The Times of India

Mohammed Kaif advised Tilak Varma to ignore criticism and stick to his natural anchor role in the T20 World Cup 2026. Tilak struggled with form and failed when he tried to play aggressively against South Africa. Kaif said Tilak should play like Virat Kohli and focus on batting deep, since India already has many attacking players. Tilak is expected to play in Indias key match against Zimbabwe.

India suffered a setback in the first ODI against Australia as captain Harmanpreet Kaur injured her knee while batting and did not field, with Smriti Mandhana leading instead. Harmanpreet scored 53, while Mandhana made 58, but India were restricted to 214. Australia chased it easily, winning by six wickets to lead 1-0. Beth Mooney starred with 76 as India now await Harmanpreets fitness update.

Indian cricket team arrives for nets in Chennai

India's T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal path is challenging. A significant loss to South Africa has impacted their net run rate. India must win their upcoming matches convincingly. Dominant victories are crucial to improve their net run rate and secure a spot in the semifinals. The team faces Zimbabwe and West Indies next.

England will host the expanded ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 from June 12 to July 5, featuring 12 teams. Hosts England kick off against Sri Lanka, while India face Pakistan on June 14. This edition boasts the largest field ever, with Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands qualifying. The schedule promises thrilling encounters, culminating in the final at Lord's.

A loss against England in Kandy will end Pakistan's hope for the semifinals | T20 World Cup

Anil Kumble sees West Indies as strong T20 World Cup contenders after their dominant win, highlighting their knockout stage readiness and explosive batting. He noted Hetmyer's crucial innings and Powell's power. Kumble also cautioned that India faces a tougher path to the semi-finals following their significant defeat to South Africa, emphasizing the need for convincing victories in upcoming matches.

Ravichandran Ashwin has advised Pakistan to promote Fakhar Zaman to the middle order for their crucial Super 8 clash against England. Ashwin believes Zaman's ability to sweep and use his feet can counter England's spinners, Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, citing Nepal's successful strategy against Rashid.

T20 World Cup: Sahibzada Farman press conference ahead of Pakistan vs England

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T20 World Cup: Shai Hope press conference after West Indies beat Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka could gain a significant home advantage in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium. This is contingent on Pakistan qualifying, or if Sri Lanka reach the semi-finals and their opponent is not India. Otherwise, Kolkata will host the fixture.

Former umpire Steve Bucknor has admitted to making a mistake in a controversial LBW decision against Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003-04 Brisbane Test. Bucknor confessed that Tendulkar should not have been given out, as the ball was missing the stumps. This admission confirms long-held fan beliefs about the erroneous call.

Zimbabwe's coach anticipates a fierce Indian onslaught in Chennai, drawing parallels to their recent defeat against the West Indies. He stressed the need for his team to adapt and disrupt India's aggressive batting, particularly Suryakumar Yadav. Zimbabwe aim to learn from their previous loss and challenge the tournament favourites on a Chennai pitch offering unexpected pace and bounce.

Team India's T20 struggles have put pitch conditions under scrutiny ahead of their must-win game against Zimbabwe. Chennai's Chepauk pitch, traditionally slow, has surprisingly offered better bounce this World Cup, potentially aiding India's big-hitters against Zimbabwe's pace-off bowlers. Batting first appears to be the preferred strategy given recent night-game results.

India's team management prioritised match-ups over vice-captaincy, benching Axar Patel for Washington Sundar against South Africa in their Super 8 clash. Despite Axar's strong record, Sundar was chosen for his off-spin against left-handers. This decision, along with Sundar's batting position, has raised questions about the team's strategy as they enter the tournament's crucial stages.

India's T20 World Cup campaign faces a crisis as the much-hyped top order falters, leading to predictable collapses and growing doubts. Opposition teams have easily decoded the batting lineup, forcing management to consider significant changes. The team's batting coach acknowledges the need for a different approach, hinting at potential alterations for upcoming crucial matches.

Shikhar Dhawan has publicly refuted fabricated social media quotes concerning his personal life post-marriage to Sophie Shine. The cricketer expressed disappointment over misinformation, emphasizing his respect for the past and his focus on a positive new chapter. He urged fans to avoid spreading false statements and instead promote love and positivity, thanking them for their support.

Once hailed as Pakistans next batting great, Babar Azam now finds himself under intense scrutiny. Despite towering career numbers, his poor strike rate, powerplay struggles, and inability to adapt to modern T20 demands have eroded his aura. As Pakistan rethink roles and combinations, Babars place, purpose, and future in the format hang in the balance.

The Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup Super 8 match in Kandy is expected to be played under favourable weather conditions. Temperatures will be around 19C with mostly clear skies and light winds. Rain chances are low at 13%, with minimal thunderstorm risk. Weather interruptions are unlikely, so a full 20-over match is expected, shifting focus to pitch conditions and team performance.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar criticised Indias bowling after their 76-run loss to South Africa, calling the attack fragile and exposed. He slammed Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube for conceding 67 runs, saying they lacked pace and intimidation. Akhtar also criticised Varun Chakaravarthys costly spell and urged India to play Kuldeep Yadav, calling him the missing link and a proven match-winner.

West Indies crushed Zimbabwe by 107 runs in the T20 World Cup Super Eights, powered by Shimron Hetmyers explosive 85 off 34 balls in a massive 254-6. Zimbabwe collapsed early in the chase and were bowled out for 147 despite Brad Evans 43. Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein starred with the ball as West Indies went top of Group 1 with a superior NRR.

West Indies delivered a historic batting performance, posting the second-highest T20 World Cup total of 254/6 against Zimbabwe. Shimron Hetmyer's blistering 85 off 34 balls, the fastest T20 World Cup fifty by a West Indian, set the stage for the monumental score.

