Cricket

Virat Kohlis Insta Account Mystery: Fans Baffled As Profile Vanishes Online

Virat Kohli: Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli sent social media into a tailspin on Thursday night after his official Instagram account suddenly became inaccessible, leaving millions of fans wondering whether the profile was deleted, deactivated, or temporarily suspended. Users attempting to visit Kohlis verified handle were met with an error message stating that the page was unavailable. The unexpected development quickly triggered a wave of speculation, especially given Kohlis 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 fans. Within 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 Instagrams end. Some even speculated about a hacking incident, though there has been no evidence to support such claims. As of now, neither Kohli nor his management team has issued an official statement addressing the situation. Instagram has also not released any clarification regarding whether the account was removed due to a policy issue or if the disappearance is linked to a platform glitch. Within 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 Instagrams end. Some even speculated about a hacking incident, though there has been no evidence to support such claims. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Until an official explanation emerges, the mystery continues to dominate online conversations, with fans eagerly waiting for the beloved cricketer or Instagram to break the silence. Article Source: IANS

De Kock's blazing century lights up South Africa's barnstorming chase

He put on 162 with Ryan Rickleton as SA went 2-0 up, gunning down 222 with 15 balls remaining

WPL 2026: Happy Ive Gone Back To Some Older Patterns, Seems To Be Working, Says RCBs Grace Harris

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: All-rounder Grace Harris said that going back to some older patterns with her batting has worked out for her and proved useful after she produced a decisive all-round performance to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) into the final of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 as RCB cruised to an eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz in Vadodara on Thursday. Harris was central to RCBs dominance, first picking up 2 for 22 with the ball before blasting a 37-ball 75 in a chase that never looked in doubt. Her contributions ensured the 2024 champions chased down the 144-run target in just 13.1 overs, sealing their sixth win of the season. Im just really glad to be classified as an all-rounder for this game. I was pretty happy when Smriti said, 'Youre going to get on next over', and I thought, 'yes, I get to bowl today', Harris told broadcasters after the game, reflecting on her impact in both disciplines. Chasing 144, RCB seized control from the outset, with Harris attacking from the first over and setting the tone for a ruthless Power-play. She punished anything on her pads, dismantled Kranti Gaud in a boundary-laden over, and took the attack to the spinners as she and her opening partner, skipper Smriti Mandhana, raced to 63/0 in six overs. Harris brought up her half-century just after the Power-play, muscling S. Asha over long on, and continued to access all areas of the ground with apparent ease. The freedom in her strokeplay, she explained, was the result of simplifying her approach. With the batting, weve been working on a few things, and Im happy Ive gone back to some older patterns. It seems to be working. Im feeling a bit more free, not thinking too much, and thats made a big difference. Mainly my head position, along with a few small technical tweaks. Tactically, its about where I can set up to best access certain bowlers. But I can overthink that, so Ive gone back to being freer. Thats allowed me to access more areas of the ground and not worry too much about the one ball that might get me out, she said. The carnage against the UPWs attack continued until Harris was dismissed on the first ball of the 10th over, but by then RCB had already wiped out 108 runs from the chase. The Aussie added that while tactical planning remained important, her current focus was on clarity rather than complication. We do go through the tactical side -- whether to play from the crease or step out -- based on the spinner and the conditions on the day. Right now, Im trying not to overthink it again, and I think thats helped. Im fairly powerful, so Im lucky to be in a position where I can back my best shot to clear the boundary. Im just trying to cash in when I can and free myself up, the RCB opener added. After Harris dismissal, Mandhana took charge, accelerating to her half-century as RCB finished off the chase with 41 balls to spare. Harris also shed light on their opening partnership, describing the contrast in personalities and the communication that helped maintain momentum. When we glove-tap, Im probably the one using all the oxygen with the talking. Shes very composed, knows her own game, and just lets me say whatever I need to. She helps refocus me for the next ball using my own keywords, gives me a little heads-up on what the bowlers might do, and where I could hit it. And after that - well, lets see what happens, she said. After Harris dismissal, Mandhana took charge, accelerating to her half-century as RCB finished off the chase with 41 balls to spare. Harris also shed light on their opening partnership, describing the contrast in personalities and the communication that helped maintain momentum. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The loss keeps UP Warriorzs playoff fate hanging by a thread, while RCBs emphatic victory confirms their place in the final, driven by an all-round Player of the Match performance from Harris. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: We Kept Saying Were Just One Win Away From Final, Says Mandhana As RCB Storm Into Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana revealed that her message to the team ahead of their crucial clash against UP Warriorz (UPW) was no different from the one delivered in their previous games, a reminder that they were just one win away from the final. That clarity of purpose paid rich dividends on Thursday as RCB cruised to an eight-wicket victory, becoming the first team to qualify for the final of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 in Vadodara. After restricting UP Warriorz to 143/8, RCB chased down the target with ease in just 13.1 overs, underlining their dominance in a high-stakes encounter. Mandhana acknowledged that the Warriorz openers, Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma, gave their side a strong start before RCBs bowlers wrested back control. It was brilliant. They started really well with the bat - almost 60-70 without loss -- and from there the bowlers made a strong comeback. A special mention to Grace, coming in to bowl for the first time in the tournament and picking up two crucial wickets. Nadine bowled really well again, and honestly, everyone just chipped in and bowled extremely well. When the team bowls like that, its a very pleasing sight to watch, Mandhana told broadcasters after the game. The RCB captain also highlighted the teams calm and practical approach following recent setbacks, stressing the importance of not letting emotions dictate performances. Over the last two games, weve just told ourselves not to think emotionally or dig a hole for ourselves. Weve played really good cricket in the first five matches. In tournaments like this, sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition as well - like Nat (Sciver-Brunt) playing a blinder in the previous game. So we reviewed things practically, focused on what we could do better, and worked on that. Mandhana reiterated that consistency in messaging from the support staff played a key role in keeping the squad focused during the business end of the tournament. Honestly, the message was the same as the last few matches -- we kept saying were just one win away from the final, and nothing changed. The support staff have been very consistent in their messaging, whether we win or lose, and that consistency really helps us as players. For the last three matches, it was always about being one win away, and Im just happy that today we could get that win and go straight into the final. Mandhana reiterated that consistency in messaging from the support staff played a key role in keeping the squad focused during the business end of the tournament. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The 2024 champions will now enjoy some time off before returning to prepare for the final in hunt of their second WPL title. Article Source: IANS

Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians Match 19, WPL 2026, Who will win today GG-W vs MI-W match?

GG-W vs MI-W, Match 19, Cricket Tips :Royal Challengers Bengaluru have become the first to qualify for the final of the WPL 2026 as they finished the group stage with six wins in 8 games. Now, the last two games will decide the two other teams for the playoffs. The next game will be played between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants. This contest will be held at BCA Stadium on Friday at 7:30 PM IST. The winner of this game will qualify for the next round. GG-W have 8 points, but their NRR is poor, while MI-W have six points, but their NRR is the best. So, both sides need a win, as this is the final group game for both sides. GG-W vs MI-W: Match Details Date : January 30, 2026 (Friday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : BCA Stadium, Vadodara GG-W vs MI-W Live Streaming Details The live action of the next game will be available on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also catch the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. GG-W vs MI-W: Head-to-Head in WPL Total Matches : 8 Gujarat Giants : 0 Mumbai Indians : 8 No-Result : 0 GG-W vs MI-W: Ground Pitch Report BCA Stadium is a perfect place to bat on. The bounce is good, and batters can play their shots on the up. Bowling will not be easy, and batters will enjoy their time on the crease. The wicket will improve with time, and batting in the second innings will be good. GG-W vs MI-W: Possible XIs Gujarat Giants : Ash Gardner (c), Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Renuka Thakur, Tanuja Kanwer, Rajeshwari Gayakwad Mumbai Indians : Nat Sciver-Brunt, S. Sajana, Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Rahila Firdous (wk), Sanskriti Gupta, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shabnim Ismail, Poonam Khemnar GG-W vs MI-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a century in the last game and is the player in form. For GG-W, Beth Mooney scored a crucial fifty in the previous game and has scored runs this season. Probable Best Bowler Rajeshwari Gaikwad made the difference in the previous game against DC-W and bowled a game-changing spell in the middle overs for GG-W. For MI-W, Amelia Kerr has been the wicket-taker this season and has taken wickets consistently. Today Match Prediction : GG-W have won two in a row, but MI-W are always dangerous in must-win scenarios. Hence, we predict MI-W to win the game on Friday. GG-W vs MI-W Match 19, WPL 2026, Today Match GG-W vs MI-W, GG-W vs MI-W Prediction, GG-W vs MI-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for GG-W vs MI-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

WPL 2026: Credit To Grace & RCB, Unfortunately, We Didnt Put Our Best Foot Forward, Says Skipper Lanning After UPWs Loss

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: UP Warriorz's skipper Meg Lanning expressed disappointment after her side lost a crucial encounter against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by eight wickets on Thursday as the 2024 champions sealed their place in the 2026 Womens Premier League (WPL) final at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, in Vadodara. Lanning said that whenever the batters failed to carry on after getting themselves onto a reasonable platform and believes that the same theme has been followed by the team throughout the tournament this season. Really disappointing. We got ourselves onto a reasonable platform with the bat, but just couldnt carry on. Its probably been a bit of a theme throughout the tournament -- we get some momentum and then lose wickets at crucial times, often in clumps. Thats not ideal in T20 cricket. And then with the ball, we never really got going, Lanning told broadcasters after the game. The former Australia captain lavished praise on Grace Harris, whose whirlwind knock of 75 runs helped RCB finish off the 144-run chase with ease in just 13.1 overs. Grace was outstanding again; she put away anything we missed and finished it off beautifully. So credit to her and to RCB - unfortunately, we just didnt put our best foot forward tonight. As I mentioned, every time weve had some momentum with the bat, weve given our wickets away and made it a little bit too easy for the opposition. Theyve capitalised really well. In T20 cricket, when batters get in and get going, you need to maximise that. Weve probably underdone that -- myself included. I got to 40, which is a good start, but you need to keep going. Thats been a theme across the whole tournament, and its something we need to improve. Grace was outstanding again; she put away anything we missed and finished it off beautifully. So credit to her and to RCB - unfortunately, we just didnt put our best foot forward tonight. As I mentioned, every time weve had some momentum with the bat, weve given our wickets away and made it a little bit too easy for the opposition. Theyve capitalised really well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked if the break between their two outings was too long, Lanning said, I dont really think so. It is what it is. We had time to recover and train before coming into this game, so there are no excuses. I dont think it played a major role. RCB outplayed us tonight, and we just werent good enough. Article Source: IANS

Richard Holdsworth leaves role as Ireland director of cricket

Cricket Ireland announces long-serving member of staff to step back from position

WPL 2026: Harris, Mandhana Power RCB Into Final With Dominant Win Over UPW

Baroda Cricket Association Stadium: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team to book a place in the final of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 after cruising to an eight-wicket victory over UP Warriorz (UPW) at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Kotambi, in Vadodara on Thursday. Chasing 144, RCB made light work of the target, finishing the chase in just 13.1 overs on the back of commanding half-centuries by Grace Harris and skipper Smriti Mandhana. Harris smashed a fluent 75, while Mandhana anchored the innings with an unbeaten 54. The opening pair set the tone early, racing to 63 runs in the Power-play before stitching together a 108-run stand in just 9.1 overs. Harris was eventually dismissed by Shikha Pandey, but the damage had already been done. Georgia Voll added a brisk 16 during a 35-run partnership with Mandhana before falling to Asha Sobhana. The RCB skipper, who reached her fifty shortly before Volls dismissal, sealed the win in style with a boundary off Deepti Sharma. Earlier, UP Warriorz posted 143/8 after being asked to bat first, courtesy of a strong start from skipper Meg Lanning and a composed knock by Deepti. The duo put on 74 runs for the opening wicket, including 50 in the Power-play, UPWs first 50-plus opening stand of the season. Lanning looked set for a big score before being dismissed for 41 by Nadine de Klerk, who also removed debutant Amy Jones soon after to swing momentum RCBs way. Deepti held the innings together with a resilient 43-ball 55, but regular wickets at the other end prevented UPW from accelerating in the latter stages. De Klerk was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with figures of 4-22, while Grace Harris chipped in with two wickets. UPWs below-par total and ineffective Power-play bowling proved costly, bringing an end to their playoff hopes. RCB, meanwhile, continued their dominant run to secure a spot in the final with an emphatic performance. Deepti held the innings together with a resilient 43-ball 55, but regular wickets at the other end prevented UPW from accelerating in the latter stages. De Klerk was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with figures of 4-22, while Grace Harris chipped in with two wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz 143/8 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 55, Meg Lanning 41; Nadine de Klerk 4-22, Grace Harris 2-22) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 147/2 in 13.1 overs (Grace Harris 75, Smriti Mandhana 54*; Shikha Pandey 1-36, Asha Sobhana 1-24) by 8 wickets. Article Source: IANS

Mumbai players use face masks because of construction pollution

The AQI on Thursday hovered around 160, but a building construction site right next to the ground clearly aggravated the situation

Jofra Archer back as England and Sri Lanka begin World Cup countdown

Three-match series comes as perfect prep for upcoming tournament in India and Sri Lanka

Chamuditha's 110, Akash four-for keep Sri Lanka's hopes alive in Super Six

Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland to go through to the semi-final

Saim Ayub Star In Pakistan's Win Over Australia In First T20I

All-rounder Saim Ayub starred in Pakistan's spin-assisted 22-run win over Australia in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore on Thursday. Ayub top-scored in Pakistan's 168-8 with a 22-ball 40 that included two sixes and three fours, while Salman Agha added four sixes and a four in his 27-ball 39. The tourists managed 146-8 in their 20 overs with spinners taking six wickets for Pakistan. With the ball, Ayub dismissed Australian openers Matthew Short (five) and Travis Head, who hit two sixes and two fours in his 13-ball 23. Cameroon Green resisted with a 31-ball 36 but Australia succumbed to spin with Abrar Ahmed taking 2-10 while Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took a wicket apiece. Both teams were tuning up for the Twenty20 World Cup starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Pakistan skipper Agha praised a team effort. It was a great game with complete team effort, said Agha. We started well with the bat but couldn't 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 ball. Head, standing in for regular skipper Mitchell Marsh who rested, showed disappointment over batting. It was disappointing, but that's how batting goes sometimes, said Head. We felt like we dragged it back well after the first 10 overs but as the ball got softer, it became harder to score. Earlier, Ayub led Pakistan's batting after the home team won the toss and chose to bat. Paceman Xavier Bartlett jolted Pakistan by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan with the first ball of the match. But Ayub and Agha restored the innings with a second wicket stand of 74, but spinner Adam Zampa put the brakes on Pakistan's progress with 4-24. Zampa dismissed both Ayub and Agha in successive overs before accounting for Babar Azam (24) and Usman Khan (18). Debutant Mahli Beardman finished with 2-33 as Pakistan managed just 31 in the last five overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The last two matches are on Saturday and Sunday, also in Lahore.

