Cricket

IPL Has Helped Overseas Players To Get Used To Intimidating Crowds In India: Nasser Hussain

The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a crucial role in helping overseas cricketers acclimatise to the pressure of playing in front of intimidating Indian crowds, said former England captain Nasser Hussain said ahead of the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup starting next month in India and Sri Lanka. As an opposition, you are also taking on the crowd in India. Recently, in the World Cup semi-final between Australia and India Women, you could see from the crowd interaction that once the momentum starts going Indias way, it becomes very difficult to drag it back. The only thing I would add is that, because of the IPL, many foreign players have played in these stadiums, experienced that atmosphere, and understood the challenges and pressures that come with it. In the old days, someone like me turning up in India and witnessing something like Sachin Tendulkar walking out to bat and the crowd reaction, you could see the fear in the bowlers eyes. Nowadays, it has become the norm. One of the repercussions of franchise cricket is that players are used to the conditions, used to the grounds, used to the crowd, and are not too intimidated by it, said Hussain on JioStar. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, pointed to how the Indian team's approach towards crowd pressure has also transformed over the decades, citing the contrasting examples of the 1996 and 2023 ODI World Cup campaigns. In the early 90s, the pressure actually got to the Indian team. In that 1996 World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, you could almost sense that they couldnt handle the pressure. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, pointed to how the Indian team's approach towards crowd pressure has also transformed over the decades, citing the contrasting examples of the 1996 and 2023 ODI World Cup campaigns. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They did quite well in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, but the 2023 World Cup was a game-changer. They used that momentum well. They played excellent cricket, but they also used the energy the crowd gave to produce some outstanding cricket in a World Cup that was once again hosted in India, he added. Article Source: IANS

Main Goal Is To Get In The Team When The Olympics Is Rolling Around: Steve Smith

T20 World Cup: Australian batting great Steve Smith has come to terms with his omission from Australias T20 World Cup preliminary squad, but the veteran is far from done with his international 20-20 ambitions. Although missing out on the squad was a setback, Smith remains determined to represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 38-year-old batter, who is in splendid form in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), admitted that even after some amazing knocks, he was not in contention to be a surprise entrant in the national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The former Australia captain has not yet closed the door on T20I cricket, as he is yet to fulfil his ambition to play at the Olympics, where cricket is making a long-awaited return. I always want to play for Australia in big tournaments. But I think that ship's sailed. I reckon they've got two opening batters that are doing pretty well. I'm relaxed doing what I can here and having some fun, Smith said, as quoted by Espncricinfo. My main goal, as I've said before, is to get in the team when the Olympics is rolling around. I'd be keen to do that. That'd be pretty cool. Keep doing what I'm doing and you never know, he added. Smith last played a T20I for Australia in February 2024, and since then, he has averaged 51-plus with a strike rate of 156 in T20s. My main goal, as I've said before, is to get in the team when the Olympics is rolling around. I'd be keen to do that. That'd be pretty cool. Keep doing what I'm doing and you never know, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Smith's power-hitting, the Sixers have given themselves a chance to reach the final. After the BBL, the Australian star will return to T20 cricket in Major League Cricket, which will be hosted by the USA in June and July. Article Source: IANS

PSL moves to player auction model in historic reform

Retention rules changed as well, keeping in mind the addition of two new teams

Ferreira's T20 WC Participation In Doubt Due To Shoulder Injury In SA20

T20 World Cup: South Africa all-rounder Donovan Ferreira is in doubt over playing the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup, which starts in India and Sri Lanka next month, after suffering a shoulder injury during the SA20. Ferreira injured his left shoulder while fielding for Joburg Super Kings against Pretoria Capitals in a crucial clash in the six-team competition. He dived to prevent a boundary on the final ball of the innings but landed awkwardly and later retired hurt after facing one delivery. Standing in as captain of Joburg Kings in place of the injured Faf du Plessis, Ferreira told the post-match broadcast that he was not feeling good and would undergo a scan. A report in ESPNcricinfo on Monday said he had sustained a fracture in the injured shoulder. The report further said the setback rules Ferreira out of the remainder of the SA20, with Joburg Super Kings still in contention for the playoffs. They must now beat Paarl Royals on Monday to secure their qualification. Ferreiras absence could also affect South Africas T20 World Cup squad, where he was selected as a finisher and backup wicketkeeper, in addition to being a part-time bowler. Alternatives to replace Ferreira include wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton, who has scored two centuries in the SA20, Matthew Breetzke, and Tristan Stubbs, though the latter is out of form. The report further said the setback rules Ferreira out of the remainder of the SA20, with Joburg Super Kings still in contention for the playoffs. They must now beat Paarl Royals on Monday to secure their qualification. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa have been drawn in Group D of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup alongside Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. They will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Article Source: IANS

Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars Tournament To Be Held In Bangkok From Feb 13

Asia Cup Rising Stars: The Womens Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from February 13-22, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said on its social media accounts on Monday. The tournament, scheduled in the T20 format, aims to highlight emerging womens cricket talent from the A teams of four full-member nations with ODI status and four top associate teams from the Asian region. The event was originally scheduled to begin on June 6 in Sri Lanka last year, but was postponed at the request of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva due to adverse weather conditions and health concerns related to the spread of chikungunya in the island country. As per the schedule released by the ACC, India A will be in Group A alongside Pakistan A, UAE and Nepal. Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Malaysia and Bangladesh will form Group B. India will begin their campaign against the UAE on February 13, before taking on Pakistan A on February 15 and facing Nepal on February 17. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for February 20. The title clash between the semi-final winners will take place on February 22. IANS understands that the announcement of the India A squad for the competition may be made in the coming days. As per the schedule released by the ACC, India A will be in Group A alongside Pakistan A, UAE and Nepal. Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Malaysia and Bangladesh will form Group B. India will begin their campaign against the UAE on February 13, before taking on Pakistan A on February 15 and facing Nepal on February 17. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Heavy rain caused major disruption, with seven of the 12 scheduled first-round matches abandoned. One semi-final was also washed out. The tournament concluded with Shweta Sehrawat-led India A claiming the title after defeating Bangladesh A by 31 runs in the final. Article Source: IANS

Cummins To Miss T20 WC Opener; Tim David On Track Despite Minor Setback, Confirms Bailey

T20 World Cup: Australias chief selector George Bailey provided an update on Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim Davids participation in the T20 World Cup, saying Test and ODI captain Cummins will miss the opener while, David will be ready for the start of the tournament, despite a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Cummins, who was rested for the upcoming three T20Is against Pakistan, will not travel to Sri Lanka before the World Cup, as Bailey said the pacer would only join the squad after their second group-stage match against Zimbabwe on February 13. He also said that fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also on track to be available for their tournament opener. Cummins has been rested since his one appearance during the Ashes to help Australia clinch the urn in Adelaide. Like nearly every tournament that we head to, particularly when it's a really busy time of the year, it's very much working with the individuals around making sure they get the best preparation they can to make sure when they do join that World Cup squad, they're ready to perform, Bailey was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. Australia have until January 31 to finalise their World Cup squad, and they also have yet to select any travelling reserves for the tournament. Part of that will certainly be how (Hazlewood and Cummins) are tracking and looking for the tournament, and if they're both going well, then it'll be just about covering any potential gaps that we may see throughout the tournament, Bailey said. Bailey confirmed that David experienced a very minor setback in his rehab last week, which prevented him from completing a running session. But he has since been cleared of any damage. It was just on the back of a heavy week, so he's still tracking for the start of the tournament; Josh (Hazlewood) is in the same boat, Bailey said. Part of that will certainly be how (Hazlewood and Cummins) are tracking and looking for the tournament, and if they're both going well, then it'll be just about covering any potential gaps that we may see throughout the tournament, Bailey said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bailey indicated that Smith's name would likely be considered if a senior position became available. It's a great problem to have, he said. He's playing incredibly well, as he has done in the BBL for the past couple of years, in a position that we've got really good coverage in. I'd hate to put a line through Steve that he couldn't bat anywhere else because he's proven his ability to be able to do that on a number of occasions. Article Source: IANS

PSL Ends Draft System, Switches To Auction Model From 2026

The Pakistan Super League: Pakistan Super League (PSL) will transition to a Player Auction Model, replacing the traditional Player Draft system, from the 11th season, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday. The Pakistan Super League has announced a series of landmark developments ahead of its 11th edition, reinforcing the Leagues continued growth, competitiveness, and commitment to innovation. This strategic shift is aimed at enhancing competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players greater earning opportunities, PCB said in a statement. According to the new rules, each franchise may retain a maximum of four players, limited to one player per category. Previously, every franchise was allowed to retain eight players from their squad including a mentor, a brand ambassador and a Right to Match Option (RTN) to retain a ninth player in the Player Draft. The rules pertaining to mentors, brand ambassadors and RTM have been removed for PSL 11. Newly inducted teams will be allowed to select and retain four players from the available player pool before the Player Auction. Each franchise will also be allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, enabling teams to strategically strengthen their squads with fresh international talent. Moreover, the player salary purse has been increased to USD 1.6 million per franchise. These progressive measures reflect the Leagues strategic trajectory and evolution, while remaining firmly rooted in its mission to promote cricketing excellence, fan engagement, and attaining unprecedented heights, PCB said. Each franchise will also be allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, enabling teams to strategically strengthen their squads with fresh international talent. Also Read: Live Cricket Score PSL 11 will commence on March 26 and Faisalabad has been added as an additional venue for hosting the leagues matches. Article Source: IANS

Smith accepts his T20 World Cup fate but Olympic ambition burns bright

Another stint in the BBL has brought more pyrotechnics at the top of the order, but Australia are well-served for openers

Nitish Reddy Attends Bhasma Aarti At Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple: India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy visited the sacred Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple and attended the divine 4:00 am bhasma aarti on Monday, after concluding his assignment with the Indian team, who lost the three-game ODI series to New Zealand on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. After the darshan, he was warmly welcomed and felicitated by the temple committee. Before the third ODI, former India captain and batting stalwart Virat Kohli, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav and fielding coach T Dilip, visited the temple in Ujjain on Saturday, and the two cricketers were also felicitated. Earlier on Friday, a day before Kohli and Kuldeeps visit, head coach Gautam Gambhir and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul also offered prayers at the holy jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. After clinching a thrilling four-wicket win in the series opener at Vadodara, India entered the second ODI with momentum but suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against Michael Bracewells New Zealand. Both teams headed into the decider with intent, but the Kiwis edged past the hosts and clinched their first-ever ODI series win in India with a 41-run win over the hosts in the third ODI in Indore. After clinching a thrilling four-wicket win in the series opener at Vadodara, India entered the second ODI with momentum but suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against Michael Bracewells New Zealand. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, Virat Kohli continued his purple patch, leading the teams chase from the front with his 54th ODI hundred, but the Men in Blue fell short against the Kiwis, as brilliant bowling by Kristian Clarke and Zakary Foulkes in the final stages of the game helped the visitors initiate a collapse and clinch a victory. Article Source: IANS

Kohli Is Tied To The Job Of Scoring Runs, Not To An Image: Gavaskar

While Virat Kohli: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Virat Kohlis greatest strength lies in his ability to remain unshackled by expectations and play purely according to the situation after the talismanic batter scored a century in the third ODI against New Zealand. While Virat Kohli scored his 54th ODI hundred, continuing his rich vein of form, India fell short against New Zealand, who were powered by centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. The thing about Virat is that hes not tied down to an image. Many players feel pressured to play the way people expect them to. Virat isnt like that. Hes tied to the job at hand, and that job is to score runs. Gavaskar told Jio Star Sometimes he starts watchfully and then opens up; sometimes he attacks early and then spreads the field. Hes not governed by expectations of how he should play. He plays according to the situation. That temperament is the key, Gavaskar said. Gavaskar also shed light on the Men in Blue's loss. He felt Indias problems began with a poor start throughout the series. Once New Zealand crossed 300, it was always going to be difficult. If the target had been around 290, it might have been possible. But India kept losing early wickets, including KL Rahul, who was in good form. Unless Virat got substantial support, it was always going to be tough, and he got very little of it. As they say, well begun is half done. India never began well, and thats one of the main reasons they couldnt chase these scores, he added. Praising allrounder Harshit Rana for his late contribution, Gavaskar said the youngster showed clarity in his role. He batted exactly like a lower-order batter should, without worry and without expectations. He knew his job was to swing the bat. If it came off, great. If not, no worries, he said. He also highlighted the learning opportunity for young players batting alongside a legend like Kohli. To bat with someone like Virat Kohli is a privilege. When such players talk to you at the end of an over and say, keep going or good shot, those are memories you carry for life, Gavaskar said. Praising allrounder Harshit Rana for his late contribution, Gavaskar said the youngster showed clarity in his role. He batted exactly like a lower-order batter should, without worry and without expectations. He knew his job was to swing the bat. If it came off, great. If not, no worries, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This is a special performance. Players like Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke came in on their first tour and stood tall in tough conditions. It shows how strong New Zealands pathway system is. To lose seven ODI series in a row in India shows how hard it is to win here. These players have managed to do what no one else has. Its a brilliant achievement, he added. Article Source: IANS

Connolly in search of runs, but shining with the ball

The allrounder started the BBL season in fine form with the bat but is in a lean run heading into finals

Batters Failed To Convert Starts, Fielding Was Not Up To The Mark, Admits Gill After ODI Series Loss To NZ

And New Zealand: After India suffered a home ODI series defeat 1-2 against New Zealand, captain Shubman Gill conceded that the team fell short in all departments, admitting that the batters failed to convert their starts and that fielding standards throughout the series were ot up to the mark. New Zealand clinched their first-ever ODI series win over the Men in Blue in India with a 41-run victory in the third ODI in Indore. This was India's first defeat in 14 home ODIs where they have won the toss. The ODI series took place a little over 16 months after their Test team whitewashed India 3-0 in a three-Test series in 2024. After India lost Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul within six overs, the team was reeling at 71/4 around the 13th over. Virat Kohli maintained his momentum, guiding India with his 54th ODI century. However, India ultimately fell short against the Kiwis, who were boosted by centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. All of us, all the batsmen. I dont think we have been able to convert starts. There are high-scoring matches in India and if the batsmen, especially two of them at the top, are not able to convert starts then we wont be able to post the big scores, Gill said in the press conference. I honestly felt our fielding in this series was not up to the mark. We dropped some crucial catches, and its not easy for bowlers to create chances on wickets like this. Its an aspect I think we really have to get better at. These were the big differences between the two teams: their batsmen converted their starts. And New Zealand were better in the field, they must have saved at least 15-20 runs today. These make a big difference, he added. Reflecting on the team's bowling show, especially Kuldeep Yadav, who took three wickets in as many games, with an average of over 60 and a strike rate of 50. These were the big differences between the two teams: their batsmen converted their starts. And New Zealand were better in the field, they must have saved at least 15-20 runs today. These make a big difference, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India and New Zealand will next lock horns in a five-match T20I series starting on Wednesday, their final assignment ahead of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7. Article Source: IANS

Tennis Australia defends prize money amid player complaints

The Australian Open hiked prize money to A$111.5 million ($74.56 million) for the current tournament, bringing it ahead of last years French Open ($65.42 million) and Wimbledon ($71.60 million) but short of the U.S. Opens purse ($90 million)

Beardman, Edwards Named In Australia's Squad For Pakistan T20ls

Pakistan T20ls: Australia have announced a squad for the T20I series against Pakistan, starting on January 31 in Lahore, with Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards included in the 17-player touring group following their performance in the Big Bash League. The series is a prelude to the ICC Mens T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India. Australia will travel from Pakistan to Sri Lanka following the three matches to prepare for the first World Cup game against Ireland in Colombo. There are 10 members of the World Cup squad travelling to Pakistan. Nathan Ellis, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins will join the World Cup squad in Sri Lanka as they return from injury, and loads are managed into the World Cup. Cummins has been rested since his one appearance during the Ashes to help Australia clinch the urn in Adelaide, while David's Big Bash was cut short when he injured his hamstring batting for the Hurricanes on December 26. Hazlewood hasn't played since early November when he hurt his right hamstring bowling for NSW in the Sheffield Shield, with an Achilles issue during his rehab ruling him out for the entire Ashes series. Meanwhile, Sean Abbott, Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Edwards, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw come into the squad. Beardman and Edwards are uncapped at the international level but were both part of Australia's white-ball squads at times during India's tour earlier in the summer. Beardman was part of the T20I squad against India last year, while Edwards was briefly part of the ODI squad. The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience with the World Cup group in Pakistan. Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman, who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards, who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year, chief selector George Bailey said. Cricket Australia said players competing in the remainder of the BBL will join the squad in Pakistan once their tournament is complete. Some are already experienced international players, along with Mahli Beardman, who has been with the group a number of times, and Jack Edwards, who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year, chief selector George Bailey said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia squad vs Pakistan: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa Article Source: IANS

Australian Open 2026: Coco Gauff advances to second round despite serving struggles

Gauff has won two Grand Slam titles but has never gone past the semifinals at Melbourne Park. She was knocked out in the quarterfinals last year

Beardman, Edwards included for Pakistan T20Is; Maxwell, Ellis rested

Ten players who are in Australia's T20 World Cup squad will be part of the three-match series in Pakistan

Afghanistan vs West Indies, 1st T20I - Who will win today AFG vs WI match?

