclass runs tallyThe righthander has been in prolific form of late He recently lit up the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a record 15ball halfcentury against Punjab â the fastest by an Indian male batter in List A cricket â breaking the record of reaching the mark in 16 deliveries previously held by Abhijit Kale and Atit ShethSarfaraz eventually finished as Mumbaiâs top scorer in the 50over tournament with 303 runs coming at a strike rate of 19056 Sarfaraz last featured for India in a Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in November 2024 but has continued to press his case for a recall into the national setup with consistent domestic performancesHe was Mumbaiâs secondhighest rungetter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season with 329 runs in seven matches at an average of 6580 and a strike rate of 20380 Sarfaraz also earned an IPL 2026 contract with fivetime champions Chennai Super Kings CSK at his base price of Rs 75 lakh IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ranji-trophy-sarfaraz-khan-smashes-double-ton-for-mumbai-against-hyderabad-659434.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-cricket-board-seeks-48-hours-to-consult-govt-and-decide-on-t20-world-cup-participation-659233.html Mumbai Jan 22 Bangladesh Cricket Board has requested the International Cricket Council ICC for 48 hours time to convey their decision to the government regarding playing their matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and take a decision a news report said BCB officials on request not to be named told Telecom Asia Sport on Wednesday hours after the ICC rejected Bangladeshâs plea to relocate their matches from India after the BCB failed to provide much support except from the Pakistan Cricket Board during the voting in the virtual meeting that was attended by 16 membersThe ICC issued a final deadline to Bangladesh as the BCB has 24 hours to decide whether they will travel to India to play their matches in India during the T20 World Cup to be played from February 7 to March 8 If they fail to do so Bangladesh are likely to be replaced by Scotland in the competitionâThe Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup The Bangladesh government wants Bangladesh to play in the World Cup But we donât think India is safe for our players We asked them to shift the matches to Sri Lanka We said that we can switch with Ireland or Zimbabwe It would have been the easiest way but Sri Lanka said that they donât want a new team in their groupâ a BCB official told wwwtelecomasianet regarding the discussion in the ICC Board meeting held virtuallyââWe told them that after the vote we want one last chance to tell our government and that they insisted itâs a valid point and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to themââWe donât want to put pressure on the government We know the ICC denied us but we will talk to the government one more time and later will inform the government of the feedback to the ICCâ the official told wwwtelecomasianetThe report quoted the official as saying the government will take all options into consideration before reaching a final decision âYou must remember that a government doesnât only consider the wellbeing of the players but they take into consideration everything before making a decisionâ the source saidBangladesh officials held talks with ICC officials in Dhaka over the impasse over the weekend but no agreement was reached after BCB requested the ICC to shift their matches out of India after BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League IPL 2026 amid prevailing political tensions between the two countriesThe website claimed that BCB officials had already got in touch with highups in their government to inform them about the latest updates after the ICC meeting and take their directives before making the final call IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-cricket-board-seeks-48-hours-to-consult-govt-and-decide-on-t20-world-cup-participation-659233.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-odi-new-zealand-overcome-kohlis-valiant-124-to-secure-2-1-series-win-659002.html Indore Jan 18 New Zealand overcame a valiant 124 off 108 balls from the talismanic Virat Kohli to clinch a 41run victory and seal a historic 21 win in the ODI series decider at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday Knocks of 137 and 106 from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips took New Zealand to a commanding 3378 on a twopaced black soil pitch before the visitors held their nerve to overcome Kohliâs valiant 54th ODI century and bowl out India for 296 in 46 overs Kyle Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes picked three wickets each as the result gave New Zealand their firstever ODI series win on Indian soil after being 10 behind last weekIndiaâs chase faltered early as Rohit Sharma Shubman Gill Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul departed cheaply leaving the hosts reeling at 714 Kohli 124 off 108 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddy 53 revived the hosts hopes with a fighting 88run partnership while Harshit Rana added late fireworks via a 43ball 52 But the target eventually proved to be out of Indiaâs reach as the result marked Indiaâs fifth home ODI series defeat since 2010Indiaâs chase began brightly as they raced to 28 runs in the first three overs But Rohits knock ended in the fourth over when he tamely lobbed a flick to midon off Foulkes Jamieson then produced a sharp nipbacker from outside off which beat Gillâs defence and deflected off the pad to crash into the stumpsKohli after being troubled by Jamiesonâs bounce and movement pulled and walloped his way to hit four quick boundaries off Foulkes Jamieson and Kristian Clarke But wickets continued to fall from the other end as Iyer miscued a short delivery straight to midon off Clarke while Rahul was deceived by grip and turn from Jayden Lennox and was forced to give a catch off a check drive to extra coverTaking charge in the chase Kohli reached his fifty in 51 balls and his impeccable timing was on display when his trademark flick sped past deep squareleg despite being played as a strikerotation shot From the other end an assured Reddy complemented Kohli by striking four boundaries while his swivelling pull off Foulkes and a slogsweep off Glenn Phillips fetching him sixes were the standout shots with the second one getting him a maiden ODI fiftyThe duos runaball 88run partnership for the fifth wicket ended when Clarke dismissed him with a short ball that cramped him for room and Reddy couldnât keep the pull down giving midwicket a simple catch Ravindra Jadejaâs attempt to counter Lennox backfired as his lofted shot failed to clear deep midwicketBut Kohli responded with a burst of boundaries striking three fours and a wristy six over backward square leg in the space of 11 balls From the other end Rana provided valuable support with assured strokeplay with his insideout drive through the covers off Foulkes being the standoutMuch to the delight of the crowd Kohli reached his century in 91 deliveries and kept Indiaâs hopes alive Jamieson endured a rare hammering when Kohli struck him for two sixes one straight down the ground off a full toss and another over midwicket Rana added to the fireworks with a towering hit over longon off Foulkes to reach his maiden ODI fifty in just 41 ballsBut Ranaâs innings ended soon when he holed out to longon off a high full toss from Foulkes who removed Mohammed Siraj on the very next ball leaving India needing 61 runs from 37 deliveries The crowdâs hopes rested on Kohli who responded with backtoback boundaries in the 46th over to keep the chase aliveBut two balls later he miscued a lofted stroke to longoff for 124 Though he got a standing ovation from the crowd it was destined to be an effort in vain Indiaâs resistance ended swiftly as Kuldeep Yadav was run out while taking a risky single handing New Zealand a historic series triumph and adding another feather in their cap after achieving a remarkable 30 Test sweep just over a year earlierBrief scoresNew Zealand 3378 in 50 overs Daryl Mitchell 137 Glenn Phillips 106 Arshdeep Singh 363 Harshit Rana 384 beat India 296 in 46 overs Virat Kohli 124 Nitish Kumar Reddy 53 Harshit Rana 52 Kristian Clarke 354 Zakary Foulkes 377 by 41 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/3rd-odi-new-zealand-overcome-kohlis-valiant-124-to-secure-2-1-series-win-659002.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/an-se-young-dispatches-intanon-in-32-minutes-to-enter-bwf-india-open-final-658831.html New Delhi Jan 17 World No 1 An Seyoung advanced to the second final of the 2026 season after defeating World No 8 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in just 32 minutes in the semifinal of the BWF Super 750 India Open on Saturday Seyoung registered a straightgame win 2111 217 over Intanon here at the Indira Gandhi Sports ComplexAn Seyoung dominated the proceedings from the start as she raced to an early advantage by scoring six consecutive points setting the tone for the opening game With sharp control she never allowed her opponent to settle comfortably closing out the first game 21â11The second game began on a more even footing with both players trading points in the early stages to reach 4â4 However that brief resistance was broken as An Seyoung raised her intensity She went on a devastating run of points surging ahead to a commanding 16â5 lead Maintaining her consistency An finished the match with errorfree play and sealed victory by taking the second game 21â7 to complete a dominant straightgame winBy defeating Intanon Se Young extended her winning streak to a personalbest 29 consecutive match victories She began the season in impressive fashion at the Malaysia Open where she claimed her third straight title Now with a place in the India Open final she is on the verge of lifting backtoback titles in consecutive weeksLast year the Korean star captured 11 titles in a single season and made history by becoming the first badminton player to earn more than USD 1 million in prize money in a calendar year Her triumph at the BWF World Tour Finals which carried a prize of USD 240000 pushed her total earnings for the year to USD 1003175In the India Open final she set up a summit clash with world no 2 Chinese Wang Zhi Yi which will be a rematch of the last weeks Malaysia Open The Korean holds a 174 lead in their headtohead record and has won all nine of their most recent matchesI think every match is a new feeling Shes a very good player and shes a very good attacking player So I dont know how hard she will play tomorrows match Se Young said of her final matchup with Wang who defeated world no4 Chen Yu Fei 1521 2321 to seal a place in the final IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/an-se-young-dispatches-intanon-in-32-minutes-to-enter-bwf-india-open-final-658831.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wayne-madsen-to-captain-italy-in-their-maiden-mens-t20-world-cup-campaign-658846.html New Delhi Jan 17 Experienced batter Wayne Madsen will captain Italy in their first appearance in the Menâs T20 World Cup set to happen in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 The Italian Cricket Federation had previously confirmed Madsen who plays for Derbyshire in county cricket and is an Italian passport holder as the sideâs captain after exAustralia player Joe Burns was omitted from the squad for the tournament due to availability issuesFormer South Africa batter JonJon Smuts has also been named in Italyâs squad after attending a camp for the side in Dubai last year Smuts played six ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa from 2017 to 2021 and has qualified to play for India via his wifeFast bowling allrounder Grant Stewart who plays county cricket for Kent will also turn out for Italy as he has an EU passport through his Italian mother and has 17 T20I appearances so far via themThe Azzurri will mark their T20 World Cup debut in a Group C clash against Bangladesh on February 9 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata before facing Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai three days later Italy will also face 2010 England in Kolkata on February 16 before taking on twotime champions West Indies at the same venue on February 19Italy managed to make the cut for their firstever ICC tournament after finishing as runnersup in the 2025 Europe Regional Final Italy will be coached by John Davison the former Canada captain who played state cricket in Australia with exIreland batter Kevin OâBrien and former Scotland player Douglas Brown serving as assistant coachesItaly squad Wayne Madsen captain Marcus Campopiano wk Gian Piero Meade Zain Ali Ali Hasan Crishan Jorge Harry Manenti Anthony Mosca Justin Mosca Syed Naqvi Benjamin Manenti Jaspreet Singh JJ Smuts Grant Stewart and Thomas Draca IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wayne-madsen-to-captain-italy-in-their-maiden-mens-t20-world-cup-campaign-658846.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/m-chinnaswamy-stadium-given-permission-to-host-ipl-international-matches-again-658854.html New Delhi Jan 17 The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been cleared to host Indian Premier League IPL and international cricket matches again the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA said on Saturday âWe are pleased to announce that the Home department Government of Karnataka has granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host international and IPL matches at the iconic venue The permission is subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authoritiesâ said Vinay Mruthyunjaya KSCAâs official spokesperson in a statementThe formal approval for marquee cricket fixtures to return to the venue has ended months of uncertainty after the stadium was taken off the cricketing calendar following a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluruâs IPL 2025 title winning celebrations on June 4 when eleven people were killed while 56 people suffered injuriesIn its aftermath the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI shifted several major events away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium including the Duleep Trophy the IndiaâSouth Africa menâs A series Vijay Hazare Trophy and 2025 ICC Womenâs ODI World Cup including the finalHosting matches at the ground again was subject to the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Michael DâCunha report which was formed as part of the investigation into the tragedyâKSCA is confident of fulfilling all the stipulated conditions The Association has already presented a detailed compliance roadmap before the Expert Review Committee and remains fully committed to implementing all safety security and crowdmanagement measures in letter and spiritâ added MruthyunjayaThe KSCA also endured administrative upheaval operating without a treasurer and secretary for months after both resigned citing moral responsibility for the tragedy Last year the Venkatesh Prasadled panel took charge and began to act on its first priority of bringing back matches to the iconic cricketing venueWith the state governmentâs clearance now secured it would be interesting to see if RCB will play all of its IPL 2026 home games in Chinnaswamy considering that its vicepresident Rajesh Menon met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai for playing two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/m-chinnaswamy-stadium-given-permission-to-host-ipl-international-matches-again-658854.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pwl-2026-haryana-thunders-register-dominant-6-3-win-over-dangal-warriors-658911.html Noida Jan 18 Haryana Thunders maintained their perfect start to the Pro Wrestling League 2026 with a commanding 6â3 win over Delhi Dangal Warriors in Match 5 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Saturday Riding the momentum from their opening fixture Haryana delivered a wellrounded performance blending aggressive technical superiority with disciplined tactical execution to control proceedings for most of the contestDespite Delhi Dangal Warriors putting up a tough fight and collecting valuable points Haryanaâs strength across multiple weight categories proved too strongThe tie began with a tightly fought womenâs 76kg bout where Kajal edged out Anastasia 6â5 giving Haryana an early advantageAnkush then asserted his dominance in the menâs 57kg category registering a convincing 13â3 victory over Shubham to extend Haryanaâs leadThe highlight of the evening came in the womenâs 53kg bout as Yui Susaki delivered a sensational display of speed and precision overwhelming Saarika 16â0 in just 57 seconds Her breathtaking performance earned her the Player of the Match award and drew loud applause from the spectatorsHaryana further tightened its hold on the contest when Anirudh Gulia outclassed Ronak Dahiya 13â0 in the menâs 125kg category displaying complete control throughout the boutNeha Sangwan followed with another dominant showing overpowering Karla Godinez 18â2 in the womenâs 57kg category to strengthen Haryanaâs position even furtherDelhi Dangal Warriors found some relief through Sujeet Kalkal who showed composure in a closely contested menâs 65kg bout to defeat Tumur Tulga 2â1 Turan Bayramov also impressed for Delhi with a commanding 8â0 win over Parvinder Singh in the menâs 74kg category keeping the tie competitiveHowever Haryana sealed the contest decisively when Iryna Koliadenko cruised to a comprehensive 13â0 victory over Anjali in the womenâs 62kg boutThe final menâs 86kg contest was awarded to Delhi Dangal Warriors after Ashirov Ashraf was declared unfit to compete handing the win to VafeipourWith two wins from two matches Haryana Thunders remain firmly placed near the top of the standings They will next face Maharashtra Kesari on January 23 in their third outing of the PWL 2026 season IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pwl-2026-haryana-thunders-register-dominant-6-3-win-over-dangal-warriors-658911.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-rcbs-prathyoosha-kumar-ready-to-embrace-playing-for-intent-over-survival-658916.html New Delhi Jan 18 Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB wicketkeeperbatter Prathyoosha Kumar said her aim from WPL 2026 is to embrace a mindset of playing for intent over survival Prathyoosha was signed for Rs 10 lakh by RCB for the 2026 season and has been methodically preparing for the step up from years of playing domestic cricket for Karnataka Prathyoosha though has not got a game yet due to the presence of firstchoice wicketkeeperbatter Richa Ghosh But her experiences of going through WPL trials and net keeper stints with RCB for the first three seasons have added to her understanding of the significant shift in tactical thinking required at a higher levelDeliveries considered risky in domestic cricket prove to be effective wickettaking options in the WPL where the game demands a more attacking mindset overall In the past since the WPL started Ive been attending a lot of trials So Ive been trying to understand how it works out in the WPLâI can say theres still quite some gap between domestic cricket and the WPL setup But the trials the way they conduct it and put you in those situations thats something that youll get an idea of how it works out at a higher level So I feel thats the key Prathyoosha told IANS in a virtual conversationWith the modern game evolving big time Prathyoosha has been busy in adding innovative shots to her batting repertoire I have started working for playing all 360 degree shots I can say I have started working on my scoops reverse scoops sweeps and reverse sweepsâOne more shot I have started playing like if you would have watched Joe Root playing a different kind of sweep So I have started adding those to my game and thats really helping me to score more runs she saidCentral to her batting philosophy is the concept of intent over mere survival which in turn would lead to more consistency in scores I feel its all about the intent If I am looking just for survival cricket its not going to help neither the team nor me So its more about the intent I feel and just knowing when to play what I feel it comes through experience and thats the key Prathyoosha explainedHer interactions with Australiaâs bighitting allrounder Grace Harris at RCB also reinforced the importance of professionalism Prathyoosha has observed that Grace and other overseas players maintain complete focus on cricket when on field while staying mentally detached from the games pressures off the fieldKnown for her sharp work as a keeper Prathyoosha has also absorbed the philosophy of keeping things simple by observing Richa in the practice sessions âShe keeps it very professional I feel the higher you play its more about professionalism and keeping it very simple as well Like not complicating too much in terms of where my hands are going or my legs are going Its just that watch the ball and then catch the ballâ she saidWhen in Bengaluru Prathyooshaâs training regimen involves working with two coaches offering contrasting approaches RX Murali RCBâs batting coach who lays more emphasis on technical fundamentals and Arjun Dev who runs the NICE academy and encourages exploring unorthodox strokeplayIn 2018 through Mamatha Maben former India captain I was introduced to RX Murali sir and thats how I started going to RXCA in Bengaluru Ive been working with sir for almost fiveseven years now Once he got into the RCB setup he has been very busy So he was not available all the time and thats when I shifted to NICE under Arjun Dev Hes been really helping me in the past two years she saidIt also helps Prathyoosha that training at NICE centers on joy and freedom of playing cricket Its more about playing for the happiness love of the game and playing freely I feel thats the key Once I entered NICE its more of the fearless approach and just going and expressing yourself she saidDespite being a new addition in the main RCB team the Bengaluru native feels comfortable in the RCB environment thanks to her fellow NICE trainees Shreyanka Patil and Arundhati Reddy Its really nice to have them around It doesnt feel like Im new to the setup or anything It feels like home So its been really amazing she saidRCB signed off from Navi Mumbai leg of WPL 2026 as the lone unbeaten side in the competition with Grace and skipper Smriti Mandhana being the major architects in two victories Prathyoosha had the best seat in the RCB dugout to see complementary styles of batting from Grace and Smriti and managed to take important lessons from it something which will help her if a chance to play arises in VadodaraYes definitely If youre seeing Grace Harris and Smriti batting one is a powerful hitter while the other one is more of a stroke maker They exactly know how to play and how to attack in the game So if one person is attacking then the other person is just rotating and in between theyre hitting fours and sixes So its something like you dont have to take unnecessary risks when not needed she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-rcbs-prathyoosha-kumar-ready-to-embrace-playing-for-intent-over-survival-658916.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-gautami-targets-statement-performances-for-rcb-after-whirlwind-journey-658925.html New Delhi Jan 18 Gautami Naiks path to the Womens Premier League WPL has been rapid and challenging The 27yearold batting allrounder worked through several state teams and domestic cricket hardships before achieving her dream of participating in the league by playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 12 Although Gautami didnât get to bat or bowl in the match that RCB won she will cherish the moments from being informed about her WPL debut to stepping onto the field for the rest of her life We were practicing and thats when our head coach Malolan Rangarajan sir came and told me that you are playing the next match so get prepared accordingly He told me about the role and everythingâAfter he told me about it I was a little shocked that I am going to play in WPL because it was my dream and everyones dream is to play on a good platform and represent a good franchise So it was a wonderful feeling to know that my dream is going to be fulfilled because I have been working hard for all these things for so many yearsâIn that process all those things were looking very good and that feeling of going to play for a franchise like RCB in the WPL and sharing the dressing room with the likes of Smriti Harris and everyone as a playing eleven member So yes I was very happy and excited at that time recalled Gautami in a conversation with IANSGautami played three games batting only once and scoring nine runs Her path to join RCB was accelerated by the 2025 Womens Maharashtra Premier League WMPL As part of Ratnagiri Jets she opened the batting with Smriti who is now her captain at RCBGautami known for her long levers and powerful hits accumulated 173 runs over six innings making her the third highest scorer in the tournament Her impressive performance caught the attention of RCBâs scouts leading to her evaluation at RCBâs trials in Surat and Mumbai by Rangarajan and batting coach RX MuraliGautami vividly remembers her initial encounter with Smriti which set a positive tone for what would become a meaningful learning experience In her message to the team prior to the competition Smriti emphasised that everyone would have fun and play their designated rolesWhen they opened together Gautami noted Mandhanas calm demeanour her ability to make decisions under pressure and her way of managing difficult situations From the nonstrikers end Smriti also offered guidance by inquiring about Gautamiâs strengths and the type of game she could deliverA memorable moment for Gautami was batting with Smriti during the 85run partnership where each shot from Smriti consistently amazed her with how effortlessly she managed the gameGautamis transition from domestic cricket to the WPL has been substantial While domestic cricket mainly emphasises mindset and skills the WPL presents a higher level of intensity Watching live matches sharing dressing rooms with international players and observing their work ethics make the WPL a completely different environmentGautami acknowledged that while domestic cricket has grown more competitive the WPL stands out due to its higher level of competition featuring more senior players and better facilities Initially a pace bowler her love for batting sparked a significant discussion with her coach Avinash ShindeMy journey started as a pacer but I really liked batting I used to go to my coach and would say âI dont want to bowl I just want to batâ Thats when he said âWell develop your battingâ I used to do hard hitting first But after that with my coach Ive worked so hard every day on myself for perfecting every shotI would think âHow can I do betterâ I mean Ive improved my technique with small basic points I liked hard hitting and thats my game of playing aggressively So my coach worked on me in such a way that he added everything to my game technically mentally physically He added everything I needed to become a playerDay by day and every year those changes kept coming We kept working â like this year well work on this shot or well work on our mentality or areawise where should I develop What is my strength and what can I do better He kept adding all those things to my batting Then day by day those improvements started coming as a result she explainedHer transformation into an offspinner happened almost by accident during her time with Nagaland There was a coach there and he said your height is good and you should bowl offspin So I was bowling and found I had 34 good variations The coach was surprised that I was bowling offspin so well He said âWhy dont you continueââSo he asked me to bowl offspin in the next match It was a domestic match with Bihar I took almost 5 wickets in that match Since then that journey started and suddenly I became an offspinner from a pacer she recountedThe Nagaland chapter was established following limited playing opportunities in Maharashtra after the Covid19 pandemic I was selected for the Maharashtra under23 team But I didnt get much chances â I got to play in the last match which didnt go well The Maharashtra senior womens team was packed and I didnt see any other optionsâSo my friend Poonam Khemnar currently in Mumbai Indians came to play in the Nagaland team as a guest player along with Kiran Navgire who is in UP Warriorz She suggested my name to play there I didnt have much experience in playing domestic cricketBut after going there I got to know the culture as cricket had just started in the NorthEast and wasnt that developed But when we were playing there the coaches and players had only one vision to help the team qualify for knockouts We wanted to play as many good games as possible I got chances there to work on my skill and fitness she explainedHer breakthrough came during a Womens MPL exhibition match that caught the attention of former India wicketkeeper Kiran More leading to a move to Baroda I played a good knock in that game and Kiran More sir was there as a Mumbai Indians scout and he approached me by asking where I come from and for whom I am playingâHe then called me for the trials of Mumbai Indians where I performed well He then asked me if Im interested in playing for Baroda So I agreed I spoke to my coach and I was given an opening slotâAfter playing there I got to know a lot of things like how to improve my skill and fitness as well as mindset and plans as an opener So I played for 2 years for Baroda in that way Then I decided to come to Maharashtra and play from my state she saidGautamis return to Maharashtra was successful with impressive performances in invitational matches and the Womens MPL which led to her selection for the senior team She ultimately won the Senior Womenâs T20 Trophy despite scoring only 89 runs in six inningsNow at RCB Gautami is amidst top international talent gaining insights from their approach to the game All of them like Grace Harris Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil are very hardworking girls Whenever they come on the field their approach attitude and the way they plan is a learning experience Their net sessions are also planned in the same wayI noticed one thing that everyone is working very hard whether its batting bowling or fielding in the nets If you properly work hard you will get good results I am following all these things I am learning from them how to play a good game and how to keep a good mindset and approach she addedLooking ahead Gautami has clear objectives for the rest of her WPL campaign which now shifts to Vadodara If I speak individually my target is to make runs for my team in any given situation I want to set a good statement and show that the domestic players of RCB have also come here with a strong approach and mindsetâMy biggest goal is to win as many matches for RCB as possible My last goal is to win the trophy I will give my 100 percent in all the areas irrespective of whether I get batting bowling and fielding while playing for the team she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-gautami-targets-statement-performances-for-rcb-after-whirlwind-journey-658925.