WPL 2026: Deepti, Lanning Take UPW To 143/8 Despite De Klerks Bowling Masterclass

Baroda Cricket Association Stadium: Skipper Meg Lannings early blitz and all-rounder Deepti Sharmas resilient knock of 55 from 43 balls helped UP Warriorz (UPW) post a decent total of 143/8 in 20 overs in the must-win encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 18th match of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium at Kotambi, in Vidarbha on Thursday. The Warriorz started well after being put to bat first, and their new opening combination worked out really well as Lanning and Deepti stitched a brilliant partnership to put up 50 runs in the Power-play without losing their wickets. It was the first 50-plus opening stand in seven innings for UPW this season and the second-highest Power-play score for the side this year after 56/1 against the Mumbai Indians. The Warriorz skipper made a solid start and looked well set for a big innings, but her stay on the crease was cut short by Nadine de Klerk, who dismissed Lanning (41) off her very first delivery in the game in the ninth over and put an end to the UPW openers 74-run stand. Amy Jones (1), who made her debut for UPW ahead of their crucial encounter, had an outing to forget in her maiden WPL game as the South African all-rounder scalped a second wicket in her over to send the English wicketkeeper-batter back to the dugout. The Warriorz lost momentum after the fall of two quick wickets, and Grace Harris only added fuel to the fire in the 12th over with the wicket of Harleen Deol, who walked back to the pavilion scoring a run-a-ball 14. While Deepti stood safe at one end, she saw her teammates losing their wickets at short intervals as Chloe Tryon (6) was stumped by Richa Ghosh off Grace Harris delivery in the 14th over. The spin-bowling all-rounder went on to raise her bat for a 40-ball fifty and looked to get going after reaching the landmark, only to fall off the final delivery of the penultimate over against Shreyanka Patil. De Klerk bowled a brilliant final over as the game unfolded as a tale of two halves. After dismissing English spin-bowling all-rounder Sophie Ecclestone (0) off the second delivery, the Protea seamer had Simran Sheikh caught at long-on by Arundhati Reddy as the Warriorz closed their innings, scoring 143 runs at the loss of eight wickets, courtesy of Lannings early onslaught and the late stability provided by Deepti. While Deepti stood safe at one end, she saw her teammates losing their wickets at short intervals as Chloe Tryon (6) was stumped by Richa Ghosh off Grace Harris delivery in the 14th over. The spin-bowling all-rounder went on to raise her bat for a 40-ball fifty and looked to get going after reaching the landmark, only to fall off the final delivery of the penultimate over against Shreyanka Patil. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz 143/8 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 55, Meg Lanning 41; Nadine de Klerk 4-22, Grace Harris 2-22) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Article Source: IANS

Why this T20 World Cup means more for Phil Salt

After playing a bit-part in England's 2022 success, opener is ready to put his stamp on this edition

Ranji Trophy: Dubey Picks 6-37 As Vidarbha Take Upper Hand Over UP In Must-win Clash

Salem Cricket Foundation Ground: Vidarbha captain Harsh Dubey claimed 6-37 in 19.5 overs to bowl out Uttar Pradesh for 237 in 68.5 overs on the opening day of their must-win Elite Group A clash in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 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 109/6 before Dhruv Jurel (96) and Shivam Mavi (47) added 92 runs for the seventh wicket to help UP cross the 200-run mark. At the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Salem, Sukirt Pandey struck an unbeaten 73 and Ninad Rathva made 66 as Baroda reached 247/5 against Tamil Nadu. Electing to bat, Baroda were reduced to 72/4 after off-spinner J. Hemchudeshan claimed three wickets in his first four overs and captain R. Sai Kishore took one scalp. But 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 90-run stand for the sixth wicket, thus ensuring Baroda ended the day in a strong position after Tamil Nadus early strikes. At Nagaland Cricket Stadium in Sovima, Chetan Bist struck a commanding unbeaten 160 as Nagaland reached 322/6 in 90 overs against Andhra. Nagaland were in trouble at 59/4, before Bist led a remarkable recovery, adding 167 for the fifth wicket with Dega Nischal, who made 74 from 188 balls. But 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 90-run stand for the sixth wicket, thus ensuring Baroda ended the day in a strong position after Tamil Nadus early strikes. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha ended day ones play at 242/6 in 92 overs against Jharkhand, with Swastik Samal (79) and Govinda Podder (64) scoring half-centuries. Jharkhand, the only side that can deny Vidarbha qualification for knockouts, were kept at bay by Odishas gritty batters. Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: Chatterjees Unbeaten 77 Carries Bengal To 168/5 Against Haryana

At Maharaja Bir Bikram College: Veteran batter Sudip Chatterjee held firm with an unbeaten 77 as Bengal reached 168/5 in 58 overs against Haryana on a truncated opening day of their Elite Group C match in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 in Lahli in Haryana on Thursday. Fog and poor light wiped out the first session before Chatterjee struck a patient half-century off 120 balls, guiding Bengal through difficult conditions. He struck the first two boundaries of the contest in the afternoon but otherwise relied on defence and strike rotation to anchor the innings. Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sudip Gharami fell in quick succession to left-arm spinner Tanmay Baloda before tea, while Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed also departed in the final session. Sumanta Gupta was trapped lbw late in the day, leaving Bengal five down at stumps. Chatterjee, who faced 177 balls and hit five fours, remained the mainstay as Haryanas bowlers chipped away. Baloda finished with three wickets, while Anshul Kamboj and Amit Rana picked up one apiece on a day which was full of attritional cricket. At Abhimanyu Cricket Academy in Dehradun, captain Kunal Chandela struck an unbeaten 128 to guide Uttarakhand to 279/3 against Assam. Chandela got support from Bhupen Lalwani, who made 52, and Lakshya Raichandani, whos unbeaten on 48. Rohit Singh picked up two wickets while Dipjyoti Saikia claimed one scalp for Assam. Chatterjee, who faced 177 balls and hit five fours, remained the mainstay as Haryanas bowlers chipped away. Baloda finished with three wickets, while Anshul Kamboj and Amit Rana picked up one apiece on a day which was full of attritional cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At Palam A Ground in New Delhi, Services reached 174/3 in 55 overs against Railways, with Anshul Gupta hitting 101 before retiring hurt. Captain Rajat Paliwal was unbeaten on 31 alongside Devender Lohchab on nine at stumps. Zubair Ali was the standout bowler for Railways by taking 3-43, while the rest of the attack struggled to make inroads. Article Source: IANS

Shanaka on SL selections: 'Kusal Janith can be used anywhere in the top six'

The selection of Kusal Perera and the exclusion of Kamindu Mendis have raised eyebrows

Ranji Trophy: Avasthis Five-for Helps Mumbai Bowl Out Delhi For 221 Despite Sangwans Ton

Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy: Mohit Avasthis sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket left Mumbai in control of the Elite Group D by reaching a strong position in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 against Delhi at the BKC-Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai on Thursday, despite Sanat Sangwan hitting 118 off 218 balls. Delhi were bowled out for 221 late in the day, with Avasthi claiming 5-62, including taking three scalps in a span of six runs, while Shams Mulani and Tushar Deshpande took two wickets apiece. Apart from a gritty Sangwan being the top run-getter for Delhi, Vaibhav Kandpal and Pranav Rajvanshi added 32 and 39, respectively. Mumbai, who have already qualified for the knockouts, ended the day at 13/1 after Divij Mehra dismissed Akash Anand, with the play ending early due to poor visibility caused by dust coming from construction in the nearby areas, which led to the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan wearing masks while fielding. In Amtar, left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar picked up five wickets to bowl Himachal out for 168 and put Jammu and Kashmir in a strong position. J&K ended the day at 20 without loss and already holds the advantage over HP in a must-win tie to enter the knockouts. In Pondicherry, Rajasthan were dismissed for 168 against Puducherry, with Karan Kannan taking 5-37 and Sagar Udeshi picking 3-54. Deepak Choudharys 64 was the lone batting resistance act for Rajasthan. Puducherry replied with 77/2, captain Neyan Shyam Kangayan unbeaten on 41 alongside Ramamoorthy Ragavan, whos not out on 20. In Amtar, left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar picked up five wickets to bowl Himachal out for 168 and put Jammu and Kashmir in a strong position. J&K ended the day at 20 without loss and already holds the advantage over HP in a must-win tie to enter the knockouts. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This round of Ranji Trophy Elite Group matches is quite important, as the event moves into the final phase of the season. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: Excited To Get Out There And Put On A Show, Says Debutant Amy Jones Ahead Of UPWs Do-or-die Clash With RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: England wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones is set to make her Womens Premier League (WPL) debut in a high-stakes encounter, as UP Warriorz prepare to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 18 of the tournament, a contest that could determine their playoff fate. Jones was drafted into the UP Warriorz squad as a replacement for Australias Phoebe Litchfield, who was ruled out through injury. The 32-year-old England international arrived on short notice but is eager to make an impact as the Warriorz head into a do-or-die clash. Speaking to broadcasters ahead of the match, Jones addressed the whirlwind nature of her arrival and the challenges of travel. I've gotten over the jet lag. I had a good couple of nights' sleep. But yeah, as you say, it was a quick turnaround, but I'm very excited to be here, she said. Despite not being part of the tournament from the outset, Jones revealed that the WPL had long been on her radar and that she had kept track of the competition from afar. I've only heard good things about WPL, and it's definitely been something that I've wanted to be a part of. So yeah, really excited for this opportunity. It's been a difficult hour, but I've been watching the highlights and been looking forward to watching those each morning, she said. The timing of her debut adds extra intrigue, with UP Warriorz entering the final stretch of the league phase knowing there is no margin for error. Jones embraced the pressure that comes with such a scenario. Really exciting. As you say, it's at the crux of the stage at the moment. So yeah, every game's a must-win, which is hugely exciting for us as players, she said. Jones also highlighted the mood within the Warriorz camp, stressing that the squad is fully aware of what is at stake against RCB. Everyone's really up for it. We've had some really good training sessions and a great team talk today before we left the hotel. Everyone's really excited to get out there and put on a show, she said. The timing of her debut adds extra intrigue, with UP Warriorz entering the final stretch of the league phase knowing there is no margin for error. Jones embraced the pressure that comes with such a scenario. Really exciting. As you say, it's at the crux of the stage at the moment. So yeah, every game's a must-win, which is hugely exciting for us as players, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, UP Warriorz will be counting on Jones experience and composure as they take on RCB in a match that could define their WPL campaign. RCB won the toss and put the Meg Lanning-led side to bat first here at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi). Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: Unadkat Picks Four As Saurashtra Get 31-run Lead Over Chandigarh

Jagjit Singh Sandhu: Veteran left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat claimed four wickets as Saurashtra bowled out Chandigarh for 136 on the opening day of their Elite Group B match in Ranji Trophy 2025-26, before taking a 31-run lead at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, in Chandigarh on Thursday. Opting to field first after winning the toss, Saurashtra bowled out Chandigarh in 42.1 overs, with Unadkat taking 4-44, while Chirag Jani and Chetan Sakariya picked up two wickets each, and Prerak Mankad chipped in with one scalp. For Chandigarh, Jagjit Singh Sandhu and Arjit Singh scored 29 runs each, while Arjun Azad made 20. In response, Saurashtra reached 167/1 at stumps in 38 overs. Harvik Desai struck an unbeaten 80 off 117 balls, including nine fours and a six, while Jay Gohil was also not out on 61 off 59 deliveries. The day also saw Saurashtra spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja being felicitated for making his 100th first-class appearance. Skipper Unadkat, team manager Mohansinh Jadeja, and coach Niraj Odedara presented a memento to him in the presence of both teams. BCCI Apex Council member Jaydev Shah said, Dharmendra is an outstanding cricketer with exceptional spin skills. He has been a great contributor to the game and has brought glory to his teams on many occasions. At Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra shared the honours on a dramatic opening day, with 12 wickets falling in a must-win contest. MP were bowled out for 187, with Rajvardhan Hangargekar claiming five wickets. By the time stumps arrived, MP reduced Maharashtra to 52/2, with Prithvi Shaw and Arshin Kulkarni back in the pavilion. BCCI Apex Council member Jaydev Shah said, Dharmendra is an outstanding cricketer with exceptional spin skills. He has been a great contributor to the game and has brought glory to his teams on many occasions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In Porvorim, Goa ended the day at 279-8 against Kerala. Goa were powered to the total thanks to Suyash Prabhudessais 86 and Yash Kasvankars 50, while Arjun Tendulkar added a brisk 36. Ankit Sharma was the standout bowler for Kerala with 5-88, and was supported by Nedumankuzhy Basils 2-55 and Sachin Babys 1-36. Article Source: IANS

RCB opt to field, bring in Vastrakar for Naik

UPW brought in Amy Jones and Simran Shaikh for Phoebe Litchfield and Kiran Navgire

WPL 2026: Pooja Vastrakar Returns, Amy Jones Replaces Litchfield As RCB Ask UPW To Bat

Baroda Cricket Association Stadium: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bowl first against UP Warriorz (UPW) in the 18th match of the 2026 Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium (Kotambi) in Vadodara on Thursday. Following a slow start, the venue's recent two matches have shown improved batting conditions, with teams scoring over 170 in each of the last four innings. In contrast, this total was only exceeded once during the first eight innings. Despite this, the last two games have seen teams successfully defend, providing chasing teams with some food for thought. UP Warriorz face a setback as Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to an injury, and Amy Jones has been added as her replacement. The Aussie has returned home to begin her rehab, aiming to recover in time for the multi-format home series against India starting next month. Its a must-win game for the Warriorz, who will keep their qualification hopes alive with a win but will bow out of the tournament and face elimination if they end up losing. RCB, meanwhile, became the first team to qualify for the playoffs with five consecutive wins to start their campaign. However, they have recently faced setbacks but continue to dominate at the top of the table, and a victory against UPW will confirm their place in the final. Winning the toss, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana said, Good wicket to bat on, already played against Mumbai Indians, need to bowl in good areas. One thing I've mentioned is to think tactically, not emotionally. We've done a lot of things right to win the first 5, just keep things simple, someone else might play better cricket, just keep it simple. Speaking of the teams playing combination, Mandhana mentioned that Pooja Vastrakar is set to make her comeback to competitive cricket after a prolonged injury break, saying, We have one change, Pooja comes back in place of Gautami, she had one year off, looking forward to her comeback. She's good to bat, bowling will take some time, we'll have a look at how things progress. Meanwhile, UP Warriorz skipper Meg Lanning mentioned that Jones has replaced Litchfield in the XI. We need to win every game we play, so there's nothing to lose as far as we're concerned. It was a nice break, we focused on things that we need to get better at, places where we can improve, and we're happy to come into the XI. A couple of changes - Amy Jones comes in place of Litchfield, Simran is in place of Navgire. A new opening partner for me, she said. Playing XIs: Meanwhile, UP Warriorz skipper Meg Lanning mentioned that Jones has replaced Litchfield in the XI. We need to win every game we play, so there's nothing to lose as far as we're concerned. It was a nice break, we focused on things that we need to get better at, places where we can improve, and we're happy to come into the XI. A couple of changes - Amy Jones comes in place of Litchfield, Simran is in place of Navgire. A new opening partner for me, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning (c), Simran Shaikh, Amy Jones (wk), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud Article Source: IANS

MI and GG tussle to join RCB in playoffs

The winner seals a top-three spot, while the loser is left awaiting the result of DC-UPW