AFG vs WI, 1st T20I , Cricket Tips :Afghanistan and West Indies are set to take on each other in the three-match T20I series in January. This will help these two sides to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 next month in India and Sri Lanka. The first game will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. On Monday, this contest will kick off at 8 PM IST. West Indies will be without their key players, Shai Hope and Roston Chase. Hence, Brandon King has been appointed as the captain of this series. Afghanistan look more prepared, as they have all their stars back for this series. AFG vs WI: Match Details Date : January 19, 2025 (Monday) Time : 8:00 PM IST Venue : Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai AFG vs WI: Live Streaming Details The ODI series between Afghanistan and West Indies will not be televised in India. But fans can catch the action on the FanCode streaming platform. AFG vs WI: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches : 8 Afghanistan : 3 West Indies : 5 No-result : 0 AFG vs WI: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Dubai is slow and sluggish. It is expected to get slower with time, and batting will become easy. The toss will be crucial because chasing can be difficult. Spinners will get grip and turn from the wicket, and batting will be challenging. AFG vs WI: Possible XIs Afghanistan : Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Md. Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi West Indies : Johnson Charles (wk), Brandon King (c), Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze, Shimron Hetmyer, Justin Greaves, Matthew Forde, Khary Pierre, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales AFG vs WI: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz with this approach is very dangerous and can take the game away in the powerplay. For West Indies, a lot will depend on how Brandon King bats at the top. Probable Best Bowler Noor Ahmad has been in great form, and he will be a dangerous bowler in these conditions. For West Indies, Gudakesh Motie can contain the batters and can also take wickets in the middle. Today Match Prediction : West Indies have found it difficult to face a good spin unit, and Afghanistan have plenty of quality spinners for these conditions. Hence, we predict Afghanistan to wint his game. AFG vs WI Match 1st T20I, Today Match AFG vs WI, AFG vs WI Prediction, AFG vs WI Predicted XIs, Injury Update of the match between Afghanistan vs West Indies 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.

Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Match 12, WPL 2026, Who will win today GG-W vs RCB-W match?

GG-W vs RCB-W, Match 12, Cricket Tips :Royal Challengers Bengaluru have managed to continue their winning streak and won four games on the trot in the first leg of the WPL 2026. They have beaten all the other four teams and are at the top of the points table with 8 points. RCB-W will be in action once again. They will lock horns with Gujarat Giants on Monday at 7:30 PM IST at BCA Stadium in Vadodara. RCB-W are looking in red-hot form, and they are a couple of wins away from making it to the next round. Smriti Mandhana and co. will look to add one more win here. GG-W have struggled with the bat in the last two games and suffered consecutive defeats. GG-W vs RCB-W: Match Details Date : January 19, 2026 (Monday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : BCA Stadium, Vadodara GG-W vs RCB-W Live Streaming Details Indian fans can tune into the Star Sports Networks to catch the live action of this game. Fans can also watch the live stream of this game on the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. GG-W vs RCB-W: Head-to-Head in WPL Total Matches : 7 Gujarat Giants Women : 3 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women : 4 No-Result : 0 GG-W vs RCB-W: Ground Pitch Report BCA Stadium is another brilliant venue for the batters. It is a high-scoring venue, and we saw when India chased down 300 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand. The bounce is very good, and batters can play their shots. The chasing team has a better record here. GG-W vs RCB-W: Possible XIs Gujarat Giants Women : Beth Mooney (wk), Ash Gardner (c), Sophie Devine, Shivani Singh, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women : Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Smriti Mandhana (c), Gautami Naik, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Prema Rawat, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Lauren Bell GG-W vs RCB-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Smriti Mandhana played a match-winning knock in the last game, and he will be the one to watch out for. For GG-W, Sophie Devine has been in top form and has scored the most runs for her team. Probable Best Bowler Lauren Bell has been the best powerplay bowler of this season. She swings the ball and also takes wickets and has played a crucial role for RCB-W. For GG-W, Kashvee Gautam has played that role. Today Match Prediction : RCB-W are in great form, and we predict them to win this game on Monday. GG-W vs RCB-W Match 12, WPL 2026, Today Match GG-W vs RCB-W, GG-W vs RCB-W Prediction, GG-W vs RCB-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for GG-W vs RCB-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.

Ball girl collapses in Australian Open heat as players rush to help

The incident happened as Russian 11th seed Alexandrova was serving in the second set with the girl falling onto her back while standing at the base of the umpire's chair

Atharva Taide's Ton And Fine Bowling Help Vidarbha Beat Saurashtra To Win Vijay Hazare Trophy

Vijay Hazare Trophy Final: Atharva Taide struck a century while pacers Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute shared seven wickets between them as Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final to claim the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru on Sunday. The Day/Night encounter looked a close affair after Saurashtra recovered from early setbacks, thanks to a valiant 88 by Prerak Mankad and 63-ball 64 by Chirag Jani lower down the order as they maintained their team's hopes. But the asking rate proved too much for Saurashtra as they were all out for 279 in 48.5 overs, as they chased the target of 318 runs set by Vidarbha largely due to opener Atharva Taide's 118-ball128 and 54 by Yash Rathod. Saurashtra suffered early setbacks in their chase of the stiff target as they lost skipper Harvik Desai (20) and Vishvaraj Jadeja (9) with the score reading 30/2 in the sixth over. Mankad and Sammar Gajjar took the score to 78 before the latter got out for 25, caught and bowled by Darshan Nalkande, who ended with 2-52. Mankad continued to hold one end up, though Saurashtra lost Parswaraj Rana (7). Mankad found a willing partner in Chirag Jani as they raised a 93-run partnership for the fifth-wicket. Harsh Dubey made the breakthrough for Vidarbha when he trapped Mankad lbw. Jani continued to fight from the other end and added 45 runs for the seventh wicket with Ruchit Ahir (21). Saurashtra lost known stars like Jaydev Unadkat (6), Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (8), and Chetan Sakhariya (11) cheaply as they tried to battle the rising run-rate. They were eventually out for Earlier, Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide stood up for his team, the 25-year-old hitting a magnificent century off just 97 balls to help his team post a massive score. Opening the innings after Saurashtra won the toss, Taide and Aman Mokhade easily tackled the early swing to forge an 80-run opening stand. Saurashtra finally got their breakthrough in the 18th over, when Ankur Pawar clean bowled Mokhade, who departed after scoring 33 runs. Despite losing his partner, Taide continued his assault and made sure the pressure did not fall on the new batter, Yash Rathod (54), and they raised 133 runs for the second-wicket partnership. Taide completed his hundred in the 31st over with a single. He hammered 12 fours and two sixes before completing his century. This is Atharva's first list. A century in five years. He is only the 16th batter to reach triple numbers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Final. Atharva finally departed on the last ball of the 36th over, when he chipped a fine yorker by Ankur Pawar into the hands of Prerak Mankad. He scored 128 runs off just 118 balls. Atharva also hit 15 fours and three sixes during his stay. Atharva enjoyed a great run during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, playing some crucial innings to take his team forward. He played a patient knock of 62 (72) in the quarter-final against Delhi to help Vidarbha reach 300. He also scored 80 against Assam and a 65 against Baroda earlier in January. Atharva finally departed on the last ball of the 36th over, when he chipped a fine yorker by Ankur Pawar into the hands of Prerak Mankad. He scored 128 runs off just 118 balls. Atharva also hit 15 fours and three sixes during his stay. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Vidarbha 317/8 in 50 overs (Atharva Taide 128, Yash Rathod 54, Aman Mokhade 33; Ankur Panwar 4-65, Chetan Sakariya 2-43, Chirag Jani 2-65) beat Saurashtra 279 all out in 48.5 overs (Prerak Mankad 88, Chirag Jani 64; Tash Thakur 4-50, Nachiket Bhute 3-46) by 38 runs Article Source: IANS

Indian Team Comes Under Fire On Social Media For Humiliating Home ODI Series Defeat To NZ For First Time

ODI World Cup: The Indian men's ODI cricket team came under fire on social media on Sunday as it went down to a depleted New Zealand side 2-1 in the three-match ODI series, losing the series-deciding third and final ODI by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. With this, New Zealand won an ODI series in India for the first time in 37 years, and when coupled with the BlackCaps' 3-0 whitewash of the hosts in a Test series last year, proves that the 2023 ODI World Cup finalists are in not in a happy place just over an year before the next World Cup in 50-over cricket in 2027. Virat Kohli scored a valiant 124 while Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy struck fifties, but their efforts went in vain as the hosts failed to chase a mammoth target of 338 and fell short by 41 runs. New Zealand thrashes India in the third and final ODI by 41 runs to seal the 3-match ODI series 2-1. Humiliation for India in their backyard, said a social media user in a post on X minutes after the Indians went down. The fans also turned their anger towards India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was already under pressure after the recent poor results and his handling of former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. A young C Team of New Zealand handed over the ODI series defeat to the A Team of India. This is possible only in the Gautam Gambhir era, said another social media user. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer praised the new-look New Zealand team for its superb comeback win in the series. Phenomenal effort from NZ! Young team, 0-1 behind in the series, but their plans, execution, fielding, and the ability to stay in the game even when they were behind stood out. What a series Daryl Mitchell has had! New Zealand once again proved to be Indias bogey team. #INDvNZ, said Jaffer in his post on X, formerly Twitter. Individual players, excluding Virat Kohli, also came under attack for their overall performance. At the top of the list was spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who could not produce his magic. Phenomenal effort from NZ! Young team, 0-1 behind in the series, but their plans, execution, fielding, and the ability to stay in the game even when they were behind stood out. What a series Daryl Mitchell has had! New Zealand once again proved to be Indias bogey team. #INDvNZ, said Jaffer in his post on X, formerly Twitter. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Fans also mocked the team management for its insistence that the players were progressing well, even though the results were not up to the mark. Captain Shubman Gill's recent record in ODIs is also being discussed and compared with Sanju Samson's performance in the domestic 50-over tournament. The selectors are also under fire for opting for Gill ahead of Samson. Article Source: IANS

Breetzke, de Kock seal Sunrisers Eastern Cape's top-two finish and knock MI Cape Town out

SEC needed 40 off their last four overs in the 149-run chase and got home on the penultimate ball

3rd ODI: Disappointed With Series Loss, Need To Look Back, Reflect, And Do Better, Says Gill

ODI World Cup: India captain Shubman Gill admitted his side were left disappointed with their performance in their 41-run loss to New Zealand in the series decider at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, adding that the side needs to reflect and improve ahead for bigger challenges. Knocks of 137 and 106 from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips took New Zealand to a commanding 337/8 on a two-paced black soil pitch, before the visitors held their nerve to overcome Virat Kohlis valiant 54th ODI century 124 off 108 balls - and bowl out India for 296 in 46 overs. The result also marked Indias fifth home ODI series defeat since 2010. After the first match, coming here 1-1, the way we played disappointed. There are areas we need to look back, reflect, and do better, said Gill in the post-match presentation ceremony. He praised Kohlis impressive form and highlighted the contributions of Harshit Rana, who impressed with the bat at number eight by hitting 52 his first ODI fifty. The way Virat is batting is always a plus. The way Harshit has batted in this series, batting at number eight is not easy. The way he stepped up and the way the fast bowlers bowled in this series was good as well, added Gill. Looking ahead to the 2027 Mens ODI World Cup, Gill said the team management was keen to provide opportunities to young seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hit 52 in the unsuccessful chase. The way Virat is batting is always a plus. The way Harshit has batted in this series, batting at number eight is not easy. The way he stepped up and the way the fast bowlers bowled in this series was good as well, added Gill. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias chase faltered early as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul departed cheaply, leaving the hosts reeling at 71/4. Kohli (124 off 108 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) revived the hosts' hopes with a fighting 88-run partnership, while Harshit Rana added late fireworks via a 43-ball 52. But the target eventually proved to be out of Indias reach, as the result marked Indias fifth home ODI series defeat since 2010. Article Source: IANS

Taide 128, bowlers' combined show leads Vidarbha to maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title

Saurashtra fell short in 318 chase even as Prerak Mankad and Chirag Jani kept them in the hunt

3rd ODI: New Zealand Overcome Kohlis Valiant 124 To Secure 2-1 Series Win (ld)

