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Harare Sports Club: Aaron George hit a stroke-filled 115 as five-time champions India pulled off a record run-chase to storm into the final of the 2026 ICC Mens Under-19 World Cup with a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second semi-final at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Chasing a daunting 311, India rode on Georges 115 off 104 balls, laced with 15 fours and two sixes at a strike-rate of 110.58 to complete a daunting chase. Explosive half-centuries by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (68 off 3

World Pickleball League: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant said his recovery from a side strain is progressing well at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and he expects to return to competitive cricket soon. Pant has been sidelined after sustaining a side strain on his right side during a practice session on the eve of the ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara, when he was struck above the waist by a ball from a throwdown specialist. My fitness is getting better day-by-da

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Delhi Capitals will attempt to shake off three successive final defeats when they face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) decider clash in Vadodara on Thursday, with the sides former fielding coach Milap Mewada backing the side to finally break their jinx in the title clash. DC have always reached the WPLs summit clash since the tournament's inception in 2023, but are yet to lift the trophy, a record that weighs on a squad now led by

RCB-W vs DC-W, Match Final, Cricket Tips :The final of the WPL 2026 will be played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals. These two have reached the final after dominating the group stage. RCB-W finished the group stage at the top. They have had multiple performers in the league round and probably the best bowling unit. Meanwhile, DC-W have had performances in the lateral half of the tournament. Their batting unit has started performing now. But if we talk about the bowling un

MCA BKC Ground: India's legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has shared his insights on managing big-game pressure and maintaining a winning mindset with the Mumbai players at MCA BKC Ground on Wednesday, ahead of the team's Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Karnataka, which will be played from February 6. In a video shared by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Facebook, former captain Sachin can be seen answering every player's question and also giving them tips to play a particular bal

Mixed Disability T20I Series: England sealed the five-match Mixed Disability T20I Series in emphatic fashion, registering a composed four-wicket victory over India in the fourth T20I to take an unassailable 31 lead on Wednesday. England pursued a modest target with depth, discipline, and composure under pressure, finishing the chase with five balls remaining and emphasizing their dominance throughout the match. India, asked to bat first, faced difficulties in forming consistent partnerships, fin

T20 World Cups: The Netherlands have won more matches in the Mens 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 top-ranked sides. But as they gear up to compete in their seventh T20 World Cup, the Netherlands are keen to shed their reputation of being giant-killers and make a serious push to get into the closing stages of the tournament. Seam-bowling all-rounder Logan Van Beek w

ICC T20I Rankings: Indian wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan has jumped 32 positions in the latest ICC Men's T20I batter rankings after an impressive comeback series against New Zealand, where the left-handed 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 7. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav has also moved past Pakistan's S

Badminton Asia Team Championship: Defending champions India women began their Badminton Asia Team Championship campaign in commanding fashion, registering a dominant 5-0 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 two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, played a major part in Team India's triumph in 2024, withdrew from competition due to a niggle. After Sindhu's exit, all the fo

T20 World Cup Trophy: The ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 trophy arrived at the IANS headquarters on Wednesday as part of its official Trophy Tour, setting off a wave of celebration and excitement ahead of the marquee tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7 across co-hosts India and Sri Lanka. The arrival of the coveted silverware was marked by traditional dhol beats and energetic dance, lending a vibrant desi flavour to the occasion. The festive welcome created a celebratory atmosphere at the

Head coach Shukri Conrad had a clear plan which culminated in South Africa winning last year's World Test Championship final, but he has shaken things up as he plots a first major white-ball trophy at the T20 World Cup. One thing I did from a long way out was to bring some stability to the Test squad, the South African head coach told AFP. Stability has, of necessity, been lacking from the T20 team's build-up ahead of the World Cup, where South Africa start against Canada in Ahmedabad on Monday.

T20 World Cup: England all-rounder Sam Curran has reiterated his comfort with a fluid role in the national side, a trait that has become increasingly valuable as the team builds momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup. Currans adaptability was a defining feature of Englands recent 30 T20I series sweep over Sri Lanka, where his contributions with both bat and ball proved decisive across varying conditions. The highlight of the series came in the third and final T20I, when Curran struck a composed 58

The Delhi Capitals: The Delhi Capitals clinched a seven-wicket win against the Gujarat Giants on Tuesday to seal their spot in the Womens Premier League (WPL) final for the fourth consecutive time in as many editions of the tournament, and former India captain and DC's Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly hailed the teams efforts by dropping a comment on all-rounder Marizanne Kapps social media post. Ganguly is heavily involved with the Delhi womens team, overseeing overall strategy, squad formati