India Beat England By 7 Wickets In Opening Match Of Mixed Disability T20I Series

Mixed Disability T20I Series: India made a strong start to the historic five-match Mixed Disability T20 International series against England, registering a convincing seven-wicket victory in the opening match at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida on Thursday. Batting first after losing the toss, England posted 173/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Callum Flynn set the early tempo with an aggressive 26 off 16 balls, while Lian OBrien anchored the innings with a composed 55 off 41 deliveries, striking four boundaries and three sixes. Wicketkeeper-batter Angus Grant Brown added valuable runs in the latter half, scoring a fluent 53 off 34 balls to ensure England crossed the 170-run mark. Indian bowlers maintained discipline during key phases of the innings. Akash Singh and Vivek Kumar picked up important wickets at crucial moments, preventing England from building sustained partnerships and keeping the target within reach. In response, India chased down the total with confidence, reaching 175 for 3 in 18.5 overs. The chase was spearheaded by wicketkeeper-batter Yogendra Bhadoria, who delivered a match-winning performance with a magnificent 94 off 59 balls. Bhadorias innings, which included six fours and five sixes, provided stability and momentum throughout the run chase. Yogendra Bhadoria was adjudged the Player of the Match for his outstanding match-winning knock. Speaking after the match, Yogendra Bhadoria said, This award means a lot to me, but more importantly, it belongs to the entire team. We played with belief and confidence, and it feels special to contribute to a series that stands for inclusion and equal opportunity. Yogendra received support from Akash Singh, who played a quickfire knock of 36 off just 15 balls, striking at an impressive rate and putting pressure back on the English bowlers. Arjun Gawre contributed 13 runs, while Majid (12 not out) and skipper Ravindra Sante (11 not out) guided India to victory without further loss. Speaking after the match, Yogendra Bhadoria said, This award means a lot to me, but more importantly, it belongs to the entire team. We played with belief and confidence, and it feels special to contribute to a series that stands for inclusion and equal opportunity. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The second T20I will also be played in Greater Noida as the landmark series continues. Article Source: IANS

South Africa Have A Chance To go All The Way In Mens T20 World Cup, Says Duminy

World Legends Pro T20 League: South Africa have a chance to go all the way to winning the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup title when the mega event begins on February 7, said former all-rounder JP Duminy. The Proteas are yet to win a title, and their best result in the tournament has been as runners-up 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 Mens T20 World Cup games. South 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 stage. We have been playing really good cricket over the last year or so, particularly in white-ball formats, and the squad we have certainly gives us a chance to go all the way. Theres always that elusive thought of when South Africa will win a white-ball competition, and I think we give ourselves a good chance going into this one, Duminy told IANS on Thursday. The upcoming tournament will be the first white-ball competition South Africa will play under Shukri Conrads coaching, after he took over as the all-format 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 competition. Markram is coming on the back of making 309 runs in nine games for Durbans 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 Paarl. What stands out for me is the form of the players, especially the captain. From a batting point of view, the form hes in is important, and if he plays well, we give ourselves a very good chance as a team, he added. Markram is coming on the back of making 309 runs in nine games for Durbans 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 Paarl. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He signed off by saying the competitive spirit remains strong among former players. The competitive nature never disappears. Everyone still wants to play at a level that gives them the best chance of winning games. Beyond that, its the camaraderie - the change room, the banter that you miss, and coming together to play the game again brings all of that back. Article Source: IANS

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Hosts Indian Blind Womens T20 WC Champions, Calls Them a Living Inspiration Of Courage

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday felicitated the Indian Blind Womens T20 World Cupwinning team, along with their coaches and representatives of the Blind Association, at Mukhyamantri Janseva Sadan, applauding their historic achievement and resilience. The Indian side, captained by Karnatakas Deepika T. C. and vice-captained by Maharashtras Ganga S. Kadam, delivered a flawless campaign, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament as India sealed the title with a dominant seven-wicket win over Nepal in the final held in Colombo on November 23, 2025. After restricting Nepal to 114/5, the Indian batters comfortably chased down the target in just 12.1 overs, showcasing their depth and confidence in a high-pressure encounter. Praising the team in a video of their interaction shared on her X handle, Gupta said, Our countrys daughters are very strong, and I have complete faith that wherever you go, you will leave people stunned. You have achieved so much and brought glory to the nation, and we are truly proud of you. What you have accomplished is something most people cant even reach. May you all continue to move forward like this and keep raising the countrys name. She described the players as role models beyond sport, captioning the video post, The Indian Blind Womens Cricket Team is a living inspiration of courage, self-confidence, and indomitable determination for all of us. This team teaches us that victory lies not just on the scoreboard, but in continuing to believe in ourselves. In the truest sense, they are the real champions of the T20 World Cup and of the pitch of life itself. Praising the team in a video of their interaction shared on her X handle, Gupta said, Our countrys daughters are very strong, and I have complete faith that wherever you go, you will leave people stunned. You have achieved so much and brought glory to the nation, and we are truly proud of you. What you have accomplished is something most people cant even reach. May you all continue to move forward like this and keep raising the countrys name. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Recalling the meeting, Modi wrote on X, It was a delight to host the Indian Blind Womens Cricket Team that won the Blind Womens T20 World Cup! They shared their experiences, which were very inspiring indeed. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan opt to bat; three debutants for Australia

Babar returns to Pakistan's side

Australian Open 2026: Aryna Sabalenka beats Svitolina to reach final

Sabalenka will seek her third title at Melbourne Park when she plays the final on January 31, 2026.

Reyneke Earns Maiden T20I Call-up As SA Name Women Squads For Pakistan Series

U19 T20 World Cup: South Africa have handed a maiden T20I call-up to former under-19 captain Kayla Reyneke as they announced their squads for the womens white-ball series against Pakistan set to happen from February 10 to March 1. Kayla, 20, represents Western Province in domestic cricket and captained South Africa to runners-up finish in the 2025 Womens U19 T20 World Cup. She joins a T20I squad led by Laura Wolvaardt and featuring experienced campaigners Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Dane van Niekerk, Sune Luus and Ayabonga Khaka. Wicketkeepers Sinalo Jafta and Karabo Meso, spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and allrounder Annerie Dercksen also return, while Tazmin Brits and Ayanda Hlubi are recalled after missing the Ireland series. The T20I series against Pakistan is a crucial part of South Africas build-up to the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 in England. The team is entering a crucial period in their build-up to the T20 World Cup, while also wanting to make a positive start in the new IWC cycle. Those factors played a key role in determining how both teams were set up to achieve the desired outcomes over the coming months. Kayla Reyneke has always been a talent to watch. She has recently shown clear growth in both her skill set and maturity in her game. This selection is a nod to her consistent progress and allows her to showcase what she can do at an international level, said Clinton du Preez, Proteas Womens Convenor of Selectors. The subsequent three-match ODI series will mark the start of the Proteas; ICC Womens Championship cycle, which would count for crucial points in qualification for the 2029 Womens ODI World Cup. South Africas ODI squad sees four changes - with Lara Goodall, Faye Tunnicliffe, Nondumiso Shangase and Tumi Sekhukhune coming in for Ayabonga, Masabata, Kayla and Dane. We are very pleased to be able to select two competitive squads, ahead of what will be a very demanding period for the team, with tours against New Zealand and India still to come before the T20 World Cup. The team is full of confidence after the way we ended 2025, but now we have to go again. It will be up to each individual to ensure we maintain and improve on our performances from last year. We are not settling for anything less, and this tour against Pakistan - a side we know very well and who can be a tricky opponent on their day - will go a long way in helping us execute our plans and review what works and what we need to focus on going forward, said head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. The Proteas will assemble in Potchefstroom on February 5 ahead of the T20Is from February 10-16, before shifting focus to the ODIs on February 22 and 25 and the Black Day fixture in Durban on March 1. We are not settling for anything less, and this tour against Pakistan - a side we know very well and who can be a tricky opponent on their day - will go a long way in helping us execute our plans and review what works and what we need to focus on going forward, said head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa ODI squad: Laura Wolvaardt (Captain), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Sun Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chlo Tryon and Faye Tunnicliffe Article Source: IANS

'Talent to watch' Reyneke gets maiden South Africa call-up for T20Is against Pakistan

Lara Goodall, Faye Tunnicliffe, Nondumiso Shangase and Tumi Sekhukhune to replace Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Kayla Reyneke and Dane van Niekerk for the ODIs

Suresh Raina Praises Incredible Spirit Of 'Vande Mataram CISF Coastal Cyclothon'

Vande Mataram CISF Coastal Cyclothon: Former India cricketer Suresh Raina extended his best wishes for the Vande Mataram CISF Cyclothon 2026, calling it a stirring symbol of discipline, dedication and determination. The CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon2026, a flagship national public outreach and awareness initiative, was virtually flagged off from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here on Wednesday. The event was inaugurated by the Honble Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. With the flag-off, the 25-day mega national movement formally commenced, as two CISF cycling teams simultaneously set out from Bakkhali (West Bengal) and Lakhpat (Gujarat). The teams will collectively traverse approximately 6,500 kilometres along Indias eastern and western coastlines, covering nine coastal States and two Union Territories, before culminating at Kochi on 22 February 2026. I wish good luck to the whole CISF team. I hope the CISF marathon is going to be a lot of fun and full of enthusiasm. Please participate. All the best, Raina said in a video shared by CISF on its X handle, drawing a powerful connection between sporting excellence and national service, he applauded CISF personnel for their relentless efforts in spreading awareness about the critical importance of Indias maritime security. Such inspiring words from an iconic sportsperson further strengthen CISFs resolve to drive impactful initiatives in the supreme interest of the nation, CISF posted on X. During the journey, the Cyclothon will halt at 52 coastal villages, which will be adopted by CISF for sustained, year-long engagement. In coordination with key stakeholders such as ONGC, Port Authorities and other maritime agencies, local CISF units will undertake community welfare and infrastructure development activities, supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Such inspiring words from an iconic sportsperson further strengthen CISFs resolve to drive impactful initiatives in the supreme interest of the nation, CISF posted on X. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Cyclothon will witness the participation of notable personalities from sports, culture, film industry and public figures during major events at Mumbai, Goa, Mangaluru, Konark, Visakhapatnam and Chennai, before its culmination at Kochi. Article Source: IANS

A Short History Of The ICC Mens T20 World Cup

We are now nearly two decades removed from the introduction of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup, which ushered in a new era for the game when India emerged victorious from that thrilling 2007 tournament in South Africa. There were 12 teams competing in that inaugural outing, while there will be 20 teams from all corners of the globe competing to win the tournaments 10th edition in 2026. Six different teams have lifted the trophy over the years, with the West Indies, England and reigning champions India the only nations to have won it twice. Ahead of the 2026 tournament in India and Sri Lanka, lets take a little trip down memory lane. A new form of cricket The 21st century has stood witness to the emergence of T20 cricket as one of sports fastest growing formats, but there was major scepticism when it was first mooted around English county cricket circles. Initially seen as a way to attract new people to the sport and simplify the game to wider audiences, T20 cricket has transformed the games landscape since first being introduced at the professional level in 2003 and then quickly adopted around the world. The birth of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup in 2007 took it to another level and that tournaments impact was immediate. Legendary West Indian Chris Gayle was responsible for that, sending the very first ball of the tournament to the fence before smashing a remarkable 117 against the hosts making the first ever T20I century in the process. From bowl-outs to Yuvraj Singh taking six sixes off one Stuart Broad over and Misbah-ul-Haqs infamous scoop in the final, that first tournament proved an historic first edition. Culminating in Indias stunning victory over Pakistan, it not only set a new course for the modern game but also the tone for the drama that would follow at ICC Mens T20 World Cups in the decades to follow. Iconic moments Pakistan avenged their loss to India by claiming victory in 2009, as Shahid Afridi, a player born for the format, shone with both bat and ball in England. The tournament also saw the hosts stunned by the Netherlands in one of the all-time great upsets. England responded a year later in the Caribbean by winning their first mens white-ball trophy as Kevin Pietersen earned Player of the Tournament honours for his efforts with the bat. Then in 2012, West Indies joined the party by triumphing in Sri Lanka, with Marlon Samuels (78) and Sunil Narine (3-9) the stars of the show in the final. They beat the hosts to lift the trophy that year, but Sri Lanka bounced back by winning in 2014 to ensure Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene bowed out of the format in style. The West Indies were back on top of the world two years later thanks to Carlos Brathwaites four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the last over of the 2016 final in Kolkota, a moment etched in crickets collective memory thanks Ian Bishops immortal remember the name call on commentary. After a five-year absence, the ICC Mens T20 World Cup resumed in 2021 as Australia claimed their first title. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh were the heroes in the final against New Zealand. A year later, it was England who triumphed for a second time, ensuring they held both the T20 and ODI world titles. Sam Curran stole the show that year and was both named Player of the Match in the final and Player of the Tournament for his all-round contributions. Going global In 2024, the tournament expanded from 16 teams to 20, with the USA, Canada and Uganda making their debuts. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Americans, co-hosting alongside the West Indies, seized their opportunity with a stunning Super Over victory over Pakistan as they progressed to the Super 8 stage. Afghanistan also enjoyed a dream run, making it to the semi-finals of a major ICC tournament for the first time.

A Minutes Silence Observed For IS Bindra, Ajit Pawar In Ranji Trophy Games In Chandigarh, Mumbai

BCCI President Mr Inderjit Singh: Players and officials observed a minutes silence in memory of former BCCI President IS Bindra and Maharashtras deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ahead of the Ranji Trophy round seven fixtures in Chandigarh and Mumbai, respectively. Bindra, who served as the BCCI President from 1993 to 1996, apart from being the President of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), passed away at the age of 84 in New Delhi on Sunday. At the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium in Mohali, both the Punjab and Karnataka teams, along with match officials, observed a minutes silence before play began in the Elite Group B clash. A minute's silence was observed ahead of the Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Karnataka in memory of former BCCI President Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, who passed away on 25th January, 2026, at the age of 84, said the BCCI through its X account for domestic cricket on Thursday. Meanwhile, at the BKC Ground in Mumbai, players from both the Mumbai and Delhi teams, along with match officials, observed a minutes silence for Pawar, who passed away in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, on Wednesday, before play began in the Elite Group D clash. The players are also sporting black armbands in honour of Pawar. A minute's silence was observed ahead of the Ranji Trophy match between Punjab and Karnataka in memory of former BCCI President Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, who passed away on 25th January, 2026, at the age of 84, said the BCCI through its X account for domestic cricket on Thursday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score A moment of silence was observed before the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Delhi to pay tribute to the late Hon. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Dada Pawar, honouring his memory and contributions, wrote Ajinkya Naik, President of the Mumbai Cricket Association, on his X account. Article Source: IANS

Sri Lanka boosts T20 World Cup security with eye on IndiaPakistan games

Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed units to protect teams at next month's T20 World Cup, part of enhanced security measures with a special emphasis on matches between perennial rivals India and Pakistan, officials have told AFP. The island is co-hosting the biennial cricket tournament with India and will hold 20 games between February 7 and March 8. The Indian and Pakistani teams will play each other at least once, in their Group A clash in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on February 15. Cricket matches have long been a stage for expressing political tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which fought a four-day border conflict last year. Sri Lanka has given the highest priority to ensuring the tournament runs smoothly and is paying special attention to the India-Pakistan matches, sports minister Sunil Kumara Gamage told AFP late Wednesday. Elite commando units, usually assigned to guard visiting heads of state, will be deployed to protect all participating teams, police and security officials said. From the time they step out of the airport till they return to their aircraft, they will be protected by armed guards, an official said, asking not to be named. Pakistan refused to play their fixtures in India due to political hostilities, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their matches to neutral Sri Lanka. Bangladesh also tried to have their matches moved out of India due to security fears, but the ICC rejected the request. An angry Bangladesh then withdrew from the tournament, and Scotland were drafted in as their replacement. Pakistan has indicated that it may yet boycott the event in solidarity with Bangladesh. Sri Lanka maintained a studious silence throughout the India-Bangladesh row. Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake told AFP Colombo wanted to avoid being drawn into regional disputes. In these disputes among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we are remaining neutral, all of these are friendly nations, he said. But he added that Sri Lanka would be willing to host future tournaments for any of the countries if asked. Sri Lanka has also used the T20 World Cup as an opportunity to upgrade its international venues. It has commissioned new floodlights at the Singhalese Sports Club, one of two stadiums in Colombo. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Pallekele Stadium in Kandy was unaffected by a deadly cyclone that damaged buildings in the region in November, and will host a T20 international between Sri Lanka and England from Friday.