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 15:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-cant-figure-out-how-selectors-went-with-inglis-ahead-of-webster-in-ashes-ponting-658710.html New Delhi Jan 17 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has questioned the Ashes selection calls saying he is still unable to understand why Josh Inglis was preferred over Beau Webster during the series Despite making an impressive start to his Test career including a matchwinning performance on debut during last yearâs BorderGavaskar Trophy finale Webster was left out of Australiaâs starting XI for Novemberâs Ashes opener in Perth with fellow allrounder Cameron Green taking his spot at No 6The 32yearold was also sidelined for the following two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide with national selectors instead calling up reserve wicketkeeper Inglis who posted scores of 23 32 and 10 batting at No 7Webster finally got a chance during the New Yearâs Ashes Test at the SCG where he scored an unbeaten 71 and took three wickets with his parttime off spinâAt the start I was surprised they went with Inglis ahead of Beau With the selectors I know they look very deeply into data with these things There must have been something there a metric and Inglis must have better numbers But I canât figure out how they did that to be honest Ponting told SEN TassiePonting suggested the decision was puzzling especially given Websterâs form and ability to offer greater balance to the side and felt the selectors missed an opportunity by overlooking him throughout the AshesâI was surprised but every time I see Beau play he just continues to put forward a case as to why he should be in the side Now we know an opportunity has come up at No 5 with Usman Khawaja not there I canât see any world in which Travis Head doesnât continue as opener so maybe itâs Beauâs chance to grab that No 5 spotâHe may not be the flashiest or the most stylish but heâs a gamer He knows what has to happen in situations ball or field It will be hard to leave him out going forward Ponting addedLast week Webster had confessed he was âdisappointedâ to miss selection for the first four Tests of the Ashes campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-cant-figure-out-how-selectors-went-with-inglis-ahead-of-webster-in-ashes-ponting-658710.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-still-cant-figure-out-how-selectors-went-with-inglis-ahead-of-webster-in-ashes-ponting-658711.html New Delhi Jan 17 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has questioned the Ashes selection calls saying he is still unable to understand why Josh Inglis was preferred over Beau Webster during the series Despite making an impressive start to his Test career including a matchwinning performance on debut during last yearâs BorderGavaskar Trophy finale Webster was left out of Australiaâs starting XI for Novemberâs Ashes opener in Perth with fellow allrounder Cameron Green taking his spot at No 6The 32yearold was also sidelined for the following two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide with national selectors instead calling up reserve wicketkeeper Inglis who posted scores of 23 32 and 10 batting at No 7Webster finally got a chance during the New Yearâs Ashes Test at the SCG where he scored an unbeaten 71 and took three wickets with his parttime off spinâAt the start I was surprised they went with Inglis ahead of Beau With the selectors I know they look very deeply into data with these things There must have been something there a metric and Inglis must have better numbers But I canât figure out how they did that to be honest Ponting told SEN TassiePonting suggested the decision was puzzling especially given Websterâs form and ability to offer greater balance to the side and felt the selectors missed an opportunity by overlooking him throughout the AshesâI was surprised but every time I see Beau play he just continues to put forward a case as to why he should be in the side Now we know an opportunity has come up at No 5 with Usman Khawaja not there I canât see any world in which Travis Head doesnât continue as opener so maybe itâs Beauâs chance to grab that No 5 spotâHe may not be the flashiest or the most stylish but heâs a gamer He knows what has to happen in situations ball or field It will be hard to leave him out going forward Ponting addedLast week Webster had confessed he was âdisappointedâ to miss selection for the first four Tests of the Ashes campaign IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-still-cant-figure-out-how-selectors-went-with-inglis-ahead-of-webster-in-ashes-ponting-658711.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rahane-pulls-out-of-remaining-ranji-trophy-matches-reports-658731.html New Delhi Jan 17 Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane will not take part in Mumbais remaining two Ranji Trophy matches Mumbai will play against Hyderabad from January 22 to 25 before their final leaguephase match against Delhi at the MCABKC ground from January 29 to February 1 Rahane reportedly informed the Mumbai Cricket Association MCA that he wonât be taking part in the remainder of the redball season due to personal reasonsâWe will be picking the Mumbai team for their second stage of league game Rahane wonât be taking part as he has informed MCA that he wonât be available for the remaining two red ball gamesâ a source was quoted in an Indian Express reportAhead of the 202526 domestic season Rahane relinquished the Mumbai captaincy saying I believe itâs the right time to groom a new leader MCA then appointed India allrounder Shardul Thakur as the new captain of the 42time Ranji championsUnder Rahaneâs captaincy Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy in the 202324 season ending a sevenyear drought for the championship They also reached the Ranji Trophy semifinals last season where they lost to Vidharbha by 90 runs Under his leadership Mumbai also won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season with Rahane as the tournaments highest runscorer and clinched the Irani Trophy in 202425Rahane is second on the alltime runscorers list for Mumbai in firstclass cricket with 6141 runs in 80 matches at an average of 5718 between 2007 and 2025 only behind former India opener Wasim Jaffer 8178 runs from 19972015 He has also scored 19 centuries for Mumbai in firstclass cricket second only to Jaffers 29In his domestic career Rahane has played 205 firstclass matches 192 List A matches and 284 T20 matches During this time he has scored 14209 runs in 346 firstclass innings at an average of 4496 6853 runs in 187 List A innings at an average of 3984 and 7242 runs in 267 T20 innings at an average of 2992 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rahane-pulls-out-of-remaining-ranji-trophy-matches-reports-658731.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mitchell-starc-bags-icc-mens-player-of-the-month-award-for-december-658466.html Dubai Jan 15 Australias talismanic bowler Mitchell Starc has been named as the winner of the ICC Mens Player of the Month award for December following his splendid performance against England in the Ashes 202526 The 35yearold was on a roll in the recently concluded Ashes series taking 31 wickets and contributing with two halfcenturies His outstanding allround performance earned him the Player of the Series awardAustralias leftarm fast bowler was nominated for the Player of the Month award after he took 16 wickets and scored 139 runs across three tests in DecemberStarc was proud to have won the award on the back of a successful home Ashes winâItâs an honour to be named the ICC Player of the Month and even more special that it came on the back of such a successful home Ashes To have played a part in winning such an iconic series in front of our home crowd is something we will all relish for a long timeâ Starc said to ICCâAs a team weâve had some outstanding performances in the last few years The focus now is on building that momentum towards a place in next yearâs ICC World Test Championship Finalâ he addedThe Australian beat two other impressive performers in West Indiesâ Justin Greaves and New Zealands Jacob DuffyGreaves had a memorable month in New Zealand amassing 283 runs at an average of 5660 over three Tests His exceptional performance was in the first Test at Christchurch where he scored an unbeaten 202 in the fourth innings saving the match and helping his team drawWhile New Zealand fast bowler Duffy led the wickets in the home Test series against West Indies taking 23 wickets at an impressive average of 1543 over three matches He was crucial to New Zealandâs 20 series win regularly challenging opposition batters with his swing and precision IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mitchell-starc-bags-icc-mens-player-of-the-month-award-for-december-658466.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shaheen-afridi-back-in-nets-to-boost-pakistans-t20-world-cup-hopes-report-658512.html Mumbai Jan 15 Pakistan spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has started training after an injury break sending a sigh of relief for the teamâs Twenty20 World Cup chances with the medical officer confident he will be at his best by next week according to a news report on Thursday Shaheen Afridi returned to the nets on Thursday with a 15minute bowling spell and as much batting and he remained on course for anearly return after reports claimed that he might miss the T20 World Cup after suffering an injury while playing in the Big Bash League BBL Telecom Asia Sport reportedâShaheen bowled for a good 15 minutes with a full runup and showed no signs of discomfort in the nets which is a good sign for Pakistan because he is a vital cog in Pakistanâs bowling attack for the coming World Cupâ sources in the PCB medical panel told wwwtelecomasianet on ThursdayEarlier there were fears that Shaheen Afridi might miss next monthâs T20 World Cup with the recurrence of a knee injury which ended his participation in Pakistanâs matches in 2022 especially in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup against England at the MCGâHis rehab is complete and now he is bowling which means that he can feature in the threematch series against Australia later this month but the management may not want to risk him before going to Sri Lankaâ the source told Telecom Asia SportPakistanâs newly appointed medical panel head Dr Javed Mughal supervised Shaheenâs rehab and showed satisfaction over the fitness process and has suggested some precautionary measures for the pacerâThe medical panel has suggested some exercises for Shaheen and will guide him to bowl for 15 minutes to 25 minutes and then for a longer period Understandably the medical panel would suggest not to play him against Australia and instead play him in the warmup matches before the World Cupâ the report quoted the source as sayingThe 25yearold damaged his left knee during the Big Bash League in Australia during his notso very successful maiden appearance for Brisbane Heat taking just two wickets in four matches at a costly average of 765 per wicket He was also suspended from bowling after two beamers in the opening match against the Perth ScorchersThe MRI done in Brisbane had shown no serious injury but the Pakistan Cricket Board deemed it wise to withdraw Shaheen from the Big Bash League and recalled him to LahoreAccording to the report sources close to Shaheen Afridi told wwwtelecomasianet that they had denied reports and showed confidence that the fast bowler will be ready for the start of the T20 World Cup Pakistan have included Shaheen Afridi in the preliminary 20man squad for the World Cup subject to fitness The 15member squad will be finalised by head coach Mike HessonPakistan played a threematch T20I series against Sri Lanka from January 11 for which Shaheen Babar Azam and Haris Rauf were not considered as they were part of the Big Bash LeaguePakistan will play its opening match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7 and then against the USA three days later Their highprofile match against India will be on February 15 Pakistan will wrap up their Group A match against Namibia on February 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shaheen-afridi-back-in-nets-to-boost-pakistans-t20-world-cup-hopes-report-658512.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pathway-for-future-stars-icc-chief-jay-shah-wishes-luck-to-teams-for-u19-world-cup-658366.html New Delhi Jan 15 The International Cricket Council ICC chair Jay Shah extended his best wishes to the U19 stars for kickstarting their World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe and Namibia The 16th edition of the ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup begin on Thursday with the match between India and the United States in BulawayoWishing all the teams and players best of luck in the ICC Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup starting on January 15 across host countries Zimbabwe and NamibiaOur youth events have long been the pathway for some of crickets biggest stars and am sure that will be the case again the ICC chief shared on XLed by Ayush Mhatre India have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand USA and Bangladesh Talented batting allrounder Vihaan Malhotra will serve as Mhatres deputy at the tournamentAustralia are the defending champions having won the 2024 edition with a victory over India in the final and have won the title four times just behind India who have lifted the trophy on five occasionsPakistan are the only other team with multiple titles to their name with successive victories in 2004 and 2006 with West Indies South Africa Bangladesh and England to have claimed one triumph eachThe tournament is set to be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia with the former hosting 25 matches including the semifinal and final and Namibia hosting 16 gamesAll matches in Namibia will be held in Windhoek at the two venues the Namibia Cricket Ground and High Performance Oval next to each other In Zimbabwe the matches will be held in two cities Harare and Bulawayo The Queens Sports Club will be the solitary venue in Bulawayo with Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club being the two venues in the Zimbabwean capitalThe Queens Sports Club and the Harare Sports Club will host the two semifinals on February 3 and 4 with the Harare Sports Club playing host to the final on February 6 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/pathway-for-future-stars-icc-chief-jay-shah-wishes-luck-to-teams-for-u19-world-cup-658366.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/england-spin-duo-adil-rashid-rehan-ahmed-face-visa-delay-for-t20-wc-in-india-658403.html London Jan 15 England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are reportedly facing unexpected delays in procuring visas for their travel to India for the T20 World Cup starting from February 7 The delay hampered the chances for the spin duo to travel with the rest of the squad this weekend for six warmup games against Sri Lanka and it is unclear when they will join their teammates England will begin its T20 World Cup campaign on February 8 when they face Nepal in Navi MumbaiAs per The Guardian report the ECB is confident that the visas will be issued in time for Rashid and Ahmed But the timing of visa clearance remains uncertain and the ECB has sought assistance from the UK government to help expedite the processNotably in 2024 Shoaib Bashir was forced to fly home to resolve visa complications which prevented him from joining the England squad in India for the Test series while the rest of the team travelled to HyderabadEngland will play three ODIs and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka beginning January 22 in the leadup to the T20 mega spectacle with Harry Brook leading the side for the Sri Lanka tour and the subsequent T20 World CupAfter their opener against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium England will take on twotime champions 2012 amp 2016 the West Indies on February 11 at the same venue before travelling to Kolkata for their clash against 2022 winners England at the iconic Eden Gardens on February 14 They will wrap up their groupstage campaign against Italy on February 16In the previous edition of the tournament England were knocked out in the semifinal by eventual winners IndiaEngland Provisional Squad Harry Brook c Rehan Ahmed Jofra Archer Tom Banton Jacob Bethell Jos Buttler Sam Curran Liam Dawson Ben Duckett Will Jacks Jamie Overton Adil Rashid Phil Salt Josh Tongue Luke Wood IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/england-spin-duo-adil-rashid-rehan-ahmed-face-visa-delay-for-t20-wc-in-india-658403.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/keys-sets-adelaide-qf-with-mboko-cristian-beats-kasatkina-658320.html Adelaide Jan 14 Defending champion Madison Keys registered a 64 61 win over Tereza Valentova to reach the Adelaide International quarterfinals for the second consecutive year on Wednesday Keys overcame seven double faults and saved five break points to secure the first set in 49 minutes Valentova pushed to stay in it but Keys ripped a forehand return winner off the 18yearoldâs second serve to break for a 20 lead in the second set From there she won four of the final five games to close out a hardearned victory according to WTATheyâre just so young and they have so much energy and theyâre so excited to be out here And theyâre just so good So you definitely have to just expect them to play some really great tennis and like I said try to lean on experience in those big moments and just kind of hope that that gets you across the finish line said KeysKeys will face another teen sensation Victoria Mboko in their first meeting on the WTA Tour The No 8 seed Mboko saved two match points against Anna Kalinskaya to reach the second round of the Adelaide International in two hours and 22 minutesEarlier Jaqueline Cristian defeated Daria Kasatkina for the first time with a secondset bagel Cristian survived a chaotic first set before running away with a 64 60 win in 1 hour and 31 minutesThis was Cristians second straightsets win of the week following her upset of No 4 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first roundSheâll face another Australian Kimerly Birrell in the quarterfinals who advanced after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew due to injury ahead of their secondround matchCristian and Birrell have split their two previous meetings with the Romanian winning a dominant 60 61 last year at Roland Garros IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/keys-sets-adelaide-qf-with-mboko-cristian-beats-kasatkina-658320.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/turned-out-to-be-the-wrong-decision-nayar-takes-complete-responsibility-for-upws-batting-order-gamble-658206.html Navi Mumbai Jan 13 Head coach Abhishek Nayar explained that UP Warriorzs batting order change was due to opposition strategies after Kiran Navgire was moved down to No 4 admitting that sending Harleen Deol to open against Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB was a mistake and he takes full responsibility for that Harleenâs struggles with the bat have been evident in the past two games She batted in the middle order in the teamâs campaign opener against Gujarat Giants and was dismissed for a twoball duckIn the recently concluded clash against RCB she opened alongside skipper Meg Lanning and could manage only 11 runs off 14 deliveries before being sent packing by Lauren BellWe felt that with the moving ball at that point Harleen could add a bit of value in the powerplay Shes obviously technically correct It didnt work out today I felt it turned out to be the wrong decision I take complete responsibility for it But I think the thought process behind it was having some solidity up top and then hopefully having that power later on as the pitch gets better because we anticipated a bit of swing initiallyI thought those matchups for Kiran Navgire in the middle would work But they didnt work today So I look foolishâ Nayar told reporters at the postmatch press conferenceNavgire scored 1 run off 4 balls in UPWs 208run chase against Gujarat Giants while Deol was out for a duck in two balls However Phoebe Litchfields 78 along with lowerorder cameos kept UPW competitive as they lost by only ten runsOne notable cameo was from Shweta Sehrawat who made a 17ball 25 with three sixes and a four Batting at No 6 she hit her first ball bowled by Renuka Singh for a six over extra coverSpeaking of Sehrawat a toporder batter by nature being slotted in the middle over while also being handed the wicketkeeping duties Nayar said âFor her career I think its a great step moving forward Giving her the gloves in my head was a KL Rahul sort of move where it brightens her chances of making it to the India squad especially seeing that there arent a lot of optionsâShes a tremendous batter with a lot of capability power and flair She has been working on a couple of shots and weve seen that in practice matches and during her preparation But it was good to see a sample size of it in a game I have a lot more expectations from her through the season because I truly believe she has the potential to don the India colours and do exceedingly wellâIn 15 days of practice she has been keeping to Sophie Ecclestone Deepti Sharma and Asha So with a little more keeping under her belt I really feel she can be a great prospect for the Indian womens teamâAgainst RCB Deol struggled to score against Lauren Bell facing nine dot balls during her 14ball innings before mistiming a shot to midoff Navgire scored five off three balls before losing her wicket at deep midwicketHer dismissal contributed to a collapse where UPW lost four wickets for 11 runs dropping to 505 Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin then played carefully to carry the innings to a total of 1435âIn todays game you cant talk too much about the batting order because we lost wickets in heaps In our mind it was quite simple Everyone had their roles clear But when you lose so many wickets what role You just have to go out and playâFor me in T20 cricket the numbers after your top three dont really matter The top three today was a call based on the opposition Although I believe in having players play set roles I also felt that today it didnt work out But that doesnt mean Harleen cant do it or that Kiran cant do it It just didnt work out today If she had scored 100 wed be having a different conversationâ Nayad added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/turned-out-to-be-the-wrong-decision-nayar-takes-complete-responsibility-for-upws-batting-order-gamble-658206.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/speculative-and-incorrect-yuzvendra-chahal-quashes-reports-of-participation-in-reality-show-658218.html New Delhi Jan 13 Indias attacking legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal has quashed reports of his participation in a reality show calling them speculative and factually incorrect Rumours have been circulating about Chahals supposed entry into the reality television show The 50 Various reports claimed that Chahal will reunite with his exwife Dhanashree Verma on the show sparking widespread chatter among fans The duo married in 2020 and parted ways four years laterThe 50 is Indiaâs upcoming largescale reality show promising a bold new format that is set to disrupt the Indian reality TV playbook It is set to premiere on February 1Putting all speculation to rest Chahal shared a statement on his Instagram story clarifying that the reports currently circulating regarding his participation in a reality show are factually incorrect He is not associated with the show mentioned in recent reports and âthere are no discussions or commitments of this natureââThere is no truth to the reports currently circulating about Yuzvendra Chahalâs participation in any reality show These claims are speculative and incorrect Yuzvendra is not associated with the show mentioned in recent reports and there are no discussions or commitments of this nature We request media platforms and social media users to refrain from spreading unverified information Chahal said in a statementChahal will next be seen in action in the Indian Premier League 2026 He was retained by Punjab Kings after the franchise acquired the spinner at the IPL 2025 auction for a whopping Rs 18 crore dealIn 2024 he became the first player in IPL history to take 200 wickets and was named in the T20 World Cup squad again where India lifted the title IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/speculative-and-incorrect-yuzvendra-chahal-quashes-reports-of-participation-in-reality-show-658218.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/lewis-joseph-return-as-wi-announce-squad-for-afg-t20is-658243.html St Johns Antigua Jan 13 Cricket West Indies CWI announced a 16player squad for the upcoming threematch T20 International series against Afghanistan set to take place at the Dubai Cricket International Stadium in the UAE from January 1922 The series will be an important buildup before the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup starting on February 7 The final squad for this highly anticipated event will be revealed before the threematch T20I series against South Africa scheduled from January 27 to 31T20 Captain Shai Hope along with key players Roston Chase Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford were not available for selection due to commitments in the ongoing SA20 tournamentWith Hope absent Brandon King has been named captain He has previously led the West Indies in T20 Internationals such as during the home series against South Africa in early 2024 and offers significant leadership experienceShamar Joseph and Evin Lewis have returned for this series having successfully cleared returntoplay protocols after recovering from previous injuriesAlzarri Joseph also sidelined by injury late in 2025 was showing promising progress in his returntoplay programme but has not been included at this stage as a precaution after a medical reviewHe will remain under observation and evaluation to assess his eligibility and possible inclusion in the World Cup squad Quentin Sampson recognised as the Breakout Player of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League has received his first international callupHe replaces Rovman Powell who has been rested for the series alongside Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload managementHead Coach Daren Sammy mentioned that this series not only serves as a valuable tuning opportunity before the ICC World Cup but also helps reintegrate key players returning after extended absencesâThe opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is ideal as it assists with our preparations and confidence building ahead of what will be a competitive T20 World Cup It also presents a valuable platform to assess players who wouldâve missed significant time towards the end of 2025 as well as those stepping into important roles for this series prior to the selection of the final squad for the international tournamentâ Sammy saidThe squad will leave the Caribbean on January 14 and is expected to arrive in the UAE on January 16West Indies squad for Afghanistan T20Is Brandon King c Alick Athanaze Keacy Carty Johnson Charles Matthew Forde Justin Greaves Shimron Hetmyer Amir Jangoo Shamar Joseph Evin Lewis Gudakesh Motie Khary Pierre Quentin Sampson Jayden Seales Ramon Simmonds Shamar Springer IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/lewis-joseph-return-as-wi-announce-squad-for-afg-t20is-658243.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-better-place-than-a-full-crowd-of-blue-daryl-mitchell-on-nz-youngsters-first-cricket-experience-of-india-657946.html Vadodara Jan 11 New Zealand allrounder Daryl Mitchell expressed that he was glad that the young players on his team had the opportunity to play in India for the first time He noted that there is no better environment for such an experience than in front of a packed Indian crowd in blue Mitchell was the topscorer for his side after the Kiwis were put to bat first as he played an anchorâs innings and made 84 runs off 71 deliveries as the visitors posted 3008 on the scoreboard at the Kotambi International Stadium BCASpeaking to the broadcasters after the first innings Mitchell said that getting 300 on a slower wicket was âpleasingââAs a group the way we scraped our way to that total on this surface gives us something to bowl at You always want more as a team We did lose a couple of wickets in the middle but I thought the partnerships we built were important To get to 300 on a slower wicket especially for us as Kiwis is pleasing Now itâs about getting out there with energy and seeing what we can do with the ball Yeah and also the new rule of one ball after 34 overs it gets a lot softer and harder to hit Thatâs the challenge of modern oneday cricket just trying to maximise whatever you can getâ he saidSpeaking of his LBW review he added âYeah it was pretty out to be honest probably more wishful thinking than anything else Just to be really clear with our plans We know how theyâll want to come out and playââItâs great weâve got some young guys experiencing India for the first time thereâs no better place to do it than in front of a full crowd of blueâ Mitchell said of the young Kiwis experiencing cricket in India IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-better-place-than-a-full-crowd-of-blue-daryl-mitchell-on-nz-youngsters-first-cricket-experience-of-india-657946.