Pakistan's spin-heavy squad are in winning form ahead of the T20 World Cup, but a controversial decision to forfeit their marquee clash against India could still trigger another early exit. Pakistan came close to withdrawing from the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh, who pulled out after refusing to play in India, citing security concerns. The Pakistan government eventually cleared the team's participation but it barred them from facing India in Colombo in a blockbuster clash on February

As Delhi Capitals: As Delhi Capitals sealed their place in the final of the Womens Premier League 2026 with a commanding seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator at the BCA Stadium here on Tuesday, allrounder Chinelle Henry reflected on the mindset of heading into the Eliminator, saying it was about having clear heads and staying calm. Chasing a target of 169, DC completed the chase with 26 balls to spare, booking a final clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and extending thei

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed confidence in the Indian team's prospects for the Mens T20 World Cup 2026, highlighting that they possess the right combination of experience, skill, and balance to perform well in a high-pressure tournament. Dhoni emphasised that the team's strength depends on how well the players handle pressure situations and their clearly defined roles. He noted that players are always in match-ready mode, whether batting or bowling, g

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Head coach Michael Klinger felt the Gujarat Giants' WPL 2026 season demonstrated noticeable progress, despite an overall sense of unfinished goals, as the side concluded their campaign with a loss to Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator on Tuesday. Securing second place on the points table marked a positive advancement and showed that the Giants maintained composure in close matches throughout the league phase. However, it also identified areas for improvement, especiall

England are in search of a fresh start at the T20 World Cup after their Ashes debacle and a series of failures at global white-ball events, with captain Harry Brook under scrutiny on and off the field. The 2010 and 2022 champions, who boast an impressive roster of destructive batsmen and match-winning bowlers, are aiming to win the trophy for a record third time. Brook takes charge at a global tournament for the first time since he replaced Jos Buttler as white-ball skipper last year. Buttler st

Jacob Bethell underlined his importance to England's T20 World Cup hopes as he spun them to a hard-fought 12-run win over Sri Lanka to complete a 3-0 clean sweep at Pallekele on Tuesday. The series served as a dress rehearsal for the 20-nation showpiece that Sri Lanka is co-hosting with India. The contest hung in the balance heading into the 18th over with Sri Lanka needing 21 runs off 18 balls with four wickets in hand but the part-time spin of Bethel turned the game. The left-armer snared thre

Pak T20 World Cup: Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has criticised Pakistans decision to boycott its group-stage fixture against India in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup, saying the spirit of cricket is diminished when politics influences sporting participation. Speaking to IANS, Modi said, Cricket was created to be decided on the field, not in boardrooms or through boycotts. When politics enters sport, the game loses but fans always remember who stood for competition. Pakistan

T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe, Nepal and Oman enjoyed confidence-boosting victories in the latest round of ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches. Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands by 29 runs, Nepal chased down 146 to beat the UAE by seven wickets and Aamir Kaleem impressed with the bat as Oman defeated Sri Lanka A by five wickets. Burl and Ngarava shine for Zimbabwe: Ryan Burl and Richard Ngarava played key roles as Zimbabwe overcame the Netherlands by 29 runs. Burl entered the fray at 77 for three

Captain Jemimah: Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues credited the teams belief, calm decision-making and a collective bowling effort after her side stormed into a fourth consecutive Womens Premier League (WPL) final with a seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Tuesday here at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi). This finals feels different for sure. But also I think with GG, the last two games didnt go our way. We were. Last over we needed seven runs, today we won by seven wickets

Losing Sophie Devine: Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner admitted her side paid a heavy price for a sluggish start with the ball as Delhi Capitals cruised to a seven-wicket victory, but noted the positives from their campaign and expressed pride, stating that this is the most balanced side that theyve had, pointing to the emergence of young Indian talent such as Anushka Sharma, alongside experienced campaigners like Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Devine. Despite posting a competitive 168/7, rescue

Delhi Capitals Women: Delhi Capitals Women produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Gujarat Giants Women by seven wickets, chasing down a competitive target with ease, courtesy of a clinical batting display led by Lizelle Lee and Jemimah Rodrigues, to enter the final of the tournament for the fourth consecutive time. Asked to respond to Gujarats 168/7, Delhi wasted little time asserting control. Openers Lee and Shafali Verma set the tone with an aggressive powerplay, racing to 75 runs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru top-order batter Georgia Voll said the key to handling huge expectations around the franchise in the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) final will be keeping things simple, doing what has gone well for them before and not getting overwhelmed by the occasion. Smriti Mandhana-led RCB are in the WPL final for the second time after finishing as table-toppers in the league stage. The franchise won their first WPL title in 2024 after beating Delh