'A tight decision' - Inside the call to make Sophie Molineux Australia captain

The spin-bowling allrounder beat Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner to the top job despite an injury-hit career

'We Have Some Guys Who Weren't Ready To Be Here,' Marsh Reflects On Limited Preps For Pakistan T20Is

Pakistan T20Is: Australian captain Mitchell Marsh is confident of the team's strength, saying the short gap between the Big Bash League (BBL) Final and the Pakistan T20I series, starting on Thursday on Lahore, will not affect their chances. Marsh, along with seven other players in the Australian squad played in the final of the BBL on Sunday and reached Lahore 24 hours before the series opener, but according to the skipper, it will be the last thing to focus on before the tri-series, which is crucial for preparation ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, commences on February 7. I think one of the things about our group and most international teams is that preparation can look different for every tour, Marsh told the media ahead of their opening match. The majority of the group have been preparing in Dubai; other guys have been preparing by playing games throughout the Big Bash. We're ready to go, and we're looking forward to a great series, he added. Australia's captain also spoke about missing the five key players, who include Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Glenn Maxwell, who will miss this series as they are rebuilding from respective fitness issues. He also confirmed that all of them will join the team in Sri Lanka, where they will play their first T20 WC match. This tour is really important for our World Cup preparations, and we have got some guys that weren't quite ready to be here; they're back at home training and preparing to meet us in Sri Lanka, so no stress there from our end, said Marsh. The 34-year-old also praised Pakistan's fast bowling and players like Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, who can make an impact. Winning away from home is always hard, and especially in conditions like this that can be foreign to us, so we're just really excited about the opportunity. We know that Pakistan has got some amazing cricketers, obviously Babar Azam, Shaheen, but we know that in these conditions, it's going to be a really good challenge, and that's one that we're looking forward to, he said. The 34-year-old also praised Pakistan's fast bowling and players like Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, who can make an impact. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia will play its first match in the World Cup on February 11 in Colombo. Article Source: IANS

Sophie Molineux Named Australia Womens Captain Across All Formats

Spin-bowling allrounderSophie Molineux was named captain of the all-conquering Australian women's cricket team across all three formats on Thursday, replacing the retiring Alyssa Healy. The 28-year-old will take the reins of the T20 side when Australia hosts India next month, before assuming the one-day and Test duties for their tour of the Caribbean in March. It's a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I'm incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who's had such a huge impact on this team and the game, said Molineux, who captains Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades. We've got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through. Healy, 35, announced earlier this month that she would retire in March, having taken over as captain in 2023 from Meg Lanning. Tahlia McGrath, who had filled in for Healy before and was tipped by many as her successor, remains vice-captain alongside Ashleigh Gardner. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia is the top-ranked ODI and T20 team in the world.

There Is Something Called Experience That's Going In Right Direction: Dube

After India: After India's 50-run loss in the fourth T20l against New Zealand, all- rounder Shivam Dube reflected on his big-hitting ability and said playing matches regularly has helped him deal with the match situations and develop a strong mindset. Dube showed his prowess with a quickfire half-century during his side's 50-run loss in Vizag on Wednesday. He smashed a 15-ball half-century - the third quickest by an Indian men's player in T20I - coming in at No.6 against the Black Caps in a eye-catching display. I am getting better with my mindset because I am playing all these matches now. I am batting in different situation. So, now I know whats going to happen and what the bowler is going to bowl to me. Thats the key point for my batting and bowling as well. I am bowling thanks to Gauti (Gambhir) bhai and Surya. They have given me the bowling opportunity. So, when you bowl, you become little smart. So, I am working on that as well and yes, I am trying to develop some more skills, Dube told reporters. I have worked really hard. But there is something: I have got opportunity to bowl, bat, I do everything in the match. So, there is something called experience. So, that has come to me and that is going in the right direction, he said. Dube finished with 65 off 23 balls. Thirty-six of those runs came against spin, his strength, at a strike rate of 400. There are many things people upgrade. For me also, it is very important. I cant be the same what I was. I try to be little better, little smart in the next game when I am playing. So, I learn that how to be little smart and what are my strengths and where I can target those. Its very important about the match-up. So, they want me to hit spinners. That is my role to get the strike rate high in middle-overs. That is what I always try. Not about the spinners but fast bowlers as well. But yeah, definitely there is something where I know that this is my strength. I can give pressure to the opponents on that phase. So, my mindset is very clear at that, Dube said. Dube was particularly severe on Ish Sodhi and even turned the heat on Mitchell Santner, hitting seven sixes in his knock. He smashed Sodhi for 29 runs in the 12th over. That is what I always try. Not about the spinners but fast bowlers as well. But yeah, definitely there is something where I know that this is my strength. I can give pressure to the opponents on that phase. So, my mindset is very clear at that, Dube said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the series already in pocket, India will look to end it on a high when the fifth and final match of the T20I series takes place in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Article Source: IANS

Sophie Molineux named Australia's new all-format captain

Gardner named joint vice-captain alongside McGrath as new era begins after Healy's retirement

South Africa vs West Indies, 2nd T20I- Who will win today SA vs WI match?

SA vs WI, 2nd T20I , Cricket Tips :South Africa produced a one-sided performance over West Indies in the first game of the three-match T20I series. Captain Aiden Markram played a match-winning knock and led the team to win. South Africa have earned a lead and they will take on the tourists in the second game. This contest will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday at 9:30 PM IST. To manage the workload, South Africa rested Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen, who are likely to be back for this game. Even for West Indies, captian Shai Hope will be back on the field. SA vs WI: Match Details Date : January 29, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 9:30 PM IST Venue : SuperSport Park, Centurion SA vs WI: Live Streaming Details Fans can switch to Sony Sports Network to watch the live action on the cable TV networks. For live streams, Indian fans can switch to the Sony LIV streaming platform. SA vs WI: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches : 27 South Africa : 13 West Indies : 14 No-result : 00 SA vs WI: Ground Pitch Report SuperSport Park is a good wicket to bat on. The bounce here is consistent, helping the batters to execute big shots. Fast bowlers will have early help to work with. The wicket is expected to improve with the time and rain can make the decision of bowling first a good one. SA vs WI: Possible XIs South Africa : Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Jason Smith, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj West Indies : Shai Hope (c), Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales SA vs WI: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Aiden Markram has been in good form and will be a difficult batter for West Indies. Shai Hope is back and he can play a perfect anchor role to set a good platform for other powerhitters. Probable Best Bowler George Linde is a very smart spinner, and with a MOTM performance, he showed it in Paarl. For West Indies, Akeal Hosein is a great T20 prospect. Today Match Prediction : West Indies have not been consistent with their form, while South Africa are doing great. Hence, we predict South Africa to beat West Indies on Thursday. SA vs WI Match 2nd T20I, Today Match SA vs WI, SA vs WI Prediction, SA vs WI Predicted XIs, Injury Update for South Africa vs West Indies Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

4th T20I: The Way We Started In Powerplay Was What India Did To Us A Little Bit, Says Santner

Match Tim Seifert: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised his sides aggressive start in the powerplay and said the way a 100-run opening stand gave them a 50-over win over India was something which the hosts had dished out to them in the last three games. The century of the opening stand between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway helped New Zealand make 215/7, before bowling out India for 165 in 18.4 overs. It was nice. I think, obviously, the way we started in the powerplay was kind of what India have been doing to us a little bit. Then to get to a decent score, but we knew that at least 200 is never safe against India. I think especially after the last game, you get 150, you dont want guys to go back into their shell. We cant win the other way, which was nice. The way they took on the bowlers in the powerplay was outstanding and set us up for a decent score. There was a little period in the middle where we lost wickets, but I guess with a start like that, and then obviously finished off by Daryl and Foulkes a little bit, which was nice, Santner said in the post-match presentation ceremony. He also felt the win has come at a right time for their World Cup preparation. Were trying to think what were likely to get. I mean, like I said at the start, theres no better prep than playing India in India for a World Cup. So weve got a couple of guys back for the next game, which is nice. But again, its about getting our plans right, getting the roles sorted for what weve got coming up in the Cup. It looked like it was going to be flat and not spinning. I think it was a little bit tacky at the end, and on the seam it was spinning when you bowled slow. So I guess I dont need a second invitation to bowl slow either. I think partnerships throughout, obviously wickets at the start are crucial, and it makes our job as spinners a little bit easier in the middle, he said. Player of the Match Tim Seifert said his intent was to put pressure on Indias bowlers from the outset. Sometimes you get a bit lucky early on and sometimes the nature of the game, but the intent that we wanted to put on the bowlers early, sometimes you get a couple of top-edges and they go for boundary early. Look, he's (Bumrah) got me with a beauty last game, so sometimes you've got to tip your hat, but you've just got to make sure that you look to play straight in the right line and then once you get that first ball, I reckon with him, then it's a bit easier, he said. Asked if he altered his approach hugely for this game, Seifert said, I wouldn't say a huge amount, to be honest. Sometimes you get some and others you don't. That's the nature of T20 cricket, but the intent and putting pressure on the bowlers, that's the main thing that we want to do. No matter where we play, the next game and the World Cup, every wicket's going to be a bit different. So being able to adapt, but being true to yourself and putting pressure on the bowlers. I think if we look at the wickets, the pitches are going to be anything like this series, they're going to be high-scoring. So you've just got to keep that intent up, he said. Fast bowler Matt Henry said the team showed resilience after earlier defeats led them to conceding the series to India. I think obviously coming here and playing a very good side, to bounce back and continue the good stuff that weve been doing. Its easy after a couple of losses like that to go searching, but I think that shows a lot about the character of this group, to keep competing. Thats what we kind of hang our hat on. No matter where we play, the next game and the World Cup, every wicket's going to be a bit different. So being able to adapt, but being true to yourself and putting pressure on the bowlers. I think if we look at the wickets, the pitches are going to be anything like this series, they're going to be high-scoring. So you've just got to keep that intent up, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Youre going to have overs where you can get taken for runs, but as long as you keep believing that you can change it by taking wickets, thats what stems the flow of runs and thats what weve been able to do. So it was really pleasing to watch the guys go about it tonight. Its good to get some overs under the belt. Its not nice when youre sitting on the side, so its great to be back. Article Source: IANS

Seifert, Santner headline NZ's massive win despite Dube's 15-ball fifty

They survived a hammering from Dube, who struck India's third-fastest half-century in T20Is

4th T20I: Wanted To Have Five Perfect Bowlers, Challenge Ourselves, Says Suryakumar

T20 World Cup: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the side deliberately fielded six batters and five specialist bowlers in the fourth T20I against New Zealand, describing the 50-run defeat as a useful learning experience ahead of next months Mens T20 World Cup. After posting 215/7, New Zealand left India, effecting a batter short due to Ishan Kishans niggle-enforced absence, struggling at 82/5. Shivam Dube then launched a stunning counter-attack, smashing a 15-ball fifty and eventually made 65 off 23 balls his career-best score in T20Is laced with seven sixes and three fours. But his dismissal run out at non-strikers end off a bowlers deflection - ended Indias hopes, as they were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, making the series scoreline 3-1. I feel we purposely played six batters today. We wanted to have five perfect bowlers and wanted to challenge ourselves. Like for example, if we're chasing 200 or 180, and we wanted to see if we were two down or three down, how does it look? But then it's fine at the end of the day. And we wanted to play all the players who are part of the World Cup squad. Otherwise, we would have played other ones, said Suryakumar in the post-match presentation ceremony. But his dismissal run out at non-strikers end off a bowlers deflection - ended Indias hopes, as they were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, making the series scoreline 3-1. I feel we purposely played six batters today. We wanted to have five perfect bowlers and wanted to challenge ourselves. Like for example, if we're chasing 200 or 180, and we wanted to see if we were two down or three down, how does it look? Also Read: Live Cricket Score Suryakumar further acknowledged the impact of dew and praised Dubes innings of 65, but rued the lack of support from him at the other end. With the heavy dew, I think one or two partnerships here and there, like the way Dube batted, one batter with him would have made a lot of difference at the end of the game. I think we lost by 50 runs, but it's okay. As I said, one or two partnerships like this in a run-chase like this might make a difference. Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: Seifert, Santner Help NZ Beat India By 50 Runs Despite Dubes 65 (Ld)

T20 World Cup: Tim Seiferts explosive 62 and skipper Mitchell Santners three-wicket haul powered New Zealand to a convincing 50-run victory over India in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday, despite a blistering 65 from Shivam Dube. Seifert gave New Zealand a flying start in the powerplay by attacking Indias pacers to set the tone for top-scoring with 62 off 36 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes. Devon Conway provided steady support with 44 off 23 deliveries, studded with four boundaries and three maximums as the pair raced towards a century stand before Kuldeep Yadav removed him and halted the momentum. Though India clawed back in the middle overs, with Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh picking two wickets each, Daryl Mitchell ensured New Zealand had a strong finish by hitting 39 not out off 18 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes, to push New Zealand to 215/7. In defence of the huge total, New Zealand left India, effecting a batter short due to Ishan Kishans niggle-enforced absence, struggling at 82/5. Dube then launched a stunning counter-attack, smashing a 15-ball fifty and eventually made 65 off 23 balls his career-best score in T20Is laced with seven sixes and three fours. But his dismissal run out at non-strikers end off a bowlers deflection - ended Indias hopes, as they were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs. Apart from Santner, New Zealands bowlers maintained their control to secure their first win of the series, and offer themselves a timely boost ahead of the Mens T20 World Cup, despite a mid-innings collapse and Dubes late assault. Indias chase began on a disastrous note as Abhishek Sharma fell first ball to Matt Henry after slicing to backward point. Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after, caught and bowled by Jacob Duffy for eight. Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh attempted a rebuild by hitting seven boundaries between themselves. The pair stitched a 46-run stand before Santner struck in his first over by castling Samson for 24, and followed it up by having Hardik Pandya caught at backward point. Rinku continued to look fluent, before being trapped by Zak Foulkes left India reeling at 87/5. That brought Dube to the crease, and the left-hander immediately changed the complexion of the innings. He launched Santner for a towering 101m six to get going, and then tore into Ish Sodhi in the 12th over clearing his front leg and showcasing his brute force to smash four sixes and two fours to collect 29 runs. After surviving an lbw scare, Dube raced to his fifty in just 15 balls the third-fastest for India in T20Is by flicking a full toss from Duffy over square leg and kept Indias hopes alive with audacious hitting. But his innings ended in anti-climactic fashion when he was run out backing up at the non-strikers end after Matt Henry deflected a straight drive onto the stumps. The dismissal silenced the crowd, who had been lifted by his fireworks. From there, Indias lower order folded quickly, as New Zealand recorded a convincing win. Previously, inserted into batting first, Seifert set the tone from the very first over by hitting Arshdeep for three successive boundaries. By the fourth over, Seifert had already hammered Rana by hammering him for sixes over long-on and fours going over extra cover fence. Conway, at the other end, took his time before opening up with a boundary steered past third man in the fourth over. Even as Conway hammered Kuldeep and Ravi Bishnoi for two fours and as many sixes, Seifert brought up his fifty in just 25 balls the joint fastest mark for a New Zealand mens batter against India. After the pair raised the first 100-plus opening stand for New Zealand against India in T20Is since 2017, Kuldeep struck when Conway mistimed loft to extra cover, while Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra caught and bowled via a slower ball. The bowling change worked well for India when Arshdeep accounted for Seifert, while Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips holing out to long-on as New Zealand slipped to 137/4. Mark Chapman and Mitchell Santner tried to rebuild but the former fell to Bishnoi, before the latter was run out by Hardik Pandyas direct hit. Zakary Foulkes provided some relief with a six and a four off Arshdeep but perished soon after to the pacer. After the pair raised the first 100-plus opening stand for New Zealand against India in T20Is since 2017, Kuldeep struck when Conway mistimed loft to extra cover, while Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra caught and bowled via a slower ball. The bowling change worked well for India when Arshdeep accounted for Seifert, while Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips holing out to long-on as New Zealand slipped to 137/4. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: New Zealand 215/7 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 62, Devon Conway 44; Arshdeep Singh 2-33, Kuldeep Yadav 2-39) beat India 165 all out in 18.4 overs (Shivam Dube 65, Rinku Singh 39; Mitchell Santner 3-26, Jacob Duffy 2-33) by 50 runs Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: Santner Takes Three As NZ Beat India By 50 Runs Despite Dubes 65