Nitish Kumar Reddy: New Zealand overcame a valiant 124 off 108 balls from the talismanic Virat Kohli to clinch a 41-run victory and seal a historic 2-1 win in the ODI series decider at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. Knocks of 137 and 106 from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips took New Zealand to a commanding 337/8 on a two-paced black soil pitch, before the visitors held their nerve to overcome Kohlis valiant 54th ODI century, and bowl out India for 296 in 46 overs. Kyle Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes picked three wickets each as the result gave New Zealand their first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil, after being 1-0 behind last week. Indias chase faltered early as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul departed cheaply, leaving the hosts reeling at 71/4. Kohli (124 off 108 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) revived hopes with a fighting 88-run partnership, while Harshit Rana added late fireworks via a 43-ball 52. But the target eventually proved to be out of Indias reach, as the result marked Indias fifth home ODI series defeat since 2010. Indias chase began brightly, as they raced to 28 runs in the first three overs. But Rohit's innings ended in the fourth over when he tamely lobbed a flick to mid-on off Foulkes. Jamieson then produced a sharp nip-backer from outside off, which beat Gills defence and deflected off the pad to crash into the stumps. Kohli, after being troubled by Jamiesons bounce and movement, pulled and walloped his way to hit four quick boundaries off Foulkes, Jamieson, and Kristian Clarke. But wickets continued to fall from the other end as Iyer miscued a short delivery straight to mid-on off Clarke, while Rahul was deceived by grip and turn from Jayden Lennox and was forced to give a catch off a check drive to extra cover. Taking charge in the chase, Kohli reached his fifty in 51 balls, and his impeccable timing was on display when his trademark flick sped past deep square leg despite being played as a strike-rotation shot. From the other end, an assured Reddy complemented Kohli by striking four boundaries while his swivelling pull off Foulkes and a slog-sweep off Glenn Phillips, fetching him sixes, were the standout shots, with the second one getting him a maiden ODI fifty. The duos run-a-ball partnership of 88 runs for the fifth wicket ended when Clarke dismissed him with a short ball that cramped him for room, and Reddy couldnt keep the pull down, giving mid-wicket a simple catch. Ravindra Jadejas attempt to counter Lennox backfired as his lofted shot failed to clear deep midwicket. But Kohli responded with a burst of boundaries, striking three fours and a wristy six over backward square leg in the space of 11 balls. From the other end, Rana provided valuable support with assured strokeplay, with his inside-out drive through the covers off Foulkes being the standout. Much to the delight of the crowd, Kohli reached his century in 91 deliveries and kept Indias hopes alive. Jamieson endured a rare hammering when Kohli struck him for two sixes - one straight down the ground off a full toss and another over midwicket. Rana added to the fireworks with a towering hit over long-on off Foulkes to reach his maiden ODI fifty in just 41 balls. But Ranas innings ended soon when he holed out to long-on off a high full toss from Foulkes, who removed Mohammed Siraj on the very next ball, leaving India needing 61 runs from 37 deliveries. The crowds hopes rested on Kohli, who responded with back-to-back boundaries in the 46th over to keep the chase alive. But two balls later, he miscued a lofted stroke to long-off for 124. Though he got a standing ovation from the crowd, it was destined to be in vain. Indias resistance ended swiftly as Kuldeep Yadav was run out while taking a risky single, handing New Zealand a historic series triumph and adding another feather in their cap after achieving a remarkable 3-0 Test sweep just over a year earlier. Previously, inserted to bat first, New Zealand were at 58/3 before Mitchell and Phillips powered the visitors to a strong total with a commanding 219-run stand off 186 balls. Mitchell, reprieved on one after a missed run-out chance from Kuldeep Yadav, looked assured throughout as he registered his fourth ODI hundred against India, with the help of 15 fours and three sixes. Mitchell now holds the record for the most runs by a batter in a mens three-game ODI series against India. Phillips, meanwhile, overcame a slow start - taking 37 balls for hitting the first boundary - before accelerating to a fluent 83-ball century laced with nine fours and three sixes. Though the duo fell quickly, captain Michael Bracewell played a fine cameo of an unbeaten 18-ball 28 and set India on the path of a stiff chase. New Zealands innings began idramaticallyas Henry Nicholls chopped on to his stumps off Arshdeep Singh, while Rana found movement and had the outside edge of Devon Conway carry to first slip, as he dismissed him for the third straight time in this series. After being hit for boundaries whenever he offered width, Rana eventually struck again when Will Young cut to backward point off him and fell for 30. But with small dimensions and quick outfield, Mitchell looked fluent from the outset, producing back-foot boundaries on both sides of the wicket to underline the scoring potential available for batters. Mitchell signalled his intent to attack the spinner in the 17th over by stepping out to loft Kuldeep Yadav for a straight six and looked in command once again by reaching his half-century off 56 balls. Mitchell continued to attack by striking another six over wide long-on off Reddy, who finally got a sizeable chunk of bowling overs. Phillips struggled to get his rhythm before growing in confidence by striking Arshdeep for a straight six and following up with two boundaries off Reddy in successive overs to quickly move into the 40s. It also helped New Zealands cause that India relied heavily on their seamers, with only three overs of spin bowled by Kuldeep (due to the fear of him being taken apart for aplenty) until the 30th over, when Jadeja was finally introduced into the attack. Phillips brought up his fifty in 53 balls, while Mitchell continued his prolific run against India by bringing up his second successive century in 107 balls. Phillips then shifted gears seamlessly to reach his century in 83 balls. From 21 off 36 deliveries, he accelerated to add 79 off his next 47 without appearing rushed. After the duo hit a flurry of sixes against Jadeja and Kuldeep, India made a fightback when Arshdeep dismissed Phillips when a wide cutter from him was edged to the keeper, before Siraj removed Mitchell for his highest ODI score, with a well-directed bouncer. Kuldeep then trapped Mitchell Hay lbw with a googly, while Foulkes fell when attempting a reverse scoop off Arshdeep, which led to him finding short third man with ease. But Bracewell easily cleared the boundary ropes four times, while Clarke impressed with a straight drive and a towering six before falling to Rana. Despite that, New Zealand managed to post a strong total and fulfilled their quest to win their first-ever bilateral ODI series in India. After the duo hit a flurry of sixes against Jadeja and Kuldeep, India made a fightback when Arshdeep dismissed Phillips when a wide cutter from him was edged to the keeper, before Siraj removed Mitchell for his highest ODI score, with a well-directed bouncer. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 337/8 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 137, Glenn Phillips 106; Arshdeep Singh 3-63, Harshit Rana 3-84) beat India 296 all out in 46 overs (Virat Kohli 124, Nitish Kumar Reddy 53, Harshit Rana 52; Kristian Clarke 3-54, Zakary Foulkes 3-77) by 41 runs Article Source: IANS

Mitchell, Phillips centuries trump Kohli's as New Zealand win first-ever ODI series in India

Kohli and Rana's 99-run seventh-wicket stand threatened to spoil New Zealand's party

Bangladesh's participation in 2026 T20 World Cup to be finalised by January 21

BCB reiterated to the ICC its stance of wanting to play in the T20 World Cup, but outside India

Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid issued visas to travel to India for T20 World Cup

The ICC is confident that Indian visas for all players, support staff and officials of Pakistani origin or nationals at the event will be arranged in time

MP, Karnataka, Haryana, Odisha Win On Day 2 Of Womens National Cricket Tournament For The Blind 2026

KT Global School Ground: Defending champions Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Haryana won their respective matches on Day 2 of the Womens National Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2026, which saw high-intensity contests as 16 teams continued their battle for supremacy across multiple venues in Jajpur and Bhubaneswar. At the Paramount Sporting Club, Bhubaneswar, Kerala Women overpowered Tamil Nadu Women in the first match of the day, chasing down 108 in just under 10 overs to win by 10 wickets. Later, Madhya Pradesh defeated Rajasthan by 7 wickets, reaching the target of 152 in 14.1 overs. KT Global School Ground, Khordha: Karnataka Women secured a comfortable 8-wicket victory against Jharkhand Women, chasing 88 runs in just over 10 overs. In a close contest, Gujarat Women edged past Delhi Women by 1 run, posting 211/3 and defending it successfully. At the Dharmasala Stadium in Jajpur, hosts Odisha Women defeated Andhra Pradesh by 31 runs, scoring 141/8 and restricting Andhra Pradesh to 110/8. Bihar Women also triumphed over Chandigarh Women by 37 runs, scoring 170/1 and defending it effectively. In a match played at the Nimpur Cricket Ground in nearby Cuttack, strong contenders Haryana Women set a high target of 242/4 and beat Assam Women by 44 runs. In a thrilling contest, Maharashtra Women scored 267/2 and narrowly defeated Uttar Pradesh Women, who managed 260/9, winning by just 7 runs. The tournament continues to highlight not only cricketing excellence but also empowerment, confidence, and inclusion among visually impaired women athletes. Each match has provided players with a platform to display their talent and determination while contributing to the broader movement of promoting disability sports in India. In a match played at the Nimpur Cricket Ground in nearby Cuttack, strong contenders Haryana Women set a high target of 242/4 and beat Assam Women by 44 runs. In a thrilling contest, Maharashtra Women scored 267/2 and narrowly defeated Uttar Pradesh Women, who managed 260/9, winning by just 7 runs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The highest team score was posted by Maharashtra Women with 267/2; the biggest victory by runs was registered by Haryana Women, winning by 44 runs. The largest victory by wickets was scored by Kerala Women, winning by 10 wickets, while teams registering wins included Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, showcasing competitive and high-quality cricket across all venues. Article Source: IANS

Alcaraz swats aside Walton as career Grand Slam bid begins in Melbourne

A ferocious forehand helped Alcaraz to grab the first break for a 5-3 lead, and the six-times Grand Slam champion closed out the opening set on his retooled serve

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Aman Mokhade Becomes Third Batter To Score 800 Runs In A Single Season

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Vidarbha opening batter Aman Mokhade etched his name into the record books on Sunday by becoming only the third cricketer in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy to score 800 runs in a single season. The milestone came during the final of the 2025-26 season against Saurashtra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. The 25-year-old right-hander reached the landmark during the 11th over of Vidarbhas innings, having required just 19 runs at the start of the summit clash. Mokhade joined an elite list featuring Prithvi Shaw and Narayan Jagadeesan, both of whom had previously crossed the 800-run mark in a Vijay Hazare Trophy season. Mokhade has enjoyed a great run in the tournament, highlighted by an unbeaten 138 in the semifinal against Karnataka earlier in the week. Although he had an opportunity to surpass Jagadeesans record for most runs in a single edition, the Vidarbha opener was dismissed for 33 off 45 balls in the final, finishing the season with 814 runs. Former India batter Prithvi Shaw was the first to breach the 800-run barrier, scoring 827 runs for Mumbai in the 2020-21 edition. The record was later bettered by Tamil Nadus Jagadeesan, who amassed 830 runs in eight matches during the 2022-23 season. Mokhade also equalled the record for most centuries in a single Vijay Hazare Trophy edition, finishing with five hundreds, a feat previously achieved by Jagadeesan and Karun Nair. He is set to end the 2025-26 season as the tournaments highest run-scorer. Former India batter Prithvi Shaw was the first to breach the 800-run barrier, scoring 827 runs for Mumbai in the 2020-21 edition. The record was later bettered by Tamil Nadus Jagadeesan, who amassed 830 runs in eight matches during the 2022-23 season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mokhade is also the fastest Indian to reach the milestone, surpassing the previous record jointly held by Devdutt Padikkal and Abhinav Mukund, who took 17 innings. Article Source: IANS

3rd ODI: Plan Was To Put On A Partnership And Give Ourselves A Chance, Says Glenn Phillips

New Zealand: Batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips said the focus while batting with Daryl Mitchell was on building a partnership to steady New Zealands innings in the series decider against India, as they managed to post a competitive 337/8 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. Inserted to bat first by India on a two-paced black soil pitch, New Zealand were struggling at 58/3 before Mitchell (137) and Phillips (106) powered the visitors to a strong total with a commanding 219-run stand off 186 balls. Its a small ground, the pitch was a little bit more two-paced than we thought. It was about putting on a partnership. The plan was to put on a partnership and give ourselves a chance, said Phillips in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters. Phillips had to overcome a slow start taking 37 balls for hitting the first boundary before turning it around to hit his second ODI century. He credited Mitchell for taking care of the scoring rate when he was struggling to find rhythm. Its a small ground, the pitch was a little bit more two-paced than we thought. It was about putting on a partnership. The plan was to put on a partnership and give ourselves a chance, said Phillips in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Phillips signed off by hoping the New Zealand spinners would exploit the turn in their defence of a massive total. We were looking at 280 during the 25th over, they bowled really well in the middle overs, we are happy to take 337. There was a bit (of turn) in it when (Ravindra) Jadeja was bowling. Hopefully, we can exploit it and get some turn in the second innings. Article Source: IANS

3rd ODI: Mitchell, Phillips Centuries Power New Zealand To 337/8 In Series Decider

Nitish Kumar Reddy: Riding on scintillating centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, New Zealand recovered from a shaky start to post 337/8 in the ODI series decider against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. Inserted to bat first on a two-paced black soil pitch, New Zealand were struggling at 58/3 before Mitchell and Phillips powered the visitors to a strong total with a commanding 219-run stand off 186 balls that turned their innings around. Mitchell, reprieved on one after a missed run-out chance from Kuldeep Yadav, looked assured throughout as he registered his fourth ODI hundred against India, with the help of 15 fours and three sixes. Mitchell now holds the record for the most runs by a batter in a mens three-game ODI series against India. Phillips, meanwhile, overcame a slow start -- taking 37 balls for hitting the first boundary -- before accelerating to a fluent 83-ball century laced with nine fours and three sixes. Though the duo fell quickly, captain Michael Bracewell played a fine cameo of an unbeaten 18-ball 28 and set India on the path of a stiff chase. New Zealands innings began in dramatic fashion as Henry Nicholls chopped on to his stumps off Arshdeep Singh, while Harshit Rana found movement and had the outside edge of Devon Conway carry to first slip, as he dismissed him for the third straight time in this series. After being hit for boundaries whenever he offered width, Rana eventually struck again when Will Young cut to backward point off him and fell for 30. But with small dimensions and quick outfield, Mitchell looked fluent from the outset, producing back-foot boundaries on both sides of the wicket to underline the scoring potential available for batters. Mitchell signalled his intent to attack the spinner in the 17th over by stepping out to loft Kuldeep Yadav for a straight six and looked in command once again by reaching his half-century off 56 balls. Mitchell continued to attack by striking another six over wide long-on off Nitish Kumar Reddy, who finally got a sizeable chunk of bowling overs. Phillips struggled to get his rhythm before growing in confidence by striking Arshdeep for a straight six and following up with two boundaries off Reddy in successive overs to quickly move into the 40s. It also helped New Zealands cause that India relied heavily on their seamers, with only three overs of spin bowled by Kuldeep (due to the fear of him being taken apart for aplenty) until the 30th over, when Ravindra Jadeja was finally introduced into the attack. Phillips brought up his fifty in 53 balls, while Mitchell continued his prolific run against India by bringing up his second successive century in 107 balls. Phillips then shifted gears seamlessly to reach his century in 83 balls. From 21 off 36 deliveries, he accelerated to add 79 off his next 47 without appearing rushed. After the duo hit a flurry of sixes against Jadeja and Kuldeep, India made a fightback when Arshdeep dismissed Phillips when a wide cutter from him was edged to the keeper, before Siraj removed Mitchell for his highest ODI score, with a well-directed bouncer. Kuldeep then trapped Mitchell Hay lbw with a googly, while Zak Foulkes fell when attempting a reverse scoop off Arshdeep, which led to him finding short third man with ease. But Bracewell easily cleared the boundary ropes four times, while Kristian Clarke impressed with a straight drive and a towering six before falling to Rana. Despite that, New Zealand managed to post a strong total in their quest to win a first-ever bilateral ODI series in India. After the duo hit a flurry of sixes against Jadeja and Kuldeep, India made a fightback when Arshdeep dismissed Phillips when a wide cutter from him was edged to the keeper, before Siraj removed Mitchell for his highest ODI score, with a well-directed bouncer. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 337/8 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 137, Glenn Phillips 106; Arshdeep Singh 3-63, Harshit Rana 3-84) against India Article Source: IANS

Indian T20I Team Begins Preparation For Series Against New Zealand In Nagpur

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Some members of India's T20 squad kickstarted their preparations for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium, the venue set to host the opening game on January 21, in Nagpur on Sunday. The series will be Indias final assignment in the format before their Mens T20 World Cup title defence begins on February 7. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Sanju Samson were among those who turned out for the optional practice session on Sunday. Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya skipped the optional training session and could turn out in the practice to be held under lights on Monday. The members of Indias T20I team turned up for an optional practice session from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, which was focused on their fitness and skill training. They also have another practice session from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Monday, and it could be possible that Hardik may turn up for this one. The rest of the members of the India T20I team currently playing the ODI in Indore are expected to arrive in Nagpur on Monday afternoon, as will the New Zealand team, said a Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) official to IANS on Sunday. After the game in Nagpur, India and New Zealand will play the rest of the T20I matches on January 23 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, January 25 at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, January 28 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, and January 31 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. They also have another practice session from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Monday, and it could be possible that Hardik may turn up for this one. The rest of the members of the India T20I team currently playing the ODI in Indore are expected to arrive in Nagpur on Monday afternoon, as will the New Zealand team, said a Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) official to IANS on Sunday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The two sides are currently involved in a three-match ODI series with the third game being played in Indore on Sunday. Article Source: IANS