The West Indies: Delhi Capitals bowlers kept the hosts in check, while wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooneys sluggish yet resilient knock and Gerogia Wareham and Kashvee Gautams efforts with the willow helped the Gujarat Giants get to a competitive total of 168/7 when the two sides squared off in the crucial and penultimate contest of the Womens Premier League 2026, the Eliminator, here at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi). Marizanne Kapp conceded six runs in the opening over as Sophie Devine edged a four ov

T20 World Cup: Scotland batter Finlay McCreath said he tried to remain calm and focused on training as uncertainty swirled around whether his team would replace Bangladesh at the Men's T20 World Cup, starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Scotland eventually secured their place by replacing Bangladesh in the tournaments main draw due to the latter not agreeing to travel to India due to security reasons. That last-minute entry into the mega event earned the Associate nation a fifth consec

Danny Wyatt Hodge: New Zealand and Gujarat Giants all-rounder Sophie Devine believes that experience alone does not define a players value in a team, stressing instead the importance of clarity and consistency of role in building confidence Devine said this clarity has helped her perform in the ongoing Womens Premier League (WPL), where she has been able to understand her role and contribute effectively to the side. Asked how she views her role in the team, Devine highlighted the advantage of be

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengalurus big-hitting all-rounder Grace Harris said her contrasting personality with skipper Smriti Mandhana has been key to their successful opening partnership as the team prepares for the 2026 Womens Premier League (WPL) final, set to happen at BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday. The Australian power-hitter was handed the role of opening the batting alongside Smriti by head coach Malolan Rangarajan in a practice session ahead of the tournament.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first against Gujarat Giants in the crucial Eliminator tie of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi). With both sides heading into the contest with an unchanged XI from their previous game, the winner will go on to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final on Thursday. The fourth edition of the Womens Premier League has been characterised by narrow margins, making dominant wins uncom

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Big-hitting all-rounder Nadine de Klerk has pointed to the WPL 2026 opening match, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians by three wickets, as the catalyst for the franchise believing that this could be a special season for them. In that game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, RCB were struggling to get going in the chase of 155 and were reeling at 65/5 in the eighth over. But Nadine, who picked a four-for earlier, came in and got going to hit an

Asia Cup Rising Stars: The Pakistan womens national selection committee has named off-spinning all-rounder Umm-e-Hani as a replacement for the injured Rameen Shamim in the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, which will commence on February 10. Rameen sustained a left-hand thumb IPJ dislocation during a training session at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. The PCB said the batter is expected to remain sidelined for four to six weeks and has begun her rehabilitation proc

The Marylebone Cricket Club: 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 5.8, titled Categories of bat. The change is one of 73 revisions announced by the games lawmakers and will permit the use o

T20 World Cup: India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has picked his playing XI for India's opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against the USA, which will be played on Saturday at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, leaving out Ishan Kishan, who was in great form during the recently concluded New Zealand series. In a video shared by Star Sports on X, Chahal backed his former Rajasthan Royals skipper, Sanju Samson, to open the innings for the team with Abhishek Sharma, despite his recent below par performance

T20 World Cup Qualifier: After their unbeaten run at the recent ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, Bangladesh's players gained big on the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings. Bangladesh won through to this year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup in style during the recent Qualifier tournament in Nepal as they registered victories in all seven matches they contested at the event. Bangladesh received strong performances from a variety of sources, with hard-hitter Sobhana Mostary, skipper Nigar Sult

T20 World Cup: Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his gratitude after being conferred with the Padma Shri, one of the countrys highest civilian honours, calling it a special moment for him and his family and stating that he will continue to win matches for India. Calling the award a very special moment, Rohit thanked the government of India and everyone who supported him throughout his journey in cricket. Receiving the Padma Shri is a very special moment for me and my family. I tha

T20 World Cup: As Australian fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood is racing the clock to feature in the T20 World Cup at some stage, fellow pacer Pat Cummins stated that the right-armer is trying his best to return about halfway through the tournament. Hazlewood, who missed the home Ashes series due to an Achilles injury, has been working on his comeback to return at the T20 World Cup. Cricket Australia earlier revealed that the pacer would remain in Sydney for the start of the T20 World Cup as he continu

T20 World Cup: Pakistans decision to boycott their T20 World Cup group match against India has reportedly prompted ack-channel talks between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board amid concerns over potential financial fallout. On Sunday, Pakistan government announced that its national cricket team would not play the T20 World Cup group-stage match against India at Colombos R.Premadasa Stadium on February 15. The decision could reportedly cost world cricket more