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-walks-the-talk-shreyas-lauds-kohlis-years-of-consistency-658014.html New Delhi Jan 12 India batter Shreyas Iyer reserved special praise for Virat Kohli after the latter achieved two major milestones with his brilliant 93run knock in the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday The Men in Blue clinched a fourwicket win against the Kiwis to take a 10 lead in the threematch seriesKohli entered the match needing just 25 runs to reach 28000 international runs and achieved the landmark in the 13th over of Indiaâs chase becoming the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone achieving it in just 624 innings 20 fewer than legendary Sachin Tendulkar who held the world record before the 37yearold broke itKohliâs innings also saw him surpass Kumar Sangakkara to become the alltime secondhighest runscorer in international cricket history moving past the Sri Lankan greatâs tally of 28016 runs Tendulkar remains at the top with 34357 international runsSpeaking of his milestones and his calm knock against the BlackCaps Iyer in a video shared by the BCCI said âWhatever we talk about his innings it would be less Weve been seeing it for so many years now Hes been doing it consistently The way he rotates the strike he takes on the bowler He basically walks the talkâIyer also delivered a pivotal performance in his comeback game after recovering from the spleen injury he sustained during Indiaâs tour of Australia in October last year Appointed vicecaptain for the series the middleorder batter teamed up with Kohli to form a 77run partnership and scored 49 runs off 47 balls narrowly missing a welldeserved halfcenturyâGreat momentum great start for the series especially Me coming back after a while into the team It feels great to be part of the squad But more than that it was a great feeling to stay in the dressing room with each and every one I was missing it for quite a while but Im happy to be backâ Iyer said of his outing IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-walks-the-talk-shreyas-lauds-kohlis-years-of-consistency-658014.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/team-management-wants-me-to-bat-at-no-8-as-an-all-rounder-harshit-rana-658046.html Vadodara Jan 12 After Indias fourwicket victory in the opening ODI against New Zealand fast bowler Harshit Rana revealed that the team management wants to groom him as an allrounder and asked him to work on improving his skills as a batter to bat at the No 8 position Chasing 301 India lost opener Rohit Sharma early Skipper Shubman Gill 56 and Virat Kohli 93 then forged a sublime matchwinning stand of 118 runs for the second wicket Shreyas Iyer 49 Harshit Rana 29 and KL Rahul 29 not out helped India over the lineNotably Rana came ahead of allrounder Washington Sunder to bat at No 7 and contributed a vital 29 off 23 in the chaseThe team management wants to groom me as an allrounder and it is my task to keep working on it I am working on it in the nets as well and it was a matter of confidence which KL Rahul Bhai helped me with when I went in to bat I kept my focus on it and made the runs Rana said in a postmatch presserMy team wants me to bat at No 8 as an allrounder and whatever time I can give to it in the nets I focus on that I believe I can score 3040 runs for the team lower down the order whenever needed and thatâs what the team management believes that I can do as well he addedAfter being asked to bat New Zealand got off to a strong start as openers Devon Conway 56 and Henry Nicholls 62 forged a brilliant stand of 117 runs Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings shifting between caution and aggression as he smashed an aggressive 84 Mohammed Siraj led the Indian attack finishing with figures of 80402 while Prasidh Krishna and Rana also chipped in with two wickets eachWhen asked about the Indian bowlers struggles to take wickets early on with the new ball particularly in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah Rana responded I donât know what cricket you are watching Even today although we did not secure the early wickets Siraj bhai bowled exceptionally well We did not give away a lot of runs either with the new ballâBut these things happen if you do not get wickets early on then you will get them later which is what we did There are different phases in ODI cricket I felt that the pitch was slow there wasnât much bounce either he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/team-management-wants-me-to-bat-at-no-8-as-an-all-rounder-harshit-rana-658046.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/washington-sundar-ruled-out-of-nz-odis-badoni-gets-maiden-call-up-658055.html Mumbai Jan 12 The BCCI confirmed that allrounder Washington Sundar will miss the rest of the ODI series against New Zealand due to side strain The BCCI called up the 26yearold Ayush Badoni as Sunders replacement handing him his maiden national callupBadoni who has played 27 List A games scoring 693 runs and chipping in with 18 wickets will link up with the squad in Rajkot the venue for the second ODI starting on WednesdayIndia allrounder Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium Vadodara on Sunday He will undergo further scans following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion Washington has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of the ODI seriesThe Menâs Selection Committee has named Ayush Badoni as his replacement Badoni will link up with the squad in Rajkot the venue for the second ODIâ the BCCI said in their statementThis is the second injury blow that India have suffered for the ODI series after Rishabh Pant who was ruled out just a couple of days before the first ODI in Vadodara The wicketkeeperbatter was ruled out of the ODI series after suffering a side strain last week with Dhruv Jurel replacing him in the squadTilak Varma who underwent surgery for a groin injury was ruled out of the first three T20Is of the fivegame series that is set to begin on January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in NagpurThis is a significant setback for the hosts especially with the home T20 World Cup upcoming Currently the allrounder is also part of Indias World Cup squad but it remains uncertain whether the dependable yet injuryprone Sundar will recover in time for the T20I seriesIndiaâs updated squad for 2nd and 3rd ODIs Shubman Gill c Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli KL Rahul wk Shreyas Iyer vc Ravindra Jadeja Mohd Siraj Harshit Rana Prasidh Krishna Kuldeep Yadav Nitish Kumar Reddy Arshdeep Singh Yashasvi Jaiswal Dhruv Jurel wk Ayush Badoni IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/washington-sundar-ruled-out-of-nz-odis-badoni-gets-maiden-call-up-658055.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mumbai-marathon-introduces-coastal-road-to-its-route-for-21st-edition-657796.html Mumbai Jan 10 The Mumbai Marathon has introduced a landmark route for its 21st edition scheduled for Sunday marking a historic milestone in the eventâs history For the first time participants will run along the newly opened Mumbai Coastal Road in addition to the renowned BandraWorli Sea Link The Coastal Road a symbol of modern mobility and daily transit will become a vibrant arena on race day Runners will enjoy continuous views of the Arabian Sea and the city skyline marking a new and exciting chapter in one of the worldâs most renowned urban marathonsRace Categories Start and Finish PointsElite Marathon Beginning and ending at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT this race will feature the worldâs top athletes competing on the new Coastal Road routeAmateur Marathon Starting at CSMT and ending on MG Road near Bombay Gymkhana this course aims to test athletes endurance and perseverance providing a rewarding finish for participantsHalf Marathon and Police Cup Beginning at Mahim Reti Bunder Ground near Mahim Causeway and ending at OCS Chowki this race guides participants through some of South Mumbaiâs most famous landmarksOpen 10K Run Senior Citizens Run and Dream Run Starting at CSMT and ending at MG Road at the Metro Junction these categories will gather thousands of runners from diverse backgrounds lifeChampions With Disability CWD Run Beginning and ending at CSMT this category offers participants the chance to engage with the core of the event in a welcoming and inclusive settingAnil Kumbhare Joint Commissioner of Police Traffic Mumbai commented âBy incorporating the Coastal Road into the Mumbai Marathon 2026 route we aim to present Mumbai at its finest on a global platform This new route will offer marathon runners a unique and scenic experience while ensuring the safety and ease of movement for other commuters as well The route has been planned with extensive interagency coordination to ensure efficient traffic management robust security deployment and seamless operations so that Mumbai continues to function smoothly on race dayâHugh Jones Race Director said âAs a race over the last two decades we have aimed to offer runners new experiences With the inclusion of the new coastal road the Mumbai Marathon not only captures the progress of this city but also retains part of the old route and its enduring charmâAs the city prepares to come alive the revised route honours its history current vitality and future prospects Covering heritage landmarks and engineering feats like the Mumbai Coastal Road the route showcases the citys diverse character and enduring spirit For participants it offers a unique memorable experience and highlights Mumbais best attributes Under this yearâs theme HarDilMumbai the marathon unites every step cheer and heartbeat in celebration IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mumbai-marathon-introduces-coastal-road-to-its-route-for-21st-edition-657796.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/kibg-2026-karnataka-swim-to-overall-crown-tamil-nadu-second-manipur-third-657799.html Diu Jan 10 Karnatakaâs Ashmita Chandra and Dhrupad Ramakrishna clinched the womenâs and menâs 5km open water swimming gold medals to help the state top the medal standings in the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 at the Ghoghla Beach in Diu on Saturday The second edition of Khelo India Beach Games witnessed over 1100 participants compete in eight different sports volleyball soccer sepaktakraw kabaddi pencak silat Open water swimming mallakhamb and tugofwar The first six were medal sports and 32 gold medals were awarded Thirty states and Union territories took partWith the top three states â Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Manipur claiming three gold and two silver medals each the overall standings of Khelo India Beach Games KIBG 2026 were decided by the number of bronze medals won by the respective teamsKarnataka topped the standings with three gold all from Open Water swimming two silver and six bronze to win the overall crown in the second edition of KIBG Tamil Nadu finished second with three gold two silver and three bronze while last edition winners Manipur finished third with three gold two silver and two bronzeMadhya Pradesh finished fourth thanks to their exploits in Pencak Silat which had the highest number of gold medals 16 on offer in KIBG 2026 All the medals of Madhya Pradesh came in the Indonesian martial arts form competition ending with a tally of three gold one silver and one bronzeHosts Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu with two gold two silver and four bronze finished sixth behind Haryana which ended the Games with a tally of two gold four silver and two bronze medals Jammu and Kashmir Odisha Nagaland and Rajasthan also finished with two gold medals each to complete the top10 positions in the medals tallyBefore the start of the final dayâs action at the Ghoghla Beach Manipur would have fancied their chances of retaining the overall crown as both their mens and womens Beach Sepaktakraw teams had a chance of bagging the gold medal in TrioWhile their womenâs team achieved their target by beating West Bengal 20 Tamil Nadu leapfrogged them to the second spot by winning the menâs Trio final 21Earlier Ashmita Chandra completed a double by adding the womenâs 5km Open Water Swimming gold to the womenâs 10km title she had won on Friday In the 5km race Ashmita clocked a timing of 13511s to clinch the gold medal ahead of Diksha Yadav 13553s of Maharashtra Karnatakaâs Aasra Sudhir won the bronze medal with a time of 13914sIn the menâs 5km race Karnatakaâs Dhrupad Ramakrishna got the better of 10km race winner Anurag Singh of Uttar Pradesh with a gap of five seconds to win the stateâs third gold medal Dhrupad closed a timing of 12133s with Prashans HM adding a bronze medal to the stateâs tally with a time of 12434s IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/kibg-2026-karnataka-swim-to-overall-crown-tamil-nadu-second-manipur-third-657799.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/umran-malik-omitted-from-jammu-and-kashmir-squad-for-ranji-trophy-preparatory-camp-657810.html New Delhi Jan 10 Pacer Umran Malik has been left out of Jammu and Kashmirâs squad for the Ranji Trophy preparatory camp set to happen in Pondicherry Malik who has played ten ODIs and eight T20Is for India was in the squad for the first half of the Ranji Trophy but played only one game against Rajasthan in Srinagar and went wicketless In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Malik played five matches and took six wickets but was omitted from the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy Opener Qamran Iqbal who hit a century in Jammu and Kashmirâs memorable Ranji Trophy win over Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has also been omittedThe JKCA has included Dikshant Kundal and Kawalpreet Singh while Umar Nazir and Shubham Pundir also return to the squad Jammu and Kashmir will begin their Ranji Trophy phase two campaign against Pondicherry at the Sichem Stadium from January 2225 Head coach Ajay Sharma will join the team on January 17It is followed by a clash against Himachal Pradesh from January 29 to February 1 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium in Nadaun The Ranji Trophy knockout matches are slated to be played from February 628 Jammu and Kashmir are currently at second place in Elite Group D after tabletoppers Mumbai with 20 points from five gamesâTo prepare the JampK Team for the tournament amp acclimatise the team the Management has decided to send its team to Pondicherry The players and Members of Support staff of the team will travel directly to Chennai under the arrangements of JKCA on 16th January 2026 from their respective locationsâThe team will then travel in the Bus from Chennai to Pondicherry arranged by the Cricket Association of Pondicherry No individual movement from Chennai to Pondicherry is allowedâ further said the JKCAJammu and Kashmir squad for Ranji Trophy preparatory camp Shubam Khajuria Dikshant Kundal Yawar Hassan Paras Dogra Abdul Samad Shubham Pundir Kanhaiya Wadhwan Kawalpreet Singh Abid Mushtaq Vanshaj Sharma Sahil Lotra Auqib Nabi Yudhvir Singh Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/umran-malik-omitted-from-jammu-and-kashmir-squad-for-ranji-trophy-preparatory-camp-657810.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dhruv-jurel-named-pants-replacement-for-odi-series-against-nz-657852.html Mumbai Jan 11 Dhruv Jurel has been named as the injury replacement for Rishabh Pant who has been ruled out of the threematch ODI series against New Zealand due to due to a right side strain injury the BCCI said on Sunday Rishabh Pant felt a sudden onset of discomfort in his right lateral abdominal area while batting in the nets during Indiaâs practice session on Saturday afternoon at the BCA Stadium VadodaraThe BCCI said that Pant was immediately taken for scans and it was revealed that the wicketkeeper batter was diagnosed with a side strain Oblique Muscle Tear which ruled him out of the seriesHe was taken for MRI scans immediately and the BCCI Medical Team had a detailed discussion with an expert on his clinical and radiological findingsPant has been diagnosed with a side strain Oblique Muscle Tear and is subsequently ruled out of the ODI series BCCI said in a statementAs a result the Menâs Selection Committee has named Dhruv Jurel as Pantâs replacement and Jurel has linked up with the squad it addedJurel who is captaining Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is the states top scorer with 558 runs in seven matches at an average of over 90 He has scored two hundreds as well as four halfcenturies across seven innings in VHT 202526Pant is now expected to rest for several days before reporting to the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitationHe had come into the ODI series on the back of leading Delhi in the 202526 Vijay Hazare Trophy VHT league stage in Bengaluru Pant scored two halfcenturies against Services and Railways respectively as Delhi entered the knockoutsThis is the second time Pant has been laid low by injuries after fracturing his right foot in the fourth Test against England at Manchester and returned to action through the twomatch Test series against South Africa at home in November last yearIndiaâs ODI series against New Zealand will begin at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium BCA in Kotambi Vadodara with the venue set to host its first menâs international gameIndias updated ODI squad Shubman Gill C Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli KL Rahul WK Shreyas Iyer VC Washington Sundar Ravindra Jadeja Mohd Siraj Harshit Rana Prasidh Krishna Kuldeep Yadav Nitish Kumar Reddy Arshdeep Singh Yashasvi Jaiswal Dhruv Jurel WK IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/dhruv-jurel-named-pants-replacement-for-odi-series-against-nz-657852.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/im-all-for-progress-and-evolution-says-mccullum-after-englands-4-1-ashes-drubbing-657486.html New Delhi Jan 8 England head coach Brendon McCullum indicated that he is open to adjusting his approach somewhat but emphasised that he is ânot for being told what to doâ after the teamâs loss in the Sydney Test on Thursday England suffered a 41 defeat in the Ashes series with only a single Test win in Melbourne However that win was merely a consolation as they lost the first three Tests in Perth Brisbane and Adelaide allowing the Aussies to reclaim the urn in just 11 daysIm all for progress and evolution in all sports From my point of view I have firm beliefs in what works and some areas where you want to keep improving and some areas where you think you can evolveâ McCullum told the BBCs Test Match SpecialIm not against assistance but I also have a firm belief in how to get the best out of these players From my point of view Ill look at it individually and say Right what could I have done better and What could I improve on Am I for being told what to do Of course Im notBut at the same time Im not pigheaded enough to think theres not some areas that we can improve on and once we digest whats unfolded over the last two months and start to plot and plan a way forward if youre the man in the chair to do so then you do so with a similar conviction in your methods albeit with a couple of tweaksâ he addedAfter the teamâs defeat in the fifth and final game of the series the England and Wales Cricket Boardâs Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould stated that a thorough review has already been underway adding that Ben Stokes and Co will take lessons from this tour and will focus on regaining the Ashes in 2027Englands next assignment includes the whiteball tour to Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup Their next Test series is scheduled for June against New Zealand at home and Gould mentioned that essential changes will be made in the upcoming months IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/im-all-for-progress-and-evolution-says-mccullum-after-englands-4-1-ashes-drubbing-657486.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mahboob-khan-to-lead-afghanistans-15-man-squad-for-u19-world-cup-657577.html Kabul Jan 9 Afghanistan have announced their 15member squad for the U19 Mens Cricket World Cup 2026 with Mahboob Khan leading the side that boasts a host of talented players Afghanistan had secured their spot in the marquee tournament by clinching the Asia Qualifier last year during which they enjoyed an unbeaten run They would squeeze past Nepal on net run rate to confirm their qualificationLater last year Afghanistan got the better of Nepal at the U19 Asia Cup with Uzairullah Niazai coming to the fore with a vital knock of 61 ICC reportsNiazai had also enjoyed a prolific run on the tour of Bangladesh making 275 runs across four inningsAfghanistan also have the firepower in the bowling department with Nooristani Ormazi one to watch out for among the pacersMeanwhile Ziatullah Shaheen Hafieezullah Zadran and Wahidullah Zadran make up for a versatile spin bowling attackAfghanistan are slotted in Group D alongside South Africa Tanzania and the West IndiesThe 16th edition of the Under19 Cricket World Cup will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 with the final scheduled for February 6Afghanistan will kickstart their campaign against South Africa on January 16 in WindhoekAustralia are the defending champions having won the 2024 edition with a victory over India in the final and have won the title four times just behind India who have lifted the trophy on five occasionsA total of 24 matches will be played across the group stage The tournament will kick off with the match between India and the United States on January 15 at BulawayoAfghanistan squad Mahboob Khan c Khalid Ahmadzai Osman Sadat Faisal Khan Uzairullah Niazai Aziz Mia Khil Nazif Amiri Khatir Stanikzai Nooristani Abdul Aziz Salam Khan Wahid Zadran Zaitullah Shaheen Rohullah Arab Hafieez ZadranReserves Aqil Khan Fahim Qasemi Izat Noor IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/mahboob-khan-to-lead-afghanistans-15-man-squad-for-u19-world-cup-657577.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bbci-mourns-the-passing-of-mizoram-cricketer-k-lalremruata-657639.html New Delhi Jan 9 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI condoled the passing of the former Ranji player from Mizoram K Lalremruata who died after collapsing during a local cricket match on Wednesday  Deeply saddened by the passing of Mizoram cricketer K Lalremruata He proudly represented Mizoram in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy The BCCI extends heartfelt condolences thoughts and prayers to his family friends and the Mizoram cricket community BCCI Domestic shared on XThe incident took place during a Khaled Memorial 2nd Division Screening Tournament match between Venghnuai Raiders CC and Chawnpui ILMOV CC Lalremruata who was playing for Venghnuai Raiders CC suddenly fell while the game was underway He was given immediate help and taken for medical treatment but doctors could not save himIn its statement the Cricket Association of Mizoram CAM said Lalremruata suffered a stroke while playing in the second division tournament The CAM expressed condolences to his family and said his death was a significant loss to Mizoram cricketLalremruata represented Mizoram twice in the Ranji Trophy and seven times in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy He had also played for several clubs at the local level He served on the Senior Tournament CommitteeAfter Lalremruata death Assam Cricket cancelled all matches on Thursday and said the matches would be played under a revised schedule This included games in the 2nd Division Screening Tournament at SCG Sihhmui the 3rd Division Screening Tournament semifinals at Lawipu Playground and the Samagra InterSchool Cricket Tournament for boys and girls at the PUC Ground and MAP Ground in MualpuiLalremruata who was a wicketkeeper made his First Class debut against Meghalaya in 2018 and played his last game in 2022 against Nagaland IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bbci-mourns-the-passing-of-mizoram-cricketer-k-lalremruata-657639.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-i-manifested-that-mi-would-pick-me-back-says-sanskriti-gupta-657641.html New Delhi Jan 9 When auctioneerâs hammer fell in the WPL 2026 mega auction last year it confirmed Mumbai Indians MI bid to successfully reacquire their offspin bowling allrounder Sanskriti Gupta for the upcoming season starting this evening at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai Seeing that MI had got her back via a steal at her base price of Rs 20 lakh Sanskritiâs wish was fulfilled âI was watching it and a wish was running in my mind that MI should pick me back so that I can play in my usual way forever It did happen and I was so delightedâ recalled Sanskriti in an exclusive conversation with IANSFor Sanskriti known for her control while bowling offspin and big hits as a capable lowerorder batter returning to the franchise with whom she won her first WPL trophy in 2025 represents more than just continuityâItâs a very good franchise with a very familylike vibe The thought has always been that I can always maintain my playing style very well if I get to play for MIâ she saidThat family atmosphere appears to be a defining characteristic of the Mumbai Indians setup and Sanskriti believes it will be crucial to their title defence With most of their firstchoice XI returning the familiarity factor could prove decisiveâApart from the retained players so many of our first eleven players are back This feels great because all of us have a great bond from playing all matches together and spending a lot of good time off the field With almost all of us back together it feels good that we are back for at least the next two years and hopefully the bonding between us becomes stronger than everâ she saidAs one of the youngest members of MIâs titlewinning squad in 2025 Sanskriti was a sponge absorbing lessons from every corner of the dressing room The experience shaped her understanding of elite womenâs cricket in ways that extended far beyond technicalitiesâI took home a lot of learnings from that titlewinning campaign I got a good idea of the level of cricket played in the WPL and what the important factors are to keep performing at your bestâI also got an idea about maintaining fitness levels the attitude you should have while playing and how the preparation routine should be I learned a lot from all the players and coaches in terms of what I can do at a particular time in a game and how I can keep myself composed when that situation arisesâ she saidThose lessons crystallised in the 2025 final itself when Sanskriti walked in and added an unbeaten eight runs alongside Amanjot Kaurâs 14 not out in the last two overs as MI reached 149 â a total that ultimately proved to be winningâWe had prepared so much together We used to think that we could get such a situation in any match So we were ready for it and the time to use it came in the final itself We talked about how we could maximise running between the wicketsâAmanjot and I also spoke about how rotating the strike can help us in situations where boundaries are coming slowly We had prepared a lot for that and when the final arrived that preparation helped us big timeâ she recalledThe winning celebration that followed was particularly special for Sanskriti who played all ten games and picked four scalpsâIt was fantastic and we celebrated it very well We had won the tournament and it was my first trophy â so it was a big thing for me and I was very happyâWinning a big trophy changes things for many sportspersons For Sanskriti the transformation has been most visible in how everyone views her capabilitiesâEveryoneâs perspective has changed for me â that I can do anything at any time on the field If I get a chance I can do whatever is asked of meââIt feels really good when a franchise like MI shows a lot of trust in you and your abilities This leads me to tell myself that âYes I can do itâ and when it does become a reality thereâs no better feeling in the worldâ she saidBack home in Sidhi Madhya Pradesh the recognition has become more personalâThe area where I belong almost everyone now knows me They didnât know me before but now they know my family and come to meet themâOff the field there hasnât been any major change because Iâm not staying much at home All the coaches keep things normal for me in the academy There are a lot of people trying to play cricket and I want them to play at a higher level They are working hard for itâ she saidAsk Sanskriti about her favourite thing in cricket and the answer comes quickly fieldingâI find fielding to be the most fun part I enjoy it the most because as an allrounder if ups and downs happen in batting or bowling you have the option to give your best in fieldingâSo I just manifest that all the balls should come to me Wherever I field I should give away the least amount of runs Whatever catches or fielding chances come my way I should do them well I enjoy doing it and I think it helps meâ she saidThe energy she brings to the field has become a signature trait but it didnât emerge from cricket training aloneâDuring the Covid19 time I played a lot of football she was a member of the Madhya Pradesh womenâs football team and my warmup routine involves an hour of playing it My agility and speed work improved and it helps me cut down boundaries while fieldingâ she saidAmong the friendships forged in the MI camp Guptaâs connection with Sajana Sajeevan stands out Their first meeting set the tone for everything that followed with the franchiseâs social media accounts referring to the duo as their âinhouse Ambaan and Rangaa chechiââOn my first day of reporting to the team I met her for the first time She was the first person I met I didnât know her nature or how she treats juniors but she is very funny and my vibe matched with her I want to have fun all the time and make everyone laugh Thatâs how this bonding became greatâWhen MI recruited Sanskritiâs state teammate Rahila Firdous she had already told her about the family vibe in the franchiseâBefore the WPL auction happened we talked a lot She had given the trials and asked me how I was doing I told her that it has a family vibe and that everyone â staff and players â is welcoming whether they are new or oldâThe vibe in the team is different here On hearing all of that she was very excited and wanted to play for Mumbai When I was selected for the first time she told me about wanting to play for Mumbai the next year I told her âYes yes please come We will have fun togetherââThe excitement is mutual considering Sanskritiâs other MP teammates â Anushka Sharma Gujarat Giants Kranti Gaud UP Warriorz and Pooja Vastrakar if fit for Royal Challengers Bengaluru â are also in WPL 2026This WPL season arrives after Indiaâs triumphant Womenâs ODI World Cup campaign and Sanskriti witnessed firsthand how that victory has shifted public perceptionâI feel very proud that we won the ODI World Cup in India People have started to understand that girls can also play cricket After winning that World Cup people have started paying attention and realising that girls can also play well and win many trophiesâI have seen a lot of people now enjoying watching womenâs cricket Itâs a very good thing for all girls that they are winning and playing fantastically at the highest levelâFor Sanskriti the increased attention translates into a plethora of opportunities in WPL 2026 â to showcase more of her talent and inspire the next generation watching from areas where until recently few knew her nameAs the new WPL season begins her goals are straightforward â to write the next chapter of her story one manifestation at a timeâI want to play as much as I can Whatever chances I get I want to make the most of them and play better in every outing My goal in WPL 2026 is to perform as much as I can and keep improving all the time With the preparation Iâve had I want to ensure itâs on point so we can win the trophy againâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-i-manifested-that-mi-would-pick-me-back-says-sanskriti-gupta-657641.