Skipper Mitchell Santner: Skipper Mitchell Santner claimed three wickets as New Zealand defeated India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday, despite a blistering 65 from Shivam Dube. After posting 215/7, New Zealand left India, effecting a batter short due to Ishan Kishans niggle-enforced absence, struggling at 82/5. Dube then launched a stunning counter-attack, smashing a 15-ball fifty and eventually made 65 off 23 balls his career-best score in T20Is laced with seven sixes and three fours. But his dismissal run out at non-strikers end off a bowlers deflection - ended Indias hopes, as they were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs. Apart from Santner, New Zealands bowlers maintained their control to secure their first win of the series, and offer themselves a timely boost ahead of the Mens T20 World Cup, despite a mid-innings collapse and Dubes late assault. Indias chase began on a disastrous note as Abhishek Sharma fell first ball to Matt Henry after slicing to backward point. Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after, caught and bowled by Jacob Duffy for eight. Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh attempted a rebuild by hitting seven boundaries between themselves. The pair stitched a 46-run stand before Santner struck in his first over by castling Samson for 24, and followed it up by having Hardik Pandya caught at backward point. Rinku continued to look fluent, before being trapped by Zak Foulkes left India reeling at 87/5. That brought Dube to the crease, and the left-hander immediately changed the complexion of the innings. He launched Santner for a towering 101m six to get going, and then tore into Ish Sodhi in the 12th over clearing his front leg and showcasing his brute force to smash four sixes and two fours to collect 29 runs. After surviving an lbw scare, Dube raced to his fifty in just 15 balls the third-fastest for India in T20Is by flicking a full toss from Duffy over square leg and kept Indias hopes alive with audacious hitting. The pair stitched a 46-run stand before Santner struck in his first over by castling Samson for 24, and followed it up by having Hardik Pandya caught at backward point. Rinku continued to look fluent, before being trapped by Zak Foulkes left India reeling at 87/5. That brought Dube to the crease, and the left-hander immediately changed the complexion of the innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: New Zealand 215/7 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 62, Devon Conway 44; Arshdeep Singh 2-33, Kuldeep Yadav 2-39) beat India 165 all out in 18.4 overs (Shivam Dube 65, Rinku Singh 39; Mitchell Santner 3-26, Jacob Duffy 2-33) by 50 runs Article Source: IANS

USA's Aaron Jones charged for breaching CWI and ICC's anti-corruption code

USA batter has been suspended from all cricket and has 14 days to respond to the charges

Rathnayake in Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is; Thushara, Kamindu left out

Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out while Dunith Wellalage retains his place

Peake, Lachmund secure Australia's semi-final spot in Under-19 World Cup

Carter gave West Indies a fighting chance in a tall chase but they ran out of steam

Bangladesh, Netherlands Secure Spots For 2026 Women's T20 World Cup

At Tribhuvan University International Cricket: Bangladesh and the Netherlands have secured their spots for the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup in England with victories in the Super Six stage of the Qualifiers, while Scotland also recording a convincing win over Ireland. Bangladesh have been a part of the Women's T20 World Cup since 2014, while this is the first time the Netherlands have made it to the main tournament. While the Netherlands beat the USA by 21 runs under the DLS method, Bangladesh booked their seventh successive appearance with a 39-run victory over Thailand. Scotland, powered by Kathryn Bryces all-round display, defeated Ireland by the same margin. At Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, the USA, having won the toss, posted 129/7 in their 20 overs, anchored by Gargi Bhogles 36 and Isani Vaghelas unbeaten 32, while Hannah Landheer claimed 3-30 to halt their progress. In reply, Heather Siegers struck three sixes in a rapid 28 off 12 balls, while opener Phebe Molkenboer remained unbeaten on 46 off 43 deliveries. Rain curtailed play after 12 overs, with the Netherlands ahead at 90/2 and eventually sealed their maiden Womens T20 World Cup berth. At Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu, Bangladesh recovered from 12/2 after being put in to bat, thanks to a century stand between Juairiya Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary. Juairiya made 56 from 45 balls, while Sobhana top-scored with 59 from 42. Despite a late-order wobble, Bangladesh reached 165/9. Thailands chase faltered early, with Suwanan Khiaoto bowled first ball by Marufa Akter. Natthakan Chantham (46) and Nannapat Koncharoenkai (29) added 67 runs for the second wicket, but the side finished on 126/8, with Marufa picking 3-25. Scotland, meanwhile, posted 160/5 after being put in to bat, with opener Katherine Fraser scoring 36 and Sarah Bryce top-scoring with 47. Megan McColl added 27 not out, while Kathryn Bryce contributed 30. Irelands reply was undone by Kathryn, who took 4-21, including the dismissal of opener Christina Coulter Reilly for a duck. Gaby Lewis made 41, but Priyanaz Chatterji and Abtaha Maqsood chipped in with two wickets apiece as Ireland were bowled out for 121 in the final over. Brief Scores: USA 129/7 in 20 overs (Gargi Bhogle 36, Isani Vaghela 32 not out; Hannah Landheer 3-30, Caroline De Lange 2-27) lost to Netherlands 90/2 in 12 overs (Phebe Molkenboer 46 not out, Heather Siegers 28; Ritu Singh 1-16, Tara Norris 1-18) by 21 runs (DLS method) Irelands reply was undone by Kathryn, who took 4-21, including the dismissal of opener Christina Coulter Reilly for a duck. Gaby Lewis made 41, but Priyanaz Chatterji and Abtaha Maqsood chipped in with two wickets apiece as Ireland were bowled out for 121 in the final over. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Scotland 160/5 in 20 overs (Sarah Bryce 47, Katherine Fraser 36; Jane Maguire 2-20, Lara McBride 1-27) beat Ireland in 121 all out in 19.2 overs (Gaby Lewis 41, Louise Little 17; Kathryn Bryce 4-21, Priyanaz Chatterji 2-23) by 39 runs Article Source: IANS

4th T20I: Seifert, Conway, Mitchell Power New Zealand To 215/7 Against India

New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell led the charge with the bat with blistering knocks to power New Zealand to 215/7 against India in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday. Seifert gave New Zealand a flying start in the powerplay by attacking Indias pacers to set the tone for top-scoring with 62 off 36 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes. Conway provided steady support with 44 off 23 deliveries, studded with four boundaries and three maximums as the pair raced towards a century stand before Kuldeep Yadav removed him and halted the momentum. Though India clawed back in the middle overs, with Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh picking two wickets each, Mitchell ensured New Zealand had a strong finish by hitting 39 not out off 18 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes, to push New Zealand past the 210-run mark. India, a batter short in this contest due to Ishan Kishan picking a niggle, will need another strong chase to maintain their unbeaten run in the series. Inserted into batting first, Seifert set the tone from the very first over by hitting Arshdeep for three successive boundaries. By the fourth over, Seifert had already hammered Rana by hammering him for sixes over long-on and fours going over extra cover fence. Conway, at the other end, took his time before opening up with a boundary steered past third man in the fourth over. Even as Conway hammered Kuldeep and Ravi Bishnoi for two fours and as many sixes, Seifert brought up his fifty in just 25 balls joint fastest for a New Zealand mens batter against India. After the pair raised the first 100-plus opening stand for New Zealand against India in T20Is since 2017, Kuldeep struck when Conway mistimed loft to extra cover, while Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra caught and bowled via a slower ball. The bowling change worked well for India when Arshdeep accounted for Seifert, while Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips holing out to long-on as New Zealand slipped to 137/4. Mark Chapman and Mitchell Santner tried to rebuild but the former fell to Bishnoi, before the latter was run out by Hardik Pandyas direct hit. Zakary Foulkes provided some relief with a six and a four off Arshdeep but perished soon after to the pacer. After the pair raised the first 100-plus opening stand for New Zealand against India in T20Is since 2017, Kuldeep struck when Conway mistimed loft to extra cover, while Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra caught and bowled via a slower ball. The bowling change worked well for India when Arshdeep accounted for Seifert, while Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips holing out to long-on as New Zealand slipped to 137/4. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: New Zealand 215/7 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 62, Devon Conway 44; Arshdeep Singh 2-33, Kuldeep Yadav 2-39) against India Article Source: IANS

Ahead Of T20 WC, Washington Sundar Resumes Batting In Recovery From Rib Injury

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital: In what comes as an encouraging development for India ahead of next months T20 World Cup, off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar has resumed batting in the nets as part of his rehabilitation from a rib injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Yes, Washington has resumed batting, but at a very low intensity. He batted for a bit and that is very encouraging. The little bit of discomfort around ribs will be there initially because he hasn't done anything for some time now. He should be okay as he now will gradually move ahead in his path to total recovery, said a source aware of the development to IANS on Wednesday. Sundar, 26, has been sidelined since suffering acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, on January 11 and was ruled out of the rest of the 50-over games, as well as the ongoing T20I series. Shortly after being ruled out with side strain, Sundar consulted orthopedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Head Centre for Sports Medicine and Director - Arthroscopy and Shoulder Service at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. After resting at his residence in Chennai, Sundar checked into the CoE on January 20 for kickstarting his rehab programme. Sundar, 26, has been sidelined since suffering acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, on January 11 and was ruled out of the rest of the 50-over games, as well as the ongoing T20I series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At the same time, there is no update yet on when Washington will start to bowl. Washington has played 58 T20Is for India since debuting in 2017, picking 51 wickets at an economy rate of 6.91 while amassing 254 runs at a strike-rate of 134.39. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan, Australia Booked To Fly To Colombo On February 2

The International Cricket Council: Pakistan will fly out to Colombo on Monday by when the country's cricket chief will have announced team's participation in the Twenty20 World Cup, said a report Despite the uncertainty over the participation on the World Cup, Pakistan team is booked with Australia team to fly out to Colombo via Air Lanka flight from Lahore, sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net). We hope that by Friday the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi will have cleared the team's participation in the mega event. Naqvi threw Pakistan team's participation in the February 7- March 8 Twenty20 World Cup in doubt in protest over Bangladesh's expulsion from the event. The International Cricket Council had rejected Bangladesh Cricket Board's request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka over security fears. On Monday, Naqvi met Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad to get his advice on sending the team or not. Sources told Telecomasia.net that PM Sharif backed PCB's stance to support Bangladesh but advised them to not boycott the World Cup to avoid any financial implications. Naqvi also took advice from President Asif Zardari and from military establishment before meeting two former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja who were also in support of sending the team to Sri Lanka. They have also advices not to boycott the India game, the report quoted sources as telling www.telecomasia.net. Sources told Telecomasia.net that PM Sharif backed PCB's stance to support Bangladesh but advised them to not boycott the World Cup to avoid any financial implications. Also Read: Live Cricket Score All the players have been told that they must remain in positive mood as far as participation in the World Cup is concerned. Some of the players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa habe brought all their luggage from home keeping in mind that they will be out of the country for more than a month. Article Source: IANS

RCB vs UPW: A battle between top and bottom in a wide open WPL

Warriorz need to replace Litchfield with their season on the line while RCB need to arrest a slump

Perera, Malinga And Chameera Return To SL T20I Squad Against England

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Sri Lanka have named a 16-member squad for the three-match T20I series against England, with all eyes on fine-tuning combinations ahead of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7. The series gets underway on January 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium as Dasun Shanaka will continue to kead the side. After Sri Lanka's recent T20 assignments, they have retained the bulk of their core players to maintain continuity and stabilise their preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. For both sides, this series represents a final opportunity for the two teams to assess their respective forms, fitness, and tactical balance in match conditions, thus providing a vital preparation for the upcoming global event. In addition to Sri Lanka's familiarity with their current T20I squad members, the national team has recently reinforced their roster for the series against England by adding Kusal Janith Perera, Eshan Malinga, and Dushmantha Chameera, all of whom missed the ODI series against England (in which England won 2-1). The addition of Perera to the top of the order provides an experienced and explosive batsman to contribute runs early in the innings and Chameera provides a second fast bowler to complement both Matheesha Pathirana and Pramod Madushan, who already represent the pace attack for the national team. Additionally, Eshan Malinga will have an opportunity to stake his claim as an emerging fast bowler by performing well in this high-profile series. The Sri Lankan batting order is predictably a blend of stability and flamboyance; Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva are expected to provide sound foundations. Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, and Pavan Rathnayake will add dynamic reinforcement to the team's batting order. Sri Lanka will have some diversity and some control in the middle overs from their spin department with Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage. The Sri Lankan batting order is predictably a blend of stability and flamboyance; Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva are expected to provide sound foundations. Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, and Pavan Rathnayake will add dynamic reinforcement to the team's batting order. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga. Article Source: IANS

Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE in T20Is against Ireland

UAE play two T20Is against Ireland on January 29 and 31

Pakistan vs Australia, 1st T20I- Who will win today PAK vs AUS match?