T20 World Cup: Australias fast-bowling 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 15-team squad. Cummins was replaced by Ben Dwarshuis in Australias squad for the mega tournament, which begins on February 7, due to an ongoing back issue. The right-arm pacer said he was feeling good physically but simply did not have enough time to complete his recovery. It was really unfort

The Lucknow Super Giants: Fast bowler Mayank Yadavs long journey back to competitive cricket has reached an important point as he was named in the India A squad for warm-up games against the USA and Namibia, ahead of the T20 World Cup. Mayank, known for his speed and match-winning spells during IPL 2024, returns after a long injury layoff. The Lucknow Super Giants bowler had been out for more than a year due to a stress fracture. His last competitive game was against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. Hi

GG-W vs DC-W, Match Eliminator, Cricket Tips :Royal Challengers Bengaluru became the first team to qualify for final of the WPL 2026. The other two teams to qualify for the playoffs will now face each other in the Eliminator to make it through. Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants will lock horns on Tuesday at BCA Stadium at 7:30 PM IST. DC-W have lost both group games against GG-W this season, and they will fight hard to avoid the hat trick of defeats. They did well in their previous game agains

Sri Lanka on Monday dropped Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva from their 15-man T20 World Cup squad led by Dasun Shanaka. De Silva had been recalled for a three-match T20 international series against Pakistan early last month after an 18-month absence and played the opening game against England in an ongoing series. But he was dropped for the second T20, while the final match is scheduled for Tuesday. Since his recall, he has only scored 43 runs in three innings and taken one wicket with his off-

SL vs ENG, 3rdT20I , Cricket Tips :England are on the right path of preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They have beaten the hosts comprehensively in both games and taken a 2-0 lead. in the three-match series. England have ticked most of the boxes, but Sri Lanka have found some areas of concern just ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The final contest will be held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday at 7 PM IST. England will be keen to carry on their form and make it a 3

The Pakistan Cricket Board: The Pakistan government may have announced via social media that their team will not take field for the match against India in the Men's T20 World Cup later this month, the country's cricket board is not ready to convey this decision officially to the International Cricket Council (ICC), a news report claimed on Monday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to remain on warpath on the issue of boycotting the World Cup match against India and will not convey the

How Rajeshwari Gayakwad: On the eve of Gujarat Giants second appearance in a Women's Premier League (WPL) Eliminator at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, Rajeshwari Gayakwad exudes a quiet confidence that belies the tumultuous journey that brought her to this juncture. At 34, left-arm spinner Gayakwad is having her best WPL season 10 wickets coming in seven games at an average of 14.50 and economy rate of 7.63. Nothing much is going on. All we have in mind is to play well at any cost and wi

The Inyernational Cricket Council: The Inyernational Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced international panels of umpires and referees for the two semi-finals at the ICC U19 Mens Cricket World Cup 2026. Australia and England, who are both unbeaten in the competition so far, go head-to-head on Tuesday with Zahid Bassarath and Virender Sharma the on-field umpires. Bassarath took charge of Englands most recent victory, over New Zealand, while Sharma has been in the middle for Australias wins o

Mixed Disability T20I: England held their nerve in a measured run chase to secure a five-wicket victory over India in the third Mixed Disability T20I at the Shahid Vijay Pathik Stadium, moving 21 ahead in the five-match series. Asked to bat first, India put up a competitive total of 147 for 7 from their 20 overs, built around a composed and commanding unbeaten innings from Majid. Batting through the innings, Majid scored 76 not out from 54 balls, striking three fours and five sixes as he anchore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting all-rounder Gautami Naik says she has drawn valuable lessons from overseas teammates Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk as the franchise prepares for Thursday's Women's Premier League (WPL) final. Gautami made history earlier this season by becoming the first uncapped Indian player to score a fifty in the WPL by striking 73 off 55 balls in a crucial match against Gujarat Giants a knock where she curbed her usual aggressive ins

Sri Lanka Cricket: Sri Lanka have been dealt an injury setback ahead of the final T20I against England, with Eshan Malinga ruled out of Tuesdays match after suffering a dislocated shoulder, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed. The 24-year-old seamer also faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming World Cup, after sustaining the injury during Sundays defeat to England in Pallekele. The incident unfolded in an unusual fashion during the eighth over of Englands run chase, shortly after play

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Lauren Bell has emerged as the most economical force in this season's Women's Premier League (WPL), and has attributed her success in the competition to the backing from skipper Smriti Mandhana giving her lots of confidence. Lauren has taken 12 wickets in eight games at an average of 15 and an economy rate of 5.63 with a strike-rate of 16. But the numbers also tell about the England pacers story of relentless accuracy - 116 dot