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sli-can-change-how-india-connects-with-shooting-asiad-gold-medallist-akhil-sheoran-657438.html New Delhi Jan 8 With the Shooting League of India SLI set to introduce a franchisebased mixedteam format to the sport Indian rifle shooter and 2022 Asian Games gold medallist Akhil Sheoran believes the league could mark a turning point in how shooting is experiencedâboth by athletes and fans For Sheoran the league arrives at a moment when Indian rifle shooting is at its highestever competitive levelâThe Shooting League can change the way people connect with our sport It has the potential to build a bridge between elite shooters and Indian sports fans much like what weâve seen with other sports leagues With a clear schedule and broadcast platform people can finally watch our performances understand the sport better and cheer for us Sheoran saidAkhil caught up at the 202526 National Championships where he won bronze in the menâs 50m rifle 3 positions final He will also represent India in the same category at the Asian RiflePistol Championships to be held in New Delhi from February 214 2026The mixedteam format a central feature of the league is something Sheoran is particularly looking forward to Having competed in similar events internationally he feels the teamcentric structure will add a new layer of excitement to an otherwise individual sportâThe mixedteam format is very interesting You have specific roles to play with your partner and that brings a different kind of pressure and energy It pushes you to adapt while still sticking to your core routinesâ he saidSheoran feels the league also fits seamlessly into a broader competitive ecosystem that has pushed Indian shooting to new heights Reflecting on his recent bronze medal at the 2025 National Championshipsâan event that also witnessed a worldrecord scoreâhe said the rising standard is a direct reflection of the depth of Indian shootingâThis is definitely the most competitive era of rifle shooting in Indiaâ he noted âPerformances at the Olympics World Championships and Asian Games have raised the benchmark That environment forces all of us to work harder mentally physically and technicallyâThe league holds personal significance for Sheoran who has staged a strong comeback after injury setbacks ruled him out of contention for the Paris OlympicsâThat phase was extremely hurtfulâ he admitted âBut I chose to move on reset my mindset and focus on the LA 2028 cycle I told myself I would work harder on every aspectâmental physical and technicalâand this season is about proving that to myselfâBeyond individual preparation Sheoran sees the Shooting League of India as a powerful mentorship platform With franchises selecting athletes across multiple tiers â from youth to elite â the league creates an environment where experience and ambition intersect âWith the years we have spent in the sport we can guide the younger shootersâ he saidCrucially the leagueâs February window also aligns with Sheoranâs buildup towards the 2026 Asian Games âThe league will put us in highpressure match situations early in the yearâ he explainedâThatâs the kind of preparation you need before heading into events like the World Championships and the Asian Games It makes the Shooting League not just exciting but an important step in the international seasonâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sli-can-change-how-india-connects-with-shooting-asiad-gold-medallist-akhil-sheoran-657438.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/thorough-review-of-the-campaign-is-already-underway-ecb-ceo-after-4-1-ashes-defeat-657448.html Sydney Jan 8 The England and Wales Cricket Boardâs Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould has stated that a thorough review has already been underway following Englands 41 Ashes defeat He added that Ben Stokes and Co will draw lessons from this tour and focus on regaining the Ashes in 2027This Ashes tour began with significant hope and anticipation and it is therefore deeply disappointing that we have been unable to fulfil our ambition of winning the Ashes in AustraliaWhile there were moments of strong performance and resilience during the series including a hardfought victory in the fourth Test in Melbourne we were not consistent enough across all conditions and phases of the contest and Australia ultimately deserved to retain the Ashes Gould said in a statementWe will take many lessons from this tour and are determined to improve quickly Our focus is on regaining the Ashes in 2027 A thorough review of the campaign is already underway This will cover tour planning and preparation individual performance and behaviours and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require he saidEnglands upcoming assignment will be the whiteball tour of Sri Lanka and the subsequent T20 World Cup Their next Test assignment is in June when they face New Zealand in a home series Gould said that necessary changes will be implemented over the coming monthsThe mens team now moves on to Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup which begins in February and we will implement the necessary changes over the coming monthsWe are grateful for the courtesy and hospitality shown to us by Cricket Australia throughout the tour As always we are indebted to the travelling supporters who followed the team through thick and thin Their loyalty and support have been humbling and we are committed to repaying their faith with stronger performances in the future Gould added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/thorough-review-of-the-campaign-is-already-underway-ecb-ceo-after-4-1-ashes-defeat-657448.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/umpires-no-ball-blunder-comes-to-light-after-australia-wrap-up-ashes-series-4-1-657471.html Sydney Jan 8 An umpiring error has come to light following Harry Brookâs dismissal in Englandâs second innings which reportedly stemmed from an illegal delivery by Australian allrounder Beau Webster that went unnoticed On Day 4 of the Sydney Test with England at 2193 Webster trapped Brook lbw for 42 a wicket that handed the tourists a slender 36run lead However replays later showed Webster had overstepped with his back foot clearly outside the return crease Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena failed to detect the noball according to Code SportsUnder the laws the third umpire is required to check every wickettaking delivery for front and backfoot noballs Had the infringement been identified Brook should have been recalled to the creaseEnglandâs innings unravelled soon after Brookâs dismissal yielding just 124 further runs and setting Australia a modest target of 160 The hosts chased it down comfortably to seal a 4â1 series victoryOn Day 5 Australia opener Jake Weatherald was also reprieved after appearing to edge a delivery from England seamer Brydon Carse Dharmasena ruled there was insufficient evidence of a clear spike on Snicko a decision that visibly frustrated Carse and left captain Ben Stokes furious as he challenged the onfield umpireFormer England captain Michael Vaughan said such errors are unacceptable in the modern game stressing that technology should prevent mistakes of this magnitudeI donât think England will use these kind of decisions as an excuse for why they havenât won the Ashes but fundamentally weâre in 2026 With all the technology that shouldnât happen To think thereâs been some back foot no balls bowled on wickets and nothing has been done itâs not acceptable in this eraThat shouldnât happen That is a big moment Are the third umpires looking for a back foot noball or not Theyre the officiators of the game they should know every rule Itâs a no ball it should have been calledâ he told News Corp IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/umpires-no-ball-blunder-comes-to-light-after-australia-wrap-up-ashes-series-4-1-657471.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-clinch-ashes-4-1-after-winning-scg-test-by-5-wickets-657398.html Sydney Jan 8 Australia claimed a 41 Ashes series win after securing a fivewicket victory in the fifth Test at the SCG as Usman Khawaja bowed out as a winner in his farewell Test After bowling England out for 342 early on day five Australia set themselves a 160run target to winChasing 160 the hosts made a brisk start with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald putting on a 62run opening partnership to set up Australiaâs run chaseThe tourists however spoiled Usman Khawajaâs hopes of a fairytale finish as Josh Tongue had him chopping on to his stumps for sixThen a steady 40run stand between Alex Carey 16 not out and Cameron Green 22 not out got the hosts over the line despite a brief stutter on an upanddown fifthday pitchEarlier Mitchell Starc struck with the second new ball to bring an end to Englandâs second innings removing Jacob Bethell shortly after the lefthander brought up his 150The 22yearold Bethell shown admirable composure while batting with the tail but Player of the Series Starc eventually found the edge on 154 with Alex Carey completing a straightforward catch behind the stumpsSeveral Australian batters made starts in the chase but Travis Head 29 and Jake Weatherald 34 were both undone by Josh TongueA mixup cost Marnus Labuschagne his wicket on 37 and Steve Smith 12 was beaten by a Will Jacks peach before Tongue forced Khawaja into a mistakeCarey and Green took the sting out of the final English push with a boundary by the former through cover finishing off the matchThe victory boosts Australias lead at the top of the World Test Championship 20252027 standings now with 8750 per cent of possible pointsNew Zealands series success against the West Indies means the Black Caps sit in second place IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-clinch-ashes-4-1-after-winning-scg-test-by-5-wickets-657398.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/tilak-varma-undergoes-emergency-surgery-likely-to-miss-nz-t20is-657407.html New Delhi Jan 8 India batter Tilak Varma has undergone emergency surgery in Rajkot and is likely to miss the upcoming five T20Is against New Zealand sources familiar with the matter told IANS on Thursday Varma 23 experienced acute pain in the abdomen after breakfast on Wednesday morning in Rajkot a day before Hyderabad were to play their final Vijay Hazare Trophy leaguestage game against Jammu and Kashmir at the Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground CVarma was subsequently taken to the hospital where scans showed he required an emergency operation In consultation with the medical team at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru Varma was successfully operated on and is believed to be doing well nowâIt was a very emergency situation for Tilak to be operated upon considering the immense pain he was in Thankfully the surgery went well on Wednesday evening at a superspeciality hospital in Rajkot If all goes well he could well be discharged tomorrow It will be known in next 12 days about his status of playing next monthâs T20 World Cupâ sources saidA top sports medicine specialist told IANS on condition of anonymity that it takes a maximum of one month for athletes to recover from this kind of emergency surgery âThe recovery duration also depends on how extensive the tissue damage was Only pain is a factor in these emergency scenarios as the operation is done on a highly innervated structure where it twists on itself and cuts blood supplyâ further said the specialistThe injury raises concerns about Varmas availability for the T20 World Cup which begins on February 7 India are scheduled to open their campaign against the United States of America USA on the same day at the Wankhede Stadium in MumbaiVarma has been a key figure in Indias T20I setup amassing 1183 runs in 37 innings at an average of 4929 and a strike rate of 14409 He has scored two centuries and six halfcenturies in the format His absence could see India captain Suryakumar Yadav bat at number threeThe BCCI has yet to name a replacement for Varma in the fivematch series against New Zealand which begins on January 21 in Nagpur It is understood that Varmaâs absence could open the door for someone like Shreyas Iyer to play in the T20Is against New Zealand IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/tilak-varma-undergoes-emergency-surgery-likely-to-miss-nz-t20is-657407.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-rejects-bcbs-request-to-stage-t20-wc-games-out-of-india-report-657343.html New Delhi Jan 7 The International Cricket Council has reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB that their request to stage Bangladeshâs World Cup matches outside India on security grounds had been declined Last week BCB formally requested that the ICC shift all of Bangladeshs T20 World Cup matches out of India citing growing concerns about the safety and security of its contingentICC authorities and BCB officials on Tuesday held a virtual meeting and according to an ESPNcricinfo report the ICC is understood to have stated that Bangladesh would need to travel to India to fulfil its fixtures or risk forfeiting competition pointsBCB however claimed that no such warning or ultimatum was communicated to them Moreover an ICC source said that no decision has been taken on BCBs request to relocate all of Bangladeshs matches to a venue outside IndiaNeither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official statement clarifying the outcome of the callThe uncertainty comes with less than a month remaining before the 20team tournament begins on February 7 India and Sri Lanka will cohost the event which will run through March 8Bangladesh drawn in Group C are slated to play their opening three matches in Kolkata West Indies on February 7 Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 before concluding the group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17The BCBâs outreach to the ICC followed a directive from the BCCI to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman who had been signed at the December auction for Rs 92 crore He was the sole Bangladesh player picked up at the IPL 2026 auction IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/icc-rejects-bcbs-request-to-stage-t20-wc-games-out-of-india-report-657343.html Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-named-mumbai-skipper-for-remainder-of-vijay-hazare-trophy-games-657154.html New Delhi Jan 5 Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as captain of Mumbai for the remainder of their Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group C games in Jaipur said the Mumbai Cricket Association MCA on Monday Shreyas will take over the captaincy from injured regular skipper Shardul Thakur who has been sidelined from the rest of the competition due to injury Mumbai are currently at second place in Group C and will take on Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday before facing Punjab on January 8âThe Mumbai Cricket Association MCA is pleased to announce that Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai senior menâs team for the remaining league matches of the Vijay Hazare TrophyââShreyas Iyer will take over the leadership responsibilities in place of Shardul Thakur who has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury and is currently unavailable for selection An experienced international cricketer with proven leadership credentials Shreyas Iyer brings calmness tactical acumen and a strong understanding of the gameâThe Association is confident that under his captaincy the Mumbai team will continue to perform with determination and uphold Mumbai cricketâs rich legacy The Mumbai Cricket Association wishes Shardul Thakur a speedy recovery and extends its best wishes to Shreyas Iyer and the entire Mumbai squad for the upcoming matchesâ said MCA Secretary Prof Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar in the statementInterestingly Iyer has been named in the squad for the threematch ODI series against New Zealand starting in Vadodara on January 11 His inclusion for that series though depends on the fitness clearance after playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy games for MumbaiIf Iyer clears his fitness tests then the MCA will have to appoint a new captain for the knockouts of the Vijay Hazare Trophy starting on January 12 at the BCCI CoE Grounds in Bengaluru Iyer was out of action due to a serious spleen injury sustained while taking a diving catch of Australia wicketkeeperbatter Alex Carey in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground in October last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-named-mumbai-skipper-for-remainder-of-vijay-hazare-trophy-games-657154.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-decision-yet-kapil-dev-on-bangladesh-players-participation-in-pgti-events-657156.html New Delhi Jan 5 Former India cricketer and current PGTI president Kapil Dev has said nothing has been decided yet on the participation of Bangladesh players amid the ongoing tension between the two neighbouring countries He said that PGTI will hold a board meeting to discuss the matter Tensions have increased between two nations in recent weeks following reports of violent incidents against religious minorities in the country According to the PGTI chief a meeting will be held soon to discuss the participation of players from Bangladesh Jamal Hossain Md Siddikur Rahman and Md Akbar Hossain are the notable golf players from Bangladesh competing in the PGTI tourThere has been no decision yet regarding the participation of Bangladesh players in the PGTI A board meeting will be held after which the matter will be discussed and an update will be shared with everyone legendary cricketer and current PGTI President Kapil Dev told IANSAmid increasing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh the BCCI directed the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders KKR to release pace spearhead Mustafizur Rahman from the squadIn response the Bangladesh government on Monday ordered the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the upcoming IPL seasonâIt is hereby informed that a directive issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI has come to notice whereby Bangladeshâs star cricketer Mr Mustafizur Rahman has been excluded from the Kolkata Knight Riders team for the Indian Premier League IPL cricket tournament scheduled to commence on March 26 2026 No reasonable justification for such a decision by the BCCI is known and this decision has caused pain distress and anger among the people of Bangladeshâ read a statement from Bangladeshâs Ministry of Information and BroadcastingDue to growing concerns regarding security and advice provided by their government the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB on Sunday requested the ICC to relocate all their T20 World Cup matches scheduled in February to Sri LankaIndia and Sri Lanka are scheduled to cohost the 2026 ICC Menâs T20 World Cup with matches slated across multiple venues in both countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/no-decision-yet-kapil-dev-on-bangladesh-players-participation-in-pgti-events-657156.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/marizanne-kapp-credits-wpl-for-accelerating-growth-of-indian-domestic-players-657159.html New Delhi Jan 5 Veteran South Africa seambowling allrounder Marizanne Kapp has lauded the Womens Premier League WPL for accelerating the growth of young Indian cricketers since its inception in 2023 With experience across playing in multiple franchise T20 tournaments worldwide Marizanne is uniquely positioned to assess the impact of WPL through her time of interacting with young players at Delhi Capitals DC since 2023âI think just in general if you look at the WPLâs first year it was probably mainly your internationals performing and your Indian international players performing well From years two and three you could already see there was a bigger impact from the domestic players and I think thats the beauty of these leaguesâLike at first especially if youre not used to international cricket or playing against international players it can be difficult at times Then I feel like once these youngsters actually start playing with international cricketers and they realise âHey I can still perform against the best in the worldâ it just gives them a different level of confidence and I think you see that throughout the performances of the domestic playersâSo theres no specific thing like batting bowling or fielding I can mention I think its just in general weve seen a lot more matchwinning performances from domestic playersâ Marizanne told IANS in a select media roundtable ahead of the new WPL season starting on January 9Asked about maintaining consistency in the notoriously unpredictable T20 format Marizanne suggested theres no onesizefitsall approach with success dependent on individual playing styles and selfawarenessâI think its a bit of both to be honest It depends on what type of player you are especially as a batter You have people who actually perform better when they just go out and trust their instincts and just see ball hit ball Then you have your other say stroke players that need a bit of time to get themselves set and then go at itâSo I think its different for everyone But obviously the more you get to play it you learn a lot about yourself I feel like even if you have to compare my own career like ODI cricket by now I know exactly how I want to structure my game training innings when Im batting or bowlingâ she saidDespite her wealth of experience accumulated since 2009 Marizanne admitted T20 cricket still continues to present fresh challenges and learning opportunities for her âWith T20 cricket even me at this age Im still learning a lot about myself So I think its different in every league and every wicket you play on and probably just about adapting and being a bit smarterâWith the advent of T20 leagues Marizanne candidly acknowledged the physical toll of the demanding schedule leading to changes in her training and recovery regimen especially the move towards maintenancefocused exercisesâLook its not always been easy Im not going to lie The body is sore and a bit sore some days but Ive really worked hard So in the past for example before I would put in extremely hardwork and by the time I get to two pm Id hardly do any gym sessions and just focus on cricket mainlyâNow that Im a bit older Ive really tried to throughout the competition the primers we do I started to really join in on that and focus a lot more on mobility and the smaller almost like rehab kind of exercises So thats something I try and do on a daily basisâSo I moved away from lifting heavy weights Everything is more about maintenance now and just keeping the smaller areas body parts conditioned I would say thats probably been my main focusâ she concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/marizanne-kapp-credits-wpl-for-accelerating-growth-of-indian-domestic-players-657159.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-2025-26-one-of-those-rare-occasions-where-it-actually-came-off-says-neser-on-root-dismissal-657175.html Sydney Jan 5 Australiaâs seam bowling allrounder Michael Neser said the plan behind executing Joe Roots dismissal was âone of those rare occasions where it actually came offâ On the second day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground Neser finished with four wickets including taking out Root who made 160 â his 41st Test century âI havent bowled a bouncer to him in ages and I think I might surprise him if I try to bowl a bouncer there And its one of those rare occasions where it actually came off and worked The chances dont come very often so youve got to try to take everything Ive always prided myself on catchingâ Neser told reporters at the end of the dayâs playAt the same time Neser acknowledged that Root is not an easy batter to bowl to âHes a tricky one to bowl to especially when hes in that touch Your margin of error is very smallâHe seems to manipulate the ball very well off the stumps Even then when you go a bit wider in the channel he works you off down to third man so well Hes a class player Thats why hes going to go down as one of the alltime greatsâ he addedBy the time the day ended Travis Headâs unbeaten 91 from 87 balls took Australia to 1662 in 341 overs and trail England by 218 runs Neser said Head is really clear about what he is doingKnowing him from his younger days hes still figuring out his game but at the moment he seems really clear about what hes doingEvery ball hes looking to score His handeye coordination is amazing You think youve beaten him with the ball and all of a sudden hes slapped you through point for four We all love the way Travis bats because the scoreboard seems to moveâ added NeserHe signed off by giving his take on the heated exchange between Marnus Labuschagne and England skipper Ben Stokes just before stumps Stokes eventually had the last laugh by dismissing Labuschagne for 48 He said his teammate is such a strong competitor that he can get under your skin IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-2025-26-one-of-those-rare-occasions-where-it-actually-came-off-says-neser-on-root-dismissal-657175.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-world-cup-ponting-backs-out-of-form-skipper-suryakumar-yadav-to-help-india-defend-title-657209.html New Delhi Jan 5 Former Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting has backed outofform India skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled to kick off on February 7 Yadav has been out of form and has managed just 218 runs across 19 innings with a belowpar strike rate of 12316 in 2025 However Ponting showed his trust in the Indian skipper and urged him to back his aggressive style of play âThats as big a surprise for me just looking at his recent form Hes been such a solid and consistent contributor for India in T20 cricket for a long time and just hasnt been able to find it of lateâ Ponting told ICC âHes an interesting one because when Ive seen him play his best hes taken six or eight or 10 balls to get going and then just lets it all goâ said PontingâHe plays all of his shots and backs himself and a bit like Travis Head where it almost looks like they dont ever fear getting outâ Ponting noted âThats what Id say to him Id be saying think about scoring runs dont think about getting out Trust yourself back yourself Youre proven to be as good as anybody in the world in the T20 format and go and prove it to everybody once againâPonting welcomed the teams decision to appoint 31yearold Axar Patel as the vicecaptain on the tour praising his allround ability as the hosts look to become the first T20 team to defend the titleâI mean actually Patels been their goto man really hasnt heâ said Ponting âThe last few series hes been their pinch hitter at different times Theyve batted him up the order at number three When theyve needed that lefthand righthand combination hes been the man to go out and try and do it for them and hes obviously ever consistent with his leftarm off spin as wellâPonting was surprised by the exclusion of India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup squad but was in praise of the teams batting depth The righthanded opener has struggled to cement his place in the top order and has managed just 291 runs across 15 innings with a highest score of 47âYeah I couldnt believe thatâ Ponting said when speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC ReviewâI know his recent form hasnt been great in whiteball cricket And the last time that I really saw much of him play was the Test series against England in the UK where he batted as well as Ive ever seen anybody batâPonting noted that the wealth of options allows the selectors to leave out a player of Gillâs calibreâI mean one Im surprised but two it just shows the depth of Indian cricketâ Ponting stated âIf you can think that someone as good as Shubman Gill doesnt get picked in a World Cup squad then it goes to show how many good players they do have IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/t20-world-cup-ponting-backs-out-of-form-skipper-suryakumar-yadav-to-help-india-defend-title-657209.