GG's vulnerable bowling faces another test against RCB's dominant batting

The WPL reaches Vadodara, with RCB having won all four matches in the Navi Mumbai leg

Starc's four-for, Smith and Curran fifties put Sixers in BBL Qualifier against Scorchers

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Vijay Hazare Trophy: Athrava Taide Ends Five-year Drought With Century Against Saurashtra In Final

Vijay Hazare Trophy Final: Vidarbha's opener Atharva Taide stood up for his team in the ongoing final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 against Saurashtra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ground Number 1. The 25-year-old hit a magnificent century off just 97 balls to take his team over the 200-run mark. Being put to bat after losing the toss, Atharva came to open the innings for Vidarbha with Aman Mokhade. The opening duo tackled the early swing from the Saurashtra bowlers and forged an 80-run opening stand. Saurashtra finally got their breakthrough in the 18th over, when Ankur Pawar clean bowled Aman, who departed after scoring 33 runs. Despite losing his partner, Atharva continued his assault and made sure the pressure did not fall on the new batter, Yash Rathod. The opening batter completed his hundred in the 31st over with a single. He hammered 12 fours and two sixes before completing his century. This is Atharva's first list. A century in five years. He is only the 16th batter to reach triple numbers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Final. Atharva finally departed on the last ball of the 36th over, when he chipped a fine yorker by Ankur Pawar into the hands of Prerak Mankad. He scored 128 runs off just 118 balls. Atharva also hit 15 fours and three sixes during his stay. Atharva enjoyed a great run during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, playing some crucial innings to take his team forward. He played a patient knock of 62 (72) in the quarter-final against Delhi to help Vidarbha reach 300. He also scored 80 against Assam and a 65 against Baroda earlier in January. Atharva finally departed on the last ball of the 36th over, when he chipped a fine yorker by Ankur Pawar into the hands of Prerak Mankad. He scored 128 runs off just 118 balls. Atharva also hit 15 fours and three sixes during his stay. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The two sides have come through a gruelling set of matches to reach the final. Article Source: IANS

Theyre In Strong Position, Death Bowling Is A Concern, Says Dinesh Karthik On Indias Form Ahead Of T20 WC

T20 World Cup: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes that defending champions India are in a strong position heading into the ICC Mens T20 World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, but raised concerns over the teams bowling in the death overs, stating that the Men in Bl;ue stack up their XI. India have undergone a handful of changes between the two T20 World Cups, but the style of cricket displayed by Suryakumar Yadav & Co. remains a strong asset as they prepare to defend their title. The Indian team is in a very strong position at the moment. As we sit here, theyve won 29 out of the 36 matches theyve played in T20 cricket post the World Cup, which is a phenomenal record to have. In a very fickle format like T20, where upsets are the norm, this level of consistency is remarkable, Karthik shared his thoughts on Team India's form ahead of the ICC tournament while speaking on JioStar. Winning 29 out of the last 36 games theyve played is, I feel, very hard to replicate. For starters, it tells you about the strength of the team. Theyve also played a very good Asia Cup in the recent past and went past Pakistan in the final, beating them three out of three times. If you look at the depth of this group, theres India, theres Pakistan, and then there are three associate nations who are still finding their feet at the international level. You would expect India or Pakistan to beat them, but the beauty of this format is that you cant walk into any game thinking its going to be easy. You lose the toss, youre bowling, and suddenly youre thinking this could be challenging at the back end. You need to get an above-par score to give yourself a chance to defend under dew. So, I would say India are in a very good place, he added. Winning 29 out of the last 36 games theyve played is, I feel, very hard to replicate. For starters, it tells you about the strength of the team. Theyve also played a very good Asia Cup in the recent past and went past Pakistan in the final, beating them three out of three times. If you look at the depth of this group, theres India, theres Pakistan, and then there are three associate nations who are still finding their feet at the international level. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Death bowling is a concern. I think its a challenge because of the way they stack up their eleven. When theyve played in the subcontinent, theyve gone with Bumrah, Hardik as the second pacer, and Shivam Dube as the third, while backing their spinners heavily. At times, when the game goes deep, especially when theyre defending a total, the back end can become a challenge, he stated. Article Source: IANS

Want To Go Out To An ICC Event And Win That: Prasidh Krishna On Long-term Goal With Team India

Prasidh Krishna: India seamer Prasidh Krishna reflected on his long-term goals with the Men in Blue, now that he has become a regular in the side, and said that he aims to make it to the team for an ICC tournament (World Cups) and contribute to the teams championship-winning success. Prasidh was part of the playing XI in the first two ODIs of the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand, but was rested for the final game on Sunday, with Arshdeep Singh being roped in. While he registered 2/60 in the first game that India won in Vadodara, the fast-bowler conceded 49 runs and scalped a wicket in as many overs that he bowled in the next game in Rajkot, which the home side went on to lose by seven wickets. I came in, I think I started off pretty well, and then a couple of years of injury took me some time to come back. And by the time I came back, actually, the format had changed. The powerplay rules, the other ball and everything. So it's been interesting, lots to learn. I've had this journey of up and down, and I think I've turned out pretty well, Prasidh said before the start of the third ODI when asked to reflect on his career, specifically with the Indian team. Prasidh was part of the playing XI in the first two ODIs of the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand, but was rested for the final game on Sunday, with Arshdeep Singh being roped in. While he registered 2/60 in the first game that India won in Vadodara, the fast-bowler conceded 49 runs and scalped a wicket in as many overs that he bowled in the next game in Rajkot, which the home side went on to lose by seven wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Prasidh has usually operated with the new ball, but he was given the responsibility of handling the middle-overs in the white-ball setup with Team India. Asked about the ingredients required to operate during the middle overs and the shift in his zone of work, the 29-year-old said, Every time I come on to bowl because it's the end of powerplay. And when you come on, it's the end of the second powerplay, and it's the death. So it is going to be quite hard. The batsmen are going to come hard at you. And that's when you need to be very consistent in the areas that you hit. Make sure you don't get predictable and bring in as many variations as you can. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: RCBs Prathyoosha Kumar Ready To Embrace Playing For Intent Over Survival

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Prathyoosha Kumar said her aim from WPL 2026 is to embrace a mindset of playing for intent over survival. Prathyoosha was signed for Rs 10 lakh by RCB for the 2026 season, and has been methodically preparing for the step up from years of playing domestic cricket for Karnataka. Prathyoosha, though, has not got a game yet due to the presence of first-choice wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. But her experiences of going through WPL trials and net keeper stints with RCB for the first three seasons have added to her understanding of the significant shift in tactical thinking required at a higher level. Deliveries considered risky in domestic cricket prove to be effective wicket-taking options in the WPL, where the game demands a more attacking mindset overall. In the past, since the WPL started, I've been attending a lot of trials. So, I've been trying to understand how it works out in the WPL. I can say there's still quite some gap between domestic cricket and the WPL setup. But the trials, the way they conduct it and put you in those situations, that's something that you'll get an idea of how it works out (at a higher level). So, I feel that's the key, Prathyoosha told IANS in a virtual conversation. With the modern game evolving big time, Prathyoosha has been busy in adding innovative shots to her batting repertoire. I have started working for playing all 360 degree shots. I can say I have started working on my scoops, reverse scoops, sweeps, and reverse sweeps. One more shot I have started playing like if you would have watched Joe Root playing a different kind of sweep. So, I have started adding those to my game and that's really helping me to score more runs, she said. Central to her batting philosophy is the concept of intent over mere survival, which in turn would lead to more consistency in scores. I feel it's all about the intent. If I am looking just for survival cricket, it's not going to help neither the team nor me. So, it's more about the intent I feel and just knowing when to play what. I feel it comes through experience and that's the key, Prathyoosha explained. Her interactions with Australias big-hitting all-rounder Grace Harris at RCB also reinforced the importance of professionalism. Prathyoosha has observed that Grace and other overseas players maintain complete focus on cricket when on field, while staying mentally detached from the game's pressures off the field. Known for her sharp work as a keeper, Prathyoosha has also absorbed the philosophy of keeping things simple by observing Richa in the practice sessions. She keeps it very professional. I feel the higher you play, it's more about professionalism and keeping it very simple as well. Like, not complicating too much in terms of where my hands are going, or my legs are going. It's just that watch the ball and then catch the ball, she said. When in Bengaluru, Prathyooshas training regimen involves working with two coaches offering contrasting approaches - RX Murali, RCBs batting coach who lays more emphasis on technical fundamentals, and Arjun Dev, who runs the NICE academy and encourages exploring unorthodox strokeplay. In 2018 through Mamatha Maben (former India captain), I was introduced to RX Murali sir and that's how I started going to RXCA in Bengaluru. I've been working with sir for almost five-seven years now. Once he got into the RCB setup, he has been very busy. So, he was not available all the time and that's when I shifted to NICE under Arjun Dev. He's been really helping me in the past two years, she said. It also helps Prathyoosha that training at NICE centers on joy and freedom of playing cricket. It's more about playing for the happiness, love of the game and playing freely. I feel that's the key. Once I entered NICE, it's more of the fearless approach and just going and expressing yourself, she said. Despite being a new addition in the main RCB team, the Bengaluru native feels comfortable in the RCB environment, thanks to her fellow NICE trainees, Shreyanka Patil and Arundhati Reddy. It's really nice (to have them around). It doesn't feel like I'm new to the setup or anything. It feels like home. So, it's been really amazing, she said. It also helps Prathyoosha that training at NICE centers on joy and freedom of playing cricket. It's more about playing for the happiness, love of the game and playing freely. I feel that's the key. Once I entered NICE, it's more of the fearless approach and just going and expressing yourself, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yes, definitely. If you're seeing Grace Harris and Smriti batting, one is a powerful hitter while the other one is more of a stroke maker. They exactly know how to play and how to attack in the game. So, if one person is attacking, then the other person is just rotating and in between they're hitting fours and sixes. So, it's something like you don't have to take unnecessary risks when not needed, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

Australian Open 2026: Ball girl collapses due to heat as players rush to help

The incident happened as Russian 11th seed Alexandrova was serving during the second set with the girl falling onto her back while standing at the base of the umpires chair

PWL 2026: Haryana Thunders Register Dominant 6-3 Win Over Dangal Warriors

Despite Delhi Dangal Warriors: Haryana Thunders maintained their perfect start to the Pro Wrestling League 2026 with a commanding 63 win over Delhi Dangal Warriors in Match 5 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Saturday. Riding the momentum from their opening fixture, Haryana delivered a well-rounded performance, blending aggressive technical superiority with disciplined tactical execution to control proceedings for most of the contest. Despite Delhi Dangal Warriors putting up a tough fight and collecting valuable points, Haryanas strength across multiple weight categories proved too strong. The tie began with a tightly fought womens 76kg bout, where Kajal edged out Anastasia 65, giving Haryana an early advantage. Ankush then asserted his dominance in the mens 57kg category, registering a convincing 133 victory over Shubham to extend Haryanas lead. The highlight of the evening came in the womens 53kg bout, as Yui Susaki delivered a sensational display of speed and precision, overwhelming Saarika 160 in just 57 seconds. Her breathtaking performance earned her the Player of the Match award and drew loud applause from the spectators. Haryana further tightened its hold on the contest when Anirudh Gulia outclassed Ronak Dahiya 130 in the mens 125kg category, displaying complete control throughout the bout. Neha Sangwan followed with another dominant showing, overpowering Karla Godinez 182 in the womens 57kg category to strengthen Haryanas position even further. Delhi Dangal Warriors found some relief through Sujeet Kalkal, who showed composure in a closely contested mens 65kg bout to defeat Tumur Tulga 21. Turan Bayramov also impressed for Delhi with a commanding 80 win over Parvinder Singh in the mens 74kg category, keeping the tie competitive. However, Haryana sealed the contest decisively when Iryna Koliadenko cruised to a comprehensive 130 victory over Anjali in the womens 62kg bout. Delhi Dangal Warriors found some relief through Sujeet Kalkal, who showed composure in a closely contested mens 65kg bout to defeat Tumur Tulga 21. Turan Bayramov also impressed for Delhi with a commanding 80 win over Parvinder Singh in the mens 74kg category, keeping the tie competitive. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With two wins from two matches, Haryana Thunders remain firmly placed near the top of the standings. They will next face Maharashtra Kesari on January 23 in their third outing of the PWL 2026 season. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: It Hasnt Sunk In Yet, Says Sayali Satghare On Maiden RCB Outing

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Sayali Satghare made her dream debut for the team as she clinched three crucial wickets against Delhi Capitals at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday in the teams eight-wicket victory. Coming in to bowl the second over, Sayali continued the momentum built by Lauren Bell in the opening over, where the England bowler took two scalps to give RCB a perfect start. Sayali first got DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues out on the third ball of the over and then caused more damage as she clean bowled all-rounder Marizanne Kapp in her next delivery. Sayali achieved impressive figures of 3/27 in her debut match for RCB. Following a stellar performance, she expressed her love for the 2024 champions and praised the team's environment, attributing her success to it. Still, it has not sunk in yet, but dream debut, definitely. Since IPL started in 2008, I have been an RCB fan, and when WPL started i always wished that someday I would get the chance to play for RCB, she said in a video shared by the franchise. It's very fun actually, they have a young side, and everyone is gelling well with each other. We are enjoying everyone's success and all the players are happy for the team, she added Sayali went unsold at the WPL 2026 mega auction but got an opportunity with RCB when their star all-rounder Ellyse Perry withdrew from the tournament, citing personal reasons. Sayali has previously appeared for the Indian women's team in three matches, all in the ODI format. Sayali went unsold at the WPL 2026 mega auction but got an opportunity with RCB when their star all-rounder Ellyse Perry withdrew from the tournament, citing personal reasons. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Playing for Mumbai in the List A One Day Trophy tournament in 2024, she scored 260 runs in seven matches at an average of 52, including an impressive 77-ball century. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: Really Special To Get That Opportunity And Be Out There, Says DCs Lucy Hamilton On Debut