PAK vs AUS, 1st T20I , Cricket Tips :Australia have reached Pakistan, where they will play three T20Is in order to prepare for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. This series will be key for both sides, and they will try to test their combination. The first T20I will be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, starting at 4:30 PM IST on Thursday. Mitchell Marsh is ready to find the right combination for the team. Though Australia didn't have 3-4 first-choice players due to injuries, which gave new players a chance to showcase their talent. For Pakistan, they have all their aces upheld and will be ready to challenge Australia at home. PAK vs AUS: Match Details Date : January 29, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 4:30 PM IST Venue : Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore PAK vs AUS: Live Streaming Details There is no option to watch the live action of the first T20I in India. But the live stream can be available on the FanCode mobile app or website. PAK vs AUS: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches : 28 Pakistan : 13 Australia : 14 No-result : 01 PAK vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report Gaddafi Stadium offers a brilliant deck to bat on. It is expected to offer good bounce and batting conditions. This is a good-scoring venue, and an afternoon start means the wicket in the first innings will be dry and there will be enough help for the spinners. Hence, batting second should be a good option here. PAK vs AUS: Possible XIs Pakistan : Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Babar Azam, Salman Agha , Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed Australia : Mitchell Marsh , Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa PAK vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Babar Azam is back, and he did well in practice sessions. Hence, he will be a key batter for Pakistan. Mitchell Marsh has been in incredible form, and the captain will be the one to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler These conditions will suit Abrar Ahmed, and he will have a crucial role in this game. For Australia, Adam Zampa, with his ability, can be a game-changer. Today Match Prediction : Pakistan have always struggled facing a higher-ranked side. We predict Australia to beat them in the first T20I. PAK vs AUS Match 1st T20I, Today Match PAK vs AUS, PAK vs AUS Prediction, PAK vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Pakistan vs Australia Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

4th T20I: Its Amazing, Everyone In The Team Is In Good Space, Says Shivam Dube

T20 World Cup: India seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube said the team is enjoying its cricket and preparing well for the upcoming Mens T20 World Cup, adding that everyone in the team is in good space. In the run-up to the mega event starting on February 7, defending champions India have aced their preparation by an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series and will now push towards a clean sweep over New Zealand. It's amazing and everyone in the team is in a good space. They are very free and they are enjoying the game. It's good. My bowling is going well. What I want to do is what I am trying in the matches and it's happening really nicely. I am trying to get better in my bowling and will get better in my batting as well, Dube told broadcasters ahead of the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday. Dube has looked leaner in recent outings and revealed that he has put in extra effort with the World Cup in mind. Thank you, thank you so much for that compliment. I worked really hard because I knew the World Cup is coming and I needed to put myself one step ahead because yes, for me and my team, it's very important to be at my 100 percent. What I can be at my best is really important for me and yes, it's working now. It's amazing and everyone in the team is in a good space. They are very free and they are enjoying the game. It's good. My bowling is going well. What I want to do is what I am trying in the matches and it's happening really nicely. I am trying to get better in my bowling and will get better in my batting as well, Dube told broadcasters ahead of the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked who managed to clear the boundary by the greatest distance, Dube said, We both are good. I don't want to tell who's better. No, even he was almost there (in the second tier). Article Source: IANS

Netherlands, Bangladesh qualify for Women's T20 World Cup 2026

This will be Netherlands' first time at the tournament, while Bangladesh have featured since 2014

India opt to bowl, Kishan out with niggle

Arshdeep replaced him; New Zealand also made one change, bringing in Zak Foulkes for Kyle Jamieson

4th T20I: Arshdeep Comes In As India Elect To Bowl First Against New Zealand

New Zealand: Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been drafted into the playing eleven as India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday. India already have an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series and will now push towards a clean sweep over New Zealand. After winning the toss, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said Arshdeep comes in for wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who has picked a niggle. He also said vice-captain Axar Patel will need more time to recover from a left index finger injury suffered in the T20I series opener in Nagpur and could come back in the next game in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. It looks like a good wicket, and well get a chance to practise here later. There was a lot of dew last night and today its a little humid as well, so we feel that in the second innings the ball will come onto the bat nicely. I think the important thing is to repeat the good habits weve built over the past year, not just in this series. We want to keep doing the good things weve been doing, learn from the last game, and go out there, enjoy ourselves, play the format the way its meant to be played, and entertain the people whove come here. Its a beautiful ground and a lovely crowd here. Hopefully the boys are charged up and we have a good, entertaining night. The batters will need to take a bit more responsibility (in Kishans absence), but at the same time not shy away from playing with fearless intent. Weve got five good bowling options today, so well see how it goes, he said. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santer said pacer Zak Foulkes replaces Kyle Jamieson in the playing eleven, with James Neesham and Finn Allen still a little far off from being in the team. It looks like a good wicket again. The dew has already kind of set in, so it might be a bit harder later on. The runs and scores are definitely evolving. We know the quality of this Indian side, and weve seen that in the first three games. We need to be better with the ball. First up, though, it looks like a good wicket, so well try to set a strong total tonight. Most of the guys are already here playing this series, but the roles are pretty clear, and well probably get similar wickets in the World Cup, he said. Playing XIs: We need to be better with the ball. First up, though, it looks like a good wicket, so well try to set a strong total tonight. Most of the guys are already here playing this series, but the roles are pretty clear, and well probably get similar wickets in the World Cup, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy Article Source: IANS

Indian Cricket Team Visits Simhachalam Temple Ahead Of 4th T20I Vs NZ

Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha: Indian cricket team players visited the historic Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Simhachalam ahead of the fourth match of the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, which will be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. In a video shared by the Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association on Instagram, team India coach Gautam Gambhir, along with captain Suryakumar Yadav and other players, were seen wearing a saffron shawl wrapped around their necks as they offered prayers at the iconic devotional place. Starting on a divine note. A morning filled with gratitude and prayer as we prepare to give our best on the field, the cricket association wrote in the caption of the video. Indian star players Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar had also offered prayers at Simhachalam in December last year, when the team defeated South Africa in the third ODI match played at Vizag and also won the series 2-1. Gautam Gambhir, who is heading to his second ICC tournament as a coach, has previously visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain and the Kalkaji Temple situated in Guwahati during the ongoing white-ball series against New Zealand. Other than Gambhir, Indian players are also visiting temples and taking the blessings of God as they march towards defending the T20 World Cup title. Indian star players Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar had also offered prayers at Simhachalam in December last year, when the team defeated South Africa in the third ODI match played at Vizag and also won the series 2-1. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias clinical performance in the series is seen as a big boost for the defending champions as they ramp up their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which will commence on February 7. India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands. They will open their campaign against the USA on February 7. Article Source: IANS

India Given Responsibility Of Hosting 2030 CWG Because Of Our Preparations And Confidence: Prez Droupadi Murmu

Commonwealth Sport General Assembly: President Droupadi Murmu, addressing a joint session of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session on Wednesday, spoke of the reformation in sports in India and said that the nation getting the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a result of the governments preparations and confidence. Addressing a joint session of Parliament, the President said, Over the past decade, every system related to sports in India has been reformed. My government has established the Khelo India policy and made sports organisations transparent. As a result of our preparations and confidence, India has been given the responsibility of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games. I am confident that the capable youth power of the country will play a decisive role in building a developed India, she added. In November last year, Ahmedabad (Amdavad) was officially designated as the host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, representing a historic milestone for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. The decision confirmed that India, the worlds most populous country, will host the momentous edition of the Games after representatives from the 74 Commonwealth member nations and territories approved Indias bid at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow. In November last year, Ahmedabad (Amdavad) was officially designated as the host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, representing a historic milestone for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The President also noted the unprecedented growth in sports in the country and lauded the Indian womens cricket team and the womens blind cricket team for winning the World Cup. She said, Due to the joint efforts of the youth of India and my government, sports are also witnessing unprecedented development in the country. The performance of our daughters and our disabled teammates is remarkable. India's women's cricket team won the World Cup for the first time. Similarly, the Blind Women's Cricket Team also won the World Cup. I wish our daughters all the best. Article Source: IANS

Former Dambulla Thunders owner pleads guilty to fixing charges

Tamim Rahman handed a five-year suspended sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment, as well as a fine of LKR 24 million

Cricket Fever Grips Thiruvananthapuram On Eve Of Arrival Of India, New Zealand Teams

Greenfield International Stadium: Kerala's capital city has slipped into full cricket mode as the Indian and New Zealand teams arrive here on Wednesday, ahead of the fifth T20 International match, a high-stakes contest that has generated enormous buzz among fans. The match, scheduled for Saturday evening at the Greenfield International Stadium, is being seen as a crucial dress rehearsal in the build-up to the upcoming World Cup. Both teams are expected to land around 5 p.m. on a special chartered flight and will be formally received by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) officials. Following the reception, the players will be escorted to their hotels amid tight security arrangements. The Indian cricket team will be staying at the Leela Raviz in Kovalam, while the New Zealand squad will be accommodated at the Hyatt Regency. The anticipation surrounding the match has been amplified by the presence of local favourite Sanju Samson, whose return to his home ground has sparked palpable excitement across the city. From social media chatter to banners near the stadium, fans are hopeful that the Kerala batter will feature in the playing eleven, adding an emotional edge to the contest. Security has been significantly ramped up at key locations, including the airport, team hotels and the stadium precinct, with police deploying additional personnel to manage crowds and ensure smooth movement. Traffic regulations and crowd-control measures are also being fine-tuned as match day approaches. The Greenfield Stadium, which has hosted several marquee international fixtures in recent years, is once again in the spotlight. Officials say pitch preparation, spectator facilities and logistical arrangements have been completed, with multiple agencies working in coordination to deliver a seamless event. The Greenfield Stadium, which has hosted several marquee international fixtures in recent years, is once again in the spotlight. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As the teams arrive and final preparations fall into place, Thiruvananthapuram is bracing for a weekend drenched in cricketing fervour. Article Source: IANS

Stokes, Moeen join England Lions coaching set-up for Pakistan series

England captain to use trip as rehab from Ashes injury, as Lions resume focus on white-ball skills

Head likely to lead in first T20I; Pakistan's focus on Babar and Afridi's returns

Australia to play a severely under-strength side against a full-strength Pakistan squad aiming to finalise their T20 World Cup combination

South Africa target 2-0 as West Indies look to stay alive

After their top three finished off the job in the first T20I against West Indies, South Africa would want their middle-order batters to put in a shift in the second game

Badoni, Arya To Miss Delhis Ranji Trophy Game After Inclusion In India A Squad For T20 WC Warm-ups

Ranji Trophy Elite Group: Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya will miss Delhis final Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash against Mumbai, starting at the BKC Ground on Thursday, after being named in the India A side for two warm-up matches of the Mens T20 World Cup. India A are scheduled to face the USA at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 2 before taking on Namibia at the BCCI CoE Ground in Bengaluru on February 6 as part of the build-up to the Mens T20 World Cup happening in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Ashok Sharma, DDCA Secretary, told IANS that Ayush Doseja, the leading run-getter in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, will lead Delhi in the seventh round of the Ranji Trophy against Mumbai. While table-toppers Mumbai have already qualified for the knockouts, a depleted Delhi are at sixth place and aim to sign off from the domestic season on a high. Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya will not be playing in tomorrows Ranji Trophy clash, as they have been named in the India A squad slated to play Mens T20 World Cup warm-up games against USA and Namibia in Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru, respectively. Ayush Doseja will captain Delhi in their Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai, as he's the highest run-getter in the tournament so far, said Sharma to IANS on Wednesday. Badoni has previously featured in both four-day and List-A games for India A and will return to the India A setup alongside Arya, who has so far represented the side only in white-ball formats. Ayush Doseja will captain Delhi in their Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai, as he's the highest run-getter in the tournament so far, said Sharma to IANS on Wednesday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Delhi squad for Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai: Ayush Doseja (captain), Sanat Sangwan, Vaibhav Kandpal, Sumit Mathur, Pranav Rajvanshi, Siddhant Sharma, Dhruv Kaushik, Rahul Dagar, Anuj Rawat, Divij Mehra, Aryan Rana, Money Grewal, Rohan Rana, and Rahul Chaudhary Article Source: IANS

Bangladesh-Born Sri Lanka T20 Team Owner Sentenced Over Match-Fixing

A Sri Lankan court handed the British owner of a Premier League team a four-year suspended sentence on Wednesday over match-fixing in the domestic T20 cricket tournament, a judicial official told AFP. Bangladesh-born Tamim Rahman, owner of Dambulla Thunders, admitted to allegations that he had attempted to influence a player and organise betting. Following his guilty plea, Rahman was convicted and handed a four-year jail term which was suspended for five years, the court official said, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity. The Colombo High Court also fined the owner 24 million rupees ($80,000). The conviction was in line with a strict 2019 act aimed at preventing corruption in sports in Sri Lanka. Rahman's arrest in 2024, which came after the player involved had alerted the authorities, was the first such detention of a Premier League official since it was established six years ago. He was apprehended at the airport in Colombo before boarding a flight to Dubai, and spent a few weeks in detention before being granted bail. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The court official said a warrant was out for the arrest of team manager Mujeeb Ur Rehman, a Pakistani national, who was also implicated in the case.

WPL: Sophie Devine Says Managing Diabetes With Cricket Is 'embedded In Routine'

Sophie Devine: Sophie Devine reaffirmed her status as one of the most reliable all-rounders in international cricket, playing a key role in Gujarat Giants victory over Delhi Capitals in the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Tuesday. Facing the challenge of defending nine runs in the final over, Devine remained composed under pressure, ending with figures of 4/37 in four overs, securing an important win and maintaining Gujarat Giants' chances for a playoff spot. While Devine's match-winning moments and heroics drew much attention, there's a quieter aspect of her journey that runs alongside her performances at the top level. For more than twenty years, the New Zealand all-rounder has managed diabetes, a condition that influences her training, routines, and approach to the game, yet she still competes at the top level. Discussing how she manages diabetes while participating in elite sports, Devine said, Diabetes has been a big part of my life for over 20 years now, so its pretty second nature to me. Sometimes I forget I even have it because its so embedded in my routine. Theres a lot of testing involved, and I use a sensor to keep track of my blood glucose levels, which people will often see me swiping. The injections dont really change whether its a game day, training day or rest day that part stays the same. She explained that match days demand extra awareness and planning, saying, The big difference on game day is making sure Im managing things well enough to be able to do my job out there. Sometimes thats straightforward and sometimes diabetes has other ideas, so its about being prepared and aware of what my body needs in those moments. Devine also emphasised the significance of her surrounding environment in guiding her through those situations, saying, Having the support of the players and support staff around me makes a huge difference. Knowing that people are aware and always there to help if I need it gives me a lot of confidence, and Im really thankful for that. She explained that match days demand extra awareness and planning, saying, The big difference on game day is making sure Im managing things well enough to be able to do my job out there. Sometimes thats straightforward and sometimes diabetes has other ideas, so its about being prepared and aware of what my body needs in those moments. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Underlining the importance of empathy and openness in sport, she added, You never really know what someone is dealing with unless you ask. Whether its diabetes, injuries or something else, everyone has their own challenges. Being able to talk about it and reach out for support when you need it is really important. Article Source: IANS

Privacy debate: Swiatek supports Gauffs call for balance

While Gauff said conversations needs to be had about the seemingly limitless access-all-areas cameras that track players from the locker room to the court, Swiatek asked are we like animals in the zoo where they are observed everywhere

ICC Rankings: Suryakumar Moves Back Into Top-10, Abhishek Maintains No.1 Spot

Surya Kumar Yadav: Indian cricket team's captain Surya Kumar Yadav is back in the top ten batters list in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Wednesday. He has moved up by five places and is currently placed at seventh position, following a prolific run in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which India is currently leading by 3-0. New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) Indian cricket team's captain Surya Kumar Yadav is back in the top ten batters list in the latest ICC T20I rankings released on Wednesday. He has moved up by five places and is currently placed at seventh position, following a prolific run in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which India is currently leading by 3-0. The Indian skipper, who was struggling to get runs in the shortest format, played a match-winning knock of 82 runs in the second match and also ended his 468-day half-century drought. Suryakumar continued this momentum in the next match as he scored 57 runs off just 26 balls. India's opener Abhishek Sharma also strengthened his position at the top with a blistering 68-run innings in the third T20I. With 929 points, he has increased his advantage at the top to 80 rating points. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also gained four places to move to 13th in the bowlers' ranking after three wickets against the Blackcaps in that third T20I, with teammate Varun Chakravarthy still maintaining his position at the top, following a splendid performance against the Blackcaps. All-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube continued to gain in the rankings after performing well in the ongoing series. Hardik is up by one spot to move to third, while Dube jumps five places to be placed at eleven. New Zealand's all-rounder Glenn Phillips has moved 18 places to be placed at 44 in the batters ranking following a good run against India. While South Africa's captain Aiden Markram has moved to the 20th number, and West Indies hard-hitter Brandon King has also moved 15 places. All-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube continued to gain in the rankings after performing well in the ongoing series. Hardik is up by one spot to move to third, while Dube jumps five places to be placed at eleven. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England's top batting pair of Harry Brook and Joe Root helped their team win the ODI series against Sri Lanka. As a result, Brook has moved to 11th position, and Root is up by six spots to move to 17th in the ODI batters ranking. Article Source: IANS