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-gujarat-giants-visit-siddhivinayak-temple-in-mumbai-to-seek-blessings-657226.html Mumbai Jan 5 As the countdown to the Womenâs Premier League WPL 2026 begins the Gujarat Giants are blending preparation with perspective On Monday the Adani Sportslineowned franchise visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to seek blessings ahead of the new season which gets underway on January 9 in Navi Mumbai Head coach Michael Klinger and bowling coach Pravin Tambe were joined by players Tanuja Kanwar Bharti Fulmali and Ayushi Soni along with Video Analyst Saurabh Walkar and Sanjay Adesara chief business officer Adani Sportsline at the temple The visit marked a quiet moment of reflection as the team sharpened its focus for the campaign aheadCurrently in Mumbai for their preseason camp the Giants are finetuning combinations and settling into rhythm ahead of what promises to be a demanding season Having reached the WPL playoffs for the first time last year the emphasis this time is on building momentum early and sustaining it through the tournamentGujarat Giants face UP Warriorz in their WPL 2026 opener on Saturday January 10 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai The side will look to build on last seasonâs momentum as it sets its sights on a title challengeAustralian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants before the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her name IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-gujarat-giants-visit-siddhivinayak-temple-in-mumbai-to-seek-blessings-657226.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aussie-great-damien-martyn-wakes-up-from-induced-coma-gilchrist-confirms-657009.html New Delhi Jan 4 Australian cricket great Damien Martyn came out of an induced coma on Sunday and has been showing encouraging signs of improvement as he continues his recovery after being diagnosed with meningitis Martyn who represented Australia in 67 Test matches fell ill on Boxing Day and was taken to hospital on the Gold Coast late last month where he was placed in an induced coma He remains under medical care as his condition continues to stabiliseMartyns close friend and former Aussie wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has revealed that the 54yearold former batter has made incredible progress in treatment and could be moved out of the ICU soonâHe is now able to talk and respond to treatment He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma to the point where his family feels itâs like some sort of miracle Gilchrist told News CorpâIt has been so positive that theyâre hopeful he will be able to move out of the ICU into another part of the hospital which is representative of what a great recovery itâs been and how quickly it has flipped aroundâ he addedGilchrist also revealed that he spoke to Martyn via FaceTime and said âHeâs very groggy and far from 100 per cent But he is certainly communicating and slowly getting an understanding of the enormity of the situationâI think he is a little overwhelmed that people would respond to him in such a positive way which is a beautiful statement not just from the cricket community but from the wider community as well said GilchristMartynâs wife Amanda provided an update on Saturday saying he was progressing well and expressing deepest appreciation to the medical team at Gold Coast University HospitalMartyn was instrumental in Australias 2003 ODI World Cup final victory over India scoring an unbeaten 88 despite batting with a broken finger and forming a crucial 234run partnership with captain Ricky PontingHe was part of the side that also won the 1999 ODI World Cup and the 2006 Champions Trophy After his playing career ended Martyn briefly worked as a commentatorDuring his career Martyn scored 4406 runs in Test matches at an average of 4637Martyn also played 208 ODIs scoring 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not out He made a famous 88 not out in the 2003 World Cup final batting with a broken finger and sharing an epic partnership with captain Ricky Ponting as Australia beat India IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/aussie-great-damien-martyn-wakes-up-from-induced-coma-gilchrist-confirms-657009.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ponting-predicts-australias-squad-for-2027-ashes-657010.html Sydney Jan 4 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has mapped out his vision for the next Ashes battle in England in 2027 backing a largely familiar core after Australia comfortably retained the urn at home against England Speaking on 7 Cricket the 51yearold made only minimal changes to the current Test setup placing his faith in the experience and durability of senior campaigners Steve Smith and Nathan LyonBoth endured injury setbacks during the ongoing 2025â26 Ashes with Lyon featuring in only a couple of Tests and Smith missing one match but have firmly dismissed retirement speculation and their proven success in English conditions further strengthened Pontingâs stancePonting also threw his support behind Pat Cummins to continue leading the side through to 2027 naming him captain of his predicted squad designed to balance established performers with emerging talentAlex Carey was retained as wicketkeeper in Pontingâs predicted lineup With 47 Tests and over 2400 runs Carey has evolved into a reliable lowerorder batter and a steady presence behind the stumps particularly during highpressure Ashes encounters in both England and AustraliaThe most notable inclusion was uncapped youngster Campbell Kellaway whom Ponting identified as a longterm investment for Australian cricket He also reiterated his backing of Cameron Green despite a modest run of form in the current series while suggesting Josh Inglis could play a pivotal role in the 2027 contestPonting believes Marnus Labuschagne Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will continue to be central to Australiaâs plans while fast bowlers Scott Boland and Jhye Richardson remain locked in a battle for a permanent spot in the playing XIRicky Pontingâs predicted Australia squad for Ashes 2027 Pat Cummins c Alex Carey wk Scott Boland Travis Head Cameron Green Josh Inglis Campbell Kellaway Mitchell Starc Jhye Richardson Marnus Labuschagne Josh Hazlewood Todd Murphy Steve Smith Nathan Lyon Beau Webster Oliver Peake IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ponting-predicts-australias-squad-for-2027-ashes-657010.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-will-not-travel-to-india-for-t20-wc-govt-advisor-asif-nazrul-657012.html New Delhi Jan 4 Bangladesh will not travel to India to play in the T20 World Cup said Asif Nazrul an advisor to Bangladesh who also oversees the countrys youth and sports ministry After ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh led to the removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL the countrys cricket board called an emergency meeting of BCB officials and concerned authorities to determine the next course of action following Mustafizurs release from the IPLIn a Facebook post Nazrul said that during the meeting the BCB decided against travelling to India for the T20 World Cup âBangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken this decision today We welcome this decision which has been taken in the context of the aggressive communal policies of the Indian Cricket Boardâ he saidRahman who became the most expensive Bangladeshi player ever after KKR secured his services for Rs 920 crore at last monthâs miniauction was released from the IPL squad following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCIWith the BCCI not allowing Rahman to play in India following a demand by some people due to the killing of Hindus by mobs in Bangladesh Nazrul expressed apprehension about the safety of its players in India and therefore sought a change of venueI have instructed the Cricket Control Board to submit a written explanation of the entire matter to the ICC The Board should clearly state that when a Bangladeshi cricketer despite being under contract is unable to play in India the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling there to participate in the World Cup I have also directed the Board to request that Bangladeshâs World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka Nazrul had written in an earlier Facebook postBangladesh are scheduled to play T20 World Cup matches against the West Indies on February 7 Italy on February 9 England on February 14 and Nepal on February 17 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai respectivelyFurthermore Nazrul has asked the advisor to stop broadcasting IPL matches in Bangladesh Additionally I have asked the Adviser for Information and Broadcasting to suspend the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh Under no circumstances will we tolerate any disrespect toward Bangladesh cricket Bangladeshi cricketers or Bangladesh itself he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/bangladesh-will-not-travel-to-india-for-t20-wc-govt-advisor-asif-nazrul-657012.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-lack-of-spin-bowling-has-made-cricket-in-this-series-one-dimensional-says-atherton-657020.html Sydney Jan 4 Former England captain Michael Atherton believes the ongoing Ashes series has become onedimensional due to the lack of spin bowling caused by pitches being more in favour of fast bowlers England did not select a specialist spinner for any of the five matches with offspinner Shoaib Bashir overlooked while Will Jacks bowled occasional offspin but was not considered a frontline optionAustralia meanwhile named Nathan Lyon for the first and third Tests but omitted the veteran offspinner from the daynight fixture in Brisbane before losing him to a hamstring injury sustained during their seriesclinching victory in Adelaide The hosts opted against replacing Lyon with fellow offspinner Todd Murphy in both Melbourne and Sydney TestsIt means the cricket we have seen in this series has been a bit onedimensional Looking at the pitch on day one in Sydney you wouldnt say it offered enough for five seamers but that is not to say it is going to turn on the last day either We will have to wait and seeNot picking a spinner may be a reflection on Murphy if Lyon had been fit I imagine he might have played Murphy is not a bad bowler but he is no Lyon Pitches have become more uniform and less varied partly because of the dropins at the multisport grounds like Brisbane and AdelaideSydney used to be the outlier in terms of spin and if thats gone the way of the other grounds in terms of more grass left on there is a lack of variety and that is not necessarily a good thing for the game What you want to see in a fiveTest series is the whole range of skills said Atherton on Sky Sportsâ Cricket PodcastExEngland captain Nasser Hussain expressed a different perspective I think you have to be careful The forecast is to be hot and you have to pick a side for the last day as well as the first day However I think both captains feel that with the heat the cracks will open up and thats when you want your seamers IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-lack-of-spin-bowling-has-made-cricket-in-this-series-one-dimensional-says-atherton-657020.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/indu-barma-to-lead-nepal-squad-for-womens-t20-wc-global-qualifier-657039.html Kathmandu Jan 4 Nepal Cricket on Sunday announced a 15member squad for the ICC Womenâs T20 World Cup Global Qualifier to be held in Nepal from January 18 to February 1 Indu Barma will continue to lead the side with Puja Mahato appointed as vicecaptain as the hosts prepare for a crucial qualifying campaign in home conditionsThe Global Qualifier will feature teams from Bangladesh Ireland the Netherlands Namibia Nepal Papua New Guinea Scotland Thailand the USA and Zimbabwe The teams have been divided into two groups of five with Ireland placed in Group A Following the group stage the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six round from which the top four teams will qualify for the Womenâs T20 World CupThe 2026 Womenâs T20 World Cup will be held in England and Wales in June and will feature 12 teams competing in 33 matches This marks an expansion from the 10team tournaments held in Bangladesh in 2024 and South Africa in February 2023Eight teams have already secured qualification for the 2026 edition including hosts England along with Australia India New Zealand South Africa West Indies Pakistan and Sri Lanka The remaining four spots will be decided through the global qualifying tournamentThe inaugural Womenâs T20 World Cup was staged in England in 2009 where the hosts claimed the title by defeating New Zealand in the final Australia dominated the next three editions in 2010 2012 and 2014 before the West Indies broke the streak in 2016 with a final victory over Australia in IndiaAustralia reclaimed supremacy by winning three consecutive titles in 2018 2020 and 2023 The most recent edition in 2024 hosted by the United Arab Emirates saw New Zealand defeat South Africa in the final to lift the trophyNepal SquadIndu Barma c Puja Mahato Rubina Chhetri Sita Rana Magar Bindu Rawal Samjhana Khadka Kajal Shrestha Kabita Joshi Kabita Kunwar Rachana Chaudhary Riya Sharma Roma Thapa Suman Bista Rajmati Airee Manisha Upadhaya IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/indu-barma-to-lead-nepal-squad-for-womens-t20-wc-global-qualifier-657039.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-aus-reach-1662-at-stumps-on-day-2-after-eng-dismissed-for-384-657120.html Sydney Jan 5 Travis Heads unbeaten 91 and Marnus Labuschagnes 48 propelled Australia forward as the hosts reached 1662 at stumps on Day 2 responding to Englands 384 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday Head who is within touching distance of a 12th Test hundred and the third ton of this series combined with Labuschagne for a rapid 105run partnership in the evening session Australia are still trailing England by 218 runs with Head and nightwatcher Michael Neser 1 unbeaten in the middleEngland were bowled out for 384 off 973 overs Joe Root scored his 41st Test century matching Australian great Ricky Ponting He was 72 not out overnight and went on to make a fine 160 helping England post their highest total of the seriesEngland resumed on 2113 on Monday after play ended early on day one In the third over of the morning Harry Brook was out for 84 ending his 169run partnership with Root Brook fell 16 runs short of his first Ashes hundredSoon after England captain Ben Stokes was out for a duck dismissed by Mitchell Starc for the 14th time in Test cricket He edged a sharp rising ball to wicketkeeper Alex Carey Although the onfield umpire ruled not out Australia reviewed the decision and Snicko showed a faint edge leading to Stokes being given outBut Root held his nerve and reached triple figures off 146 deliveries with a firm punch down the ground while Jamie Smith had a reprieve after drinks when Cameron Green overstepped after the batter hit one straight to the cover fielderSteve Smith then turned to Labuschagne with a shortball ploy which paid dividends immediately as Jamie made room but played his hop shot straight to Scott Boland in the deep breaking the 94run stand as the visitors reached 3366 at lunchAfter lunch England continued to score freely as Will Jacks and Joe Root added quick runs with Root reaching a landmark 150 However Australia struck back after drinks with Michael Neser and Cameron GreenNeser dismissed Jacks and Brydon Carse edged Green to keeper Alex Carey Neser then took a brilliant caughtandbowled to remove Root and followed it up by dismissing Josh Tongue two balls later England lost their last four wickets for just nine runs and were bowled out for 384Brief Scores England 384 Joe Root 160 Harry Brook 84 Michael Neser 460 Scott Boland 285 lead Australia 1662 Travis Head 91 Marnus Labuschagne 48 Ben Stokes 230 by 218 runs IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-aus-reach-1662-at-stumps-on-day-2-after-eng-dismissed-for-384-657120.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rohit-kohli-should-keep-playing-if-theyre-enjoying-it-syed-kirmani-657138.html New Delhi Jan 5 Few voices carry the weight of perspective like Syed Kirmaniâs A 1983 World Cup winner from an era when Indian cricket was still carving its identity the former wicketkeeper has witnessed the gameâs evolution from instinctdriven leadership to databacked decisionmaking from conservative batting to fearless intent As a relatively young Indian team prepares to defend the T20 World Cup title Kirmani reflected on the squadâs balance the pressure points of knockout cricket debatable selection decisions and the enduring value of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat KohliSpeaking exclusively to IANS Kirmani offered both reassurance and reflection on where Indian cricket stands todayExcerptsIANS Both Rohit and Kohli have been in great form in ODIs They also performed brilliantly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy scoring centuries for their respective teams While that surely is a boost for them do they need to keep participating in domestic gameSK Yes they should keep playing if theyre enjoying cricket Critics will always criticise and they want new blood in the game Everyone desires fresh players so theres no reason for concern Let them decide for themselves Their experience is a valuable support to the team and seasoned players are always needed We should not discourage themLeave the decision of when to retire to them Domestic cricket also helps young players aiming for the national team Experienced domestic players whether in Vijay Hazare or other tournaments can guide these aspiring cricketersAs long as they are contributing let them be Cricket is played extensively through various tournaments Its up to the players how they conduct themselves and maintain their fitness They should focus on competitions where they can excel and get selected They should also decide when to take restIANS For major tournaments like the World Cup key players can be chosen based on their form and fitness Ultimately their consistency and performance are crucialSK The ODI WC is over a year away and the duo play only ODIs and IPL majorly What would be your suggestion to them as they prepare for the World Cup with limited game time in their hand Also how important it is for senior players like them to continue featuring in ODIs not just for performance but for guiding the next generationSK Let them play as long as they want whether in domestic cricket or other oneday formats Theyve already announced their retirement from Test cricket So they are primarily interested in ODIs but they should be allowed to play as much as they can They are iconic players with impressive records You cant just overlook them As I said leave the decision to themâlet them decide when to retireIANS Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have delivered iconic performances in ODI World Cups How do you think their World Cup contributions shape their overall legacy in Indian cricketSK They have set a great example for young players to follow With impressive records behind them they serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for aspiring cricketers while they are active Young players should study how capable they are and the records they have set Instead of merely wishing to be like players A B C or D they should aim to be better than them That should be their primary focus and guiding principleIANS As someone who has seen Indian cricket evolve across generations how do you assess the balance and mindset of Indiaâs current T20 World Cup squad Do you see it as a squad capable of defending the titleSK Indeed there is no doubt that cricket has undergone significant changes from our era to the current one The gameâs system and playersâ mindsets have evolved considerably There has been more aggression both on and off the field and technology has played a much larger role than it did during our time Back then there were no coaches or support staff We did win the World Cup after all so change is necessaryNew concepts innovations and systems are essential for progress Regarding that I believe the current T20 team selected for the World Cup is very well balanced The captain often gets the spotlight when the team wins but itâs truly a team effort Recognition goes to the captain the coach and the entire squad as all contribute to the success Itâs the collective effort that influences the overall resultTeam has a strong batting order and three or four allrounders In limitedovers cricket having more allrounders is crucial since any of them could be the key to success So its a very balanced squad and a remarkable effort by the Indian teamRegarding players who havent been selected theres an incredible pool of talent in our country so much so that we could form four Indian teams if you ask me Everyone is competing for a spot and if you dont perform in a couple of innings someone else gets the chance This fierce competition within our country is a positive signTheres no doubt you need an immediate replacement whether its an allrounder a bowler a spinner a batsman or a captain you have them Currently there are two or three captains in the team alongside Surya Kumar Yadav I commend the selection committee for their efforts because they faced tough competition in choosing players Theyve done an excellent job in selecting the teams for the World Cup and the series against New ZealandIANS What in your view is the biggest strength of this Indian T20 side and what is the one area that could potentially hurt them in highpressure knockout matchesSK Its crucial to understand your own capabilities and strengths to lead the team through a crisis Knowing how to fight and lift the team during challenging times is very important You should select a player preferably at number 7 or 8 who can handle pressure and help the team escape trouble Identifying such a player is now essentialI find it difficult to talk about myself but I started as a stroke player As I improved to a higher level of the game I was often sent in during times of crisis and I was able to handle that pressure Its important for a team to have one or two such players and I believe they are present Right they areMany players are capable of withstanding pressure but our main strength lies in our batting Our batting is effectively supported by our spinners and medium pacers They perform well at various points in the game and then our spinners step in which is crucial This balance makes our team very strong and wellroundedIANS Many say that India are too conservative in ICC tournaments Does this squad reflect a more fearless T20 approach now that we have moved towards the younger generation or are we still cautious by natureSK Criticism will always exist even if were performing well as it cannot be controlled However we are not conservative we are much ahead and moving with the wind Based on this we are doing a great job Weve overcome crises several times As I mentioned the team was in bad shape but recovered after losing the first two games and levelling the series These are the thrilling uncertainties that make cricket such a great game So yes the squad does reflect a fearless approachIANS There were a lot of talks around the management not considering Shubman Gill for the World Cup With him being the captain of the ODI and Test teams and also being the vicecaptain of the T20I side in the recent South Africa home series is this the right callSK Shubman Gill has been in poor form recently Despite his past achievements such as his outstanding performance in England 202425 where he set records as both a captain and an opening batsman he was overlooked due to his slump Its important to recognise that everyone even the greatest players faces good and bad times Bad form is a regular part of every athletes journey regardless of their consistency or greatnessYou cant ignore when hes in poor form So that was a bit disappointing for sure There might be personal reasons behind Shubman Gillâs unavailability which he could have communicated However there should be clarity when a player is not selected or is dropped Theres a difference between not being chosen and being dropped and reasonsâsuch as personal issuesâshould be shared similar to how foreign players or the selection committee communicateConsidering such great form suddenly dropping into poor form requires resilience You must withstand and overlook these fluctuations without sidelining a player who performed well in earlier matchesCorrect His excellent form outstanding innings especially the iconic one in England against England shouldnt be ignored You see as poor form occurs that doesnt necessarily mean removing the player from the team So if he was dropped because of his form donât think it was the right callIANS Rishabh Pant was also not considered for the T20 World Cup and heâs been a bit on and off in the international setup now He played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is now named in the ODI squad Do you think this is the playerâs approach or a tactical strategy by the selectorsSK He has got a lot of age behind him and he is a talent in abundance There is no two ways about it So he cannot be overlooked But at the same time there is so much competition for him There are four or five wicketkeepers You cannot overlook their performance either And off and on he has not been very consistent in meeting the teams requirements So that doesnt mean that he should be sidelined totally As and when he is in good form he can be brought in at any time IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/rohit-kohli-should-keep-playing-if-theyre-enjoying-it-syed-kirmani-657138.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-might-have-wanted-100-retiring-khawaja-explains-88-test-matches-shout-out-to-his-dad-656982.html Sydney Jan 4 Retiring Australian batter Usman Khawaja has paid tribute to his parents crediting the sacrifices they made during his childhood as he reflected on a career that spanned 88 Test matches During a press conference on Friday Khawaja announced his decision to retire from international cricket and gave a shoutout to his parents Tariq and Fozia and jokingly asked his father â88 Test matches Dad is that enoughâOn Sunday Khawaja explained the remark before the fifth Test began at the SCG revealing the deeper meaning behind the humourâHe might have wanted 100 knowing Tariq He literally uprooted our whole lives to come to Australia We had decent lives in Pakistan We had a decent big house Mum had a leisurely life over there and he left all of that just to give us a better lifestyle over hereI remember when Mum was quite upset when moving to Australia and I never understood it when I was young but now I get it Her whole life got turned upside downâ Khawaja saidKhawaja also spoke candidly about the early struggles his family faced after migrating to Australia describing the financial and emotional challenges that followedDespite the difficulties he said he remains profoundly grateful to his parents for the choices they made which ultimately enabled him to represent Australia at the highest level for more than a decadeâWe struggled with coming to Australia at the start The currency change was hard Dad couldnât find a new job He didnât have a job when he came here so looking back on the sacrifices he made for us kids I said to my Dad âIs this enoughâ No Test match would have been enough but my Dad just loves cricket so every time I go out and play I know Iâm putting a smile on his faceâIt has been a ride Even playing one Test was amazing but to do it for 15 odd years and 88 matches itâs quite surreal My journey has been up and down Itâs taken me quite a while to get those 88 matches but I wouldnât change it for the worldâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-might-have-wanted-100-retiring-khawaja-explains-88-test-matches-shout-out-to-his-dad-656982.