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 19-year-old Lucy Hamilton said that getting her Womens Premier League (WPL) debut cap from the Delhi Capitals was eally special and her aim heading into the game was to stay calm, back her strengths, and do the best that she can for the team. The Australian began her WPL career strongly, making a notable lower-order contribution in her debut for DC during their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. After slipping to 10 for 4, Delhi Capitals faced early pressure but displayed resilience to recover and reach a competitive total of 166. Opener Shafali Verma spearheaded the comeback with a steady 62 off 41 balls. Meanwhile, Hamilton, batting at number nine, added vital late runs with a brisk 36 off 19 balls, including three fours and three sixes, helping the Capitals set a defendable target. Reflecting on her debut appearance and contributing under pressure, Hamilton said, It was really special to get that opportunity and be out there for my first game. Obviously, making your debut is always a big moment, and from where we were early on, the message was just to keep fighting and take it as deep as we possibly could. I was just trying to stay calm, back my strengths and do whatever I could for the team in that situation. Talking about her collaboration with Shafali Verma during her recovery, the left-arm fast bowler added, With Shafali, it was mainly about clear communication and rotating the strike. She was striking the ball incredibly well, so the plan was to get her on strike as much as possible and just support her at the other end. From being 10 for 4 to putting up a total like that showed a lot of character and fight from the group. Hamilton shared her experience playing in the WPL and adapting to Indian conditions said, Its been a really exciting experience so far. Conditions here are definitely a bit different compared to Australia, so adapting has been important. Training has helped a lot in understanding how precise you need to be with your lines and lengths, especially with slightly smaller grounds and good batting surfaces. Its about making things as challenging as you can for the batters. Delhi Capitals couldn't defend the total on the night as Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully chased the total, but Hamilton believes there were positives to take away. Hamilton shared her experience playing in the WPL and adapting to Indian conditions said, Its been a really exciting experience so far. Conditions here are definitely a bit different compared to Australia, so adapting has been important. Training has helped a lot in understanding how precise you need to be with your lines and lengths, especially with slightly smaller grounds and good batting surfaces. Its about making things as challenging as you can for the batters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Delhi Capitals are set to play against Mumbai Indians in their upcoming Womens Premier League 2026 match scheduled for Tuesday, at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara. Article Source: IANS

Arshdeep comes in as India ask New Zealand to bat in ODI series decider

India have left out Prasidh Krishna to accommodate Arshdeep Singh, while New Zealand have fielded an unchanged playing XI

3rd ODI: Arshdeep Comes In As India Elect To Bowl First Against NZ In Series Decider

Nitish Kumar Reddy: India have brought in left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh as skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the series decider at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday. The three-game series is locked at 1-1 and the decider promises a high-stakes contest between India and New Zealand. After winning the toss, Gill said Arshdeep comes back into the playing eleven in place of right-arm pacer Prasidh Krishna. That's what we spoke (on the decision to bowl). Last time, batting first, New Zealand put us under pressure. One of the decisions behind we're bowling first is that the surface looks good, don't expect a lot of dew, and runs on the board would let us chase better. Need to vary our lengths in the middle-overs, and that's what we want to do, said Gill. New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said his side was unchanged from their win in Rajkot. We would have bowled first, but it looks like a good batting pitch. It's a decider and an exciting opportunity for us to win our first ODI series here in India. They're getting used to international cricket and have made a good fist of it so far (on the new faces), but the pressure is on now and it's a good chance for them to play their best game, he said. India will take confidence from their unbeaten record at this iconic venue. The square boundaries are at 62m and 63m respectively, with 71m for the one going straight down the ground. The black soil pitch has been described in the pitch report as firm and hard underneath, with a covering of grass that should aid pacers. But with little movement anticipated off the seam, batters are likely to enjoy conditions that favour stroke play, pointing towards a high-scoring affair in the series decider. Playing XIs The black soil pitch has been described in the pitch report as firm and hard underneath, with a covering of grass that should aid pacers. But with little movement anticipated off the seam, batters are likely to enjoy conditions that favour stroke play, pointing towards a high-scoring affair in the series decider. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke, and Jayden Lennox Article Source: IANS

Australian Open 2026: Alexander Zverev passes Diallo test, fans fume on day one

The patience of fans was tested as they lined up in long, snaking queues to the Melbourne Park gates under a hot sun

WPL 2026: Theyve Basically Qualified, Couldnt Ask For A Better Start, Says Kate Cross On RCBs Form

DY Patil Sports Academy: 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are in red-hot form in the 2026 edition of the Womens Premier League (WPL), and the teams former pacer Kate Cross believes that theyre just moments away from qualifying for the playoffs heading into the Vadodara leg of the tournament. Smriti Mandhana fell heartbreakingly short of a maiden WPL century, but her commanding 96 set up Royal Challengers Bengalurus (RCB) emphatic eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, as RCB made it four wins in as many matches to remain unbeaten at the top of the WPL 2026 points table at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. With action now shifting to Vadodara and all teams eyeing to finish in the top three, RCB sit comfortably at the top of the points table with a good lead over their competitors. That first win against MI was a bit scratchy for RCB, as they found a way of almost losing that game, if it wasnt for Nadine de Klerk. But since then, theyve been a class above every other team in this tournament. To start the Navi Mumbai leg unbeaten and then head to Vadodara puts Smriti Mandhana and Co in a perfect position. Theyve basically qualified, and you couldnt ask for a better start to the tournament, especially with a new group. They lost Ellyse Perry after she pulled out, obviously, so Smriti Mandhana must be thinking this is the easiest job in the world, Cross said of RCB's dream start to the WPL. Speaking on Mandhana's match-winning 96-run knock against Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded game, Cross said, Ive always said a strong RCB is when Smriti is scoring runs, and shes had a good start to the tournament. Im so disappointed she couldnt get that hundred in this match and finally put to bed that jinx around the first hundred. But when it does come, its going to be special. She played her best innings today. She looked comfortable at the crease; even after they lost Grace Harris quite early, it didnt faze her. She just went about her business and put on a masterclass. She was outstanding. That first win against MI was a bit scratchy for RCB, as they found a way of almost losing that game, if it wasnt for Nadine de Klerk. But since then, theyve been a class above every other team in this tournament. To start the Navi Mumbai leg unbeaten and then head to Vadodara puts Smriti Mandhana and Co in a perfect position. Theyve basically qualified, and you couldnt ask for a better start to the tournament, especially with a new group. They lost Ellyse Perry after she pulled out, obviously, so Smriti Mandhana must be thinking this is the easiest job in the world, Cross said of RCB's dream start to the WPL. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RCB will next face Gujarat Giants at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara in the first match of the second leg of the tournament at the venue. Article Source: IANS

'Showed The Maturity He's Got, Really Brilliant: Mhatre On Sooryavanshis Match-winning Knock Vs BAN U19

Cricket World Cup: Indias U-19 captain Ayush Mhatre commended his teams star hitter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for demonstrating professionalism, highlighting how he managed the high-pressure situation with confidence. The 14-year-old played a vital role for India by scoring 72 off 67, helping his side beat Bangladesh at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup on Saturday. The win helped India continue their undefeated streak at the tournament and assert their dominance in Group B. At just 14 years old, Sooryavanshi has already accumulated significant milestones in his young career and has done incredibly well with the bat of late. (Sooryavanshi) showed the maturity that he's got and just batted really brilliant. He showed patience also; the team needed him to stay there, so he stayed in. It was initially tough conditions because there was some stickiness in the wicket and the ball was coming a little bit (on the) slower side, back of the length, so there was some difficulty. But the way that (Abhigyan Kundu and Sooryavanshi) batted, and (later in) the innings, (Kanishk Chouhan) batted well, Mhatre was quoted as saying by ICC. India scored 238 runs batting first, thanks to three significant contributions. Despite rain affecting Bangladesh's chase, leading to the DLS method and a revised target of 165 from 29 overs, India managed to secure an 18-run win. Bangladesh were all out for 146 in 28.3 overs. Kundu anchored India's batting innings with a steady 80 off 112 balls, complementing Vaibhav's more aggressive style. The two constructed a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, establishing a solid platform, while Chouhan's quick 28 off 26 balls contributed to the finishing efforts in their 50-over match. India scored 238 runs batting first, thanks to three significant contributions. Despite rain affecting Bangladesh's chase, leading to the DLS method and a revised target of 165 from 29 overs, India managed to secure an 18-run win. Bangladesh were all out for 146 in 28.3 overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Earlier, on the opening day of the tournament, India defeated the USA by six wickets (via DLS method) to kick off the tournament in style. After their 18-run victory against Bangladesh, the Men in Blue have a week-long break as theyre scheduled to play New Zealand in their final group stage game only on Friday, January 24, before the super six stage begins. Article Source: IANS

Got The Benefit Of Being An All-rounder, Says Ayush Badoni On Maiden India Call-up

Ayush Badoni: Delhi cricketer Ayush Badoni believes that his decision to take up bowling a couple of years ago transformed him into an all-rounder, which helped him earn his maiden India call-up. The 26-year-old was added to Indias ODI squad for the ongoing three-game series against New Zealand after Washington Sundar was ruled out due to an injury after the first ODI. The series is currently levelled 1-1, with both teams set to lock horns in the deciding game at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. While Badoni didn't make it to the playing XI in the second ODI that India lost, hed be hopeful of getting a chance, given that hes been in top form of late, to showcase his best self. I was with the Delhi team, I was captain there and our next day match was the quarter-finals against Vidarbha. Thats when I got to know about it. Priyansh was my roommate, so I told him that this could happen and Ill be going, so maybe youll be the captain. That was a great feeling and I feel very grateful and happy that I got this opportunity, Badoni said on his call-up in a video shared by bcci.tv. When asked whom he spoke to from his family and friends, he said, I got a call late at night, so I couldnt tell them. It was announced in the morning, thats when they got to know and they were also very happy and proud. All the coaches and the players were very welcoming to me and I really liked it. Ive played with and against most of them so it was nice to meet everyone again. Badoni also revealed that he had been a pure batter, but started bowling two years ago, and his transformation into an all-rounder helped him earn his maiden India call-up. Preparation was very clear. Earlier, I used to bat, but since the last two years, Ive been focusing a lot on my bowling. I always feel that I can take wickets and contribute to the team with my bowling. So I got the benefit of being an all-rounder. Ive bowled a lot for Delhi, taken wickets, and benefited from it. When asked whom he spoke to from his family and friends, he said, I got a call late at night, so I couldnt tell them. It was announced in the morning, thats when they got to know and they were also very happy and proud. All the coaches and the players were very welcoming to me and I really liked it. Ive played with and against most of them so it was nice to meet everyone again. Also Read: Live Cricket Score A lot of the seniors in our team are legends in a way so I try to learn from them when I bat or bowl. I feel that it enhances my game and I just try to learn as much as I can. There are a lot of players with whom I have fun and have a good time. Ive known Harshit because he plays for Delhi. Ive a lot of fun with Arshdeep and Shreyas too. Its a lot of fun to be with them, Badoni concluded. Article Source: IANS

Maxwell backed to bring his big-game instincts to BBL finals

The allrounder has only reached double figures twice in this season's tournament

'Put in a lot of hard work' - Richardson believes he can hit his top speeds again

After a difficult campaign, Richardson laid down the platform for Perth Scorchers' win over Melbourne Stars

Roger Federer steals the show at Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony

Federer partnered past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program

Brevis, Rutherford star as Capitals recover from 7 for 5 to stun Super Kings

Injury to Donovan Ferreira will leave JSK and South Africa nervous ahead of T20 World Cup

Mandhana, Voll, bowlers make it four in four for RCB

Shafali Verma's half-century in vain for Delhi Capitals as they remain at the bottom of the table

WPL 2026: Mandhana's Masterclass Keeps RCB Unbeaten With Fourth Win

DY Patil Sports Academy: Smriti Mandhana fell heartbreakingly short of a maiden Women's Premier League (WPL) century, but her commanding 96 set up Royal Challengers Bengalurus (RCB) emphatic eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, as RCB made it four wins in as many matches to remain unbeaten at the top of the WPL 2026 points table at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. As RCB chased down a target of 167, they wrapped up their last game of the Navi Mumbai leg comfortably with ten balls remaining. This comprehensive victory was slightly tempered by the fact that Smriti Mandhana was out for 96 in 61 balls for RCB, denying the league its first century. Earlier, Smriti Mandhana decided to bowl after winning the toss, which reaped immediate benefits for RCB. Lauren Bell had an incredible first over, causing damage to DC with two early wickets, Lizee Lee (4) and Laura Wolvaardt (0). The pressure increased when Sayali Satghare, stepping in for Ellyse Perry, took two wickets in her next over. She bowled out Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp on consecutive deliveries, leaving DC in a tough spot at 10/4 within two overs. DC found themselves in a very difficult position; however, Shafali Verma came out swinging, scoring 62 off just 41 deliveries and hitting five fours and four sixes. She formed a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niki Prasad, who had a tough outing after being dropped by Gautami Naik in the last over of the powerplay. Niki managed just 12 runs. Shafali continued her offensive in the middle overs, getting good support from Sneh Rana, who contributed 22 runs off 22 balls. After Bell dismissed Shafali in the 17th over, debutant Lucy Hamilton provided a late boost with a bold 36 off 19 balls, while N Sree Charani chipped in with 11 runs. DC was bowled out on the final ball, reaching a total of 166. The bowlers for RCB shared the wickets, with Bell taking 3/26 and Satghare 3/27. Prema Rawat claimed 2/16, and Nadine de Klerk added 1/31, as Nandani Sharma was run out off the last delivery. DC found themselves in a very difficult position; however, Shafali Verma came out swinging, scoring 62 off just 41 deliveries and hitting five fours and four sixes. She formed a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niki Prasad, who had a tough outing after being dropped by Gautami Naik in the last over of the powerplay. Niki managed just 12 runs. Shafali continued her offensive in the middle overs, getting good support from Sneh Rana, who contributed 22 runs off 22 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 166/10 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 62, Lucy Hamilton 36; Lauren Bell 3-26, Sayali Satghare 3-27) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 169/2 in 18.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 96, Georgia Voll 54 not out; Marizanne Kapp 1-21, Nandini Sharma 1-34) by eight wickets. Article Source: IANS

U19 World Cup: Malhotra Leads Stunning Turnaround As India Down Bangladesh By 18 Runs

U19 World Cup: A stirring all-round effort from Vihaan Malhotra (4 for 14), backed by a blazing half-century from Vaibhav Suryavanshi (72), powered India to an 18-run victory over Bangladesh via DLS method in their second match of the tournament at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. After losing two wickets in the third over, India struggled early in the match as captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for 6 and Vedant Trivedi made a golden duck in the third over. As the wickets continued to fall around him, Suryavanshi remained calm and continued to play an aggressive innings with regular boundaries. Near the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh struck again when they dismissed Malhotra for 7 and continued to place pressure on India early in the match. Suryavanshi reached his 50 in just 30 balls and looked to ignite a revival for India with the partnership of Abhigyan Kundu. Just as India looked like they were getting back on track, Iqbal Hossain Emon reversed the momentum by taking two wickets in quick succession and stopping India's charge including the key wicket of Suryanvanshi (72). Abhigyan Kundu continued the charge of India's batting and scored an impressive half-century before rain caused the first stoppage of the match and cut the match to 49 overs a side. India were eventually bowled out for a score of 238, while Kundu had accumulated an individual score of 80 prior to that happening after the rain had stopped and play had commenced. Just as India looked like they were getting back on track, Iqbal Hossain Emon reversed the momentum by taking two wickets in quick succession and stopping India's charge including the key wicket of Suryanvanshi (72). Abhigyan Kundu continued the charge of India's batting and scored an impressive half-century before rain caused the first stoppage of the match and cut the match to 49 overs a side. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At the conclusion of 20 overs, Bangladesh looked to be in control with a total of 102 runs from 2 wickets. The changeover of Vihaan Malhotra coming back into bowl ended a 44-run partnership that started Bangladesh's collapse. Azizul Hakim Tamim helped support Bangladesh's position with a six and also reached a half-century during this period. However, Malhotra had a second spell and continued to build pressure when Khilan Patel took his wicket, resulting in Bangladesh losing their last eight wickets for only 40 runs as Malhotra and Patel continued their run of wickets. Henil Patel took the last wicket as India completed an impressive 18-run victory. Article Source: IANS

Shreyanka Patil Returns As BCCI Announce Womens White Ball Squads For Australia Tour