Suryakumar rises in ICC rankings after striking purple patch

Abhishek Sharma continues to be the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, while Joe Root, Harry Brook and Adil Rashid have moved up on the ODI table after the series win in Sri Lanka

'My Soul Was Taken Out Of Me, There Was Nothing Left': Amelia Kerr Opens Up On Lowest Phase Of Life

Amelia Kerr: New Zealand and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Amelia Kerr opened up on her struggles to overcome depression and anxiety, saying that she was at her lowest in life in 2020 but credited her family and teammates for helping her recover from the dark phase. Amelia, now one of the most recognisable figures in womens cricket, first captured global attention as a teenage prodigy. She made her international debut at 16 and, a year later, produced one of the sports most astonishing performances, a record-breaking 232 in a one-day international, the highest individual score in womens cricket, complemented by a five-wicket haul in the same match. While she received massive plaudits post-New Zealands World Cup victory and her two Womens Premier League (WPL) titles, her most defining story is actually rooted in the years between these major milestones. Cricket never felt hard. I mean, cricket is a hard game and there is failure, but for me cricket was always my happy place, said Amelia in a chat with the Mumbai Indians. Raised in a family steeped in the game, with her grandfather, parents and elder sister all former professional cricketers, Amelia appeared destined for greatness. By 2020, just four years into her international career, she was widely tipped as the future of world cricket. Behind the scenes, however, her journey was becoming increasingly difficult. Cricket was such a safe place and a happy place for her. But between the moments of playing games and training, she did have a lot of moments of sadness, said her sister and White Ferns teammate Jess Kerr. That struggle came to a head in 2020, when Amelia was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, a period she now describes as the darkest of her life. In 2020, I guess I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. The weight just became unbearable and too much. I wasnt who I was. It was like my soul was taken out of me and there was nothing left to me. Yeah, it was no doubt the absolute lowest Ive ever been in life. The real turning point was when I got sent home from a training camp with New Zealand due to safety reasons. I didnt see my dad cry very much growing up, so to see him break down like that absolutely shattered me. I felt as though I was sitting in a room watching my own funeral, Amelia said. During that period, Amelia leaned heavily on her family and gradually learnt the importance of speaking openly and building a support network within the team. Senior players played a crucial role in helping her navigate the path back. I think initially she held back how she was feeling with the senior players. But when she had one really bad incident, I think she learnt extremely quickly that that wasnt the right way to deal with it, said New Zealand captain and Amelia's long-time idol Suzie Bates. The all-rounder credits that willingness to seek help as a defining moment in her recovery. It actually takes a lot of work and you need a good support network around you, but ultimately, you have to really help yourself. To be willing to do that at my lowest is something I am proud of, she said. Through the process, cricket once again became her anchor, not as a source of pressure, but as a place of comfort and healing. At a time when things were pretty tough for me, cricket was my safe space. Cricket was what I always wanted to be back for. It was a motivator. Yeah, there was fear. But I didnt want to let that fear stop me. I think during that time, it was massive for me to be able to get myself back on the field. Probably after that period, the bad days started becoming less, Amelia said. Today, Amelia is not only a multiple title winner but also a role model for young players around the world, admired as much for her openness as her achievements. Her connection with Mumbai Indians supporters, in particular, reflects that bond. When people here call me Mumbai-Kerr, it feels less like a nickname and more like a connection. Like being welcomed into something inclusive. Ive learnt that loving cricket doesnt mean losing yourself to it. It means growing alongside it, letting it challenge you. Today, Amelia is not only a multiple title winner but also a role model for young players around the world, admired as much for her openness as her achievements. Her connection with Mumbai Indians supporters, in particular, reflects that bond. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In sharing her story, Amelia has expanded the meaning of success in cricket, proving that resilience, honesty and self-belief can matter just as much as any record or medal. Article Source: IANS

Damien Martyn Provides Positive Health Update, Says Happy To 'have A Walk And Swim'

Damien Martyn: Australian cricket great Damien Martyn has provided another positive health update after surviving a life-threatening battle with meningitis that left him in a coma late last year, saying that he is happy to have a walk and swim. The former Test cricketer, who played for Australia in 67 Tests and over 200 one-day internationals, was taken to a Gold Coast hospital on Boxing Day after suddenly falling ill. Doctors diagnosed Martyn with a severe form of meningitis, a potentially deadly infection that affects the brain, leading to him being placed in an induced coma for eight days as his condition worsened. Now, one month on from the ordeal, the 54-year-old says he is steadily recovering. Martyn shared his progress on X, posting a photo of himself at the beach and expressing his gratitude for the support he has received. I cant believe its been a month from yesterday that I was rushed to hospital. Its certainly been an eventful January, but the love and support still pouring in has been overwhelming. To the people that have shared their stories of having this disease and how they coped during and after, it has helped me immensely, so I thank you. I'm on the mend and looking forward to getting back to my normal self. To be honest, it makes you appreciate so many things. Im so happy to just get back on the beach, have a walk and swim, Martyn wrote on X. Martyns recovery has deeply resonated throughout the sporting community, prompting numerous messages of support from cricket figures and fans alike. In a previous post, also his first since returning home from the hospital, Martyn shared how narrowly he escaped losing his life. After waking from the coma, he was initially unable to walk or speak, but his condition quickly improved in the following days. My life was taken out of my handswhen meningitis took over my brain, and unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for eight days to help me fight this awful disease. After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later not able to walk or talk. This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change and how precious time is! Bring on 2026 Im back! he had posted on X. Born in Darwin, Martyn made his Test debut at just 21 during Australias 199293 home series against the West Indies, stepping into the side in place of Dean Jones. He later captained Western Australia at the age of 23 and became a mainstay of Australias dominant batting line-up through the late 1990s and early 2000s. My life was taken out of my handswhen meningitis took over my brain, and unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for eight days to help me fight this awful disease. After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later not able to walk or talk. This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change and how precious time is! Bring on 2026 Im back! he had posted on X. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While his playing days are long behind him, Martyns focus now is firmly on regaining his health, something he says the experience has taught him never to take for granted. Article Source: IANS

WPL: 'These Situations Are Learning Moments For Me,' Says Niki Prasad After DC's Narrow Loss To GG

Niki Prasad: Delhi Capitals star Niki Prasad has said that the three-run defeat against the Gujarat Giants will serve as a big learning lesson for her. The 20-year-old played a fearless knock of 47 off just 25 deliveries at the BCA stadium on Tuesday. Prasad, who walked at a time when the Delhi Capitals were reeling at 100 for 6 chasing a total of 174, said that she had the belief to close the match as she walked at the crease. When I went in, we were definitely in a very tricky situation, but in my mind it was clear that if I could stay there and keep the momentum going, we still had a chance. Once Sneh came in and she started getting boundaries straight away, it gave me a lot of confidence, and we both spoke about keeping that 12-runs-an-over momentum alive, she said. From the minute I walked in, I had that belief that we could cross the line. That one over from Sophie Devine, where we got a couple of boundaries, really lifted us, and from there our conversation was simple. We wanted to keep getting boundaries, keep the momentum going, and not let the pressure get to us, Prasad added. Despite Delhi missing the win by just three runs, Prasad feels that this match will serve well in her learning journey. It is disappointing that we couldnt cross the line today, especially when we were so close. But for me, this is a big learning. I will go back, train harder, and make sure that the next time I am in a similar situation, I am able to finish the game for the team, Prasad said. Speaking up about her approach against experienced bowlers, Prasad said, We realised quite early that the bowlers were going a little slower and a little shorter, so I wanted to make sure that whatever contact I made, whether it was in the air or along the ground, it went into the gaps. I used my feet, shuffled a bit, and tried to chip it over the fielders because once the ball hit the ground, it was racing away to the boundary. Prasad also hailed the support that she gets from her franchise, which reflects in her confidence. It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that such a big franchise has shown so much faith in me. Coming into the WPL, I was confident and just waiting for that one opportunity to go out and finish a game for the Delhi Capitals. Unfortunately, it didnt happen today, but I will make sure I am ready when the next chance comes. Speaking up about her approach against experienced bowlers, Prasad said, We realised quite early that the bowlers were going a little slower and a little shorter, so I wanted to make sure that whatever contact I made, whether it was in the air or along the ground, it went into the gaps. I used my feet, shuffled a bit, and tried to chip it over the fielders because once the ball hit the ground, it was racing away to the boundary. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Capitals will play their final league-stage match of the season against the UP Warriorz on Sunday, February 1. They are currently placed fourth in the points table with three wins from seven matches. Article Source: IANS

Moeen Ali Reverses Domestic Retirement To Join Yorkshire

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club: The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced on Wednesday that former England all-rounder Moeen Ali reversed his domestic retirement to sign a Blast-only contract for the 2026 season, with an option to extend into 2027. Moeen, a two-time IPL champion with Chennai Super Kings, also led Worcestershire to their first Blast victory in 2018 and captained Birmingham Phoenix to the final of the inaugural Hundred tournament. He has established himself as one of the most successful white-ball cricketers of his generation in domestic and franchise competitions worldwide. In 420 career T20 matches so far, he has accumulated 7,792 runs and claimed 271 wickets. His top score is 121 not out in the Vitality Blast. An essential part of Englands influential limited-overs teams, he has won two World Cups. In 92 T20 Internationals, he has taken 51 wickets and scored 1,229 runs, including seven half-centuries. Im delighted to be joining Yorkshire for the Blast. Its a huge club with a proud history, but what really appeals to me is where the team is heading. Theres a lot of talent in the squad and the chance to work with Anthony and help push the group forward is exciting for me. Ive always loved playing at Headingley the wicket, the atmosphere and the supporters make it a special place. This feels like a fresh challenge and Im arriving hungry for it. I want to bring my experience, enjoy my cricket and help Yorkshire compete, Moeen said in a statement released by the club. Yorkshire are yet to win the Blast title and ended eighth out of nine teams in the North Group last year. The club lost Dawid Malan to Gloucestershire and Jordan Thompson to Warwickshire during the off-season but added Australians Sam Whiteman and Andrew Tye as local players and signed overseas players Naveen-ul-Haq and Logan van Beek. Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshires general manager of cricket, believes that the signing highlights the Clubs goals and future ambitions. Yorkshire are yet to win the Blast title and ended eighth out of nine teams in the North Group last year. The club lost Dawid Malan to Gloucestershire and Jordan Thompson to Warwickshire during the off-season but added Australians Sam Whiteman and Andrew Tye as local players and signed overseas players Naveen-ul-Haq and Logan van Beek. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His decision to join Yorkshire reflects the direction of travel at the Club and the environment we are building. Were excited about what Moeen will bring, not just in performances, but in setting standards and helping drive the group forward, he said. Article Source: IANS

Djokovic through to Australian Open semi-finals after Musetti injury

Musetti was leading 6-4 6-3 1-3 when he had to retire with an injury

WPL: Amy Jones Replaces Injured Litchfield In UP Warriorz Squad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: UP Warriorz have suffered a major blow in the ongoing Womens Premier League 2026 (WPL) as their top scorer Phoebe Litchfield has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. The Warriorz have named Amy Jones as Litchfield's replacement for the remainder of the season. The English wicketkeeper-batter was acquired at a price of Rs 50 lakh. Litchfield, playing her first WPL season, impressed with her hitting and strike rotation throughout the innings. The young Australian star scored 243 runs in just six matches at a strike rate of 157. She hit two half-centuries and hammered 30 fours and 10 sixes during her stay in the league. Litchfield is currently placed third in the Orange Cap leaderboard, just behind Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has 319 runs, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who has scored 260 runs so far. UP Warriorz (UPW) picked Amy Jones as an injury replacement for Phoebe Litchfield for the remainder of Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026. Phoebe Litchfield, who scored 243 runs in six matches in the ongoing WPL 2026, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury, the WPL said in a release. Amy Jones, the wicketkeeper-batter from England, has featured in 125 T20Is and has 1,666 T20I runs against her name. Jones will join UPW for INR 50 lakh, it added. Big hits, bigger energy. Thank you for the memories, Phoebe. Can't wait to see you again, Warriorz shared on X. Amy Jones, the wicketkeeper-batter from England, has featured in 125 T20Is and has 1,666 T20I runs against her name. Jones will join UPW for INR 50 lakh, it added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Warriorz will next face table toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday. The team will end their league-stage campaign on February 1 with a match against the Delhi Capitals. Article Source: IANS

UP Warriorz bring in Amy Jones after Pheobe Litchfield leaves with quad injury

Phoebe Litchfield was UP Warriorz's highest run-getter, with 243 runs from six innings, but has returned home after sustaining a quad injury

Moeen Ali signs for Yorkshire in reversal of domestic retirement

Former England allrounder quit last season due to ECB's no-objection certificate rules but will be back at age of 39

WPL: DC Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues Penalised For Slow Over-rate Vs GG

Baroda Cricket Association Stadium: Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate following her teams narrow three-run defeat to Gujarat Giants in the Womens Premier League (WPL) match at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium (Kotambi) on Tuesday. The WPL confirmed the penalty in an official release, stating, Jemimah Rodrigues, captain of Delhi Capitals, has been fined after her team maintained a slow over rate during their teams match against Gujarat Giants at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara on Tuesday. The league clarified that the sanction was imposed under the WPL Code of Conduct for minimum over-rate offences and was Rodrigues first offence of the season. The loss had significant implications for Delhis campaign. Capitals slipped to fourth on the points table with six points and a net run rate of -0.164, leaving their qualification hopes delicately poised. Their final league fixture against bottom-placed UP Warriorz on February 1 now shapes up as a must-win in the race for a playoff berth.Delhi came close to pulling off a memorable chase against Gujarat, sparked by a late counterattack from Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad. The duo added a crucial 70 for the seventh wicket, briefly tilting the contest in Delhis favour as Rana struck 29 off 15 balls and Prasad made 47 off just 24 deliveries. Gujarat, however, held their nerve at the death. Sophie Devine delivered a composed final over, defending nine runs to seal a dramatic victory and complete a season double over Delhi. The duo added a crucial 70 for the seventh wicket, briefly tilting the contest in Delhis favour as Rana struck 29 off 15 balls and Prasad made 47 off just 24 deliveries. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With one league match remaining, Rodrigues struck a determined tone as Delhi prepares for a decisive showdown. That game is going to be important. It will be important for us to regroup. We are still in the tournament, and we will keep fighting. Article Source: IANS

Anupam Kher Calls 'cool Dude' Rohit Sharma Absolutely 'real'

Anupam Kher: Veteran actor Anupam Kher enjoyed an accidental meet-cute with the formerIndian cricket captain, and 'Cool Dude' Rohit Sharma. During the shoot, Anupam entered the wrong vanity, and as fate would have it, he ran into Rohit and his better half, Ritika Sajdeh. Anupam revealed that he found the cricketer to be a lovely person and extremely 'Real'. Posting two photos with Rohit and Ritika on his official Instagram handle, Anupam described the meet in his own words, saying, ACCIDENTAL BUT A GREAT MEETING...Yesterday morning at shooting there were lots of vanity vans parked at the location. By mistake I was ushered into a wrong van. And who do I see? The GREATEST #RohitSharma! My favourite cricketer and his beautiful and hugely supportive wife #Ritika.(sic) Anupam shared that he really found Rohit to be without any pretence, carrying an air of ease around him. I love Rohit! Of course for his brilliance as an amazing player. But I equally love the person in him. We have a habit of giving titles to our heroes (in films and sports) and rightfully so. They deserve it. But having watched Rohit, on and off field I can easily say that he is so so REAL! No pretence! No hunger for particular titles! I like his calmness. He laughs easily! Doesnt make an effort to make a myth about himself! Doesnt change his persona in front of paps. Stays HIMSELF!! And that is the Greatest Quality of Cool Dude!, he added. Anupam shared that he really found Rohit to be without any pretence, carrying an air of ease around him. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Work-wise, Anupam is currently busy shooting for his next with acclaimed filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya. Article Source: IANS