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-progressing-well-damien-martyns-wife-gives-health-update-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656990.html New Delhi Jan 4 Former Australian Test batter Damien Martynâs wife said that the 54yearold is showing encouraging signs of improvement as he continues his recovery after being placed in an induced coma while receiving treatment for meningitis Martyn who represented Australia in 67 Test matches was taken to the hospital on the Gold Coast late last month after falling seriously unwell He remains under medical care as his condition continues to stabiliseDamien is progressing well with his medical treatment We would like to thank everyone for the incredible outpouring of support our family has received We also want to express our deepest appreciation to the medical team at Gold Coast University Hospital who have been nothing short of amazing throughout this challenging time This has been a trying time and the family ask that you respect their privacy Martyns partner Amanda told News CorpMartyn had been an active voice on social media as recently as Christmas Eve when he shared his thoughts on the Ashes series before being struck down by meningitis a serious condition involving inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cordNews of his illness prompted an outpouring of support from across the cricketing world with former teammates and rivals including Adam Gilchrist VVS Laxman and Michael Vaughan publicly sending messages of encouragementA Darwin native Martyn made his Test debut at just 21 in the 1992â93 home series against the West Indies replacing Dean Jones and was appointed captain of Western Australia by the age of 23One of the finest moments of his international career came in India in 2004 when he was named player of the series in Australiaâs most recent Test series victory on Indian soil Martyn topped the scoring charts in four of Australiaâs eight innings during the fiercely contested BorderGavaskar Trophy campaignHis highest Test score of 165 came against New Zealand in 2005 part of a career that yielded 13 centuries in the baggy green Martyn brought his Test career to a close midway through the 2006â07 Ashes series with his final appearance at the Adelaide OvalIn the oneday arena Martyn played 208 matches for Australia averaging 408 He played a pivotal role in the 2003 World Cup final finishing unbeaten on 88 as Australia defeated India to claim the titleAfter retiring Martyn spent a brief period in commentary before largely stepping back from the public eye maintaining a low profile in recent years IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/he-progressing-well-damien-martyns-wife-gives-health-update-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656990.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/defending-champions-mumbai-indians-unveil-wpl-2026-jersey-656711.html Mumbai Jan 2 Defending champions Mumbai Indians on Friday unveiled the WPL 2026 jersey continuing the tradition of drawing inspiration from the city of Mumbai and its peopleââ The jersey mirrors the rhythm of everyday Mumbai â always in motion always playing on This season the iconic blue and gold with the coral represents movement resilience and momentumThe core theme is the Wicket Pulse the blue adorning the front and back of the jersey inspired by Mumbaiâs constant motion â from local trains and sea waves It reflects the neverslowing mindset that defines both Mumbai and the Mumbai Indians MI said in a statementThe gold adds confidence and continuity elements that power the spirit of Mumbai while the subtle coral accents bring warmth and balance that the people of Mumbai have for one another and makes the OneFamily unique it addedMI have commenced their preseason training under the leadership of head coach Lisa Keightley bowling coach and team mentor Jhulan Goswami batting coach Devieka Palshikaar other support staff The players who have already arrived to join the camp are Saika Ishaque Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha N Kranthi Reddy Rahila Firdous Shabnim Ismail and the Australian duo of Milly Illingworth and Nicola CareyWith the squad coming together steadily and more star players like skipper Harmanpreet Kaur Nat SciverBrunt Amanjot Kaur to arrive in the coming daysThe defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament on January 9 against the WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi MumbaiNotably after three seasons of the WPL the Mumbai Indians remain the most successful team having won the first and third editions of the tournament With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team they aim to defend their title successfully IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/defending-champions-mumbai-indians-unveil-wpl-2026-jersey-656711.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-win-in-sydney-would-tell-a-lot-about-england-team-says-crawley-656713.html Sydney Jan 2 England opener Zak Crawley said a potential win in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground would show the teamâs unity despite them being unable to retain the urn After losing the first three games England got something to cheer about by getting their first Test win in Australia for 15 years at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCGI think there is a big difference just internally in the group It shows a lot about how united we are if we can get a win It the series might not go our way but if we can put in a good performance this week I think it shows a lot about us Crawley told reporters on FridayCrawley was also quick to praise England quick Matthew Potts particularly his work ethic and attitude in the nets over what has been a long two months in Australia Potts and offspinner Shoaib Bashir were added to the 12man squad for the clash in SydneyPotts has been an unused member of Englandâs touring party throughout the series but is poised for earning an 11th Test cap after last being in the playing eleven against New Zealand in late 2024 Every time I face him he impresses me Hes got the heart of a lion a lot of skill and if he gets the nod this week he thoroughly deserves it he saidCrawley further warned the touring batters will attack offspinner Todd Murphy if he is selected for his first Test on Australian soil Murphy is in contention to play in the last Ashes game in Sydney after being omitted from the Boxing Day match at the MCG where Australia fielded an allpace attackWhoever plays I think thats the mantra of our team is to try and put pressure on people Todds a very good bowler but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him like we would all their bowlersâThats going to come with some risks and if its turning its definitely going to be a threat But I think well try and put pressure on all their bowlers he concluded IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-win-in-sydney-would-tell-a-lot-about-england-team-says-crawley-656713.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/indias-white-ball-tour-of-bangladesh-included-in-bcbs-2026-international-games-itinerary-656723.html Dhaka Jan 2 India mens whiteball tour of Bangladesh has been included in the Bangladesh Cricket Boards itinerary for international matches in 2026 said the BCB on Friday Apart from India the calendar features Bangladesh hosting Pakistan New Zealand Australia and the West Indies for bilateral series in all three formats âThe confirmed itinerary ensures a season full of international cricket in Bangladesh providing supporters across the country the opportunity to watch toplevel cricket at home Details of match venues will be announced in due courseâ said the BCB in its statement on FridayIndiaâs tour of Bangladesh was originally supposed to take place in August 2025 but was moved to September 2026 due to political unrest in the country As per BCBâs itinerary India is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28The ODI series will begin on September 1 with the first match followed by the second game on September 3 and the third clash on September 6 The T20I series will commence on September 9 with the second match scheduled for September 12 and the finale game on September 13 following which the Indian team will return homePakistan will arrive in Bangladesh on March 9 for a threematch ODI series to be held from March 1216 New Zealands whiteball tour of Bangladesh will kick off with three ODIs starting April 17 and as many T20Is beginning on April 27 and ending on May 2Pakistan will arrive in Bangladesh on May 4 to play two Tests as part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle The first Test will be played from May 812 while the second game will happen from May 1620 Australias whiteball tour of Bangladesh begins on June 5 with three ODIs before the threematch T20I series will be played from June 1520After hosting India Bangladesh will play a twomatch Test series against West Indies which also comes under WTC cycle After a threeday warmup match to be held from October 2224 the first Test is slated to happen from October 28November 1 while the second game will be played from November 59BCB added that the Sri Lanka âAâ team will also tour Bangladesh in May 2026 for a series against the hosts âAâ side comprising two fourday matches and 50over games IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/indias-white-ball-tour-of-bangladesh-included-in-bcbs-2026-international-games-itinerary-656723.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/maphaka-and-smith-included-in-sa-squad-for-t20-wc-656740.html Johannesburg Jan 2 South Africa have included young pacer Kwena Maphaka and toporder batter Jason Smith in their squad for the T20 World Cup with no place for batsmen Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs Smiths selection comes on the back of his recent prolific form earning him the nod ahead of Stubbs who was in South Africaâs squad where they finished runnersup in 2024 Menâs T20 World CupSmith made his T20I debut in 2024 and boasts of a strikerate of 12830 and is currently turning out for MI Cape Town in SA20 One of his most recent standout performances came in the T20 Challenge where he struck an unbeaten 68 off 19 balls to steer the Dolphins into the playoffs in NovemberRickelton meanwhile was unable to force his way into a squad already packed with toporder options like captain Aiden Markram and wicketkeeperbatter Quinton de Kock Apart from Smith and Maphaka Corbin Bosch Dewald Brevis Tony de Zorzi Donovan Ferreira and George Linde have earned their maiden T20 World Cup callupsâWe are returning to the subcontinent where we recently competed against hosts India The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournamentâMany of the players selected for the World Cup squad were on that trip and experienced firsthand the pitches that we will likely encounter and that will stand them in good stead once we get to IndiaââWe do have one more T20I series against the West Indies before we depart for the World Cup and that squad will be announced later this monthâ said head coach Shukri Conrad in a statementKagiso Rabada returns to the T20I setup after missing the recent whiteball tour against India due to a rib injury Another notable inclusion is pacer Anrich Nortje who finished as South Africaâs leading wickettaker in the 2024 Menâs T20 World CupSouth Africa are drawn in Group D of the 2026 Menâs T20 World Cup alongside Afghanistan Canada New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates They will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in AhmedabadFormer South Africa allrounder Albie Morkel will be a part of the team as the specialist consultant âFirstly I would like to congratulate the players who will be representing South Africa at their maiden T20 World Cup This is an incredible opportunity for them in what was a difficult squad to selectâWe have had to make some big calls but we feel this group is the strongest and has every chance of succeeding in India and Sri Lanka We have assembled a worldclass squad with some of the finest and most experienced players in the game together with some of the best T20 youngsters coming throughâ said Patrick Moroney Convenor Selector for the Proteas MenSouth Africa squad Aiden Markram captain Corbin Bosch Dewald Brevis Quinton de Kock Tony de Zorzi Donovan Ferreira Marco Jansen George Linde Keshav Maharaj Kwena Maphaka David Miller Lungi Ngidi Anrich Nortje Kagiso Rabada and Jason Smith IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/maphaka-and-smith-included-in-sa-squad-for-t20-wc-656740.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/namibia-womens-cricket-team-to-tour-assam-next-week-for-white-ball-games-656753.html Guwahati Jan 2 The Namibias senior womens cricket team will play a fourmatch friendly series against Assam starting on January 8 The tour is part of a reciprocal arrangement between the Assam Cricket Association and Cricket Namibia During the tour the Namibia side will compete against the Assam senior womenâs team in a friendly series comprising two 50over matches and two T20 games The muchanticipated series is scheduled to be held from January 811 in MSA Stadium Mangaldai and the ACA Cricket Academy Ground Fulung North GuwahatiâThis international series marks a significant milestone for Assam cricket strengthening sporting relations between India and Namibia while providing an excellent platform for players from both teams to demonstrate their skills competitiveness and true spirit of the gameâThe Assam Cricket Association looks forward to hosting this exciting series celebrating the spirit of international cricket and fostering lasting sporting ties between the Assam Cricket Association and Cricket Namibiaâ said ACA Secretary Sanatan Das in a statement on FridayAs per the itinerary by the ACA the Namibian senior womenâs team will arrive in Guwahati on January 6 with a practice session and rest day scheduled for January 7 before the series beginsThe opening 50over match will be played on January 8 with the second ODI at the same venue the following day Both T20 matches are scheduled for January 10 and 11 and is followed by the Namibian team departing for home on January 12Previously a 15member Assam senior mens squad went on a fivematch 50over games tour of Namibia from June 18 to July 1 2025 Apart from this a 14member Assam senior womens side also went on a tour of Malaysia to play five 50over games from July 516 in the previous year IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/namibia-womens-cricket-team-to-tour-assam-next-week-for-white-ball-games-656753.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sri-lanka-cricket-plans-day-night-tests-at-ssc-report-656764.html Colombo Jan 2 India could be playing a Pink Ball DayNight Test when they visit Sri Lanka for a longform series next time Sri Lanka Cricket is laying the groundwork for a new chapter in the islandâs cricketing history with plans to stage DayNight Test matches at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo a report said on Friday The installation of floodlights at the Sinhalese Sports Club has now been completed and SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda said the project goes well beyond the immediate demands of the upcoming T20 World Cup the Telecom Asia Sport wwwtelecomasianet reportedThe report claimed that SLC has funded the floodlight project for Rs 18 billion as the SSC is set to host five matches of the showpiece event The other venues for the tournament will be the Pallekele International Stadium and the R Premadasa StadiumSpeaking to journalists during a media tour to unveil the project Godaliyadda said the longterm vision was for SSC to one day host DayNight Test matches While PinkBall matches have gained traction globally in recent years Sri Lanka are yet to stage one at home and the indication is that SSC will be the venue for the countryâs firstever DayNight Test the report claimedThe SSC ground will be leased for a certain number of days a year to SLC for conducting training and games It is part of the agreement that the board undertook to develop the groundBeyond the floodlights the first phase of development also included upgraded dressing rooms and a new VIP viewing area A second phase scheduled to begin after the World Cup will focus on expanding the venueâs capacity SLC plans to upgrade SSC into a 30000seat stadium a move the board believes will strengthen Sri Lankaâs case when bidding for future ICC events including womenâs and Under19 tournamentsThe SSC celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and has been the stage for many of Sri Lankan cricketâs defining moments The ground hosted matches during the 1996 World Cup and was the scene of the worldrecord partnership of 624 runs between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006Alongside SSC the Colombo Cricket Club Ground just across the road and the P Sara Oval are also undergoing upgrades the report saidSLC is meanwhile pressing ahead with plans to build a new internationalstandard cricket ground in Jaffna and has identified several other locations for future venues as demand for international facilities continues to grow IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sri-lanka-cricket-plans-day-night-tests-at-ssc-report-656764.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-feel-like-im-doing-alright-at-the-moment-steve-smith-shuts-down-retirement-talks-656788.html Sydney Jan 3 Australian standin captain Steve Smith is ready to relinquish captaincy to a younger candidate in the absence of captain Pat Cummins if that is what the selectors wish to do With Usman Khawaja hanging up his cricket boots on Sunday after the Sydney Test Nathan Lyon has already been ruled out due to injury Smith will now be the oldest player in the Australian XI side by side with Scott Boland When asked about possibly being involved in the 2027 Ashes series in England Smith indicated that he was uncertain of that possibility however he was happy to enjoy his cricket at this moment and was only focused on the current seriesIve said it for a while Im taking it daybyday seriesbyseries and well see where things land said Smith I feel like Im doing alright at the moment Im enjoying it Im contributing and having fun So theres no real end date for meI think with obviously Usman dropping off hes one of our experienced players so it probably wouldnt be ideal if him and I went out this week for instance he added So no I want to keep playingWhile Smith has been the captain for four of Cummins Ashes Tests he is nonetheless at ease with relinquishing this position to a younger candidate after Khawajas retirement if that is what the selectors wish to do According to Smith the sport has recently become more entertaining because of increases in positive results for the Australian team Following an impressive period of success the team is poised to compete again for the WTC after gaining some momentum through their recent wins and dropping points against Australia recently The loss in Melbourne has caused the team to want to win in Sydney prior to their two most difficult series in South Africa and India which take place shortly after this series concludesI think weve got a really good team Smith said in the press conference The team weve had over the last three or four years obviously making two World Test Championship finals different people have stood up at different times Its never been one or two people just getting the job done Its been shared across and guys have done great jobs throughout and I think thats whats made us a really good teamSo its been good to be a part of and as an older player now hopefully I can help some of the players coming through and help teach them the game of Test cricketFollowing dominant wins in Perth and Brisbane Australia took a 31 lead over England in a fiveTest series for the Ashes After winning the third Test in Adelaide by 82 runs to tie up the series England responded with an impressive win against Australia in Melbourne their first victory on Australian soil in 15 years The Melbourne Test ended in less than two days and was won by four wickets Although the Ashes were already secured by Australia there was still a lot of motivation for both teams and the points awarded for the World Test Championship were at stakeWith the World Test championship every game is important he said Hopefully we can turn it around here win this series 41 and now more importantly just win a Test in the World Test championship cycleSmith who watched Usman Khawaja in the early days of U17 and U19 playing for South Wales said he was an admirer of Khawajas batting Khawaja on Friday called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match ahead of the teams net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 41 victors I remember playing against him in a couple of Under17 versus Under19 games for New South Wales and watching him bat Smith was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying The way he pulled the ball I was like this guy picks length up quicker than anyone Ive seen He was pulling balls off the top of the stumps I feel like throughout his career hes been batting his best when hes been doing that as well And just his progression over a long period of time has been outstandingUsman Khawaja often refers to himself as one of Australias most dropped cricketers having been dropped from the Test team seven times prior to 2019 However Steve Smith sees those omissions in the subcontinent during his captaincy as lessons for Khawaja rather than hindrances They forced Khawaja to face his weaknesses while playing spin bowling which ended up changing his game for the better The change was extreme Before his great series against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018 Khawaja had a terrible average of 1462 over 5 Tests played in Asia But after that series Khawaja became one of crickets best players against spin and was able to score 1490 runs in 13 Tests with a remarkable average of 8277Hes arguably one of our best players of spin now So maybe it was a blessing in disguise But the way hes been able to play over his 15year careerâ its a credit to him and not too many people get to go out on their own terms Steven Smith on Usman KhawajaHe hates it but we dropped him Smith said I was captain at that stage and we dropped him in the subcontinent We didnt think he was playing the spinners as well as he does now But he got that opportunity to go back and figure out ways to play Whether he would have done that had he kept playing Im not sure But he went back and found some different methods to defend spin He was reversing sweeping and thats a mode of defence in a way when you put the field outHes arguably one of our best players of spin now So maybe it was a blessing in disguise But the way hes been able to play over his 15year careerâ its a credit to him and not too many people get to go out on their own terms IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/i-feel-like-im-doing-alright-at-the-moment-steve-smith-shuts-down-retirement-talks-656788.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sa20-paarl-royals-edge-mi-cape-town-in-derby-thriller-656790.html Paarl Jan 3 Lhuandre Pretoriusâ SA20 season four burst into life with an unbeaten 98 to drive Paarl Royals to a thrilling onerun victory over MI Cape Town in the Western Cape derby at Boland Park Royalsâ seamer Ottniel Baartman had 15 runs to defend in the final over and after Kagiso Rabada smashed the third delivery for six over long off it seemed the momentum had swung MI Cape Townâs way But Baartman 451 had Rabada caught on the boundary the next ball before the equation was reduced to MI Cape Town requiring six off the final delivery for victory George Linde made good contact by carving a length delivery over the covers but the ball fell just inches short of the boundary rope which sent the Royals faithful into a frenzyPretorius had endured a quiet start to the competition in the first couple of matches but the leagueâs leading scorer of last season was back at his beloved home ground The teenager was back to his belligerent best cracking 10 boundaries and two sixes during his 65ball stay at the crease The Royals faithful were spurring Pretorius on to a maiden T20 century but it was not to be with Rabada delivering a dot ball to close out the Royals inningsThe four player of the match candidates were Lhuandre Pretorius Sikandar Raza Asa Tribe and Rassie van der Dussen with Pretorius winning 72 of the fan vote The visitors were under pressure from the outset with Pretorius and Asa Tribe dominating the power play The Royals opening pair put on exactly 100 in 104 overs before MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan 231 had the Jersey international caught for 51 off 34 ballsMI Cape Town enjoyed an equally good start with Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton 36 adding 77 for the first wicket in 75 overs before Royalsâ new recruit Sikander Raza 327 announced his arrival at SA20 The Zimbabwe international removed both Rickelton and the dangerous Nicholas Pooran and later clean bowled Tom Moores for a firstball duck to stem the MI Cape Town tide But it was the doublewicket over from Baartman when the seamer picked up both Van der Dussen 59 and Jason Smith 1 within three balls of each other that scuppered MI Cape Townâs momentum IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sa20-paarl-royals-edge-mi-cape-town-in-derby-thriller-656790.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-provided-clearance-to-play-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-on-january-6-656861.html Mumbai Jan 3 India batter Shreyas Iyer is all set to play his first competitive match since sustaining a spleen injury in October 2024 The 31yearold star will represent Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy match which will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on January 6 Shreyas Iyer has received conditional clearance from the BCCIs Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as reported by ESPNcricinfo Iyer spent ten days at the COE for the final stretch of his rehabilitation As part of the returntoplay protocol he featured in a practice game on January 2 Iyer batted painfree and went through all his drills without showing any signs of discomfortShreyas Iyer has a strong record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy known for explosive centuries including a 50ball 114 against Karnataka in December 2024 and has led Mumbai to success often being the top scorer in tournaments demonstrating consistent highimpact performances in the premier Indian domestic oneday competition He was the highest rungetter for Mumbai last season where he scored 325 runs in just five matchesIyer suffered a serious injury during Indias third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25 2025 While attempting a catch near the thirdman boundary he lost balance and landed on his rib cage resulting in internal bleeding and spleen damage Since then he has missed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the home ODI series against AustraliaIndias ODI squad for the New Zealand series is set to be picked on Saturday While there is a provision to pick a subject to fitness it is still unclear whether the selectors would pick him directly for the international challenge or want to see more of him in the domestic competitionIn Iyers absence Ruturaj Gaikwad batted at number four and impressed with his maiden ODI century In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy Devdutt Padikkal has also slammed four centuries in just five innings and presented a strong case for selection IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-provided-clearance-to-play-vijay-hazare-trophy-match-on-january-6-656861.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-awaits-coe-clearance-as-india-announces-gill-led-squad-for-new-zealand-odis-656871.html Mumbai Jan 3 The Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI has announced a 15member squad for the upcoming threematch ODI series against New Zealand with Shubman Gill set to lead the side Shreyas Iyer who had been on the sidelines owing to an injury has been named in the squad but his participation will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCIâs Centre of Excellence CoE Moreover allrounder Hardik Pandya who scored a brilliant century for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday against Vidarbha has been rested to manage his workload as he prepares for the T20 World CupâShreyas Iyerâs availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match and considering the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup to follow his workload is being managedâ the BCCI said in their statementIyer will arrive in Jaipur on Sunday and will participate in Mumbais upcoming two Vijay Hazare Trophy games Having finished the final stage of his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence CoE in Bengaluru and received clearance to return to competitive cricket he is set to play Mumbaiâs last two league matches against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on January 6 and 8 respectivelyAnother notable absentee is pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who will only play the fivematch T20I series against the Kiwis followed by the T20 World Cup In Bumrahs absence the pace bowling unit will be led by Siraj with Arshdeep Singh Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna as other optionsWhile Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel have been putting up impressive and consistent performances in the domestic setup for their state teams they have missed their selection for the New Zealand seriesNotably stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retained their places in the side and will be hoping to continue their tremendous run of form in the 50over format The duo recently represented their state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and notched up magnificent centuries and halfcenturies putting up a strong case for their selectionIndiaâs ODI squad Shubman Gill C Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli KL Rahul WK Shreyas Iyer VC Washington Sundar Ravindra Jadeja Mohd Siraj Harshit Rana Prasidh Krishna Kuldeep Yadav Rishabh Pant WK Nitish Kumar Reddy Arshdeep Singh Yashasvi JaiswalIndia vs New Zealand ODI Series Schedule1st ODI January 11 â Vadodara2nd ODI January 14 â Rajkot3rd ODI January 18 â Indore IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/shreyas-iyer-awaits-coe-clearance-as-india-announces-gill-led-squad-for-new-zealand-odis-656871.