Sydney Cricket Ground: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced Indias womens squads for the upcoming tour of Australia, with spinner Shreyanka Patil making her return to the T20I side after a long injury layoff. The multi-format tour will include three T20 matches, three One-Day Internationals, and a one-off Test starting on February 15. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India in both the ODI and T20I formats, with Smriti Mandhana continuing as vice-captain, while the Test squad will be named at a later date. The highly anticipated multi-format series between India Women and Australia Women is scheduled to take place from February 15 to March 9, 2026. The tour will commence with the T20I series, featuring the first match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 15, followed by the second T20I at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on February 19, and concluding with the third match at the Adelaide Oval on February 21. Following the T20Is, the focus will shift to the ODI series, beginning on February 24 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The teams will then travel to Hobarts Bellerive Oval for the second and third ODIs, scheduled for February 27 and March 1, respectively. The tour will culminate with the prestigious one-off Test match, a four-day contest set to be played from March 6 to March 9 at the Perth Stadium. The T20I series against Australia will be crucial preparation for the upcoming ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in June. Indias T20I squad features a mix of experienced players and exciting young talent. The batting line-up includes the explosive Shafali Verma along with consistent performers such as Jemimah Rodrigues. Shreyanka , who last represented India at the 2024 T20 World Cup, returns to the T20I setup after missing action for nearly 14 months due to injuries to her shin, wrist and thumb. Richa Ghosh and G Kamalini have been named as the wicketkeeping options for both white-ball formats. The T20I series against Australia will be crucial preparation for the upcoming ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in June. Indias T20I squad features a mix of experienced players and exciting young talent. The batting line-up includes the explosive Shafali Verma along with consistent performers such as Jemimah Rodrigues. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias ODI squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol Article Source: IANS

Fulmali, Patil back in India T20I squad for Australia tour

Harleen Deol has been left out of T20I squad while Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav are dropped from the title-winning ODI squad

Sooryavanshi, Malhotra and Kundu help India come from behind to beat Bangladesh

Ayush Mhatre's side held their nerve in a rain-shortened game

WPL 2026: Shafali Verma's Brilliant 62 Lifts Delhi Capitals To 166 Against RCB

DY Patil Sports Academy: Shafali Verma displayed a batting masterclass, scoring 62 off 41 deliveries, as Lucy Hamilton and Sneh Rana came up with handy contributions to lift Delhi Capitals to a fighting total of 166 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 11th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, here at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. At one point, DC seemed likely to finish with a low score, struggling to get to 100. However, a mix of aggressive batting and important contributions from the lower order changed the game. After Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bowl, Royal Challengers Bengaluru started strong. Lauren Bell made an impressive start, taking out Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt in the first over, leaving DC in trouble. The situation worsened when Sayali Satghare, playing in place of Ellyse Perry, marked her RCB debut in the WPL with a remarkable double-wicket over, dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp on consecutive balls. With wickets falling quickly, DC faced serious challenges during the powerplay and middle overs. Shafali Verma revived the innings with an aggressive approach. She took the fight to the RCB bowlers and put together a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niki Prasad, helping to stabilize the innings while keeping the runs coming. Shafali then joined Sneh Rana for an important 34-run partnership for the seventh wicket, preventing DC from losing all momentum. Along the way, Shafali reached her seventh WPL half-century, eventually scoring 62 runs off 41 balls. Lucy Hamilton provided a late boost with a quick 36 runs off just 19 balls, helping DC surpass the 150-run mark and move toward a competitive total. DC were ultimately bowled out on the last ball of the innings. Shafali Verma revived the innings with an aggressive approach. She took the fight to the RCB bowlers and put together a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niki Prasad, helping to stabilize the innings while keeping the runs coming. Shafali then joined Sneh Rana for an important 34-run partnership for the seventh wicket, preventing DC from losing all momentum. Along the way, Shafali reached her seventh WPL half-century, eventually scoring 62 runs off 41 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 166/10 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 62, Lucy Hamilton 36; Lauren Bell 3-26, Sayali Satghare 3-27) against Royal Chaleengers Bengaluru Article Source: IANS

Pakistan Team Creates World Record For Lowest Target Defended In First-Class Cricket

A Pakistan's domestic team created a world record of defending the lowest target in all first-class cricket when they stopped the opposition in a chase of just 40 runs. Pakistan Television (PTV), defending champions in the President Trophy, shot Sui Northern Gas (SNGPL) for a paltry 37 to win the match by a mere two runs on day three of the four-day game. This becomes a new record in 253 years of first-class cricket, beating England's Oldfield's 1794 feat when they successfully defended 41 against MCC at the Lord's Old Ground to win by six runs. PTV's head coach Mohammad Waseem praised his team's historic effort. I am delighted with my team's world record effort, Waseem, a former Pakistan player, told AFP. My team's motto is to never give up, fight till the last ball. This is the not the first time, we have won all our three matches coming from well behind by remaining positive in all situations. The star-studded SNGPL batting led by Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood were bowled out in 19.4 overs with just one batter Saifullah Bangash crossing double figures with 14. Masood was out without scoring while Test players, Mohammad Ali made six and spinner Sajid Khan just three. Pakistan's international players Omair Bin Yousuf made six and Abdul Samad five. For the winners, left-arm spinner Ali Usman wrecked the batting with 6-9 and pacer Ammad Butt took 4-28 - the only two bowlers used in their second innings innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score SNGPL's head coach is former Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq with another former captain Azhar Ali their batting coach.

WPL 2026: 'Momentum Building At The Right Time,' Says Lanning After Warriorz Second Straight Win

Australian Phoebe Litchfield: UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning hailed her sides planning, execution and growing confidence after they registered their second consecutive victory in the Womens Premier League, handing Mumbai Indians their second straight defeat. Lanning, who was named Player of the Match, said the win was a significant morale booster after a difficult start to the season. Reflecting on the turnaround, Lanning said the Warriorz had remained positive despite losing their first three matches of the campaign. It was a nice bounce-back for us. Losing the first three wasnt ideal, but the group stayed upbeat. We were confident in our ability and knew we just needed to bring it for a little bit longer, she said after the match. Warriorz set the tone with a strong batting performance, led by Lanning herself, who struck a fluent 70 off 45 balls, an innings that also saw her become the first player to register 11 half-centuries in WPL history. After the early loss of opener Kiran Navgire for a duck, Lanning found a reliable partner in fellow Australian Phoebe Litchfield, with the duo stitching together a crucial 119-run stand. Lanning praised the clarity in preparation that has helped the team deliver back-to-back wins against quality opposition. We did a lot of planning. We spoke a lot about how we wanted to execute. Theyve got some pretty strong batters, so you need very clear plans against them. I think in the last two games, weve really nailed that planning process, she said. She added that the off-field work has translated well into on-field results. Then we came out into the game very clear about what we wanted to do. Its been nice to have that work off the field transfer into execution on the field as well. The UP skipper also highlighted her growing understanding with Litchfield at the crease, crediting the young batter for taking pressure off her with an attacking approach. Its nice batting with Phoebe Litchfield. We hit to different areas of the ground, and I think we complement each other really well. Were starting to understand each others games too, so we can help each other out when needed. She took a lot of pressure off me with the strike rate she had, Lanning said. Despite posting a competitive total, Lanning felt there was still room for improvement with the bat, particularly at the death. I think we can finish off our batting innings a little bit better. I thought Mumbai bowled extremely well and took the pace right off. So its about adjusting to that and making sure we can finish strongly and carry momentum into the second innings, she noted. UP Warriorz then backed up their batting effort with a disciplined bowling display, tightening the screws in key phases to restrict the Mumbai Indians and secure the win. The collective effort with the ball underlined the teams improved execution, something Lanning believes will be crucial going forward. Despite posting a competitive total, Lanning felt there was still room for improvement with the bat, particularly at the death. I think we can finish off our batting innings a little bit better. I thought Mumbai bowled extremely well and took the pace right off. So its about adjusting to that and making sure we can finish strongly and carry momentum into the second innings, she noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With two wins on the trot, the Warriorz now head to Vadodara with renewed confidence and momentum. To come out and play against a really good Mumbai side and get two wins on the trot gives us some really nice momentum heading into Vadodara now, Lanning concluded. Article Source: IANS

Markram and spinners keep DSG alive with demolition of Royals

DSG move up to fourth and hope that other results go their way

No handshakes between India and Bangladesh at toss of U-19 World Cup match

BCB statement says the absence of a handshake was unintentional on their part

Absence Of Handshake With India Captain In U19 WC Was Completely Unintentional: BCB

The Bangladesh Cricket Board: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday said the absence of a customary handshake at the toss before their 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup against India at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo was completely unintentional and caused due to a momentary lapse in concentration. With regular captain Azizul Hakim sidelined by illness, vice-captain Zawad Abrar represented Bangladesh at the toss, where he did not shake hands with India skipper Ayush Mhatre. The incident drew attention before the start of play, which was delayed by rain, with Bangladesh electing to field first after winning the toss. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken note of an inadvertent and unwarranted action that occurred at the toss prior to the opening match of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026, Zimbabwe & Namibia, between Bangladesh and India. Due to illness, regular captain Azizul Hakim was unable to attend the toss, and vice-captain Zawad Abrar represented the team on the occasion. The BCB wishes to clarify that the absence of a handshake with the opposition captain was completely unintentional and resulted from a momentary lapse in concentration. There was no intent whatsoever to show discourtesy or disregard towards the opposition. The Board has viewed the matter with due seriousness, as upholding the spirit of cricket and respect for opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level and immediately advised the team management accordingly. The players have also been reminded of their responsibility to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, camaraderie and mutual respect in all interactions with opposing teams. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains fully committed to the values of cricket, both on and off the field, said the BCB in its statement. The Board has viewed the matter with due seriousness, as upholding the spirit of cricket and respect for opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level and immediately advised the team management accordingly. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCB is seeking to avoid playing its Mens T20 World Cup fixtures in India, especially after the BCCI requested IPL three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad for the 2026 season. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: 'At This Level, You Cant Keep Making Mistakes,' Says Harmanpreet After MI Loss

DY Patil Stadium: Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that her sides repeated mistakes, particularly in the batting powerplay and in the field, proved costly as they suffered their second consecutive loss against UP Warriorz in the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 10th match at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. Reflecting on the defeat, Harmanpreet said Mumbai had a clear plan while chasing a total of 187 runs, but failed to execute it as a unit. We wanted to chase as a group. Even though we didnt bowl well, we were still able to restrict them to under 200, which was a good thing. But in batting, we were not great in the power play, she said. The Mumbai skipper acknowledged that slow starts with the bat have been a recurring concern. Every game, we are not coming with a positive mindset in the powerplay. Thats something we really need to work on. If you dont start well, it puts a lot of pressure on the middle and lower order, Harmanpreet added. She also pointed to missed chances in the field as a major turning point, particularly during the decisive partnership between Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield. The Australian duo put together a 119-run stand, laying the foundation for UP Warriorz imposing total of 187 for eight. They were batting really hard, and unfortunately, we missed a few chances. At this level, if you keep missing chances, the other team is going to put a lot of pressure on you, and thats exactly what happened today, Harmanpreet said. Mumbai Indians chase never fully gained momentum despite a spirited fightback from Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur. Kerr scored a brisk 49 off 28 balls, while Amanjot struck 41 off 24 deliveries, adding a crucial partnership that briefly revived hopes of a win. Harmanpreet praised the duo for their effort. They both put us in a situation where we had a little hope that we could win the match. It was good to see them batting really well, and hopefully theyll continue, she said. Harmanpreet also highlighted the importance of young wicketkeeper Gunalan Kamalini, who impressed behind the stumps. She is a very important player for the team and is doing really great things behind the stumps. Hopefully, shell continue that, she noted. Mumbai Indians chase never fully gained momentum despite a spirited fightback from Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur. Kerr scored a brisk 49 off 28 balls, while Amanjot struck 41 off 24 deliveries, adding a crucial partnership that briefly revived hopes of a win. Harmanpreet praised the duo for their effort. They both put us in a situation where we had a little hope that we could win the match. It was good to see them batting really well, and hopefully theyll continue, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite the setback, the Mumbai captain remained optimistic about future games. We have a very good side. If we come together and make fewer mistakes, it can really help us win matches. Its unfortunate we couldnt get a win today, but theres a lot to learn from this, Harmanpreet concluded. Article Source: IANS

BCB-ICC impasse continues over Bangladesh's T20 World Cup venues

An ICC official from India could not attend the meeting in person due to a delay in getting the Bangladesh visa

BCB Stays Firm On Relocation Of Mens T20 WC Matches In Latest Round Of Talks With ICC

BCB President Md Aminul Islam: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has again reiterated its request for Bangladeshs fixtures in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup to be shifted to Sri Lanka in the latest round of talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC) representatives in Dhaka on Saturday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today held a meeting with representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss matters relating to Bangladeshs participation in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladeshs matches to Sri Lanka. The Board also shared the Bangladesh Governments views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media and other stakeholders, said the BCB in a statement on Saturday. BCB also said the possibility of having Bangladesh in a different group was also deliberated upon. Bangladesh's current itinerary of games goes as, facing West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, before taking on Nepal on February 17 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The discussions were conducted in a constructive, cordial and professional manner, with all parties engaging openly on the relevant issues. Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed, added the BCB. India and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup starting on February 7. But the BCB has been adamant in its league stage matches be shifted to Sri Lanka amid security concerns and growing tensions between Bangladesh and India. It came after Indian Premier League (IPL) three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were asked by the BCCI to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the lone player from his country, for the 2026 season, amidst atrocities towards the minority Hindu community. BCB President Md Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Nazmul Abedeen and Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury represented the board in its meeting with ICC. It came after Indian Premier League (IPL) three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were asked by the BCCI to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the lone player from his country, for the 2026 season, amidst atrocities towards the minority Hindu community. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gaurav Saxena was unable to attend the meeting in person, as his visa was received later than anticipated, and therefore joined the discussions virtually. Andrew Ephgrave attended the meeting in person. The BCB and the ICC have agreed to continue engaging in constructive dialogue on this matter, added the BCB. Article Source: IANS

M Chinnaswamy Stadium Given Permission To Host IPL, International Matches Again

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai: The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been cleared to host Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket matches again, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) said on Saturday. We are pleased to announce that the Home department, Government of Karnataka, has granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host international and IPL matches at the iconic venue. The permission is subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authorities, said Vinay Mruthyunjaya, KSCAs official spokesperson, in a statement. The formal approval for marquee cricket fixtures to return to the venue has ended months of uncertainty after the stadium was taken off the cricketing calendar following a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengalurus IPL 2025 title winning celebrations on June 4, when eleven people were killed, while 56 people suffered injuries. In its aftermath, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shifted several major events away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium, including the Duleep Trophy, the IndiaSouth Africa mens A series, Vijay Hazare Trophy and 2025 ICC Womens ODI World Cup, including the final. Hosting matches at the ground again was subject to the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Michael DCunha report, which was formed as part of the investigation into the tragedy. KSCA is confident of fulfilling all the stipulated conditions. The Association has already presented a detailed compliance roadmap before the Expert Review Committee and remains fully committed to implementing all safety, security, and crowd-management measures in letter and spirit, added Mruthyunjaya. Hosting matches at the ground again was subject to the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Michael DCunha report, which was formed as part of the investigation into the tragedy. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the state governments clearance now secured, it would be interesting to see if RCB will play all of its IPL 2026 home games in Chinnaswamy, considering that its vice-president Rajesh Menon met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai for playing two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur. Article Source: IANS

U19 WC: Sri Lankas Chamuditha Sets Record For Highest Individual Score With 192 Against Japan