Shimron Hetmyer smashed a blistering 19-ball half-century at the Wankhede Stadium, setting a new West Indies record in T20 World Cup history. This remarkable feat surpassed Chris Gayle's previous record of 23 balls. Hetmyer's aggressive innings showcased the Caribbean team's fearless approach to the game.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen in an intense discussion with struggling opener Abhishek Sharma on the team bus in Chennai. Sharma has had a difficult run in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring only 15 runs in four matches. This conversation comes ahead of India's crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe.

Gautam Gambhirs animated chat with Abhishek Sharma goes viral; Team India lands in Chennai

Indias T20 World Cup 2026 campaign suffered a major blow after a 76-run loss to South Africa, complicating their semi-final chances. Opener Abhishek Sharmas poor form remains a concern, with four straight low scores. Mohammad Amir advised him to be patient and smarter in shot selection, while also criticising Indias chasing weakness and team selection, calling the team combination a key mistake.

Inside Pakistans intense nets session in Kandy ahead of their Super Eight clash against England

Jammu and Kashmir's fast-bowling spearhead Auqib Nabi has been the driving force behind their maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance, taking 55 wickets this season. His remarkable rise, fueled by relentless effort and a perfect bowling action, has seen him claim 99 wickets in the last two seasons. Coach Krishnakumar believes Nabi's calm demeanor and consistent performance warrant national recognition.

Having scored 220 runs already, Sahibzada Farhan has emerged as Pakistans batting constant in a turbulent T20 World Cup. As questions swirl around strike rates, collapses, and pressure on senior players, Sahibzada Farhan remains unmoved. Even with Virat Kohlis iconic tournament run record in view. For him, the focus is simple: to score runs and not think about the milestones.

Lungi Ngidi credits his IPL stint with Dwayne Bravo for honing his slower deliveries, a key weapon against India. His subtle variations and clever pace changes, including leg cutters, kept Suryakumar Yadav guessing. Ngidi focused on building pressure rather than just taking wickets, finding his slower ball provides a crucial edge in modern T20 cricket.

The Indian men's cricket team arrived in Chennai for their next T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Zimbabwe following a significant 76-run defeat to South Africa. This loss ended India's 18-match unbeaten streak in ICC white-ball tournaments and marked their second-biggest T20I loss by runs.

Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock believes India failed to adapt to Ahmedabad's conditions during their Super 8 defeat to the Proteas. He highlighted India's inability to recognize the ew ball challenge with the seam moving around and their aggressive approach in the powerplay, which led to early wickets and pressure.

South Africa's tactical approach, mirroring other teams, exploited India's predictable batting order and poor shot selection. India's over-reliance on left-handers and lack of a Plan B proved costly, leading to a significant defeat in the T20 World Cup Super Eight. India now face crucial selection decisions for the game against Zimbabwe to address these vulnerabilities.

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar analyzed India's batting collapse against South Africa, noting Ishan Kishan's early dismissal after Abhishek Sharma's cheap exit. Nayar emphasised the need for better plans against quality off-spin, citing upcoming matches against the West Indies and Roston Chase.

India's decision to bench vice-captain Axar Patel for the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against South Africa has drawn sharp criticism. Former captain Ajinkya Rahane questioned the move, stating that overthinking selection and not backing a proven performer like Patel, despite his vice-captaincy, backfired. Washington Sundar's underwhelming performance further fueled the debate after India's heavy defeat.

Pakistan allrounder Shadab Khan expressed confidence in his team reaching the T20 World Cup 2026 final. This statement comes as Pakistan prepares for a crucial Super Eights match against England. The pitch is expected to favor spinners. England has started their Super Eights campaign strongly. Pakistan needs a strong batting performance to succeed.

India fans in Ahmedabad react to loss vs South Africa | T20 World Cup

Former captain Kris Srikkanth launched a fierce critique of India's batting collapse against South Africa in the T20 World Cup. He lambasted the reckless approach, questionable batting order, and poor decision-making, particularly highlighting Ishan Kishan's dismissal and Suryakumar Yadav's batting position. Srikkanth warned of lingering negative mindsets after the humiliating defeat.

Following a heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super 8 stage, former batter Sanjay Manjrekar urged India to be humble and address key flaws. He highlighted struggles against spin and pace-off deliveries, suggesting a batting order reshuffle and strengthening the bowling attack with Kuldeep Yadav to improve their title chances.

Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his disagreement with the team management's decision to bench Axar Patel for the crucial T20 World Cup Super 8 match against South Africa. Ashwin argued that while match-up strategies are common in franchise cricket, international tournaments demand team stability, highlighting Axar's proven T20 prowess and past crucial performances.

Following a heavy defeat to South Africa in Super 8s, India's batting unit faces scrutiny, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirming that changes, including the potential inclusion of Sanju Samson, are being considered. The team's left-hand heavy top order has struggled, prompting a rethink of their strategy for upcoming crucial matches.

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Arsenal solidified their Premier League lead with a commanding 4-1 victory over Tottenham, featuring a stellar brace from Eberechi Eze. Meanwhile, Liverpool secured a dramatic 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest thanks to Alexis Mac Allister's last-gasp goal, keeping their European aspirations alive. Fulham and Crystal Palace also clinched important wins.

David Miller revealed South Africa's strategic clarity and disciplined execution were key to their dominant Super 8 victory over India. He emphasized capitalizing on loose deliveries and taking calculated risks against spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who had a difficult outing. Miller's composed, fundamental approach underpinned his match-winning 63 off 35 balls.