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/usman-khawaja-to-retire-from-international-cricket-after-sydney-ashes-test-656665.html Sydney Jan 2 Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja announced on Friday that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground Khawaja called a press conference and made the announcement with his family by his side two days out from the match ahead of the teams net session with the Aussies aiming to claim another 12 World Test Championship points and finish the series as 41 victorsâIâm here to announce today that I will be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG Test matchâ Khawaja told the pressâGod through cricket has given me far more than I could have imagine Heâs given me memories Iâll carry forever friendship that goes well beyond the game and lessons that shaped me who I am off the fieldâBut no career belongs to one person I obviously had a lot of help To my parents thank you for your sacrifices that never made the highlights reelâKhawaja informed his Australia teammates only moments earlier ahead of their training session two days out from the series finale against EnglandIn a career spanning 15 years Khawaja has amassed over 8000 international runs across formats while featuring in 87 Tests 40 ODIs and nine T20IsHe retires as one of Australias most prolific runscorers 30 more in his farewell Test will see him pass Michael Husseys tally of 6235 into 14th among Australian menKhawaja brings the curtain down on his career as one of only 18 Australians to have scored more than 15 Test centuries finishing with 16 hundreds in the longest format He also leaves the game with 49 limitedovers appearances including two ODI centuries to his nameThe lefthander fittingly bows out in his home city of Sydney where he made his Test debut against England in 2011 It was also at the SCG that Khawaja reignited his career as a 35yearold smashing twin centuries against England in early 2022 when Travis Head was sidelined with CovidIt led to a final career spark hitting seven centuries in his first two years back in the side and a World Test Championship win in 2023In 2023 Khawaja was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year and played a key role in Australias World Test Championship triumphKhawaja told coach Andrew McDonald after the fourth Test in Melbourne he would finish up in SydneyIts been tough Ive just wanted to tell everyone I told teammates just then I didnt think Id get emotional but I teared up straightaway and I had to compose myself I finally composed myself and got out what I wanted to sayI never thought Id be the guy that would cry when he retired but I cried straightaway It just shows what it means to me My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team All that emotion built up he saidKhawaja will continue to play for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL and also outlined his intention to also remain available for Queenslands Sheffield Shield side IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/usman-khawaja-to-retire-from-international-cricket-after-sydney-ashes-test-656665.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-england-include-bashir-potts-in-12-member-squad-for-scg-test-656693.html Sydney Jan 2 England have included offspinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts in their 12man squad for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground SCG on Sunday Fast bowler Gus Atkinson is the only absentee from the side that secured a fourwicket victory in the fourth Test inside two days at the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG The pacer has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injuryThe inclusion of Bashir and Potts gives England flexibility as they seek to sign off from the series on a high especially with conditions at the SCG traditionally offering more assistance to spin bowling as compared to other Australian venues Both Bashir and Potts are now in consideration to make their Ashes debut by replacing an injured AtkinsonPotts has been an unused member of Englandâs touring party throughout the series but is poised for earning an 11th Test cap after last being in the playing eleven against New Zealand in late 2024 It remains to be seen if Potts will earn a place in the playing eleven as the SCG the pitch bore a slight green tingeA 12man squad was also announced for the first Test in Perth which also ended in two days with Bashir missing out on that occasion as England opted for an allpace attack Bashir has also not played for England since the third Test against India at Lordâs in JulyThough England canât win the Ashes now another victory in Sydney after the win in Melbourne would provide encouragement for the visitors heading into future World Test Championship assignmentsEngland squad for the fifth Ashes Test Ben Stokes C Shoaib Bashir Jacob Bethell Harry Brook Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Will Jacks Matthew Potts Joe Root Jamie Smith WK and Josh Tongue IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-england-include-bashir-potts-in-12-member-squad-for-scg-test-656693.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-sydney-test-656538.html Sydney Jan 1 Australia have named an unchanged squad from the Boxing Day Test for the upcoming final Test of the Ashes series though conditions at the SCG could still prompt changes to the final XI The match is set to begin on January 4 here at the Sydney Cricket Ground The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon as the Australian team assembled in Sydney for their first training session following last weekâs fourwicket defeat to England The Melbourne Test ended inside two days on a pitch later deemed âunsatisfactoryâ by the ICCThe loss marked Australiaâs first defeat to England in redball cricket at home in almost 15 years with 36 wickets falling across two days at the MCG However the result carried greater importance for England as Australia had already secured the Ashes by winning the first three Tests in Perth Brisbane and AdelaideMany fans and cricket experts believe that the upcoming match known as the New Years Test will be Usman Khawajas final appearance for Australia Additionally reports indicate that Khawaja plans to speak to the media before the match begins which fuels retirement rumours But head coach Andrew McDonald all but guaranteed veteran batter Usman Khawaja would be marking centre in Sydney after posting secondbest score of Australias first innings in the Boxing Day TestMeanwhile allrounder Beau Webster might replace Cameron Green in the XI as the latter has yet to record a significant score in the series Webster however has not yet been part of the XI in any of the four games so far this series and will be eager to end the Ashes strongly especially since the hosts are already leading 31âWe know weve got a quality player sitting there waiting Weve got a batting order that wed like to think can function at a higher capacity so well be having conversations leading into Sydneyâ head coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Cricket AustraliaAustralia squad Steve Smith c Scott Boland Alex Carey Brendan Doggett Cameron Green Travis Head Josh Inglis Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Todd Murphy Michael Neser Jhye Richardson Mitchell Starc Jake Weatherald Beau Webster IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-australia-name-unchanged-squad-for-sydney-test-656538.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/enzo-maresca-on-brink-of-leaving-chelsea-report-656539.html London Jan 1 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge as the clubâs poor run in the Premier League 202526 has raised serious concerns over his position The West Londonbased club has won only one of their last seven Premier League games and has slipped to fifth position in the points table The sixtime Premier League winners let another victory slip through their fingers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday drawing 22 with the Cherries After the match manager Enzo Maresca skipped the press conference citing illnessAccording to a report by The Guardian Chelsea is set to open the new year by holding emergency talks over Marescaâs position It is expected that the Italian manager who was booed by supporters during the disappointing 22 draw with Bournemouth will not be in charge for Sundayâs trip to Manchester CityThe report also said that Maresca wants to leave the club but it is unclear if he is willing to walk away without a payoff His contract runs until 2029 with an option for an extra yearMaresca was appointed Chelsea manager in July 2024 Under his stint the West London club has played 92 matches so far and he has a strong record of 55 wins On May 28 2025 Maresca won his first trophy as Chelsea manager by lifting the UEFA Conference League after beating Real Betis 41 in the final which meant Chelsea became the only team to win all three of the current main UEFA competitionsIn July 2025 he guided his team to victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup the first edition of the expanded competition with a 30 win over the recently crowned Champions League winners Paris SaintGermain in the final IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/enzo-maresca-on-brink-of-leaving-chelsea-report-656539.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Hobart Jan 1 Former Australia batsman Damien Martyn is showing positive signs in coming out of his battle with meningitis his former teammate Adam Gilchrist said Martyn 54 remains hospitalised in Queensland after being placed in an induced coma due to meningitis Martyn fell ill on Boxing Day and is now in a serious condition at the Gold Coast University Hospital âHeâs still in the hospital Thereâll be more details coming out as they come to hand but certainly in the last 24 hours some positive signs are the indications coming out of the various tests heâs havingâThereâs been so much interest and love A fine player terrific fella I just hope he can continue a recoveryâ Gilchrist the former Australia wicketkeeperbatter was quoted as saying by Fox Sports on ThursdayAn elegant righthander batter Martyn scored 4406 runs for Australia in 67 Tests at an average of 4637 including 13 centuries with a best score of 165 He also played 208 ODIs scoring 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not outâOn behalf of Damien Martyn a great friend a former teammate of a few of uson behalf of his family Amanda his partner thank you to everyone for the heartfelt love and wishes and care for Damien as heâs gone through and continues to go through a challenging timeâ added GilchristMartyn was instrumental in Australias 2003 ODI World Cup final victory over India scoring an unbeaten 88 despite batting with a broken finger and sharing a crucial 234run partnership with captain Ricky Ponting He was part of the side that also won the 1999 ODI World Cup and 2006 Champions Trophy After his playing career was over Martyn briefly worked as a commentatorAs per the World Health Organisation WHO meningitis is a devastating disease that is deadly and often results in serious longterm health issues It remains a major global public health challengeMeningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord Though it is not revealed whether the meningitis suffered by Martyn is bacterial or viral WHO notes that it can be infectious or noninfectious in origin can be associated with a high risk of death and longterm complications and requires urgent medical care IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nicholas-lee-to-take-over-as-new-strength-and-conditioning-coach-of-indian-womens-team-656589.html New Delhi Jan 1 Nicholas Lee is set to take over as the new strength and conditioning coach of the Indian womens cricket team Sources familiar with the matter told IANS that Lee is likely to join the Indian team after the 2026 season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL is over on February 5 in Vadodara âYes itâs confirmed that Lee will be the new SampC coach of the Indian womenâs cricket team Australiaâs Nathan Kiely was also in talks but Lee was always in the running for this role Once WPL is over Lee will link up with the Indian teamâ sources further saidAfter the fiveteam WPL is over India will play a multiformat series in Australia from February 15 to March 9 The multiformat tour begins with the T20I leg starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground SCG on February 15 followed by games at Manuka Oval Canberra and Adelaide Oval on February 19 and 21 respectivelyFocus will then shift to the ODI series where India enters as World Cup winners The series will begin at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on February 24 The second and third ODIs will be staged at Hobartâs Bellerive Oval on February 27 and March 1 respectivelyThe third ODI match was previously moved to Hobart from Melbourne by Cricket Australia CA due to floodlight issues The tour culminates with a daynight Test at the WACA Ground in Perth set to take place from March 6â9Coming to Lee heâs an experienced strength and conditioning coach specialising in physical preparation and conditioning in elite sports His recent assignment was serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the Gulf Giants in season four of the UAEâs ILT20Lee previously worked as the strength and conditioning coach of Afghanistans menâs team from January 2024 to December 2025 and served as head of physical performance at the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB from March 2020 to January 2024Lee was also the strength and conditioning coach of Sri Lankas menâs team from October 2016 to March 2020 Before working with international teams Lee worked as the lead strength and conditioning trainer at Sussex County Cricket Club from March 2012 to September 2016 apart from being in the assistant role from January 2010 to March 2012Lee a graduate of Anglia Ruskin University played 13 firstclass matches as a righthanded batter amassing 490 runs at 3062 including three halfcenturies and a highest score of 79 not out IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/nicholas-lee-to-take-over-as-new-strength-and-conditioning-coach-of-indian-womens-team-656589.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/vimath-dinsara-to-lead-sri-lanka-in-2026-u19-mens-cricket-world-cup-656603.html Colombo Jan 1 Vimath Dinsara will captain Sri Lanka in the 2026 Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka Cricket SLC said on Thursday Kavija Gamage has been named as Sri Lankaâs vicecaptain for the tournament beginning on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia The squad features a strong mix of promising batters including Dinsara Gamage and Mahavithana along with versatile allrounders Viran Chamuditha and Chamika Heentigala Sri Lanka which will depart for Namibia on Thursday reached the Super Six stage in the previous edition of the U19 Menâs Cricket World Cup held in South Africa in 2024Sri Lanka are in Group C of the upcoming competition alongside defending champions Australia Ireland and Japan The side will open their campaign against Japan on January 17 at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek Sri Lanka will also play their games against Ireland and Australia at the same venue on January 19 and 23 respectivelyThe 16th edition of the Menâs Under19 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four each Every side will play the other three teams in its group during the opening round with the top three progressing to the Super Six stageThe leading four teams from there will qualify for the semifinals to be played on February 3 and 4 in Bulawayo and Harare while the final is scheduled to be played at the Harare Sports Club on February 6Previously Ireland South Africa Zimbabwe Japan Scotland Australia West Indies Pakistan New Zealand England and India announced their respective squads for the U19 World CupIn all 16 teams will participate in the 2026 ICC Under19 Mens Cricket World Cup and will have 41 matches played in the tournament The 16 teams will be divided into four groups with the top three teams from each group advancing to the Super Six stage The fourthplaced teams in Group A and D face each other while the fourthplaced teams in Group B and C face each other in the placement stageSri Lanka squad Vimath Dinsara c Kavija Gamage Dimantha Mahavithana Viran Chamuditha Dulnith Sigera Chamika Heentigala Adam Hilmy Chamarindu Nethsara Sethmika Seneviratne Kugathas Mathulan Rasith Nimsara Vigneshwaran Akash Jeewantha Sriram Senuja Wekunagoda Malintha Silva IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/vimath-dinsara-to-lead-sri-lanka-in-2026-u19-mens-cricket-world-cup-656603.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/cummins-hazlewood-david-named-in-australias-15-man-t20-wc-squad-656469.html Melbourne Jan 1 Pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and middleorder batter Tim David have been named in Australias provisional 15player squad for the T20 World Cup despite injury concerns Cummins has played just one international match since suffering a lumbar stress injury in July when he featured in the Ashessecuring third Ashes Test in Adelaide A scan on Pacers back later this month will determine whether he will be right for the tournamentHazlewood missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries David meanwhile injured his hamstring while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBLThe T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may presentâ chief selector George Bailey saidâPat Cummins Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup This is a preliminary squad so should changes need to be made they will be ahead of the support period he addedMitchell Marsh captains the group as Australia named a spinheavy group with Adam Zampa joined by Matthew Kuhnemann Cooper Connolly and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Short Mitchell Owen is the most notable omission from the 15man squadGreen and Connolly are back in the squad after missing the T20s against India earlier in the summerThe side also opted against a leftarm fast bowler in the absence of Mitchell Starc who retired from the format and Spencer Johnsons injury led to the inclusion of rightarmer Xavier Bartlett over Ben DwarshuisAustralia will play three T20Is in Pakistan in late January as preparation for the World Cup A squad for the series is yet to be namedAustralia have been drawn in Group B alongside Ireland Oman Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe They will play their group stage matches in Sri Lanka kicking off their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in ColomboAustralia squad for the 2026 T20 World CupMitchell Marsh c Xavier Bartlett Cooper Connolly Pat Cummins Tim David Cameron Green Nathan Ellis Josh Hazlewood Travis Head Josh Inglis Matt Kuhnemann Glenn Maxwell Matthew Short Marcus Stoinis Adam Zampa IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/cummins-hazlewood-david-named-in-australias-15-man-t20-wc-squad-656469.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/green-has-got-to-find-method-and-tempo-with-his-batting-ponting-656487.html New Delhi Jan 1 Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting highlighted significant weaknesses in Cameron Greens performances before what is likely to be a pivotal fifth Ashes Test saying that Green needs to find a more effective method with his batting Green is under the most pressure after another quiet performance with the bat in Melbourne where he scored 17 in the first innings and was dismissed for 19 in the second Despite his strong Sheffield Shield form which shows his ability his Test average sits at 3225 and expectations are beginning to rise as patience fades even with his obvious talent at 26Ponting also believes Greenâs frequent changes in batting position have undermined his confidence Speaking on SEN Radio he said Green currently looks like a âvery nervous starterâ amid his struggles to get goingâEverything Iâve ever heard around the Australian camp about Cameron Green is just how good they all think he is and could potentially be but heâs got to start working it out Heâs got to find a method and a tempo especially with his batting in Test cricket thatâs going to work for himâ Ponting saidâTheyâve moved him from three to five to seven heâs been all over the place heâs a very nervous starter heâs very stiff and very rigid and being a big tall man like he is it probably doesnât make it any easier Thereâs some challenges there for him Heâs got to work it out pretty quicklyâ he addedPonting further highlighted Labuschagne as a player feeling the heat ahead of the SCG Test noting that the 31yearold has been inconsistent in this Ashes series combining two halfcenturies with six low scores under 20 against EnglandâI still believe there are a lot of technical flaws heâs got going on at the moment When Marnus is at his best he makes batting look relatively easy but when heâs at his worst he makes batting look really really difficult The last few weeks heâs made batting look difficultThereâs definitely a question mark over him July 2023 was his last Test hundred that average has dropped dramatically during that period of timeâ Ponting mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/green-has-got-to-find-method-and-tempo-with-his-batting-ponting-656487.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ex-aussie-batter-damien-martyn-in-induced-coma-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656395.html New Delhi Dec 31 Former Aussie batter Damien Martyn is in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis The 54yearold former batter who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006 reportedly fell ill on Friday and was rushed to the hospital Adam Gilchrist Martyns close friend and former Australian and WA teammate confirmed on behalf of his family the 2003 World Cup winner was receiving treatment in hospitalHe is getting the best of treatment and Martyns partner Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes Gilchrist was quoted by cricketcomauMeningitis is an inflammation of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord and infection can cause harmful brain swelling Martynâs condition is being closely monitoredThe Sydney Morning Herald reported externally it was hoped Martyn could be brought out of his coma in the coming daysIm saddened to hear of Damiens illness The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time the governing bodys CEO Todd Greenberg said in a statementMartyn was player of the series the last time Australia won an away series in India top scoring in four of Australias eight innings in the 2004 BorderGavaskar TrophyHe played his final Test in Australias famous win at Adelaide Oval in the 200607 Ashes series before suddenly retiring ahead of the third Test of a 50 whitewash over England During his career he scored 4406 Test runs at an average of 4637Martyn also played 208 ODIs for 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not out He made a famous 88 not out in the 2003 World Cup final batting with a broken finger and sharing an epic partnership with captain Ricky Ponting as Australia beat India IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ex-aussie-batter-damien-martyn-in-induced-coma-after-meningitis-diagnosis-656395.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/head-hopes-to-revive-old-ashes-tradition-with-post-series-drinks-in-sydney-656413.html New Delhi Dec 31 Australia opener Travis Head expressed hope that England and Australia will revive their tradition of meeting for a drink after the Ashes This practice was somewhat disrupted in 2023 due to deteriorating relationships over the series Australia currently lead the series 31 and have already secured victory marking their fifth consecutive Ashes series victory and their ongoing hold on the urnRelations between the two sides worsened significantly during the second Test of the 2023 Ashes in England after Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow when Bairstow stepped out of his crease while ducking a ball from Cameron GreenThe incident was followed by ugly scenes at Lordâs where Australian players were subjected to verbal abuse from MCC members in the Long Room In the aftermath England head coach Brendon McCullum said that considering what had happened he could not see how the teams could come together for their customary endofseries drinkâThereâs definitely mutual respect I get along with a couple of them really well Thereâs some really good relationships with both teams Iâm looking forward to having a beer with Ducky Ben Duckett So yeah itâd be a nice moment Itâs obviously nice going there knowing that weâve won the seriesâ Head was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper on WednesdayMcCullum later said the teams would eventually get together after England won the final Test which saw the series end in a 2â2 draw However the delay drew criticism from sections of the Australian media with suggestions that England had deliberately avoided the traditional gathering Captain Ben Stokes rejected those claims explaining that Englandâs postseries commitments at The Oval ran longer than planned because of farewell moments for players and staffIn contrast the 2025 Ashes in Australia has unfolded in a far more amicable atmosphere Any controversy has largely centred on issues affecting both teams such as disputed snicko readings and the surface for the fourth Test at the MCG which led to the second twoday Test of the seriesThe calmer tone has also been influenced by Englandâs struggles on the field After failing to match Australia in the opening three Tests they slumped to a 3â0 deficit and once again surrendered the Ashes extending their drought to a fifth consecutive yearTheir ultraaggressive approach under Stokes and McCullum backfired intensifying scrutiny and criticism even though they managed to end a 15year wait for a Test victory in Australia with their win at the MCG IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/head-hopes-to-revive-old-ashes-tradition-with-post-series-drinks-in-sydney-656413.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/former-sri-lanka-u19-cricketer-akshu-fernando-passes-away-after-8-years-in-a-coma-656306.html Colombo Dec 30 Akshu Fernando the former Sri Lanka Under19 cricketer tragically passed away on Tuesday nearly seven years after being left in a coma following a devastating railway accident Fernando 25 had been in critical condition since December 28 2018 when he was struck by a train while crossing an unprotected railway track near Mount Lavinia BeachThe incident occurred as he was returning from a team running session leaving him with severe head injuries and multiple fractures He was immediately placed on life support and remained under constant medical care with his family by his side throughout his long battle for recoveryA leading Sri Lankan newspaper reported the passing of the young cricketer quoting international commentator Roshan Abeysinghe Just heard the sad news that Akshu Fernando has passed away He was truly a wonderful young man whose promising career was cut short by a cruel accident A quality player for his school and his final club Ragama Its a sad day for all of us who knew him A cheerful friendly and thorough gentleman was he We will miss you Akshu and remember you for the rest of our life Rest in peace sweet prince Abeysinghe saidAt the time of the accident Fernando was considered one of Sri Lankaâs brightest young cricketing talents He had represented his country at the 2010 ICC Under19 World Cup in New Zealand where he made a significant impact particularly in the semifinal against Australia He scored 52 runs in that match becoming Sri Lankas top scorer in a contest that saw them narrowly miss out on a place in the finalA product of St Peters College in Colombo Fernandoâs school cricket career was nothing short of exceptional He led the Under13 Under15 and Under17 teams and was the vicecaptain of the Under19 side His leadership and field talent earned him a place at several prestigious local clubs including Colts Sports Club Panadura Sports Club Chilaw Marians and Ragama Sports ClubHis final competitive appearance came just two weeks before the tragic accident when he scored an unbeaten 102 against Moors Sports Club on December 14 2018Fernandos sudden death concludes a lengthy period marked by significant physical and emotional pain It also brings back memories of a promising cricketing journey that many thought could have ascended to the top levels of international cricket IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/former-sri-lanka-u19-cricketer-akshu-fernando-passes-away-after-8-years-in-a-coma-656306.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhinav-bindra-led-task-force-recommends-creation-of-ncsecb-under-myas-to-accredit-certify-sports-admin-training-656310.html New Delhi Dec 30 As India sets its sights on becoming one of the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 the government has outlined a bold plan to transform the countryâs sports ecosystem In a significant move to professionalise sports administration the Department of Sports has taken steps to strengthen the administrative framework that will be pivotal in realising this ambitious goal To achieve this vision the Department of Sports established a Task Force on Capacity Building for Sports Administrators chaired by Olympic gold medallist Abhinav BindraThe Task Force recently submitted its detailed report emphasising the need for professional accountable and forwardlooking sports administrators to bring about a paradigm shift in Indiaâs sporting infrastructure The reportâs recommendations are expected to accelerate Indiaâs rise in global sportsThe Task Force has interalia recommended establishing the National Council for Sports Education amp Capacity Building NCSECB as an autonomous statutory body under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to regulate accredit and certify sports administration trainingThe Task Force in its report calls for introducing a fivelevel Capability Maturity Model CMM as a diagnostic and planning tool for strengthening the capacity of sports administrators This is aimed to enable SAI NSFs and State Departments to assess institutional maturity across cadre structure curriculum adoption digital enablement and athlete pathways It shall further support evidencebased monitoring and targeted interventionsThe report also recommends integrating sports governance training modules into the induction and advanced training of IAS and State Civil Service officers recognizing their role in implementation of sports policies The report proposes tying training to practical application and career progression through structured placements a national accreditation registry and policy integrationThe report has called for rotational postings apprenticeship models innovation labs and partnerships with federations government and the private sector to ensure administrators can apply skills and advance professionallyThe Department of Sports is currently assessing the Task Forces recommendations for further necessary action as part of its push to professionalize Indias sporting ecosystemThe Department of Sports has already initiated reforms to strengthen the sports administration ecosystem It has revised the norms of assistance under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations NSFs in May 2025 where NSFs can now allocate up to 10 per cent of their total funding for administrative manpower ensuring they have the professional staffing and technical support needed to operate more effectivelyFurther expenses required for smooth administrative operation legal services and the hiring of specialised young professionals or interns are permitted up to 25 of the annual budget under the Scheme Further NSFs have been mandated to have an appropriate administrative structure and ensure proper advertisement for staff appointmentsThese reforms aim to establish a globally respected athletefocused governance framework positioning India for longterm sporting success including 2036 and beyond The Government has also already laid the foundation for this vision through the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/abhinav-bindra-led-task-force-recommends-creation-of-ncsecb-under-myas-to-accredit-certify-sports-admin-training-656310.