Cricket World Cup: Sri Lankas Viran Chamuditha has set a new record for the highest individual score in ICC Under-19 Mens Cricket World Cup history by hitting 192 against Japan at the Namibia Cricket Ground on Saturday. Chamuditha, the17-year-old opener from St. Servatius College, Matara, eclipsed his Sri Lankas compatriot Hasitha Boyagodas score of 191 set against Kenya in 2018, by striking 26 fours and a six before falling to Timothy Moore. Chamuditha shared a record-breaking 328-run opening stand with Dimantha Mahavithana, which is a new record for the biggest partnership for any wicket in the tournaments history, surpassing the 303-run effort by Englands Dan Lawrence and Jack Burnham against Fiji in 2016. Chamudithas innings added to a list of landmark knocks in the competition, joining Boyagoda, New Zealands Jakob Bhula (180 against Kenya in 2018), West Indies Donovan Pagon (176 against Scotland in 2002) and Englands Lawrence (174 against Fiji in 2016). The mammoth stand powered Sri Lanka to 388 in their opening match of the 2026 edition, leaving Japan facing a daunting chase. Chamuditha has played 17 Youth ODIs so far for Sri Lanka and had hit three fifties before hitting 192, also his maiden century in the 50-over format. Chamudithas innings added to a list of landmark knocks in the competition, joining Boyagoda, New Zealands Jakob Bhula (180 against Kenya in 2018), West Indies Donovan Pagon (176 against Scotland in 2002) and Englands Lawrence (174 against Fiji in 2016). Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Super Sixes and playoff rounds will also be split between the two hosts, before the knockout phase shifts entirely to Zimbabwe. Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club will stage the semi-finals on February 3 and 4, with the final set to be held in Harare on February 6. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: RCB Elect To Bowl As Hamilton Debuts For Delhi Capitals

Dr DY Patil Sports Academy: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Capitals in the 11th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, here at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Delhi Capitals have drafted in Lucy Hamilton as a replacement for the injured Chinelle Henry, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have overhauled their squad by bringing in Georgia Voll, Prema Rawat and Sayali Satghare in place of Arundhati Reddy, Linsey Smith and Dayalan Hemalatha. Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana said, Yeah, I mean wherever we play we get good support. Everyone turns out in huge numbers. We will like to field first today. We have 3 changes today. Voll comes in for Linsey, Prema comes in for Hema and Sayalil comes in, Aru misses out because she is unwell today. Well unfortunately, Aru was unwell. There was a forced change. We always thought we were one batter short. Though, we won the first three games and it sends out right signal that we are not panicking and it is just based on team combination. Yeah, again for us. It is about doing smaller things right. Everyone is really looking to do small things right. What happens on the field is because of hardword and this team works hard. Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues said, (On leading against Smriti Mandhana) No! I have led against her (Mandhana) in domestic cricket as well. It is always a fun rivalry. Not really. I didn't pick up her call. Yeah, 100%. We were happy either batting or bowling first. Our gameplan remains the same. Sometimes losing the toss is good. They will be batting fourth on this wicket. We have one change. Chinelle Henry is out due to an injury in the last game. Lucy Hamilton is in and making her debut tonight. We have played together for Brisbane Heat. She is the youngster. She also led Australia's Under-19 side. She is someone who is sorted and has a good head on her shoulders. Playing XIs: Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues said, (On leading against Smriti Mandhana) No! I have led against her (Mandhana) in domestic cricket as well. It is always a fun rivalry. Not really. I didn't pick up her call. Yeah, 100%. We were happy either batting or bowling first. Our gameplan remains the same. Sometimes losing the toss is good. They will be batting fourth on this wicket. We have one change. Chinelle Henry is out due to an injury in the last game. Lucy Hamilton is in and making her debut tonight. We have played together for Brisbane Heat. She is the youngster. She also led Australia's Under-19 side. She is someone who is sorted and has a good head on her shoulders. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Delhi Capitals Women: Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Lucy Hamilton, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma Article Source: IANS

Italy announce squad for maiden T20 World Cup appearance

Wayne Madsen to lead 15-member group that includes former SA international JJ Smuts

WPL 2026: Collective Bowling Effort Guides UP Warriorz To Second Straight Win Over Mumbai Indians

DY Patil Stadium: A commanding batting effort led by skipper Meg Lanning, followed by a disciplined and collective bowling performance, helped UP Warriorz register a convincing 22-run victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 10th match at the DY Patil Stadium here on Saturday. Mumbai Indians chase of a challenging 188-run target faltered despite a fighting effort in the end from Amanjot and Amelia Kerr, as they were restricted to 165 for six in 20 overs against UP Warriorz. The defending champions got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets that put them on the back foot from the outset. Opening batter Sajeevan Sajana (10) struggled to find rhythm and was dismissed cheaply inside the powerplay, while Hayley Matthews (13), returning to the side, failed to provide the explosive start Mumbai were hoping for. Matthews fell after making a brief contribution, leaving the Mumbai Indians in early trouble. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to steady the innings but found it difficult to break free against disciplined bowling from UP Warriorz. She was dismissed for a modest score of just 18 runs, further denting Mumbais chase and increasing the pressure on the middle order. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Mumbai Indians found themselves well behind the required run rate during the first half of the innings. The responsibility then fell on Amelia Kerr, who once again proved to be Mumbai Indians most impactful all-rounder. Kerr played a counter-attacking knock of 49 runs off 28 balls, striking the ball cleanly and targeting the shorter boundaries. Her innings included a mix of powerful strokes and clever placement, briefly reviving Mumbais hopes of pulling off the chase. Kerr found valuable support in Amanjot Kaur, who played one of her finest innings in the league. Amanjot scored a fluent 41 off just 24 deliveries, showing composure and intent as she rotated the strike well and punished loose balls. The duo added 83 runs for the fifth wicket, the most significant partnership of the Mumbai Indians innings, and brought the required rate down to manageable levels. However, UP Warriorz struck at a crucial moment to break the momentum. Shikha Pandey removed Amanjot Kaur with a well-directed delivery, ending the dangerous partnership and shifting the momentum back in Warriorzs favour. Kerr remained unbeaten but could not win the match for her team. The Warriorz bowling attack worked effectively as a unit, with Deepti Sharma controlling the tempo through tight overs and clever variations, while Sophie Ecclestone and Kranti Gaud applied pressure in the middle overs. Shikha Pandey finished with impressive figures, providing key breakthroughs when Mumbai looked to accelerate. Batting first after losing the toss, UP Warriorz recovered strongly from an early setback to post an imposing total of 187 for eight, a score that proved beyond Mumbai Indians reach despite a spirited fightback in the last overs. The Warriorz were jolted in the very first over when Kiran Navgire was bowled for a golden duck by Nicola Carey. However, captain Meg Lanning once again showcased her class and composure under pressure, forging a crucial partnership with fellow Australian Phoebe Litchfield to wrest back control of the innings. Lanning and Litchfield batted with authority and intelligence, combining caution with controlled aggression as they added 119 runs for the second wicket, the second-highest partnership for UP Warriorz in WPL history. Lanning anchored the stand with her trademark precision, finding gaps consistently and punishing loose deliveries, while Litchfield complemented her skipper with fluent strokeplay and fearless shot selection. Lanning brought up her half-century in just 33 balls with a towering six off Amelia Kerr, marking her 11th fifty in the league and setting a new WPL record. She eventually fell for a superb 70 off 45 deliveries, an innings studded with 11 fours and two sixes, while Litchfield departed soon after for an impressive 61 off 37 balls, having struck seven boundaries and three maximums. After the departure of the Australian duo, UP Warriorz continued to maintain momentum through brisk contributions from Chloe Tryon (21) and Harleen Deol (25). The late flourish ensured the Warriorz finished strongly despite a remarkable last over from Amelia Kerr, who claimed three wickets in quick succession to finish with figures of 3 for 28. Lanning brought up her half-century in just 33 balls with a towering six off Amelia Kerr, marking her 11th fifty in the league and setting a new WPL record. She eventually fell for a superb 70 off 45 deliveries, an innings studded with 11 fours and two sixes, while Litchfield departed soon after for an impressive 61 off 37 balls, having struck seven boundaries and three maximums. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz post 187/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Phoebe Litchfield 61; Amelia Kerr 3-28, Nat Sciver Brunt 2-22) beat Mumbai Indians 165/6 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 49 not out, Amanjot Kaur 41; Shikha Pandey 2-30, Chloe Tyron 1-18) by 22 runs Article Source: IANS

Lanning, Litchfield and Pandey help UPW do the league double over MI

A rejigged MI batting line-up faltered in the 188 chase, which came to life during the partnership between Amanjot and Kerr

Allen, Richardson help Scorchers top the table

Scorchers secured two home finals after Richardson claimed four wickets to restrict Stars to a lowly 130 before Allen hit a 39-ball 69

Wayne Madsen To Captain Italy In Their Maiden Mens T20 World Cup Campaign

The Italian Cricket Federation: Experienced batter Wayne Madsen will captain Italy in their first appearance in the Mens T20 World Cup, set to happen in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The Italian Cricket Federation had previously confirmed Madsen, who plays for Derbyshire in county cricket and is an Italian passport holder, as the sides captain after ex-Australia player Joe Burns was omitted from the squad for the tournament due to availability issues. Former South Africa batter Jon-Jon Smuts has also been named in Italys squad, after attending a camp for the side in Dubai last year. Smuts played six ODIs and 13 T20Is for South Africa from 2017 to 2021 and has qualified to play for India via his wife. Fast bowling all-rounder Grant Stewart, who plays county cricket for Kent, will also turn out for Italy as he has an EU passport through his Italian mother and has 17 T20I appearances so far via them. The Azzurri will mark their T20 World Cup debut in a Group C clash against Bangladesh on February 9 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata before facing Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai three days later. Italy will also face 2010 England in Kolkata on February 16, before taking on two-time champions West Indies at the same venue on February 19. Fast bowling all-rounder Grant Stewart, who plays county cricket for Kent, will also turn out for Italy as he has an EU passport through his Italian mother and has 17 T20I appearances so far via them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Italy squad: Wayne Madsen (captain), Marcus Campopiano (wk), Gian Piero Meade, Zain Ali, Ali Hasan, Crishan Jorge, Harry Manenti, Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, and Thomas Draca Article Source: IANS

Dubey and Desai's chance to inspire as Vidarbha take on Saurashtra for Vijay Hazare title

Both teams are in the middle of a transition but neither has lost their edge

3rd ODI: India, NZ Head Into Series Decider With Milestones In Mind (Preview)

Star Sports Network: Rajkot witnessed the class of KL Rahul, but improved bowling and the might of Daryl Mitchell gave New Zealand the last laugh as the visitors outclassed India to clinch a seven-wicket win and level the series 1-1. All eyes now turn to Indore, as India and New Zealand battle it out in the series decider. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be in international action for one final time until the next ODI assignment in July. The opening batter is 17 runs away from becoming the 7th opener with 16000 international runs. Meanwhile, Kohli reclaimed the top spot in the ICC mens ODI rankings and has scored at least one 50+ in 24 different Indian venues in the format. But Indore remains one of four venues where hes yet to hit a fifty. Rahul came to Indias rescue with another outstanding performance, scoring an exhilarating 112 not out off 92 balls to help his team reach a respectable total as the rest struggled. His performance against the Kiwis continues to improve, with 469 runs in 10 innings at an average of 93.8, including a half-century and two centuries. He will aim to make another significant contribution when the teams face off on Sunday. Run-machine Daryl Mitchell keeps challenging the Men in Blue. He has scored three centuries in his last four ODI innings against India in India, reaching over 130 runs each time. The 34-year-old aims to fire up his performance again to help secure a notable series victory. India have an undefeated record at Indore, winning all seven ODIs played there. In their most recent matches in 2023, they scored 399/5 versus Australia and 385/9 against New Zealand. Moreover, skipper Shubman Gill is 70 runs away from reaching 3000 ODI runs. Hes scored centuries in both matches he has played at Indores Holkar Stadium and will be looking to maintain that form. Indias premier spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, had a poor outing in the previous game, conceding 82 runs in his 10-over spell while taking only one wicket, and will look to bounce back in the deciding game. As for New Zealand, Devon Conway crafted a classy 138 off 100 against India when the two sides last met at this venue in January 2023, and hell be among the Kiwi players to watch out for. Theres plenty at stake in the upcoming series finale. Gill has one more chance to win his first home ODI series as Indias captain. As for New Zealand, they are one win away from a first-ever ODI bilateral series win in India. When: Sunday, Jan 18, 1:30 PM IST Where: Holkar Stadium, Indore Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Squads Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Hay, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: Lanning, Litchfield Guide UP Warriorz To 187 Against Mumbai Indians

DY Patil Stadium: An impressive batting effort by captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield propelled UP Warriorz to 187/8 against Mumbai Indians, despite a dramatic final over by Amelia Kerr, in their Womens Premier League match here at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. UP Warriorz suffered an early setback when Kiran Navgire was bowled for a golden duck in the first over by Nicola Carey, but Lanning and Litchfield quickly got the innings under control with a 119-run second-wicket partnership. The duo mixed timing with power to punish loose deliveries, taking advantage of some sloppy fielding by the Mumbai Indians, who dropped chances and missed run-out opportunities at crucial moments. Lanning played the anchor role with a fluent 70 off 45 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes, while Litchfield provided the acceleration with a fiery knock of 61 off 37 deliveries, laced with seven fours and three sixes. Their impressive stand laid a solid platform and put the Mumbai bowlers under sustained pressure. After Litchfield was caught at deep square leg, Lanning continued the onslaught before falling to Hayley Matthews. Chloe Tryon and Harleen Deol then added valuable runs in the middle and death overs, with Harleen striking a quick 25 off 16 balls to keep the momentum going. Mumbai Indians, however, fought back strongly at the death through Amelia Kerr, who produced a sensational final over. The New Zealand leg-spinner claimed three wickets in the last over, removing Harleen Deol, Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, finishing with brilliant figures of 3-28 that helped restrict the Warriorz from crossing the 190-run mark. Earlier, Nat Sciver-Brunt picked up two wickets, and Nichola Carey also got one wicket to her name. After Litchfield was caught at deep square leg, Lanning continued the onslaught before falling to Hayley Matthews. Chloe Tryon and Harleen Deol then added valuable runs in the middle and death overs, with Harleen striking a quick 25 off 16 balls to keep the momentum going. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz post 187/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Phoebe Litchfield 61, Harleen Deol 25 ; Amelia Kerr 3-28, Nat Schiver Brunt 2-22) against Mumbai Indians Article Source: IANS