From Zimbabwe to Bangladesh: How Lucky Scotland Keeps Entering T20 World Cups

Of the teams who were scheduled to play in the ICC 2026 T20 World Cup, now Bangladesh is out, and Scotland is in. This change didn't come easily, as the involved parties played less of cricket and more of a game of political manoeuvring. It's not that the T20 World Cup hadn't seen any crises before in its history, but this time, the decision to change teams due to a specific reason sparked new controversies. Almost the same had happened in the 2009 T20 World Cup. To understand what transpired on that occasion, the story needs to commence from the 1996 ODI World Cup. The hosts were India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. As per schedule, Australia and West Indies were to play one match each in Colombo. Due to the civil war-like situation and a bomb blast two weeks before the tournament, concerns arose about the teams' safety in Sri Lanka. As a result, both teams refused to play in Colombo and forfeited their match points. This started a new tradition and happened again in the 2003 ODI World Cup. This time, in protest against Robert Mugabe's style of governance in one of the co-hosts Zimbabwe, England refused to play in Harare. Similarly on fear stemming from a bomb blast a few days earlier in another co-host Kenya, New Zealand refused to play against Kenya in Nairobi. Both teams that refused to play forfeited their points. The 2009 T20 World Cup was held in England. Zimbabwe were expected to settle the score for what happened in 2003 but unfortunately this time also England played spoilsport and their Home Office indicated that visas shall not be granted to the Zimbabwean players for the tournament. The ICC could do nothing when the crisis escalated to such an extent that there was a call for moving the T20 World Cup out of England altogether. Differences of opinion on the crisis divided the ICC. Now its on record that compromise was eventually reached to save cricket from a major crisis and Zimbabwe withdrew from the tournament. The circumstances of Zimbabwe's withdrawal then, helped them to receive their share of full participation fee, without playing while Bangladesh are likely to lose not only this fee, but may face further penalties. Interestingly, in both the instances of the team withdrawal, the team that replaced them was Scotland. In the 2009 conflict among the ICC's Test-playing nations and the threat of ICC breaking up and the present crisis, a common factor is involvement of India. Britain was accusing Robert Mugabe of election rigging, use of violence on opponents, and acting like a dictator and this affected the cricket relations also. Coincidentally, in 2009, Zimbabwe was scheduled to tour England for a two-match series, but visas to the players were refused. However Britains refusal to grant visas to Zimbabwean players for the 2009 T20 World Cup became an issue in the ICC. This visa issue began to simmer at the 2008 annual ICC meeting. BCCI, with the support of the Asian Test lobby, sided with Zimbabwe. The message was clear: if visas weren't granted, the World Cup should be moved elsewhere. Now England played the card of government interference in Zimbabwean cricket and argued for their suspension from the ICC, as a punishment for violation of ICC guidelines. Thus the focus shifted from the visa crisis to Zimbabwe staying in the ICC. The Asian Test lobby prevented this from happening, and the ICC became a divided house. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The two-day annual ICC meeting was extended into a third day. The new Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and President Sharad Pawar took over. Sharad Pawar's appointment as the new ICC chief was seen as an end of the dominance of England and Australia lobbies in the ICC. Sharad Pawar used his political experience, held several meetings with the stakeholders and reached a solution: Zimbabwe agreed not to participate in the 2009 T20 World Cup (this resolved the visa issue), Zimbabwe were assured of no action against them for their non-participation in the scheduled tournament, and to receive an equal share of the tournament's earnings along with the other Test-playing nations.

Devine at No. 1 on WPL 2026 Purple Cap table after match-winning four-for

The latest Orange Cap and Purple Cap updates from WPL 2026

Markrams Powers South Africa to 9-Wicket T20I Win Over West Indies

Aiden Markram powered South Africa to a nine-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international against the West Indies at Boland Park on Tuesday. The South African captain hit nine fours and three sixes in a career-best 86 not out off 47 balls as the hosts chased down a competitive West Indian total of 173 for seven with 13 balls to spare. An opening partnership (also) of 83 off 47 balls with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (44) set the tone before Ryan Rickelton joined Markram and made 40 not out in an unbeaten second-wicket stand of 93 off 62 balls. The three-match series is the final preparation for both teams before the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next month. South Africa rested several players who were involved in the SA20 franchise final on Sunday, including first-choice opening batsman Quinton de Kock. Pretorius, who is not in the World Cup squad, opened in De Kock's absence. Markram said he was pleased with the depth in his squad. There are a few guys not here tonight who are good players. It's taken a few years to get where we are now. There are a lot of guys putting their hands up and it's a good space to be in. Shimron Hetmyer hit 48 off 32 balls for the West Indies but no other batsman reached 30 in what captain Roston Chase said was a below-par total. We didn't have big partnerships. Players got in but didn't go on to make 60 or 70. Then we were poor with the ball in the powerplay, said Chase, who was standing in for tour captain Shai Hope, who had suffered a blow on a knee. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South African left-arm spinner George Linde was named man of the match. He took three for 25, sharing the new ball and then bowling the last over of the innings when he dismissed Hetmyer and Jason Holder and conceded only five runs.

Harry Brooks 57-Ball Century Powers England to Historic ODI Series Win in Sri Lanka

Harry Brook's blistering 57-ball hundred proved the difference as England romped to a famous 53-run victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday to clinch the series and end the hosts' five-year-long unbeaten ODI home run. Sri Lanka had gone 12 series unbeaten at home, winning 11 and drawing one, but Brook's counter-punch knocked them off their perch and swung the momentum decisively England's way. It was a lot better pitch than we expected. It was an awesome effort from everyone involved, said Brook, the England captain. Joe Root in particular was sensational. We are pretty pleased with the way the spinners went about things and that's a good sign ahead of the World Cup. Chasing a daunting 358 at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium, the hosts came out all guns blazing, racing to 104 inside ten overs of the Powerplay. But once the field spread, the boundaries dried up. In a bid to keep up with the required run-rate, Sri Lanka's batters took the aerial route and paid the price, as England snapped up catches with sharp work in the deep. Young Pavan Rathnayake stood tall amid the collapse, unfurling a maiden international hundred that underlined his promise. He was the last man out for 121 off 115 balls, striking 12 fours and a six, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 304 in 46.4 overs. England, who had stumbled in the opening ODI, found their rhythm as the series wore on, adapting quickly to oppressive heat and turning tracks. After squaring the contest on Saturday, they delivered a polished all-round display when it mattered most. - 'A stunning knock' - The defeat saw Sri Lanka slip one place to sixth in the ICC ODI rankings, with South Africa moving up to fifth. Brook's brutal 136 not out off just 66 balls was an exhibition of clean hitting that left the home attack gasping for air and the 4,000-strong English contingent of supporters in raptures as the tourists finished on 357 for three, having opted to bat first. Brook's 11 fours and nine sixes was power hitting with a surgeon's precision, a blend of muscle and timing that gave England the advantage. Brook had walked into the series under the microscope following revelations that he was fined 30,000 after a nightclub altercation in New Zealand last October. But he looked to have put the incident behind him in posting his third ODI hundred. The platform was laid by an unbroken 191-run stand with former skipper Joe Root for the fourth wicket, a partnership that gave England total control. With 130 runs scored in the last 10 overs, England turned a strong total into a mountainous one. Root's own milestone, his 20th ODI hundred, was overshadowed by Brook's masterclass. The former captain remained unbeaten on 111, continuing his role as Sri Lanka's chief tormentor after half centuries in the first two ODIs. Earlier, a 126 run stand between Root and Jacob Bethell for the third wicket had set the stage for the late innings carnage. Sri Lanka's bowlers simply had no answers. It was England's highest score against Sri Lanka in ODIs. It was also the fourth-highest score at the venue, where anything north of 300 is usually a match-winning one. Harry Brook just took the game away from us. It was a stunning knock, said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But (there were a) lot of positives for us. Pavan Rathnayake has been scoring heavily in domestic cricket and he showcased what he can do today.

IND vs NZ: Stats Preview ahead of the India vs New Zealand 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam

IND vs SL 4th T20I, T20I Approaching Milestones and Records :Indian Cricket Team and New Zealand Cricket Team are set to lock horns with each other in the fourth T20I at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. The Visakhapatnam cricket match will start at 7 PM IST on January 28. Team India are leading the series 3-0 and have been phenominal with their form. They have hammered New Zealand in all three matches. Captain Suryakumar Yadav has scored the most runs this series. He entered the series with poor form, and now he is looking excellent with the bat. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have also been at their absolute best. With the ball, Indian bowlers have bowled better than the Kiwi bowlers. Nothing has gone in favor of New Zealand in the first three games and they are struggling badly in both aspects. India have already won the series, and they will be eager to carry this form into the next game. Already the first three games have seen Team India and players breaking several records. There are a few big records which are on the line in the upcoming game as well. Here, we will talk about big records and milestones which are lined up and can be achieved in the India vs New Zealand 4th T20I at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. IND vs NZ 4th T20I: Approaching T20I Records and T20I Cricket Milestones Ahead of the IND vs NZ clash at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium 41 - Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has scored two consecutive centuries. He is just 41 runs away from becoming only the third Indian after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to complete 3000 T20I runs. 92 - Ishan Kishan has been in incredible form this series. He is just 92 runs away from completing 100 T20I runs for India. 24 - Tim Seifert (1886) is just 24 runs away from surpassing Ross Taylor (1909) and become the fifth highest scorer for New Zealand in T20Is. 58 - New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has played well with the bat this series. He needs 58 runs more to complete 1000 T20I runs. 1 - Glenn Phillips has hit 8 sixes this series. He needs one six to complete 100 T20I sixes. 8 - Ishan Kishan has been in six-hitting form and needs 8 sixes more to complete 50 T20I sixes. 9 - Tim Seifert needs nine more sixes to complete 100 T20I sixes and one more to surpass Brendon McCullum (91). 5 - Devon Conway needs five more sixes to complete 50 T20I sixes. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 5 - Ish Sodhi needs five more wickets to become the leading wicket-taker in T20Is for New Zealand and the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is ever.

WPL 2026: It Has Been A Roller-coaster, Says Gardner On Dramatic Final-over Win

Gujarat Giants: Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner described the dramatic final over as an emotional roller-coaster, admitting the tension ran sky-high as the contest went down to the wire in a three-run victory over Delhi Capitals at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Bowling the penultimate over, Gardner went for 19 runs, leaving only nine for Sophie Devine to defend. Devine held her nerve in a dramatic final over to prevent Delhi Capitals from getting nine runs, sealing a thrilling three-run win for the Gujarat Giants, completing a season double. It has been a roller coaster. We have obviously entertained the fans at the venue and on TV. My right was going to the roof through that last over, said Gardner after the match. After posting 174/9, the Gujarat team was under immense pressure as the Delhi team prepared to enter the last over of the match with nine runs to win with Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad batting together. Gujarat Giants reached 174/9 with an excellent overall effort from Beth Mooney in what was overall a really composed innings of 58 from 46 balls. Anushka Sharma contributed 39 off 25 balls during the middle overs with some lovely, elegant-looking shots, as Tanuja Kanwar's contributions of an unbeaten 21 off just 11 balls late in the innings helped the Giants to compile a competitive total. Gardner felt the pitch continued to favour batters and said the Giants total was around par. However, she conceded her side allowed Delhi Capitals back into the contest after strong bowling until the 17th over. The wickets have got progressively better. Yesterday, 200 were almost chased down, and tonight it was almost chased down as well. Between 170 and 180 was par as well. We bowled well until the 17th over, then let them back in the game. The skipper stressed the need for simplicity in execution, highlighting Sophie Devines pivotal spell and her ability to vary pace, attack the stumps, and exploit a spinner-friendly surface. For our bowlers, we need to keep it simple. We need to keep the team in play as long as possible. Finding the right lengths for change are important. It was a spinner-friendly wicket, but Sophie was really pivotal throughout her spell, making changes in pace and keeping the stumps in play as well, she said. Gardner felt the pitch continued to favour batters and said the Giants total was around par. However, she conceded her side allowed Delhi Capitals back into the contest after strong bowling until the 17th over. The wickets have got progressively better. Yesterday, 200 were almost chased down, and tonight it was almost chased down as well. Between 170 and 180 was par as well. We bowled well until the 17th over, then let them back in the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Looking ahead, Gardner underlined the importance of consistency in tight matches and said the Giants must quickly shift focus to their next challenge against Mumbai, a side they have historically struggled against. We have been on the winning side and losing side as well during close games. We need to be consistent. We need to win that one game to be confident in the playoffs. We play again in a couple of times. We need to switch the focus to Mumbai; we don't have a great record against them. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: Rodrigues Praises 'special' Fightback From Sneha-Prasad After Delhi's Close Loss

Jemimah Rodrigues: Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues praised the composure and courage shown by Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad in a tense finish, admitting it was a tough pill to swallow after falling just three runs short of the target against Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Sophie Devine held her nerve in a dramatic final over to defend nine runs, sealing a thrilling three-run win for the Giants, completing a season double. A spirited seventh-wicket partnership of 70 runs between Rana (29 off 15) and Prasad (47 off 24) reignited hope, but Devines mastery at the death having earlier defended seven against the same opponents ensured Gujarat Giants closed out another nervy win. Firstly, the way Sneh Rana and Niki played, I have to give it to them. It was special. Such things happen, but it would have been nice had we finished on the right side of the finishing line, said Rodrigues after the match. Rodrigues said belief never faded in the Capitals camp as long as batters were at the crease, lauding Rana and Prasad for keeping the chase alive with their fearless approach. As long as we knew our batters were in, we had the hope, and we kept believing. They kept believing and kept us in the hunt. Niki played brilliantly. I think they were the ones who kept us going. We didnt win it today, but the way they played today was brilliant. Delhi's reply got off to a good start when Shafali Verma hit a boundary off the first ball and quickly reached 26 in 2.2 overs before Rajeshwari Gayakwad removed her in the first over. Laura Wolvaardt once again failed to accelerate, scoring 24 off 23 before Gayakwad brushed her off stump, while Lizelle Lee struggled with fluency and was caught for 11 off 20 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues managed 16 off 16 balls before being bowled by Devine, and the Capitals chase faltered further as Marizanne Kapp fell for a golden duck to Gardner. Chinelle Henry added only 9 off 11 balls, leaving Delhi in trouble. Reflecting on the defeat, the skipper felt Delhi paid the price for losing wickets in clusters and conceding extra runs at the death, despite a strong effort with the ball earlier in the innings. Jemimah Rodrigues managed 16 off 16 balls before being bowled by Devine, and the Capitals chase faltered further as Marizanne Kapp fell for a golden duck to Gardner. Chinelle Henry added only 9 off 11 balls, leaving Delhi in trouble. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Delhi will play their last league game against UP Warriorz, which will be a virtual knockout on February 1. That game is going to be important. It will be important for us to regroup. We are still in the tournament, and we will keep fighting. Article Source: IANS