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/super-kings-academy-expands-footprint-in-tamil-nadu-with-new-centre-in-tiruchengode-656337.html Tiruchengode TN Dec 30 Chennai Super Kings has announced that its flagship Super Kings Academy one of Indiaâs leading cricket training institutions will launch a new academy centre at KSR Educational Institutions Tiruchengode further strengthening its grassroots cricket development programme in Tamil Nadu The Tiruchengode centre marks Super Kings Academyâs presence in the 12th city in Tamil Nadu underlining the institutions commitment to nurturing young cricketing talent across the state Globally Super Kings Academy operates more than 35 centres making it one of the most extensive cricket academy networks in the worldThe new SKA centre at KSR Educational Institutions will officially commence operations on January 19 2026 offering aspiring cricketers access to stateoftheart infrastructure expert coaching staff and structured development pathwaysâhallmarks of the Super Kings Academy ecosystem The academy will have 2 turf pitches 2 astro turf pitches 3 matting pitches apart from two grounds a dedicated match simulation area a bowling machine floodlights for evening practice and a gym with a swimming poolSpeaking on the expansion KS Viswanathan MD of Chennai Super Kings said âEven while we expand globally Tamil Nadu has always been a strong nursery for cricketing talent and Tiruchengode is an important addition to our growing footprint in the state Our aim at Super Kings Academy is to provide young players with worldclass facilities expert coaching and the right opportunities to help them realise their full potential Partnering with KSR Educational Institutions allows us to bring professional cricket training closer to aspiring players in this regionâR Srinivasan Chairman of KSR Educational Institutions added âWe are delighted to associate with Super Kings Academy a name synonymous with excellence and professionalism in cricket This academy at KSR Educational Institutions will not only enhance our sports infrastructure but also give students and young cricketers in and around Tiruchengode access to elitelevel coaching and exposure We believe this partnership will play a key role in developing future cricketing talentâSuper Kings Academy is a cricket coaching center for boys and girls with stateoftheart infrastructure and expert coachingLaunched in April 2022 the academy is currently operational in more than 35 centers across India the USA Australia and Canada IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/super-kings-academy-expands-footprint-in-tamil-nadu-with-new-centre-in-tiruchengode-656337.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/relief-for-england-players-as-ecb-rules-no-misconduct-in-noosa-trip-656361.html London Dec 30 The England team heaved a collective sigh of relief as the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB has given the players a clean chit in the case of alleged excessive drinking during a teambuilding trip to Noosa between the second and third Tests in The Ashes tour 202526 Multiple reports had claimed that England players had indulged in excessive drinking during the trip organised as a teambuilding exercise for the players to recover from the defeat and get ready for the next matchHowever there are reports now claiming that the ECB has not found any misconduct on the part of the English players during the tripAlthough several videos of toporder batter Ben Duckett emerged on social media that showed him drunk and almost out of his senses after partying till late in the night the ECB has concluded that there was no misconduct and therefore no disciplinary action will be taken against the playersAs per a report in The Daily Mail if the ECB had found anything to be of concern it would have been identified and resolved immediately rather than waiting for the Ashes lossThe procedure of the inquiry was not disclosed to the public and the verdict was drafted against âbeer drinkingâ and no other misconduct claimed the reportAccording to reports top ECB official Rob Key claimed that the reason for the no misconduct verdict is that nothing was flagged by the security apparatus around the team in AustraliaThe England cricket team had security personnel assigned for the trip to Noosa who were also authorised to intervene if any misbehaviour or red flag activities appeared However they werenât needed to jump in and the break was more like a bachelorette party the report saidNevertheless this will give the England team much relief as it heads for Sydney for their next and last assignment Down Under the fifth and final Test of the series starting on January 4England after slumping to an unassailable 03 deficit salvaged some pride and avoided a whitewash against Australia by winning the fourth Test in Melbourne within two days Ben Stokes and his boys would like to end the series on a high note by making it 32 by winning the final encounter in Sydney IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/relief-for-england-players-as-ecb-rules-no-misconduct-in-noosa-trip-656361.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sreejith-v-nair-elected-new-president-of-kerala-cricket-association-656173.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 29 Sreejith V Nair has been elected as the new President of the Kerala Cricket Association KCA during the organisationâs 75th Annual General Body Meeting AGM held on Monday Nair a former treasurer and secretary of the Association will take over from Jayesh George whoâs currently serving as Chairman of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Satheesan K a former member of the Apex Council has been elected as the Vice PresidentIncumbent Secretary Vinod S Kumar and Joint Secretary Bineesh Kodiyeri will continue in their respective positions T Ajith Kumar Secretary of the Palakkad District Cricket Association has been elected as the new Treasurer while Muhammed Naufal T Secretary of the Kasaragod District Cricket Association has been appointed as the General Body Representative to the Apex CouncilThe new office bearers also approved a oneyear comprehensive development plan aimed at upgrading cricket infrastructure in all 14 districts and raising player development systems across the state to international standardsâKCA will implement major projects under the Kerala Sports Infrastructure Development Scheme announced by the State Government utilising the special concessions granted under the Land ActâAs part of the plan cricket grounds and related facilities will be developed in all 14 districts of the state Infrastructure for other sports will also be developed alongside cricket facilities with the objective of ensuring uniform training standards and modern amenities across districtsâ said the KCANair also said the KCA aims to construct an international cricket stadium in Kochi in collaboration with the state government âFurther discussions will be held with the government to secure a longterm lease of the Sports Hub International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and to establish a High Altitude Sports Centre at Munnar for cricket football and other sportsâ he saidKCA further said it will shortly launch the Kerala Womenâs Premier League to bolster womenâs cricket in the state as well as announced plans to set up new academies in Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram to identify young talent and deliver scientific performanceoriented training focusing on fitness skill development and modern coaching methodsâIn addition the General Body resolved to further strengthen the existing High Performance Centre ensuring advanced training facilities sports science laboratories fitness and rehabilitation centres and access to expert coachesâ concluded KCA IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sreejith-v-nair-elected-new-president-of-kerala-cricket-association-656173.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-continue-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656224.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-continue-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656224.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-continues-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656225.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-continues-to-captain-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656225.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-to-continue-leading-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656226.html New Delhi Dec 30 Gujarat Giants have announced that Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner will continue to lead the franchise in the upcoming season of the Womenâs Premier League WPL Gardner a threetime T20 Womenâs World Cup winner assumed the captaincy at the franchise from Australian teammate Beth Mooney last season Under her leadership Gujarat Giants reached the playoffs for the first time in three seasonsâExperience in her stride Belief in her voice Ash Gardner steps up once more as our CAPTAIN primed to take us to gloryâ the Giants shared on its social mediaSince WPLâs inception in 2023 Gardner has been an integral part of the Gujarat Giants side scoring 568 runs and bagging 25 wickets in 25 games She was one of the two players the other being Beth Mooney for Rs 25 crore retained by the Giants prior to the WPL 2026 Auction for Rs 35 croreLast season Gardner hogged the limelight with her consistent allround performances in the recently Batting in the middleorder Gardner finished as our leading runscorer in the tournament with 243 runs in nine matches at an impressive strike rate of 16418 while also maintaining an average of 3037The Aussie allrounder also contributed with her rightarm offspin and claimed eight wickets at an economy of 803 The skipper claimed the Most Sixes award with 18 maximums to her nameWith eight points from eight matches Giants finished third in the WPL 2025 standings to book a place in the Eliminator However their fruitful season ended in the Eliminator after going down to eventual champions Mumbai IndiansThe fourth edition of WPL will be held from 9 January 9 to 5 February 2026 The tournament will be played across Navi Mumbai and VadodaraThe Giants will open their campaign against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 10 IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashleigh-gardner-to-continue-leading-gujarat-giants-in-wpl-2026-656226.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sa20-sunrisers-clinch-bonus-point-win-over-pretoria-capitals-656233.html Gqeberha Dec 30 Quinton de Kocks batting masterclass powered Sunrisersâ Eastern Cape to 48run bonus point win over Pretoria Capitals at St Georgeâs Park The victory propelled the Sunrisers to top of the SA20 table with 10 points while the Capitals remain winless after two matchesThe Gqeberha locals came out in their thousands to deck South Africaâs oldest Test venue in a sea of orange for the first home game of Season 4 with the iconic brass band getting everyone in the festive spirit to deliver yet another memorable SA20 nightDe Kock certainly gave them plenty to cheer for with the lefthander blazing 77 off just 47 balls 5x4 6x6 The lefthander struck the ball sweetly from the outset with a couple of rasping lofted cover drives interspersed with powerful pull shotsMatthew Breetzke 52 off 33 balls was the perfect partner for De Kock after the early demise of Jonny Bairstow with the pair putting together an electrifying 116run partnership off just 70 ballsThis laid the platform for the inform Jordan Hermann 37 off 20 balls to unleash a series of conventional and reverse sweeps that pushed Sunrisers to an impressive 1886The four Player of the Match candidates were Matthew Breetzke Quinton de Kock Shai Hope and Adam Milne with the QDK winning 693 per cent of the fan vote The total proved way beyond the reach of the Capitals with the Sunrisers unleashing their threepronged pace arsenal of Marco Jansen Adam Milne and Anrich NortjeJansen required just six balls to strike the first blow when he removed Capitals opener Bryce Parsons with a rasping delivery that the lefthander could only fend off to De Kock behind the stumps The Kiwi Express Milne 425 was next in the act when he dismissed West Indian Shai Hope 36 off 19 balls just as he threatened to build an innings of substanceBut the major breakthrough was left to Lewis Gregory when the Sunrisers allrounder flummoxed Dewald Brevis 12 off five balls into taking on the longest boundary in the ground where Breetzke lay in wait to take a comfortable catchThe Capitalsâ innings disintegrated from thereon with Milne running through the visitorsâ tail while leftarm spinner Senuran Muthusamy delivered arguably the ball of the night to clean bowl a wellset Will Smeed 35 off 27 balls IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/sa20-sunrisers-clinch-bonus-point-win-over-pretoria-capitals-656233.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/a-resounding-year-that-saw-indian-mens-hockey-team-retain-asia-no1-status-656261.html New Delhi Dec 30 A resounding victory at the Asia Cup in Rajgir Bihar reinstated the Indian mens hockey teams status as the No1 side in Asia The title victory after a gap of eight years was a highlight of 2025 for Craig Fulton and team as they trounced giants like Korea China and Malaysia in the tournament The year started with a good outing at the home leg of FIH Pro League soon after the revamped Hero Hockey India League HIL that saw some pacy performances from players on the fringes who were pushing for a place in the senior sideThe international season kicked off with the Pro League in Bhubaneswar where India tasted good results against Spain Germany Ireland and England The team led by Harmanpreet Singh won six out of the eight matches on the back of a long HIL season which began soon after the Olympic success where the team had won bronze in Paris and backed it up with an Asian Champions Trophy win in ChinaHowever the Pro League ended on a dull note for India in Europe where they could only muster one consolation win against Belgium and lost their matches against Australia the Netherlands and Argentina in JuneBut they rewrote the script in August by lifting the Asian crown Another highlight for this squad was their outing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where India A side with most of their star players such as Harmanpreet Singh Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh rested put up a valiant show They lost the title by a whisker 01 to Belgium but beat Korea Malaysia New Zealand and Canada in an inspiring fashionWinning the Asia Cup was definitely a highlight for the Indian team but I think Azlan Shah was one of the highlights of the year for the Indian team where many of us from the main team were rested but the development squad ended up doing wellThis puts us in good stead for a busy year in 2026 with the Asian Games and the World Cup being close to eachother and we can have different options in the squad expressed Captain Harmanpreet Singh who capped off the year as the highest goal scorer for India IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/a-resounding-year-that-saw-indian-mens-hockey-team-retain-asia-no1-status-656261.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-mumbai-indians-players-begin-pre-season-training-656280.html Mumbai Dec 30 Twotime champions Mumbai Indians MI have commenced their training camp ahead of the upcoming Womenâs Premier League WPL season The fourth edition of WPL will take place across two venues the first leg in Navi Mumbaiâs DY Patil Stadium and the second in Vadodaraâs Kotambi Stadium from January 9 to February 5 Under the leadership of Head Coach Lisa Keightley Bowling Coach and Team Mentor Jhulan Goswami Batting Coach Devieka Palshikaar and other support staff the players who have already arrivedâSaika Ishaque Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha N Kranthi Reddy and Rahila Firdous began their preseason trainingSpeaking about the camp Keightley said âIts really good Weve had one training It was great to work with domestic players Really excited to see what they can do Itâs a good opportunity to watch to see and communicate and make connections with the players Im really excited and really impressed with what I have seen so far So lets see how we go for the rest of the weekâThe session emphasised fitness skill evaluation and team cohesion helping players reconnect with match routines under the supervision of the coaching staff The group laid the groundwork for the upcoming weeks through a combination of structured drills and net sessions as the squad continues to arrive gaining momentum and building cohesion before the season beginsThe defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament on January 9 2026 against the WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi MumbaiNotably after three seasons of the WPL the Mumbai Indians remain the most successful team having won the first and third editions of the tournament With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team they aim to defend their title successfully as the WPL fast approachesMI Squad for WPL 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur Nat SciverBrunt Hayley Matthews Amanjot Kaur Kamalini G Amelia Kerr Shabnim Ismail Rahila Firdous Sajana S Sanskriti Gupta Nicola Carey Poonam Khemnar Triveni Vasistha Nalla Reddy Milly Illingworth Saika Ishaque IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/wpl-2026-mumbai-indians-players-begin-pre-season-training-656280.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-batter-tilak-varma-seeks-divine-blessings-at-tirumala-tirupati-temple-656284.html Tirupati Dec 30 India batter Tilak Varma on Tuesday visited the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple to seek the Lords blessings He was accompanied by BCCI Apex Council member and former firstclass cricketer V Chamundeswaranath They offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Venkateswara on Vaikunta Ekadasi passing through the sacred Vaikunta Dwaram Officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams made arrangements for their darshan and facilitated their visit to the hill shrineAs India look to defend the T20 World Cup crown Tilakâs visit to Tirupati may prove a lucky charm in what promises to be an intense and closely fought tournament The lefthander also visited the divine shrine in August this year before the start of the ACC Asia Cup where his crucial 69run innings guided India to beat archrivals Pakistan in the finalTilaks most recent outing for India was in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa where he led the Men in Blue to a 31 victory over the ProteasIn the T20I series opener against South Africa earlier this month Tilak made history by becoming the first Indian batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is before turning 25 He scored 26 62 26 and 73 across the fiveThe 23yearold batter will next be in action in the T20I series against New Zealand starting on January 21 The games will serve as a preparatory series for both sides before they head into the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 7India will enter the tournament as defending champions having won the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados by defeating South Africa in the finalIndias squad for the T20 World Cup and New Zealand T20 series Suryakumar Yadav captain Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson wicketkeeper Tilak Verma Hardik Pandya Shivam Dubey Axar Patel vicecaptain Rinku Singh Jasprit Bumrah Harshit Rana Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakravarthy Washington Sundar Ishan Kishan wicketkeeper IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/india-batter-tilak-varma-seeks-divine-blessings-at-tirumala-tirupati-temple-656284.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655982.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 28 India vicecaptain Smriti Mandhana on Sunday became only the second Indian woman player after compatriot Mithali Raj to complete 10000 runs in international cricket Smriti who debuted for India against Bangladesh in April 2013 needed 27 runs before the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram to reach the huge landmark and reached the milestone in just 20 deliveries at the Greenfield International Stadium She eventually made 80 off 48 balls â her 32nd fifty laced with 11 fours and three sixes at a strikerate of 1702Apart from Mithali Smriti joins New Zealandâs Suzie Bates and former England player turned coach Charlotte Edwards as the only other women to cross the big landmarkSmriti has also scored 629 runs in seven Tests and 5322 runs in 117 ODIs Raj the highest runscorer in womenâs international cricket retired with 10868 runs across formats and Smriti has the opportunity to surpass her tallyPreviously while hitting a runaball 25 during the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at the ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam Smriti became the first Indian batter and second overall after Suzie to complete 4000 runs in Womenâs T20IsThe lefthanded opener was the secondhighest runscorer in Indiaâs triumphant Womenâs ODI World Cup campaign â amassing 434 runs in nine innings at an average of 5425Smriti also finished 2025 as the highest rungetter in ODIs scoring 1362 runs in 23 innings which included five fifties and five centuries and also became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the gameFollowing the conclusion of the fivematch T20I series against Sri Lanka on December 30 Smriti will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB in the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL beginning on January 9 RCB will face Harmanpreet Kaurled Mumbai Indians in the opening game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655982.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-woman-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655983.html Thiruvananthapuram Dec 28 India vicecaptain Smriti Mandhana on Sunday became only the second Indian woman player after compatriot Mithali Raj to complete 10000 runs in international cricket Smriti who debuted for India against Bangladesh in April 2013 needed 27 runs before the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram to reach the huge landmark and reached the milestone in just 20 deliveries at the Greenfield International Stadium She eventually made 80 off 48 balls â her 32nd fifty laced with 11 fours and three sixes at a strikerate of 1702Apart from Mithali Smriti joins New Zealandâs Suzie Bates and former England player turned coach Charlotte Edwards as the only other women to cross the big landmarkSmriti has also scored 629 runs in seven Tests and 5322 runs in 117 ODIs Raj the highest runscorer in womenâs international cricket retired with 10868 runs across formats and Smriti has the opportunity to surpass her tallyPreviously while hitting a runaball 25 during the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at the ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam Smriti became the first Indian batter and second overall after Suzie to complete 4000 runs in Womenâs T20IsThe lefthanded opener was the secondhighest runscorer in Indiaâs triumphant Womenâs ODI World Cup campaign â amassing 434 runs in nine innings at an average of 5425Smriti also finished 2025 as the highest rungetter in ODIs scoring 1362 runs in 23 innings which included five fifties and five centuries and also became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three formats of the gameFollowing the conclusion of the fivematch T20I series against Sri Lanka on December 30 Smriti will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB in the 2026 Womenâs Premier League WPL beginning on January 9 RCB will face Harmanpreet Kaurled Mumbai Indians in the opening game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/4th-t20i-mandhana-becomes-second-indian-woman-batter-to-cross-10-000-international-runs-655983.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-atkinson-ruled-out-of-scg-test-with-hamstring-injury-656010.html Melbourne Dec 29 England have suffered a blow with news that fast bowler Gus Atkinson will miss the final Test of the Ashes series at the SCG due to injury Atkinson hurt his left hamstring when bowling on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and failed to return to the field Other fast bowlers stepped up in his absence bowling out Australia for 132 in the second innings to set up a fourwicket victory their first overseas Ashes Test win since January 2011England seamer Gus Atkinson has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes tour after scans confirmed he has sustained a left hamstring injury England Cricket said in a statementThe Surrey rightarmer left the field after bowling his fifth over of Australiaâs second innings during Englandâs victory at the MCG in the fourth TestEngland will not call up a replacement for the fifth Test which gets under way in Sydney on 4 January it addedAtkinson arrived in Australia as Englands attack leader but struggled to maintain his pace and incisiveness across the first two Tests He went wicketless in Perth then took 3151 from 33 overs in Brisbane only to find himself dropped for the mustwin game in Adelaide The 27yearold had taken six wickets at 4733 during the seriesEngland have already lost pace duo Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to injury this tourAtkinsons injury opens the door for fellow quicks Matthew Fisher and Matthew Potts for a callupPotts has taken 36 Test wickets at 2944 with the most recent of his ten appearances coming back in December 2024The fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at the SCG on January 4England squad Ben Stokes c Harry Brook vc Jofra Archer Shoaib Bashir Jacob Bethell Brydon Carse Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Matthew Fisher Will Jacks Ollie Pope Matthew Potts Joe Root Jamie Smith wk Josh Tongue IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/ashes-atkinson-ruled-out-of-scg-test-with-hamstring-injury-656010.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-pace-duo-cummins-hazlewood-set-to-be-named-in-t20-wc-squad-656018.html Melbourne Dec 29 The experienced pace duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are set to be included in Australiaâs provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Mens T20 World Cup despite injury concerns Head coach Andrew McDonald Cummins will undergo another scan of his back in four weeksâ time and a final call on his availability for the mega spectacle which commences on February 7 will be made after the results of that assessmentPat will have a scan I think in another four weeks so thatll give us the information then on where hes at for the World Cup Hell be named in the squad of 15 and then well get that information as to where hes at McDonald saidCummins has played just one international match since suffering a lumbar stress injury in July He pushed the limits of his rehabilitation from a back stress injury to return for the third Test in Adelaide where he took six wickets as Australia won by 82 runs retaining the Ashes urnSubsequently he withdrew from the remainder of the series with Australia unwilling to take any further risksHazlewood who missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries that have troubled the 34yearold pacer is likely to be fit Before his injury the pacer starred in the whiteball series against India and is likely to return in time for the T20 World Cup giving a major boost to AustraliaJosh is returning to bowl He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes McDonald saidAnother concern for Australia is hardhitting middleorder batter Tim David who recently injured his hamstring while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL The finisher had been ruled out for two months earlier this year due to a similar injury but McDonald believes the 29yearold will be fit in time for the marquee 20over tournamentNot sure whether its just pure muscle or tendon and thatll give us a timeframe I think the timeframe will be kind on TD Tim David as well So he should be available no matter what that injury is said McDonaldAustralia will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 11 As part of their preparations they will play a threematch T20I series in Pakistan in January IANS https://dailyworld.in/cricket/australia-pace-duo-cummins-hazlewood-set-to-be-named-in-t20-wc-squad-656018.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:55:00 +0530