An Se-young Dispatches Intanon In 32 Minutes To Enter BWF India Open Final

Indira Gandhi Sports Complex: World No. 1 An Se-young advanced to the second final of the 2026 season after defeating World No. 8 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in just 32 minutes in the semifinal of the BWF Super 750 India Open on Saturday. Se-young registered a straight-game win 21-11, 21-7 over Intanon, here at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. An Se-young dominated the proceedings from the start as she raced to an early advantage by scoring six consecutive points, setting the tone for the opening game. With sharp control she never allowed her opponent to settle, comfortably closing out the first game 2111. The second game began on a more even footing, with both players trading points in the early stages to reach 44. However, that brief resistance was broken as An Se-young raised her intensity. She went on a devastating run of points, surging ahead to a commanding 165 lead. Maintaining her consistency, An finished the match with error-free play and sealed victory by taking the second game 217 to complete a dominant straight-game win. By defeating Intanon, Se Young extended her winning streak to a personal-best 29 consecutive match victories. She began the season in impressive fashion at the Malaysia Open, where she claimed her third straight title. Now, with a place in the India Open final, she is on the verge of lifting back-to-back titles in consecutive weeks. Last year, the Korean star captured 11 titles in a single season and made history by becoming the first badminton player to earn more than USD 1 million in prize money in a calendar year. Her triumph at the BWF World Tour Finals, which carried a prize of USD 240,000, pushed her total earnings for the year to USD 1,003,175. By defeating Intanon, Se Young extended her winning streak to a personal-best 29 consecutive match victories. She began the season in impressive fashion at the Malaysia Open, where she claimed her third straight title. Now, with a place in the India Open final, she is on the verge of lifting back-to-back titles in consecutive weeks. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think every match is a new feeling. She's a very good player, and she's a very good attacking player. So I don't know how hard she will play tomorrow's match, Se Young said of her final match-up with Wang, who defeated world no.4 Chen Yu Fei 15-21, 23-21 to seal a place in the final. Article Source: IANS

Pakistan TV break 232-year-old record for lowest total defended in first-class cricket

PTV defended a target of 40 against SNGPL in the President's Trophy

U19 WC: India, Bangladesh Captains Refuse Handshake At Toss

Queens Sports Club: India's captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh's vice-captain Zawad Abrar declined the usual handshake at the toss of a Group A match in the ICC Under-19 World Cup at Queens Sports Club on Saturday, signalling of the ongoing tension between the neighbouring countries. During the toss, delayed by more than 15 minutes due to drizzle, neither India's captain Mhatre nor Bangladesh's vice-captain Abrar, who walked out for the toss, initiated the traditional exchange of pleasantries. After Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first against India, both captains just conducted their interviews and then went to their dressing rooms. This stems from the no-handshake protocol adopted by the Indian men's team during the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025. In all three matches of the tournament, the Indian team did not shake hands with the Pakistan players. Additionally, they refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister. Later, in the ICC Womens ODI World Cup match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur upheld the 'no handshake' policy. Moreover, during last month's U19 Asia Cup, India maintained a 'no handshake' policy during their group-stage fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan. This stems from the no-handshake protocol adopted by the Indian men's team during the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025. In all three matches of the tournament, the Indian team did not shake hands with the Pakistan players. Additionally, they refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After the pacer's release, the Bangladesh Cricket Board initially refused to issue a no-objection certificate for Mustafizur to play in the IPL. As a result of the BCCI's decision, the BCB wrote to the ICC requesting that their T20 World Cup matches be moved to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns amid growing tensions between the two neighbouring nations. Article Source: IANS

WPL 2026: Kranthi Earns Debut As MI Elect To Bowl Against Unchanged UPW

DY Patil Stadium: Defending champions Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first against an unchanged UP Warriorz in the 10th match of the Womens Premier League (WPL) here at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. While the Warriorz kept their starting lineup unchanged from the previous game, the Mumbai Indians made two changes, with Hayley Matthews returning and Nalla Kranthi Reddy making her debut. UP Warriorz faced an unlucky start with three straight losses but made a strong comeback by securing a seven-wicket victory over defending champions MI on Thursday. The win was powered by Harleen Deols energetic 64 off 39 balls, showcasing both strength and steadiness. Despite this uplifting win, Warriorz remain at the bottom of the points standings. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians, who had been aiming to regain momentum with consecutive wins after a close opening-game loss, dropped to second place in the points table following their defeat against the Warriorz in their most recent match. After winning the toss, MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said, Were going to bowl first today. As a team, we decided to chase because chasing has always been our strength, and we just want to go back to our strengths. Looking at the conditions today, weve brought Matthews back into the side, and Ismail is resting. It is mainly because of the conditions and because were playing a day match. We feel Matthews is going to play a very big role on this pitch, so weve made one change. Apart from that, we have another change. Poonam is not playing today, and Kanchan is going to make her debut. Conditions are going to play a very big role in this tournament, and at the same time, we want to give equal chances to all the players. Were heading into the main part of the tournament, and hopefully everyone will get used to these conditions and give their best, she added. Warriorz captain Meg Lanning, meanwhile, stated, We would have bowled first as well. That seems to be the trend. But in the day games at the start of the tournament, Gujarat batted well first up, so theres certainly an opportunity there with the bat. Looking forward to it. I think youve got to be able to do it well. Were really looking forward to coming up against Mumbai again. I know theyll be looking to bounce back, but were ready for that. We feel we can improve a few things as well, so excited to go out there and do it. Were going with the same team as the last game. Playing XIs Warriorz captain Meg Lanning, meanwhile, stated, We would have bowled first as well. That seems to be the trend. But in the day games at the start of the tournament, Gujarat batted well first up, so theres certainly an opportunity there with the bat. Looking forward to it. I think youve got to be able to do it well. Were really looking forward to coming up against Mumbai again. I know theyll be looking to bounce back, but were ready for that. We feel we can improve a few things as well, so excited to go out there and do it. Were going with the same team as the last game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mumbai Indians Women: Hayley Matthews, Gunalan Kamalini (w), Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Nalla Kranthi Reddy, Triveni Vasistha. Article Source: IANS

MI bring in Matthews and Reddy, ask unchanged UPW to take first strike

Kranthi Reddy is making her WPL debut; MI have left out Shabnin Ismail and Poonam Khemnar

Wadia and Shamsi skittle poor Renegades as Strikers finish strongly

Neither side could progress to finals and Renegades finished with their worst performance of the season

India and NZ have selection concerns for series decider in high-scoring Indore

After a historic Test series win in India in 2024, New Zealand will aim for their maiden ODI series win in the country on Sunday

'50/50 Chance Of Surviving Reminded Me Of How Fragile Life Is': Damien Martyn On Meningitis Battle

Gold Coast University Hospital: After being discharged from the hospital following a bout of meningitis, Australian cricket great Damien Martyn shared a health update, saying he has started walking after life was taken out of my hands when meningitis took over my brain. Martyn, who represented Australia in 67 Test matches, fell ill with meningitis on Boxing Day and was taken to hospital on the Gold Coast late last month, where he was placed in an induced coma. He woke from the coma earlier this month, began speaking again, and was discharged from hospital. On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my handswhen meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for 8 days to help me fight this awful disease. And that I did! Fight that is!. After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days laternot able to walk or talk. And yet 4 days after that, with the doctors in disbelief, I walked, I talked and proved to them all why I should be released from hospital to start my recovery, Martyn shared in a social media post. So happy to be home, to be able to put my feet in the sand on the beach and to start thanking all those people that reached out to me and my family in their unwavering support. This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is! the post further read. There are so many wonderful people in this world from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors & nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital) to family, friends and people I didnt even know. I feel like I met all these fantastic people in the past 3 weeks, or they reached out to me through messages of love and support, he conlcuded. Martyn was instrumental in Australia's 2003 ODI World Cup final victory over India, scoring an unbeaten 88 despite batting with a broken finger and forming a crucial 234-run partnership with captain Ricky Ponting. There are so many wonderful people in this world from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors & nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital) to family, friends and people I didnt even know. I feel like I met all these fantastic people in the past 3 weeks, or they reached out to me through messages of love and support, he conlcuded. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Martyn also played 208 ODIs, scoring 5,346 runs at 40.90, with a top score of 144 not out. He made a famous 88 not out in the 2003 World Cup final, batting with a broken finger and sharing an epic partnership with captain Ricky Ponting as Australia beat India. Article Source: IANS

RCB Have Found A Way Again To Win This WPL Season: Deep Dasgupta

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta lauded the Royal Challengers Bengalurus (RCB) efforts and their performance against the Gujarat Giants in the recently concluded Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 game and stated that the 2024 champions have found a way to win again this year. RCB delivered a commanding performance against GG on Friday, demonstrating impressive resilience by bouncing back from 40/4 to reach 182, then effectively defending it through disciplined bowling. Speaking on JioHotstar, Dasgupta analysed RCBs comeback victory, stating, Just at the start of the game, RCB was 40 for 4, and were thinking, oh my God, whats happening with RCB? But then again, RCB this year, this season, have found a way to win. In the first game they were struggling and found a way; in this game they were struggling and found a way again. First, it was that batting performance from Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh, and then the bowlers. Because it was never going to be easy defending 182. Gujarat Giants have these big hitters and theyve been scoring freely. Also, this was the first time RCB were bowling in the second half, which is a whole new factor. But a top performance from RCB, and this should give them a lot of confidence, he added. Katey Martin also joined the bandwagon and spoke about Shreyanka Patils inspiring journey, saying, Shes such an intelligent player and an intelligent person as well, and it comes through in the way she speaks and the way she bowls. I think she had six or seven different types of injuries over the last two years, so it wasnt just one thing shed come back and then something else would happen. I love the fact that were seeing traditional off-spinners come back into the T20 game. Theres so much focus on spinners who dont spin it at all, and theres a place for that too, but to be able to sum up the conditions, slow the pace down, bowl off-spin and let the wicket do the work is special. I remember she said that she was in tears standing at the top of her mark because she was just so proud to be back playing cricket. To think that in the space of three or four months to now in the WPL, picking up 5 for 4 against a team she absolutely loves what a special moment, the former New Zealand cricketer added. RCBs new-ball pacer Lauren Bell has put up impressive performances so far and has been a crucial cog in the teams victories this season. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim commented on the tall fast-bowlers impact, stating, Shes really enjoying her outings at the D.Y. Patil Stadium. Shes able to generate that kind of pace and, if you recall that delivery to Sophie Devine, extract extra bounce. It was good to see her come back strongly. Theres so much focus on spinners who dont spin it at all, and theres a place for that too, but to be able to sum up the conditions, slow the pace down, bowl off-spin and let the wicket do the work is special. I remember she said that she was in tears standing at the top of her mark because she was just so proud to be back playing cricket. To think that in the space of three or four months to now in the WPL, picking up 5 for 4 against a team she absolutely loves what a special moment, the former New Zealand cricketer added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lauren Bell has been not only economical but also effective with the new ball, in the middle overs, and at the death. Overall, this was an impressive win for RCB a win built on self-belief and resilience. At one stage, they were tottering at 40 for 4 without Smriti Mandhana, with the top order back in the hut. To recover from there and post 182 shows this team refuses to lie down. They believe they can always come back from a precarious situation, and that belief was on full display, he said. Article Source: IANS

With Jaiswals Coach By His Side, Mokhade Relishes Run-making Spree In Vijay Hazare Trophy

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: These are good times for Vidarbha's right-handed opener Aman Mokhade, as his run-making spree in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has led the side to the competition's title clash for the second successive time. As Vidarbha prepare to take the field for the final against Saurashtra at the BCCI CoE Ground in Bengaluru on Sunday, Mokhade will be eyeing taking Vidarbha over the line with another blistering knock. In Vidarbhas semi-final win over Karnataka, Mokhade equalled the record for most centuries in a Vijay Hazare Trophy edition by hitting his fifth century of the tournament. Mokhades 781 runs coming at an average of 97.62 make him the competition's leading run-getter. He also equalled South African great Graeme Pollock's world record of completing 1,000 List A runs in just 16 innings, becoming the fastest Indian to reach the mark. The surge in Mokhades fortunes follows after being on the fringes of Vidarbha side. With a solid top-order in Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair and Danish Malewar, opportunities were scarce for Mokhade to establish himself. Jwala Singh, the coach of India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been coaching Mokhade since 2023 and feels proud over the youngster having a remarkable time in the ongoing competition. I don't say much when a player performs well. I talk very little and feel that when a player is already doing well, what else can he do better if I say something? I just told him one thing - that you are already in a good zone. You are already doing well. Just keep playing like this. You are in a fine zone - so make it bigger and bigger. When you are already doing well, then try to make it better and he will do it. I really feel the way Vidarbha kept him with the team last year and now have given him chances in the matches (has been wonderful). So in this final match, I am sure he will perform well and win the trophy for Vidarbha, Jwala told IANS in an exclusive conversation from Australia. Mokhade's breakthrough time in this domestic season came when Nair returned to Karnataka and Malewar was injured. He responded with 577 runs in first phase of Ranji Trophy at an average of 96.16, before amassing 206 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike-rate of 157.25. Jwala recalled how he first connected with Mokhade in 2023 after receiving a message from him. I was in England for my yearly coaching work, and I got a message from this guy that I play for Vidarbha and want to train under you. Someone has given me your number. I said I don't take everyone, but you send me your biodata and I will see what you have. But I had in the back of my mind that this kid has come to me, so I have to give him some good inputs. I used to message him on what to do, and what not to do. My conversations started from there and after that, he has been with me. A good thing about him is whenever he gets time, he always comes to Mumbai. Because he also plays from Vidarbha, there is club cricket and it is important for him to stay there too. So, whenever he gets a chance, he asks me, Sir, you are available? When I am available, he comes. Recently, he came to me in June and he called me in the evening and said, Sir, are you in Mumbai tomorrow morning? I said, Yes, I am. So, he took bus and came in the morning. He is very dedicated towards cricket and talking about dedication and devotion, because I saw in his (semi-final) match, the way he was present there and tried to win the game and won it too; he has a long way to go, he elaborated. The partnership between Jwala and Mokhade took a serious turn after the Irani Cup in 2024, where the coach felt he had the ability to play multi-day cricket, but the stroke-play and capability of shifting gears needed an upgrade. When such players come who are playing Ranji Trophy and Under-23 for the state, then my job is to accelerate them as a coach. Its because your next level will be either the IPL or you will have to be a top performer in domestic cricket or maybe anything ahead. So, he had some strokes that I felt were missing. For example, we worked a lot on the pull and cut shots. Between point and cover, a lot of work was done on perfecting the square drive. The cover drive was already good, so we didn't have to work that much on it. We worked on the flick; as in white-ball cricket, the most important thing is to hit over mid-on and mid-off and hit a new ball downtown. So, most of the work was done on the acceleration of his game, he said. But refining the technique alone wasn't enough, as Jwala took charge of keeping Mokhade motivated during last season's frustrations over lack of game time. After a certain stage, cricket is a mind game. So how do you keep yourself self-motivated and hungry for making runs? In cricket, a lot of times, you do very well but you don't get a chance. A lot of times, a stage comes where you work very hard, but you don't get a chance in the team. So I always told him one thing - we have to win big battles. If you see any war and the big victories, it's not necessary that all the soldiers in front of you will die and only then will you win. You have to fight till the end. As long as you keep fighting, there are chances of winning and no matter how hard you work, it will definitely pay off. Even if you are failing, your mindset should be the same he elaborated. Mokhade's centuries in this tournament have come against Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. His consistency across formats this season have established him as a potential all-format player. If you see his batting, he changes gears and you can see that in how he plays red-ball cricket and white-ball formats. In this Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has understood how to change gears, adapt to situations, and play the game because the job of an opening batsman is to run the match. You play from the first over, have to keep one end up and try to take the team to victory. So the way he has started, he is an all-format player, as you will see very few players who adapt to every format and dominate like this, said Jwala. Now in his fourth first-class season since debuting in 2022/23, Mokhade has transformed waiting into opportunity. The philosophy Jwala preaches remains unchanged for Mokhade to keep the good times going. You play from the first over, have to keep one end up and try to take the team to victory. So the way he has started, he is an all-format player, as you will see very few players who adapt to every format and dominate like this, said Jwala. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, this is the outcome of what you did today, and you have to follow the process. You have to be present and try to play (well) for your team and state as much as you can. For now, this is enough for him, he concluded. Article Source: IANS